IRS Forms & Action Needed
IRS Forms & Action Needed plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.
Across-the-board federal spending cuts are just about two-weeks away. USDA and most of its programs will get hit unless a way is found to avert the March 1st action. Senator Chuck Grassley says if the axe falls as expected, then farmers may see less from programs like ACRE and Direct Payments.
GRASSLEY: I think all of that would be affected by sequestration and they might not get what they think they would get the day they sign up, except for CRP. I don’t think the contracts will be affected and I doubt if crop insurance will be affected.
The 2012 IRS 1099 forms issued to farmers and ranchers who received NRCS financial assistance are incorrect and are scheduled to be reissued by USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer in March. The IRS forms issued in January may either be in the wrong amount or no 1099 was issued when one should have been. There is no guaranteed date by which the 1099’s will be delivered, although they expect to be released March 8. USDA is working to ensure a quick turnaround so that the 1099 mailing is expedited.
Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.
After hearing from several lawmakers in D.C. the USDA has committed to initiating a pilot program to try out Greek yogurt as a an alternative source of protein in some schools, possibly as early as April this year. If well received, Greek yogurt may find its way onto school menus across the country. While Greek yogurt is high in protein, it is also on the costly side, which may deter its entry into school breakfast and lunch programs. Many school cafeteria managers say they already serve regular yogurt, and that it’s a popular menu item with students. As far as serving Greek yogurt? Well, while they think it would make an excellent choice to have on their menus, the fact remains that Greek yogurt is much more expensive than regular yogurt. They also say that if they can manage to fit it into their budgets than they would buy it, but that’s a big “if”. Currently approved meat substitutes for school lunches include nuts, tofu, beans, cheese and eggs. Incidentally, those legislators who requested that the USDA include Greek yogurt on school menus just happen to represent states where a large portion of the country’s greek type yogurt is produced.
Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
