2nd Year of Trump Bailout – July 22, 2019

Money begins to flow on second year of Trump bailout of U.S. agriculture

Two months after President Trump announced a $16-billion package to buffer the impact of the Sino-U.S. trade war on farmers and ranchers this year, the first driblet of the money is flowing — $100 million for market development.

Food stamp multiplier makes $1 worth $1.50 to GDP

Analysts agree that federal spending on low-income people during a recession has a large multiplier effect because the recipients are quick to spend the money, which ripples through the economy.

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Foster-care threat for school lunch debt (CNN): A Pennsylvania school district sent hundreds of letters to parents demanding they pay school lunch debts or the matter could be turned over to the courts with the possible result “your child being removed from your home and placed in foster care.”

Maine farmers hope for hemp (Portland Press Herald): Plantings of industrial hemp will quadruple in Maine this year, to 2,706 acres, with growers hoping for high revenue from a plant used for its fiber and the popular cannabidiol oil.

A fish hook in plans for irrigation water (Los Angeles Times): Federal biologists concluded the Chinook salmon and other imperiled fish would suffer under a Trump administration plan to transfer more water to Central Valley farmers from the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta.

Solid win for Abe in Japan (Kyodo): The political coalition led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a solid majority in elections for the upper house of parliament; the U.S. expects to speed up negotiations of a new trade agreement with Japan now that the campaign is over.

Lawmakers form crop insurance caucus (Bustos): Two members of the House Agriculture Committee, Cheri Bustos, Illinois Democrat, and Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Republican, lead the newly formed Congressional Crop Insurance Caucus, with plans to educate lawmakers about the taxpayer-supported program.

USDA ends world raisin report (USDA): The Foreign Agricultural Service discontinued its annual Raisins: World Markets and Trade report because U.S. production of raisin-type grapes is no longer tracked, “meaning FAS is no longer able to develop a comprehensive global (supply and demand) estimate for raisin.”

ON THE USDA CALENDAR

Monday
– First International Wheat Congress, Saskatoon, Canada.

– American Society for Horticultural Science annual conference, through Thursday, Las Vegas.

– Agricultural and Applied Economics Association annual meeting, through Tuesday, Atlanta.

– International Association for Food Protection annual meeting, through Wednesday, Louisville.

– USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.

Tuesday
– Farm Foundation forum, “The new biotechnology regulatory regime,” 9 a.m. ET, National Press Club. Panelists are Fan-Li Chou of USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy, Mike Mendelsohn of EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, Laura Epstein of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and Stanley Abramson of the law firm Arent Fox LLP. For details, click here.

– Farm Credit Council holds annual Farm Credit Fly-In, through Wednesday, Washington.

– House Budget Committee hearing, “The costs of climate change: From coasts to heartland, health to security,” 10 a.m. ET, 210 Cannon. For details, click here.

Thursday
– Senior USDA, FDA and EPA officials testify at Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, “Hemp production and the 2018 farm bill,” 9:30 a.m. ET, 328A Russell. For details, click here.

– House Small Business subcommittee hearing, “Supporting the next generation of agricultural businesses,” 10 a.m. ET, 2360 Rayburn. For details, click here.

– USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET. At present, food inflation is forecast at a lower-than-normal 2 percent for this year.

– USDA releases Census of Agriculture report on watersheds, noon ET.

– International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.

Friday
– Trust In Food, a division of Farm Journal, holds speeches and panel discussion of “America’s conservation ag movement” and opens an agricultural display, the “voice of the farmer” garden, on the National Mall, Washington.

– International Federation of Agricultural Journalists meets, through July 31, in conjunction with Ag Media Summit, sponsored by American Agricultural Editors Association, Livestock Publications Council and Connectiv AgriMedia Committee, Minneapolis.

Bookmark the permalink.