The Manitowoc County Agriculture Educator is voicing her disappointment in a recent change to the WIC program.
According to a report on Hoard’s Dairyman, the USDA made changes to the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children on Tuesday.
The approved changes reduce the amount of milk provided to participants in the program.
The report states, “In the future, the program will provide 3 gallons of milk per month for toddlers, down from 4 gallons, and 3.5 gallons for children ages 2 to 4, also down from 4 gallons. Fully breastfeeding mothers will now receive 4 gallons, down from a maximum of 6 gallons.”
Angie Ulness, a farmer in Manitowoc County who also serves as the Ag Educator, called the move disappointing.
She told Seehafer News, “I understand that the changes are seen as a balance, encouraging participants to purchase more fruits and vegetables and add flexibility to the amount of infant formula provided. However, I would sincerely hope that the millions of Women, Infants and Children on WIC still choose the nutritious dairy foods. I am happy that the flexibility in the program allows for portions of the milk allotments for yogurt and cheese along with lactose-free dairy milk now included in WIC.”
