Farm Bill: ‘There will be an extension’
Congress will have to extend the life of the 2018 farm law into 2024 so it can finish work on its successor, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday. “Most people acknowledge there will be an extension,” although its duration is unclear, he said.
USDA pumps $2.3 billion into export promotion and food aid
Facing a back-to-back decline in food and ag exports, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Tuesday the USDA would provide an additional $1.3 billion to build overseas demand for U.S. products and an additional $1 billion for global hunger relief. The USDA currently spends a combined $2.5 billion a year on those objectives.
Fewer children in after-school nutrition programs
With the expiration of pandemic waivers, student participation in after-school meal programs dropped by 23 percent, said the anti-hunger Food Research & Action Center on Tuesday. With the return to pre-pandemic operations, many after-school programs and meal sponsors continue to struggle with staffing shortages and increased food prices, said FRAC in a report.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Senate to vote on USDA funding: The Senate could begin voting on amendments as soon as Wednesday under a bipartisan agreement to debate three appropriations bills for fiscal 2024, including the USDA-FDA funding bill. (The Hill)
Bird flu in Antarctica: The first cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Antarctic region were detected in brown skuas on the island of South Georgia; the birds were probably infected by migratory birds returning from South America. (British Antarctic Survey)
Stabenow nixes MSU chatter: Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow responded, “Not going to happen!” to speculation that she would leave the Senate to chair the Michigan State University board. (Stabenow)
FDA pesticide residue report: Human food and animal feed samples were “generally in compliance” with FDA tolerance limits for pesticide residues, similar to the results of monitoring tests in recent years. (FDA)
