News

House SNAP report and new standards for retailers

The House Agriculture Committee has completed its review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the USDA has finalized new standards for SNAP retailers.

Chairman Mike Conaway says they have found many areas of the program that work well but says there are areas that need improvement.

The report says there needs to be better enforcement of work requirements in some states.  With other welfare programs – it says SNAP recipients might face a “welfare cliff” when they are just above income eligibility – “which can create disincentives to finding work or increasing earnings.”

The report, two years in the making, will be used as a source of information for the 2018 Farm Bill.

On Thursday, the final SNAP rule for retailers was released requiring retailers to offer a minimum of 84 eligible items. Previously, a retailer could be an authorized SNAP provider with just 12 items.  Other changes are detailed in the rules – We have links to the rules and the House Ag report at Brownfield Ag News dot com.

USDA – Vilsack statement on House Ag SNAP report

USDA – Vilsack on final SNAP retailer standards