Few states ready for Biden expansion of P-EBT
Two days after taking office, President Biden directed the USDA to boost benefits by 15 percent in the P-EBT program for school-age children in low-income families, and to include children under the age of 6. The expansion would aid millions of children, but only eight states are approved for P-EBT for this school year, which started months ago.
Pandemic exposes low wages and unsafe conditions at food-distribution centers, and workers are striking
On January 23, after a tense, week-long strike led by Teamsters Local 202, 1,400 employees of New York City’s massive Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market reached an agreement with management that includes the biggest raise ever won by Local 202’s bargaining unit. The victory was the latest in a series of actions by the Teamsters, as the pandemic has ignited long-simmering labor disputes at food-distribution centers across the country.
OSHA strengthens workplace guidelines against Covid-19
The Labor Department, in issuing stronger worker-safety guidelines, called on employers to conduct a hazard analysis and implement measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus on the job. The recommendations include the use of face masks and reconfiguring work spaces so workers are at least six feet apart.
White House reviewing ‘phase one’ agreement with China
China bought a mammoth 5.85 tonnes of American-grown corn last week, including 2.108 million tonnes on the same day that the White House said the “phase one agreement” that de-escalated the trade war was under review.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Climate change, racial equality and rural America: Two Biden administration priorities — mitigating climate change and addressing racial inequality — converge in farm country. (New York Times)
Cattle inventory dips: There are 93.6 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms, a decline of 1 percent from one year ago, according to a survey of producers. (USDA)
‘Primary John Thune’: A private Facebook group advocates a challenge to Sen. John Thune, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, in the GOP primary election for the Senate next year in South Dakota, a sign of support for former president Donald Trump. (Associated Press)
Canadian canola soars: Heavy export demand, including a doubling of sales to China, is driving market prices for canola to nearly 13-year highs and emptying bins across Canada, the world’s largest grower of the oilseed. (Reuters)
More cover crops: Incentive programs in Illinois and Iowa are boosting the planting of cover crops by offering a discount on crop insurance premiums. (Harvest Public Media)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
The Biden administration is expected to release executive orders on international affairs and national security.
American Seed Trade Association holds its annual Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference online, through Wednesday.
U.S. Grains Council holds 18th annual International Marketing Conference and annual membership meeting online, through Wednesday.
National Association of Conservation Districts holds 75th annual meeting online, through Feb. 10.
Tuesday
Groundhog Day. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow today, it means six more weeks of winter; if it doesn’t see its shadow, it’s only six weeks until spring. The U.S. epicenter of Groundhog Day is Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with a celebration dating from 1887. The official site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is available here. Somewhere, a cable TV channel is running the comedy movie “Groundhog Day” today, most appropriately as an all-day marathon.
President Biden is expected to sign an executive order to modernize the immigration system.
Senate Agriculture Committee holds confirmation hearing on Tom Vilsack for secretary of agriculture, 10:30 a.m. ET, 301 Russell. For details and a video link, click here.
Farm Credit Council holds annual meeting, Washington.
U.S. Wheat Associates and National Association of Wheat Growers hold joint winter meeting, through Feb. 6, Washington.
American Sugarbeet Growers Association holds annual meeting online, through Wednesday.
Wednesday
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds confirmation hearing on Michael Regan for EPA administrator, 2 p.m. ET, 106 Dirksen.
Thursday
UN Food and Agriculture Organization releases monthly Food Price Index, measuring the monthly change in international prices for a basket of food commodities, Rome.
Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau holds annual meeting online.
Friday
USDA releases forecast of 2021 farm income and updates its estimate of income in 2020, now $119.6 billion, highest since 2013 thanks to record-high government payments of $46.5 billion, 11 a.m. ET. The USDA will hold a webinar on the report at 1 p.m. ET.
