Extension to help Arkansans apply for USDA Local Agriculture Market Program grants
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
June 12, 2025
Fast Facts:
- USDA reopens Local Agriculture Market Program grants with $26.5 million in funding
- After federal freeze on USDA grants, LAMP grant opportunities have been reopened
- LAMP grants support development, expansion of local food systems
(470 words)
(With filer of Perez)
LITTLE ROCK — Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension associate professor of food systems and food safety specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said she encourages Arkansas farmers to take advantage of $26.5 million in grant funding available under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Agriculture Market Program.
The Local Agriculture Market Program, or LAMP, includes three programs that are designed to support the development and expansion of local food systems and producer-to-consumer marketing, strengthen connections between producers and consumers, and support food business enterprises.
LAMP is administered by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, and it includes the Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Local Food Promotion Program and the Regional Food System Partnerships.
Perez said each program under LAMP targets specific needs:
- Farmers Market Promotion Program supports direct-to-consumer marketing efforts, such as farmers markets and community supported agriculture programs, or CSAs.
- Local Food Promotion Program funds intermediary supply chain projects, such as food hubs and shared-use kitchens.
- Regional Food System Partnerships Program supports relationship development between local and regional food businesses and institutions, such as state agencies, private corporations, or institutions of higher education.
USDA announced last month that $26.5 million in grant funding is now available through LAMP. This marks the reopening of a limited number of grant funds, after a federal freeze on USDA grant funding. Applications are due by June 27, 2025, and must be submitted electronically at Grants.gov.
Extension help for farmers and producers
Perez said it is important for Arkansans to carefully prepare their grant applications.
As part of the Local, Regional and Safe Foods program at the Cooperative Extension Service, Perez and her team support the development of local food systems.
“My program provides technical support after the harvest for food safety, infrastructure, and regulations that impact sourcing or selling Arkansas-grown food,” Perez said. “These grants offer funding to help farms and food business with similar after the harvest activities.
“These grants can be transformative for local food systems and value-added startups, whether you’re working from home, on the farm, or launching a commercial operation,” Perez said. “If you have a concept in mind, I encourage you to reach out for technical support. And most importantly, read the full grant guidelines, deadlines and timelines before you begin writing.”
Perez said LAMP is an umbrella program that was created in the 2018 Farm Bill.
“The USDA, farmers, and food systems advocates worked for years to have local food systems development in the federal Farm Bill, and this funding source is dedicating to supporting farmers first,” Perez said. “This is an opportunity for farms and communities to use foundational Farm Bill resources to support domestic production of food — get your applications in.”
For more information about the LAMP grants, visit the Local Agriculture Market Program webpage on the USDA website or contact Amanda Philyaw Perez at aperez@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
# # #
Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061