Phase 2 of the Coalition’s Priorities Survey

May 18, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

The Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition is in the process of setting its immediate priorities and we’re asking for input from other organizations. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete phase one of our three-phase priorities survey. We have incorporated your responses to revise the survey for the second phase, eliminating priority options that weren’t of interest and adding priority options that you suggested. Whether you filled out the survey in its first phase or want to weigh in now with your priorities, please take the second phase of our quick survey to share with us the priorities that you think the Coalition should focus on.

Click here to take the survey and here for a detailed description of possible priorities that you are asked to choose from on the survey.

We are accepting survey responses through Friday, May 25th. The survey should take about 10-15 minutes.

Thank you for your input!

USDA Announces Funding to Increase SNAP Redemptions at Farmers’ Markets

May 11, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

By Holly Calhoun

Wednesday May 9, the USDA announced $4 million in funding to increase the number of farmers’ markets accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps. The funding could increase revenues for farmers, improve fresh food access, and stimulate local economies by providing technology to farmers’ markets to allow SNAP customers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the farmers who grow them. Lack of technology has been a major barrier for farmers’ markets to accept SNAP since the shift from paper food stamps to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. The USDA has long provided EBT terminals to brick and mortar stores. Farmers’ markets (many of which lack electricity and phone lines) require wireless terminals. Currently less than 25 percent of farmers’ markets are authorized to accept SNAP.

The Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition launched in November 2011 with the goal of boosting the agriculture sector and improving the health of the nation by forming cross-sectoral partnerships. The Coalition worked together with 40 public health, agriculture, and anti-hunger organizations to deliver a letter on November 18 urging the USDA to fund EBT technology in farmers’ markets. The Coalition commends the USDA’s leadership and is excited to see an early success in working with key partners across sectors for the mutual benefit of farmers and human health.

Enabling farmers’ markets to accept EBT increases revenue in direct to consumer sales for farmers and allows low-income shoppers who are at disproportionately high risk for preventable chronic disease to eat a healthier diet. The Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition applauds the USDA for providing funds that directly support the economic viability of farmers and health of communities. The Coalition thanks all 40 organizations that worked together for this important gain. The Coalition looks to build and grow these collaborations in a continued effort to better support America’s farmers and the health of the nation.

Read the full letter to the USDA with the list of signatories by clicking here.

To learn more, we encourage you to read the blog posts by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and the Farmers’ Market Coalition (FMC).

Click here for the official announcement from the USDA and here for a blog post from Under Secretary Kevin Concannon.

World Food Program USA Supports the Senate Farm Bill

May 4, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

A Statement from Richard Leach, President and CEO – April 23, 2012

The Farm Bill developed by the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee helps alleviate global hunger. It is a testament to the longstanding dedication of Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts who have been steadfast in their commitment to addressing hunger. We strongly support the global hunger provisions in the bill. The bill builds upon the ongoing efforts of Congress and the Administration to transform the U.S. response to global hunger. It increases the sustainability of school feeding programs, improves the nutritional quality of food assistance, fosters integration of US food security programs and increases the cost-effectiveness of food aid. This is a good bill for the world’s hungry people.

Click here to read more.

Bipartisan Farm Bill Legislation Passes Senate Agriculture Committee

April 28, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

By Gabrielle Serra

On Thursday, April 26, the proposed farm bill legislation referred to as The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 passed through the Senate Agriculture Committee with a 16-5 vote that demonstrated bipartisan support.

This legislation would save $24.7 billion over the next ten years, with cuts coming primarily from the elimination of direct payments, streamlining conservation programs, and tightening requirements for determining households’ eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

The Senate Agriculture Committee was originally scheduled to mark-up this legislation on Wednesday, April 25; however, the meeting was delayed largely due to unresolved issues regarding proposed changes to the farm safety net. Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Roberts (R-KS) moved quickly to resolve as many issues as possible in order to bring the legislation to the Committee for mark-up before the Chamber was to break for a week-long state work period.

The legislation was voted favorably out of Committee by a bipartisan vote of 16-5, including no votes from Senators Chambliss (R-GA), Cochran (R-MI), McConnell (R-KY), Boozman (R-AR) due to opposition to changes made to the commodity title, as well as a no vote from Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) who objected to the cuts in nutrition programs.

While the mark-up demonstrated significant leadership by the Chairwoman and Ranking Member to achieve bipartisan support for the bulk of the bill, it also shed light on the fact that there continues to be significant concern and opposition to proposed changes to the commodity programs and the farm safety net. Resolving these issues will be crucial in order for Senate leadership to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote.

Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee will convene a series of farm bill hearings in May. It is not yet clear when Chairman Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Petersen (D-MN) will be ready to propose their farm bill legislation, but it is expected that what happens in the Senate will be important for providing momentum and support to help drive House action.

For more information on the policy details and what’s at stake in the Senate farm bill legislation, we encourage you to read the analyses by our Steering Committee members and other partners in the agriculture, food, and nutrition community.

International Agriculture and Trade Policy

Center for Livable Future Blog

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Blog

Feeding America Hunger Action Center

Farm Bill Markup Rescheduled for Thursday 4/26 10:30 a.m. EDT

April 26, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

The Senate Agriculture Committee will meet to markup the Farm Bill on Thursday, 4/26 at 10:30 am EDT. The new meeting time was announced late Wednesday. The Committee was originally scheduled to markup the bill on Wednesday morning but postponed the meeting late Tuesday.

Farm Bill Markup Date: April 26, 2012 Time: 10:30 am EDT Location: 328A Russell Senate Office Building

Click here to watch the markup live online!

Get up-to-date analysis and ask questions to our panel of experts tomorrow on our web forum, 10:00 am EDT. Click here to register.

Federal Policy Update – Farm Bill Markup Wednesday 4/25

April 25, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry issued their proposed draft of the 2012 Farm Bill on Friday afternoon. The Committee will meet to markup the bill with amendments and modifications tomorrow, Wednesday 4/25.

Farm Bill Markup
Date: April 25, 2012
Time: 9:00 am EDT
Location: 328A Russell Senate Office Building

If you’re interested in the Farm Bill Markup but are unable to attend the meeting, you can watch it live online! Click here.

You can access the entire 2012 Farm Bill Committee Print by clicking here.

Hear up to date analysis of the markup from a panel of agriculture, food, and nutrition experts on the Coalition’s Web Forum this Thursday April 26, 1-2 pm EDT. Click here to register.

For more perspectives and information on the Farm Bill, we encourage you to check the following sites of our Steering Committee Member Organizations.

Institute for Agriculture Trade Policy and their Healthy Food Action site.

American Farmland Trust

Public Health Institute

California Food and Justice Coalition

Public Health Law and Policy

Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future

Help Establish Coalition Priorities — Take the Survey!

April 20, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

The Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition is setting its priorities and you can help determine what they will be. These immediate priorities will help to establish a framework for the coalition’s longer term agenda. Moving forward, we’ll be engaging with partners in a conversation about longer term priorities.

Please take a quick survey to share with us the priorities that you think the Coalition should focus on.

Click here to begin the survey.

The survey should take about 10-15 minutes. Survey responses will be accepted through Monday, April 30.

Please note that only one survey response is permitted per organization and that coalition members’ responses will be weighted more heavily than non-members. You will be given an opportunity to join the coalition at the end of the survey.

Joining the Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition means your organization is committed to fostering dialogue to improve understanding and identify joint priorities that serve both public health and agriculture. It does NOT mean that your organization will automatically be signed on to all actions taken by the Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition. It also does not mean you will necessarily share the Coalition’s top policy priorities. Members will be provided opportunities to sign on to each activity, letter, etc.

We look forward to your input!

Click here for a description of possible priorities.

Join us Thursday April 26 for a Coalition Web Forum

April 19, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

Thursday April 26, 1-2 p.m. EDT/10-11 a.m. PDT

Join the Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition (HFHP) for the first of a series of educational web forums bringing together Coalition members and partners for a cross-sectoral analysis of issues at the intersection of agriculture and public health.

This first web forum will include a panel of agriculture, food, and nutrition policy experts to shed light on how the current debates on food and agriculture issues in Washington D.C., nationally, and at the state level can impact the health of all Americans, and the economic and environmental viability of the food and agriculture sectors.

Click here to register.

Click here for more information.

Click here for the tentative agenda.

New SNAP Report Released

April 17, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

From USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Building a Healthy America:

A Profile of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

For the last four decades, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has played a critical role in the lives of millions of Americans in the fight against hunger and improved nutrition. In fiscal year 2011, SNAP served nearly 45 million people. This report seeks to provide policymakers and interested citizens with reliable information to assess the program’s strengths and identify opportunities for improvement.

Click here to download the report.

IATP Farm Bill Web Page

April 9, 2012
Posted by HFHP Coalition

From Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

For the past 75 years, ever since the New Deal programs of the Roosevelt administration, federal policy makers have taken an active role in agriculture. Every five to seven years, agricultural policies are evaluated and reauthorized through the federal Farm Bill. The last bill was passed in 2007; the next is expected in 2012. The larger public is discovering that policies in the Farm Bill affect not just farmers here and around the world, but rural communities, the environment, health, hunger and even immigration. Literally everyone has a stake in the Farm Bill.

Click here for the IATP Farm Bill Web Page.