Published April 28, 2025
Gina Plata-Nino, JD, FRAC Deputy Director of SNAP, and Nick Levendofsky, Executive Director of the Kansas Farmers Union
This article is part of a series examining the sweeping and often overlooked consequences of proposed SNAP cuts, sharing a range of perspectives — from health experts and policy leaders to frontline grocers and rural providers — about the ripple effects of slashing the nation’s most critical anti-hunger program. Today, we hear from Nick Levendofsky of the Kansas Farmers Union on how these cuts could affect rural communities, agriculture, and local economies.
Tell Us About the Kansas Farmers Union.
Kansas Farmers Union has supported family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities for over a century. We’re a grassroots organization representing farms of all sizes across Kansas, united by the belief that family ownership of farmland is key to a strong food system, healthy communities, and a resilient economy. We advocate for our members through education, policy, and cooperative efforts.
How Does the Kansas Farmers Union View the Proposed Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?
As advocates for rural vitality and economic sustainability, we are deeply concerned about the proposed SNAP cuts. These reductions threaten the well-being of our most vulnerable neighbors and also deal a blow to the rural economies we work so hard to sustain.
SNAP is a vital thread in the fabric of our rural communities — supporting families, farmers, and small businesses alike. Cutting this program would do more than increase food insecurity; it would undermine economic resilience, especially in rural Kansas, where every dollar counts and often circulates many times over in the local economy.
Can You Elaborate on How SNAP Contributes to Economic Development in Rural Areas?
SNAP isn’t just a nutrition program — it’s a powerful economic engine. Across Kansas, SNAP dollars are spent at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, farm stands, and local shops. For small towns, where options may already be limited, these benefits are often the difference between staying open or closing down.
SNAP also directly benefits farmers, especially those who sell at farmers’ markets or directly to consumers. Programs like Double Up Food Bucks — which provide SNAP participants with extra funds to purchase locally grown produce — put more money directly into farmers’ pockets while helping families with low incomes access fresh, healthy food. These initiatives strengthen communities by allowing farmers to connect with their neighbors and take pride in feeding them well.
We learned a lot from the COVID-19 pandemic. It exposed the scale and depth of food insecurity across the country. It’s no longer just an urban issue — rural communities are facing hunger at similar levels. In fact, we’re seeing an uptick in rural Kansans using SNAP, highlighting just how vital this program is in every part of our state.
How Would Cuts to SNAP Directly Impact Small Businesses and Family Farms?
Small businesses — especially local grocers and food retailers — depend on steady customer traffic, and many rely on local farmers to supply fresh produce. SNAP helps ensure families can afford everyday essentials, which in turn supports consistent sales for these businesses. Cutting SNAP would reduce consumer spending, hitting small businesses that already operate on tight margins and increasing the risk of layoffs, reduced hours, or even closures.
Family farms would be affected, too. SNAP supports market programs that help connect producers to consumers. When these benefits shrink, so do those opportunities, putting strain on the very farmers who keep our communities fed.
How Do SNAP Cuts Impact Workforce Stability in Rural Kansas?
In rural Kansas, where job opportunities may be fewer and wages lower, SNAP plays a key role in stabilizing the workforce. Workers who don’t have to worry about feeding their families are healthier, more productive, and more likely to stay employed. When benefits are cut, families have to stretch their resources, increasing stress and decreasing stability — for both workers and employers.
In Conclusion, How Does Kansas Farmers Union See the Link Between SNAP and Rural Prosperity?
Public policy is essential to building and sustaining rural communities. As Congress debates the next Farm Bill, it’s critical that SNAP remains a part of it — alongside conservation programs, crop insurance, and all the other titles that support American agriculture and rural development. Keeping those elements together is vital to ensuring a strong, stable food system.
The rural voice is shrinking. Of the 435 congressional districts, only about 35 are now considered rural. That makes it even more important for rural and urban communities to work together and recognize their mutual dependence.
Farming is hard. It’s deeply affected by demand, weather, and government policy. One bad year can derail an entire operation. And sometimes, even the most hardworking farmers face food insecurity themselves. I remember working with a farmer who called me in tears as he signed his kids up for school. He had learned they qualified for free and reduced-price meals. He was struggling with his farm and felt ashamed, even though he had done nothing wrong. He had paid his taxes, worked hard, and still found himself needing help. I told him what I hope every person hears when they go through something like that: “this is temporary, it’s okay to ask for support,” and this is “hand up, not a hand out.” He took that help so his kids could eat a hot, healthy meal during the day, and in time, he got back on his feet.
Programs like SNAP are not about dependency. They’re about stability and survival — offering people the support they need during tough times so they can keep contributing to their families, their communities, and the economy. That’s why Kansas Farmers Union strongly supports keeping SNAP strong and accessible — not just for those who need food, but for the farmers, businesses, and towns that depend on it.
