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Why small Tennessee farmers will lose millions after USDA budget cuts

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Why small Tennessee farmers will lose millions after USDA budget cuts


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  • The budget cuts will impact two programs: The Local Food for Schools and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement programs.
  • The programs funneled millions to Tennessee farmers to keep local products in local communities.
  • The food, like fresh eggs and produce, went to nearby schools to help feed children and to local food pantries.

Tennessee farmers will lose millions in local food purchases after sweeping federal cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture led to the closure of two programs funding fresh food for schools and food banks.

The USDA announced nearly $1 billion in cuts last week, shuttering the Local Food for Schools program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement.

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The two programs funneled millions of dollars into Tennessee to keep local products in local communities, buying things like fresh eggs or produce from small farms to feed kids at nearby schools or needy populations at local food pantries.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture confirmed this week the state was informed on March 7 the local food purchase program would close. The Tennessee Department of Education, which administers the local schools program, has not yet responded to a Tennessean inquiry, but the School Nutrition Association reports $660 million in funds for schools to buy local food had been canceled nationwide.

Jeannine Carpenter, chief communications officer for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, said food bank officials had watched cost-cutting developments in Washington D.C. with trepidation but hoped the local programs would not be caught up in a wave of cuts.

Tennessee had previously contracted with the five regional food banks that cover the state. Those organizations then contracted with local farmers, like the seven farmers who supplied Chattanooga’s food bank with goods that were distributed through 38 community pantries in 11 counties in the first year of the program.

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Now, the programs will shut down entirely, just three months after the USDA announced a $1.13 billion investment in the upcoming fiscal year. Tennessee planned to opt-in again to draw down those funds, TDA confirmed.

“The decisions to take away access to local food are being made by people who have never stepped foot on a small Tennessee farm or shopped in a Tennessee farmer’s market,” Carpenter said.

The local food purchase program was first developed in 2021 with COVID-era recovery funds, and local farmers who contracted with the program praised the stability it provided farms by paying market rate while keeping locally grown food in local communities. Funding was later established to make it a permanent program.

In late 2023, a Tennessee Department of Agriculture error led to the state missing out on more than $7 million in the program’s second round of funding. Tennessee lawmakers, recognizing the value of the program, pushed the state department to make up the lost funds.

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Those state dollars are currently being spent, Carpenter said, and will maintain farmer contracts through the end of the year.

Expected 2025 funding for the Local Food for Schools program, however, will not come.

‘We’re just a small family business’: Local farmers say cuts hurt them

For Kelsey Keener, the end of the program will mean a disappointing coda for a contract that provided financial consistency for his family farm and a meaningful connection to the community.

Keener, a second generation farmer at Sequatchie Cove Farm, was one of the first farmers to sign up for the first round of the local food purchase program. Though Keener said he was hesitant to rely too much on a single contract, the federal funds provided a “signficant” source of income at a critical time for the farm.

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Sequatchie was able to scale up its operations over the last three years, in part thanks to the contract. Keener said it made up about 20% of their expected income at its high watermark.

Sequatchie was proud to provide fresh farm eggs and meat to their neighbors in Middle and East Tennessee, and the local contract gave the farm more flexibility with the natural ebbs and flows of production capacity than they might find with a corporate contract.

Keener said he was disappointed when he learned the funding was cut for a program that was an obvious “win-win” for both the farmers and recipients of the food.

“The bigger picture political messaging with all of the cuts, it sounds like they’re just cutting superfluous stuff that doesn’t affect anybody and it’s all a waste of money,” Keener said. “But it did affect us financially in a real way. We’re not some big corporation that’s just taking advantage of the system.

“We’re just a small family business trying to make a living.”

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target

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Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target


The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.

The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.

The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.

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Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.

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Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.

Jaquez White’s 2025 Season

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Troy Trojans cornerback Jaquez White (8) tackles Clemson Tigers running back Adam Randall (8) Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 during the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”

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Tennessee football DL Josh Schell enters transfer portal

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Tennessee football DL Josh Schell enters transfer portal


Tennessee defensive lineman Josh Schell has entered the transfer portal, he announced on social media on Jan. 6.

Schell had a short stint at Tennessee after transferring from Grand Valley State in April. He played all 13 games and made one tackle in the 2025 season.

Schell played more than 100 snaps, mostly on special teams. He never cracked the rotation on the defensive line.

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Schell spent three seasons at Grand Valley State, including a redshirt year, and one season at Tennessee. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder is from Camden, New Jersey. His best college season was 2024 at Grand Valley State, when he played 13 games and recorded 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

He was also a pitcher on the Grand Valley State baseball game in the 2023 season.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Tennessee Titans head coach interview schedule takes shape

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Tennessee Titans head coach interview schedule takes shape


The Tennessee Titans’ search for their next head coach is coming into focus, and the initial interview phase is in full swing.

Following the news that Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy would be having a first virtual interview on Thursday, the dates and times for some interviews for other candidates have come out.

Multiple reports on social media indicate that Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will meet with Mike Borgonzi on Wednesday, followed by Nagy on Thursday. The team will then follow that up by meeting with former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on Saturday and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on Monday.

Tennessee will also meet with interim head coach Mike McCoy, and is rumored to have interest in former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

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It’s an ever-changing process in Nashville. Stay up to date with all the coaching search news with us here at Titans Wire, and please sound off with your thoughts.



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