Foodlinks America - March 14, 2008
Foodlinks America - March 14, 2008
In this issue:
• Farm Bill Goal Posts Moved to Mid-April
• Second Stimulus Tacked On To Budget
• Bartered Commodities Help Fill Bonus Gap
• Proposed Legislation
• Food Stamp Facts
• Nutrition Assistance Notes
• Summer Food Shorts
• Reports from the Field
• Small Bites
Foodlinks America is published 24 times a year by California Emergency Foodlink in Sacramento, CA and distributed by Weinberg & Vauthier Consulting, 6412 CR 116, Burnet, TX 78611; Zy Weinberg and Barbara Vauthier, Editors; email: bvauthier@tefapalliance.org.
Foodlinks America is not copyrighted, so the information can be freely shared with colleagues and friends, though attribution for reprinted articles is appreciated. For archived issues of Foodlinks America, go to: www.tefapalliance.org. To request a free subscription to the newsletter or to submit story ideas, contact Barbara Vauthier at: bvauthier@tefapalliance.org.
Farm Bill Goal Posts Moved to Mid-April
Congressional leaders insist that negotiations now underway will result in passage of the long-overdue Farm Bill in the coming weeks, but to complete the job current law must be extended again. “Each day brings us closer to resolution,” said Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 11 in reference to regular meetings with House counterparts. “Although a bill is within reach, Congress needs more time,” Harkin said in proposing an extension until April 18.
Negotiators have not reached agreement on approximately $10 billion in offsets to increase Farm Bill spending, with Congress and the Bush Administration reportedly still about $4 billion apart. The Administration shared a list of proposed budget cuts with House Agriculture Committee chair Collin Peterson (D-MN) in early March, but Peterson found most of the offsets, such as lowering Medicare reimbursements to people on oxygen, unpalatable. “We’re going to listen to [the Administration] and we’re going to pay attention to what they say, but we’re not going to let them dictate what’s in the Farm Bill,” Peterson countered.
Some Republicans, too, are locked in battle with the White House on Farm Bill funding sources. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) told food bank and anti-hunger advocates in Washington, D.C. on March 3 that she was “frustrated at this Administration and its lack of compromise.” Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, who also opposes proposed cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, said the panel will insist on maintaining control of any revenue options coming out of the Senate, though he admitted, “Institutional disagreement is one of the reasons we’re having a hard time getting a Farm Bill.”
Moreover, President Bush’s continued opposition to a Farm Bill without his preferred offsets has stymied progress. Bush “had no incentive to negotiate and didn’t,” noted Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), head of the Senate Budget Committee, which has likewise been wrestling with finding Farm Bill funding possibilities. “We need true cooperation and partnership from the Administration rather than veto threats and funding sources that are non-starters,” emphasized Senator Harkin. A veto could further delay a final Farm Bill, already more than six months late, until early 2009, when Democrats hope to be inaugurating a new President.
Second Stimulus Tacked On To Senate Budget
In recent weeks, Democrats chairing both the House and Senate Budget Committees have pushed through fiscal 2009 budget plans that differ radically from the Bush Administration’s outline, proposed in early February. The Bush budget would cut domestic spending and reduce food assistance and other human service programs while boosting defense spending. Congressional budgets increase domestic spending, with the Senate proposal adding another economic stimulus measure.
Introducing the Senate Budget Committee’s spending proposal on March 5, chair Kent Conrad (D-ND) said, “We believe it is prudent to provide the room in the budget for a second stimulus package, some $35 billion of standby authority.” He noted that, “We may need to extend unemployment insurance and provide for additional funding for food stamps … low-income heating assistance and the WIC Program.” Conrad, in a committee news release, called for “a budget that invests in proven programs to boost economic growth, provides fiscally responsible tax relief and help for struggling families, and provides the resources to make America safer.”
The House Budget Committee spending outline, approved March 6, prioritizes human services such as education, children’s health care, and veterans’ health care and provides middle-class tax relief. Both the full House and the full Senate are expected to consider fiscal 2009 budget resolutions before breaking for a two-week Easter recess beginning March 15.
Consideration of the budget has also sparked the initiation of the annual appropriations process that determines program funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year. Subcommittees of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have begun hearings on next year’s budget needs. Once an overall budget has been decided upon, funding amounts will be assigned to the various committees.
Nutrition assistance programs whose statutory authority resides in the Farm Bill, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), Community Food Projects, and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, may be in jeopardy this year if the Farm Bill is not completed soon. The proposed Farm Bill has increased spending authority for most of these programs, but if it is not passed before the appropriations process is concluded, getting additional funding for provisions augmented in the Farm Bill will be problematic.
Bartered Commodities Help Fill Bonus Gap
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is planning once again to aid domestic food assistance efforts by trading surplus grains to food manufacturers for value-added end products. Results of this latest barter round are expected to bring more than $50 million worth of quality food into The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) at a time when it is badly needed.
Last year, with the government’s supply of “bonus” commodities to feed millions of hungry Americans down by more than 80 percent over the past five years, officials at USDA sought new ways to channel excess food to the needy. Consequently, in July 2007, USDA bartered $52 million worth of soybeans, cotton, wheat, and other grains for processed food to support domestic and international relief efforts. Those trades delivered a $43 million boost to TEFAP and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), adding valuable protein items such as canned chicken, beef, pork, stew, peanut butter, and vegetables to the program distributions.
The success of the initial barter has encouraged the Department’s Farm Service Agency, which controls the grain stocks, to sell off another $60 million worth of wheat through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) that it controls, according to a decision made in February 2008. As before, 80 percent of the income from the sales will be designated for use by domestic food programs, this time for TEFAP alone.
If the barter goes according to plan, USDA will receive chicken (leg quarters, whole birds, and canned), turkey hams, pork hams, canned salmon, canned tuna, peanut butter, and pinto beans. However, the amount and kind of commodities actually received will depend on markets, prices, and availability. These items will be available to states and local emergency food providers over and above TEFAP entitlement foods that can be ordered.
Proposed Legislation
Among bills recently introduced in the 110th session of the U.S. Congress are the following:
Senate (S.) 2726: Introduced by Senators Robert Casey (D-PA) Olympia Snowe (R-ME), the Bonus TEFAP Assistance Act would help to offset the cost of intrastate transportation, storage, and distribution of bonus commodities provided to States and food assistance agencies under the emergency food assistance program.
For bill summary and status information, along with the text of legislation, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov and enter the bill number.
Food Stamp Facts
Reasons for participation variations: Why are 83 percent of food stamp eligibles enrolled in the program in one state but only 43 percent in another? A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, Sources of Variation in State-Level Food Stamp Participation Rates, examines state policies and economic conditions in an attempt to answer the question. For details, go to: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/CCR37/.
ABAWD allocations announced: Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) are limited to the receipt of food stamp benefits in just three months of any 36-month period. However, states have authority to exempt a number of individuals from the limit, based on numbers provided annually by USDA. Final state-by-state slots allocated for ABAWD exemptions in fiscal year 2008, adjusted for carryover, have recently been published by USDA.
To learn more, see: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Memo/08/022708.pdf.
Nominations for “Hunger Champions” sought: An annual competition to recognize “Hunger Champions” among local offices that provide exemplary service in assisting eligible clients to obtain food stamp benefits has been announced by USDA. Any individual, agency or organization who has worked, observed or has personal experience with a local food stamp office that provides exemplary service to food stamp clients and/or applicants may nominate that office to be honored as a Hunger Champion. Nominations are due by June 30, 2008. For further information, visit: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/coalition/2008_hunger_champions.htm.
Planning to exempt rebates: USDA has outlined procedures to exclude the counting of tax rebates as income or resources in the Food Stamp Program for three months after receipt. The recently-passed economic stimulus legislation will give a boost to taxpayers in the form of rebates that Congress hopes will be used to jump-start the sagging U.S. economy. Details may be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Memo/08/030408.pdf.
Nutrition Assistance Notes
WIC regulations updated: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued various amendments to rules governing the WIC Program, reflecting mandatory provisions that were enacted in legislation in 2004. The rules, published in the March 3, 2008 Federal Register, cover program definitions, infant formula rebate contracts, state alliances for bidding on infant formula, rebate invoices, physical presence at certification interviews, vendor applications, and other matters. This issue of the Federal Register may be found at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3880.pdf.
Vending policies elaborated: Foods offered to school students through vending machines may be eligible as part of a reimbursable meal under the school lunch and breakfast programs. The extent of such allowances is detailed in a question and answer format in a USDA memo on the “Use of Vending Machines in School Meal Programs,” which may be viewed at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2008/SP_13-2008-OS.pdf.
Farm to school promoted: In response to recent legislation that directed the USDA to identify opportunities for the local procurement of foods that can be used in farm to school cafeteria initiatives, the Department has begun to assemble best practices. Additional comments are being sought from state child nutrition programs on a variety of farm to school topics. For further information, see: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2008/SP_14-2008-OS.pdf.
Newsletter for Tribal programs debuts: USDA has initiated a newsletter targeted specifically to Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) and states involved in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), which delivers commodity assistance to numerous Tribes throughout the nation. The first newsletter highlights changes made last year in the FDPIR food package, which replaced corn syrup, butter, shortening, and luncheon meat with turkey ham, roast beef, ultra-high temperature milk, canned chicken, and fresh tomatoes. To review the newsletter, go to: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/fdpir/fdpir_pubs/FDPIRNewsletterFeb2008.pdf.
Summer Food Shorts
Help with simplified procedures: New simplified procedures for the administration of the Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP), which took effect on January 1, 2008, are being publicized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The revised rules will provide reimbursements to sponsors on the basis of meals times the reimbursement rate. Sponsors will no longer have to track and justify “operational” versus “administrative” costs and claim accordingly to earn their modest reimbursement. A USDA memo on the subject may be reviewed at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/Administration/Policy/2008/SFSP_03-2008.pdf.
Handbooks on how to do it right: To become familiar with changes in the structure of the SFSp in 2008, potential sponsors and program advocates should review the updated SFSP Handbook now available from USDA. Handbook sections cover administrative concerns, site supervision, program monitoring, and nutrition guidance. For more information, see: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/library/handbooks.html.
And maybe a little money to help: Share Our Strength (SOS), a national philanthropic organization that supports anti-hunger causes, has announced it will use the proceeds from its Great American Bake Sale for grants to groups working to increase participation in the child nutrition programs, particularly the SFSP, School Lunch Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Awards of up to $10,000 will be made in two categories – grants for program sponsors and grants for advocacy. The application deadline is May 30, 2008. To learn more, go to: http://gabs.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GABS_grants&pw_id=2702.
Reports from the Field
Hunger and the need for emergency food continue to grow astronomically all around the nation. Not even the more affluent areas are exempt from the problem, as the following article from the Minneapolis StarTribune of February 12, 2008 details:
Scott and Carver counties are two of the state’s richest, but changing demographics and economic trouble are taking their toll. In the hallways of the Scott County courthouse, seat of government of Minnesota’s richest county, fliers from food shelves tacked on the wall cry out: “Our shelves are empty!” Among the items “desperately needed,” the fliers say: peanut butter, tuna, and macaroni and cheese.
Scott and Carver counties tower over all other metropolitan counties in the rate of growth in the amount of free food being handed out, according to the latest statistics from Hunger Solutions Minnesota, an advocacy group. Dakota ranks third.
The sudden need can be traced to the changing demographics of the suburbs, which are seeing growing numbers of immigrants, and to economic forces, including the sudden weakening in home building and layoffs at Northwest Airlines and other companies. A good many of those seeking help are “new Americans,” immigrants settling into communities such as Burnsville, said Pennie Page Hight, director of outreach for the Lakeville-based Community Action Council.
But many others are not.
The all-their-lives Americans needing help “are not toothless uneducated alcoholics who haven’t taken a bath in a week,” she said. “It’s families with college educations, families who’ve worked before and have Nintendo at home … people who come to us in tears, having never had to ask for help before. That is so humbling.” She finds it flat-out “amazing” that her agency has more than doubled – to 600,000 pounds a year – the volume dispensed over the past five years.
State Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, a Republican from Lakeville, says she’s seen a common pattern: Layoffs at employers such as Northwest Airlines, whose workers then “bought a white panel truck and turned to the housing market, doing tiling or painting. Now that’s gone away.”
Indeed it has. The Builders Association of the Twin Cities reported last week that the number of building permits in January, at 1,500 just four years ago, sank last month to just 364. Once-rip-roaring Shakopee, with 52 permits issued in January 2005, was down to 15 last month.
That the volume of food dispensed has been able to rise so far, so fast, Hight said, is a tribute to the community. “The Boy Scouts, the schools, the Postal Service – we have six food shelves and we are able to provide two weeks’ food for any family that calls us because of how the community donates.”
On the state level, however, advocates also stress that it’s an enormous pity that so many people needing help either choose not to get it, or don’t know it’s there for them through government sources. “More than 270,000 Minnesotans receive food stamps each month,” but “nearly 200,000 Minnesotans are eligible but do not participate,” said Jill Hiebert, a spokeswoman for Hunger Solutions.
The hunger exists amid plenty. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey released last year found that with a median household income – half make more, half less – of nearly $80,000 in 2006, Scott County is the state’s most affluent. Carver is third and Dakota fourth. In the 2000 Census, the last to deliver income figures of all of America’s more than 3,000 counties, Scott was in the top one percent, at 28th place.
But it’s partly because of that affluence, advocates say, that suburban counties are often short of other safety nets when trouble does strike – and the food shelf becomes an early warning signal. “We emphasize to all staff and volunteers the need of giving people dignity when they do come in,” Hight said. “Upper middle class people just don’t wake up one day and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to call the food shelf.’”
Small Bites
Pasta preferences: Called upon to name their favorite pasta, 40 percent of Americans named spaghetti, 12 percent lasagna, six percent fettuccini, six percent macaroni and cheese, three percent each for linguine, elbows, and pasta salad, and two percent angel hair.
The price of processing potatoes: Recent shelf price per pound of potatoes as: raw Idaho potatoes, 79 cents; canned new potatoes, $1.42; frozen wedges. $2.49; box of mashed, $3.01; and frozen twice-baked, $4.30.
A chip off the old spud: Recent shelf price per pound of potatoes as: potato chips, $4.77; Kettle cooked chips, $5.14; baked chips, $6.37; light chips, $7.65; and Terra chips, $10.21.
Imports are important: Food imports into the U.S. are seven percent of our total consumption based on value, and 15 percent based on volume.
Where imports rule: By volume, the highest levels of foods imported into the U.S. are fish and shellfish, 79 percent; fruit and nuts, 32 percent; and wine and beer, 16 percent.
Why fruit is near the top: Americans consume more bananas that apples and oranges combined.
mvauthier :: Mar.14.2008 :: Foodlinks America :: No Comments »
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.