Appetite for meat in China could lead to much larger imports
Meat consumption in China has increased significantly since the 1970s and could climb further in the next decade, giving the country one of the highest per capita consumption rates in Asia, said a USDA report: “This trend creates new opportunities for exporters in the United States and other countries but it also poses food security challenges and environmental impacts.”
Climate, broadband among farm bill goals of New Democrat Coalition
The new farm bill should encourage rural economic development by making high-speed internet widely available and build on historic investments in carbon sequestration, said a group of center-left House Democrats. In a statement released ahead of farm-bill drafting, the 98-member New Democrat Coalition also said the 2023 farm bill must be bipartisan and even-handed.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Mandatory funding for urban ag: Six Democratic senators filed a bill to guarantee $50 million a year for USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture, which would receive no money in fiscal 2024 in the USDA-FDA bills awaiting votes in the House and Senate. (Fetterman)
Spring wheat looks average: The spring wheat crop is likely to average 47.4 bushels an acre, producing an average-sized crop, according to the three-day crop tour of North Dakota, the leading state for spring wheat. (World-Grain)
Global farm numbers falling: The world could have less than half of the 616 million farms it has now by the end of the century, based on global consolidation trends, says a study in the journal Nature Sustainability. (Modern Farmer)
Lesser prairie-chicken vote: On a 221-206 roll call, the House joined the Senate in voting to rescind federal protections for the endangered lesser prairie-chicken in the face of a veto threat by the White House. (Tulsa World)
Five-way herbicide resistance: Invasive pigweed from Surry County in northwestern North Carolina tolerated doses of five weedkillers, “the first five-way herbicide resistant weed species in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast” states, said scientists. (Weed Research)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
During a visit to Portland, Oregon, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announces funding for communities to plan for and mitigate wildfire risks.
House Agriculture chairman Glenn Thompson hosts a farm bill listening session, Freeport, Maine.
The American Agricultural Editors Association, SIIA AM&P Network Ag Media Council, and the Livestock Publications Council hold the Agricultural Media Summit, “the largest annual conference of agricultural communicators in the United States,” through Aug. 2, Palm Springs, California.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation holds Third Senior Officials’ Meeting, through Sunday, Seattle.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack participates in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Plant Sciences Building at Washington State University, 3 p.m. ET, Pullman, Washington.
Purdue University releases Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly measurement of the health of the agricultural economy.
USDA advisory committee on urban agriculture and innovative production meets online, 3 p.m. ET. Topics for discussion include food waste prevention, surplus food recovery, and compostable food-packaging standards.
Wednesday
House Agriculture chairman Glenn Thompson hosts a farm bill listening session at Minnesota Farmfest, 10:30 a.m. ET, Morgan, Minnesota.
Strip-Till Farmer magazine holds its 10th annual National Strip-Till Conference, through Aug. 4, Bloomington, Illinois.
Thursday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack chairs the Food Security Ministerial meeting, Seattle. The session is among six ministerial meetings to be held as part of the Third APEC Senior Officials’ and Ministerial Meetings running from July 29-Aug. 21.
Friday
American Sugar Alliance holds the 38th annual International Sweetener Symposium, through Aug. 9, Napa, California.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization releases monthly Food Price Index, Rome.
USDA releases annual Land Values report, 3 p.m. ET. Last year, the average value of U.S. cropland was $5,050 per acre, an increase of $630 per acre, or 14 percent, from 2021.
