On Tuesday, United States Senators Jim Justice (R-WV) and Jack Reed (D-RI) announced the introduction of the bipartisan bill, Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025, which would fund USDA cooperative agreements to purchase food from local producers and to distribute that food to hunger relief organizations and schools participating in school meal programs.
“The introduction of this bill is incredibly exciting and, if passed, would be a major win for family farmers nationally and in our state,” Wisconsin Farmers Union Government Relations Director Michelle Ramirez-White said. “This year WFU members have participated in impactful advocacy work and have displayed unwavering support for local food procurement funding. I know that made a difference.”
At the state level, WFU mobilized an action campaign in support of local food procurement funding, with advocates speaking up at the Joint Finance Committee hearings in April. Constituents also sent 1,258 letters to legislators across the political spectrum and in every corner of the state, including 421 to the Governor’s office and the rest to legislators in 31 of 33 Senate and 76 of 99 Assembly districts. Within the legislative districts represented, Republicans members received 490 letters and Democrats received 347. This broad-based outreach made it clear that, from rural towns to urban neighborhoods, local food programs benefit communities all across Wisconsin.
“Programs that work with local farms to get fresh local food into these organizations are a best case scenario for everyone involved,” WFU member and owner of Sullivan Family Farm in Manitowoc, Ryan Sullivan said. “I know it matches the mission and purpose of our veteran-owned farm. We love this idea and it’s a win-win.”
Over the past few months, National Farmers Union (NFU) has been working to secure legislative support to advance funding for local food procurement programs. In May, during NFU’s Week of Action, many Farmers Union state divisions, including Wisconsin, urged their members of Congress to sponsor legislation on this issue.
Legislation like the Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025 represents a forward-thinking and community-based approach to agriculture that puts farmers and their communities first. WFU will continue to urge our Wisconsin legislators to support this important bill.
