GOP senators eye climate bill funding as way to fatten farm bill accounts
Farm-state senators will try to move $37 billion into the farm bill that originally was earmarked for a handful of USDA activities, including climate mitigation, in the climate, health and tax law last summer, said a Senate Agriculture Committee senior staffer on Monday.
GOP expansion of SNAP time limit affects 1 million people
About 1 million Americans would be affected by the House Republican plan to apply more broadly a 90-day limit on SNAP benefits to people who do not work at least 20 hours a week, said a think tank on Monday.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
USDA names NIFA chief: After decades as an Iowa State University professor, Manjit Misra will begin work May 8 as the new director of USDA’s grant-making National Institute for Food and Agriculture. (USDA)
Raise hemp’s THC limit: Congress should ease the regulatory burden on hemp producers in the 2023 farm bill, said industry groups, in part by raising the limit on tetrahydrocannabinol in industrial hemp from 0.3 percent to 1 percent. (U.S. Hemp Roundtable)
More, please, for conservation: Three out of four crop farmers said in a survey that they “somewhat” or “strongly” support an increase in funding for voluntary conservation programs as part of the new farm bill. (National Wildlife Federation)
Ag research buildings decay: The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities wants $5 billion in the 2023 farm bill to improve the agricultural research infrastructure on campus and offset billions of dollars in deferred maintenance on dilapidated buildings. (APLU)
Corn planters roll despite weather: One in seven acres of U.S. corn land has been planted despite cold spring weather, a faster than usual pace for the third week of April. (USDA)
