For many in rural parts of the U.S., internet access is still elusive

Oct 6, 2020
Rural counties in Mississippi received a $4.6 million grant to connect schools, businesses and public services to the internet.
The FCC has estimated it will take about $80 billion to bring broadband access to the whole country.
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Risk of deepening hunger crisis as SNAP exemption expires

Aug 11, 2020
When the pandemic began, the federal government made it easier for states to approve people for SNAP, but that flexibility is ending this month, raising concerns that more people will go hungry.
There is likely to be another big spike in SNAP enrollment now that Washington has let federal unemployment benefits expire.
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USDA pandemic food box program extended

Jul 28, 2020
The USDA program is designed to help people facing food insecurity.
Volunteers in Virginia organize food distribution to families in need.
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USDA announces food distribution program, but will it help farmers?

May 11, 2020
The Farmers to Families Food Box Program will begin distributing $1.2 billion in surplus food to communities across the country.
A food bank worker distributes goods. A Marketplace-Edison poll found that 44% of Americans over 18 fear being unable to afford food.
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Anti-hunger advocates eye latest food insecurity data

Sep 4, 2019
The USDA's report on "Household Food Security in the U.S." uses a variety of measures to gauge whether households are food insecure, such as whether people have had to skip a meal or reduce the size of a meal for financial reasons.
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Who's planting? Who's not? Who wants to know?

Aug 12, 2019
Getting a grasp on acreage planted by farmers was harder this year because of bad weather.
A farmer walks through his soy fields in 2018, in Harvard, Illinois.
Nova Safo/AFP/Getty Images)
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USDA report to show the impact of wet weather and trade tensions on farmers

Jun 11, 2019
An Ag report to be released on Tuesday is expected to show the effects of weather and trade tensions on farm supply and demand.
Floodwater from the Mississippi River covers a farmer's field on May 30, 2019 in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
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The USDA is buying milk and giving it to food banks

Aug 17, 2018
The program is hoping to help the needy – including America's dairy farmers.
Oatly, the Swedish maker of oat milk, will start selling shares to the public on Thursday, in an offering expected to value the company at $10 billion. The market for milk substitutes has been growing rapidly, with Nestle just releasing its own version made from peas.
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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in Canada

Jun 14, 2018
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will be in Canada today  to meet with his counterpart, Lawrence MacAulay. Last weekend’s G-7 summit in Canada ended in a tweet storm with President Donald Trump insulting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada’s trade practices. But the USDA wants you to know this visit was planned weeks ago. Click the […]