Protect SNAP in new farm bill, says Scott
When Congress writes the new farm bill, it should maintain the nutrition safety net that is headlined by food stamps, said Georgia Rep. David Scott, the senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow has said for months that “we’re not going to go backwards” on SNAP, possibly the most explosive issue in overhauling U.S. food and farm policy.
Freshwater fish full of forever chemicals
Just a single serving of freshwater fish per year could result in the same exposure to the “forever chemical” perfluorooctane sulfonate as drinking a month’s worth of water laced with the chemical, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Research.
DHS streamlines protections against deportation
In a step hailed by the United Farm Workers union, the Homeland Security Department announced a streamlined and expedited process to protect non-citizen workers from immigration-related retaliation during labor disputes with their employers. “Unscrupulous employers who prey on the vulnerability of non-citizen workers harm all workers and disadvantage businesses who play by the rules,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Former chairman Lucas takes seat on House Agriculture
House Republican leaders named 26 members to the Agriculture Committee on Monday, including former chairman Frank Lucas, who left the committee after the 2014 farm bill was enacted. The top item on the committee’s agenda will be updating U.S. food and agriculture policy this year. The 2018 farm law expires on Sept. 30.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Harris leads ag approps: Seventh-term Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, a physician, will chair the House Appropriations subcommittee in charge of USDA and FDA funding, announced House Republican leaders. (House Appropriations)
China okays GM crops: Chinese regulators, who move cautiously on genetically modified crops, approved imports of eight crops, including two varieties of glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa that were submitted for review 10 years ago. (Reuters)
Food bank spending: Aside from food, their biggest expenditure, food banks’ leading outlays are likely to be marketing/fundraising and transportation services, based on an analysis of payments to outside contractors. (Food Bank News)
U.S. sorghum exports shrivel: The smallest U.S. sorghum crop in eight decades and the near-evaporation of sales to China will result in sorghum exports that are one-third of last year’s tally and the second-smallest shipments in a decade. (USDA)
Oil boss leads COP28: The United Arab Emirates, the host of COP28 , named the president of the state oil company, Sultan Al Jaber, as president of the UN climate summit this fall; he also is the minister of industry and chairman of a renewable energy firm. (BBC)
ON THE CALENDAR
Tuesday
The World Economic Forum holds annual meeting with the theme “Cooperation in a fragmented world,” through Jan. 20, Davos, Switzerland. Organizers say government, business, and civil society leaders will “address the state of the world and discuss priorities for the year ahead.”
Real Organic Project holds Ecofarm Preconference, 1 p.m. ET, Pacific Grove, California.
Final day of 2023 School Nutrition Industry Conference, San Diego.
Wednesday
Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association hold MN AG EXPO, through Thursday, Mankato, Minnesota.
The American Sheep Industry Association holds annual convention, through Saturday, Fort Worth, Texas.
Thursday
USDA releases annual Pecan Production report and monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
USDA releases annual Coffee report and monthly Cattle on Feed report, 3 p.m. ET.
Sunday
International Dairy Food Association holds Dairy Forum 2023, through Jan. 25, Orlando. Speakers include former agriculture secretary Dan Glickman and consultant Colin Peterson, former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
