National conservation goal: 30 percent of U.S. land and water
The Biden administration announced a 10-year, voluntary and locally led drive to conserve 30 percent of U.S. land and coastal waters by 2030, an idea President Biden broached in January. “This is the first national conservation goal we have ever set as a country,” Gina McCarthy, the White House climate adviser, said Thursday during a rollout that featured three cabinet secretaries.
North Carolina advocate who successfully fought hog industry dies
Elsie Herring, who died this week, was the public face of the many rural North Carolinians who felt besieged by the proliferation of industrial hog farms. In a region where complaining about these operations was considered both risky and futile, she confronted the industry over its pollution for more than two decades and never let herself appear intimidated.
Exempt farmers from Biden tax plan, ask 13 House Democrats
Thirteen House Democrats representing farm districts asked party leaders on Thursday to exempt farmers from President Biden’s proposal to apply the capital gains tax more stringently. Iowa Rep. Cindy Axne, one of the organizers of the letter, said “a significant number of Democrats” support the farmer exemption.
Today’s Quick Hits
Vote on Bronaugh: Sens. Debbie Stabenow and John Boozman announced a committee vote for Monday on the nomination of Jewel Bronaugh to be deputy agriculture secretary, the No. 2 job at the USDA. (Senate Agriculture)
‘Obesity, USA’ initiative: The Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a part of Louisiana State University, announced the launch of a national campaign to end America’s obesity epidemic by 2040. (Baton Rouge Business Report)
Palm oil high: Palm oil futures hit a 13-year high of roughly $1,017 per tonne at a Kuala Lumpur exchange, buoyed by the worldwide rally in commodity prices and concerns about global vegetable oil supplies. (Reuters)
Red meat records: Exporters shipped $801.9 million worth of U.S. beef and $794.9 million worth of U.S. pork in March — the highest monthly totals ever for the meats. (U.S. Meat Export Federation)
Bird ‘taking’ rule: The Fish and Wildlife Service will revoke a regulation issued in the final weeks of the Trump administration that limited the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and its protections against the “incidental take” of migratory birds. (Interior Department)
