WIC

The federal government shutdown is starting to drain key USDA nutrition programs that were at the heart of Farm Bill and spending fights on Capitol Hill.

On Thursday, the Washington State Department of Health announced it had received funding from USDA to continue food benefits through the end of the month.

The USDA is hosting its large outdoor market in D.C. this week, as part of National Farmers Market Week, but a little closer to home, farmers markets are a summertime staple.

USDA’s annual spending bill got a jump start on Congress’ last-minute September budget crush, while Washington Senator Patty Murray told lawmakers the reorganization will save taxpayers billions.

The FY ’26 Ag appropriations process has kicked off in Congress and once again, the process is partisan.  Subcommittee Chair Andy Harris launched the markup, announcing the GOP’s $25 billion bill.   “…a $1.1 billion or 4.2% decrease from FY ’25 ...

Partisan gridlock and fallout from the November election could again force Congress to kick key decisions for agriculture into 2025.  It’s not just the Farm Bill, but USDA and other spending bills stuck in months of political gridlock in a narrowly divided Congress that could still be stuck even in a post-election lame duck session.  A $26 billion...

Participating in SNAP, or ordering SNAP foods on-line isn’t new, it’s a service that’s been available for a while.  Deputy Under Secretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services Stacy Dean said the USDA program has grown very rapidly.   “In March of 2020 ...

American Dairy Coalition, recently announced federal policy priorities and an action plan for 2023.  American Dairy Coalition CEO Laurie Fischer said, “Our ongoing efforts have been focused on raising awareness of short- and long-term challenges.”   One k...

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service announced proposed changes to the foods prescribed to participants in WIC.  These science-based revisions incorporate recommendations from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.   “USDA ...

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