The 2026 U.S. Farm Bill Includes Dedicated Funding for Tribal Food Sovereignty
FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) chapters are becoming more popular in city schools as careers in "Ag" go beyond the farm fields now.
March 11, 2026
The draft legislation sets aside 10% of a new local food purchasing program specifically for Tribes to purchase local food and directs agricultural conservation programs to recognize traditional ecological knowledge. The only hurdle is that the passing of the bill might be delayed for more than a year due to political theatre so we wouldn't hold our breath.
Medicaid is starting to write prescriptions for groceries. UK HealthCare just launched a statewide "Food as Health" program in Kentucky, partnering with three Medicaid insurers to deliver medically tailored meals and grocery prescriptions to high-risk patients.
Imagine having coverage for nutrition counselling and meal kits to manage conditions like type 2 diabetes? It shifts treatment to a more holistic approach and emphasizes that food is medicine.
Chapters of FFA, once called Future Farmers of America, are becoming more common in city schools.
Program advisors say students are learning skills that can help them work in a wide range of industries from biotech to cosmetology. With agriculture employment growing (up 10% since 2010) that means potential jobs for people who grew up far from traditional agriculture.
“They are never going to get exposure to agriculture after high school unless they actively seek it. I think one of the most important jobs is to teach them everything I can about agriculture and how it plays a role in almost everything that they do, everything that they eat, everything that they own.” - Tanner Smith, FFA Advisor for Arlington, Texas school district