Pandemic casts shadow on sunny cotton outlook
Global demand for cotton would reach an all-time high this year, thanks to the economic resurgence from the pandemic that has driven cotton prices to their highest level in a decade, said the National Cotton Council on Sunday. Despite the sunny outlook, prospects for this year’s crop are clouded by rising production costs, supply chain disruptions and uncertainties about future impacts of Covid-19.
WIC got a benefit boost during the pandemic. Will Congress make it permanent?
Since last spring, participants in WIC, the federal government’s health and nutritional safety net for low-income parents, infants and children, have been getting about three times as much as they normally get to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. The temporary benefit boost, designed to address food and nutrition insecurity during the pandemic, has increased fruit and vegetable consumption among participating children and spurred more than $1 billion in spending, according to a new report from the National WIC Association.
Analyst: look south for growth in U.S. pork exports
With sales to China waning, the growth markets for U.S. pork exports will be in Central and South America, said economist Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends. Mexico accounted for 22 cents of every $1 in pork exports last year, and eight Latin American nations are set to become major customers for U.S. pork.
Rapid increase in farmland values in central Plains
Fueled by strong farm income and low interest rates, farmland values soared more than 20 percent in the central Plains during 2021, according to a quarterly survey of ag bankers by the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. A majority of the lenders said they expected values to increase this year, but an equally large number “also indicated that farmland values were currently over-valued, suggesting there may still be future risks of declines,” said the regional Fed.
Today’s Quick Hits
Food is the economy: When Americans rate the economy, 73 percent think about the price of food and services, 63 percent think of gas prices, 53 percent think of the pandemic and 47 percent think of unemployment, says a poll finding an upturn in confidence in the economy. (CBS News)
Shoot feral cattle: A federal judge refused to block a USDA plan to use a helicopter to shoot feral cattle in Gila National Forest in New Mexico over the objections of local ranchers. (Drovers)
Lujan ‘doing well’: New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said he expects a full recovery from a stroke on Jan. 27 and will return to work “in just a few short weeks.” (Washington Post)
Vaquita protections: The United States requested environmental consultations with Mexico under the USMCA to discuss protection of the endangered vaquita porpoise. (U.S. trade representative)
Fortenberry delay: A federal judge delayed till March 15 the trial date for Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who is accused of lying to FBI agents about illegal contributions to his 2016 re-election campaign. (KETV)
On The Calendar
Monday
The National WIC Association holds an annual policy conference online, through Thursday. House Appropriations chairwoman Rosa Delauro is the keynote speaker on Monday.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture holds its annual Winter Policy Conference, through Feb. 17, Arlington, Virginia.
FDA holds an all-day public meeting online on its proposed “water rule,” part of implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act, 11:45 a.m. ET. Registration is required to attend the meeting.
Agricultural Retailers Association holds winter board meetings and Legislative Fly-In, through Wednesday, Washington.
Two speakers from the University of Illinois discuss “the science of carbon storage in soils” at a luncheon meeting of The Chicago Farmers, 12:30 p.m. ET, Chicago.
Tuesday
House Agriculture subcommittee hearing online to review inspector general’s report on USDA oversight of civil rights complaints, noon ET.
USDA releases monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook, 3 p.m. ET.
Wednesday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and FDA deputy commissioner Frank Yiannas speak to National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, noon ET, Arlington, Virginia. Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, the senior Republican on the committee, are also scheduled to speak.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, “The Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program: Challenges and opportunities,” 10 a.m. ET, 106 Dirksen.
USDA releases long-term agricultural baseline, through 2031, 3 p.m. ET. Parts of the baseline covering the macroeconomic outlook and projections for U.S. crops and livestock were released in November.
USDA releases Vegetables Annual report, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, “Addressing gaps in America’s biosecurity preparedness,” 10:15 a.m. ET, 342 Dirksen. Witnesses include Gerald Parker, associate dean of the Texas A&M college of veterinary medicine.
International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association holds annual conference, with the theme “Rooted and Rising,” through Saturday, Dayton, Ohio.
USDA releases inaugural National Hemp Report, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
USDA releases annual Farms and Land in Farms report, 3 p.m. ET.
Saturday
American Frozen Food Institute holds annual convention, through Feb. 22, Dallas.
Feb. 21
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; Abraham Lincoln, born on Feb. 12, 1809; and other leaders. Washington’s birthday became a federal holiday in 1879.
Renewable Fuels Association holds National Ethanol Conference, through Feb. 23, New Orleans.
Society for Range Management holds annual meetings online, through Feb. 25. An in-person version of the meeting was held earlier this month.
