Month: December 2021

White House points inflation finger at meatpackers Grocery prices are climbing at their fastest pace since 2008, with beef, pork and poultry leading the way — up nearly 13 percent since last November, said the government’s new inflation report. The White House pinned the blame for surging meat prices on… Continue reading

Few employees out of compliance, as USDA vaccination rate rises Seven of every eight USDA employees are partially or fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and there are few holdouts against President Biden’s order to get vaccinated or seek a waiver, said the White House on Thursday. Slightly more than 2,000 of… Continue reading

Demand for food aid stays high in second year of pandemic The pandemic sent millions of Americans to food banks for help last year and the crush continues this year, said a food bank leader at a House hearing on USDA food donation programs on Wednesday. Feeding America, the largest… Continue reading

Biofuels sector rankled although EPA proposes highest ethanol mandate ever The Biden administration said it would set the ethanol mandate at its highest level ever in 2022 and reject 65 requests from small refineries for exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Both were welcome steps for biofuel backers, but… Continue reading

Pork plants recovered quickly from Covid-19, regardless of size Outbreaks of Covid-19 at meatpacking plants slashed U.S. hog slaughter rates by 36 percent in late April 2020, but a USDA report found that “regions with large pork processing plants recovered in a couple of months” – similar to regions with… Continue reading

Vilsack says USDA and White House close to deal on biofuel aid Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the administration appeared “very close” to releasing a long-promised $700 million in pandemic aid to biofuel producers. The aid was announced in March as part of a remodeling of coronavirus relief programs by… Continue reading

Pandemic aid to farmers at $7 billion as USDA pro-rates timber payments The USDA will prorate its final round of pandemic payments to timber harvesters and haulers to stay within the $200 million limit for the aid program, officials said on Thursday. Meanwhile, USDA data showed disbursements of $6.98 billion… Continue reading

Highest U.S. farm income in eight years, but headwinds in 2022 Despite the disruptions of the pandemic, U.S. farm income, a broad measure of profits, will be the highest since 2013, thanks to strong corn, soybean, wheat, broiler, cattle, and hog prices this year, said the USDA on Wednesday. “It… Continue reading

FTC probes grocery and meat supply chain and spiking prices The two largest U.S. supermarket chains, the leading grocery wholesaler and the No. 1 chicken processor are among nine companies ordered by the Federal Trade Commission to turn over detailed information for its study of “empty shelves and sky-high prices.”… Continue reading