Dairy enrollment nears 17,000 (USDA): More than 60 percent of dairy farms with established production histories have enrolled in the Dairy Margin Coverage subsidy created by the 2018 farm bill. The program subsidizes farmers when the cost of feed is too close to the average price for milk.
High tariff wallops U.S. wine sales in China (Los Angeles Times): Trade-war tariffs of 93 percent are throttling exports of American wine to China; they’re down by 33 percent in the first half of this year in what was the fastest-growing export market.
Wind farm delayed near Martha’s Vineyard (InsideClimate News): A federal agency said it was expanding an environmental review of what would be the largest U.S. off-shore wind farm, a delay that could prevent the developers from qualifying for a tax credit that expires soon.
Enough solar power to meet global demand (Yale Environment 360): Solar panels on less than 1 percent of agricultural land worldwide could produce enough electricity to meet global demand, says a study in the journal Scientific Reports, and there’s the possibility that crops and solar arrays can share the land.
Trade deal needed with Japan soon (U.S. Dairy Export Council): U.S. dairy farmers risk the loss of market share in Japan, the world’s largest cheese importer, unless a new trade agreement is negotiated soon.