The U.S. Department of Agriculture is stepping up its game with a fresh round of Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants, pouring up to $18 million into a pot that's meant to forge stronger connections between farms and school cafeterias, agricultural education, and local food scenes. Interested parties need to get their skates on, with applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 grants open until December 5. Details about the grant program and its eligibility requirements are available on the USDA website.
At the MAHA Report announcement, Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that reducing red tape and fostering innovative partnerships will help smaller family-run farms secure a fairer share of resources. “Yesterday at the MAHA Report announcement, alongside Secretary Kennedy, we announced one of the key actions USDA has already taken to contribute to making our children healthy again – Farm to School Grants. These initiatives are one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture,” Rollins stated. “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. Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is proud to streamline this program, so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation. Putting America’s Farmers First starts with putting our children first," as noted by the USDA's website.
Launched in 2013, the Farm to School Grant program has awarded more than $100 million to support over 1,200 projects nationwide. This year’s allocation marks the largest single-year investment to date, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving student nutrition and strengthening local agriculture.
The grants will support schools and child nutrition program operators in adding unprocessed, locally sourced food to their meal plans, training producers to meet procurement and food safety standards, incorporating agricultural education into vocational programs, and promoting healthy eating with fresh fruits and vegetables.
