Midterms are likely to scorch Biden’s climate agenda for agriculture
Republican lawmakers, who have chafed and balked at President Biden’s climate initiatives for months, would likely use their expanded strength from the midterm elections to hobble the administration’s climate agenda for agriculture.
From a meat-processing ban to free school lunch, food and ag are on the ballot
In Tuesday’s elections, voters will decide several ballot initiatives on food and agricultural issues, including a ban on meat processing facilities in a South Dakota city and the expansion of universal school lunch to Colorado. California voters will determine the fate of a tax on high income earners to pay for green energy and for fighting wildfires, which have cost the state’s agricultural sector tens of millions of dollars.
U.S. farm exports rise 14 percent to record high
Boosted by large increases in most sales categories, U.S. farm exports mushroomed to a record $196.4 billion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to newly released Commerce Department data.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Bird flu in 46 states: Highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in domestic flocks in Mississippi, Arizona and South Carolina, raising the U.S. total to 46 states since early February. (USDA)
Delayed RFS announcement: Under an agreement with trade group Growth Energy, the EPA has until Nov. 30 to announce the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2023, a two-week extension from the court-ordered deadline of Nov. 16. (Growth Energy)
Food index holds steady: The Food Price Index, a gauge of prices worldwide for food commodities, stood at 135.9 points, marginally lower than the previous month and only slightly higher than one year ago; the index is down 14.9 percent from its all-time high in March. (FAO)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
USDA releases selected tables from its long term baseline, including 10-year projections for major U.S. crops and livestock products, 3 p.m. ET. The complete baseline will be released in February, ahead of the annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Feb. 23-24.
The American Bankers Association holds the annual National Agricultural Bankers Conference, through Wednesday, Omaha, Nebraska.
The 27th UN climate change conference, known as COP27, continues through Nov. 18, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. President Biden will attend the conference on Nov. 11 and “will highlight the need for the world to act in this decisive decade,” said the White House.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
Election Day throughout the United States. Ten members of the House Agriculture Committee, all Democrats, are in tight races. Two, Tom O’Halleran of Arizona and Cindy Axne of Iowa, are longshots for re-election, and one, Angie Craig of Minnesota, is in a toss-up race, according to political handicapper Sabato’s Crystal Ball. The remaining seven are in races that lean Democratic. California Rep. David Valadao, a Republican who voted to impeach President Trump over the insurrection, is in a toss-up race in the Central Valley. Valadao serves on the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing USDA and FDA spending. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is in a toss-up race that could decide partisan control of the Senate. Five other members of the committee were viewed as likely or sure winners, including. Sen John Boozman of Arkansas, in line to chair the committee if Republicans win a Senate majority, said the Crystal Ball.
Wednesday
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. In a Reuters survey, traders said they expected USDA to make minor changes to its estimates of the corn and soybean crops. The fall harvest is in its final weeks.
Agri-Pulse holds a webinar, “What will the midterm elections mean for you and the future of farm policy?” 3 p.m. ET.
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai speaks at Duke University on the trade agenda, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and enforcement of existing trade agreements.
U.S. Meat Export Federation holds strategic planning conference, through Friday, Oklahoma City.
Thursday
The Labor Department releases the monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET. At present, the U.S. inflation rate is 8.2 percent and the food inflation rate is 11.2 percent.
Agriculture Future of America holds AFA Leaders Conference through Sunday, Kansas City.
Friday
Veteran’s Day. Originally designated Armistice Day by President Wilson in 1919, Nov. 11 has been a federal holiday since 1938. It was renamed Veterans Day by President Eisenhower 1954 and honors all military veterans. The armistice that ended World War I took effect on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918, says History.com. Europe, Britain, Canada and Australia commemorate the veterans of the two world wars on or near Nov. 11.
Corey Flournoy, vice president of diversity at Aurora Innovation, speaks at the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City breakfast meeting, 8 a.m. ET, Kansas City.
