Drought eases and growers plant more winter wheat
Growers are expected to sow the largest amount of U.S. land to winter wheat in nine years, encouraged by strong market prices, in part a result of warfare in Ukraine, and forecasts of better growing conditions in the drought-hit central and southern Plains. Winter wheat accounts for roughly seven of every 10 bushels of wheat harvested in the nation.
SNAP outlays drop 25 percent
With the end of emergency pandemic aid, monthly government spending on SNAP has fallen by more than 25 percent, to an average of $7.9 billion, said the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on Thursday. SNAP households were receiving at least $95 less per month, it said.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Climate spending okayed: Although some lawmakers were skeptical, the USDA acted legally when it used $3.1 billion from the Commodity Credit Corp. to launch its climate-smart farming initiative, said a congressional review. (Government Accountability Office)
Record world grain demand: As a result of a steady rise in food demand and an expected recovery in feed and industrial use, world grain consumption was forecast to hit a record 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023/24, 11 million tonnes more than the global harvest. (International Grains Council)
Food security funds: The USDA announced $230 million in funding for the McGovern-Dole international school food program and $225 million for Food for Progress, which encourages free-market agriculture in developing countries. (USDA)
Water pollution rules: Tribal leaders on the 829,440-acre White Earth Reservation in northwestern Minnesota will implement mandatory pollution prevention and water conservation measures for livestock farms in an effort to protect fish, wild rice, and waterways. (Circle of Blue)
Layoffs at Deere: Nearly two years after a strike over a new contract, Deere & Co. announced “indefinite layoffs,” effective Oct. 16, for 225 employees at its Harvester Works facility in East Moline, Illinois. (Farm Journal)
