Tagged: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

With recent wildfires in northern Colorado now under control, the City of Greeley is focusing on protecting its drinking water supplies. This week the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that it is awarding the city $500,000 to help mitigation efforts.

Anthony Smukall's shopping list might look similar to that of many American's: Milk, eggs, whole grain bread, apples, assorted berries. But Smukall buys these products with his monthly SNAP allotment – money he receives from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps).

The latest proposal for the farm bill — the law governing everything from food stamps to rural development grants — is being considered by the U.S. Senate this week. It's designed to save more than $23 billion over the next 10 years, in part by getting rid of direct payments to farmers. The direct payment program alone costs taxpayers $5 billion per year.