Farmers in Plains lean heavily on Trump tariff payments
Due to the trade war, more than a third of net farm income for Kansas farmers comes from Trump tariff payments, but that won’t make up for lost export sales, said Republican Sen. Jerry Moran on Monday.
Bill would require USDA to buy American with trade bailout funds
A new bill from Connecticut Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro would require that a subset of tariff bailout funds be allocated to American producers only.
Rain delays may pull down U.S. corn yield
Corn and soybean planting is running roughly 30 percentage points behind normal in a cold and rainy spring, said the weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Hot April, less sea ice (NOAA): Last month was the warmest April in 140 years of record-keeping, 1.67 degrees F above the 20th century average, and Arctic sea ice coverage was the smallest ever.
Big Plastic Bag takes on environmentalists (Wall Street Journal): The plastics industry is fighting back against bans and other restrictions on single-use plastic bags, straws, and containers, arguing alternatives may be worse for the environment.
EPA changes its math on pollution (New York Times): The EPA plans to roll out a new modeling method that would predict thousands fewer deaths from air pollution—a model experts say is not scientifically sound.
Impossible Burger now with GM soy (Medium) – The founder and CEO of Impossible Foods writes that the plant-based meat company is switching to genetically modified U.S. grown soy because it “meets the highest global standards for health, safety and sustainability.”
Sriracha suit continues (Los Angeles Times): The manufacturer of the popular hot sauce has been locked in a legal battle with its primary pepper supplier for nearly three years; the parties were scheduled to appear in court yesterday.
Vilsack to receive biotech award (BIO): In recognition of his advocacy of the “bio-based economy,” former agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack will receive the biotechnology industry’s George Washington Carver Award at a July conference on industrial and agricultural biotechnology.
