New funding empowers U.S. wheat farmers to aid global hunger relief

Apr 19, 2024

By Farms.com

The U.S. agriculture sector, particularly wheat growers, has received a significant boost with a new $1 billion funding initiative from the USDA and USAID. This program is designed to support the purchase and distribution of U.S. wheat to aid international food assistance efforts.

USW Chairman Michael Peters applauded the initiative, emphasizing that American wheat farmers are eager to help meet global food demands. The U.S. has a longstanding tradition of supporting food assistance programs, with more than one million metric tons of wheat donated globally each year.

The initiative received critical backing from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, with additional support through advocacy by Senators Debbie Stabenow and John Boozman. This funding will not only help tackle global hunger but will also reinforce the U.S. as a reliable provider of food on the international stage.

According to NAWG President Keeff Felty, this funding comes at a crucial time, aiming to mitigate some of the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our era. With ongoing discussions around the Farm Bill, NAWG is pushing for stronger policies on commodity donations and increased investment in trade promotion initiatives.

Amanda Hoey, who leads the USW Food Aid Working Group, noted that wheat is a cornerstone of the USAID’s Food for Peace office's emergency aid, highlighting the generosity and capability of U.S. farmers in supporting global food security initiatives.

Video: How to fix a leaking pond.

Does the pond leak? Ummmm....possibly a tiny bit. Well, more than a bit...ok, the darn thing leaks like a sieve!

QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Damit is not plastic. Therefore, there are no microplastics. I wish I had not mentioned plastic, but that is a very common polymer and I mentioned it as an example of a polymer. A polymer is simply a chain of repeating molecules, or "monomers." Cellulose is a polymer of glucose molecules. Starches are also polymers of various molecules such as fructose, maltose, etc. We have many polymers inside our bodies. In other words, just knowing something is a polymer doesn't make it bad, toxic, harmful, etc. However, this also doesn't mean all polymers are safe.

The specific polymer used for Damit is a trade secret, however, it has been closely scrutinized by multiple health and safety authorities. This includes the governmental authorities of Australia, the USA, Europe, and Asia. Not only have they determined that is safe to use in earthen ponds, and not harmful to fish, but it is considered safe to use in human potable water systems in all of these areas. And of course, they know the exact makeup of the polymer when making this determination. I'm told that the same polymer is in use by many municipalities to keep potable water storage tanks leak free. I can't tell you exactly what the polymer is, because I don't know, but given the confidence with which the governmental authorities have authorized its use, I would bet it is made of a monomer that we are exposed to all the time, like fructose or something.

It also breaks down in a matter of years, and does not accumulate in the environment. The end products of breaking down are CO2, water, and base minerals like potassium. The SDS reports no need for concern with ingestion, inhalation, or contact. If in eyes, rinse with water.

End result, can I say for sure that it is 100% safe? No, I don't know exactly what it is. But given people who do know exactly what it is, and have scrutinized it, have approved it for use in human potable water systems, I'm pretty comfortable putting it in an earthen pond.