Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 7h

And this photo is of a tour of back-end waste sorting the day before the festival, with Green Team, University of Minnesota sustainability lead, and the r.Cup team

Thank you to our incredible Green Team, volunteers and fans for helping us reduce waste at Farm Aid 40! 👏👏

5

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 7h

This photo shows food donations being made to Loaves & Fishes, which serves free, healthy meals to Minnesotans where the need is greatest.

1 5

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 7h

We were very proud to learn this week that Farm Aid 40, which took place last month in Minneapolis, was the first-ever Zero Waste event at Huntington Bank Stadium! That means we reached a 90% diversion rate.

In these photos, hay bales are donated to a local farmer:

2 4 21

Reposted by Farm Aid

Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 9h

Two of the biggest players in the highly concentrated beef sector settle price-fixing charges, after consumers accused Tyson and Cargill of conspiring to inflate U.S. beef prices by restricting supply. www.producer.com/daily/tyson-...

Tyson, Cargill to pay $88 million to consumers in U.S. beef price-fixing lawsuit | The Western Producer

Tyson Foods and Cargill have agreed to pay a combined $87.5 million (C$122.1 million) to settle a federal lawsuit brought by consumers who accused the companies of conspiring to inflate U.S. beef pric...

www.producer.com

1 2

Reposted by Farm Aid

Angie Rupchock-Schafer @angrschafer.bsky.social · 12h

I may be on furlough as a fed, but that doesn't mean the work of #FarmtoSchool stops cold!!

Spent the morning volunteering and teaching local students how to butcher and process farm-raised chickens.

1 2 4

Reposted by Farm Aid

Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15h

Ag conservation practices can help. We found that adopting the four best conservation practices on just 1% of continuous corn acres each in the four states would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions at an amount that would be like taking over 850,000 cars off the road. See report for more info. 4/4

1 5

Reposted by Farm Aid

Kate Anderson @agroeco.bsky.social · 1d

The biggest corn harvest in U.S. history should be good news—but it’s not. In this blog, I crunched the numbers on how much overproduction is bankrupting farmers, burdening taxpayers, and battering the environment.

blog.ucs.org/kathryn-ande...

Why Planting Too Much Corn Hurts Farmers—and the Environment

US agriculture encourages farmers to plant too much corn, which drives prices down and increases pollution that harms our water and climate.

blog.ucs.org

3 7

Reposted by Farm Aid

Civil Eats @civileats.com · 1d

We looked into the backgrounds of the most prominent individuals currently working on food and agriculture within federal agencies.

What follows is the first full accounting of those individuals’ past and present links to corporations.

The Industry Ties Within Trump’s Food and Ag Leadership

Many of the president’s top officials at USDA, EPA, HHS, and FDA have connections to chemical, agribusiness, or fossil fuel interests.

buff.ly

6 5

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 1d

The roadmap initially established a goal of allocating 25% of funds in 2022, followed by 40% of funds in 2024, to those small and mid-sized farmers historically left out of opportunities in the food system.
...
Last year, 100% of grant funding went to these prioritized farmers, up from 84% in 2022.

Grist @grist.org · 1d

Small farmers are more squeezed than ever. A California grant program offers a lifeline.

grist.org/food-and-agr...

#Farms #Food #CA #California #Agriculture

Small farmers are more squeezed than ever. A California grant program offers a lifeline.

A recent report shows that the state’s farm-to-school grant program has been effective at supporting economically disadvantaged farmers in the face of mounting federal cuts.

grist.org

3

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 1d

"In a heartfelt conversation... we explore the organization's four-decade journey, its impact on local communities and farmers, and the exciting future that lies ahead."

Listen wherever you get podcasts, like:

Episode 10-Interview with Jennifer Fahy Co-Executive Director of Farm Aid

Podcast Episode · The Grazing Groove, Pastures Pints and Playlists · 07/10/2025 · 39m

podcasts.apple.com

2

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 1d

We were honored to join the podcast The Grazing Groove ("where the rhythms of farm life meet the melodies of live music, hosted from the heart of Roberts Family Farm in Sandwich, Illinois"), when our Co-Executive Director Jennifer Fahy was interviewed.

Episode 10-Interview with Jennifer Fahy Co-Executive Director of Farm Aid

The Grazing Groove, Pastures Pints and Playlists · Episode

open.spotify.com

1 1 3

Reposted by Farm Aid

Civil Eats @civileats.com · 2d

The Trump administration made two changes to the federal farm guestworker program that will make it easier for farms to bring seasonal workers in from other countries and allow them to pay those workers less.

Labor Department Eases Application Process and Lowers Wages for Guest Farmworkers

United Farm Workers said the shifts will hurt both migrant and domestic farmworkers. Farm groups praised the changes.

buff.ly

1

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

So far in this administration, more than $410 billion has been withheld from communities for things like VA hospitals, conservation programs, infrastructure projects and healthcare. Democrats want reassurance that the funding bill won't be subject to unauthorized changes by the Executive branch.

10

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Democrats are also demanding that the Trump Administration stop unilaterally rescinding legally-owed funds that have been authorized by Congress through the budget process.

1 2 10

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Since farmers overwhelmingly name healthcare costs are one of their major hurdles to their success, this is crucially important to Farm Aid. So far, Republicans have rejected the call to extend healthcare funding to prevent these exorbitant increases.

1 4

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Without the continuation of subsidies that support families to be able to afford insurance, affected Americans will see an average increase of 75% to healthcare premiums in coming months and 4 million Americans will lose coverage.

1 3

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

The shutdown is a result of an impasse in Congress. The standoff hinges on Congressional Democrats' call for a spending deal that includes a solution to the looming increase in healthcare costs that will go into effect January 1 unless Congress acts.

1 3

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Farm Aid's Hotline will continue to operate during this shutdown, helping farmers find answers and support in this challenging time.

1 1 4

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Government shutdowns don't just impact government employees, they also impact the farmers and communities who depend on federal programs and services. In a time when farmers are already struggling and harvest is right around the corner, the shutdown is yet another source of uncertainty.

1 2 12

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Farm Aid's Hotline will continue to operate during this shutdown, helping farmers find answers and support in this challenging time.

1 9

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Government shutdowns don't just impact government employees, they also impact the farmers and communities who depend on federal programs and services. In a time when farmers are already struggling and harvest is right around the corner, the shutdown is yet another source of uncertainty.

2 2 9

Reposted by Farm Aid

Civil Eats @civileats.com · 6d

This Federal Food and Agriculture Work Will Cease During the Shutdown

Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/zxr77Yw

This Federal Food and Agriculture Work Will Cease During the Shutdown

Under a federal shutdown, the government agencies that regulate and support the food system are now implementing plans to furlough employees and stop work on programs deemed non-essential.

President Donald Trump has also threatened to use the shutdown to implement further permanent job cuts at agencies. So far, food and agriculture agencies have not indicated whether they will implement additional reductions in force (RIF) during the shutdown, but other agencies have already begun firing staff.

As the shutdown persists, here’s what we know about the work that will—and won’t—get done at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

4 1

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

Farm Aid's critical work depends on the support of people like you to strengthen family farmers, put equity and climate resilience at the root of our farm and food system and build the movement for family farm food.

2 7

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 5d

The #FarmAid40 auction ends today at 5pm EDT! From guitars and vinyl LPs, to posters and official festival banners, there's something for everyone. Proceeds from the auction support Farm Aid's work.

farmaid.org/auction

1 1 8

Reposted by Farm Aid

State Innovation Exchange @stateinnovation.org · 6d

We spent the morning at Kilimo Farms with @mwfarmersofcolor.bsky.social during our @farmaid.org 40-legislator delegation and left with full hearts, fresh veggies, and a deeper understanding of what farming for justice really looks like.

A few 📸 from the visit:

1 3 5