When the Eaton Fire burned the northern Los Angeles suburb in January, the Altadena Community Garden still remained, but members were left wondering how to remediate the garden’s soil after such an unprecedented disaster.

Both Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Angie Craig criticized the Trump administration’s agriculture policies and said they were standing up for small, family farms during Farm Aid’s 40th-anniversary concert in Minneapolis. #FarmAid40 #FarmAid

More libraries are offering programs that help people fight food insecurity and learn wellness and life skills. “Teaching someone how to cook, how to garden, and how to encourage and include their families to participate is really impactful.”

The Altadena Community Garden was a rare shared space for the neighborhood. Its members are determined to save it, through hard work and ingenious amendments. Contributor @jennoldham.bsky.social reports. ⬇️

The Trump administration has disincentivized solar developments on farms, but agrivoltaics continue anyway with local and state support.

Sign up for our Crash Course: Civics and the Food System–a four-part email series dedicated to breaking down the federal government’s role in how food gets to your table. ➡️ buff.ly/tZZLiWo

Studies have shown that shorter-chain PFAS are already prevalent inside homes and bodies in the U.S. And because of their potential to persist in the environment, by the time we learn about their dangers, it may be too late.

Despite federal funding cuts, these culinary literacy groups say they’ll continue the work they are doing in some way, shape, or form. “People who want to do this work find a way. They know it’s really important.” –Carolyn Federman, founder of the Charlie Cart Project

Democrats Decry Corporate Consolidation ‘at Every Single Level’ of the Food System Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/k0wE19u

Recently, the USDA said it will no longer support solar projects that take away viable farmland. But that will make it harder for rural businesses and farmers to access grants and loan guarantees that go to small-scale solar arrays.

House Republicans voted this week to continue limits on congressional challenges to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which farmers and small-business owners say are threatening operations.

The SNAP-Ed program will be terminated in October and other food programs that supported school nutrition and education have been affected by federal funding cuts. We spoke with school food-literacy programs to learn how they are faring and how the cuts are rippling through the food system.

House Republicans Block Tariff Challenges Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/AVX3JeV

Democrats in Congress are once again directing attention to an issue that was a major focus of the Biden administration—how consolidation is making food and agriculture companies bigger and more powerful at the expense of farmers and consumers.

What is the role of the federal government when it comes to our food? And what happens when our food system is pressure-tested? Register for our four-part email series, Crash Course, to dive into all of that and more! buff.ly/tZZLiWo

Witnesses at a House Agriculture Committee Hearing argued that investments in the One Big Beautiful Bill are not enough to address the numerous challenges for specialty crop producers.

The Trump administration terminated SNAP-Ed and made funding cuts to other food programs that supported school nutrition and education. We spoke with school food-literacy programs to learn how they are faring and how the cuts are rippling through the food system.

Specialty Crop Reps Push Congress for Farm Bill, Labor Reform Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/awrO4rV

While the Trump administration disincentivizes solar developments on farms, agrivoltaics continue anyway, with local and state support. So far, 19 states have community solar programs and are exploring agrivoltaics as a way of bringing on low-cost power quickly.

SNAP-Ed will be terminated in October, adding to federal cuts that are impacting national efforts to curb obesity and instill better eating skills at school.

As federal policies become less stable for solar, states and farm groups are looking to community solar projects to fill the gaps.

What role does the government have in shaping our country’s food system? Sign up for our latest Crash Course, where we dive into the fundamentals of federal policies that put food on our plates. ➡️ buff.ly/tZZLiWo

While the Trump administration disincentivizes solar developments on farms, agrivoltaics continue anyway, with local and state support.

Enroll in our latest Crash Course! In this four-part email series, we’ll be diving into the federal government’s role in shaping our food system and what happens when that very system is pressure-tested.

Libraries across the country are increasingly offering public classes on nutrition literacy and food security. “Access to healthy food, nutrition, and food science, [and] knowing how food works in our bodies ... should be free and accessible to the public.”

Introducing Crash Course: Civics and the Food System, a four-part series that explores the fundamental importance of the federal government in getting food on tables, and what happens when the system is pressure-tested. buff.ly/3daRzRa

Introducing our latest Crash Course: Civics and the Food System. In this four-part email series, we’ll explore the fundamental importance of the federal government in getting food on tables. Enroll today! ➡️ buff.ly/3daRzRa

Experts say that conservation measures are critical for building resilience to climate change as farmers increasingly grapple with climate impacts. As risks continue to mount, however, conservation resources are harder to come by.

The North Coast Emergency Food System Partnership connects emergency management and local food-system professionals. The goal of the partnership is to enable the distribution of locally produced food in the wake of disaster.

Farmers and land stewards of color are reclaiming Indigenous knowledge, taking control over their health through holistic remedies, and building spaces for rest and creative expression. “This is about a whole ecosystem of healing.”

Secretary Rollins announced the availability of $18 million for 2026, with changes that will lead to fewer, bigger projects.

Experts say the pesticide approvals come at a time when the administration is also rolling back other policies that were beginning to address all forever chemical contamination in the food supply.

USDA Releases Farm-to-School Funding After Earlier Cancellation Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/3D09dS9

As Extreme Weather Increases Flooding on Farms, Federal Support for Climate Resilience Evaporates

EPA Says the Cost of Food Waste Has Nearly Doubled Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/8RTNC1k

Despite #MAHA promises to reduce chemical exposures, experts warn the Trump administration is approving a wave of "frightening" pesticides.

American consumers are losing about $728 each year to food waste, nearly double previous estimates from the USDA.

This groundbreaking group connects California’s food-system and emergency workers to feed people after devastating fires, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

USDA’s staffing cuts, scuttled conservation programs, and misdirected crop insurance are hitting farmers hard.

MAHA Commission Presents a Roadmap With Few Tangible Policies Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/dTFLqRV

Taxpayers foot 63% of crop insurance payouts & climate change is driving up costs. Far less funding goes to conservation practices which could help lower those costs. @anneschech.bsky.social @ewg-official.bsky.social @nsac-sustainableag.bsky.social @civileats.com civileats.com/2025/09/10/a...

Nutrition and public health advocates say the MAHA report contains a range of ideas with no specific policy or funding directives.

Experts say conservation measures are critical for building resilience to climate change as farmers grapple with flooding, drought, and other climate impacts. But as these risks continue to mount, conservation resources are harder to come by. Contributor @megwilcox.bsky.social reports. ⬇️

Trump Administration Pauses Charitable Campaign That Funds Food Programs Read more from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/PgIlYaL

Our first story on today’s MAHA report release, with more to come. @civileats.com civileats.com/2025/09/09/m...

Despite criticisms from Make America Healthy Again supporters who have been calling for action on the use of pesticides linked to health risks, the MAHA Commission’s Strategy Report removed one of the only mentions of “reducing” pesticide use included in an earlier draft.

Experts say these approvals come at a time when the administration is also rolling back other policies that were beginning to address all forever chemical contamination in the food supply.

The Trump administration has put on hold an annual charity drive that resulted in federal employees donating about $70 million a year to nonprofit organizations—including $5 million to food and agriculture initiatives.

Between April and June of this year, the EPA proposed the approval of four new pesticides that qualify as PFAS based on a definition that is commonly used around the world and supported by experts. “What we’re seeing right now is the new generation of pesticides.”

It’s one of several bills attempting to undo food aid cuts made in the One Big Beautiful Bill, but lawmakers likely don’t have the votes to pass any of them.