Another dicamba product shelved: After announcing in February that it would discontinue sales of FeXapan, a dicamba weedkiller, Corteva Agriscience said it had withdrawn a developmental herbicide intended to be a less-volatile version of the chemical from EPA review. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
Lagging P-EBT benefits: Nearly half of U.S. states have yet to distribute P-EBT benefits this school year due to logistical and bureaucratic obstacles to the $2 billion-a-month program, which helps low-income parents buy food for school-age and younger children. (Politico)
Drought deepens in West: “Unfortunately, drought conditions in the West continue to worsen,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a joint statement pledging to work with states and tribes to minimize the impact on water supplies. (Interior Department)
Plant-based boom: Retail sales of plant-based foods swelled to $7 billion in 2020, a 27 percent increase from 2019. Plant-based milk accounted for $2.5 billion of the total and plant-based meat accounted for $1.4 billion. (Plant Based Foods Association)
More ethanol, not less: Climate mitigation should include greater use of corn ethanol and biodiesel, say biofuel groups, which argue that their products are more climate-friendly than petroleum. (AP)
USDA modifies WASDE: Beginning in May, the monthly WASDE report will feature a number of changes, including the addition of a separate line for soymeal supply and use in China and separate categories for U.S. imports of long-grain and combined medium- and short-grain rice. (USDA)