Second round of USDA cuts impacting West Virginia farmers

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

Two weeks ago, RealWV reported on over $1 billion in cuts at the US Department of Agriculture as part of the Trump Administration’s DOGE initiative. Farmers and school officials said the aim of their programs had been to get kids to eat healthier food. 

Now, a second smaller round of USDA cuts is hitting, further endangering the future of “farm to school” grants. According to the School Nutrition Association, another $10 million has been cut. This time from the Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant program. 

The USDA website describes the program. “The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program helps child nutrition program operators incorporate local foods in the National School Lunch Program, the Summer Food Service Program the Child and Adult Care Food Program and all associated programs.”

Both the WV Department of Education and the WV Department of Agriculture confirmed the cuts via email earlier this week. 

Sunset Berry Farm in Alderson, WV

Last year, Sunset Berry Farm received a USDA Leahy grant in the amount of $100,000. The goal was to introduce locally-grown produce into schools and encourage students to grow their own food at home. 

“Much of West Virginia has been or still is considered a food desert,” says Jennifer Gilkerson of Sunset Berry Farm. “These grant projects have massive potential to motivate farmers to grow more food and create food security across the state.”

“The funds are being used for students in Pocahontas, Monroe, and Summers counties to visit our farm for a learning experience and sample freeze-dried fruit,” Gilkerson says. 

While the cuts will not impact their 2024 grant, Gilkerson says she is discouraged by the change of direction. 

“The long term goal of the project is for schools to purchase freeze dried products, sourced from West Virginia growers. Schools will be less likely to support West Virginia farmers now that funding has been slashed. Schools will be forced to purchase the cheapest food possible, which provides jobs for folks in foreign places, but does nothing for communities here in West Virginia.”

Sunset Berry Farm is also working on other initiatives allowing West Virginians to eat healthier, local foods. They say those efforts will continue. 

“We have just been approved to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) online so we are excited to offer a quick ordering process for all customers,’ she says. “Folks can order garden goodies online and pick up at one of our locations in 11 counties. The counties included are Kanawha, Mingo, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Wyoming, Raleigh, Summers, Fayette, Monroe and Greenbrier.”

State & local reaction

While the WV Department of Education has received Leahy grants in the past, they were not set to this year. They told RealWV the program has been vitally important to students. 

“This program…has played a vital role in helping to advance farm-to-school efforts at many levels across the state,” Christy Day of WVDE says. “The program provides annual grant opportunities that can be applied for by state agencies, local boards of education, and other non-profit organizations.”

The WV Department of Agriculture was set to receive a Leahy grant this year, but that’s been voided now. 

“We had requested funds from this grant, about $100,000,” Beth Southern of WVDA said via email. “These funds did not go to farmers directly but helped fund our staff to help our farmers facilitate selling to schools. These funds would have covered trainings and helping farmers take the steps to connect and sell to schools.”

“It’s just another nail,” says Trey Yates of Greenbrier Dairy. 

They are the state’s largest creamery who do 98% of their business with schools and food pantries across the state. While they did not directly receive Leahy funds, Yates believes the second round of cuts shows that the federal government is moving forward with their announced plans rather than recalibrating as some elected officials insinuated two weeks ago. 

Capito & Canterbury react

RealWV reached out to US Senator Shelley Moore-Capito for comment, but her office did not respond. 

Two weeks ago, she told us, “I believe that the Federal Government has an obligation to review spending for waste, fraud, and abuses that exist. The Trump administration has hit the ground running to deliver on what President Trump was elected to do, and I encourage them to act in a deliberative and transparent manner in their reviews. At the same time, I understand the concerns that some have and will monitor the DOGE efforts closely, as I have been, to fully understand the impacts and to make sure these are being conducted fairly.”

She later said during a press briefing that she sided with the farmers. 

“Childhood hunger, believe it or not, is an issue in this country,” Capito stated. “And, you can’t learn, you can’t be emotionally in the right place, if you are hungry or you are malnourished because you are not eating proper foods.” 

Capito expressed her belief that the USDA, along with other federal and state based officials, will be able to reformulate funding for the programs. 

“I don’t think this is going to result in any child not getting to eat a meal that they are counting on from their schools,” Capito continued. “I would reject that premise, and I think they are reformulating that program as it goes forward. I’ve also visited our food banks – they are absolutely essential. Sadly, they are growing and why are they growing? Because there’s a need, and I think we have to be very cognizant of that.” 

RealWV also reached out to Delegate Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier, who represents the area where Sunset Berry Farm operates. 

Two weeks ago, he too said he sided with the farmers and would look for solutions. “I have initiated the process for a legislative resolution asking our lawmakers and the President to reconsider this cut. This decision was made at the Federal level, so our options might be limited.  However, this is still a very important matter for farmers and consumers in my district, and I will work with the Commissioner and with my colleagues here in the legislature to do everything within our power to reverse this decision.”

We asked Canterbury if he had made any progress on that front Thursday, and he did not respond. 

Stay tuned to RealWV for updates.