Protests bend EU agenda: Following a meeting with farm groups protesting environmental rules and proposed cuts in supports, EU leaders indicated farm subsidies would not be affected by the push to lower the cost of the EU’s long-term budget. (Euractiv)
Snow drought in West: Although conditions improved nationwide, snow drought in Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming is raising concern about water availability in the spring and summer. (U.S. Drought Monitor)
EPA: paraquat is okay: After a review of its 2021 decision to allow continued use of the herbicide paraquat, the EPA concluded that “the weight of the evidence was insufficient” to link the weedkiller to Parkinson’s disease in humans. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
Cocoa prices to stay high: Cocoa prices are at a 46-year high on the New York futures market and are likely to remain elevated until a new crop is harvested late this year, meaning chocolate prices probably will rise at the retail level. (CoBank)
Progress on beetle eradication: Federal and state efforts to eradicate the invasive Asian longhorned beetle in New York State are making progress with reduction on Long Island of the quarantine area to 42.9 square miles from the previous 53 square miles. (USDA)