Digest highlights
- IDFA: Milk, dairy cuts would result in lower WIC participation
- Dairy margins ended December weaker
- Scott elected House Ag Committee ranking member
- Fill a Glass with Hope to launch on Jan. 6
IDFA: Milk, dairy cuts would result in lower WIC participation
A USDA proposal to cut milk and dairy purchases under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) would also reduce overall participation in the federal feeding program, according to a survey commissioned by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).
IDFA estimates that the USDA’s proposal would reduce the amount of dairy up to 6 quarts per month for pregnant participants and others.
Conducted by Morning Consult, the poll of 534 WIC participants showed that 20% of WIC participants would choose not to reenroll in the program should the USDA follow through with the cuts to milk and dairy. Three in four WIC participants (76%) said they were concerned with the USDA proposal, with one-third (35%) saying they will need to use non-WIC funds to cover purchases of milk and dairy and one-quarter (26%) saying the reduction will make their shopping for milk and dairy products harder. Roughly one-third (34%) were unsure if they would reenroll in the program following the proposed cuts.
“Reducing WIC benefits for milk and dairy will make life harder for millions of women, new mothers, infants and children at a challenging time of high food costs and rising food insecurity,” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA. “Moreover, USDA’s own proposal flies in the face of the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which says 90 percent of Americans are not consuming enough dairy to meet daily requirements. USDA must reverse course and find ways to improve program participation by encouraging the purchase of nutritious dairy products rather than penalizing low-income moms and families during tough economic conditions.”
Read Weekly Digest: Proposed WIC revisions disappointing for dairy
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is accepting feedback on the proposed changes until Feb. 21, 2023. To read the proposal and find information to submit comments, click here.
Dairy margins ended December weaker
While there were no Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program indemnity payments on November milk marketings, the outlook for dairy margins declined over the second half of December, according to Commodity & Ingredient Hedging LLC.
Milk prices weakened to end the year while projected feed costs moved higher. The USDA’s November Milk Production report indicated another production increase, and although the Cold Storage report reflected a seasonal decline in dairy product stocks during the month, the drawdown was not as large as in previous months as high prices are beginning to negatively impact demand.
As a reminder, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency has extended the DMC enrollment and coverage election period until Jan. 31, 2023.
Scott elected House Ag Committee ranking member
We may not know who the House Speaker is, but leadership of the House Ag Committee in the 118th Congress is now in place. With Republicans taking a majority in the House, U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) was previously elected as committee chair earlier in December. In late December, outgoing committee chair, Rep. David Scott (D-Arkansas), was elected ranking member.
Fill a Glass with Hope to launch on Jan. 6
The American Dairy Association North East, Feeding Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association will launch the 2023 “Fill a Glass with Hope” fundraising campaign on Jan. 6 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. Former NFL wide receiver Torrey Smith, a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, will join Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Royalty, U.S. Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-Pennsylvania), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding during the festivities. The funds enable food banks to purchase and distribute fresh milk.
