GOP senators call for higher crop insurance subsidies
Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee proposed a $4 billion injection into the crop insurance program so that the government would pay a larger share of the premiums on policies offering the highest levels of coverage. “We need more farm in the farm bill to get it passed,” said Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, the lead sponsor, on Tuesday.
USDA announces update of WIC food packages
The USDA has completed a months-long update of the foods available through the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) to reflect the latest nutrition science, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday. The new list, which includes a significant expansion of fruit and vegetable benefits, would take effect in about 60 days.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Rural Covid-19 death rates: Before and after the introduction of Covid-19 vaccines, patients from rural counties had higher death rates and trended toward higher readmission rates than patients from urban counties, said Mayo Clinic researchers. (CIDRAP)
USDA cancels reports: The USDA canceled its semiannual Cattle report, the Cotton Objective Yield Survey, and county-level estimates for crops and livestock, saying the cuts were “necessary, given appropriate budget levels.” (USDA)
Ten record-hot months: The European Union climate agency Copernicus said that March was the 10th month in a row for record global heat, with temperatures 1.68 degrees C (3 degrees F) warmer than in the pre-industrial era. (Associated Press)
Iowa tightens land rules: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law requiring foreign landowners to file a report with the state and giving the attorney general the power to subpoena records on land and its management. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
EU to stress food security: EU leaders would put food security at the center of their agricultural policy for 2024-29, according to a leaked document, a shift from 2019 when sustainable farming and climate action were the top goals. (Euractiv)
