Reformers call for farm bill ‘guardrails’ on crop insurance
Congress should make the wealthiest farmers pay a larger share of the cost of taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance and hold the line on crop subsidies in the new farm bill, said a half dozen think tanks, budget hawks, and environmental groups on Wednesday. “There is no obvious or urgent need to increase farm subsidies,” said Nan Swift of the R Street Institute, despite the appeals of farm groups.
USDA launches Forest Corps alongside Biden’s Climate Corps
The White House announced the creation Wednesday of the American Climate Corps to train 20,000 young adults for work in clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience. At the same time, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the Forest Corps, operating through the U.S. Forest Service, would be the first major interagency partnership with the Climate Corps.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Glyphosate nears EU renewal: The European Commission proposed renewing EU approval of glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, for 10 years, with some new restrictions on its application. (Euractiv)
Could zero mean more?: Farmers should consider the long-term effects of reduced fertilizer applications, say a pair of researchers, after a seed company study found that corn and soybean yields rebounded on land that was not fertilized. (Ag Data News)
Senate ‘mini-bus’ funding in limbo: Senators refused to end debate on a package of three appropriations bills that include money for the USDA and FDA, putting the legislation in jeopardy and leaving Majority Leader Chuck Schumer with few options. (The Hill)
Aid for organic milk: Organic dairy farmers will receive an additional $5 million in a second round of payments on top of the $15 million already disbursed to offset volatile milk prices, inadequate feed supplies, and high transportation costs. (USDA)
Regenerative ag, the movie: The documentary film Common Ground, which is expected to see increased distribution in October, follows a campaign to persuade U.S. farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices on 100 million acres of cropland. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
