The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants program, initiated in 2013, has delivered more than $100 million in awards over the past decade. This year's allocation sets a new record, with grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 available to state agencies, tribal organizations, child nutrition programs, nonprofits, and producer groups.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the program as both a nutrition and agriculture initiative.

"These grants will open new doors for small family farms, expand access to healthy food in schools, and inspire the next generation of Great American Farmers."

Eligible projects include efforts to incorporate more locally grown, unprocessed foods into school meals, provide agriculture and nutrition education, and train producers on food safety and procurement. Schools can also use funding to develop gardening programs and classroom initiatives.

According to USDA's Farm to School Census, more than 440 Iowa school food authorities have already participated in the program, with nearly 50% offering classroom-based ag education and over 15% maintaining edible school gardens.

The announcement was paired with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again report, which calls for reducing processed foods in children's diets.

While the $18 million represents a milestone, it pales in comparison to the billions of dollars distributed during pandemic-era programs such as Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance, which USDA ended in March 2025.

Tommy Hexter, policy director at the Iowa Farmers Union, welcomed the new investment but warned it does not offset the loss of earlier large-scale programs:

"This announcement is positive, but it doesn't replace the major loss of funding that happened earlier this year," Hexter said.

He emphasized that those canceled programs had forged critical relationships between farmers, schools, food hubs, and communities, essential to maintaining Iowa's local food system.

USDA officials said the latest updates will streamline applications, reduce barriers to innovation, and prioritize partnerships, making the program more accessible to small and mid-sized farms.

"Under President Trump's leadership, USDA is proud to streamline this program so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation," Rollins added. "Putting America's Farmers First starts with putting our children first."