Foundation Journal

During a workshop at a food bank conference held October 3-5, 2011 in Chicago, David Lee, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy with Feeding America , acknowledged a “perfect storm” is brewing that could have a devastating impact on poor and working families. He was referring to the combination of continued, high unemployment, a significant increase in the need for food assistance, and proposed cuts in Federal support for food assistance programs. David Lee (photo: Feeding America) The proposed cuts to TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) in the agriculture appropriations bill for FY2012, which starts October 1,  represent a 43% reduction from the previous year. “This is terrifying stuff,” mentioned Lee . The proposed House of Representatives version of the 2012 Farm Bill “slashed nutrition” by 20%,  he said, adding that this includes a “terrible, terrible cut to WIC,” the popular program available to lower-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, ...

Honey Bee on Winter Aconite. Credit: Tie Guy II/ flickr I was driving to work this morning and was fortunate to listen to a top-notch Making Contact report on the decline of bee colonies and the impact on farming. (Confession: I was late for work, so I was able to listen at a time I don't normally commute). The report so captivated me -- lots of compelling voices including a conversation with beekeeper Khalid, a Yemeni national immigrant to the US -- that I wanted to listen to the end, but needed to get to work. The report aired on KKFI 90.1 FM , but could also be heard on the Making Contact website, so I finished listening to "Bees: The Threatened Link in Food Security" report later. I heard some astonishing facts such as two-thirds of US beehives are transported to California to pollinate almond plants during the growing season. And the reporter described the bee activity in the almond groves as a "giant brothel" with their ravenous intermingling. I...