‘One step closer,’ says Biden as aid bill moves to Senate
A three-month extension of higher SNAP benefits and $4 billion in debt relief for minority farmers are in the hands of the Senate following a 219-212 vote by the House over the weekend. “We are one step closer,” said President Biden, who used the phrase to describe elements of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, from funds for coronavirus vaccinations and unemployment benefits to “helping millions of Americans feed their families.”
Cover crops grow in popularity, but still a niche
Extolled as a defense against erosion and nutrient loss during fallow seasons, cover crops are being planted on a larger portion of U.S. cropland than before, said USDA economists. Plantings expanded 50 percent in a five-year period, but still only 5 percent of cropland is sown with them—and incentive payments are an important factor in adoption of the practice.
Ethanol blend rate sets record amid pandemic slump in usage
The average gallon of gasoline sold during 2020 was 10.23 percent ethanol, the highest blend rate ever, said the Renewable Fuels Association. At the same time, 12.63 billion gallons of the biofuel were mixed into gasoline, the smallest amount in 11 years, declining in tandem with the reduction in travel and fuel sales that accompanied the pandemic, said the trade group.
Today’s Quick Hits
Rural electric conundrum: Rural electric cooperatives, a legacy of the New Deal, serve 42 million Americans. Because they are powered by costly, highly polluting coal power plants, they will need massive refinancing to transition to greener energy. (InsideClimate News)
Heavy-metal food: Contamination of food by heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead, “is relatively common across the food supply” and the FDA has yet to take action despite three years of studying the issue. (Politico)
Northeast malt barley: Farmers in the Northeast are finding a market among craft brewers for their locally grown barley malt, evidenced by the Northeast Grainshed Alliance. (Modern Farmer)
Campbell rejoins CBA: In 2017, in a dispute over the labeling of GMO foods, Campbell Soup was the first major food company to leave the Grocery Manufacturers Association; it has now rejoined the trade group, which has renamed itself the Consumer Brands Association. (Food Dive)
Texas crop losses: Agricultural losses are estimated in the millions of dollars from the snow, ice and freezing cold weather of February in Texas, where citrus losses are pegged at more than $300 million. (Washington Post)
On The Calendar
Monday
Delegates to online National Farmers Union convention discuss and adopt policy positions, through Tuesday. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and House Agriculture chairman David Scott are among speakers on Monday.
Tuesday
House Appropriations subcommittee online hearing, “Health and safety protections for meatpacking, poultry and agricultural workers,” 10 a.m. ET.
Purdue releases monthly Ag Economy Barometer, which provides a sense of the agricultural economy’s health.
Commodity Classic, a combination of a trade show and annual meetings of corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers, is held online through Friday.
Sweetener Users Association and International Dairy Foods Association hold 2021 International Sweetener Colloquium online, through Wednesday.
Wednesday
Agriculture Sectary Tom Vilsack speaks on the American Hunger in a National Press Foundation webcast, noon ET.
National Pork Board holds annual National Pork Industry Forum online, through Friday.
Thursday
UN Food and Agriculture Organization releases monthly Food Price Index, measuring the monthly change in international prices for a basket of food commodities, Rome.
