Organic AG largely avoided trade-war hit (Stateline): Organic farmers are far less reliant on ag exports than conventional growers and they suffered less from the Sino-U.S. trade war; some qualified for Trump’s trade-war bailout.
Funding for fight against locusts (FAO): The Africa Solidarity Trust donated $1 million to combat a surge of the desert locust, “the most dangerous migratory pest in the world,” in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
Conservation drive targets ’30 by 30′ (Udall): Former Interior secretaries Sally Jewell and Bruce Babbitt took part in announcing a campaign to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and oceans by 2030 to mitigate climate change and protect plants and animals from extinction.
China will buy, says Kudlow (South China Morning Post): Chinese President Xi Jinping assured President Trump during a phone call that China will meet its commitments under the “phase one” agreement to buy large quantities of U.S. goods, including ag exports, said economic adviser Larry Kudlow.
ON THE USDA CALENDAR
Monday
– Trump administration releases budget proposal for fiscal 2021, 12:30 p.m. ET, The White House. In previous years, the administration has proposed deep cuts in food stamps and crop insurance.
– Renewable Fuels Association holds annual National Ethanol Conference, through Wednesday, Houston.
– National Farmers Organization holds annual convention, through Wednesday, Bloomington, Minnesota.
– National Association of Conservation Districts holds annual meeting, through Wednesday, Las Vegas.
Tuesday
– House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “Economic opportunities from local agricultural markets,” 10 a.m. ET, 1300 Longworth.
– Inspector General Phyllis Fong is lead witness at House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the administration’s proposed fiscal 2021 budget for the USDA office of inspector general, 10 a.m. ET, 2362-A Rayburn.
– USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. Traders expect USDA to reduce its estimate of the soybean stockpile by 6 percent. The so-called carryover at the end of the 2019/20 marketing year still would be one of the largest on record.
– World Ag Expo, “world’s largest agricultural exposition” with 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, through Thursday, Tulare, California.
– National Council of Farmer Cooperatives convention, through Thursday, La Quinta, California.
– USDA releases Vegetables Annual report, 3 p.m. ET.
– New Hampshire holds presidential primary.
Wednesday
– Chief executive Glen Smith of the Farm Credit Administration is lead witness at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the administration’s proposed fiscal 2021 budget for the FCA, 10 a.m. ET, 2362-A Rayburn.
– Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies before Senate Finance Committee on the administration’s proposed fiscal 2021 budget, 1 p.m.ET, 215 Dirksen.
– U.S. Grains Council holds International Marketing Conference and annual membership meeting, through Friday, Tampa.
– National Turkey Federation annual convention, through Saturday, Nashville, Tennessee.
– National Wild Turkey Federation annual convention and sport show, through Sunday, Nashville.
– Crop Insurance Industry annual convention, through Friday, Bonita Springs, Florida.
Thursday
– Health Secretary Alex Azar testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on the administration’s proposed fiscal 2021 budget, 9:30 a.m. ET, 215 Dirksen.
– USDA releases monthly Oil Crops Outlook, noon ET.
– USDA releases Vegetables Annual report and monthly Feed Outlook, Rice Outlook and Wheat Outlook, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
– USDA releases its 10-year agricultural baseline, with projections of output and consumption of major crops and livestock in the United States and worldwide, noon ET. The data are being released ahead of USDA’s annual Agricultural Outlook Forum on Feb. 20-21.
– National Cotton Council holds annual meeting, through Sunday, New Orleans. The council will release its economic outlook and the results of its annual planting intentions survey on Saturday.
Saturday
– Northeast Organic Farmers Association holds Vermont winter conference, through Monday, Burlington.
Sunday
– National Crop Insurance Services holds 2020 Crop Insurance Industry Annual Convention, through Feb. 19, Bonita Springs, Florida.
Feb. 17
– Presidents’ Day. Originally created as a holiday to observe the Feb. 22, 1732, birthday of George Washington, the first president and Revolutionary War leader, the holiday became a day to honor all presidents following a 1971 law that set the observance as the third Monday of February. Some states still hold separate observances for Washington; President Lincoln, born on Feb. 12, 1809; and other leaders. Washington’s birthday became a federal holiday in 1879.
