Vegan diets do less harm: A study of 55,000 Britons’ diets showed vegans had 25 percent of the impacts of “high meat-eaters” for greenhouse gas emissions, 27 percent of the impacts for water pollution, 46 percent for water use, and 34 percent for biodiversity. (Nature Food)
Fewest beef cows ever: The U.S. cattle herd contains the smallest number of beef cows — 29.4 million — since the USDA began keeping records in 1971, suggesting that beef prices will remain high because fewer cows mean fewer slaughter calves. (USDA)
India limits rice exports: Analysts said world rice prices, already elevated, were likely to climb further in response to India’s decision, intended to bring down high domestic food prices, to halt shipments of non-basmati white rice, which make up a quarter of its international sales. (CNBC)
Farm Belt drought eases: Seasonal temperatures and rainfall are expected to bring “widespread drought improvement and removal across the central United States” during August, September, and October, said the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook. (National Weather Service)
Extend organic dairy signup: The USDA extended to Aug. 11 the signup period for producers to apply for a share of the $104 million in the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program to offset the effects of volatile market prices and high production costs. (USDA)