Will a state-level push for free school meals spur federal action? (AG Insider) When the government made school meals temporarily free to virtually all public school students in 2020, the intent was to buffer children and families from the spike in hunger and economic hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic…. Continue reading
Will a state-level push for free school meals spur federal action? When the government made school meals temporarily free to virtually all public school students in 2020, the intent was to buffer children and families from the spike in hunger and economic hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also… Continue reading
White house sets hunger conference for Sept. 28 The Biden administration on Monday set a date of Sept. 28 for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in Washington, D.C. The conference will be the first of its kind in more than 50 years. TODAY’S QUICK HITS CA… Continue reading
(AG Insider) The Biden administration on Monday set a date of Sept. 28 for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in Washington, D.C. The conference will be the first of its kind in more than 50 years. “Millions of Americans are afflicted with food insecurity and diet-related… Continue reading
Gov. Newsom won’t support farm worker union voting bill California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday he “cannot support” a bill that many farmworkers say would prevent their employers from intimidating them during union elections, disappointing the United Farm Workers union, which had launched a weeks-long march to the state capitol… Continue reading
Record subsidies but weaker ag sector during pandemic year Farmers faced higher expenses and earned less money from their crops and livestock than initially expected in 2020, due to market disruptions caused by the pandemic, said a USDA Covid-19 working paper. By many standards, such as debt-to-asset ratio, the financial… Continue reading
Vilsack: We will act quickly on aid to financially distressed farmers A congressionally created $3.1 billion debt relief program for financially distressed farmers who borrowed money through USDA programs could be in place within weeks, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday. Speed is vital, he said, because a moratorium… Continue reading
Report urges ‘radical systemic’ change in U.S. food and nutrition policy With the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health weeks away, a broad group of advocates, academics and experts on Tuesday called for “radical systemic changes” in order to address food insecurity, diet-related disease and health inequities. USDA… Continue reading
Finally, USDA organic transition package includes crop insurance subsidies The Agriculture Department will spend $300 million to help farmers transition to organic production and on “pinpointed” market development projects, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday. It would be the single largest investment ever in organic agriculture by the USDA… Continue reading
Fewer hog farms, but far more hogs per farm In the space of a generation, U.S. hog production has transformed, even if the Midwest, with Iowa foremost, is still the leader, said a new USDA report. There were half as many hog farms in the country in 2017 as there… Continue reading
USDA News & Features Organic Food Features