Agriculture must be part of climate change negotiations, says Farm Bureau
Although blamed for 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture has a “great track record” through land stewardship and biofuels in mitigating climate change, says Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, in looking ahead to the Biden administration. “We must make sure we are at the table for discussions around climate change.”
Biden wants more coronavirus relief for ag, Vilsack tells produce groups
President-elect Biden’s nominee for agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, told leading fruit and vegetable growers during a digital meeting Friday that the new administration is committed to additional stimulus and relief. The two dozen participants also discussed how immigration reform could ease chronic labor shortages, according to a summary of the talk.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
More people short of food: In late December, 29 million adults — 14 percent of respondents — said their households sometimes or often did not get enough food to eat in the preceding week, the highest number since the Census Bureau began its “pulse” surveys. (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
Supreme Court to hear ethanol case: The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by oil refiners of the year-ago ruling that greatly restricts the EPA’s authority to exempt small refiners from the federal mandate to use corn ethanol and other biofuels. (Argus Media)
China needed a big finish: At the start of December, China had imported $19.4 billion, or just 53 percent, of the $36.6 billion of U.S. food, agriculture and seafood products it pledged to buy in 2020 as part of the “phase one” trade agreement, according to Chinese customs data. (Peterson Institute for International Economics)
USDA tracks USMCA produce trade: A new weekly report, prepared in partnership with the Commerce Department and the U.S. trade representative’s office, will monitor marketplace trends in seasonal and perishable imports from Canada and Mexico as well as other suppliers. (Agricultural Marketing Service)
World food prices at three-year high: The FAO Food Price Index, a gauge of prices for a market basket of food commodities, was an average 97.9 points during 2020, the highest annual level in three years. (FAO)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
American Farm Bureau Federation holds annual convention online, through Wednesday.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler hold a news conference on the Yazoo Pumps project, 10 a.m. ET. The project, south of Vicksburg, would drain nearly 4,100 square miles. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which initially said the project would hurt wetlands, issued a draft environmental impact statement in October that said the project was “not anticipated to convert any wetlands to non-wetlands,” reported the Jackson Clarion Ledger. Agribusiness groups support the project.
EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler, Mississippi state agriculture commissioner Andy Gipson and Mississippi Farm Bureau president Mike McCormick “make an agricultural announcement,” noon ET.
School Nutrition Association holds School Nutrition Industry Conference online, through Thursday.
Pennsylvania holds annual state Farm Show online, through Saturday.
Tuesday
USDA releases Crop Production Annual, annual Winter Wheat Seedings, quarterly Grain Stocks, monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. Traders say strong demand, including the revival of exports to China, will prompt USDA to reduce markedly its estimate of corn and soybean stockpiles at the end of this marketing year. They expect USDA to lower its estimate of corn ending stocks by 6 percent, or 1-3 million bushels, and soybean ending stocks by 21 percent, or 36 million bushels. If they are correct, corn and soy carry-over stocks would be the smallest in seven years.
Peoples Company, a farm manager and agricultural land broker, holds Land Investment Expo online and in person, Des Moines. Speakers include former U.S. ambassador to China Terry Branstad and Agriculture Undersecretary Bill Northey.
Wednesday
Purdue University holds webinar on corn and soy outlook, 12:30 p.m. ET.
Labor Department releases monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET.
Thursday
Hoban Law Firm sponsors third annual Winter Hemp Summit online.
Sunday
National Farmers Union holds virtual Women’s Conference, through Jan. 18.
Jan. 18
Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday that commemorates the life of the civil rights leader and has become a day to promote equal rights for all. In 1983, President Reagan signed legislation creating the holiday, observed on the third Monday of January, close to King’s birth date of Jan. 15, 1929. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, four years before he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a march in support of striking garbage workers.
National Biodiesel Board holds National Biodiesel Conference & Expo online, through Jan. 21.
