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“The last two months have created instability in agriculture and
agricultural markets like we haven’t experienced since the COVID
period of operation,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture
Director Jerry Costello.
Costello's testimony in Springfield focused on several
agreements between USDA and his agency, including the Local Food
Purchase Assistance Program.
He said the purpose of the LFPA Program is to “maintain and
improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.” The
cooperative agreements between USDA and states allow states “to
procure and distribute local and regional foods and beverages
that are healthy and nutritious, and meet the needs of the
population.”
“LFPA was designed to support both ends of the food chain,
farmers and those they feed,” said Costello. “Cutting the
funding leaves farmers on the hook for expenses they incurred
believing they would be reimbursed and leaves our most
vulnerable, food-insecure communities without meat, fresh
produce and other nutritious donations they were promised.”
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps
Finnie says the pause on federal grants has created chaos, and
will affect many Illinoisans in many ways, including rural fire
departments.
“Residents rely on our volunteer fire departments to not only
put out house fires, but also respond to car crashes, reach
hikers who have been injured at Shawnee National Forest, rescue
boaters on the Ohio River or recover a victim of drowning,” said
Finnie.
The United States Department of Agriculture said in an email
that it had notified states, territories and tribes that the
money for fiscal year 2025 is no longer available and those
agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. |
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