A broad coalition of agribusinesses and hunger relief groups is urging Wisconsin lawmakers to address an urgent need for $69.2 million in FoodShare funding. This is in the wake of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which shifted 75 percent of administrative costs to states.
Wisconsin must take action now before the end of the legislative session or face the potential for penalties of up to $205 million and put benefits at risk, explains Rebekah Sweeney, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Senior Director of Programs & Policy.
She tells Mid-West Farm Report that FoodShare is a critical economic engine for Wisconsin’s food and agricultural sector. Each year, Wisconsin FoodShare participants redeem well over $1 billion in federally funded benefits at grocery retailers across the state.
“FoodShare is more than nutrition assistance,” Sweeney explains. “Hundreds of millions of federal FoodShare dollars are used to purchase Wisconsin-grown and Wisconsin-made foods each year, supporting farms, manufacturing businesses, and jobs in every part of our state. Providing stability for FoodShare provides stability for Wisconsin agriculture, as well.”
When fewer households can access SNAP, food insecurity rises, and food banks are forced to fill the gap, says Jackie Anderson, executive director of Feeding Wisconsin.
“This puts significant strain on emergency food systems that were never meant to replace a national nutrition program,” she says. “When food access becomes unstable, health outcomes worsen.”
With the final days of the legislative session rapidly approaching, timely action is critical to avoid compliance risks and ensure continuity of essential services for Wisconsin residents, Sweeney says.
Other agriculture organizations that support the funding request include Cooperative Network, Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin Pork Association, and Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association. Additionally, 165 organizations signed on to a letter to the Wisconsin State Legislature in support of the funding request.
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