Farmers and ranchers are still waiting for a new farm bill, but the release of a discussion draft means forward progress.
“The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 is the product of extensive feedback from stakeholders and all Members of the House, and is responsive to the needs of farm country through the incorporation of hundreds of bipartisan policies,” wrote House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson. “The release of this draft is a significant step forward in a years-long, deliberative process. The markup is one step in a greater House process that should not be compromised by misleading arguments, false narratives, or edicts from the Senate. I look forward to engaging with colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we move to markup.”
This new draft covers key issues such as crop insurance and securing farm safety nets through programs, addressing legislative issues created by California’s contentious Proposition 12 and the SOLAR Act, which protects farmland from solar development.
However, some of the draft has caused concern. Feeding America, the nonprofit food bank network, said that while improvements have been made to nutrition programs, the bill also contains provisions that may weaken resources provided to those facing hunger.
“Feeding America is particularly concerned by provisions that would prevent future benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from reflecting costs associated with updated nutrition guidance and the ways people shop and cook,” it wrote in a statement.
The draft version has also drawn the attention of the Former CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Pacelle. Pacelle argues that the EATS Act, included in the updated farm bill, undermines progress in improving animal welfare standards.
The 2018 farm bill expired last year, and Congress passed a one-year extension. There is a major push to get a new bill through Congress.
Currently, operations are based on the extension of the 2018 farm bill, but there is hope that the new bill will be addressed by the agriculture committees and eventually reach the President’s desk.
“Signing a farm bill into law is vital to the food and agriculture sector, which benefits our economy, accounting for roughly one-fifth of U.S. economic activity and supporting nearly 23 million jobs,” wrote the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
A key aspect of the farm bill’s success is its bipartisan nature. Historically, farm bills have garnered support from both parties due to their wide-reaching impact on agriculture and nutrition. Despite anticipated debates on specific policies across all 12 titles of the bill, there is confidence that a bipartisan agreement will be reached.
The next steps involve detailed policy discussions. Thompson in the House is moving toward a markup of the proposed text, an exciting development as it initiates specific policy debates.
The hope is that the Senate will soon follow suit. However, time is a critical factor, with presidential politics and close margins in the House making it increasingly challenging to pass a new farm bill this year.
The House Ag Committee will mark up the farm bill on Thursday, May 23. The current farm bill extension expires at the end of September.
Alabama became the second state to ban lab-grown meat, making selling it a misdemeanor just six days after Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis signed similar legislation.
The Alabama bill, proposed by Republican state Sen. Jack Williams, vice chair of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, and signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey on May 7, prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells. State Rep. Denny Crawford also had a hand in the legislation.
“We greatly appreciate Sen. Williams and Rep. Crawford for working to protect consumers in Alabama,” Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Erin Beasley said. “Cattlemen work hard every day to raise cattle and produce high-quality beef. The tireless efforts of Sen. Williams and Rep. Crawford this session will ensure Alabamians continue to purchase safe, wholesome, real beef.”
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told Texas Scorecard that he would be in favor of doing the same thing.
“I commend Governor DeSantis for signing that bill. It’s something that hopefully will start a trend. Maybe we can possibly get that through the Texas legislature,” Miller said.
While lab-grown meat has yet to hit grocery shelves, two companies (UPSIDE Foods and Eat Just) were approved to sell products in the U.S.
UPSIDE initially launched its cultivated chicken at restaurant partners, starting with Chef Dominique Crenn’s restaurant Bar Crenn in San Francisco last summer. However, the partners reportedly have gone separate ways since the launch. Meanwhile, Eat Just plans to serve its lab-grown products at José Andrés in D.C.
The decision to ban cultivated meat is still controversial, with proponents of lab-grown products arguing that bans inhibit innovation and consumer choice. Some users on Reddit call the move “anti-free market,” while others argue that cultivated meats may provide a more environmentally sound option than traditional means of raising livestock for meat. However, a recent study by the University of California Davis suggests that lab-grown meat’s carbon footprint may currently be worse than retail beef.
In response to the Alabama and Florida bans, Upside started a change.org petition urging consumers to tell politicians “to stop policing” their dinner plates.
About 400 workers at five farms in Ionia County, Michigan, will lose their jobs due to a mass layoff at Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, which is being affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The company informed Michigan’s Department of Labor on Wednesday that avian flu has affected the hen population at Saranac and Lake Odessa farms, resulting in layoffs.
“In the face of ongoing efforts to address the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza alongside state and federal regulators, Herbruck’s has reached the difficult decision to conduct layoffs at the affected facilities where work is not available,” CEO Greg Herbruck said in a statement.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently announced an emergency order to protect local livestock from the Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu. This “HPAI Risk Reduction Response Order” includes measures such as appointing a biosecurity manager, establishing a line of separation to limit access points, implementing cleaning and disinfection protocols, and logging entries in secure areas.
MDARD Director Tim Boring stated this is likely the largest response to a disease outbreak the department has ever managed in Michigan. Currently, there are seven infected commercial flocks and 14 dairy farms statewide.
“The poultry sector in Michigan, including egg-laying operations and turkey farms, has been significantly impacted. We are still assessing the full economic implications and may not have reached the peak of the outbreak,” said Boring.
Although national supply chains mean there is no immediate threat to finding eggs or turkey in stores, Boring warned, “It’s logical to expect some impact on prices.”
Key questions remain about how the disease is spreading and what treatments are effective. For more information on current bird flu statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, click here.
Although dairy is generally recognized as a cornerstone of a healthy diet, many Americans continue to fall short of recommended daily intake as endorsed by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is released every five years by the federal Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments. An in-depth consumer survey released by the International Food Information Council explores barriers to dairy nutrition among Americans, as well as offers solutions on how to remove them.
It found that 78 percent of Americans believe dairy is essential, yet many are not reaping its benefits. Generally, it’s because there is a disconnect between these consumer perception and actual dairy intake.
The report, titled Understanding Fluid Milk & Dairy Food Consumption Patterns to Enhance Diet Quality & Nutrition Equity, provides a roadmap for how industry, government, and health and nutrition groups can improve awareness of and access to lactose-free milk and dairy products; expand understanding about dairy’s nutritional value; and work with the dairy industry to extend shelf life and improve the value of dairy purchases to consumers.
Knowing more about what drives or inhibits dairy consumption can assist stakeholders’ efforts in enhancing consumer education, identifying trusted and effective outreach partners, increasing knowledge about the nutritional value and health benefits, and addressing potential barriers associated with consuming recommended amounts of dairy as part of a healthy dietary pattern.
The report’s key data points include:
Missed Opportunities for Lactose-Free: Nearly two in three Americans say they’ve never consumed lactose-free milk (64 percent), lactose-free flavored milk (76 percent), or other lactose-free dairy products other than milk (68 percent). The rate of non-consumption is more than half among Latino, Black, and Asian/Pacific Islander communities, indicating low awareness among groups that report higher rates of lactose sensitivity.
Affordability a Leading Factor for SNAP and Non-SNAP Households Alike: Approximately 30 percent of all races and ethnicities at all income levels cite affordability as a reason for consuming milk.
Expiration Dates and “Passive Avoidance” Top Barriers: Concern about spoilage before it’s used (19 percent), is a leading reason consumers avoid milk. Meanwhile, 37 percent of respondents cited no specific reason for limiting dairy consumption, suggesting “passive avoidance” that could be overcome with greater media, healthcare, and community outreach. Self-reported lactose sensitivities also contribute to higher levels of avoidance.
Taste and Health Top Purchase Drivers, Cheese Reigns Supreme: Cheese is the most frequently consumed dairy product (90 percent weekly), followed by butter (85 percent), milk (75 percent), and yogurt (60 percent). Consumers overwhelmingly rank taste as the main factor for purchasing cheese, yogurt, and milk, followed by dairy being a good source of protein. Health benefits cited include bone health as the most recognized (90 percent), and other advantages including immune system support (65 percent) and heart health (54 percent).
Image by Andrew Lambakis, Shutterstock
The survey was backed by the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation, and it includes the beliefs, behaviors, and perceptions of Black, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Non-Hispanic White consumers toward dairy.
The prevalence of lactose-intolerance among BIPOC communities, concerns about expiration dates, and goals to reduce saturated fat intake present opportunities to increase awareness of and accessibility to lactose-free, reduced- and non-fat, as well as innovative dairy products that safely extend expiration dates, making consuming the recommended amount of dairy and ultimately, increasing diet quality actionable and achievable for all Americans.
“Good nutrition is the foundation of health and wellness for adults and children across all demographics, and dairy is a crucial part of a healthy diet beginning at a very young age,” said Michelle Matto, MPH, RDN, associate vice president of regulatory affairs and nutrition, IDFA. “This survey shows how consumers value dairy for nutrition and taste but may lack adequate information about or access to the types of dairy that are right for them and their families. It demonstrates that dairy will need to expand its partnerships with communities of color, with health and nutrition experts, and with policymakers to remove barriers preventing Americans from getting adequate dairy nutrition, including high quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and health benefits including better bone health and lower risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
The survey shows the clear need for greater educational efforts, said Miquela Hanselman, director of regulatory affairs for NMPF.
“The IFIC research puts data behind both the importance of dairy nutrition and the need for better education about what dairy options are available and what benefits they provide,” Hanselman said. “With discussion of the next Dietary Guidelines under way, it’s important that this information be communicated clearly and forcefully to all who may benefit, from consumers who need dairy nutrition to policymakers who determine federal programs.”
The IFIC research underscores the importance of targeted outreach programs to improve overall diet quality and achieve greater nutrition equity.
