The non-profit Holistic Organic Practical Education (HOPE) for Small Farm Sustainability, headquartered in Harlingen, on Monday, March 30, 2026 announced that it was among 49 out of 50 organizations nationwide recently notified that it’s $7.4 million federal grant has been cancelled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
HOPE was the only recipient in Texas, and among 50 organizations throughout the United States which had their respective contracts, worth about a total of $300 million, done away with.
However, that action by the USDA is being appealed by leaders with HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability, and Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, is joining the effort to continue its federal funding.
“Programs like HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability help provide access to land, training, and real opportunities for the next generation of farmers in the RGV,” said Canales. “The USDA placed the Trump Administration’s political priorities above smart, forward-looking investments in our local food systems and farmers.”
HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability
The USDA cited that the programs cancelled through the nation promoted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which the federal agency claimed were “discriminatory preferences,” along with allegations of “wasteful spending.” The cuts affect projects that were intended to assist Latino, Indigenous, Black, and veteran farmers with land acquisition and financial resources.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=USDA+cancels+grant+for+HOPE&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
“Officials in Washington cannot continue to make decisions that target and harm our communities simply to advance a political agenda,” Canales said. “I stand with the farmers and families who depend on the support and funding HOPE provides, and I urge federal officials to reconsider this decision.”
The decision by the USDA is both wrong and misguided, said Diana Padilla, Executive Director of HOPE.
“We are building a new generation of farmers who are committed to sustaining our communities long-term,” Padilla said. “It is difficult to believe that this (Trump) administration supports farmers at every level when political priorities are placed above real solutions.”
HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that seeks to close the local food system gaps by providing training and education to low-income and disadvantaged families, small-scale farmers, and individuals interested in growing, preparing and selling their own organic food to meet the essential needs for families and communities.
The $7.4 million grant, awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program – funded by the American Rescue Plan – is intended to address declining agriculture production and rising food costs across South Texas, Central Texas, and North Texas.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion federal COVID-19 relief package signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. It aimed to accelerate recovery from the pandemic through direct stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment benefits, vaccine distribution funding, school reopening resources, and aid for small businesses and local governments.
Since its inception, HOPE’s role has grown from only mentorship to community food connectors. At the heart, the organization is and always will aim to serve the small local grower, but it has grown to also work in the equitable food access space as well as future farmer youth development work.
Community food connects are initiatives, programs, or individuals focused on increasing access to health food, supporting local agriculture, and strengthening community resilience. They act as intermediaries – such as food hubs, non-profit programs, or volunteers – that bridge the gap between food producers, resources, and underserved residents, often helping in food distribution, education, and sustainable food systems.
“Agricultural acreage and production in the Rio Grande Valley have significantly declined, dropping by about 20 percent since 2008,” Solomon Torres, Projects and Grants Advisor for HOPE, further explained.
“The grant was designed to help reverse the trend by reclaiming and preserving agricultural land across Texas, with a focus on revitalizing production and supporting local farmers.”
HOPE’s engagement spans throughout the Rio Grande Valley, into Central Texas and North Texas. In all of Texas, HOPE is the only farmer-to-farmer training organization that provides whole farm business support to farmers and ranchers with the focus on regenerative agricultural practices.
Regenerative farming practices are holistic land management techniques that restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and sequester carbon to combat climate change. By minimizing soil disturbance and utilizing techniques like cover cropping, rotational grazing, and composting, this approach works in harmony with nature to create resilient, production ecosystems while improving water retention and reducing reliance on open synthetic chemicals.
“In the Rio Grande Valley, where agricultural production has already declined significantly, this investment was a critical step toward revitalizing our local food systems and preserving our farming heritage. Programs like this help level the playing field for small and emerging farmers, many of whom are simply trying to build sustainable livelihoods. Taking away these resources only makes it harder for our region to compete, grow, and remain resilient,” Canales added.
Originally posted in the Titans of the Texas Legislature: TitansoftheTexasLegislature.com
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