California biofuel rush: California’s plan to bring “green” fuels to the market may end up rewarding livestock farmers for making manure rather than meat or milk and oil refineries for producing renewable diesel from vegetable oils needed to make food. (Los Angeles Times)
Room to grow: One-fourth of consumers would choose a plant-based patty over a hamburger, suggesting “there is ample room for this market to grow,” but since many of them don’t eat much beef, the impact on beef demand could be negligible, said researchers. (Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy)
Bill backs grazing: Two members of the Senate Agriculture Committee introduced a bill that would more than double, to $125,000 a year, the maximum rental payment on land in the Conservation Reserve and allow cost-sharing payments for building fences and installing water infrastructure on land approved for grazing. (Thune)
More beef to Japan: Japan will allow a larger volume of U.S. beef to be imported before it applies “safeguard” tariffs to the imports, according to a preliminary agreement between the countries. About a quarter of U.S. beef exports go to Japan. (USTR)
Canadian potatoes return: Canada can resume shipping Prince Edward Island potatoes to the U.S. under specified conditions that will pose little risk of introducing potato wart disease into this country. (USDA)