Shutdown would jeopardize USDA nutrition program
The Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program serving 6.7 million poor people could run out of money within a few days if Congress cannot agree to fund the government beyond Saturday, said a USDA official. In a repeat of the Trump era, a shutdown also could derail the monthly USDA crop report, but a USDA contingency plan says meat inspectors would stay on the job.
U.S. calls for WTO reform in 2024
International trade discussions are seeing a new dynamism now that the WTO is focused on updating and reforming its rules, said U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai. In a speech to a Washington think tank, Tai said the ministerial conference scheduled for February should “lock in progress on areas where we can agree.”
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Claim—Senator pressured USDA: The federal indictment accusing New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez of bribery includes an allegation that Menendez called a USDA official in an attempt to quash questions about his benefactor’s status as the sole certifier of U.S. food exports to Egypt as compliant with Islamic dietary code. (U.S. Attorney’s Office)
USDA extends discrimination signup: Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have until Jan. 13 to apply for a share of $2.2 billion in assistance for producers who experienced discrimination at USDA in the past; the deadline originally was Oct. 31. (USDA)
EPA report criticized: Corn and biofuel groups criticized an EPA science panel report that suggested there was “minimal or no climate benefits” from substituting ethanol for petroleum fuels, a long-simmering dispute. (Reuters)
Farm bill extension possible: An extension of the 2018 farm law, which expires on Saturday, potentially could be included in stopgap Senate legislation to fund the government, according to two unnamed sources. (Washington Post)
Idalia damage in Florida: Hurricane Idalia caused as much as $370 million in damage to farm production, with livestock hit the worst, said the University of Florida. (Farms.com)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications host annual Ag Outlook Forum, 9 a.m. ET, Kansas City. Speakers include USDA chief economist Seth Meyer and Ken Seitz, president of fertilizer company Nutrien.
Renewable Fuels Association holds annual meeting, through Wednesday, Des Moines.
USDA releases monthly Food Price Index report, 9 a.m. ET. At present, food inflation is forecast at 5.9 percent this year and 2.8 percent in 2024, compared to the 20-year average of 2.8 percent.
USDA releases monthly Cold Storage report, 3 p.m. ET.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
Farm Foundation holds an online forum, “What to expect from the 2023 farm bill now,” 10 a.m. ET. Panelists are Prof. Joe Outlaw of Texas A&M, Senate Agriculture Committee economist John Newton, and House Agriculture Committee economist Emily Pliscott, with assistant professor Jonathan Coppess of the University of Illinois as moderator. For details, click here.
The House is expected to vote on whether to debate four appropriations bills, including the USDA-FDA bill.
U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai meets North Carolina turkey producers, following a tour with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina State University’s turkey education unit, 1:10 p.m. ET, Raleigh.
Wednesday
Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, “Foreign ownership of U.S. agriculture,” 10 a.m. ET, 328A Russell. For details, click here.
Dow Jones holds 15th annual OPIS RFS, RINs, and Biofuels Forum, through Sept. 29, Chicago.
USDA releases annual Potato Summary and Turkeys Raised reports, 3 p.m. ET.
Thursday
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology and the Institute of Food Technologists release an issue paper on food traceabillity and host three presentations on the paper, beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET, Washington. To register for the presentations, click here. The paper will be available on the CAST website.
USDA releases quarterly Hogs and Pigs report and Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook report, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
USDA releases Small Grains Annual Summary of U.S. production of wheat, oats, barley, and rye and quarterly Grain Stocks report, noon ET. The Grain Stocks report, based on a survey of farmers and grain elevators, will provide the most concrete figure yet for corn and soybean stockpiles when the fall harvest began, the low point of the year for supplies.
USDA releases monthly Agricultural Prices report, 3 p.m. ET.
