Vietnam surges as cotton user; India tops China as grower
China is the heavyweight of the world cotton market. It is the largest importer and user of cotton on earth but it is forecast to lose its position as the world's largest grower to India this year.
Rural infrastructure fund makes first investments
The first round of funding for rural infrastructure projects was released by the year-old U.S. Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund that mixes public and private capital, said the USDA.
White House threatens veto of California water bill
Ahead of a House vote scheduled for today, the White House threatened to veto a water bill backed by California Republicans, saying it overrides state water law and the Endangered Species Act, "thereby resulting in conditions that could be detrimental to the Delta fish and other species."
Farms hit by bird flu could resume production this fall
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says poultry producers who lost flocks in the worst avian influenza epidemic ever to hit the United States could have birds back in the barn by fall, according to USA Today.
Grassland conservation application period opens Sept. 1
Landowners can apply beginning Sept. 1 for federal payments for preserving grasslands, rangeland and pastures while keeping the land in production, said the USDA.
Pennsylvania vows to boost Chesapeake Bay clean-up efforts
Two Pennsylvania officials said the state will work harder to reduce pollution runoff into the Susquehanna River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, reports Lancaster Online. The river is the main source of fresh water for the bay.
School lunch factions meet, look for solutions
Obama administration officials suggested additional steps to help schools meet requirements to serve healthier meals during an hour-long meeting with nutrition, school and consumer groups. Sam Kass, senior nutrition advisor at the White House, said it was a "positive discussion" and Wendy Weyer of the School Nutrition Association said the meeting was "very solutions-oriented."
White House defers to FDA on GMO food-labeling petitions
The White House responded to two petitions for labeling of foods made with genetically modified organisms by deferring to the expertise of the FDA, which has been studying the question for more than two years.
Corn and soy crops develop faster than usual
After a wet and cold spring that delayed planting, the U.S. corn and soybean crops now are ahead of the usual pace for development, says the weekly Crop Progress report. Some 34 percent of the corn crop is silking, one point ahead of the five-year average and double the rating one year ago. And 41 percent of soybeans are blooming, 2 points ahead of average and 17 points ahead of the 2013 crop for the second week of July.
‘Agriculture’ is the missing word in science museums
"You're not likely to find the word 'agriculture' in any science museum even though many exhibits relate to agricultural content or practices," says U-Florida, summarizing a study by assistant professor Katie Stofer of 29 science museums with an annual budget of at least $10 million and than 200,000 visitors.
Taming the wild chickpea
Americans know chickpeas as garbanzos, the foundation for hummus, the protein- and fiber-rich spread made from pureed chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Chickpea is one of the world's oldest cultivated crops and are a crucial source of income, food security and nutrition to poor farmers in the developing world.
Senate chairman asks for antitrust review of JBS-Cargill deal
Senate Judiciary chairman Charles Grassley asked the Justice Department for an antitrust review of an agreement for JBS, the giant Brazilian meatpacker, to buy the pork operations of agribusiness rival Cargill for $1.45 billion.
Corn, wheat and soy dominate crop insuranceÂ
The three most widely planted U.S. crops - corn, soybeans and wheat - account for roughly 68 percent of crop insurance sales, says USDA, a dominating total but smaller than 15 years earlier. Then, the three crops were responsible for 80 percent of acres enrolled in crop insurance. With new types of policies and more crops eligible for coverage, the share held by the three major crops has declined. USDA says pasture, forage and range land zoomed to 48 million acres insured in 2012 compared to zero in 1997.
Study says Midwest streams emit more nitrous oxide than thought
A study led by U-Minnesota scientists says emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, from Midwest streams may be much larger than thought.
Toss-up Senate races in Arkansas and Iowa
Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg says in a Roll Call blog the Senate race in Arkansas involving the chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee for agriculture, Democrat Mark Pryor, is a "dead heat, though with (Republican Tom) Cotton holding a small advantage."
In a geological blink of an eye, Ogallala aquifer is in peril
Dry wells are a common problem in drought-stricken California, but the state has reservoirs, rivers and snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada.
SNA says “no” to White House nutrition advisor Sam Kass
The School Nutrition Association turned down a request by Sam Kass, White House nutrition policy advisor, to speak at this week's national conference, attended by 6,500 people working in the school food industry, says Politico. SNA chief executive Patricia Montague says Kass, in a message passed through USDA, asked to speak at the conference "to rally the troops" on rules requiring healthier school meals.
Voluntary COOL bill “a risky strategy” – Canada cattle official
A Senate proposal to switch to a voluntary U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system for beef, pork and chicken is "a risky strategy" that would not satisfy free-trade rules, says a top official of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.
Christie says he wants USDA leader with “real life experience”
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, seeking the Republican nomination for president, says if he had the chance he would "put someone in charge of USDA who actually has done this before," says Agri-Pulse in a story from a GOP pig roast near Camanche, Iowa.
Food stamp enrollment down by 1 million people this year
Food stamp enrollment is down by an average 1 million people from fiscal 2013, say USDA data, to 46.6 million people for the first seven months of this fiscal year. The decline points to a 2 percent reduction in participation for the fiscal year ending on Sept 30. It would be the first decline in six years.