House Negotiations on SANP – September 7, 2018

Two SNAP proposals in the House could cut enrollment by 8 percent, say researchers

House and Senate negotiate SNAP

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A nonpartisan research group says that two of the lesser-known provisions at issue during Senate-House negotiations over the 2018 farm bill could reduce food stamp enrollment by 8 percent. Those affected would include large numbers of the elderly, children, and the disabled.

Show us the proof, Democrats ask Perdue

Four Democratic representatives, all members of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, have called on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to justify his plan to move two USDA agencies out of Washington.

Whole Foods workers begin unionization drive

Some Whole Foods employees are instigating a union drive, according to a letter leaked to the press Thursday. Citing layoffs and falling morale since the company’s 2017 acquisition by Amazon, the workers plan to push for higher wages and better benefits.

OTA lays groundwork for voluntary organic checkoff

Four months after the Trump administration killed a proposal for a mandatory checkoff program for organics, the industry’s largest trade group said it would move forward with a voluntary checkoff to promote organic food and products.

Under criticism, FDA changes plan on honey and syrup labeling

It won’t be official for months, but FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb outlined on Thursday a solution to a food-labeling issue that had honey producers buzzing and had tapped the ire of the maple syrup industry.

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Time to return those chicken fingers (Food Safety News): Wayne Farms, an Alabama chicken company, must recall 439,000 pounds of frozen, cooked chicken after metal pieces were found in some packages.

Sick pigs (Reuters): In a little more than a month, Chinese officials have reported 13 cases of African swine fever among hogs, including four found on Thursday alone.

Isabella cooked after harassment suit (Washington Post): Celebrity chef Mike Isabella has filed for bankruptcy after a sexual harassment lawsuit in March led several partners to cut ties with him.

Dicamba problems drop (Manitoba Co-operator): Farmers in Manitoba have filed only a handful of complaints alleging crop damage from the errant use of dicamba, the second year in a row of few problems with the weedkiller in the province.

Mining okayed near Boundary Waters (USDA): Companies will soon be allowed to explore for minerals in the Rainy River Watershed in northern Minnesota, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The watershed includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Harvard is a global farmland investor (Grain): The oldest U.S. college owns 850,000 hectares of farmland around the world via acquisitions that “have contributed to the displacement and harassment of traditional communities, environmental destruction, and conflicts over water,” says a nonprofit supporter of small farmers.

FoodCorps, big schools team up (FoodCorps): The Urban School Food Alliance, which includes 11 of the largest U.S. public school districts, and FoodCorps will work together on initiatives to enhance food quality in schools and improve student health and academic performance.

How about a slice of smoked watermelon? (Eater): It takes about a week to cure, dry, smoke, and pan-finish a watermelon “ham,” says the co-owner of Duck’s Eatery, where the latest New York City viral food hit costs $75 and is sold out until November.

Keep up with more daily news with our daily farm & agriculture report at America’s Farm Report.

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