Unending sign-up: After tweaking the Conservation Reserve with higher payment rates and a climate-mitigation focus, the USDA said the ongoing enrollment period “will extend until an announcement is made that signup will end.” So-called continuous enrollment for high-priority practices will continue throughout the year. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
Small pandemic pay-out: The USDA issued $50 million in pandemic assistance to farmers and ranchers last week, the smallest weekly total since the Biden administration retooled the program; $24 billion in cash has been paid to producers since last May. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
Meals cost more: Prices for food from restaurants and other carry-out businesses will rise by a higher-than-average 3 percent this year, said the monthly Food Price Outlook. (USDA)
Heartland loses seats: The 2020 census says seven states — California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — will each lose one House seat, while Texas gains two seats and Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will have one additional U.S. representative. (Census Bureau)
Drought blisters valley: The San Joaquin Valley is known for bounteous production of dairy, almonds, pistachios and fruit, but a new season of drought is prompting some to question whether agriculture will be a viable industry there in the future. (Los Angeles Times)
Rural ambulance quandary: Ambulance services in rural America are running out of money and volunteers, “a crisis exacerbated by the demands of the pandemic and a neglected, patchwork 911 system.” (New York Times)