Senate supports USDA rule against discrimination in school meals
In a vote that largely followed party lines, the Senate on Thursday defeated a Republican attempt to overturn a USDA rule against discrimination in school food programs on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. “This whole exercise is nothing more than a political stunt using children, as I said before, to stoke up their culture wars,” said Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow.
WIC shortfall would squeeze Black and Hispanic families the most
Some 600,000 parents and young children would be denied WIC benefits under USDA funding bills pending in the House and Senate, said the think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on Thursday. “The eligible people who would be put on waiting lists are disproportionately in Black and Hispanic families,” said a CBPP blog.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
CRP in limbo: The expiration of the 2018 farm law on Oct. 1 has stranded the land-idling Conservation Reserve Program, and the USDA cannot offer new contracts, revise existing contracts, or process applications to enroll cropland in the reserve. (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition)
Brand loyalty’s limits: Consumers believe brand-name beverages taste better and will buy them even if the store brand is much cheaper, but there is little brand loyalty when it comes to fresh meats, vegetables, or fruits, according to a survey of 1,200 people. (Purdue)
Grain corridor is open: Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said the Black Sea grain corridor was in operation, contradicting market reports that ship traffic had been suspended due to threats of attack by Russian warplanes. (Reuters)
Farm food aid proposed: A White House request for $56 billion in disaster relief includes $2.8 billion for farmers to offset crop losses, $1 billion for international food aid using U.S.-produced food, and $220 million to prevent a wage cut for wildland firefighters. (White House)
Climate funds and CAFOs: The USDA’s updated list of practices eligible for climate mitigation funding, such as using manure storage facilities and methane digesters, will lead to a proliferation of factory farm biogas and worsen global warming, said a coalition of environmental and small-farm groups. (Food and Water Watch)
