As U.S. hog backup tops 2 million head, Iowa says it will help pay for carcass disposal
The persisting coronavirus slowdown at pork plants has stranded 2 million hogs on the farm with no buyer, and the backlog is growing, said economist Steve Meyer on Wednesday, suggesting that some farmers will be forced to destroy their animals. In Iowa, the state announced a program to help farmers cover the cost of carcass disposal.
Senate Democrats propose $7.5 billion to build food supply
The government would offer $7.5 billion in grants, loans, and loan guarantees to build storage capacity at food banks, send surplus food to hungry people, and help small and medium-size food processors expand production under a bill filed by Senate Democrats on Wednesday.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Beard honors Washington Post, Politico (Beard Foundation): Winners of 2020 James Beard Awards for journalism include the Washington Post for investigative reporting, Politico for health and wellness reporting, Eater for innovative storytelling, and The New Yorker for food coverage in a general interest publication.
Slow start in replacing school meals (New York Times): Only 15 percent of eligible children are being reached by the so-called P-EBT program to help low-income families buy food for their children in the wake of school closures. The delay is being blamed on greater-than-expected challenges in compiling school lunch lists and feeding the information into the new program.
Looser nutrition labeling extended (Washington Post): For the fifth time, the FDA temporarily loosened food labeling and information rules to allow for coronavirus-caused snags in food production. The move means food makers can substitute for hard-to-find ingredients without having to change the label and calorie counts can be omitted on foods sold in vending machines.
Butterfly stewardship at farm show (Farm Progress): The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, seeking to improve habitat for the threatened butterfly, will be an exhibitor at this year’s Farm Progress Show, which features field displays of crop varieties and ag equipment at work.
Marfrig, ADM deal on plant-based burgers (Marfrig): Brazil-based Marfrig Global Foods announced an agreement with ADM to produce and sell plant-based burgers in Brazil by the end of this year, “with exports following later.”
