‘Farmers do more’ to mitigate climate change
Farmers are ready to act on global warming “and we need to help them do more,” said Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow at the committee’s first hearing on the 2023 farm bill, held at Michigan State University. “We’ve seen the overwhelming popularity of voluntary conservation programs.”
New report outlines opportunities to use the farm bill to cut food waste
A new report urges Congress to make reducing food waste a priority in the 2023 farm bill in order to address climate change and hunger while benefiting the economy. The U.S. wastes more than one-third of the food it produces and imports. If just 30 percent of wasted food were diverted from landfills to the emergency food system, it could feed all of the estimated 50 million Americans who are food insecure.
Amazon, Starbucks make workers’ rights group’s ‘Dirty Dozen’
By disregarding the health and safety of their employees, some of the most prominent companies in the food industry have created situations that led to workers being injured or killed on the job, according to a new report by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH), an advocacy group.
Colorado inmate contracts bird flu from infected flock
Bird flu ranks as a low threat to public health, said the Centers for Disease Control, after a Colorado correctional inmate tested positive for avian influenza after culling an infected flock. It was the first U.S. case and the second worldwide of human infection by the H5N1 viruses now circulating among birds globally.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Emergency waiver for E15: EPA issued an emergency waiver allowing sale of E15 through the summer driving season, effective May 1, with additional 20-day waivers expected “until such time as the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances due to the war in Ukraine are no longer present.” (EPA)
Less checkoff, more lobbying: Delegates voted at the Pork Forum to reduce the pork checkoff by 5 cents, to 35 cents per $100 of revenue from marketing hogs, on the hope that producers would send that nickel to the group that lobbies and litigates on their behalf. (St. Louis Public Radio)
Booker grills Vilsack: New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker confronted Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack over agricultural consolidation and the prevalence of junk food in poor neighborhoods during a Democratic luncheon last week. (Axios)
Troops steal Deere equipment: Russian troops stole nearly $5 million worth of John Deere tractors, combines and other equipment from a dealership in Ukraine and hauled them to Chechnya, before learning the equipment had been disabled remotely. (CNN)
Equine disease is deadly: More than 100 horses died of equine influenza at a state-run facility in Canon City, Colorado. (Bureau of Land Management)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai takes part in fireside chat at Milken Institute’s 2022 Global Conference, Beverly Hills, California.
Almond Alliance of California holds annual conference, through Thursday, Huntington Beach, California.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
Purdue University releases a monthly Ag Economy Barometer, a gauge of the health of the farm economy.
Wednesday
Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Forest Service funding for fiscal 2023, 10 a.m. ET, 226 Dirksen.
USDA releases Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts Annual report, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
Cinco de Mayo, May 5, a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, has become a major celebration in the United States of Mexican culture and heritage. The origin is the victory of a Mexican army over a larger French army in the battle of Puebla de Los Angeles on this date in 1862.
Friday
Deadline to apply for funding of $5 million-$100 million through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. The deadline is June 10 for proposals that seek $500,000 to $5 million.
