Egg farm losses from bird flu top 20 million
With the discovery of bird flu on a Pennsylvania egg farm, more than 20 million egg-laying hens have died in outbreaks of the viral disease this year, according to USDA data released on Monday. Wholesale prices for eggs were at least $1 higher per dozen than a year ago, with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as a factor.
Cold weather slows planting in Corn Belt
The planting season has been delayed by cold weather in four of the five top corn states, a stark contrast to last year’s early start, said the Agriculture Department on Monday. The planting window for top yields “is relatively wide,” said a University of Illinois economist but this year’s slow start has driven up futures prices.
Today’s Quick Hits
Global food security meeting: Leaders of the World Bank, IMF, International Fund for Agricultural Development and the world’s major economies will discuss “the urgent response to the ongoing food security crisis exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” on Tuesday. (Treasury)
Forest landscape restoration projects: The Forest Service announced $31.1 million for 15 projects in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington State designed to reduce the risk of severe wildfires and enhance forest health. (USDA)
Toombs to lead NIFA: Dionne Toombs, a leader in USDA science and nutrition work, was named acting director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which distributes $1.8 billion a year in grants for agricultural research. (USDA)
Texas drone law nixed: A Texas state law violated the Constitution by prohibiting use of drones for newsgathering, ruled a federal court judge, who also took issue with “no fly” provisions over facilities that included factory farms. (National Law Review)
Vilsack, Rice in Mississippi: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice will join Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, in his Mississippi district for events tied to the administration’s “rural infrastructure tour” on Wednesday. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
