CBO Scores Stand Alone House Nutrition Bill; Top Democrats Slam Proposed SNAP Cuts 

The Congressional Budget Office released its score for the recently-introduced Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013.  The bill would cut food stamps and make other changes to federal nutrition programs. 

The CBO says HR 3102 would cut $39 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over ten years. 

Top Democrats, including Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, assailed the bill as a "relentless assault on the poor and hungry."  In remarks delivered today, Stabenow claimed, "The bill being considered in the House of Representatives would kick millions of children and their families off of food assistance."  Here complete remarks can be seen, heard and/or read on our Top Ag Story on the website- click here for that story to see her on the Senate floor.

In a statement released by the White House, President Barack Obama also slammed the stand-alone nutrition bill, calling on the House to "approach the reauthorization of the Farm Bill in a comprehensive manner. "

The statement went on to say, "These cuts would affect a broad array of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, including working families with children, senior citizens, veterans, and adults who are still looking for work. Slashing SNAP also weakens our nation's farm and rural economies."  (You can read the full comments from the White House by clicking here.)

The White House statement hinted that the President would not sign the bill if it makes it to his desk.  

EWG Executive Claims SNAP Bill is 'Robin Hood in Reverse'

Scott Faber, executive vice president of government affairs with the Environmental Working Group, published the following online editorial:

The House will debate this week whether to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $40 billion over the next 10 years - and eliminate food assistance for roughly 6 million hungry Americans.

The bill is the second front in a battle to divide the farm bill into two bills - the "farm-only" farm bill that passed on a party line vote in July and a separate bill to fund anti-hunger programs like SNAP.

By splitting the farm bill into two pieces, conservative leaders hope to break a longstanding urban-rural coalition that has served supporters of both farm subsidies and feeding programs.

Given the opportunity, however, House conservatives did nothing to rein in farm subsidies.

In fact, they voted to increase unlimited subsidies for some of the largest and most successful farm businesses at time of record farm income even as they rejected reasonable reforms that would have subjected subsidies to means testing, payment limits and greater transparency. Ending direct payments - which are paid regardless of need - and adopting other subsidy reforms would have saved twice as much as the House hopes to save by gutting SNAP.

Click here to read more from Scott Faber.  

New Study Refutes Land Use Change Myth

A new report released from researchers in the Netherlands shows that current models assessing the impact of crops grown for biofuel production on land use do not accurately reflect current production and land use realities. Given the impact of these models on bioenergy policy, "Biomass Research" makes a strong case for updating the way in which the true benefits of biofuels are assessed in order to insure policy decisions fully value the environmental benefits of ethanol.

"Ethanol advocates have long understood the major impact that relying upon outdated data or inaccurate models can have on our nation's biofuels policy and, at NCGA we work to correct the information and models," said National Corn Growers Association Ethanol Committee Chair Chad Willis. 

"This study provides an academically rigorous examination of the specific areas in which ethanol modeling and data are currently lacking on a large scope. Farmers have made amazing strides to increase efficiency and sustainability in the past few decades, and the models and information used to assess the impact of biofuel production should reflect these gains. American ethanol benefits our environment as well as our economy and our energy security. It only makes sense that our energy policy should take these incredible benefits into account thus maximizing them for the good of all Americans."

You can read more of this story by clicking here.  

USDA 2013 Food Assistance Programs to Benefit More Than 10.5 Million Worldwide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that the fiscal year 2013 Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition allocations will benefit more than 10.5 million people worldwide.

"The United States is committed to achieving global food security and supporting sustainable agricultural production," said Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture. "In addition to providing much-needed nutritious food, USDA's food assistance programs also foster economic growth in the recipient countries."

Under the programs, USDA purchases U.S. commodities and donates them to government agencies and private-voluntary organizations in targeted countries. Food for Progress recipients in developing countries and emerging democracies sell the commodities and use the funds to introduce and expand free enterprise in the agricultural sector.

Click here for more. 

Hawaiian Dream Ice Cream Declared the People's Choice at 2013 State Fair of Oklahoma

The 2013 State Fair of Oklahoma "Cow to Cone" Ice Cream Contest yielded sixteen entries, with winners selected in three categories by a panel of judges, while a separate popularity vote chose the 2013 People's Choice Award Winner. The panel of judges, including yours truly, agreed with the general public, as one of their three category winners was named the People's  Choice Award Winner.

Martha Buehrung of Norman, Oklahoma won two of the three categories, topping the Vanilla Ice Cream category with her Vanilla Custard Ice Cream, while also winning the "Mix ins" category with Banana Coconut Crunch Ice Cream.

Mary Neal of Blanchard, Oklahoma won the third category, Fruit, with her five ingredient Hawaiian Dream Ice Cream. This third category winner was judged to be the "People's Choice" on Sunday afternoon at the State Fair.

You'll find the recipe for the People's Choice-winning entry on our web page along with my interview with Susan Allen of Dairy Max.  Click here to go there.  

Efforts to Resolve Saudi Arabia Beef Impasse Continue 

Saudi Arabia's suspension of U.S. beef imports has now lingered for nearly a year and a half, and continues to have a significant impact on the bottom line of U.S exporters who served this market. The suspension came about one month after an atypical BSE case was detected in California in April 2012.

As U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Senior Vice President for Trade Access Thad Lively explains, this BSE case had no impact on the United States' BSE risk classification, which was controlled risk at the time but has since been upgraded to negligible risk. Very few trading partners reacted negatively to the case, but Saudi Arabia has been the notable exception.

Because Saudi Arabia represented less than 1 percent of the U.S. beef industry's total exports, closure of this market has attracted far less media attention than some other beef trade disputes. But this industry-wide percentage greatly understates the harsh impact this closure has had on several small and middle-sized U.S. companies that cultivated a significant customer base in Saudi Arabia and are now forced to watch from the sidelines as their customers turn to other suppliers.

Thad Lively joins me for the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen in.  

More on H R 3102 and Summer Will End on a Cooler, Rainy Note 

The House Rules Committee last night approved a closed rule for the bill, clearing the way for House floor action. A closed rule means that no amendments will be in order for the bill.