Grassland losses slow, still exceed 2 million acres for fourth year
Coronavirus fears ease, but many farmers expect a worse year financially
Sweeping U.S. pesticide reform bill introduced, banning some chemical agents
USDA to expand enforcement of organic products
Glitches in aid program obscure need for more relief during pandemic, say ag leaders
Farm groups are arguing for a massive new round of cash for agriculture in the coronavirus relief bill being negotiated by Congress and the White House, even though billions of dollars in an ongoing USDA aid program may go unclaimed. There's no contradiction in the request, said the two largest U.S. farm groups on Monday. <strong> (No paywall) </strong>
Colony collapse toll is highest in four years for U.S. honeybees
Honeybee keepers reported the loss of 105,240 colonies to colony collapse disorder during the early months of this year, a 76 percent increase from last year and the highest total since 2016, said the USDA on Monday.
Replacing school meals, P-EBT program lifted millions of children out of hunger
The Pandemic EBT program, created by Congress to help low-income families buy food for their children during school closures, "is hitting its target," said researchers at the Brookings Institution. "We find that Pandemic EBT reduces food hardship faced by children by 30 percent in the week following its disbursement."
Opinion — Smithfield’s media attack shifts attention from its own lack of disclosure
In a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of the New York Times, Smithfield Foods, the nation's largest pork company, alleged that the media and other "critics" have targeted the company with "accusations fueled by misinformation and disinformation" about its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In doing so, Smithfield is ignoring its own role in limiting public discourse about the pandemic and eluding its efforts to promote a more friendly regulatory environment. <strong> (No paywall) </strong>
After record corn sale to China, Perdue expects ‘a big shipping season this fall’
China is far short of meeting its "phase one" commitment to buy huge amounts of U.S. food and ag exports, but Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, "We expect a big shipping season this fall." On Thursday, Chinese companies made one of the largest corn purchases in half a century of USDA records.
U.S. farm income may suffer due to coronavirus impact on livestock
Meatpackers are operating at high volume again after coronavirus outbeaks at their plants but the pandemic's effect may be felt for the rest of the year, said the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. "Farm revenues could still decline in 2020 due to disruptions at meatpacking plants, which forced some producers to depopulate herds," said the report by the regional Fed bank.
Million-dollar payments from USDA’s coronavirus fund
A hog producer, Titan Swine, got the largest single payment during the first month of the USDA's coronavirus relief program — $1.4 million — and it received two additional checks, totaling $1.1 million, on the same day, reported The Counter on Thursday. <strong>(No paywall)</strong>
Two new Republicans on House Agriculture
Republican Reps. Troy Balderson of Ohio and Chris Jacobs of New York are newly appointed members of the House Agriculture Committee, announced Rep. Michael Conaway, the GOP leader on the panel, on Thursday.
EU dabbles in agricultural protectionism, says Perdue
European barriers to some U.S. food and ag exports — derided as "hormone beef," "chlorine chicken," and GMO "Frankenfoods" — smack of protectionism and could color already acrimonious U.S.-EU trade relations, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue during a trans-Atlantic discussion on Wednesday.
Advocates implore Congress to increase spending on anti-hunger programs
In a largely positive review of government programs to address mounting hunger during Covid-19, a panel of experts and advocates speaking at the National Food Security Conference on Wednesday encouraged Congress to boost spending on the anti-hunger programs it has developed since the pandemic began. <strong>(No paywall)</strong>
Food-box giveaway to run through Oct. 31, says USDA
The Farmers to Families Food Box giveaway program, the Trump administration's response to hunger during the coronavirus pandemic, will run through Oct. 31 to use up the last of its $3 billion in funds, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
Surge in grocery prices will bring a 5 percent increase in SNAP benefits
Food stamp benefits will rise by 5.3 percent in October, to a maximum of $680 per month for a family of four in the continental United States, said the USDA Food and Nutrition Service on Wednesday. The cost-of-living adjustment was announced even as anti-hunger groups are calling for a temporary 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits during the pandemic.
Food prices forecast to decline to longterm average in 2021
Grocery prices will rise a modest 1.5 percent in 2021, close to the long-term average and half of the larger-than-usual increase expected this year, said the USDA in its first forecast of food inflation in the new year.
As Covid-19 rises, Alaskans crowd rivers for wild salmon
Senate bill would block faster line speeds at meat plants during pandemic
White House cites USDA ‘poison pills’ in threat to veto $260 billion spending bill
The White House listed five dozen objections to parts of a $260 billion government funding bill, including bans on implementing two Trump regulations to narrow SNAP eligibility, on Thursday, and threatened a presidential veto. As the House debated the appropriations bill, Republican senators worked on coronavirus relief legislation expected to include billions of dollars of new agricultural assistance.