SNAP

If you're thinking of growing a garden this year, you can get a free seed kit from Oregon State University Extension's statewide seed giveaway, thanks to the “Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge.”  It’s spearheaded by Food Hero, a statewide initiative of the Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Program.   "Anyone in Oregon ...

Most Oregonians who receive food assistance through the SNAP program will again see a larger allotment this month; but it’s the last time emergency food benefits will go out.  Around 416,000 Oregon households will share an additional 71-thousand dollars in payments in February.  March will be...

The push to get a farm bill across the finish line this year could run headlong into the partisan fight over budget cuts versus raising the government’s borrowing limit.  On Thursday, new House Ag Chair, Republican Glenn Thompson stressed that lawmakers have a deadline in front of them, since the current Farm Bill expires on September 30th of this year.  While that de...

According to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, when it comes to crafting the new Farm Bill, the USDA’s role is one of advisory and providing information.  But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a wish list of his own.  First, he said it will be important all sides work together to get a Farm Bill done on time.    “It will be important and n...

The Senate’s $1.7 trillion spending bill to finish this fiscal year boosts agricultural research, rural development, and nutrition, but doesn’t include long-fought cattle market reforms.  The more than 4,000-page bill leaves out controversial legislation sought by Senator Chuck Grassley to force some cattle price negotiating by major packers, known as the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Ac

In fiscal year 2021, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, served an average of 41.5 million people monthly.  ERS reported this week the 2021 figure is an increase of about 5.8 million per month compared with fiscal year 2019.  SNAP pa...

The USDA says a new tool will soon be available to states to create greater efficiency within the SNAP program.   “The National Accuracy Clearinghouse, or the NAC, is a new technology-based solution designed to prevent duplicate participation," said Rebecca Piazza is with the Food and Nutrition Service.  "The NAC...

On-line nutrition assistance recipients redeemed $9.4 billion in benefits during the first two years of the pandemic.  ERS reported this week redemptions came from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, along with the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits, or P-EBT.  The pro...

The USDA continues to expand opportunities for those on SNAP to shop on-line.  The Department of Ag reported this week more than 150 additional retailer chains now offer online shopping to SNAP participants, representing thousands of stores.  In coll...

This week, Colleen Donovan talks about the many programs working to get fresh fruits and vegetables in the hands of those that needs them.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to...