The USDA ERS/Farm Foundation Agricultural Scholars finished their year-long program with a week in Washington, D.C., where they presented their capstone projects, participated in the WASDE lockup and met with agricultural research and policy leaders. 

Offered in collaboration with the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), Farm Foundation’s fully funded, 12-month Agricultural Scholars Program helps graduate students gain practical experience in agricultural economics and policy. Each Scholar works with an experienced ERS economist and participates in conferences, Farm Foundation leadership experiences and visits with government agencies and agricultural businesses. 

Since its launch in 2020, the program has served 75 participants through 2026. The Washington trip was the final opportunity for this year’s Scholars to come together, share their research and learn from professionals across agriculture. 

The 2026 Scholars are: 

• Eric Belleville, The Ohio State University, Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics 

• Hence Duncan, Oklahoma State University 

• Elizabeth Dworkin, Iowa State University 

• Parthu Kalva, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

• Asa Dolbow Vann, Purdue University 

Presenting Their Capstone Research 

The capstone presentations were a key part of the Washington trip. Scholars presented their projects to USDA ERS economists, sharing their research and explaining its relevance to agriculture. 

The presentations brought together a year of mentorship and learning while giving Scholars experience discussing their work with a professional audience. Communicating research is an important skill as they prepare for careers in agricultural economics, policy and related fields.

Inside the WASDE Lockup 

Another highlight was participation in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) lockup. USDA’s monthly report provides agricultural supply and demand forecasts used by producers, businesses and policymakers to understand commodity markets. 

Scholars saw the secure process surrounding the report’s preparation and release, gaining a closer look at how USDA protects market-sensitive information before publication. 

Farm Tours and Policy Meetings 

The week included a tour of Corteva’s Chesapeake Farms, a 3,300-acre research and demonstration farm along a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Scholars learned about corn and soybean research, wildlife and habitat management, and farming practices that protect the surrounding watershed. 

On Capitol Hill, they met with Karl Anderson, Mike Schmidt and Brandon Honeycutt of the Senate Agriculture Committee, as well as Josie Montoney of the House Agriculture Committee. 

They also met with Sara Neagu-Reed of the International Fresh Produce Association, Brian Glenn of the American Farm Bureau Federation and BGR Group’s Kellie Adesina, a Farm Foundation board member. These conversations offered perspectives on agricultural policy and the work of congressional staff, agricultural organizations, and government relations professionals. 

At USDA, meetings with ERS leaders Kelly Maguire and Michele Esch, as well as Dr. Scott Hutchins, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, introduced Scholars to agricultural research leadership within the department. 

The Scholars also met with Rebecca Nemec, Stephanie Morris and Abigail Edwards from USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist to learn more about the office’s work and how economic analysis informs public decisions. 

The Washington trip closed out the year with experience presenting research and learning how it is used. Through their capstone projects, the WASDE lockup and conversations throughout the week, Scholars built professional relationships and gained a better understanding of the work they may pursue after graduate school. 

Learn more about Farm Foundation’s Agricultural Scholars Program.

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On October 13, 2026, Farm Foundation hosted “Farming in the Age of AI,” a virtual Forum exploring how emerging artificial intelligence technologies were being applied in agriculture. The conversation examined where AI was delivering measurable value, where adoption remained challenging, and how these tools might shape the future of farm management.

The Forum featured:

• Dan Maycock, Co-Founder, Dataplai
• Tim Marquis, Senior Product Manager, Precision Ag Analytics, John Deere
• Alex Echols, Program Strategist, Agriculture, Campbell Foundation
• John Dawes, Executive Director and Co-Founder, The Commons.

Participants discussed AI’s opportunities and limitations, along with the policy, workforce, and data considerations influencing its integration into U.S. agriculture. The discussion explored what was needed to turn technological advances into practical value for producers and the broader food system.

Missed the Forum? Watch the recording and explore the presentation slides.

The post Farming in the Age of AI: Recording Now Available appeared first on Farm Foundation.

As candidates debate public safety ahead of the midterm elections, a new assessment of the nation’s historic homicide decline suggests there is no single explanation for the drop — and that some widely discussed enforcement strategies may have played little role.

A survey of nearly 50 crime scholars convened by the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice found the strongest support that the top contributing factors to the drop in homicide rates have been community violence intervention programs, the easing of pandemic-related disruptions, and focused deterrence strategies that pair law enforcement with social services.

The findings come amid a historic national decline in homicide. In 2025, the estimated U.S. murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate fell 18.1% compared with 2024, which equates to about 4 killings per 100,000 people. It tied the lowest rate recorded since national estimates began. The FBI recorded the same rate in 1955 and 1956. 

But a national decline does not mean every community has experienced the same drop.

The decline has unfolded in cities with different public safety strategies, economic conditions and political leadership, complicating efforts to credit any one approach, according to the council’s report.

The researchers rated 48 potential explanations for the decline between 2022 and 2026. Six factors received support from more than two-thirds of respondents as contributing either substantially or to a limited degree:

• Expanded community violence intervention programs, which work directly with people at highest risk of violence, were rated as either a major or a limited contributor contributing by 91% of researchers. 
• The pandemic recovery was rated as a major or a limited contributor by 83% of respondents. It was the only factor that a majority of respondents, 57%, rated as a major contributor.
• Eighty-three percent of the crime scholars gave credit to the increased use of focused deterrence, an approach that targets high-risk individuals and groups directly with a carrot-and-stick approach through social support and law enforcement.
• Researchers also pointed to increased local government capacity to provide social services, with 75% rating it either a major or limited contributor.
• Greater public safety and support resources relative to demand earned a rating of 68%.
• And more proactive policing was likewise named as a major or limited factor by 68% of the scholars.

Researchers largely dismissed more than half of the potential explanations, including National Guard deployments, increased immigration enforcement and increased pretrial detention. 

Other factors thought to have contributed little included homeless encampment removals, improved housing stability, electronic monitoring, GLP-1 medications, declining cash use, presidential public safety signals, DNA databases, neighborhood crime alerts and increased incarceration.

The findings do not establish that any one strategy caused homicide to fall. The ratings reflect researchers’ professional judgments, not definitive findings, and multiple factors may have overlapped or reinforced one another, according to the council’s report. 

The council also cautioned that a factor judged to have contributed little to the recent decline could still help reduce violence in the future.

But understanding what drove the decline could help policymakers determine how to sustain the progress, according to the council’s report. 

“Theories and claims abound, and sorting among them is essential if we’re going to sustain the progress. This diverse array of researchers took the challenge seriously, testing competing explanations, debating the evidence, and making tough judgments,” Adam Gelb, the president and CEO of the council, said in a news release. “Their effort leaves the country with a much clearer picture of what likely contributed, what probably did not, and what we still need to learn.” 

Stateline reporter Amanda Watford can be reached at awatford@stateline.org.

Who is making a difference in food and agriculture today?

Nominations are now open for the 2027 Farm Foundation Awards, recognizing the people, organizations, and ideas creating meaningful impact across the food and agriculture sectors.

In June 2026, we celebrated Dr. Andrew Muhammad with the R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award, Dr. Mya O. Price with the Emerging Leader Award, and Joel Harris with the Innovator of the Year Award. Agribusiness Management, 7th Edition, by Jay Akridge, John Foltz, Elizabeth A. Yeager, Brady E. Brewer, and Trey Malone were recognized as the Farm Foundation Book of the Year.

Who should we recognize next?

Now is your opportunity to recognize them. Nominations are open in five categories: 
R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award 
Transformational Leadership Award 
Innovator of the Year Award 
Emerging Leader Award 
Farm Foundation Book of the Year Award 

Anyone may submit a nomination, including a self-nomination. Award recipients will be recognized in person at the Farm Foundation Round Table meeting in Toronto, Canada, in June 2027.

Know someone whose work deserves to be recognized? Tell us their story. 
Nominations close December 11, 2026.

Learn more about the award criteria and submit a nomination

The post 2027 Farm Foundation Awards Nominations appeared first on Farm Foundation.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration must spend the $810 million that it said last week it planned to cancel, according to a report released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office. 

The congressional watchdog’s decision contends the White House budget office doesn’t hold the ability to claw back that funding without approval from Congress. 

“Any withholding of appropriated funds beyond their date of expiration, regardless of size, subverts both the constitutional process for enacting federal law and Congress’s constitutional power of the purse,” wrote GAO General Counsel Edda Emmanuelli Perez.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought disagreed with the decision, though he wrote in a social media post it was not “a surprise.”

“GAO has become hyper partisan and Congress recently attempted to cut their spending because of it,” Vought wrote. “GAO changed its long-time opinion on this very issue from the 1970s when they specifically noted the tool was available to the president. They make their legal assessments based on whether Democrats are in the White House.”

‘Pocket rescission’

A federal law known as the Impoundment Control Act allows the White House to ask Congress to cancel funding that lawmakers previously approved and the president signed into law.  

Lawmakers have 45 days after the rescission request is sent to decide whether they want to approve it in full or modify the proposal. Congress declining to take any action means lawmakers have rejected the plans and the administration must spend the money. 

A request sent during the last 45 days of the federal fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30, is known as a pocket rescission. 

The Trump administration believes that sending a rescissions request during that timeframe allows it to cancel the funding regardless of whether lawmakers sign off on the plan. 

The GAO has disagreed with that opinion before and reiterated it Tuesday in its five-page decision.

“The Constitution vests in Congress the power of the purse, and Congress did not cede this important power through the ICA,” Perez wrote.  

“Instead, the terms of the ICA are strictly limited,” she added. “The ICA permits only the temporary withholding of budget authority and provides that unless Congress rescinds the amounts at issue, they must be made available for obligation. The President cannot rely on the authority in the ICA to withhold amounts from obligation, while simultaneously disregarding the ICA’s limitations.”

Refugee aid programs

The rescissions request the Trump administration sent Congress on Friday proposed lawmakers cancel funding for several line items, including refugee assistance programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, a Treasury Department program that provided “debt forgiveness to foreign countries that make climate change-related investments for coral reefs and tropical forests” and a grant program at the Minority Business Development Agency.

The administration submitted its first pocket rescissions request in August 2025 and cancelled $4.9 billion without congressional action. 

That came a few months after the White House budget office successfully worked with Republican lawmakers to rescind $9 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and certain foreign aid accounts. 

States, cities and counties filed a pair of lawsuits Monday challenging new federal rules that will allow immigrants’ use of safety net resources to be taken into account for green cards and other applications to stay in or enter the country.

The new federal policy goes into effect Friday and broadens the discretion of immigration officers reviewing applications for green cards, certain visas or admissions into the U.S., allowing officers to consider enrollment in public benefits, such as housing and food assistance, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as something called “public charge.” 

When officers determine a person could become dependent on government benefits, that “public charge” is a ground for inadmissibility under federal law. Such non-cash benefits were previously restricted from public charge consideration under the Biden administration. 

The Trump administration rescinded that 2022 policy, arguing that it is protecting taxpayer dollars and expects immigrants to be self-sufficient.

Both lawsuits were filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

Many mixed-status households are expected to forgo benefits and disenroll from programs, causing U.S. citizen dependents, including children, to lose care and benefits for which they’re legally entitled to receive, experts and state officials say.

In their lawsuit, 22 states and the District of Columbia pointed to DHS estimates that say states nationwide may lose roughly $4.05 billion in annual federal transfer payments for Medicaid and CHIP programs alone. Of that nationwide total, the plaintiffs may stand to lose about $2.2 billion in reduced federal payments. 

The states include Colorado, Connecticut, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Due to disenrollments, states nationwide could lose about $1 billion in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Of that, the plaintiff states could lose $575 million in reduced federal payments.

The states argue that the new rules contain many ambiguities and will cause the states to“ultimately be forced to fill the breach” by funding gaps out of their own budgets, leading to “staggering” costs.

Along with losing federal funding due to disenrollments from state programs, public agencies will face administrative costs, the states argue, and as households forgo enrolling in benefits, such as preventative healthcare and nutritional assistance, including school lunches, public health will suffer, leading to an increase in disease prevalence and driving up the costs of medical care, they argue.

In a separate lawsuit, a coalition of cities and counties — New York City; Chicago; San Francisco; Santa Clara County, California; Seattle and King County, Washington — say the new rule is unlawful in reversing “longstanding limits on public charge determinations.” Roughly 1.3 million people, including 600,000 children, could lose care and coverage in those places, the suit argues.

New York City, which led the cities’ lawsuit, estimates it would see 6,000 fewer annual primary care visits. 

“The new public charge rule seeks to push immigrant families away from the programs that have kept people fed and healthy for decades,” New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said in a news release. “New Yorkers will be afraid to see a doctor or ask for help they are legally entitled to. That fear will not stop at the families that the federal government is targeting. Families who remain fully eligible for benefits will feel a chilling effect and all New Yorkers will pay for it.”

The coalition also argues that children would be forced to withdraw from free or low-cost education programs. It notes that about 19% of Seattle residents and 26% of King County residents rely on such programs.

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org.

Nominations are now closed for both programs.

Nominations are now open for two of Farm Foundation’s flagship Next Generation programs: the January 2027 Cultivators Program and the 2027 Agricultural Scholars Program. Both programs connect promising students with agricultural leaders, researchers, and decision-makers while giving them opportunities to take their work beyond the classroom.

Faculty, advisors, and university staff have an important role to play. Even if you aren’t the person who can officially submit a nomination, you may be the first to recognize a student who would thrive in one of these programs. We encourage you to share these opportunities with students and colleagues and help ensure outstanding emerging leaders are considered.

Nominations for both programs are open September 1 through October 13, 2026.

January 2027 Cultivators Program

The Cultivators Program gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into conversations shaping the future of agriculture.

Selected Cultivators will attend the Farm Foundation Round Table meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, January 11–15, 2027, where they will present original research to an audience of approximately 200 senior leaders from across the food and agriculture sector.

Beyond presenting their work, Cultivators gain firsthand exposure to industry conversations, build their professional networks, and engage with leaders whose decisions influence agriculture and the food system.

Students must be nominated by a dean, director, or department chair. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Learn more about the Cultivators Program and nomination process

2027 Agricultural Scholars Program

For graduate students interested in the intersection of agricultural research, economics, and public policy, the Agricultural Scholars Program offers a year-long professional development experience.

Over 12 months, selected Scholars are paired with an economist from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), providing an opportunity to learn from experts working at the intersection of research and agricultural policy. Scholars also participate in Farm Foundation events and experiences in locations including Washington, D.C., Toronto, and Philadelphia, expanding their networks while learning how research can inform real-world decisions.

The program is fully funded and designed for graduate students studying agricultural economics or related fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled at an accredited North American university and must be nominated by their dean or department head.

Learn more about the Agricultural Scholars Program and nomination process

Help Us Find the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders

Great candidates are often identified because a professor, advisor, dean, or colleague recognized their potential and encouraged them to pursue an opportunity.

If you know a student whose research, curiosity, and leadership potential deserve a bigger stage, now is the time to put these programs on their radar—and, if you are eligible to nominate them, put their name forward.

Nominations for the January 2027 Cultivators Program and the 2027 Agricultural Scholars Program close October 13, 2026.

Help us get the next generation of agricultural leaders in the room.

The post Nominations Now Open for Farm Foundation’s 2027 Next Generation Programs appeared first on Farm Foundation.

Applications are now open for FarmPath, a national, multi-year program designed to make farming more accessible and achievable for aspiring and beginning farmers across the United States.

The program is supported by The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems and The PepsiCo Foundation whose investments reflect a shared focus on helping to strengthen the next generation of farmers and build a more resilient food system.

FarmPath is grounded in a simple reality: as many U.S. farmers approach retirement, the sector needs a new generation of skilled producers. Yet beginning farmers often face barriers including limited access to land, capital, business planning skills, agronomic knowledge, and mentorship.

By investing in these new farmers, FarmPath helps support stronger rural, urban, and suburban economies, strengthens food security, and builds a more diverse and resilient agricultural community.

The free, three-year program provides practical education in best practices for resilient agriculture and farm management, access to experienced mentors, and connection to a national network of professionals working across food and agriculture. FarmPath integrates training in production skills with in-depth instruction on the systems, markets, and decisions that shape long-term success.

“American agriculture is entering a new era, with generational shifts, growing interest in diversification, and new market opportunities, including regenerative production and regional food systems,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, President and CEO of Farm Foundation. “Through structured business training, mentorship, professional networks, and up to $10,000 in implementation funding, FarmPath is Farm Foundation’s direct investment in a new generation of farmers prepared to meet this moment in American agriculture.”

The Mosaic Company executes its mission to help the world grow the food it needs by delivering critical crop nutrient products to customers in 40 countries around the globe. The company is committed to advancing global food security through coordinated action and strong collaboration with partners and stakeholders. For over two decades, The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems has partnered with local organizations, farmers and communities in the U.S., Brazil and India to identify and maximize their potential, emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and entrepreneurship.

“We’re excited to support a program that puts practical, farmer‑focused learning front and center. Our work with young and smallholder farmers in India and Brazil shows that when farmers build skills, confidence, and resilience in the face of a changing landscape, they’re better equipped to thrive long term.” Ben Pratt, president of The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems.

As one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, PepsiCo’s business is rooted in agriculture with more than 50 crops and ingredients sourced from over 60 countries. To help support the farmers that grow these crops, the PepsiCo Foundation has worked alongside Farm Foundation through previous partnerships including Field to Future. Now, to continue helping farmers thrive, the PepsiCo Foundation is building on previous work with Farm Foundation through FarmPath.

Monica Bauer, SVP Social Impact, PepsiCo, said, “As the backbone of our communities, farmers play a vital role in driving local economies and helping families access nutritious and affordable food. Alongside Farm Foundation, we’re excited to support the next generation of farmers who will continue to help strengthen food systems for generations to come. Together, we can help expand access to the resources needed to support long-term success for new farmers.”

How to Apply

FarmPath is open to participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including farm-raised innovators, urban and community growers, career changers, those curious about farming as a career path, and early-stage farmers seeking to diversify or strengthen their operations. The program includes a flexible virtual learning model and an online peer community designed to accommodate various schedules nationwide.

Applications are open through March 23, 2026. This application cycle is the only entry point into the current three-year program. Up to 300 participants will be selected for Year One, with competitive progression into Years Two and Three. Participants must complete Year One to be eligible for advancement.

Additional information, eligibility details, and the application are available at FarmPath.org

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About the Partners

The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems supports well-defined, transformational investments in food and nutrition security, sustainable agricultural productivity growth, and community development located in India, Brazil, and the United States. The Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is funded through contributions from The Mosaic Company.

The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and workforce development opportunities. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

The post FarmPath Seeks 300 New and Aspiring Farmers for Free, National Program appeared first on Farm Foundation.

Farm Foundation announces two new cohorts that reflect its continued investment in developing future leaders across food, agriculture, and agricultural policy. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort and the 2026 USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Agricultural Scholars cohort represent students from institutions nationwide who will engage with Farm Foundation programs in distinct yet complementary ways.

The Cultivator Program provides an exclusive opportunity for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in agriculture to engage directly with senior leaders and policy discussions shaping the future of the food and agriculture system. Cultivators attend the Round Table and present their research alongside industry, government, and nonprofit executives.

Farm Foundation offers two Cultivators cohorts each year, with each cohort aligned to one of the organization’s biannual Round Table meetings. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort will participate in the Farm Foundation Round Table held January 14–16, 2026, in El Paso, Texas.

January 2026 Cultivators Cohort

• Freweyni Abrha– University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Vera Adabrah-Danquah – Kansas State University
• Dawood Atta – University of Florida
• Jacob Lionberger – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Menglin Liu – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Marisol Olivas – New Mexico State University
• Kimberly Okpah – University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Yi Wang – Purdue University

Through the Cultivator Program, participants gain exposure to high-level dialogue on emerging agricultural issues while building professional networks with leaders across the public and private sectors.

Learn more about the Cultivator Program

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2026 USDA Economic Research Service Agricultural Scholars

Farm Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), also announces the 2026 Agricultural Scholars cohort. This fully funded, 12-month professional development program is designed for graduate students pursuing agricultural economics or related agricultural policy fields.

The Agricultural Scholars Program provides immersive, hands-on exposure to applied policy and economic analysis. Scholars work closely with ERS senior analysts while developing a deeper understanding of agricultural policy, commodity markets, agricultural finance, and related disciplines.

Scholar Experience

During the program year, Scholars will:

• Partner with an ERS senior analyst for year-long mentorship
• Conduct and present capstone research to ERS economists and receive expert feedback
• Participate in Farm Foundation Forums held virtually throughout the year
• Engage with senior leaders across agribusiness, government, and trade associations

Scholars will also attend several flagship events, including:

• Farm Foundation Round Table – January 14–16, 2026 (El Paso, TX)
• USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum – February 19–20, 2026
• AAEA Annual Meeting – July 26–28, 2026 (Kansas City, MO)
• WASDE/Capstone Trip – October/November 2026 (Washington, D.C.), including visits to USDA, Capitol Hill, agribusinesses, and commodity groups

2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohort

• Eric Belleville – The Ohio State University (AEDE)
• Hence Duncan – Oklahoma State University
• Elizabeth Dworkin – Iowa State University
• Parthu Kalva – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Asa Dolbow Vann – Purdue University

The Agricultural Scholars Program seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of production agriculture, agribusiness, and government, strengthening the pipeline of future agricultural economists and policy leaders.

Learn more about the Agricultural Scholars Program and individual profiles

The post Announcing the Farm Foundation January 2026 Cultivators and 2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohorts appeared first on Farm Foundation.

On May 20, 2025, Farm Foundation brought together leaders from across the agriculture sector at our Innovation and Education Campus (IEC) in Libertyville, Illinois, for a critical conversation about the future of our food and agriculture system.

Kicking off the day were two U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture, one Democrat, one Republican, who set the tone for a nonpartisan dialogue grounded in collaboration. Together, farmers, agribusiness leaders, researchers, and policymakers explored how to strengthen the U.S. food and ag system beyond today’s challenges and into the future.

The Summit defined what resilience in food and agriculture truly means:

A resilient food and agriculture system has the ability to produce food, even in the midst of changes and shocks, that sustains the planet and all people through access to safe, affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food.

From this shared vision came three key areas for continued collaboration:

1. Creating a policy innovation sandbox to explore new approaches to food and agriculture policy at the local, state, national, and global levels.

2. Advancing rural communities that are vibrant, thriving, and connected to opportunity.

3. Evolving the agricultural extension network to better serve today’s diverse, technology-driven, and rapidly changing sector.

The Summit was not just a conversation; it was a starting point for action. The resulting paper, Toward a Resilient Food and Agriculture Future, authored by Farm Foundation’s Agricultural Economic Fellow Dr. Sunghun Lim, captures the Summit’s insights and lays out a framework for the work ahead.

“The challenges facing agriculture today are deeply interconnected. The Summit was not just about identifying problems, it was about building momentum for actionable solutions,” said Dr. Sunghun Lim.

Now, we invite you to join us in taking the next steps. As we’ve done for the past 90 years, Farm Foundation will continue to organize thought partners and use our think tank/do tank model to drive progress in these three focus areas, sparking ideas and putting them into practice to create real impact.

The Innovation and Education Campus is a gathering place for these vital conversations. A space where anyone in the sector can host meetings, events, and trainings that help shape the future of food and agriculture.

Download the Executive Summary
Read the Full Report
Learn more about hosting an event at the IEC
Watch the video highlighting scenes from the Summit

Join us as we continue this work. Together we can create a more resilient future for food and agriculture.

The post Shaping a Resilient Future for Food and Agriculture appeared first on Farm Foundation.

Farm Foundation is proud to announce the second cohort of students selected for the Careers in Ag and Food Exploration (CAFE) Student Workshop. This immersive program offers undergraduate students from 1890 land-grant institutions an exclusive opportunity to dive into the diverse and evolving world of agriculture and food systems. 

Held at North Carolina A&T State University, the CAFE Workshop equips students with professional development tools, career exploration experiences, and networking connections that extend well beyond the classroom. Over the course of the program, participants engage in hands-on sessions and thought-provoking conversations with leaders across the agri-food value chain—helping them better understand the range of impactful careers available in this vital sector. 

“We are thrilled to welcome this talented group of students to the CAFE Student Workshop,” said Jenna Wicks, program manager at Farm Foundation. “The food and agriculture sector offers a wide range of career opportunities, and we are committed to helping the next generation explore these possibilities.” 

The CAFE Student Workshop is made possible through support from the SAPLINGS (System Approach to Promote Learning and Innovation for the Next GenerationS) grant—an initiative led in collaboration with North Carolina A&T and funded by an $18.1 million award from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

We are honored to recognize the 2025 CAFE cohort: 

• Randall Gary, South Carolina State University 

• Jeronee Hinton, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 

• Gary Jarvis, North Carolina A&T State University 

• William Johnson, Tuskegee University 

• Sahara McMillan, Virginia State University 

• Jerricah Robinson, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 

• Cameron Shellman, Fort Valley State University 

• Jayla Silver, Tennessee State University 

• Markayla Watts, Tuskegee University 

These students represent a promising future across a variety of industries—bringing curiosity, passion, and a desire to grow.  

To learn more about the CAFE Student Workshop, visit: farmfoundation.org/cafe-student-workshop 

The post Spotlight on the 2025 CAFE Cohort: Discovering Opportunities in Food and Ag  appeared first on Farm Foundation.