Today’s quick hits, Feb. 16, 2023

Focus on Mexico: U.S. chief agricultural negotiator Doug McKalip said Mexico “will continue to be a major, major focus” of the administration following a confrontation over a Mexican plan to ban imports of GMO corn. (FERN’s Ag Insider)

Ag census follow-up: Although the deadline for replying to the Census of Agriculture has passed, the USDA will follow up during the spring with mailings, phone calls, and personal visits to farmers. (National Agricultural Statistics Service)

Solutions scarce on food costs: While the four members of Congress who are also farmers agree on many of the causes of high food inflation, they are far apart on how Congress can address the situation. (Politico)

They know (dry) beans: Demand for dry beans blossomed during the pandemic, and now Cornell University is launching a project to build a sustainable organic dry bean industry in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. (Ambrook Research)