Indemnities could soar to $3.6 billion for prevented planting
The wettest spring in a quarter-century may lead to the largest crop insurance payout since 2000 to farmers unable to plant corn and soybeans, said a university economist. He spoke ahead of a USDA report today that will project the impact of a cold and rainy spring on this fall’s harvest.
What a dairy cooperative merger could mean for farmers in the Northeast
Members of the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, a century-old dairy cooperative in Vermont, will vote later this month on whether to merge with the nation’s largest dairy cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America. But even as low milk prices and ongoing consolidation have threatened the region’s dairy farmers, St. Albans’ members are split on whether linking up with DFA will address their woes.
Landlord wants a chance to keep NIFA in Washington
The government has extended the deadline for bids from Kansas City real estate companies looking to house two USDA scientific agencies, while the current landlord for one of those agencies contests the relocation, reported Politico.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Bipartisan negotiations on child nutrition (Ag Insider): Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts and Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow are negotiating what would be the first update of the USDA’s child nutrition programs since 2010, said Senate aides.
GIPSA reconsidered (Agri-Pulse): The USDA is revisiting a controversial Obama-era rule that would give meat and poultry producers an additional level of protection in their negotiations with processors.
Vote on USMCA late this year (CNBC): The White House will wait until September to send legislation to implement the so-called new NAFTA to Capitol Hill, meaning a vote on the trade pact is likely at the end of 2019, according to sources.
Healthier school meals (The Lunch Tray): Dietitian Pamela Rapp says the public schools in Roseville, California, removed the “harmful 7” ingredients from school meals without driving up food costs or losing participants in the program.
Catch of tomorrow (New York Times): After the plant-based burger may come the fishless fish, possibly grown from fish cells, à la cell-based meat, or created from a plant-based recipe.
Puerto Rico to see SNAP update (USDA): The USDA has approved Puerto Rico’s plans for distributing $600 million, provided in the recently enacted $19 billion disaster bill, through the island’s version of food stamps, with the new benefits appearing as early as August.
