American Rescue Plan a Step Towards a Fair, Stable Food System

The U.S. House of Representatives today voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan, sending it to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature. The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package includes benefits for unemployed workers, stimulus payments up to $1,400 per person, and supplemental funding for nutrition programs, as well as support for vaccine distribution in rural communities, debt relief for socially disadvantaged farmers, and resources to build resilience in the food system.

 

When the bill was passed by the U.S. Senate over the weekend, National Farmers Union (NFU) praised it, saying it “provides a lifeline” for struggling Americans and takes “several steps towards more meaningful, enduring improvements” in the food system. Upon the House’s approval today, the organization’s president Rob Larew reiterated his satisfaction with the legislation:

 

Video: Season 6, Episode 12: Veterinarians’ Perspectives on Managing Swine Herd Health Across All Phases

Identifying challenges in swine production and turning them into solutions through research and team development is the focus of this episode. Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham of Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics shares insights on herd health, biosecurity and trial work to improve pig performance. She also discusses her team’s research philosophy, how they evaluate rate of investment and how they gather feedback from employees to address challenges and maintain herd health across all phases of production. Dr. Carlos Roudergue of Country View Family Farms discusses the growing complexity of swine production, especially as technology increases and employee interaction decreases. He also shares how their workforce is shifting toward more specialized roles to support herd health and efficiency.