Budget Advocacy Campaigns

The State Must Act to Support California’s Local Food & Farms

Family farmers, local food systems, and climate resilience efforts are facing a lot of uncertainty in this year’s state budget. Big federal cuts to local procurement programs, reductions to SNAP, and worsening climate disasters are putting real strain on the systems that small and mid-sized farmers depend on. CAFF is advocating in Sacramento for state investments to keep family farmers on the land, support local food systems, and move climate resilience work forward.
Click to learn more about our 2026 budget advocacy
April 2026
Farmer Advocacy in Sacramento
Farmers Join CAFF in Capitol to Fight for Local Food Access, Climate Disaster Relief

CAFF’s Policy Team is in full action this legislative session! We are fighting hard for funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA), known in California as Farms Together, and the California Underserved and Small Producer Program (CUSP). 

On April 9th we brought farmers and food hubs to the Capitol to speak for these programs themselves, as part of our wider advocacy efforts and farmer testimony opportunities throughout April.

April 2026
Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Advocacy
Save Farms Together: Why California Must Invest in Local Food Systems

California’s farms and food hubs are stronger together. Through the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, also known as Farms Together in California, farm and food hub investments have delivered a triple benefit by providing economic stability for small farmers, nutritious food for families, and millions in local procurement.

California must step up to support small farms and fund LFPA through the state budget. That’s why we are urging state legislators to support Asm Pellerin and Senator Hurtado’s leadership to Save LFPA and invest $45 million in state resources to keep this vital program going!

March 2026
Fighting for Family Farmer Funding
The State Must Act to Support California’s Local Food & Farms

This year, we are already seeing the infrastructure that connects local farmers to food banks, schools, and communities unraveling without state investment. As food security and farmer livelihoods continue to be strained, maintaining this infrastructure is critical for California’s agricultural resilience, economic health, and local food systems.

We are fighting for nearly $100 million in funding to keep farmers afloat.
This is broken down into:

  • $45 million for local food purchasing by food banks from small and mid-sized farmers 
  • $15 million for climate disaster & emergency relief for small & underserved farmers
  • $15 million to establish the first-ever land access program in California
  • $14.8 million to establish a new equipment sharing & farmer cooperative program 
  • $9 million to continue investments in community food hubs
August 2025
Cap and Trade Reforms and Prop 4 Funding
California Must Lead—Call Today to Protect Climate & Farmers

With the federal government slashing sustainable agriculture funding and reversing hard-won progress, California’s climate leadership is on the line. Two critical opportunities are in play right now—but without a wave of public pressure, they could slip away. We need your voice to make sure our California legislature delivers for farmers, frontline communities, and our climate. Your call today could make the difference.

May 2025
May Revision for FY 25-26
Governor’s May Revise Falls Short for California’s Farming Communities

Last week, Governor Newsom released his May Revision for FY 25-26; the Legislature now has until June 15 to negotiate and pass a final budget bill for his approval. While the Governor’s May Revision proposal maintains the Proposition 4/Climate Bond funding, including critical food and agriculture investments, it fails to center California’s most vulnerable communities in the state’s budget priorities.

March 2025
Federal Administration Funding Freezes
Federal Funding Freeze Jeopardizes Small Farms
Federal Funding Freeze Jeopardizes Small Farms

Without warning or explanation, the federal government has frozen funding for Farms Together, a vital California-based program that connects small and mid-scale farmers with families in need of fresh, nutritious food. This sudden funding halt has created widespread uncertainty, economic hardship for farmers, and disrupted food assistance for thousands of households across the state.

January 2025
2025-2026 State Budget Proposal
State’s Proposed Budget and Climate Bond Commitments Support Programs for Family Farms
State’s Proposed Budget and Climate Bond Commitments Support Programs for Family Farms

California Governor Gavin Newsom released his 2025-26 state budget proposal, which demonstrates the important opportunities made possible by the recently passed Proposition 4 Climate Bond. This budget comes amidst wildfires raging in Southern California, impacting so many Californians including many urban farmers, farmers markets, community gardens and farms. It points directly to the importance of funding programs that support sustainable farming practices, regional infrastructure, and disaster response in the face of climate chaos. 

July 2024
Success! Critical family farmer funding restored in state budget deal
Success! Critical family farmer funding restored in state budget deal

We are thrilled to announce the Governor has signed this year’s budget which restores critical funds to resource food hubs and provides emergency relief to small and underserved farmers! This has been a hard-fought win and could not have happened without farmers and allies calling elected officials, lobbying in Sacramento and so on. Click here to learn more about what has been funded. 

June 2024
Joint Budget Agreement Proposal
Call the Governor Today to Help Local Food and Family Farms

After months of advocacy, the State Legislature proposed a joint budget agreement that would prevent critical investments in food hubs and small farm emergency relief from getting cut! Now we need the Governor to sign the budget bill and keep these critical funds in the final version. Please call the Governor TODAY to ensure these funds are protected, and click here for a simple call-in script to use!

May 2024
2024-2025 Revision Budget Proposal
Newsom Eliminates Disaster Safety Net for Small & BIPOC Farms, Dairies in May-Revise Budget Proposal
Newsom Eliminates Disaster Safety Net for Small & BIPOC Farms, Dairies in May-Revise Budget Proposal

Together the January and May Revision budget cuts eliminate vital investments that serve as a financial lifeline for farmers during climate crises and support essential small farm infrastructure. CAFF & CCOF urge budget revisions to restore crucial funds to CDFA'S CUSP program for emergency flood and drought relief and CDFA's Farm to Community Food Hub program. We call on the State to protect California’s food security by supporting those who feed our communities.

April 2024
Tell State Leaders: Don't Cut $27 Million From Local Food and Small Farms!

Get the word out about small farm funding by calling in to push back against Governor Newsom’s proposed cuts to critical local food investments and emergency aid. Restore $14.4 million to CDFA’s Farm to Community Food Hubs Program created by AB 1009 (Bloom) and $12.9 million to CDFA’s California Underserved and Small Producer (CUSP) program now!

March 2024
Saving Food Hubs and Small Farm Disaster Relief

Right now, $12 million for small farm disaster relief as well as $14 million meant to support local food hubs are at risk of getting completely eliminated from the state budget. By signing on to CAFF's letter today, you can help tell state leaders that these investments are simply too important to cut.

January 2024
2024-2025 State Budget Proposal
CAFF Against Proposed Budget Cuts to Small Farm Programs

California Governor Gavin Newsom has released his 2024-25 state budget proposal, which makes significant cuts to climate and sustainable agriculture funding to address an almost $38 billion budget deficit. Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) thanks the Governor for maintaining funding for newer equity-centered programs supporting urban farmers and beginning farmer training. However, despite this, the Governor’s budget proposal also proposes significant cuts to long-term infrastructure investments and essential recovery relief funds from extreme drought. While acknowledging the limitations of this year’s budget deficit, the over $100 million in budget cuts in family farmer-centered programs is disappointing to California’s family farmers as they work to build equitable food systems and climate change resilience. 

July 2023
2023-2024 State Budget Bill​
$52 Million in Funding for Small Farms
$52 Million in Funding for Small Farms
The 23-24 budget includes several financial relief opportunities for farmers who experienced devastation by the recent winter storms. Even in a budget-stressed year these commitments are still essential. We hope to see equally or stronger commitments to California’s underserved family farmers in future years.
July 2022
2022-2023 State Budget Bill​
Significant Investments & Drought Relief for Family Farmers

“We are pleased to see the state legislature and Governor Newsom’s administration prioritize this financial relief for California’s small scale and underserved farmers that have been severely impacted by the drought. We hope to see swift action in allocating these funds to farmers who need immediate relief,” said Paul Towers, Executive Director at CAFF. “We also look forward to additional investments that enable farmers and our food system to be more resilient in the face of future disasters, including the Climate-Energy package that the Legislature will take up later this summer.”

September 2021
Climate Budget Package Signed
Historic Climate Budget and Small Farm Infrastructure Funding Passed
Historic Climate Budget and Small Farm Infrastructure Funding Passed

This year’s budget was a success for California’s family farmers. Amidst a devastating pandemic where many small and mid-sized farms lost significant revenue, made only worse by a historic drought, CAFF set out to ensure these family farmers could stay afloat by advocating for critical investments and a campaign to #rescuesmallfarms in crisis. During this year’s legislative cycle, we advocated for small business emergency relief funding, culturally appropriate technical assistance, new farmer training, as well as tool sharing and supply chain infrastructure.