Jan 10 The USDA estimates 21 million kids will get summer food benefits through a new program. But not all states are participating. By Kenya Hunter, Associated Press Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, known as Summer EBT. Continue reading
Nov 21 3 things food banks really want By Laura Santhanam Even as inflation has eased and unemployment remains at historic lows, experts say many households are still struggling to afford food. Here's how to help food banks keep more families afloat. Continue reading
Sep 05 USDA designates July flooding in Vermont a disaster, making farmers eligible for emergency loans By Associated Press Gov. Phil Scott says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Vermont a natural disaster area from the catastrophic July flooding, making farms eligible for emergency federal loans. Continue reading
Dec 06 Black farmers sue government for promised federal aid By Scott McFetridge, Associated Press A class-action lawsuit says the federal government has illegally broken a promise to pay off the debts of Black farmers. The group hopes to put pressure on officials to restore funding that was dropped after a group of white farmers… Continue reading
Oct 14 USDA wants to update poultry production to combat foodborne illnesses By David Pitt, Associated Press The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing sweeping changes in the way chicken and turkey meat is processed in an effort to reduce salmonella illnesses from food contamination. Continue reading
May 23 What genetic sequencing can reveal about the secret lives of bees By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas The Beenome100 Project aims to sequence dozens of species of native bees to help answer questions about bee biology, behavior and much more. Continue reading
Oct 19 USDA rethinks approach to controlling salmonella in poultry By Josh Funk, Associated Press The USDA says the industry has succeeded in reducing the level of salmonella contamination found in poultry plants in recent years, but that hasn’t translated into a significant reduction in the 1.35 million salmonella illnesses reported each year. Continue reading
Jul 09 USDA unveils $500 million plan to help build more, smaller meat processing plants By David Pitt, Associated Press U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, announced the program Friday in addition to another $150 million to be used for existing small processing facilities to help them with unexpected costs the coronavirus pandemic caused and to compete… Continue reading
Jun 04 USDA sending $1 billion in funding to country's food bank networks By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press The Department of Agriculture is sending $1 billion to the country's food bank networks, seeking to expand the reach of the system and revamp the way food banks acquire and distribute aid. Continue reading
May 21 USDA to begin paying off loans of minority farmers in June By Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press Minority farmers who for decades have faced systemic discrimination will begin to receive debt relief beginning in early June under what Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calls one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in decades. Continue reading