Keep up with the latest policy memos and news from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

March 2023

• Texas Farm Fresh Survey
• Summer Materials
• School Breakfast Week
• WBSCM Statewide Non-Pilot Recipient Agencies
• CICN Resources Available
• New Foods Added to FBG
• 2022 Turnip the Beet Winners
• New Feature Added for Training Tracker Tool
• TDA Jobs
• Deadlines
• Financial Report Due March 31
• FSMC Contracts - Important Dates
• Offsite Monitoring Flexibilities End June 30
• New Notification Form and Comprehensive Guidance on Unanticipated School Closures
• 2022-23 School Data for Area Eligibility Report
• Proposed Rule to Revise Meal Patterns Consistent with 2020 Dietary Guidelines
• 2023-24 School Nutrition Program Income Eligibility Guidelines
• No Findings Administrative Review Award for CEs

February 2023

• Texas Farm Fresh Survey
• MegaCon 2023
• Summer Materials
• PSTTT Pro Webinar Recording
• Surplus USDA Foods
• Discover MyPlate for Kindergarten
• School Breakfast Week Materials Shipped
• TDA Jobs
• Team Nutrition Materials
• Deadlines
• NSLP Annual Financial Report
• USDA Foods for 2023-2024
• Summer Meals Notification Requirement
• 2022-23 School Data for Area Eligibility Report
• NSLP PY 2023-24 Information
• USDA Foods for SY 2022-23
• 2023 NSLP Financial Report Open
• No Findings Administrative Review Award for CEs

January 2023

• School Breakfast Week 2023 Orders Due January 6
• New School Year 23-24 Menu Calendar Templates Available
• MegaCon 2023
• Discover MyPlate Printed Materials
• New Food Yields Added to Food Buying Guide Interactive Tools
• ICN iBites Digest
• Whole Grain Quiz
• Retirement of the Team Nutrition Network
• Deadlines
• NSLP Annual Financial Report
• USDA Foods for 2023-2024
• WBSCM Statewide Implementation
• New Excellent No Findings Administrative Review Award for CEs

December 2022

• School Breakfast Week 2023 Pre-order for Promotional Materials
• MegaCon 2023
• Free MyPlate Materials
• USDA Foods Challenge
• Deadlines
• Warehouse Mid-year Inventory Count
• Crediting Fruit Juice Gels
• Update ARM Sections 2A and 31
• Onsite Monitoring Due February 1

November 2022

• Farm Fresh Attestation Form Due
• School Breakfast Week 2023 Pre-order for Promotional Materials
• MegaCon 2023
• NSLP Weekly Commodity Bulletin - Bonus
• Updated Food Buying Guide
• Texas Action for Healthy Kids Virtual Summit
• USDA Foods Challenge
• Crediting Milk Tip Sheet
• Team Nutrition Resources
• Taste-Testing Posters
• Deadlines
• Texas Summer Mandate Notification
• Revised Whole Grain Resource for NSLP and SBP
• Approved In-State Processors for PY23-24
• State Account Transfers
• School Nutrition Program Complaints
• State Fair 2022
• NSLW 2022 Success

October 2022

• National School Lunch Week 2022
• FSMC Quick Reference Guide Resource
• Renewing Contracting Entities
• Trainings offered by Share Our Strength
• Meal Talk: Taste-Test Events Webinar
• CE Warehouse Inventory Management Tool
• P-EBT 2022 Local Administrative Cost Grants
• USDA Announces SY 2022-2023 P-EBT
• P-EBT for Summer 2022 - Upload of Eligible Students
• Important Deadlines
• Verification Begins in October

September 2022

• 2022 Turnip the Beet
• Farm Fresh Challenge
• National School Lunch Week 2022
• USDA Foods Feedback on New Items
• How School Lunch Is Made and How You Can Help
• USDA Foods Online Training
• WBSCM Transition Web Page
• Important Deadlines
• New FSMC Contract Review Form
• PY23 Verification Reporting Resources
• Special Provisions Carryover Reports
• ARM Update: Carryover for CEP
• Civil Rights Training Migrating to ICN
• DC Matches Reminder
• Summer P-EBT
• Verification Begins Oct. 1
• And Justice for All Posters

August 2022

• Farm Fresh Challenge
• Local Wellness Policy Webinar
• National School Lunch Week 2022
• PR Lessons Learned
• CN Photo Collection
• Tip Sheet: Crediting Meat/Meat Alternates
• ICN: Back-to-School Toolbox
• Fueling My Healthy Life
• Updated Team Nutrition Brochures
• Important Deadlines
• ARM Updates
• Calculating Adult Meal Pricing
• Reimbursement Rates for SY2022-23
• Severe Need Reimbursement
• Civil Rights Training Migrating to ICN
• Updated Spanish Versions of Household Applications, Letters, and Media Release
• Keep Kids Fed Act Flexibilities
• WBSCM Update
• Performance-based Supplemental Reimbursement
• 2022 Turnip the Beet

June 2022

• School Garden Resources
• Nutrient Analysis Protocols Manual
• Summer Outreach Materials
• School-Meal Communications Resources Coming Soon
• Updated "A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools"
• Deadlines: Program Calendar and Claims
• Paid Lunch Equity Update
• Universal Breakfast Program Waivers
• Civil Rights Training Migrating to ICN
• Updated Nondiscrimination Statement
• Additional Day School Year Calendar Policy Update
• COVID-19 Response Waivers
• LWP Triennial Assessment Extension
• Excess Net Cash Resources Plan Form
• 30-Day Carryover Eligibility
• Updated School Data Report with Area Eligibility
• SSO Claim for Month of Transition
• School Meal Applications and Media Release Prototypes (English) Available
• Establishing 3E's Grant Recipients

May 2022

• Food Safety Emergency Response Pocket Guide
• Heat Ambassador for Ready Texas (HART) Applications
• Fall Farm Fresh Challenge
• Summer Outreach Materials
• School Lunch Hero Day 
• Important Deadlines
• Updated Guidance on PLE Exemption
• Universal Breakfast Program Waiver
• Civil Rights Training Migrating to ICN
• TDA to Request Waivers for Summer 2022 and SY2022-23
• SSO Age/Grade Exemption
• 2022 Turnip the Beet Recognition Award

April 2022

• MegaCon 2022
• SFSP Live
• Heat Ambassador for Ready Texas (HART) Applications
• Transitional Standards Webinar Recording
• Monthly School Call Webinar
• New School Breakfast Resources
• Fall Farm Fresh Challenge
• Summer Outreach Materials
• School Lunch Hero Day 
• New Applications Pages
• Important Deadlines
• Pre-K Eligibility Reminder
• Universal Breakfast Program Waiver
• SY2022-2023 Income Eligibility Guidelines
• Excess Net Cash Resources Plan Form
• USDA Approves Four "Traditional" Summer Waivers
• Correction to ARM Section 4 Eligibility
• Turnip the Beet 2021 Texas Award Recipients

March 2022

• Sid Miller's NSBW Message
• NSLP Farm Fresh Challenge
• MegaCon 2022
• SFSP Live
• Heat Ambassador for Ready Texas (HART) Applications
• Summer Texting Number Change
• Summer Materials
• Best Practices Tip Sheet for Meals Served Outside Cafeteria
• Important Deadlines
• Financial Report Update
• Universal Breakfast Program Waivers
• NSLP Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium
• Updated Income Eligibility Guidelines for 2022-23
• NSLP Data Report
• USDA's Meal Talk Webinars

February 2022

• NSLP Farm Fresh Challenge
• MegaCon 2022
• SFSP Live
• New FBG Feature
• New Number for Summer Meals
• USDA Foods Recipe Book
• Summer Meals Event Webinar
• Supply Chain Assistance Funding
• School Breakfast Week Materials
• Updated: Parent Pickup Resource
• ACDA Conference
• Important Deadlines
• Financial Report Update
• Updated ARM Sections

January 2022

• New School Year 22-23 Menu Calendar Templates
• MegaCon 2022
• TDA Concludes Farm Fresh Challenge
• New FBG Feature
• New Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool Feature
• New LEP Tool
• School Breakfast Week Materials
• Student Art Contest
• Transitioning to User Access Manager
• Important Deadlines
• Low-Fat (1%) Flavored Milk Extension
• Updated: ARM Section 18

December 2021

• MegaCon 2022
• School Breakfast Week Materials
• Student Art Contest
• Holiday Meal Ideas
• Transitioning to User Access Manager
• Verification Report
• On-site Monitoring
• FSMC Contracts due December 31
• Record of Meal Pattern Deviations Resources
• Resources on Procurement and Supply Chain Issues

November 2021

• Stronger with School Meals Materials
• Professional Standards Training Reward Badges
• SY22-23 Menu Calendar Templates
• Back-to-School Support Kit
• Due Dates: Claims, Farm Fresh Challenge Attestations, School Breakfast Week Pre-Order, Student Art Contest
• Texas Summer Mandate and Waiver
• Low-Fat (1%) Flavored Milk Waiver Extended
• New Process for Transfer of USDA Foods
• Unanticipated School Closure Form
• P-EBT Updates
• Preliminary Verification Report
• Q&A: Emergency Procurement
• TDA Streamlines Communications
• USDA Clarifications for Entitlement

September 2021

• Back to School Resources
• Local Wellness Policy Resources
• New Feature & Process for Texas ELMS
• Meat and Meat Alternates for Breakfast Guide
• USDA Farm to School Census Data
• Verification Sample Method Worksheet
• Virtual Instructor-Led Training by ICN
• Deadlines: Turnip the Beet, NSLP Farm Fresh Challenge, Media Release
• Policy Updates & Compliance Reminders: Revised ARM, Summer Mandate Cost Reporting
• Angela Olige's Retirement and Welcoming of New Assistant Commissioner

August 16, 2021

• National School Lunch Week
• New Electronic Forms for Transfer of USDA Foods
• PY 2021-22 Application Reminders
• New Parent Resources
• Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas (HART) Application Now Open
• Resource for Supply Challenge Management
• New Professional Standards Resources from Team Nutrition

August 2, 2021

• SNP Site Applications Must Be Submitted Before SSO Site Application Processing
• Value of Donated Foods Posted in Federal Register
• SSO Operators Do Not Need to Complete Attachment B
• October Farm Fresh Challenge Registration
• Improvements in F&N Newsletters
• Farm to School Program Still Open
• DoD Funds Are Ready to Use
• First Allocations of USDA Foods in Warehouses Are Available

July 19, 2021

• SSO Site Applications Open for SY21-22
• NSLP Reimbursement Rates Out
• October Farm Fresh Challenge Registration
• School Program Quick Reference
• Updated Tracker Took for Professional Standards
• Turnip the Beet 2021
• Procurement Training Series
• Exhibit A Grain Tool Webinar in Spanish
• You Art What you Eat Contest

July 6, 2021

• Reminder to Update SSO & SFSP Site Application End Dates
• SSO Media Release Prototype, Letters to Household Templates, Eligibility Notification templates
• P-EBT Request for Review Process
• Meal Pattern Waivers for 2021-22
• Procurement Training Webinars
• Food Safety Series
• Team Nutrition Training Guide
• USDA Foods: 2021-22 commodity bulletins are live; DoD Fresh Program funds available

June 21, 2021

• Local Wellness Policy Waiver Extension
• October Farm Fresh Challenge
• Turnip the Beet 2021
• Food Safety Series
• Commodity Delivery and Storage Fee Reimbursement

June 7, 2021

• Summer Feeding Video Series
• USDA Policy Memo on Broadband Benefits
• Updated Forms and Applications
• Updated ARM: Eligibility and Procurement
• 2021-2022 Universal Breakfast Waiver
• CEP Due Date Extension
• TDA Resources: Summer Meals, P-EBT, Program Year Calendar
• TDA Grant for Farm Fresh Initiatives
• USDA Foods: Webinar, Farm to School Survey Open
• Farm Fresh Challenge Participants

May 17, 2021

• You Art What You Eat Contest Winners
• 2021-2022 Universal Breakfast Program Waivers
• Share Summer Meals Kick-Off Events with TDA
• Emergency Broadband Program
• Food Safety Reminder
• Provide USDA Foods Warehouse Feedback
• Texas Farm Fresh Challenge Attestation

May 4, 2021

• School Lunch Hero Day
• ARM Update for Pre-K Meal Eligibility
• Attachment B Clarification for SSO
• NSLP Meal Appeal Toolkit
• SY21-22 Warehouse Contract Awardees
• Commodity Storage and Distribution Reimbursements

April 19, 2021

• HART Application Extended
• New Feature on Professional Standards Training Tracker
• Urban Schools Agricultural Grant Program
• Farm Fresh Webinar Series Continues
• Texas Farm Fresh Survey Closes April 30

April 5, 2021

• SFSP Live Training April 14
• State Match Public Notice
• Updated Income Eligibility Guideline Charts for NSLP/SBP and SMP
• New Feature Alert for the Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool
• Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition
• Updated Online CACFP Meal Pattern Training
• Updated MENU Module

March 15, 2021

• Income Eligibility Guidelines for SY21-22
• USDA Nondiscrimination Statement Revision Reminder
• 2021 Spring Farm Fresh Challenge
• Farm Fresh Video Series Opportunity
• Summer Feeding Materials
• NSLP/SBP Program Year Calendar
• Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant
• Texting Tool for No Cost Meals
• Food Buying Guide App Updates
• TDA's Training Page
• Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas
• You Art What You Eat Student Art Contest
• 2021-2022 CACFP Input Workgroup Applications

March 1, 2021

• 2021 National School Breakfast Week
• 2020-2021 School Data
• New Emergency or Sole Procurement jot form
• USDA Nondiscrimination Statement Revision Reminder
• 2021 Spring Farm Fresh Challenge
• Farm Fresh Video Series Opportunity
• Food Buying Guide and App Updates
• TDA Online Training Updates
• 2021-2022 CACFP Input Workgroup Applications
• CEP Reporting
• Financial Report Reminder

February 1, 2021

• 2021 National School Breakfast Week
• Updated Procurement Guidance: Buy American and Buy Board
• New Emergency and Sole Procurement jot form
• 2021 Spring Farm Fresh Challenge
• Farm Fresh Video Series Opportunity
• Updated Policy-Related Documents
• New Menu Calendar Templates
• TDA Online Training Updates
• You Art What You Eat Contest

January 19, 2021

• National School Breakfast Week
• Summer Mandate
• Updates to MENU Module
• SFSP Reimbursement Rates
• Guide to Professional Standards
• Financial Report
• 2021 Spring Farm Fresh Challenge
• Jump with Jill
• New Menu Calendar Templates
• Excess USDA Foods Inventory
• New Training Modules: Calorie Requirements, CEP, Competitive Food Sales
• NEW FBG Enhancements

December 7, 2020

• You Art What You Eat Contest
• Internet Explorer action needed
• Financial Report and training
• Summer Mandate
• Updated non-discrimination statement
• Food Assistance one-pager
• USDA Foods Webinar
• 2021 Farm to School Grant
• Mid-year inventory counts of USDA Foods

March 9, 2020

• MEGACON2020 
• Financial report 
• Universal Breakfast Mandate waiver
• User Access Manager in TX-UNPS
• Tips for SquareMeals Website
• ARM Revision: Section 25 Professional Standards
• Summer meals requirement -- marketing
• And Justice for All posters
• Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas (HART) application open
• Ag Matters newsletter
• Job opportunities with TDA

February 4, 2020

• MEGACON2020 Save the Date
• Universal Breakfast Mandate waiver
• Federal Register comments on Professional Standards Training Tracker Tool
• ARM Revisions: Section 17 Procurement, Daily Record/Accuclaim for Afterschool Programs
• List of schools participating in NSLP
• Updated SNP-related letters and forms (application letters, verification letters and forms, media releases, special milk documents)
• Summer requirement for all schools
• USDA Foods survey deadline reminder
• Job opportunities with TDA

February 10, 2020

• MEGACON2020 Save the Date: TDA Processors Expo and TDA Expo
• School Breakfast Week 
• You Are What You Eat art contest
• Menu Calendar Templates
• SFSP notification and summer materials
• SFSP 2020 reimbursement rates
• Turnip the Beet!
• Revised onsite monitoring form for CACFP At-Risk and ASCP, SNP Records Retention List
• Policy Memo: School Breakfast Program Continuation of Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility
• Policy Memo: Paid Lunch Equity Guidance for School Year 2020-21
• Revise/New Arm Sections: 4A, 17, 17A
• DoD Fresh entitlement distribution

This product was funded by USDA/TDA. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.