Harris: ‘I will go after the bad actors’ who unfairly drive up food prices
At the same time that she pledged “the first-ever federal ban on price gouging on food,” Vice President Kamala Harris said she would help the food industry become more competitive. “As president, I will take on the high costs that matter to most Americans, like the cost of food,” she said during a speech in North Carolina.
USDA grant money to boost sales of higher-blend biofuels
The Biden administration awarded $90.3 million in grants to projects in 26 states, from California to Connecticut, to install blender pumps, storage tanks, and other equipment for the sale of fuels, such as E15, with higher-than-usual blends of biofuels, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. With the grants, the USDA has used $221 million of the $500 available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Revenue squeeze in Midwest: The rapid rise of farmland prices in the Midwest has slowed to a 2 percent increase year-over-year — the smallest gain in nearly four years — but a decline in key agricultural prices is dragging on farm revenue, say ag lenders. (Chicago Federal Reserve)
Fewer California heat inspections: From 2017 to 2023, state labor inspectors reduced by 30 percent their field inspections of heat protection laws for outdoor workers, including farmworkers, and issued 40 percent fewer citations, leading to complaints of lax enforcement of the heat-illness law. (Los Angeles Times)
Farm bill is ‘taking longer’: Work on the new farm bill “is taking a little longer than expected,” said Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, the senior Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, He added that “more important than just getting this done, is getting it done right” — indicating continued disagreements over elements of the bill. (Boozman)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
Farm Journal holds Pro Farmer Crop Tour to assess corn and soybean crops in the Midwest, through Thursday.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
IDEAg holds Dakotafest, through Thursday, Mitchell, South Dakota.
Wednesday
USDA issues annual Mushrooms report, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
Antique Tractor Preservation Day in Kansas, with a commemorative postmark available at the Hutchinson, Kansas, post office.
USDA releases monthly Livestock Slaughter report, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET. At present, the USDA estimates that grocery prices will rise by 1 percent this year and by 0.7 percent in 2025, compared to the 20-year average of 2.7 percent annually.
USDA releases monthly Cattle on Feed and Cold Storage reports, 3 p.m. ET.
