School lunches: Shortages in supplies and labor
With a new academic year on the horizon, school-food directors are ready with tricks to keep meals flowing, such as cutting pizza boxes and clamshell containers in half when lunch trays are not available, said a report by the School Nutrition Association on Tuesday. “The supply chain crisis, labor shortages and high costs are a long-term reality for school meal programs,” said SNA president Lori Adkins.
USDA boosts funding for pandemic hog payments
Hog farmers who sold slaughter pigs at unduly low prices during the early months of the pandemic will receive an estimated $62.8 million in the coming weeks, nearly $13 million more than initially expected, said the Agriculture Department on Tuesday.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Community wildfire defense grants: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a five-year $1 billion competitive grant program that will make awards of up to $10 million to communities working to protect against wildfire losses. (USDA)
Cows buried in landfills: After more than 2,000 cows died in a Kansas heat wave in June, animals were sent to a landfill to be buried — usually a last resort for the disposal of carcasses. (Reuters)
‘Protect agriculture’s land base’: The 2023 farm bill should “enable more landowners to voluntarily protect their land in perpetuity” by increasing funding for USDA conservation easement programs and for land stewardship efforts. (American Farmland Trust)
Child nutrition mark-up: The House Education and Labor Committee scheduled a vote for Wednesday on legislation filed by Chairman Bobby Scott to increase USDA reimbursement rates for meals served by schools, expand the community eligibility provision and modernize WIC. (House Education)
U.S. launches heat.gov: The interagency National Integrated Heat Health Information System unveiled the heat.gov website with maps, data and information that includes heat forecasts and advice on how to deal with hot weather. (NOAA)
Advances for Ukrainian grain: Turkey said it would open an operational center in preparation for resumption of grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, notwithstanding the second Russian missile attack on port facilities in three days. (Irish Times)
