Price tag for new nutrition and ag spending nears $100 billion
During congressional committee work on the Biden administration’s $3.5 trillion “build back better” bill, majority-party House Democrats approved a $35 billion expansion of child nutrition programs last week and were expected to vote on Monday for an additional $66 billion for forestry, rural economic development and agricultural research.
Grassland enrollment adds 2.5 million acres to Conservation Reserve
The USDA said it accepted offers from landowners to enroll 2.5 million acres under the Grassland option of the Conservation Reserve, double the amount accepted last year. Nearly 45 percent of the new land will enter in two priority zones set by USDA, the Greater Yellowstone Elk Migratory Corridor in the West and the Historical Dust Bowl Region, still at risk of wind erosion, in the central and southern Plains.
China to be world’s leading corn importer even with record crop
A favorable growing season and government policies that encourage crop rotations will result in a record corn crop in China, estimated the USDA. China is second to the United States as a corn producer and will be the world’s largest corn importer for the second year in a row, according to the monthly World Agricultural Production report.
Today’s Quick Hits
Urban ag proposals: The USDA would spend up to $20 million a year to protect urban land for food production and provide small-scale loans and grants for urban agriculture micro-enterprises under a bill filed by three House Democrats. (Rep. Rush)
Farmland rents surge: After holding steady for a couple of years, rental rates for cropland in the Farm Belt could surge by 10-15 percent in 2022, say farm managers. (Farm Progress)
Putting down roots: As water tables sink in the central and southern Plains, farmers are looking for crops that need less irrigation, switching to livestock on pasture land, or “returning land to its literal roots,” by planting hardy native grasses that hold soil in place during dry spells. (Associated Press)
Pond-scum fertilizers: Scientists have found the good side of pond scum – it acts as a natural fertilizer, replenishes organic matter in soil and can bind soil particles together so they resist erosion. (Agricultural Research Service)
On The Calendar
Monday
President Biden visits the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates federal response to wildfires, Boise, Idaho.
University of Illinois economist Gary Schnitkey speaks at The Chicago Farmers on “Costs, higher prices and rising rents for a time,” 1:30 p.m. ET, Chicago.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
The Census Bureau releases an annual report on poverty in the United States.
The Labor Department releases the monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET.
Delores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm Workers union, is keynote speaker at the 40th anniversary Farmworker Justice Awards, Los Angeles.
Informa Markets holds Husker Harvest Days, through Thursday, Grand Island, Nebraska.
Farm Credit Council board meeting, through Thursday, Washington.
President Biden visits the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates federal response to wildfires, Boise, Idaho.
Wednesday
Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the year in Judaism, begins at sundown.
Senate Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “Milk pricing: Areas for improvement and reform,” 9:30 a.m. ET, 301 Russell.
USDA holds a roundtable online, “Exploring food waste solutions: Success stories from the United States and beyond,” 11 a.m. ET.
Thursday
Farmdoc Daily holds a webinar, “Carbon markets,” noon ET.
USDA releases monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report, 3 p.m. ET
Sunday
G-20 agriculture ministers meet to discuss the international response to the pandemic and building resilience to future health-related shocks, through Sept. 20, Florence, Italy.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture holds annual meeting, through Sept. 22, in Louisville, Kentucky.
National Grocers Association, representing the independent supermarket industry, holds the annual NGA Show, through Sept. 21, Las Vegas.
