The United States Senate voted on Thursday, October 8, 2009 to approve the agriculture appropriations conference bill by a vote of 76-22.  The legislation passed the House of Representatives earlier in the week.  President Barack Obama is expected to sign the measure soon.

Under this bill, the current Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act is extended for one year. The legislation also allocates $25 million in funds for equipment assistance grants for school nutrition programs.  School nutrition programs that did not originally receive grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are eligible to apply.