Florida outlaws heat protections: Florida legislators sent to the governor a bill that bars cities and counties from mandating water breaks, shade, and cooling-off breaks for the state’s estimated 2 million outdoor workers, such as farmworkers. (The Guardian)
Hunger rises in food-short nations: Armed conflict and adverse weather are exacerbating hunger in the four dozen nations that need food aid, with dire conditions in the Gaza Strip, said the FAO report Crop Prospects and Food Situation. (Food and Agriculture Organization)
Smaller Brazil soybean crop: With the harvest at its mid-point, the USDA lowered its estimate of the 2023/24 soybean crop in Brazil to 155 million metric tons, 4 percent smaller than the record set in the previous season. (World Agricultural Production)
Despite wildfires, lots of beef: The Smokehouse Creek wildfire that burned more than 1 million acres (1,560 square miles) in Texas is unlikely to affect cattle prices or beef supplies in the grocery store because the U.S. cattle herd is large and spread across many states. (Drovers)
Extension or new farm bill?: The polarized Congress will soon face the question of whether to pass a new farm bill or extend the life of the 2018 farm law, already extended one year past its 2023 termination date. (farmdoc daily)