Food Bank of Iowa Troubled by USDA Decision to End Its Annual ‘Household Food Security’ Report

“It, all of a sudden, says that tracking and fighting hunger is not a priority, apparently, at the federal level.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (RFD-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced its decision to end the Household Food Security Report during Hunger Action Month. A leader from the Food Bank of Iowa calls it another setback as they struggle to meet growing demand.

“It’s very troubling -- suddenly shelve a report that’s been trusted for three decades across multiple administrations,” said Annette Hacker, Chief Communications & Strategy Officer for the Food Bank of Iowa. “ It’s just…it’s disappointing, it’s troubling, and really it’s hard to understand. It, all of a sudden, says that tracking and fighting hunger is not a priority, apparently at the federal level.”

Regarding the reason for ending the annual report, the USDA cited the Household Food Security Report as “redundant” and “costly.” USDA officials also noted that the report was “politicized” as a means to justify significant increases in SNAP eligibility.

Hacker said the group will now consult Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” report for its tracking, which comprises data collected by the group of 200 food banks located across the U.S.

Related Stories
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law dives into a “potpourri” of ag tax and law-related issues in his latest Firm to Farm blog post.
Dr. Todd Davis, Chief Economist with the Indiana Farm Bureau, shares a snapshot of his state’s harvest conditions and insights from producers.
Market analyst Kevin Huddleston said news of trade deals could rebound cotton prices in late fall, and producers need to be ready to strike deals.
Shaun Haney, host of RealAg Radio, joined us to break down the latest data on Canadian farmland values and share insights on how it impacts producers.
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
Congress has just over a month of working days left for the year. Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The request follows pressure from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASIA), which called for a formal investigation into whether lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand have cut into the U.S. market share.
Learn the conditions farmers must meet to qualify for this new three-year tax deferral on farmland sales, how much it could save, and other details to consider.
Bass Pro Anglers Jacob Wall and Bobby Lane will fish together in the Summit Cup after facing elimination in the Challenge Cup Knockout Round.
RFD-TV farm legal expert Roger McEowen digs into the details on how to make your rural property dreams a reality — and avoid a living nightmare.
The facility will increase the range of sterile fly release and bolster preparedness for New World Screwworm.
David Hardin with the Indiana Soybean Alliance discusses USMEF’s push to open new global export markets for both meat and soy-based feed.