Covid-19 drives emergency steps for school food in two states   The USDA approved requests from California and Washington State to provide free meals to low-income students when schools are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The waivers, good through June 30, were the first by USDA to help schools… Continue reading

States are told to expand job training for SNAP recipients   The Trump administration said on Thursday that state agencies operating SNAP must expand their job-training activities for food stamp recipients as a way to help them earn more. The proposal was unveiled on the same day as a federal… Continue reading

Chance of trade war payments ‘less than 10 percent’   Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the odds of a multibillion-dollar round of trade war payments to farmers this year are “less than 10 percent,” although a senior lawmaker said the payments may be “absolutely vital” for survival in the Farm… Continue reading

With agreements in hand, fewer farmers expect trade war payments   Farmers are optimistic about the resumption of trade with China and, as a result, fewer of them believe the Trump administration will send trade war payments to producers this year, said a Purdue University poll on Tuesday. Fewer than… Continue reading

Red farm states end up in the black with tariff payments A handful of farm states, mostly in the Midwest and Plains, emerge as net winners when the impact of retaliatory Chinese tariffs are weighed against the Trump administration’s trade war payments to farmers, say three university economists. National Farmers… Continue reading

FDA: Coronavirus disrupts supply chain for U.S. animal drugs Six firms are seeing disruptions in the supply chain because of Covid-19 that could lead to shortages of animal drugs for the U.S. market, said the FDA in an update. Some 32 animal drug companies make finished drugs or buy active… Continue reading

Water reuse may become part of USDA programs   As part of an administration initiative, the USDA will consider including reused water, also known as recycled or reclaimed water, in its land stewardship and community development programs. “Water reuse is going to be how agriculture continues to increase productivity while… Continue reading

USDA to ease rules on hemp labs and destroying ‘hot’ crops   The government will allow farmers to destroy “hot” hemp fields themselves, rather than having to hire a contractor to do it, and will expand the number of laboratories that can test industrial hemp for THC levels, said Agriculture… Continue reading

‘Public charge’ rule chills nutrition program enrollment among immigrants   Across the country, fear and confusion about the Trump administration’s “public charge” rule has prompted immigrants and their families to drop out or stay out of pubic nutrition programs, even when they are eligible, said immigrant and anti-hunger groups.  … Continue reading

If exports rise, farmers won’t need trade aid, says Perdue   U.S. AG exports have gained limited traction from President Trump’s ballyhooed trade victories, but Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is optimistic that demand will improve. “I hope we can show that a third round [of trade war payments] is not… Continue reading