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Dairy Farmers Fearful of WIC Program

Posted on: Friday, 1 December 2006, 18:00 CST

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER

WASHINGTON - The government wants to update its nutrition program for low-income families to encourage healthier food choices, but that could hurt the financial health of dairy farmers and other producers.

The Agriculture Department's proposal would add fruits, vegetables and whole grains, covering the extra cost by purchasing less milk, cheese, eggs and juice for the Women, Infants and Children program.

According to estimates by the department, sales of milk through the WIC program would be reduced from $906 million to $677 million, and sales of cheese would be reduced from $420 million to $253 million. Taken together, that comes to about $400 million less in dairy sales.

"For a farmer that's been struggling this year with milk prices to now have less consumption that's going to lower demand - that is a concern," said Peter Kappelman, who runs a 400-cow dairy farm with his brother John Kappelman in Manitowoc, Wis.

Agriculture Department statistics show that purchases through the WIC program account for 6 percent of annual U.S. milk sales and 3 percent of cheese sales.

Kappelman said he was also concerned that the rule would affect eating habits of Americans, so it could have a long-term effect beyond the WIC sales. And he questioned the wisdom of reducing milk in the WIC package.

"Milk offers one of best packages of calcium and protein, and we're cutting back in that area," he said.

The WIC program, which helps feed more than half the babies born in the U.S., provides vouchers or food checks for purchases worth around $35 a month.

The proposed revisions are based on suggestions by the federally chartered Institute of Medicine. The addition of fruits, vegetables and whole grains follows changes made to the government's dietary guidelines last year.

Under the proposal, milk would be reduced from three cups a day to two cups for children ages 1 through 5, and soy milk and tofu would be allowed as substitutions for those who have trouble digesting lactose or have milk allergies.

Eggs would be reduced from 2-1/2 dozen per month to 1 dozen per month for women and children, and 2 dozen for women who are breast-feeding.

And juice would be reduced from 9 ounces per day to 4 ounces per day for children ages 1 through 5.

Trade groups representing dairy, egg and juice producers have all filed comments with the Agriculture Department arguing that the reductions would deprive women and children of important nutrients.

"Obviously, anytime you have a program that benefits both constituents and dairy farmers, we have concerns about both those stakeholders," said Chris Galen, a spokesman for the National Milk Producers Federation.

"Robbing the dairy portion to pay for fruit and vegetable ones doesn't address the issue of a balanced diet overall."

Agriculture says egg sales through the program would be cut from $158 million to $85 million - a reduction of nearly half.

"It's a substantial hit to us," said Howard Magwire, a Washington lobbyist for the United Egg Producers. "We can live with that, but we think they're making a mistake."

Magwire said Agriculture should seek funds to add fruits, vegetables and grains without reducing funding for other products.

Juice sales through WIC would also be reduced by nearly half, from $555 million to $282 million, according to USDA estimates.

"The proposed reduction in the juice allocation for WIC participants has the possibility of sending an inappropriate and unsubstantiated message about the benefits of 100 percent juice," said Carol Freysinger, executive director of the Juice Products Association.

Tae Chong, a public policy nutritionist at the National WIC Association, which represents agencies that administer the program at the state and local level, said his group embraced the proposed rule.

"What the WIC rule recommends follows a number of national dietary guidelines," he said.

Anti-hunger groups have also come out in support of the proposed changes.

Susan Acker, a spokeswoman for the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, said that the department largely followed recommendations from the Institute of Medicine.

"IOM's revised food packages were developed to better reflect current nutrition science and dietary recommendations than do current food packages, within the parameters of current program costs," she said.

The Agriculture Department, which is reviewing public comments, expects to issue a final rule by next September, Acker said.

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On the Net:

Women, Infants and Children Program: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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