Farm to Food Assistance Programs

October 6, 2026
Article for Farm to Table by Bonnie Murphy, Regional Farm to Food Bank Program & Pam Roy, Farm to Table NM

The Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program demonstrated that strategic investments in local food systems can strengthen agricultural economies while improving food access. Despite its broad success, federal funding for LFPA was eliminated in 2025.

Recognizing the program’s value, New Mexico secured a one-year, $2 million appropriation for Regional Farm to Food Bank (RF2FB) during the 2026 legislative session. This investment will continue purchasing locally produced foods for the statewide emergency feeding network in Fiscal Year 2027. New Mexico is one of only a handful of states that has committed state resources to continue this work. While this investment provides an important bridge, long-term nationwide success will require federal partnership.

Congress now has an opportunity to build on LFPA’s success through the reauthorization of the Farm Bill. The Food and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), recently passed by the House of Representatives, includes the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act (H.R. 4782),. The Act would provide LFPA-like support for local and regional food systems. In the Senate, the proposed Strengthening Local Food Security Act (S. 2338) would establish long-term federal support for local food purchasing and emergency food distribution.

To continue this progress and ensure these benefits reach communities for years to come, Congress would need to include dedicated, long-term funding for LFPA style programs in the final Farm Bill.

In early August, the Senate Agriculture Committee took up the Farm Bill. Senator John Boozman (AR), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, kicked off Farm Bill negotiations with a set of priorities that did not include many of the Farm Bill requests that would benefit New Mexico and most states. The major debate was the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) error rate and the cost share that states are now required to pay. The Senate Agriculture Committee proposed delaying the state level SNAP cost share burden for one year. This is not a solution for states.

In New Mexico, as of June 30, 2026, 441,060 New Mexicans benefited from SNAP (down from 459,108 a year ago, -3.93%) with a SNAP error rate of more than 16.6% (average 10.6% national rate). We know this means a potential federal penalty of at least $149 million and a potential cost of about $173 million to the state annually. This has a domino effect in multiple ways. Our food banks and pantries are sharing the increased challenges with us. We are so fortunate to be in New Mexico with so much state and federal delegation support! Yet, with all of the care and commitment in New Mexico, it doesn’t solve our food insecurity problem.

Senator Bennet on the Senate Agriculture Committee introduced amendments in support of conservation programs such as EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Watershed Protection and the Emergency Forest and Watershed Protection Act, all that would benefit New Mexico, do not have the current support needed to be included in the bill. These programs are highly effective and used by many farmers and ranchers in New Mexico.

In total, 22 Senate Agriculture Committee members introduced amendments to secure resources across the Farm Bill’s 12 Titles. However, the Committee measure ultimately failed on an 10-to-11 vote (with Senator Mitch McConnell absent).

The major debate is the SNAP error rate and the cost share that states are required to pay.

In the meantime, programs like LFPA provide important additions to SNAP at the local level, providing fresh, nutritious, locally grown food to those in need while increasing economic opportunities for farmers.

For more information on New Mexico’s Regional Farm to Food Bank Program, please visit: www.nmfoodbanks.org