Fertilizer responsible for more than 20 percent of agricultural emissions
As the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) gets underway in Glasgow, a new report finds that synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought, outpacing even the commercial aviation industry.
New proposal in Congress on debt relief for ‘limited-resource’ farmers
Stymied by lawsuits that contend USDA debt relief for farmers of color is actually reverse discrimination, House Democrats proposed an alternative: full or partial forgiveness of USDA loans to limited-resource farmers. The multi-billion-dollar proposal, which does not mention race, is directed toward economically distressed farmers and ranchers in high-poverty areas.
Strike continues as Deere workers consider new offer
Deere and the United Auto Workers agreed over the weekend on a proposed six-year contract covering 10,000 union workers at the world’s largest farm equipment manufacturer. The UAW said its members would remain on strike during consideration of the agreement.
Today’s Quick Hits
U.S.-EU steel deal: The United States effectively will operate a tariff-rate quota on steel and aluminum imports from Europe, in a change in policy from high Trump-era tariffs aimed at China but hitting U.S. allies; in return, the EU will lift retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products. (NBC News)
U.S. shrugs at obesity: Although the pandemic illuminated the health risk posed by obesity, “there is no national strategy” to help Americans avoid the disease. (Politico)
Salmonella strain spreads: A Salmonella strain known as multi-drug infantis, often found in raw chicken meat, has become pervasive due to “a baffling and largely toothless food safety system that is ill-equipped to protect consumers or rebuff industry influence.” (ProPublica)
‘Public charge’ redux: The Supreme Court will hear a lawsuit in which more than a dozen conservative states defend the legality of the Trump-era “public charge” rule even though the Biden administration has accepted a court ruling against it. (USA Today)
Too hot for chiles?: The famous Hatch chile pepper, possibly New Mexico’s hottest commodity, doesn’t fruit above 95 degrees, possibly putting it at risk in a climate that is becoming hotter and less predictable. (High Country News)
On The Calendar
Monday
UN holds 26th annual climate change Conference of the Parties, through Nov. 12, Glasgow, Scotland.
Deadline for comments on USDA’s proposed Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative. The initiative would fund large-scale pilot and demonstration projects that provide incentives to farmers, ranchers and foresters to implement climate-smart practices on working lands and quantify the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits associated with them.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
Election day in Virginia and New Jersey for statewide and legislative offices. Voters in Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Washington State will decide a total of 24 referenda, including a proposed constitutional amendment in Maine that would create a first-in-the-nation right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of one’s choosing.
Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, “The state of nutrition in America 2021,” 10 a.m. 216 Hart.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack meets EU officials, farm leaders and other interested groups “to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to cooperation with Europe to foster more sustainable, climate-smart agricultural production systems,” through Wednesday, Brussels.
Purdue University releases a monthly Ag Economy Barometer, a gauge of the agricultural sector’s health.
Farm Credit Council hosts Farm Credit Fly-In, through Wednesday, Washington.
The Waterways Council holds the annual Waterways Symposium, through Thursday, St. Louis.
The National Institute for Animal Agriculture holds the 11th annual Antibiotics Symposium, through Thursday, Kansas City.
Final day for comment on USDA advance notice of rule-making on the labeling of meat or poultry products made from cell-cultured meat.
Wednesday
House Agriculture Committee hearing, “The immediate challenges to our nation’s food supply chain,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
The National Conference of State Legislatures holds its annual Legislative Summit, through Friday, Tampa.
Thursday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack attends the UN climate summit, through Saturday, Glasgow, Scotland. “Vilsack will participate in meetings and events to showcase the US leadership on climate action and underscore the importance of putting agriculture, forestry and rural communities at the center of global solutions to the climate crisis,” said USDA.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization releases the monthly Food Price Index, measuring the monthly change in international prices for a basket of food commodities, Rome.
Friday
USDA releases long-term projections of production and consumption of major U.S. crops and livestock along with its assumptions about macroeconomic conditions in both the U.S. and internationally. The tables, based on conditions in October, were prepared in advance of the annual Outlook Forum held in late February.
Nov. 7
Most of the United States returns to Standard Time by turning clocks back one hour. Daylight Savings Time returns on the second Sunday of March 2022.
