U.S. cuts red tape to increase food production, fill Ukraine gap, says Biden
Jeff O’Connor gave President Biden a firsthand introduction to double-cropping on his 800-acre Illinois farm on Wednesday and agreed with the president that America can help fill the gap in global food supplies created by the war in Ukraine. “We have the ability to raise two crops in one growing season while simultaneously providing conservation benefits,” said O’Connor. “The farming community stands ready to maximize production, which we do so well, in this time of world need.”
Crop insurance premiums could skyrocket as climate change intensifies
Taxpayers shelled out nearly $40 billion in crop insurance premiums in the Mississippi River region between 2001 and 2020, and that number is expected to increase sharply as climate change intensifies, according to an analysis of Department of Agriculture data by the Environmental Working Group that was released Wednesday.
Grocery prices up 10.8 percent even as overall inflation rate declines
Although the U.S. inflation rate slowed to 8.3 percent for the year ending in April, food continues to cost more and more, said the Labor Department on Wednesday. Grocery prices shot up 10.8 percent in the past year, driven by higher prices for such foods as bacon, up 17.7 percent, chicken, up 16.4 percent, and eggs, up 22.6 percent.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Global food crisis looms: The director of the World Food Program asked for an additional $5 billion in U.S. food aid, saying warfare in Ukraine “is quickly transforming a series of already terrible hunger crises into a global food crisis” that could destabilize governments, cause mass starvation, and lead to “migration on an unprecedented scale.” (Senate Appropriations)
Kaptur joins House Ag: Democrats appointed 20-term Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio to the House Agriculture Committee to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Rep. Antonio Delgado to be lieutenant governor of New York. (Kaptur)
Food banks boost pay: Across the country, food banks are considering or instituting wage increases so employees can meet the cost of living in their area and to set an example of how to fight poverty in their communities. (Food Bank News)
Infant formula shortages: In recent weeks, infant formula has become hard to find — leading some stores to limit purchases — due to inflation, a major recall, and supply chain disruptions. (Washington Post)
