North America can lead the world on climate mitigation, says Vilsack
The agriculture ministers of Canada, Mexico, and the United States described national initiatives to boost productivity and slow global warming at the World Food Prize symposium on Thursday, with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack saying, “There’s a tremendous opportunity for North America to lead the world.” While he called for being tolerant of different approaches to climate mitigation, Vilsack was clear that in his view, the U.S. high-tech approach is the best.
Cattle contract bill is first market reform to win House panel backing
On a voice vote, the House Agriculture Committee approved a bipartisan bill on Thursday to create a cattle contract library at the USDA, with one proponent saying it would “inject much-needed transparency back into the marketplace.” The bill was the first market reform to gain traction in Congress this year despite complaints by ranchers that meatpackers have an unfair advantage in an opaque sales system.
Today’s Quick Hits
Judge limits strikers: Responding to a request by Deere and Co., an Iowa district court judge said that only four UAW strikers at a time can picket each entrance to the company’s Davenport Works, and that they cannot bring chairs or use burn barrels to keep warm. (WQAD-TV)
Drought outlook: In the next three months, drought conditions are likely to develop in the southern Plains, persist in the U.S. Southwest and northern Plains, and ease in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. (Drought Monitor)
No quick fix: The Union Pacific railroad said it would keep its container loading facility in Southern California operating 24 hours a day, but the longer hours have so far done little to reduce the freight backlog at the region’s ports. (Reuters)
Trial date set: Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry is scheduled to go on trial in Los Angeles on Dec. 14 on three counts of concealing information and making false statements during the investigation of an illegal $30,000 campaign contribution. (Nebraska Public Media)
Broadband announcement: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was scheduled to make “a major broadband infrastructure announcement” on Friday after visiting a hospital in western Illinois. (Ag Insider)
