‘Murder hornet’ nest is found in Northwest for second time
State wildlife officials expect to destroy a nest of the Asian giant hornets in the northwestern corner of Washington State this week, and say “there may still be more” nests of the so-called murder hornet in the area near the Canadian border. It was the second time within a year that a nest of the hornets, a threat to honeybees, was found in Whatcom County.
Meatpackers hiring more guestworkers
Nearly twice as many meat-processing plants employ short-term foreign workers than in 2015, “a small but growing trend” in the industry, said an Investigate Midwest report.
Opinion
The sustainable-energy future has room for biofuels as well as electric vehicles
With the Biden administration and the major U.S. automakers investing heavily in electric vehicles, rural Americans — especially those connected to farming — are concerned about the future of biofuels. The GOP has framed the shift Biden seeks as a zero-sum game, pitting ethanol and the petroleum industry against electric vehicles. It’s a false choice, and Democrats need to make that clear. With the political will, there is a future for biofuels independent of the petroleum industry.
Today’s Quick Hits
‘You are not a horse’: The FDA went on social media to warn against using a livestock de-wormer to treat or prevent Covid-19; “Taking large doses of this drug is dangerous and can cause serious harm.” (FDA)
Record soy crop seen: The United States is headed for its largest soybean harvest ever, 4.436 billion bushels, and the second-largest corn crop, 15.116 billion bushels, according to the Pro Farmer crop tour. (Farm Journal)
Lower RFS possible: The collapse in gasoline demand due to the pandemic has complicated the EPA’s task in setting the Renewable Fuel Standard, and agricultural interests fear the government will set the 2021 RFS below the 2020 level. (Argus)
Deere sales soar: The world’s largest farm equipment maker expects a 25 to 30-percent increase this year in sales of its production and precision agriculture products despite supply-chain pressures. (Deere)
Fewer farm bankruptcies: Federal court filings for Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy during the year ending in June were down 24 percent from the previous 12-month period, and the lowest since 2015. (AFBF)
On The Calendar
Monday
The House returns from summer recess to vote on $3.5 trillion budget resolution, which would open the door for so-called reconciliation legislation on climate mitigation and expansion of social programs, including child nutrition, debt relief for farmers and agricultural practices to mitigate climate change.
USDA releases monthly Cold Storage report, 3 p.m. ET.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Wednesday
USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET. At present, grocery prices are forecast to rise at a faster-than-usual 2.5 percent this year and return to the normal 2-percent increase in 2022.
USDA releases annual U.S. and Canadian Cattle and U.S. and Canadian Hog reports, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
Anniversary of adoption in 1920 of the 19th Amendment, assuring women’s suffrage. The day also is celebrated as Women’s Equality Day. The campaign for the vote began at the Seneca Falls convention in upstate New York in 1848.
USDA makes the first estimate of U.S. farm exports in fiscal 2022 and updates its estimate of record exports of $164 billion this fiscal year, 3 p.m. ET.
Opening day of the Minnesota State Fair, through Labor Day, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Friday
International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.
Open day of the Nebraska State Fair, through Labor Day, Grand Island, Nebraska.
