Farm-state Republicans consider raiding climate-change cookie jar
Without exception, Senate and House Republicans voted last summer against the climate, health and tax bill that earmarked $20 billion for USDA’s voluntary land stewardship programs, with a priority on practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resiliency. Now, they are suggesting the money might be better used elsewhere, including on crop subsidies.
California again rejects groundwater protection plans as inadequate
Farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley didn’t stop over-pumping groundwater when doing so contaminated local water supplies with arsenic, and they didn’t stop when the valley’s floor began sinking underneath them, by a foot per year in some places. State officials have long hoped to stop them with regulations—and last week, they decided that several local regulatory plans weren’t strong enough.
Brazil says farmers can grow and market GMO wheat
Brazil, one of the world’s most populous nations, has joined neighboring Argentina in approval of the cultivation and sale of wheat that is genetically modified to resist drought — another milestone in the campaign to apply biotechnology to food directly consumed as part of the human diet.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
USDA names diversity officer: Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of L’Tonya Davis, an FDA official, as USDA’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer. (USDA)
Half drought-free: The remarkably wet winter in California has lifted half of the state out of drought; three months ago, 99 percent of the state was under drought conditions ranging from moderate to exceptional. (Los Angeles Times)
Whisky fungus ‘on steroids’: A fungus that feeds on alcohol fumes “has coated homes, cars, patio furniture and road signs” near the Jack Daniel’s distillery and barrel houses in Tennessee, and is so persistent one protesting business owner said the fungus “now is on steroids.” (New York Times)
E15 proposal draws criticism: The EPA proposed to remove a barrier to summertime sale of E15 in eight Midwestern and Plains states effective April 28, 2024, but advocates said sales should be allowed this summer too. (Growth Energy)
Civil rights nominee advances: The Senate Agriculture Committee cleared for a floor vote the nomination of Margo Schlanger to serve as Agriculture assistant secretary for civil rights. (Senate Ag)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
In speech at the NFU convention, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is to make “major announcements on USDA’s efforts to promote competition and enhance innovation, protect consumers and producers, and increase economic opportunity in rural communities,” noon ET. The NFU convention, in San Francisco, runs through Tuesday. On Monday afternoon, Vilsack is to visit a school in Contra Costa County, 30 miles east of San Francisco, to discuss school meals. California is the first state to make school meals available to all students for free.
The School Nutrition Association holds its annual Legislative Action Conference, through Tuesday, Washington.
Twenty farm and environmental groups host “Farmers for climate action: Rally for resilience,” through Wednesday, Washington. The rally includes a march to Capitol Hill on Tuesday and a news conference on Wednesday.
North American Meat Institute holds Annual Meat Conference, through Wednesday, Dallas.
Tuesday
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell is lead witness at Senate Banking Committee hearing, “The semiannual monetary policy report to Congress,” 10 a.m. ET, Hart 216.
House Rules Committee meets to consider terms of debate for H.J.Res.27, to rescind the Biden administration’s “waters of the United States” regulation, 3 p.m. ET, H-313, The Capitol.
Oklahoma holds statewide referendum on legalizing recreational marijuana. Voters approved medical marijuana in a 2018 vote.
Purdue University releases Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly gauge of the condition of the farm economy.
University of Illinois Extension, farmdoc daily and WILLAg.org present All Day Ag Outlook, 7:30 a.m. ET, Covington, Indiana.
Informa Markets holds Natural Products Expo West, through Saturday, Anaheim, California.
National Farmers Organization holds Convene ’23, through Wednesday, Bettendorf, Iowa.
Agweek holds 41st annual Farm Show, through Wednesday, Rochester, Minnesota.
Wednesday
CFTC chairman Rostin Behnam is lead witness at Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, “Oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,” 10 a.m. ET, 106 Dirksen.
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. Traders expect the USDA to sharply reduce its estimates of the corn and soybean crops in Argentina due to drought, while making modest changes in U.S. stockpiles of wheat, corn and soybeans.
Senate Budget Committee holds hearing, “A burning issue: The economic costs of wildfires,” 10 a.m. ET, 608 Dirksen.
The House Agriculture subcommittee on forestry holds a hearing, “A review of Title VIII: Forestry stakeholder perspectives,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
The National Pork Board holds 2023 Pork Forum, through Friday, Orlando, Florida.
USDA releases report on U.S. and Canadian Cattle and Sheep and U.S. and Canadian Hogs, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
White House releases proposed fiscal 2024 budget. President Biden has said he will ask for higher taxes on “billionaires” and other wealthy people in order to reduce the federal debt by $2 trillion over 10 years. The president was expected to challenge congressional Republicans to specify how they would reduce spending.
The House Agriculture Committee holds a hearing, “Rising risks: Managing volatility in global commodity derivatives markets,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
The House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture holds an oversight hearing on the Office of Inspector General for the Agriculture Department, 10 a.m. ET, 2362-A Rayburn.
Groups representing corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers and farm equipment manufacturers hold Commodity Classic, a combination of annual farm meetings and a trade show, through Saturday, Orlando, Florida.
Friday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks at Commodity Classic on efforts to create new markets for agricultural products, increase competition, lower costs and create new revenue streams for producers, 8:30 a.m. ET, Orlando, Florida.
The House is scheduled to vote on H.J.Res.27, to rescind the Biden administration’s “waters of the United States” regulation, 9 a.m. ET.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is lead witness at House Ways and Means hearing on President Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget proposal, 9 a.m. ET, 1100 Longworth.
Sunday
Daylight Saving Time begins in most of the United States and will be in effect until Nov. 5.
