USDA
Five times as many ‘Meals to You,’ says USDA
The "Meals to You" program, launched in March in Texas to deliver meals to rural low-income children whose schools were closed due to the coronavirus, soon will be delivering 5 million meals a week, five times the original goal, said the USDA. The program now operates in 12 states and 23 more plus Puerto Rico want to join.<strong>(No paywall)</strong>
USDA food boxes for charity called ‘inefficient’
The "farmers to families food box," a $3 billion part of the Trump administration's coronavirus relief package, may not be an efficient use of taxpayer dollars although it is aimed at two vexing issues during the pandemic – crops with no buyers and food banks overwhelmed by demand, said a panel of analysts on Monday.
USDA funds higher ethanol and biodiesel use
Congressional control needed of ‘USDA’s bank,’ says Peterson
China may miss ‘phase one’ target for U.S. farm purchases
New states in SNAP online pilot program going live this month and next
The newest states added to the Department of Agriculture’s SNAP online purchasing pilot program are planning to roll out the service by the end of April or mid-May, according to internal documents and news reports. Meanwhile, more states are eager to join the program as the coronavirus pandemic highlights disparities in food access. <strong>(No paywall)</strong>
Judge voids USDA move to water down school nutrition rules
The Trump administration's decision to delay and dilute rules calling for less sodium and more whole grains in school meals was overturned by a federal judge in Maryland, said the nonprofit legal organization Democracy Forward on Monday. "Our victory ensures that school lunches will be healthier for 30 million children," said the group on social media.
Farmers to Congress: make sure coronavirus aid isn’t just for agribusiness
Most SNAP recipients can’t buy groceries online. Now, some states push for change.
With millions of Americans sheltering in place, many are opting to buy groceries online for home delivery to reduce risk of exposure to the coronavirus. But that isn't an option for most people who receive federal food assistance from the USDA. Now, states are asking the department to address the issue, but the agency hasn't said whether it will update the policy. <strong> (No paywall) </strong>
USDA evaluating its coronavirus aid powers
The USDA is monitoring the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on commodity markets and evaluating the authority it received from Congress to distribute billions of dollars in aid to farmers and ranchers, said a spokesperson on Monday. <strong> (No paywall) </strong>
Stung by coronavirus, producers ask government to buy their goods
As coronavirus drives down commodity prices, farm groups ask for aid
By driving down commodity prices, the coronavirus outbreak is draining $50-$90 an acre from the corn and soybean revenue that farmers expect to receive this year, said economists Brent Gloy and David Widmar on Monday. Farm leaders said the counterweight to falling prices and economic uncertainty should be federal support. <strong> (No paywall) </strong>
Pick up the phone to talk to USDA
As a precaution against spread of the coronavirus, the USDA's local offices will conduct business by telephone only and farmers will need to make an appointment for the transactions. "USDA field work will continue, with staff practicing appropriate social distancing," said a USDA spokesperson over the weekend.<strong>(No paywall)</strong>
As schools close, USDA vows to deliver boxes of food to some students in rural America
The Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that it will be delivering boxes of food to children affected by school closures due to the novel coronavirus in rural America. In partnership with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLane Global, and PepsiCo, the USDA says it will eventually deliver 1 million meals per week.<strong>(No paywall)</strong>
USDA approves telework in DC region after coronavirus case
The USDA shut down part of its mammoth Washington headquarters after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. It also announced that "maximized telework is available" beginning Tuesday.<strong>(No paywall)</strong>
In a wink to Congress, Perdue concedes on crop insurance
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue reached back to his days as a governor to explain why the Trump administration proposed a 31-percent cut in crop insurance funding even if the plan has no traction on Capitol Hill.
Labor shortages, SNAP cuts, trade deals: How could coronavirus affect our food supply chain?
Although U.S. shoppers concerned about the coronavirus pandemic have largely emptied stores of paper products and household cleaning supplies, so far most other grocery aisles remain stocked. Still, as the virus spreads across the U.S., it could expose other weaknesses in our food supply chain, experts say. <strong>(No paywall)</strong>
Legislation calls for measuring conservation results
For the first time, the USDA would assess the results of its land stewardship programs, such as tons of carbon sequestered in the soil or reductions in nutrient runoff, under companion bills filed in the House and Senate on Wednesday.