Global food prices moderate after hitting all-time high
The FAO Food Price Index, a barometer of prices for food commodities, rocketed to a record high immediately after Russia invaded Ukraine and disrupted food supply chains. Now it is down for the third month in a row, with large global harvests at hand, but Ukraine is a new entrant on the list of nations needing food aid, said the UN agency.
House conservatives’ proposal: Blow up the farm bill
Congress would dismember the farm bill if it adopted the ideas proposed by the conservative Republican Study Committee, whose membership includes four of every five Republicans in the House. In a budget package, the RSC said it would sever public nutrition programs from the farm bill, eradicate major farm supports and slash federal support of crop insurance.
In Ojai, California, climate change has citrus farmers on edge
The climate in California’s Ojai Valley, home of the iconic PIxie tangerine, has been ideal for citrus. But that climate is changing, getting windier, drier, and hotter. The corresponding rise of wildfires and drought has caused some growers to fallow orchards; farmers estimate at least 15 percent fewer acres in production now than a decade ago. Some farmers are questioning whether agriculture even has a future in the valley.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Poultry execs acquitted: A federal jury in Denver acquitted five chicken industry executives of charges of conspiring to fix prices, an outcome that raised doubt about the government’s chances in two other pending chicken price-fixing cases. (Greeley Tribune)
Ag groups back McKalip: Nearly 100 food and agriculture organizations signed a letter to the Senate Finance Committee in support of speedy approval of the nomination of Doug McKalip as U.S. chief agricultural negotiator. (Corn Refiners Association)
Tai has Covid-19: U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai said on social media she is working from home “and following the advice of my doctor,” after testing positive for Covid-19. (Tai)
Bird flu in Nevada: Authorities confirmed a backyard flock of 40 birds in Carson City, Nevada, was infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, making Nevada the 37th state with an outbreak since the viral disease appeared in early February. (USDA)
Aggies question carbon farming: Many growers are skeptical that the financial rewards will outweigh the cost of adding complexities to their crop rotations to lock greenhouse gases in the soil. (New York Times)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee hearing online, “Ending veteran hunger: Examining the impact of Covid-19 on food insecurity,” 1 p.m. ET.
The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank holds town hall meetings online to discuss its search for a successor to Esther George, the bank’s president and chief executive, who faces mandatory retirement in 2023; 6:15 p.m ET. George has led the Kansas City Fed since Oct. 1, 2011.
The School Nutrition Association holds an annual national conference, through Tuesday, Orlando.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. Traders expect the USDA to reduce the projected U.S. soybean harvest 2.5 percent, in line with smaller plantings reported by farmers in the June 30 Acreage report. The corn and wheat projections would increase marginally.
Anti-hunger and public health groups hold news conferences as part of “day of action” on Capitol Hill in support of the Food Donation Improvement Act, designed to reduce food waste, 9 a.m. ET.
Wednesday
The Labor Department releases the monthly CPI report, 8:30 a.m. ET. The inflation rate was 8.6 percent for the 12 months ending in May.
House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “A 2022 review of the farm bill: Forestry,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is lead witness at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on fiscal 2023 funding for the department, 10 a.m. ET, 124 Dirksen.
Opening day of Organic Produce Summit, through Thursday, Monterey, California.
Ducks Unlimited holds national convention, through July 16, New Orleans.
Thursday
House Agriculture Committee hearing, “A 2022 review of the farm bill: The state of credit for young, beginning and under-served producers,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
Friday
House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing, “Climate smart from farm to fork: Building an affordable and resilient food supply chain,” 9 a.m. ET.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey discusses school nutrition funding, 9:30 a.m. ET, Pittsburgh.
Saturday
Livestock Publications Council, American Agricultural Editors Association and Connectiv Agri-Media Committee hold Agricultural Media Summit, through July 20, Raleigh, North Carolina.
