Appropriations bill offers full funding for WIC and role for USDA on CFIUS
The Women, Infants, and Children program will get a $1 billion increase in funding this year to meet rising food costs and increased enrollment, said leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations committees on Sunday. Their decision ended a months-long fight over fully funding WIC and rejected an unprecedented proposal by House Republicans to provide additional money for WIC in exchange for a pilot program that would prohibit purchase of junk food with SNAP benefits.
EPA creates agriculture and rural affairs office
Speaking at the largest farm gathering in the country, EPA administrator Michael Regan announced the creation of a new EPA office to expand two-way communication with farmers and rural communities.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Diabetes and yogurt: The FDA said it would not object to a “qualified health claim” on packages of yogurt that say, “Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes according to limited scientific evidence.” (FDA)
Conservation Reserve signup opens: The general signup for the Conservation Reserve, the opportunity to idle large tracts of environmentally fragile farmland in exchange for an annual rental payment, opened Monday and will run through March 29. (Farm Service Agency)
Chevron closes biodiesel plants: Chevron said it would close biodiesel plants in Madison, Wisconsin, and Ralston, Iowa, as renewable diesel fuel, produced under a different process, is becoming more lucrative. (Argus)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
The School Nutrition Association holds its annual Legislative Action Conference, through Tuesday, Washington. This is also National School Breakfast Week.
Tuesday
Super Tuesday. Fifteen states hold presidential primaries: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.
Purdue University releases a monthly Ag Economy Barometer, which provides a sense of the agricultural economy’s health.
Farm Foundation and USDA’s Economic Research Service hold Agricultural Policy, Economics, and Diverse Farms and Farmers, a two-day online conference focused on diversity and agricultural policy, through Wednesday.
The National Pork Board holds the annual Pork Industry Forum, through Thursday, Chicago.
Farmdoc holds All Day Ag Outlook, Covington, Indiana.
University of California Extension holds climate-smart crop production workshops for specialty crop producers in Ventura County on Tuesday, Salinas County on Wednesday, and Tulare County on Thursday.
Wednesday
Cary Fowler, U.S. special envoy for global food security, and Dina Esposito, from USAID, testify at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on global food security, 10 a.m. ET, 419 Dirksen.
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on the Fed’s semi-annual monetary policy report, 10 a.m. ET, 2128 Rayburn.
USDA releases semi-annual U.S. and Canadian Hogs and U.S. and Canadian Cattle and Sheep reports, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
President Biden delivers the State of the Union address, 9 p.m. ET, the Capitol.
Friday
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization releases monthly Food Price Index, Rome.
Saturday
North American Millers Association holds spring conference, through March 12, Marco Island, Florida.
Sunday
The United States shifts to daylight savings time, 2 a.m. local time.
National Farmers Union holds 122nd annual convention, through March 12, Scottsdale, Arizona.
