School lunch battle creates unlikely alliances
Does the Healthy Schools Meal Act reflect a “nanny state” mentality, or is the policy vital to the health of the nation’s school children? Those are two of the questions …
Some states tighten conditions for receiving SNAP benefits as the economy improves
The national economy is improving, and some states are adjusting their SNAP programs (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps). The re-emerging policy targets unemployed adults without dependents, …
Is ‘test’ vote on crop insurance harbinger of challenges to come?
One of the big interests in American politics is agriculture. This was evident in Iowa’s recent “first-ever” ag summit, which invited GOP presidential nominee hopefuls to the state to discuss …
Ethanol a focus of Iowa ag summit
Nine potential presidential candidates appeared at Iowa’s first-ever Agricultural Summit to talk policy with influential GOP donor Bruce Rastetter on Saturday. Among the topics were immigration, common core, wind energy, …
Iowa to hold first-ever ag summit for 2016 GOP hopefuls
via Politico (@politico) Few doubt the importance of the Iowa caucuses in American presidential politics. And for the first time, an agricultural “caucus” of sorts – a policy summit – …
Changing demographics: Will fewer farmers be able to deliver political punch?
Sara Wyant from Agri-Pulse (@agripulse) has put together a fascinating piece on the politics for power. As America’s demographics change, can farmers still influence national politics? America has always suffered …
Potential candidates to participate in Iowa ag summit
At least seven potential 2016 presidential candidates have committed to participate in an Iowa Agriculture Summit slated for early March. Among those scheduled to appear are Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, …
Food Stamp use in rural America challenges stereotypes
Background: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a USDA program that offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families; it was previously called the “food stamp” …
Rajiv Shah, director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will relinquish his post early in 2015. President Barack Obama commented on Shah’s announcement, saying: “For the past …
Poultry Processed in China may be out of school lunches
Democrats included a provision in a federal spending bill that would prevent poultry processed in China from being used in the federal school lunch program, as well as other federal food …