Latest United States Department of Agriculture Stories

CHICAGO, June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, today warned that pending cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) will put many of our nation's seniors at risk of hunger. The farm bill passed by the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee in May cuts $21 billion from SNAP. These cuts, if enacted, would cause two million individuals to lose their food assistance...

CHICAGO, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, urges everyone to call their Members of Congress on Tuesday, June 18, to oppose harmful cuts to the nation's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps). This week, the House is expected to take up its version of the Farm Bill. They are proposing devastating cuts to SNAP that would take food away from struggling families, increase...

475,000 Total Acres Now Preserved on Nearly 4,500 Farms HARRISBURG, Pa., June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's Agricultural Land Preservation Board today safeguarded 1,906 additional acres on 23 farms in 11 counties through the state's nationally renowned farmland preservation program. The board preserved farms in Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Columbia, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Wayne counties. Since the program began in 1988,...

Senate Passes Bill With $4.1 Billion in Cuts, 40% of Households Losing Benefits Are in NYC NEW YORK, June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Bank For New York City today announced the launch of an emergency "Lost Meals" guerilla marketing and digital media campaign to stop massive cuts to food stamps that would disproportionately affect New York City. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130612/NY30732 ) On Monday, the Senate passed a version of the Farm Bill that would cut...

Statement Attributable to Bob Aiken, President and CEO CHICAGO, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "The need for federal nutrition assistance programs has never been greater. "Unemployment is stuck at 7.6% nationally, millions of families are scraping by on reduced wages or with reduced hours, and the charitable system is stretched to the breaking point. "While we are disappointed that an amendment to restore the $4.1 billion in SNAP cuts failed to pass, we are pleased that...

Planet Aid and its local partner ADPP Mozambique began delivering the first of many hot school meals to nearly 250 schools throughout Maputo. Maputo, Mozambique (PRWEB) June 04, 2013 Hungry school children in this province now have an even greater incentive to attend school. Planet Aid and its local partner ADPP Mozambique began delivering the first of many hot school meals to nearly 250 schools throughout the province. The school meals are part of a comprehensive nutrition and...

DAVIS, Calif., May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California will provide funding to enroll agricultural acreage this year into the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Nationwide, NRCS will allocate $175 million to enroll up to 12.6 million additional acres this year. The voluntary program allows landowners to go the extra mile in conserving natural resources while also maintaining or increasing the productivity of...

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will speak at a National Press Club Speakers Luncheon on June 5. Mr. Vilsack will discuss U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) efforts to help America's farmers, ranchers and foresters mitigate the risks of droughts, floods and invasive pests. He will discuss the problem of food waste in the United States and highlight solutions to improve sustainability. As part of this discussion he will...

Senate Bill 376 Targets Schools with Large Enrollment of Economically Disadvantaged Students to Expand Breakfast Program HOUSTON, May 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Food insecurity continues to be a growing problem for Texas families, with the state ranking eighth in food hardship in the country. Roughly three million public school students in Texas live at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, and therefore qualify for federally funded free or reduced price school meals....

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Trust for America's Health (TFAH) finds the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture-passed Farm Bill damaging to the nation's health. The House legislation would significantly cut programs (most notably in the nutrition title) that have benefited millions of Americans and continually improve the nation's health. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100204/TFAHLOGO) In contrast, on Tuesday, the Senate Agriculture...