Prairie State Wire

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II recently addressed the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee in Springfield to discuss the impact of federal funding cuts and tariffs on Illinois farmers. Accompanied by stakeholders from various sectors, Costello emphasized the repercussions these changes have on local agriculture.

Costello's testimony highlighted several cooperative agreements between the USDA and IDOA, such as the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). These programs aimed to support socially disadvantaged farmers in Illinois, but recent federal funding cuts threaten their sustainability.

"The LFPA was designed to support both ends of the food chain - farmers and those they feed," said Costello. "Cutting the funding leaves farmers on the hook for expenses they incurred believing they would be reimbursed and leaves our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities without meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations they were promised."

The RFSI program also faces challenges due to terminated funds. It was intended to strengthen resilience within the food supply chain by providing grant dollars for infrastructure investments. Without federal support, its operation is at risk.

Governor Pritzker described these funding cuts as "a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed." Costello echoed this sentiment, noting that these funds were initially passed by Congress and signed into law before being abruptly cut.

Additionally, Costello addressed concerns about tariffs imposed during Trump's administration. These tariffs affect key trading partners like Canada, China, and Mexico—countries that account for nearly half of all U.S. agricultural exports. "These tariffs are an attack on Illinois farmers," he stated. "Countries forced to pay them may simply find new trade partners beyond the U.S."

Various organizations attended this hearing, including representatives from state departments, universities, farming associations, conservation groups, and local farms.