Coalition Members, April always feels like a turning point. The days are longer, the soil is waking up, and across the country farmers are preparing for a new
As we move deeper into this growing season, it’s clear that many of you are facing more than the usual challenges that come with farming and ranching. Rising input costs, unpredictable weather, shifting markets – and now global instability – are all hitting at once. These aren’t distant issues. They’re showing up in real time on your farms, shaping the decisions you have to make every day.
Across the United States, thousands of farmers and ranchers quietly serve in a second role beyond agriculture. They are members of the National Guard or military reserves – citizen soldiers who balance military duty with the everyday work of producing food, fiber, and livestock for the country.
The USDA held its 102nd Agricultural Outlook Forum on February 19-20 at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott. Farmer Veteran Coalition CEO, Jeanette Lombardo, had the opportunity to attend this year. This annual event has been about bringing together farmers, researchers, policymakers, and agricultural leaders for more than 100 years to talk about the state of American agriculture and what the future may hold.
Over the past several seasons, many Farmer Veterans have built real momentum through local and regional markets. Farm-to-school contracts have expanded, food hubs have grown, institutions leaned into regional sourcing, and consumers actively sought out products with a story and a face behind them.
A strategic plan is more than a document. At its best, it’s a promise: that we will meet the needs of today while building the capacity for tomorrow. The Farmer Veteran Coalition’s Strategic Plan (2026) which was approved by our Board of Directors in December, is grounded in that promise.
The holiday season is often called the “season of giving”, but for many families it can also be the season of hard choices – between groceries and heating bills, between a full cart and a full tank of gas, between fresh food and whatever stretches farthest. Food insecurity doesn’t take a holiday. In fact, winter can intensify it: school breaks can pause access to free or reduced-price meals, seasonal work can slow down, and unexpected expenses stack up fast. Yet December also brings something powerful – communities ready to help, eager to rally around meaningful causes, and willing to direct their generosity where it can do the best.
Every November, our country pauses to honor something truly profound: National Veterans and Military Families Month. Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to thank the brave men and women who served, but this month-long observance widens the lens. It invites us to look closely at the people whose love and commitment make that service possible – the families who carry the weight of military life right alongside their veteran.
Every October, schools and communities across the country celebrate National Farm to School Month, a nationwide effort to connect students with fresh, locally grown food while building stronger
The event, themed “Elevating Our Voice,” invited attendees to reflect on how agriculture can more effectively communicate its value and respond to the challenges of modern food systems, regulation, and public perception.
