Farm safety net cushions big operators the most – February 28, 2023

Farm safety net cushions big operators the most

Due to consolidation, federal farm supports increasingly are paid to the wealthiest producers, who have household incomes far above the rest of the country, said analysts at a think tank seminar on Monday. The stream of money to large operators was a stark contrast to frequent depictions of the farm program as the safeguard of small family farmers, they said.

Protect climate funds in farm bill, say advocates

Some 644 environmental, farm, religious, wildlife and recreation groups urged the leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture committees on Monday to protect the $20 billion earmarked last summer for climate-smart agriculture from farm-bill raids. “This is the largest investment in agriculture conservation and rural communities in decades and farmers, ranchers and foresters across the country are depending on these resources,” said the groups in a letter.

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

USDA Equity Commission report: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and members of the USDA Equity Commission, created to look for racial bias in USDA programs and operations, will discuss on Tuesday the commission’s interim report. (FERN’s Ag Insider)

Slotkin runs for Stabenow seat: Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, announced her candidacy to succeed Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow in 2024. (Detroit Free Press)

Ivermectin hawkers are back: The group of doctors that without proof promoted ivermectin — used to treat parasites in livestock and people — as a treatment for Covid-19 are now pushing the drug as a remedy for respiratory infections such as influenza, again without clinical data to support it. (Washington Post)

Chinese agricultural subsidies: China has failed to reform its wheat and rice support programs despite losing a WTO case to the United States; in 2022, it began a series of supports for soybean production, said an annual U.S. review of trade policies. (U.S. trade representative)

Vertical farming goes flat: Investors put $1.7 billion into vertical farming, but the hot idea of growing greens indoors seems to be cooling off as farms struggle to make money amid high production costs. (Fast Company)

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