Cotton growers make room for more corn and wheat
Battered by drought and rising costs, U.S. cotton growers will devote more of their land to corn, wheat and soybeans — crops that promise higher revenue this year — while sharply reducing their cotton plantings, said a survey released on Sunday.
Farm bill perspectives come in blue and red in the Senate
Farm bills are typically a marriage of farm support and public nutrition programs, but Republicans and Democrats bring different priorities to the undertaking, said associate professor Jonathan Coppess of the University of Illinois.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Ag exports victory lap: U.S. farm exports were a record $196 billion in calendar 2022. (USDA)
Teens in packing plants: Children as young as 14 would be allowed to work at certain jobs in meatpacking plants or industrial laundries in Iowa under a bill filed by state Sen. Jason Schultz, a Republican. (Washington Post)
‘Show us your science’: In a letter, the U.S. chief ag negotiator asked Mexico to provide by Tuesday scientific information justifying the country’s plan to ban imports of GMO corn and the herbicide that is used in combination with GMO seeds. (Reuters)
Fetterman as nutrition chair: First-term Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman is expected to chair the Senate Agriculture subcommittee on nutrition, succeeding New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. (Food Fix)
Midwest farmland sets record: Farmland values rose 12 percent during 2022 in the five states in the Chicago Federal Reserve district, boosting the average value to a record high. (Chicago Federal Reserve)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announces new USDA funding “to expand agricultural producers and forest landowners’ ability to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices,” and a “new, comprehensive and multi-state strategy to address water and land management challenges across the West.” The announcements were scheduled as part of a speech to the National Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting in New Orleans. The meeting runs through Wednesday.
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai meets Vietnamese officials, including its trade minister, in Hanoi, through Wednesday.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture holds winter meeting, through Wednesday, Arlington, Virginia.
National Crop Insurance Services and American Association of Crop Insurers hold Crop Insurance Industry Convention, through Wednesday, Bonita Springs, Florida.
Bill Jackson, executive director of Discovery Partners Institute, speaks at The Chicago Farmers luncheon, 12:30 p.m. ET, Chicago.
U.S. Grains Council holds International Marketing Conference, through Wednesday, Savannah, Georgia.
Tuesday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and SBA administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman hold a press conference in Baton Rouge to discuss economic development initiatives in Louisiana.
House Agriculture Committee holds a farm bill listening session at the World Ag Expo, 1 p.m. ET, Tulare, California. The expo runs Tuesday through Thursday.
The Labor Department releases monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET.
USDA releases monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report, 3 p.m. ET.
Wednesday
Sen. John Boozman, the senior Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Doug McKalip, U.S. chief agricultural negotiator, speak to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture winter meeting, Arlington, Virginia.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, “The future of low carbon transportation fuels and considerations for a national clean fuels programs,” 10 a.m. ET, 406 Dirksen. Witnesses are Michael Graff, chief executive of American Air Liquid Holdings Inc.; Geoff Cooper, chief executive of the Renewable Fuels Association; and Chris Spear, chief executive of American Trucking Association.
Kentucky Venues hosts the National Farm Machinery Show, through Saturday, Louisville.
USDA releases long-term agricultural baseline through 2032, 3 p.m. ET. Portions of the material were released last Nov. 7, projecting an economic slowdown in 2023, larger agricultural production and lower market prices for most commodities, including corn, soybeans, wheat and hogs. The USDA also will release the annual Vegetables report.
Thursday
Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, “Farm bill 2023: Nutrition programs,” 10 a.m. ET, 328A Russell. Witnesses are Stacy Dean, Agriculture deputy undersecretary for nutrition, and Cindy Long, administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service.
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai meets Malaysian government officials, including its ministers of trade and human resources, in Kuala Lumpur.
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Alliance holds 44th annual conference, “Germinate, Regenerate, Agitate,” through Saturday, Newark, Ohio.
International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.
Friday
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai attends the Munich Security Conference, through Sunday, Munich, Germany.
USDA releases annual Farms and Land in Farms report, 3 p.m. ET.
Feb. 20
Presidents’ Day. Originally created as a holiday to observe the birthday, on Feb. 22, 1732, of George Washington, the first president and Revolutionary War leader, the holiday became a day to honor all presidents following a 1971 law that set the observance as the third Monday of February. Some states still hold separate observances of Washington, President Lincoln, born Feb, 12, 1809, and other leaders. Washington’s birthday became a federal holiday in 1879.
