SNAP work requirement waivers are element in debt ceiling debate – May 23, 2023

SNAP work requirement waivers are element in debt ceiling debate

House Republicans returned to one of their original targets in the debt limit debate with President Biden — the authority of states to exempt able-bodied adults from the 90-day limit on food stamps unless they work at least 20 hours a week. Hundreds of thousands of SNAP recipients could be affected if Congress curtailed or eliminated state waivers.

USDA puts $394 million into infrastructure in rural areas

Some 2 million people in small towns and rural communities will benefit from projects to improve housing, healthcare and infrastructure in eight states and Puerto Rico, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday. Vilsack announced $394 million in grants, loans and loan guarantees for 52 projects through the Rural Partners Network.

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

More right-to-repair agreements: The largest U.S. farm group signed agreements with AGCO and Kubota that provide farmers and ranchers with the right to repair their equipment; the group also said it will stay neutral on right-to-repair legislation. (American Farm Bureau Federation)

Colorado River water cuts: The three states in the lower basin of the Colorado River — California, Arizona and Nevada — agreed to save 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026; most of the reductions — coming from water districts, farms and tribes — qualify for $1.2 billion in federal compensation. (New York Times)

No-till legend dies: Ohio farmer Dave Brandt, a U.S. pioneer in no-till agriculture and cover crops and an advocate of regenerative agriculture, died of injuries from a car crash. (No-Till Farmer)

Cell meat’s environmental impact: Cell-cultured meat often is portrayed as environmentally friendly because it uses less land and water than livestock, but it has a global warming potential of up to 25 times larger than beef depending on the growth media. (UC-Davis)

Farmland price increases slow: Farmland values are still on the rise “albeit at a slower rate than a year ago,” wrote agricultural economist David Widmar after looking at the land market in Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and the central Plains. (Agricultural Economic Insights)

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