Farmers Support Food Assistance In Next Farm Bill

As Congress prepares to craft a new Farm Bill, farm industry advocates are encouraging farmers to support keeping food assistance programs like SNAP in the 2018 Farm Bill.

“They’ve been together since the early 1970s and it really helps to form a balanced bill that can make it through the House of Representatives and ultimately the Senate,” director of market intelligence for the American Farm Bureau Federation John Newton explained. “The Farm Bill is a $1 trillion package over 10 years, with about 80%t of that money going to food assistance and nutrition programs.”

Newton said conversations on the 2018 Farm Bill are underway, with several Senate and House hearings already completed.

Source: Farmers’ Advance, 4/4/17, Farm Bill

Plate Of The Union

The Environmental Working Group and Food Policy Action Education Fund are launching the Plate of the Union campaign, which aims to encourage consumers to become activists for policies that make food safer, make healthy food more accessible, and make food production better for our environment.

The campaign will focus on four main issues:

1. Stopping taxpayer subsidies going to Big Ag polluters; 
2. Protecting and improving anti-hunger programs like SNAP;
3. Increasing federal investments in organic agriculture; and
4. Expanding federal programs to revitalize land and reduce food waste.

The new initiative will deploy grassroots and online tools and tactics to raise awareness about farm and food policies, and show why consumers must demand their right to healthy food as Congress begins crafting a new Farm Bill.

Source: InsuranceNewsNet, 2/22/17, Plate of the Union

Farm Bill Will Soon Be Back On The Table

Food and agriculture policy experts met recently to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill. The discussion was hosted by AGree, a bipartisan food policy organization supported by eight of the largest food and ag-focused foundations.

One key topic of conversation was the future of SNAP which, like other nutrition programs, are funded through the Farm Bill and account for about 75% of its spending ($89 billion in 2016). Republican legislators have, in the past, proposed removing SNAP from the Farm Bill and converting it to a block grant. Several participants at the AGree event seemed confident that the SNAP program wouldn’t experience major cuts, let alone block-granting. But Eric Mitchell, from the anti-hunger advocacy organization Bread for the World, was more skeptical. He expressed concern that the Republican Congress might still pursue block-granting SNAP, even against the wishes of agriculture groups, and noted that several powerful Republicans have supported a move to block grants, including House Agriculture Committee chair Mike Conaway and House Speaker Paul Ryan.


Source: Civil Eats, 2/8/17, Farm Bill

Urban Farmers Receive Millions Here in CT

"Every year, the US Department of Agriculture devotes millions of dollars to farmers in rural areas.
The government is increasingly starting to offer assistance to urban farms, too.

In 2016, the USDA funded a dozen urban farms, the highest number in history, Val Dolicini, the administrator for the USDA Farm Services Agency, tells Business Insider.

USDA Microloans, a program that offers funding up to $50,000, is specifically geared toward urban farmers. Established in 2013, the program has awarded 23,000 loans worth $518 million to farms in California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Though it is open to all farmers, urban farmers often apply for it because it offers the money on a smaller scale than other programs. Seventy percent (or about 16,100 of those loans) have gone to new farmers, many of them in cities."

Source: CT Post, 12/27/16,  Read More...

Federal Farm Subsidies Don't Help, May Hurt, Low-Income Americans

A new study investigates whether US farm subsidy policies help the food consumption and nutritional well-being of low-income Americans. It focuses on the poor, because they are especially vulnerable to changes in food prices. On net, the study finds, the impact of these subsidy programs on US consumer prices is tiny.

It concludes that farm programs do not affect food prices in a way that protects the poor. The people whose incomes are most improved by farm policies are not those at risk of poverty and hunger. The study finds, farm subsidies may compete for budget dollars with federal nutrition assistance programs that help poor people. Government spending on farm subsidies may reduce spending on SNAP and school lunch subsidies, and other food and nutrition programs in the USDA budget.

Source: American Enterprise Institute, 1/9/17, Farm Subsidies

Battles Arise for Food and Farm Policies

The Trump administration has, so far, paid very little attention to policies regarding food and farming. But there is likely to be major changes to current food policies with the incoming administration.

Kip Tom, a farmer from Indiana and member of Trump's advisory committee on agricultural policy, described this as a time to "swing for the fences."

Check out the full article from NPR to learn about potential changes coming down the pike.

NESAWG Hosts Annual Conference

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Work Group (NESAWG) will be hosting its annual It Takes a Region conference, November 10-12 in Hartford. The conference brings together farm and food system practitioners across the 12-state Northeast region to learn, debate, collaborate, and innovate solutions to critical food systems issues. The theme for this year's conference is Tackling Wicked Problems in Food Systems.

For more info->

Home delivery to SNAP beneficiaries may be coming

Several years go, Fresh Direct, an online fresh food order and delivery service, launched a pilot program in the Bronx that enabled low-income residents to use their SNAP benefits for purchases and have them delivered for free. Apparently, the company views the experiment as a success, presumably because the profits from the additional purchases at least offset the costs. Last year’s Farm Bill allows government and nonprofit organizations to accept SNAP benefits for home-delivered food. They can accept the benefits only for food delivered to households headed by someone who’s at least 60 years old or disabled and “unable to shop for food.” Organizations can charge for delivery, but no more than $20 at any one time. They can also set an order minimum up to $50. In mid-July, USDA proposed a rule to reflect the law. At the same time, it said it would soon seek up to 20 food purchasing and delivery services for a one-year pilot.

Source: Poverty & Policy, 10/29/15, Home Delivery

USDA STOPS SUBSIDIZING SNAP EBT MACHINES

As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, the federal government will no longer subsidize electronic benefit transaction (EBT) machines, a move that will force many small, SNAP-accepting stores to stop accepting benefits, or raise their prices. In large supermarkets, EBT cards are swiped at checkout terminals along with credit and debit cards. But in around 118,000 bodegas, corner stores, and mom-and-pop markets nationwide, SNAP EBT cards have been used in specific machines provided to stores free through a federal-state partnership, according to the USDA. These small stores could now see bills of up to $1,000 a year to use EBT equipment, supplies, and related services, according to Xerox Corp, which administers EBT cards in 19 states.   

Source: Phiily.com, 10/14/14, EBT Machines

FEDS SHIFT SNAP PROCESSING COSTS TO RETAILERS

The federal government plans to shift the cost of accepting food stamps to retailers in the coming weeks, a move that anti-hunger advocates say could make it harder for some families to buy groceries. Beginning Oct. 25, retailers will be required to pay for the equipment needed to process SNAP cards. Advocates worry that some merchants, particularly small corner groceries, could stop accepting the cards. Chain supermarkets and larger grocery stores should be positioned to absorb the change. The new requirement is part of the 2014 Farm Bill, and USDA has warned retailers not to pass the new cost on to customers, or require SNAP purchase minimum amounts. Farmers’ markets and nonprofit organizations are exempt from the change. 

Source: Baltimore Sun, 9/16/14, SNAP Cost Shift

NEW MONEY TO HELP SNAP FAMILIES EAT HEALTHIER FOODS

USDA is making up to $31.5 million available to help SNAP participants afford healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program, enacted in the 2014 Farm Bill program will fund projects that test community-based strategies to increase SNAP participants purchase of fruits and vegetables through point-of-purchase incentives, supported by effective and efficient benefit redemption technologies. Among other priorities, USDA is looking for projects located in underserved communities and that provide locally or regionally produced fruits and vegetables, especially those that are culturally appropriate for the target audience. 

Source: USDA, 9/29/14, Healthy SNAP Incentive

ONLY 4 STATES IMPLEMENT SNAP “HEAT & EAT” CUTS

Only 4 states—Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey and New Hampshire—are implementing the cuts to the food stamp program that were enacted as part of the 2014 Farm Bill. The new law says that people can't get enhanced SNAP benefits unless they receive more than $20 a year in heating assistance (up from $1 a year), which lawmakers hoped would be too expensive for states to pay. But the governors in 12 of the 16 affected states and the mayor of the District of Columbia have said they will find a way to pay for the increased heating aid. Most will use federal heating assistance dollars. At least one, California, will use its own money.

Source: Star Tribune, 9/17/14, No SNAP Cuts

FEDS SEEK SNAP EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROJECT PROPOSALS

USDA is seeking state proposals for three-year pilot programs that combine SNAP food assistance and job training in an effort to find the best way to get people out of poverty. 

The 2014 Farm Bill included $200 million for up to 10 pilot programs that tied food stamp eligibility to employment. The pilots will target able bodied adults without dependents—essentially anyone on food stamps who isn't disabled, younger than 18 or older than 50, the parent of a child under 6, or an adult who is working at least 30 hours a week or already in a workforce training program. States must submit their applications by November 14, 2014.

 Source: Governing, 8/26/14, SNAP Pilots; Center for Law & Social Policy, 9/14, SNAP Pilots II

Have you seen this article in National Geographic?

National Geographic Magazine, Why are people malnourished in the richest country on Earth?
August Issue
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/hunger/

On a gold-gray morning in Mitchell County, Iowa, Christina Dreier sends her son, Keagan, to school without breakfast. He is three years old, barrel-chested, and stubborn, and usually refuses to eat the free meal he qualifies for at preschool. Faced with a dwindling pantry, Dreier has decided to try some tough love: If she sends Keagan to school hungry, maybe he’ll eat the free breakfast, which will leave more food at home for lunch.

SNAP EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING (E&T) PILOTS

The 2014 Farm Bill included $200 million for the creation and evaluation of pilot projects in up to 10 states for 3 years to test innovative SNAP E&T strategies that help recipients get into the workforce, increase their earnings, and ultimately reduce their SNAP participation. About 15% of SNAP recipients are subject to

E&T requirements. The pilots are to include a broad range of strategies, such as:

·    targeting individuals with low skills or limited work experience,

·    emphasizing education and training,

·    providing rehabilitative services for individuals with barriers to employment, and

·    including both mandatory and voluntary E&T participation.

 

USDA FNS will likely issue a request for applications in August and select the pilot sites in early 2015.

 

Source: Center for Law and Social Policy, 5/30/14 SNAP E&T; Washington (State) E&T

BRINGING HEALTHY FOODS TO NEEDY COMMUNITIES

Recently, representatives for several federal agencies joined representatives from community projects from around the country to discuss how to increase healthy food access to communities in need.  Participants heard about USDA’s Health Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), which is part of the new Farm Bill.  HFFI will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible fresh, healthy food retailers for market planning and promotion as well as infrastructure and operational improvements designed to stimulate demand for healthy foods among low-income consumers and to increase the availability and accessibility of locally and regionally produced foods in underserved areas. This program will expand healthy food access for families on SNAP. The President’s most recent budget proposal includes a request of $13 million for this work.

 

Source: USDA, 3/26/14, Healthy Foods

The New Farm Bill Reflects a Shifting American Palate

The Farm Bill signed into law last month shows a growing shift in America’s agricultural industry. Organic farmers, fruit growers and hemp producers are a main focus on the bill. Organic food is the fastest-growing sector of the food business and support for organic farming provisions in the bill had broad support from both parties.

Meanwhile SNAP is taking a backseat. Liberals fought against any cuts to food stamps, including the "heat or eat" provisions. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, strongly defended her bill’s budget from Republicans looking to make additional cuts and stood firm against drug testing for food stamp recipients. She was so persistent her aides would say that some senators would actually fear her approach. Despite this argument to secure food assistance, billions were cut from SNAP.

For fruit and vegetable farmers, insurance coverage for all their crops became reality.  The 75-year restriction on industrial hemp has been lifted as well; the Cannabis plant can now be refined into oil, wax, rope, cloth, pulp and other products. This new Farm Bill represents a drastic change in American consumption – for better or worse.

 

Source:  New York Times

More discussion of the "heat or eat" provisions of the Farm Bill

USDA Secretary Vilsack testified before the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday. At the hearing, Republican members of Congress pressed the Secretary with concerns about the now seven states that have taken action to avert the farm bill heat and eat cut. The farm bill heat and eat cut impacted 16 states but 7 have taken action to avoid the cuts by allocating state resources to meet the new $20.01 floor for the minimum level of LIHEAP benefits before a SNAP household can take the heat and eat option.

At the hearing, Agriculture Appropriations Chairman Robert Aderholt said it appears the states are trying to circumvent farm bill language designed to deter the "heat-and-eat" practice. "It boils down to the intent of Congress. They didn't intend for governors to artificially raise the (heating assistance payment) so people can continue to qualify," he said. Aderholt said he planned to raise the issue with House Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas. “One federal program should not be manipulated in order to get more federal dollars from another,” Aderholt said.

In an interview later, House Agriculture Chairman Lucas said that states' decisions to meet the new minimum payment are refocusing attention on the connection between the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the SNAP, characterizing the efforts by states as an effort "to mine the treasury." "Whether it gets addressed in calendar year 2014 or not, it could become a very high profile issue in calendar year 2015, maybe 2016, maybe 2017. The political lay of the land might be dramatically different in 2016 or 2017. The concern expressed by a number of my colleagues is that this is just a way [by the states] to squeeze money out of the treasury," Lucas said. Cucas suggested that Congress may decide that the link between the two programs should be eliminated entirely.

At this time, no legislation has been introduced to further amend SNAP heat and eat policy. While it is unlikely that lawmakers will want to reopen the farm bill, it is likely that we will see amendments offered or legislation introduced as messaging vehicles.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service Under Secretary Kevin Concannon told the appropriations committee that states were simply exercising an option the farm bill gave them to raise SNAP benefits for people who qualify for food aid. Concannon said that if Congress had wanted to end the practice, it should have clearly prohibited it. He also stressed that the LIHEAP-SNAP connection has no effect on whether a household qualifies for SNAP, only on the amount of benefits for which they qualify.

 

Source:  Feeding America

 

FARM BILL REQUIRES SMALL STORES TO CARRY MORE STAPLES

A little-noticed section in the Farm Bill requires convenience stores to increase their “depth of stock” in four staple items – bread or cereals; fruits or vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry or fish – in order to continue accepting SNAP benefits. Stores will now have to stock at least seven items in each staple food category, instead of just three.

 

Source:  ABC15 Phoenix, 2/7/14, Convenience Stores

Governor Malloy responds to Speaker Boehner's comments about SNAP

Yesterday's Hartford Courant had an article about a letter Governor Malloy wrote to House Speaker Boehner about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the recently passed Farm Bill.

You can read the letter here.