‘Where is the farm bill?’: House Republicans are using their farm bill “as a campaign slogan, nothing more,” because they have not called a floor vote on it, said Rep. David Scott, the senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. Chairman Glenn Thompson responded by saying, “We’re going … to stay grounded in reality.” (House Agriculture)
Summer EBT funding: The USDA will provide $100 million in grants to states, tribes, and territories to implement a new Summer EBT program, called SUN Bucks, that gives low-income families $120 in food assistance for each school-age child. (USDA)
H5N1 scrutiny varies: Public health and agriculture officials in different states take different approaches to monitoring and testing for the H5N1 avian flu virus, which has infected 145 dairy herds in 12 states and spread to four workers on dairy farms. (Reuters)
Insect forecast: The USDA predicts another bad summer of grasshopper swarms in parts of the West, and some researchers say climate change may be helping to create the hot and dry conditions that boost grasshopper populations. (High Country News)
Sharply lower earnings: CHS, the largest U.S. agribusiness cooperative, said earnings from its grain and petroleum sectors fell by $100 million apiece during the third quarter of its fiscal year. (CHS)