USDA data paint a nuanced portrait of absentee landlords
In agricultural lore, the absentee landlord is often a resented figure, an outsider who reaps income from the labor of the farmer and takes away the profits rather than investing in the local community. The modern-day situation is more nuanced, says a USDA study which finds that, for the most part, “non-operating landlords” (NOLS) live fairly close to their property.
China buys $850 million worth of U.S. corn
In a four-day shopping spree, importers bought 3.876 million tonnes of U.S. corn for delivery to China this marketing year, said the USDA. The corn was worth $850 million, based on futures prices in Chicago.
Feinstein to push farmworker bill in Senate
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she will work with fellow senators to give legal status to undocumented farmworkers and streamline the H-2A visa system for agricultural guestworkers. “It’s time to give farmers the help they need and protect the essential workers who work hard to put food on our tables,” said Feinstein, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Canada-U.S.-Mexico railroad: Canadian Pacific will purchase Kansas City Southern for $29 billion in a merger that will “connect freight customers to Canada, the United States and Mexico on a single network for the first time in history.” (CNN)
Significant spring drought: The United States is in the most significant spring drought since 2013, with nearly half of the country, mostly in the West but stretching into the Plains and upper Midwest, in moderate to exceptional drought. (CNBC)
Wait until April: Zach Ducheneaux, the Biden appointee in charge of the U.S. farm program, said it will be a couple of weeks before USDA completes a review of coronavirus legislation passed by Congress and decides the framework for getting the money to producers. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
Japan boosts tariffs: Japan will increase tariffs on imports of U.S. beef to 38.5 percent for one month to slow a flood of meat into the country, a step allowed under trade agreements between the nations. (Drovers)
Environmental justice bill: Democrats in Congress filed companion Environmental Justice for All bills to address disparities in vulnerable communities across the nation. (Grist)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
House Agriculture chairman David Scott speaks at Ag and Food Policy Summit sponsored by Agri-Pulse, 10:30 a.m. ET. The senior Republican on the committee, Glenn Thompson, speaks at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Supreme Court hears arguments in Cedar Point Nursery vs. Hassid, 10 a.m. ET. Nursery owner Mike Fahner challenges a 1975 California law that allows union organizers limited access to work facilities as an unconstitutional violation of private property rights. The law was the first to recognize farmworkers’ right to organize into unions and was upheld by the state Supreme Court in 1976, says the Washington Post.
Douglass Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, joins Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Des Moines for a “Help is here” event to publicize the benefits of the Biden administration’s $1.9-trillion rescue package. Emhoff is to appear in Omaha on Tuesday and in St. Louis on Wednesday for similar events.
Black farmers and Sens. Cory Booker, of New Jersey, and Raphael Warnock, of Georgia, discuss the estimated $4 billion in debt relief for minority farmers that was approved by Congress earlier this month, 11 a.m. ET.
USDA holds listening session online to gather views “on how USDA can best serve people in need of food assistance as well as the industry” through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, 2 p.m. ET. USDA will accept public comments through March 31 on revisions or a replacement for the food box giveaway.
National Association of Conservation Districts holds 2021 Spring Fly-In online, through Friday.
North American Meat Institute and FMI host Annual Meat Conference online, through Thursday.
USDA releases monthly Cold Storage report, 3 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
Agriculture Council of America sponsors National Agriculture Day, “a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture.” Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will take part in an online kickoff at 9:30 a.m. ET.
House Appropriations subcommittee hearing online, “Wood innovation: Sustainable forest products to reinvigorate rural economies,” 10 a.m. ET.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds confirmation hearing on nomination of Samatha Power as administrator of U.S. Agency for International Development, 10 a.m. ET, 106 Dirksen.
InterAction, “the largest alliance of international NGOs and partners in the United States, holds Forum 2.1 online, through Wednesday.
No Kid Hungry holds 2021 Rural Child Hunger Summit online, through Wednesday.
Wednesday
House Appropriations subcommittee hearing online, “The rural economy,” with testimony from Glenn Smith, chairman of the Farm Credit Administration, and Jeffery Hall, chairman of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corp., 2 p.m. ET.
Thursday
Senate Agriculture Committee hearing “to examine child nutrition reauthorization, focusing on healthy meals and healthy futures,” 9:30 a.m. ET, 106 Dirksen.
House Agriculture Committee hearing online “to review the state of Black farmers in the United States,” noon ET..
USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook, 9 a.m. ET. At present, grocery prices are forecast to rise a modest 1.5 percent this year.
National Biodiesel Board holds news conference to discuss the organization’s policy priorities for 2021, 2 p.m. ET.
International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.
We Are For Better Alternatives holds NoCo Hemp Expo, through Saturday, Denver.
USDA releases quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, 3 p.m. ET.
