Child Nutrition Supervisor Bianca Coats was recently interviewed on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” a show with nationwide syndication, regarding the Trump Administration’s cuts to the federal farm-to-school grant. 

In March, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled approximately $1.13 billion in funding that was set aside for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program. About two weeks after the USDA halted the billion-dollar funding stream, it was announced that this year’s farm-to-school funding would be cut.

Since 2023, the Zachary Community School District has used the grant to buy fresh, local beef from Muse 3 Farm outside of Greensburg. Zachary has received approximately $35,000 per year to spend on local farmers.

In the NPR interview, farmer Chris Muse stated he’s had to scale back his farm because of the significant drop in demand from schools. He’s optimistic that this will be one of the programs reinstated. Coats agrees. 

“As of now, the Local Food for Schools grant has been completely cut for us to use on any local farmers like Muse3Farm. We’re very hopeful that they will renew this funding so we can continue our partnership,” Coats says. 

“Hopefully we will hear something when school starts from our State Food Distribution Program by October, so that we can continue our partnership and increase food quality and the standard for our students,” Coats says.