In low-price era, farmers spurn new USDA revenue plan-CBO
With years of low commodity prices ahead, U.S. corn and wheat growers will stick to traditional crop subsidies, forecasts the Congressional Budget Office. In its annual economic forecast, CBO estimates only 37.5 percent of corn land and 28 percent of wheat land will be enrolled in the new Agriculture Risk Coverage subsidy offered by the 2014 farm law; the bulk will be put into the Price Loss Coverage program, which has the familiar structure of price guarantees.
USDA offers $20 million to aid new markets for carbon credits
Up to $20 million is available in grants to "facilitate the creation of new, innovative markets for carbon credits," USDA announced. It says carbon markets provide additional revenue sources for producers who practice soil and water conservation.
Roberts names biotech and nutrition advisors for Senate Ag
Chairman Pat Roberts announced eight senior staff members for the Senate Agriculture Committee, including Julian Baer as policy advisor for nutrition and James Glueck as policy advisor for biotechnology, risk management and grain inspection.
Beef prices to rise twice as fast as U.S. food inflation rate
Retail beef prices are forecast to climb by 5.5 percent this year, double the overall rate for food inflation, says USDA's monthly Food Price Outlook. "Most retail beef prices, on average are...at record highs, even after adjusting for inflation," said USDA.
Food stamps – short-term aid and and long-term support
For many people, food stamps, the premiere U.S. anti-hunger program, provides assistance during a fairly brief stretch of hard times, such as unemployment. For millions of others - foremost, the elderly and disabled - the program is a long-term support, says a new Agriculture Department report, Dynamics and Determinants of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation from 2008 to 2012. Food stamps were renamed SNAP in 2008 but the original name remains in use.
Climate change a big threat to Midwest corn and wheat crops
The Midwest is one of the most economically productive regions of the country, says the Heat in Heartland report, "But climate change puts that productivity at risk."
California turkey flock is first commercial case of bird flu
The highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza virus was confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in Stanislaus County, in the heavily agricultural Central Valley of California, said the Agriculture Department.
Wind carries antibiotics and bacteria from feedlots
Researchers at Texas Tech "found evidence of antibiotics, feedlot-derived bacteria and DNA sequences that encode for antibiotic resistance" in air samples taken near cattle feedlots in the southern High Plains, says Feedstuffs.
Labor Dept drops Oregon “hot goods” case against growers
The Labor Department dropped all charges against two Oregon growers that it accused of failing to pay the minimum wage to 1,000 workers, says the news site FairWarning.
Big in some regions, ag is small potatoes in much of U.S.
Agriculture is a major industry in the Plains, Midwest, South and California, USDA data show, and the obverse holds too - in many congressional districts, farming and ranching is a minor economic factor. USDA's 2012 Census of Agriculture says there are fewer than 5,000 farms in 57 percent of the 435 congressional districts. In 62 percent of congressional districts, the market value of agricultural products sold was less than $500 million; in 77 percent of them, sales were less than $1 billion.
“There is no fear but the fear of hunger”
The mosquito nets distributed in Africa to combat malaria are being used "from the mud flats of Nigeria to the coral reefs off Mozambique" as fishing nets, says the New York Times...
House Ag chairman plans quick start on CFTC reauthorization
Chairman Mike Conaway said the House Agriculture Committee will clear a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reauthorization bill for House debate "as early in April as we can." The starting point will be the bill that was approved, 265-144, by the House last summer, Conaway told reporters after an organizational meeting of the committee. Conaway was one of four co-sponsors of the bill, the Consumer Protection and End User Relief Act.
Counties with good broadband grow faster, says study
"Counties with better broadband access are adding population at 10 times the rate of counties that lack good broadband connections," says the Daily Yonder in summarizing a study that appears in the trade publication Broadband Communities.
Another huge world wheat crop on its way, says IGC
With conditions mostly favorable for winter wheat in the northern hemisphere, the International Grains Council forecast the second mammoth wheat crop in a row - a world total of 701 million tonnes, down 2 percent from the record crop of 2014 but...
Recession slowed cattle imports, not labeling rules-Report
The slow economic recovery from recession is to blame for a downturn in U.S. cattle imports, not the requirement to put labels on meat packages that list where cattle, hogs and chickens were born, raised and slaughtered, says a study by an Auburn U economist.
Senate vote unlikely on amendment against ethanol mandate
A co-sponsor of a Senate amendment to eliminate annual targets for ethanol consumption says the amendment will not be called for a vote as part of debate on the Keystone pipeline.
Sessions may chair Senate Judiciary panel on immigration
Alabama Sen Jeff Sessions, a vocal critic of the administration's immigration policies, "is in line to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee with authority over immigration law," says Roll Call.
New idea for beef checkoff update – a vote on $2 fee
Under a new attempt for harmony over the beef checkoff program, the proposed $2 per head fee would be put to a nationwide referendum among cattle producers, says DTN.
Six new Democrats on House Agriculture Committee
Democrats tapped six newcomers for the House Agriculture Committee, including Gwen Graham of Florida, who defeated the Republican advocate of large cuts in food stamps.
Nanopesticides, the next, miniature step in agriculture
"The first nano-formulations of pesticides are quietly making their way onto agricultural fields," says Modern Farmer in a story by Susan West into the likely benefits of the technology and potential adverse effects.