The House Ag Committee is examining work requirements for SNAP benefits

SNAP benefits were front and center this week in front of the House Ag Committee, and work requirements were a big focus.

South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson says none of the proposed cuts would hurt those who truly need the help.

“Do any of the existing work requirements impact pregnant women? Do any of them impact those with disabilities? Do any of them impact those people who live in areas with high unemployment?”

“No. Depending on how you define high, but yes, if high unemployment, no, the states can waive them.”

“Do any of them impact people who have young dependents at home? Okay, Mr. Chairman, I would observe that so much of the demonization that is done around work requirements have actually no evidentiary basis. With that, I would yield back.”

House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson says putting more able-bodied Americans to work is a win-win. Democrats largely pushed back on those changes. USDA found around $10 billion in overpayments were made to SNAP recipients in 2023, with some making those errors two years in a row.

Related Stories
A court decision that overturns Enlist labels would remove two major herbicides from use and reshape EPA’s future mitigation policies for other pesticides.
Tyson expects another year of beef-segment losses due to tight cattle supplies, even as chicken, pork, and prepared foods strengthen overall margins.
If the House concurs and the President signs, USDA services and farm-bill programs resume at full speed with authorities extended for another year.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on what the bill could mean for truckers.
The DOJ’s new antitrust probe could reshape beef-packer behavior, with potential impacts on fed-cattle prices, processor margins, and long-term competition across the supply chain.
The Senate has cleared a path to reopen USDA, but full restoration of services depends on House approval and the President’s signature.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

China’s beef policy risk stems from domestic volatility, making export demand inherently unstable. Jake Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on cattle markets, risk management, and producer sentiment.
USDA flash corn sales, Cattle on Feed and Inventory reports, and beef packer antitrust concerns dominate January agricultural market news.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said permanent access to the higher ethanol blend would provide farmers with much-needed certainty while supporting domestic crop demand.
Food prices increased in December, but not as much as expected, according to the latest Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joined us to provide analysis on the January WASDE report and expectations for grain markets going forward.
Market reaction was bearish for corn and soybeans, with analysts noting that abundant supplies amid tepid demand could keep price pressure on agricultural commodities.