Feeding SD says USDA cuts will impact local farmers

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The USDA has announced the deletion of two programs that provided schools and food banks with funding to purchase food from local farms and ranchers.

The two programs are the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). In South Dakota, the Department of Ag and Natural Resources (DANR) was the recipient of LFPA funding, which was disbursed through Feeding South Dakota.

Appropriators reject Noem’s $3.6 million cut for SDPB

KELOLAND News spoke on the phone with Feeding South Dakota CEO Lori Dykstra on Tuesday.

Dykstra told KELOLAND News in 2025, $1.2 million was allocated through Feeding South Dakota. That grant will end in June and will now not be renewed.

While the cut will have an impact, Dykstra said it will not be felt most acutely by Feeding South Dakota, noting that only around 1% of their food is sourced through the LFPA.

Instead, Dykstra noted the impact will fall mainly on the 22 producers from which Feeding South Dakota buys the food. The program was in place not only to help food banks, but also to help producers.

Per the USDA’s executive summary on the LFPA in South Dakota: “This project will connect South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers, including disadvantaged producers, to more opportunities to deliver their products to local markets through Feeding South Dakota’s extensive network of food assistance partners.”

While LFPA is just 1% of Feeding SD’s food programming, in their 2024 Fiscal Year, 30% of food received by Feeding South Dakota was through USDA programs, making potential future cuts to USDA programs a concern for Feeding South Dakota.

Given the cuts seen so far, Feeding SD is keeping a close eye on moves in Washington, as cuts to nutrition programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) could have a major impact on Feeding SD’s programming.

Feeding South Dakota also provided an explainer for these programs:

LFPA – Local Food Purchasing Agreement: Allows food purchases from local producers to be used to provide for neighbors facing hunger.

TEFAP – The Emergency Food Assistance Program: Makes up 25% of food items in our Mobile Food Distribution Program’s boxes each month and provides food items to some of our Community Partners (such as food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters, etc.)

CSFP – The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (we refer to it as the Senior Box Program): Provides a monthly box of food to qualifying seniors age 60+, the food items are specifically chosen to meet dietary needs this age group often lacks due to cost of food items.

“Our food assistance programs continue to see an increase in usage month over month. Decreasing benefits through programs such as SNAP could see those numbers go higher, while reducing funding for food we receive through TEFAP and CSFP will make it difficult to provide for those programs,” said Dykstra.

A point of concern for Feeding South Dakota when it comes to these programs is the Farm Bill, which has not been renewed.

Dykstra said Feeding South Dakota has been in active communication with South Dakota’s U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, as well as Representative Dusty Johnson, and that the three have been cooperative.

“Feeding South Dakota has had conversation with our national delegation and their team members about the importance of a bi partisan Farm Bill that supports producers and protects the food safety net for our neighbors facing hunger,” Dykstra said.

KELOLAND has also been in contact with the DANR and will add comments from them if they are received.