New $5 billion cover crop initiative in climate package
Farmers and landowners would share a combined $5 billion in payments for planting cover crops to reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff under a proposal written by farm state Democrats in the Senate and House. The package would also boost spending on a handful of existing stewardship programs for total outlays of $28 billion.
U.S. pledges $10 billion at food summit, half for domestic programs
The United States joined dozens of countries at a UN-sponsored food summit pledging on Thursday to reduce world hunger. The Biden administration said it would put $10 billion into the effort, half of it to be spent domestically and half abroad.
Comity fractures in face of House Agriculture Committee ‘shenanigans’
Hostile Republicans finally got under the skin of gentlemanly Rep. David Scott. The House Agriculture chairman limited discussion during a committee hearing on Thursday — “We’re here to deal with climate change and nothing else,” he said — and told Republican Austin Scott, “I’m tired of your disrespect.”
Today’s Quick Hits
Wilkes advances: The Senate Agriculture Committee cleared the nomination of Homer Wilkes to be undersecretary of agriculture for natural resources for a vote by the full Senate. (Senate Ag)
Big crops worldwide: World grain production will be 3 percent higher this year than last, led by an 82-million-tonne increase in global corn output. (International Grains Council)
Drought’s toll: Human-caused climate change is intensifying the 20-year drought in the U.S. Southwest and imposing “enormous costs” on the 60 million people who live in the region, said a NOAA report. (Colorado Public Radio)
Asia rising: China’s application to join the 11-nation trans-Pacific trade pact “will lead to interesting changes in regional dynamics,” and if it is accepted “could further cement the Asia Pacific’s role as the world’s leading economic bloc,” say two analysts. (Nikkei Asia)
