Agriculture’s climate change woes (Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy): A new report finds that most states aren’t thinking about ambitious changes to address climate change’s effects on agriculture.
Chinese tariffs affect California wine (Bloomberg): China is the fifth-largest importer of California wine, and its newly-imposed 15 percent tariffs could affect the state’s export prospects.
Adult obesity rate rises to 40 percent (JAMA): While the youth obesity rate has plateaued at 19 percent, adult obesity reached 40 percent in 2015-16, up 6 points in eight years. The largest increases were among women and adults over age 40.
Need a tax break? Buy the farm (Modern Farmer): Provisions in the tax code ease the burden on farmers, from depreciation schedules to timing expenditures.
An oil-state senator helped ethanol (DTN/Progressive Farmer): By pushing for a price cap on ethanol credits, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz turned up the farm-state campaign for year-round sales of E15, says Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst.
Rural America is growing near towns (Carsey School): Census data show the rural population, which experienced an unusual decline following the 2008-09 recession, is growing again in counties close to metropolitan areas.
Growing wheat in 100 degree heat (Guardian): A heat-tolerant strain of durum wheat, usually a cool-weather crop, is being grown in blistering heat in the Senegal River basin of Africa.