‘Right-to-repair’ bills languish as time for congressional action dwindles
So-called right-to-repair laws won’t help consumers but could damage the retailers and manufacturer-authorized repair shops now in business, said a string of Republican lawmakers at a House hearing on Wednesday, while a consumer advocate warned that “repair monopolization” was pervasive in sectors including personal computing, TVs, and agriculture.
USDA releases $1.9 billion for food banks and school meals
Emergency food providers, such as food banks and school meal programs, will receive an additional $1.9 billion for the purchase of U.S.-grown foods, said the Agriculture Department on Wednesday.
Political views shape how Americans see food inflation
Politically conservative Americans tend to overestimate and liberals to underestimate the annual inflation rate for food, according to a poll of 1,200 consumers by Purdue University. The difference in views is 3 to 4 percentage points, said Purdue researchers on Wednesday.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Patagonia to fund Earth: Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard transferred ownership in the outdoor apparel company, valued at about $3 billion, to a specially designed trust and a nonprofit organization, ensuring that “every dollar that is not reinvested back into Patagonia will be distributed as dividends to protect the planet.” (Patagonia)
Rail strike averted: President Biden early Thursday announced that negotiations between major railroads and unions had reached a tentative agreement. The deal, if culminated, would bring a sigh of relief across the agricultural and biofuels supply chain. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
Aggies could have conflicts: Five of 27 senators identified as having potential conflicts of interest for their financial dealings in industries that could be affected by their committee work are members of the Agriculture Committee. (New York Times)
Finstad joins House Agriculture: Republican Brad Finstad, winner of a special election in Minnesota, was appointed to the House Agriculture Committee, taking the seat of the late Rep. Jim Hagedorn. (House Agriculture Republicans)
Help wanted: A report from the American Immigration Council, citing the ongoing worker shortage, says that immigrants are especially vital to the U.S. meat processing and dairy sectors. (Meat and Poultry)
