Small ag banks mitigate the risk of rising demand for farm loans
In an indirect sign of stress in the farm sector, small agricultural banks are making adjustments, such as syndicating loans and charging higher interest rates, to offset risk in the face of high demand for farm loans, said the Federal Reserve in its quarterly Ag Finance Databook.
Court gives EPA 90 days to decide fate of chlorpyrifos
The federal appeals court in San Francisco ordered the EPA to decide within 90 days — by mid-July — whether to ban agricultural use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos, already barred from residential use.
Dicamba has sparked a civil war in soybean country
The controversial weedkiller dicamba, which has wreaked havoc in soybean country over the last two years, is dividing communities and pitting neighbor against neighbor as the 2019 growing season gets underway. KASN’s latest story, a radio piece produced with Reveal and the podcast Us & Them, takes listeners inside these divided communities in Arkansas.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Compromise on disaster aid? (AFBF): Dozens of groups representing farmers and lenders asked congressional leaders in a letter to “make the compromises necessary to find a path forward to approve critically needed disaster relief, without further delay, and as soon as Congress returns from its two-week recess.” Action has been delayed for weeks in a fight over aid to Puerto Rico.
Rural population rises for second year (Carsey School): In a reversal of the losses of 2011-16, the rural population crept upward in 2018 for the second consecutive year with a gain of 37,000 people; the gains were in rural counties adjacent to metro areas while farming counties continued to lose residents.
If it’s published, it’s ‘preliminary’ (Washington Post): Publication of a scientific paper in a peer-reviewed journal is typically the endpoint for a research project. But a new USDA policy says the papers must carry the disclaimer that the findings are “preliminary,” “have not been formally disseminated” and are not official policy. Critics say the phrasing puts the validity of the research in question.
Glyphosate, here to stay (AgriCensus): There is no readily available alternative to glyphosate, the weedkiller used on GMO field crops. So the herbicide is likely to remain in widespread use despite two adverse jury verdicts in the U.S. and an EU license review set to begin in December, said a group of analysts and consultants.
ON THE USDA CALENDAR
Monday
– Earth Day, with the theme, “Protect our species.” The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970, and helped launch the environmental movement. The organizers of the annual event, the Earth Day Network, say, “We believe that more than 1 billion people in 192 countries now take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.”
– Supreme Court hears arguments in lawsuit by Sioux Falls Argus Leader to force USDA to release, as a public record, data on SNAP grocery sales through various retailers, 10 a.m. ET. The newspaper prevailed in lower court rulings. The Food Marketing Institute, a trade group for grocers, says sales totals are confidential business records.
– National CACFP Sponsors Association holds annual Child Nutrition Conference, through Friday, Chicago.
– USDA releases monthly Cold Storage report, 3 p.m. ET.
– USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
– Farm Foundation forum, “Human capital challenges in the food and agriculture sector,” 9 a.m. ET, Columbus, Ohio. Speakers include Cathann Kress, dean of agriculture at Ohio State University.
– Five USDA agencies and the Census Bureau hold annual data users’ meeting, 12:30 p.m. CT, Chicago.
– Livestock Marketing Information Center holds semi-annual Industry Outlook Conference, through Wednesday, Chicago.
– The FAO, WHO, WTO and African Union co-sponsor International Forum on Food Safety and Trade, through Wednesday, Geneva.
Wednesday
– National Organic Standards Board holds spring meeting, through Friday, Seattle.
– USDA releases Livestock Slaughter Annual report, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
– USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET. At present, the USDA estimates food inflation of 2 percent this year, slightly below the 20-year average of 2.3 percent annually. If correct, 2019 would be the fifth year in a row of lower-than-usual increases in food prices.
– International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.
– Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets President Trump in a two-day session that “will re-affirm the U.S.-Japan alliances as the cornerstone of peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world,” says the White House. Discussions will include bilateral trade. The United States is setting a trade pact with Japan equal to terms given to TPP-11 nations.
– IFPRI, FAO and Food Security Information Network hold “Technical discussion on the 20180 Global Report on Food Crises: Working together to prevent food crises,” 9:30 a.m. ET, 1201 I Street NW.
– USDA releases Vegetable and Pulses Outlook, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
– Second and final day of meeting of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Trump. Trade is among topics of the meeting.
