Help vulnerable nations buy food, FAO chief asks rich countries
The world should create a fund of up to $25 billion to help poor nations deal with the surge in food prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on Wednesday. The FAO estimates that an additional 13 million people will face hunger in the near term because of warfare in the Black Sea region, ordinarily a major source of wheat and corn on the world market.
Election outlook softens for two House Democratic aggies
The political environment looks promising for Republicans in the House, said Sabato’s Crystal Ball on Wednesday. The political newsletter said two Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee, Sanford Bishop and Antonio Delgado, are facing races that have become more competitive than they once were.
Today’s Quick Hits
Hunger crisis: Higher food and fuel prices are forcing some Californians to ask for help for the first time at food banks, and the California Association of Food Banks now says it will need twice as much money from the state as the governor proposed in January. (Los Angeles Times)
HPAI hits Minnesota turkeys: In the past week, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza killed a reported 242,920 turkeys on seven farms in Minnesota, while a poultry breeder in Colorado lost 60,000 birds to the viral disease. (USDA)
Guns and medical marijuana: Florida agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried, running for the Democratic nomination for governor, sued the federal government over a rule that prohibits medical marijuana users from buying guns or having concealed-carry permits even though medical marijuana is legal in the state. (NBC News)
Big companies, low pay: The great majority of workers at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Dollar General are paid less than $15 an hour, and many other retail and food service companies also pay low wages, according to a wage tracker developed by the Economic Policy Institute and the Shift Project. (Guardian)
FDA inspection flaws: A routine FDA inspection last fall found no serious problems at a Michigan plant that was later identified as the maker of contaminated infant formula, leading consumer advocates to call for more rigorous oversight. (Politico)
