Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) is deeply disappointed following the Joint Finance Committee’s (JFC) late night decision on Friday to exclude the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance (WI LFPA) program from consideration in the 2025-2027 biennial Wisconsin state budget.
“The removal of WI LFPA from the final motion in review of DATCP’s Agricultural Assistance budget last Friday is a missed opportunity to invest in a program that has delivered real benefits to farmers and communities across Wisconsin,” WFU President Darin Von Ruden said. “This bipartisan initiative connects local producers with food access organizations, strengthens our state’s food system, and supports our agricultural economy.”
WFU mobilized a statewide action campaign in support of WI LFPA, with advocates speaking up at the Joint Finance Committee hearings in April. Constituents also sent 1258 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, from rural towns to urban neighborhoods, WI LFPA benefits communities all across Wisconsin.
By the end of August every dollar allocated to Wisconsin through the federal LFPA program will have been spent building relationships between farmers and food access organizations and getting nutritious, locally grown food to those who need it most. The WI LFPA program is a win-win for farmers, food access organizations, and communities. In 2023 and 2024, WI LFPA had:
● 283 Producers Participating
● 72 Counties Served
● 261 Types of Products
● 254 Food Access Partners Receiving Deliveries
● $4.23M Worth of Food Delivered
“Farmers and community members, rural and urban alike, are united in their support for this program,” WFU Government Relations Director Michelle Ramriez-White said. “We urge state legislators to listen to their constituents and use their power as elected representatives to restore WI LFPA funding. We urge constituents to call their legislators and continue making their voices heard in support of funding for WI LFPA.”
This program represents a forward-thinking and community-based approach to agriculture and food access. WFU will continue to advocate for stand-alone legislation that allocates funding to support the critical work of the WI LFPA program.
Learn more and take action on WI LFPA at: wisconsinfarmersunion.com/action
