CRP Sign Up & SNAP Changes

CRP Sign Up & SNAP Changes plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Yesterday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced at the National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic that the USDA will conduct a four-week general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program, beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. CRP has a 27-year legacy of protecting the nation's natural resources through voluntary participation, while providing significant economic and environmental benefits to rural communities across the United States. Under Secretary Vilsack's leadership, USDA has enrolled 11.7 million acres in various CRP efforts.

Studies are showing changes in the makeup of Americans who get SNAP or food stamp benefits. The number has been rising - almost 1.5 million more people in the last year and Under Secretary of Agriculture, Kevin Concannon talks about another change.

CONCANNON: We learned earlier this week through research done that the typical profile of people - children or adults - receiving the benefits in the food stamp program, these folks are getting poorer by and large. They have less other income in many of those households. Many of the millions of them with no income whatsoever.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

This is National FFA Week. There are nearly 560 thousand FFA members in grades 7 through 12 across the country, and every year they utilize this week as an opportunity to reach out and educate the public about the FFA organization and the importance of the agriculture industry. Many FFA members are visiting elementary and middle schools this week to talk with young students about where their food comes from and the people who work hard to provide that food. They are also connecting with state and local government leaders and performing community service projects. Interestingly, a great number of FFA members did not grow up on a farm. Instead, they were first exposed to the organization in middle school and they’re passion for agriculture grew from there. When asked about what they feel is the most important point for them to convey to not only the young people they speak to, but school district leaders and state and federal legislators, they respond by stating that agriculture is the nation’s largest employer, and that while farming is about tending livestock and the planting and harvesting of crops, it is also about science, technology, and the business of feeding an ever growing world population.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.