Ag coalition proposes climate mitigation for $100 an acre
At the same time farm-state lawmakers are trying to add $2 billion to $3 billion a year to USDA conservation programs, a coalition of farmers and ag groups says the price tag for climate mitigation on the farm should be much higher —$100 per acre or $40 billion a year when fully implemented.
Torres Small is confirmed as USDA rural development leader
On a voice vote, the Senate confirmed former New Mexico Rep. Xochitl Torres Small as agriculture undersecretary for rural development. Torres Small is the second Biden nominee for agriculture undersecretary to be approved by the Senate.
Today’s Quick Hits
Food price pressure: The FAO Food Price Index, based on prices of commonly traded food commodities, soared by 33 percent in the past year as the global economy recovered from the pandemic woes of 2020. (Food and Agriculture Organization)
‘Roll back tariffs’: Chinese vice premier Liu He called for removal of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods during virtual talks with U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai, as the nations try to recalibrate the trade relationship. (Reuters)
Farm Bureau seeks minority farmers: The largest U.S. farm group and the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) signed an agreement with the goal of increasing minority involvement in agriculture. (AFBF)
Less coastal fog: Fog is vanishing from many shoreline zones, a likely consequence of climate change that could affect agricultural production now nourished by the moisture. (InsideClimate News)
‘Make agriculture sexy’: French technology billionaire Xavier Niel wants to “make agriculture sexy” to attract young people to farming and shake up government-cosseted French agriculture. (New York Times)
On The Calendar
Tuesday
In conjunction with National School Lunch Week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits Riverdale Elementary School during lunch hour and speaks to parents and school officials about school meals during the pandemic, 10:30 a.m. ET, Riverdale, Maryland. In the afternoon, Vilsack visits ECO City Farms, a nonprofit urban teaching and learning farm, Bladensburg, Maryland.
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. Traders say higher yields per acre will boost the soybean crop to 4.415 billion bushels, the second-largest ever and up 1 percent from USDA’s estimate in September.
Former senators Heidi Heitkamp and Saxby Chambliss speak online on policies that would “unlock and leverage transformational private investment in the agriculture and forestry sector to mitigate climate change, 1 p.m. ET, Bipartisan Policy Center.
Euroseeds and the American Seed Trade Association hold a “trans-Atlantic dialogue on agricultural innovation for a sustainable food system,” with remarks by EU and USDA officials, 10 a.m. ET.
Deadline for applications to USDA for aid through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program, extended from Sept 17.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Wednesday
The Labor Department releases the monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET.
National Organic Standards public comment sessions online, through Thursday, ahead of its fall meeting next week in Sacramento, California.
USDA holds fall Data Users Meeting online, through Thursday, noon ET.
Thursday
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai, in Europe for a G20 ministerial meeting, speaks at the Graduate Institute’s Geneva Trade Platform in Switzerland.
National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini is lead witness at the House Science subcommittee online hearing, “The future of forecasting: Building a weather-ready nation on all fronts,” 11 a.m. ET.
The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation and the Mississippi Center for Justice launch an initiative online “to help historically under-served families in Mississippi protect and keep their forestland,” 11 a.m. ET.
Farmdoc Daily holds a webinar, “Grain returns for 2021 and 2022,” noon ET.
Friday
Agribusiness Council of Kansas City and Kansas State University-Olathe hold lunch honoring former Sen. Pat Roberts, a supporter of federally subsidized crop insurance and the only man to chair the House and Senate Agriculture committees, 12:30 p.m. ET, Olathe, Kansas.
House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing online, “Oversight: Colorado River drought conditions and response measures,” 2 p.m. ET.
Deadline to apply for aid under USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program.
The China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, is held online and in person through Oct. 19, Guangzhou, China.
