NJFDC Brings New Jersey Farmers’ Voices to Capitol Hill
Earlier this month, NJ Food Democracy Collaborative Executive Director Jeanine Cava and farmer-leader Jennifer LaMonaca of Walkingbird Farm in Galloway Township traveled to Washington, DC for the Winter Coalition Member Meeting and Lobby Day hosted by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).
What is NSAC?
NSAC is a national alliance of grassroots organizations advocating for federal policies that support sustainable agriculture, small and mid-sized farms, climate resilience, and equitable food systems. The coalition represents farmers, conservation groups, food system advocates, and rural organizations from across the country and works closely with Congress and USDA to shape the Farm Bill and other federal legislation.
NSAC’s membership includes over 130 grassroots member organizations that work together to advance federal policy for sustainable agriculture, food systems, natural resource conservation, and rural communities, such as:
● National Young Farmers Coalition
● Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA
● Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
● Northeast Organic Farming Association
● Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
Together, these organizations amplify farmer voices at the federal level — ensuring that national policy reflects on-the-ground realities.
During the week’s meetings, NSAC members — including farmers from across the country — met not only with individual members of Congress, but also with staff from the Senate Appropriations Committee and leadership at USDA agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Participants provided direct testimony about conditions on the ground and detailed how recent funding freezes, staffing losses, and the zeroing out of key program funding are disrupting farm operations, conservation efforts, and local food supply chains nationwide.
Meeting with New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation
While in DC, Cava and LaMonaca met with staff in the offices of Senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker, and Congressman Jefferson Van Drew (District 2) to elevate the urgent needs of New Jersey’s small and mid-sized farms.
LaMonaca shared firsthand how climate pressures, rising costs, and unstable markets are affecting specialty crop producers across the state. She spoke at length about how transformative the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools programs were for NJ producers — and how their sudden cancellation heading into this growing season is causing real anxiety and financial strain for farmers like her.
“This funding fostered growth. It gave us the opportunity to scale up from a direct-to-consumer market, a roadside farm stand, to an institutional buyer. It diversified our business, provided a reliable market and appropriate income. Over 2 years of LFPA funding, we built a strong relationship with our local Community Food Bank (CFBNJ). In turn, they invested in us. We received a grant from CFBNJ to support our ability to pack more boxes of high quality, fresh produce for people facing food insecurity. LFPA had the ability to create widespread positive actions, long-standing and far-reaching impacts on individuals and communities. Losing LFPA puts us all in a precarious state and essentially negates the growth and success of this pilot program, “ said LaMonaca.
Our Top Message: Farmers Need Stable Markets
A key priority was advancing bipartisan federal legislation that would restore and expand local food purchasing programs for schools, food banks, and community food access organizations. These bills — the Strengthening Local Food Security Act (S.2338) and the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act (H.R.4782) — would create dependable domestic markets for farmers while ensuring fresh, locally grown food reaches communities nationwide.
Before similar programs were terminated in 2025:
● NJ farmers received nearly $19 million through the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program
● 47% of participating NJ farmers were socially disadvantaged producers
● NJ lost more than $26 million in promised funding when programs were cut
For many New Jersey producers — especially specialty crop farmers — these programs are not supplemental. They are a lifeline.
USDA Staffing Cuts Are Hurting Farmers
We also raised concerns about USDA staffing losses. In 2025, New Jersey lost 21% of its USDA workforce — 118 positions — including significant reductions in Food and Nutrition Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff.
These are the people who help farmers enroll in conservation programs, process disaster assistance, and access federal funding. Without adequate staffing, even well-designed programs cannot function effectively.
Climate Resilience and a Stronger Safety Net
New Jersey farms received more than $10.8 million in conservation payments in 2024, helping producers adopt soil health and water management practices that build long-term resilience. Yet only 8% of NJ farms carry crop insurance, leaving most farms highly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Continued conservation investment, restored local food purchasing programs, and a comprehensive Farm Bill that reflects today’s agricultural realities are all essential to keeping farmers on the land.
Moving Forward
Farmers are resilient — but they cannot weather growing instability alone. Through our partnership with NSAC and collaboration with farmer-leaders like Jennifer LaMonaca, NJFDC will continue ensuring that New Jersey’s farmers have a voice in federal policy decisions.
Our vision remains clear: thriving local food economies powered by small and mid-sized farms that can feed their communities — and make a living doing it.
