Stabenow: Farm and food coalition is key to passing farm bill
The only way to pass a farm bill this year is to assemble a farm and food coalition of rural and urban lawmakers, said Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow at a farm conference on Monday. "We need to be strengthening all parts of the farm bill," rather than trying to raid SNAP and climate funds to pay for larger crop subsidy outlays, she said.
Despite its hopes, China will remain a food importer, analysts say
President Xi Jinping has made food security a national priority since becoming China's leader a decade ago, with a multi-prong drive for self-sufficiency in food. It is "an improbable, if not impossible, goal," say analysts from the Brookings Institution and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in a brief.
Today’s quick hits, March 19, 2024
Wildfires killed 7,000 cattle: Early estimates say 7,000 head of cattle died in the Smokehouse Creek wildfire that burned more than 1 million acres in the Texas panhandle; the total may not be known for months but could reach 10,000 head. (Texas Tribune) Soymeal up, soybeans down: Exports of …
FTC: Single-source WIC contracts may make infant formula market more fragile
The way state agencies purchase infant formula for low-income households, under the Women, Infants and Children program, may be creating a less resilient supply chain, said the Federal Trade Commission in a report on factors in the 2022 shortage of formula.
Farmers’ tax liability to rise as tax breaks expire in 2025
Farmers would face an increased federal tax liability of billions of dollars following the expiration of Trump-era tax breaks in 2025, said USDA economists. The biggest impact, estimated at a combined $4.5 billion, would come from reduced income tax rates on individuals, an increased standard deduction, a cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, and the elimination of the personal exemption.
Today’s quick hits, March 18, 2024
Bost vs. Bailey: As part of primary elections in Illinois on Tuesday, Republican voters in a downstate district will decide a contest of Trump acolytes: Rep. Mike Bost, seeking a sixth term in the U.S. House, and Darren Bailey, the GOP candidate for governor two years ago. (New York Times) A …
Republicans would put half of climate funding into commodity subsidies, says Stabenow
Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow rejected on Thursday a Republican proposal to move several billion dollars of climate funds into the commodity title of the farm bill. “No, the answer to that is no,” Stabenow said at an expo on climate-smart agriculture practices.
USDA report looks at ways to grow biomass market
Expanding the market for biomass-based products, which include furniture, bioplastics, and biofuels, would create new sources of revenue for the agricultural sector, said a USDA report released on Thursday. It recommends a broad-ranging effort by the government to encourage greater production.
Today’s quick hits, March 15, 2024
Big world soybean crop: Global soybean production is forecast to expand 6 percent in 2024/25, to a record 413 million metric tons, because of increased plantings and better yields following adverse weather in Brazil in 2023/24. (International Grains Council) Promoting organic markets: Five …
Americans expect high food inflation to persist
Despite the recent slowdown in the rise of food prices, many consumers believe high food inflation will persist for a year to come, said Purdue researchers on Wednesday. Republicans were far more likely than Democrats to predict higher food prices, suggesting a partisan tint in expectations.
Senate Republicans renew bid to shift climate funds
Pointing to a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Republican staffers on the Senate Agriculture Committee proposed on Wednesday shifting more than $13 billion earmarked separately for climate mitigation into USDA land stewardship programs. Under Congress’ arcane budget rules, the transfer would result in a long-term increase of $1.8 billion a year for stewardship, they said, “subject only to congressional reauthorization.”
Today’s quick hits, March 14, 2024
Climate-smart easements: The USDA has allocated $138 million for climate-smart conservation easements to prevent wetlands, grasslands, and prime farmland from being converted to other uses. (USDA) Wage-fixing settlement: As part of a class action lawsuit, meat processors Tyson Foods and JBS …
More biodiesel plants may close in 2024, says ag analyst
Production of biodiesel, the original renewable fuel made from soybean oil, is being squeezed by the boom in renewable diesel, wrote agricultural economist Scott Irwin on Tuesday. "If the losses in 2024 to date continue, more biodiesel plant shutdowns may be in the offing," he said on the farmdoc daily blog.
Food inflation dips lower, to 2.2 percent
Steaks, pork chops, and milk cost less than they did a year ago, said the Labor Department on Tuesday in reporting that grocery prices rose by 1 percent in the past 12 months. The overall food inflation rate, which includes groceries, carry-out food, and restaurant meals, was 2.2 percent, the lowest rate since May 2021.
Today’s quick hits, March 13, 2024
Ernst wants to move up: Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, now the fourth-ranking member of Republican leadership in the Senate, is running for the No. 3 spot against Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, with the vote to occur after the Nov. 5 general elections. (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Tyson closes Iowa plant: …
Protect SNAP benefits, create farm revenue streams in farm bill — White House
The White House warned lawmakers against cutting SNAP in the new farm bill on Monday and said they should embrace climate-smart agriculture and other practices that would boost farmer income across the board, rather than pamper big operators. Farm bill leaders have been deadlocked for months over crop subsidies, SNAP, and climate funds.
USDA restricts use of ‘Product of USA’ label to U.S.-grown meat, poultry, and eggs
Under a new rule, food processors will be able to put "Product of USA" on packages of meat, poultry, and egg products only if the animals were born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States, announced Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday. Until now, the labels could be pasted on foreign meat that was processed in America.
Today’s quick hits, March 12, 2024
Cancel wheat sales to China: Over three business days, private exporters reported the cancelation of sales totaling 504,000 metric tons, or 18.5 million bushels, of U.S.-grown soft red winter wheat for delivery to China this marketing year. (Foreign Agricultural Service) Summit pipeline dual …