The government funding bill approved by Congress would relax a requirement for schools to use more whole-grain rich foods and block USDA from creating a new beef checkoff program. The president was expected to sign the $1.1 trillion bill. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters the whole grains provision “is not too dissimilar to what we already proposed.”
Section 751 of the Agriculture section of the bill would allow an exemption from requirements to put more whole grains into meals if schools “demonstrate hardship, including financial hardship, in procuring specific whole-grain products which are acceptable to the students and compliant with the whole grain-rich requirements.”
Last spring, at about the same time that a Senate subcommittee was considering similar language, USDA said there were complaints that whole grain-rich noodles and pasta turned soggy and fell apart when cooked in large batches. “Based on this input, schools that demonstrate significant challenges in serving whole-grain rich pastas can now continue serving traditional enriched pasta products for up to two more years, as industry works to develop healthy pasta that works for schools,” said USDA.
Vilsack responded to a question about the checkoff by saying, “I’m just trying to help the beef industry” He was critical of an order for more study of the nutrient value of vegetables, which would keep white potatoes on the list of foods that can be purchased through the WIC program in the interim. “When it comes to children’s health, I’ve got more confidence in pediatricians than politicians,” said Vilsack on the sidelines of the Farm Journal Forum.
Also in the bill is a provision that requires USDA to report to Congress no later than May 1 on how to modify the country-of-origin labeling law, a three-time loser before the World Trade Organization. The latest WTO ruling is under appeal but unlikely to succeed.
A provision of the bill would nullify fair-play livestock marketing rules promulgated by USDA, but opposed by meatpackers, after the 2008 farm law and prevent USDA from carrying out plans to close 250 offices. The bill would also cut funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by $136 million and the Conservation Stewardship Program by $7 million.
In addition, says the New York Times, “The bill says the government cannot require farmers to report ‘greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems.’ Nor can it require ranchers to obtain greenhouse gas permits for ‘methane emissions’ produced by bovine flatulence or belching. The Environmental Protection Agency says on its website that ‘globally, the agriculture sector is the primary source’ of methane emissions.” The bill also requires EPA to withdraw the interpretative rule for its proposed Waters of the United States regulation.
“The passage by both the House and Senate is a clear message that Congress supports our industry and is willing to put a stop the overzealous Administration and their attempt to take production agriculture off the land,” said the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council in a joint statement appearing at CattleNetwork.