WIC

The USDA is extending a key funding flexibility in the WIC program that’s allowed state agencies and their infant formula manufacturers to work together to provide more options for needy families.  Under this flexibility that’s now extended to the end of October, USDA is covering the added cost of non-contract formula to make it financially feasible for states to allow WIC participants to buy alte

With conversations over the 2023 Farm Bill set to begin in earnest in the coming months, many in the farming community are asking if the farm portions of the legislation and nutrition segments be separated.  Todd Nash, President of the Oregon Cattleman’s Association said he doesn’t have an issue with those nutritional elements, such as SNAP and WIC being included in the Farm Bill.   But what he ..

The federal government this week extended a series of waivers to provide WIC families with additional infant formula options through the end of the year.  The Department of Agriculture extended the waivers to December 31st, or 60 days after the expiration of the state’s COVID-19 major disaster declaration.  The waivers w...

House Democrats introduced a bill that would reauthorize child nutrition programs. Those programs include school meals, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as WIC, and a host of smaller programs.   According to the Hagstrom Report child nutrition programs haven’t gotten reauthorized since 2010’s Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.  The School Nutritio...

Earlier this week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow called on the USDA to address the infant formula shortage for those relying on WIC. The Michigan Democrat said, "Millions of Americans rely on the WIC program to get baby formula for their children, so the current shortages are extremely concerning for parents across our country ...

The USDA is taking specific actions to improve America’s nutrition security. The USDA’s nutrition security efforts build on the work the agency and its partners are doing to improve food security by increasing the Department’s focus on diet-related chronic diseases. Studies show th ...

USDA’s Economic Research Service says participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is declining. Fiscal year 2020 marked the 10th consecutive fiscal year WIC participation declined. On average, 6.2 mil ...

Participants in WIC may soon see a temporary increase to their benefits. The increase will apply to the purchase of fruits and vegetables. With $490 million provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, USDA has offered the option of boosting the cash-value voucher benefit by more than three times the current amount for up to four months to provide additional relief during the pandemic ... R

What are some of the ways that rural child hunger is being addressed through recent legislation and existing USDA programs? "An increase in the SNAP benefit. We now have over a million Americans that are using the SNAP benefit online because they are having a difficult time maybe accessing a grocery store, now they have an opportunity to use this additional online," noted Agriculture Sec

USDA's WIC program has been under the spotlight as of recent. "Which is designed to provide healthy foods for pregnant women, and young moms, and young children. That's a program that has been incredibly effective except that, as I said earlier, we have some challenged in terms of access," noted Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack ...