We’re working on extending school nutrition waivers
While Republicans objected to the cost of public nutrition programs such as SNAP, the leader of the House Appropriations Committee said on Wednesday that “we will be doing something about extending the waivers of the school meals programs.” The waivers, a response to the pandemic that allows free meals for all public school students, are due to expire on June 30.
1 in 6 needed food assistance in 2021, says Feeding America report
More than 53 million Americans turned to food banks, pantries, and meal programs last year, one-third more than before the pandemic, said Feeding America, a network of food banks and hunger relief groups, on Wednesday.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Farm labor wages climb: Farm operators paid workers an average of $17.22 an hour this spring, up 8 percent from a year ago, according to a USDA report that offers “further evidence that inflation is hitting growers hard.” (The Packer)
More formula for WIC: Mead Johnson Nutrition has been approved to ship 4.5 million pounds of base powder from Singapore to make infant formula for use in the WIC program. The powder will produce 5.7 million cans of formula. (FDA)
Plunging crab numbers: The annual survey of the blue crab population in Chesapeake Bay put crab numbers at 227 million, the lowest level in three decades of surveys. (Inside Climate News)
Far more PFAS danger: A group of chemicals found in drinking water, cosmetics, and food packaging pose danger to far more Americans than previously thought, said the EPA, which issued health advisories that encourage local officials to install water filters. (Washington Post)
Vilsack to New Hampshire: On Friday, at a farm in New Hampshire, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce significant funding to reduce regulatory costs and increase market opportunities for local and regional sales. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
