Agriculture

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting specialty crops, highlighting the vital role they play in America’s agricultural industry and calling for increased support of specialty crop programs. “Whether it’s red raspberries, blueberries, potatoes or any number of different fruits and vegetables grown by our local farmers,… Read more »

As a result of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene’s (WA-01) bill, which was included in the Farm Bill, Washington state received $22 million to conduct a pilot program that will help those most in-need of finding stable employment. “Helping people find good-paying, long-term employment in a high demand industry is the best way to ensure everyone has access to economic… Read more »

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) yesterday introduced legislation that would prevent an estimated 1 million Americans from losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits next year due to a policy oversight in the SNAP work requirement. The SNAP Work Opportunity Act (H.R. 1025) would ensure that residents in states that cannot… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) was selected to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research. “I look forward to leading this important subcommittee and hearing innovative ideas from farmers, ranchers and researchers,” DelBene said. “People rarely link technology with farming, but it is vital… Read more »

MOUNT VERNON — The Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network, a Mount Vernon-based agricultural advocacy organization, recently received a $88,444 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help jump-start purchases of fresh local produce by schools. Executive Director Ellen Gray said the two-year grant will partially support three staff members who will help… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that the Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network has been awarded $88,444 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support its efforts to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and growers. The grant is part of USDA’s Farm to School Program. “As schools do more to provide healthy, nutritious food for… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene praised an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that $4.2 million in grants were awarded to Washington state through the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program. These grants will support Washington producers of fresh fruits and vegetables by funding research to improve growing practices and help farmers gain access to new… Read more »

The federal Food and Drug Administration is shelving a proposed change that threatened to end beer-makers' ability to give away their soggy, used-up grains to farmers for livestock feed. The decision formally announced last week leaves intact a long-standing practice that saves micro-brewers the cost of hauling spent grains to landfills and gives farmers a nutritious source of food for… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene announced the start of a new risk management program for dairy farmers, known as the dairy Margin Protection Program, that she worked to include in the 5-year Farm Bill extension that passed earlier this year. This voluntary program allows dairy farmers to take steps to protect their business from economic risks beyond their control. “I worked hard… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene welcomed an announcement from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today that the USDA will begin taking applications from states for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) pilot program, which was included by Rep. DelBene in the Farm Bill reauthorization enacted earlier this year. The provision is… Read more »