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Two Dozen Organizations and Farmers Testified on the Damage Being Done
Local Food Forum on Tuesday reported on the powerful testimony by farmers and advocates at an Illinois House Agriculture Committee hearing on the destructive impact of federal reimbursement freezes imposed by the USDA under the administration in Washington, D.C.
Illinois Stewardship Alliance, the state's leading public policy advocate for the local food and farm community, has shared the full video of the event (click the button below). It is long, but even if you watch it in parts, you likely will be moved and enraged about the abrupt actions and the thoughtless impacts they are imposing on our hard-working farmers.
The video link was part of a call to action message from Liz Moran Stelk, executive director of Illinois Stewardship Alliance, which we share here.
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Yesterday, farmers showed up and showed out with three hours of powerful testimony about the tremendous progress they’ve been making to feed our communities fresh, healthy, sustainable local food that’s been disrupted by the unprecedented federal funding freeze.
Farmers shared their stories in a state Ag Committee Hearing, and now our federal members of Congress need to hear from us.
State Rep. Sonya Harper, chair of the Agriculture & Conservation Committee of the Illinois General Assembly, held a Hearing yesterday to investigate the impacts of the federal funding freeze, tariffs, and delayed farm bill.
In just a few days, farmers organized and prepared to share their testimony.
John Bartman, who farms a 900-acre regenerative vegetable and grain farm in Marengo, told state lawmakers in the hearing that he can’t make his farmland rent because USDA has frozen the climate-smart payments to farmers.
Jackie DeBatisa, a farmer and Executive Director of Farmers Rising, described how federal investments are meaningfully growing our local food systems but the system isn’t prepared to handle a shift in demand with tariffs.
Jody Osmund, who raises livestock at Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm in Ottawa, said that the freeze erodes trust: "When hardworking farmers sign contracts with Uncle Sam and our government does not honor those, who can we trust?"
Ben Stumpf, with Rumblin’ Ernie Farm in the Metro East, said that the sales through IL EATS allowed him to stop working midnights at UPS to farm full time, and now doesn't know what's next.
These farmers, and more, courageously shared their stories in hopes that USDA Sec. Rollins will lift the freeze on contracts for programs like IL EATS/ Local Food Purchasing Assistance, Resilient Food System Infrastructure, Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities, and many more.
Farmers, food access organizations, and advocates made it clear that the freeze puts small farms at risk, halts food assistance programs, and destabilizes local food systems.
None of this should be happening. Congress can act to fix it.
Many of the farmers who testified are members of our organization, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, who organize on food system and sustainable agriculture issues that help lead to a future where Illinois farmers can feed Illinois.
If you’re not also a member of our farmer-led, eater-powered Alliance, this is a moment when organized people power matters most -- become a member, renew your membership, or become a sustaining monthly member right now.
Power in numbers matters.
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