Tough spot for Mexico: By banning imports of genetically modified white corn, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico has put himself “in a political situation that is very hard for him to move out of,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told senators. (Senate Appropriations)
Alternative farm bill: The farm bill filed by 15-term Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon would cap subsidy payments to agribusinesses, ban factory farms from USDA conservation programs, create an Office of Food Waste at the USDA, expand SNAP, and include an animal-welfare title. (Blumenauer)
Shunning Russian grain: Two major grain companies, Cargill and Viterra, said they will halt direct purchases of grain grown in Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter. (Bloomberg)
Challenge to wildfire retardant: A lawsuit in Montana would stop the U.S. Forest Service from dropping millions of gallons of a liquid fire retardant on wildfires each year on the grounds the retardant pollutes waterways and violates federal clean water laws. (Los Angeles Times)
Top farm bill priorities: In a poll by Morning Consult, two-thirds of Americans said the top priorities in the farm bill should be public nutrition programs and risk management programs for farmers. (AFBF)