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Presenter: Helen Dombalis, Policy Associate National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
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Federal Farm to School Legislation and Implementation in Process, and What You
Can Do!
Claire Benjamin, Office of Congresswoman PingreeHelen Dombalis, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Diane Kriviski, US Department of AgricultureBetti Wiggins, Detroit Public Schools
2012 Farm to Cafeteria Conference
IcebreakerStand up if you’ve heard of the Farm Bill
Stand up if you’ve ever worked on a Farm Bill
Stand up if you know the names of your two Senators
Stand up if you know the name of your Representative
Stand up if you’ve ever contacted one of your Members of Congress about an issue important to you
Stand up if you’ve ever met one of your Members of Congress
Child Nutrition Reauthorization:Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
CNR 101: HistoryOmnibus legislation
renewed roughly every five years
Includes the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act
This policy can have huge effects on federal meal programs and their participants
CNR 101: ProgramsThe National School Breakfast, National School
Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) are permanently authorized through the federal Child Nutrition Program
These and other programs are considered during CNR reauthorizationSummer Food Service ProgramWIC, and including WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition
ProgramFresh Fruit and Vegetable ProgramSpecial Milk Program
Advocacy: Farm to School GrantsMulti-organizational advocacy
National Farm to School NetworkNational Sustainable Agriculture CoalitionCommunity Food Security Coalition
The ask: $50 million over 10 years ($5 million per year)
What we didJoint hill meetingsSign-on letters
The win: $40 million over 8 years ($5 million per year)
Implementation:Joint letters to USDA
Farm to School Grant Program ImplementationRequest for ApplicationsSelection processRemaining $1.5 million
Farm to School In Action
Farm Bill 2012
Farm Bill 101: Overview• Title I – Commodity
Programs
• Title II – Conservation
• Title III – Trade
• Title IV – Nutrition Programs
• Title V – Credit
• Title VI – Rural Development
• Title VII – Research
• Title VIII – Forestry
• Title IX – Energy• Title X – Horticulture &
Organic Agriculture• Title XI – Livestock• Title XII – Crop Insurance• Title XIII – Commodity
Futures• Title XIV – Miscellaneous• Title XV – Trade & Taxes
Farm Bill 101: Programs and BackgroundNutrition
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)Community Food Projects (CFP)
AgricultureBeginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
(BFRDP)Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG)Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG)National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
ConservationConservation Stewardship Program (CSP)Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Farm Bill 101: Congressional Committees
Authorizing Committees: write the Farm BillHouse Committee on
AgricultureSenate Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Appropriations Committees: determine how much funding should be allocated for specific programs during each fiscal year
Farm Bill 101: Key Players
Agribusiness Lobby Anti-Hunger
AdvocatesNutrition/Public
HealthCommunity Food
SecurityConservation/
Environmental Groups
International Trade and Globalization
Renewable EnergyGovernment
AgenciesOrganic Groups Sustainable Ag
Congresswoman Pingree’s Farm to School Advocacy
Eat Local Food Act
Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act
Advocacy: Farm to Cafeteria in the Farm Bill
USDA Foods (commodities)Establish a “local food credit program” that allows
schools to use an amount equal to 15 percent of their USDA Foods dollars for purchases of local and regional foods in lieu of commodities
Department of Defense FreshAllow schools and other service institutions a
discretionary option to use their DoD dollars for a “local food credit” with which to make their own purchases of local and regional produce
Where We Stand NowSenate-passed Farm Bill:
Authorizes pilots in five states to explore local food procurement in schools
House Agriculture Committee-passed Farm Bill:Authorizes schools with low annual commodity entitlement
values (small rural schools) to start making their own food purchases in lieu of USDA commodities, provided USDA determines this would yield reduced administrative costs
Creates demonstration projects in at least 10 schools to test alternatives to USDA distribution through farm to school procurement
Authorizes a five-state pilot program to explore alternatives to the DoD Fresh program for procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables
How potential Farm Bill legislation might impact food service directors on the ground
Status of the Farm BillCurrent Farm Bill
expires Sept. 30, 2012
Full Senate passed bill June 21, 2012
House Agriculture Committee passed bill July 12, 2012
Conference? Extension?
What You Can Do!Sign up for NSAC and CFSC/NFSN action
alerts
Call and/or meet with your Members of Congress and tell them what matters to you. How do you know who to call? Go to congress.org and type in your zip code.
Apply for a Farm to School Grant next year
Questions?