In the background for the farm bill: How many farms and what size? – March 20, 2023

In the background for the farm bill: How many farms and what size?

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reached back to the Carter era in calling for a transformational 2023 farm bill that helps small and medium-size farmers earn more from the land rather than move to town. Secretary Bob Bergland “issued a warning to all of us about” the problem of too much consolidation in agriculture, said Vilsack.

Researchers link glyphosate to liver and metabolic disease in children

Researchers looking at health records and blood, urine and saliva samples found “an association between early-life exposure to glyphosate and liver inflammation and metabolic disease in young adults” in California’s Salinas Valley, according to the lead scientist Brenda Eskenazi.

#UPDATE

Migrants, trapped in ‘open-air prison’ by U.S. policy, pick the mangoes we love

In 2019, after President Trump threatened to levy a 5 percent tariff on all Mexican goods unless the country agreed to beef up its immigration enforcement, Mexico deployed troops along its border with Guatemala, limiting the free movement of migrants. As a result, countless people have been trapped in Tapachula, a sprawling border town where many of the migrants take jobs in agriculture. They are helping to bolster the region’s multimillion-dollar export industry—and harvesting the coffee, bananas, and mangoes destined for the very country responsible for keeping them here.

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Ukraine grain corridor open: The Black Sea grain initiative, which has allowed Ukraine to export 25 million tonnes of grain and vegetable oils, has been extended, although the duration is disputed—Ukraine says 120 days, Russia says 60 days. (Financial Times)

USDA boosts composting projects: As part of USDA’s urban agriculture work, up to $9.5 million is available for cooperative agreements to develop and test strategies for municipal compost and food waste reduction. (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Honey prices up 12 percent: U.S. honey production was steady at 125 million pounds in 2022, while prices surged 12 percent, to $2.96 per pound; North Dakota was the largest producer, with 22 percent of the U.S. total. (USDA)

ON THE CALENDAR

Monday
Monday is the vernal equinox, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere; “the turning point when daylight begins to win out over darkness,” says Farmers’ Almanac. Due to earth’s elliptical orbit, spring is losing one minute per year in duration and summer is becoming one minute longer.
Agri-Pulse holds the annual Ag and Food Policy Summit, 8 a.m. ET, Washington. Speakers include Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and House Agriculture chairman Glenn Thompson.
Tuesday
With the arrival of spring, the nonprofit Agriculture Council of America holds National Agriculture Day to increase “the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society.” This year’s theme is “Agriculture: Growing a climate for tomorrow.” Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, is to speak at an Ag Day observance held at the Agriculture Department headquarters.
President Biden speaks at White House Conservation in Action Summit, the Interior Department. The White House says the summit will highlight the administration’s “actions and historic investments to advance conservation, restoration and stewardship efforts and access to nature in communities nationwide.”
Farm Foundation holds an online forum, “Greening the fertilizer industry,” 10 a.m. ET. Panelists include Alzbeta Klein, chief executive of the International Fertilizer Association, and Corey Rosenbusch, chief executive of The Fertilizer Institute.
The National Organic Coalition holds NOC fly-in to urge Congress to increase technical assistance to facilitate the shift to organic agriculture, through Friday, Washington.
The National Grain and Feed Association holds 127th annual convention, through Thursday, La Quinta, California.
Wednesday
U.S. Forest Service chief Randy Moore is lead witness at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the agency, 10 a.m. ET, 124 Dirksen.
EPA administrator Michael Regan is lead witness at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the agency, 10 a.m. ET, 406 Dirksen.
Senate Indian Affairs Committee holds a roundtable discussion, “Native priorities for the 2023 farm bill reauthorization,” 2:30 p.m. ET, 628 Dirksen.
Health Secretary Xavier Becerra is lead witness at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, 2:30 p.m. ET, 138 Dirksen.
American Enterprise Institute holds a panel discussion on “Livestock regulation and the farm bill,” 9:30 a.m. ET, 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW.
Nonprofit Ceres holds Ceres Global “to discuss the challenges and advance the solutions for creating a more just and inclusive zero emissions economy.” through Friday, New York City.
Thursday
President Biden meets Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Canada, for discussions on topics that include “strengthening supply chain resilience, taking bold action to combat climate change and accelerate the clean energy transition,” said the White House. Biden will address the Canadian Parliament as part of the trip, which ends on Friday.
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai is lead witness at Senate Finance Committee hearing, “The president’s 2023 trade policy agenda,” 10 a.m. ET, 215 Dirksen.
House Agriculture subcommittee on conservation, research and biotechnology hearing, “A review of Title VII: USDA implementation of research programs,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
Randy Moore, chief of the U.S. Forest Service, is lead witness at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the agency, 9:30 a.m. ET, 2008 Rayburn.
House Appropriations subcommittee on USDA and FDA holds “member day” hearing,
Joel Leftwich of the Kansas Farm Bureau and Pat Westhoff of the FAPRI think tank discuss key issues and forces that will shape the 2023 farm bill at the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City luncheon, 12:30 p.m. ET.
U.S. Apple Association holds webinar, “Will weather threaten apple production in 2023?” with World Weather president Drew Lerner as the speaker.
USDA releases monthly Cold Storage report, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai is lead witness at House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the administration’s 2023 trade policy agenda, 9 a.m. ET, 1100 Longworth.
USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET. At present, food prices are forecast to rise 7.9 percent compared to prices in 2022.

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