Today’s quick hits, June 6, 2023

Fifty percent higher: Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were measured at a record 424 parts per million (ppm) in May, typically the peak month in the northern hemisphere. That’s 3 ppm higher than a year ago, researches said, and 50 percent higher than before the industrial age. (Scripps Institute of Oceanography)

Black Sea deal in peril: The Russian Foreign Ministry said it saw no prospects for extension of the Black Sea grain initiative, which allows export of grain from Ukraine, past the July 17 expiration date of the latest version of the agreement. (Reuters)

Robots on the farm: Automation and robotics are increasingly common in agriculture and are used mostly to navigate tractors or cultivate crops; harvesting, particularly for fruits and vegetables, “is further off in the future.” (USA Today)

Tradeoffs at the grocery store: After months of high food inflation, grocery shoppers are splurging less on gourmet items in favor of lower-priced alternatives, including store-brand goods. Some shoppers are moving to discount supermarkets, which saw an increase in sales this spring. (Los Angeles Times)

Little ag talk in Iowa: Eight aspirants for the Republican presidential nomination took part in the “Roast and Ride” kickoff for the Iowa caucuses, spending more time on “wokeness” and securing the U.S.-Mexico border than on agriculture. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)

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