Iowa Farm to School Newsletter

Grants and Funding

1. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Request for Proposals: Research on Agriculture and Local Food Activity in the Appalachian Region.
Deadline: August 19
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) invites proposals from qualified researchers and consultants to examine agriculture and local food activity in the Appalachian Region (Region) using both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The main purposes of the research are to (1) provide a comprehensive quantitative overview of agricultural and local food activity throughout the Region, including changes over recent years, (2) identify best practices and promising models from across Appalachia, as well as elsewhere in the country, that support the development of local food systems and help farms increase revenues, and (3) identify emerging opportunities in agriculture ,including types of crops and products as well as strategic and technological innovations. The selected contractor will work closely with ARC to shape this effort over the course of a twelve-month period beginning October 1, 2020 and concluding September 30, 2021. Proposals will be evaluated on contractors’ qualifications, expertise, track record, work samples, and cost-effectiveness. Learn more and apply.

2. COVID-19 Northeast BIPOC Farmer Relief Fund
Deadline: August 20
Are you a BIPOC farmer or fisherperson that has been impacted by COVID-19? The Northeast BIPOC Farmer Relief Fund is now accepting applications from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color) producers with priority for those who use sustainable, regenerative or environmentally sound practices and who contribute to their community in some way. Funded by Farm Aid, this fund will provide $500 relief payments for up to 200 applicants. Learn more and apply.

3. USDA RFA: Innovating Formal and Non-Formal Educational Experiences in Food and Agricultural Sciences During the Time of Social Distancing
Deadline: August 20
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development RFA now includes a new program area priority to address the need to develop and deploy rapid, reliable, and readily-adoptable strategies in workforce preparation through formal K-14 education, as well as in youth development through non-formal education to cultivate interest and competencies in STEM and agriculture during this challenging time. This program area accepts new applications only. Learn more and apply. Interested applicants are invited to register for an informational webinar on July 28, 2020 at 12:00 pm Eastern Time.

4. USDA's Office of Partnership and Public Engagement RFA: Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program
Deadline to apply: August 26
Via section 2501 funding, these grants support community-based and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities to conduct programming to assist producers. The deadline to apply is August 26th (please note, the announcement in the Federal Register incorrectly states the deadline as September 11!) OPPE will host a call for potential applicants on July 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. EST (Telephone Number: (877) 692-8955, Passcode: 6433267). No registration needed. Learn more and apply.

5. Cigna Foundation's Healthier Kids For Our Future Grant Program
Deadline: September 30
Cigna Foundation is looking to partner with school systems and surrounding communities — including clinicians, local and national nonprofits — to supplement existing mental health programming and help close gaps both within and outside the school environment to address loneliness, anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention. To that end, it will fund programs that foster collaboration between various stakeholders, including school administrators and teachers, clinicians, and local and national nonprofits. The grants are up to $65,000 grants per year for two years. Learn more and apply.

6. USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program RFA
Deadlines: Vary based on program, view RFA for details
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA). See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific details.

Webinars and Events

1. Change For Good Town Hall
August 13 // 12pm CT
The crises facing our nation have revealed how much children and families depend on schools for more than just a quality education. Schools serve as essential community anchors that provide daily meals, outdoor space and critical mental and physical health services. With so much at stake in the upcoming election and the coming school year, Healthy Schools Campaign is hosting a virtual town hall to hear from national and local leaders, education and health experts, and you. A networking session will follow the virtual event at 1PM CST. Register here.

2. Webinar: Delivering More Than Food: Understanding and Operationalizing Racial Equity in Food Hubs
August 24 // 2:30pm ET
The webinar, sponsored by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems in association with the Racial Equity in the Food Systems Workgroup, will share results from a qualitative study led by a diverse group of food system practitioners as to how U.S. based food hubs understand and operationalize engagement in racial equity work. You will hear examples of how food hubs operationalize equity within their business, and with their partners, and with the community they serve. Authors and food hub leader discussants will also offer perspectives on the deeper questions that must be addressed to meaningfully support equity across the food system. Register here.

3. NFSN National Farm to Cafeteria Conference Cancelled

With the utmost concern for the health and well-being of our attendees and the Albuquerque community, National Farm to School Network and the 10th National Farm to Cafeteria planning committee have made the difficult decision to cancel the 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, originally scheduled for April 2020 and then rescheduled for April 2021. Gathering in person with amazing farm to cafeteria leaders and practitioners from across the country is a highlight of our work, yet protecting the health and safety of everyone in attendance, as well as the community we are traveling to, is our highest priority. More information and details can be found here.

1. NFSN COVID-19 National Farm to School Network (NFSN) COVID Support Survey
More than 100 days into the COVID-19 pandemic, NFSN remains committed to supporting you, the farm to school & ECE community, through this crisis. As a new school year approaches, we're pausing to ask - what kinds of support can National Farm to School Network provide to help you do your work in the coming months? Please take our short, 8 question survey to share your feedback!

2. COVID-19 NFSN National Farm to School Network - 2020 Back to School: Farm to School/ECE and COVID-19 Resource List
National Farm to School Network is compiling back-to-school resources that will be relevant to farm to school and farm to ECE stakeholders during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. See the resource list. Have resources to suggest? Please email us at info@farmtoschool.org.

3. COVID-19 The Longest Summer: Childhood Hunger in the Wake of the Coronavirus
No Kid Hungry has released a new research-driven report, The Longest Summer: Childhood Hunger in the Wake of the Coronavirus. Through two national surveys and a series of video diaries capturing the stories of families from across the country, The Longest Summer Report provides new insight into COVID-19’s impact on children and families. Learn more here.

4. Study: Association of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act With Dietary Quality Among Children in the US National School Lunch Program
The investigators of this study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), concluded that Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was linked to improved dietary quality for lunch for children who were part of National School Lunch Program. Unfortunately, as the study notes, the act has been watered down over the years. It now allows less whole grains, more flavored milk, and more sodium. Additionally, the US Department of Agriculture is currently considering changing the policy to allow participating schools to serve fewer servings of vegetables. Read more and access the full report.

5. COVID-19 Brief: Child Care and Feeding Young Children during the Pandemic: Exploring the Role of the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program
Many young children depend on the food they receive in child care settings, and specifically food funded by the Child and Adult Food Nutrition Program (CACFP), to meet their daily nutritional needs. Yet many children lost access to these meals when the COVID-19 pandemic caused many child care programs to at least temporarily close. Now, months into the pandemic, a quick scan of existing data and interviews with experts reveals how the CACFP system and policy needs to shift to support young children and the people that care for them. Read more.

6. Earth to Tables Legacies Project
Since 2015, the Earth to Tables Legacies project has brought together a small group of food activists across big differences for an exchange around food justice and food sovereignty. You're invited to explore the new, ever-evolving website that introduces the 17 collaborators (Storytellers), the framing ideas of dynamic tensions and the collaborative methodology (Setting the Table) and 10 videos and 11 photo essays (Conversations) which are the heart of the exchange. Earth to Tables has filmed their conversations and food initiatives, culminating in a multimedia educational package that includes facilitator’s guides, further resources and commentaries by activists and academics. Learn more.

7. No Kid Hungry Back to School Resources
These resources are designed to help schools and child nutrition program operators navigate the unprecedented challenges of School Year 2020-2021 and ensure that children continue to receive the nutrition they need. No Kid Hungry will continue adding new resources and updating this page. View the repository here.

8. A Guide to Transformative Land Strategies: Lessons From the Field
This report, published by the Department of Urban Studies and Planning Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), synthesizes the practices and strategies of transformative community land organizations under three primary themes: participatory comprehensive planning, partnerships across grassroots and mainstream organizations, and community and cooperative financing. These findings are relevant for activists, practitioners, planners, policymakers, and educators - and the many working between these roles - who are invested in the transformative potential of the Community Land Trusts and other community land ownership models. Read the full report.