USDA food boxes for charity called ‘inefficient’
The $3 billion “farmers to families food box,” part of the Trump administration’s coronavirus relief package, may not be the most efficient way to channel food to the needy, a panel of experts said Monday.
Biden says meatpacking plant conditions ‘inhumane and downright immoral’
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden joined a chorus of voices demanding stronger workplace protections for meatpacking workers at a virtual town hall on Monday. Workers – falling ill from Covid-19 – deserve a safer workplace, higher pay, and immigration protections, lawmakers and advocates said.
USDA funds higher ethanol and biodiesel use
The USDA will issue cost-share grants of up to $5 million per project through its Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Monday.
Soybean stocks to surge if Sino-U.S. trade war flares
President Trump says “it’s certainly an option” to impose additional tariffs on China, a step that could end hopes of large U.S. farm exports to the Asian rival.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Groups call on USDA to slow line speeds (Ag Insider): A coalition of 20 consumer, labor, and environmental groups called on the Department of Agriculture to slow line processing speeds at meatpacking plants in the interest of protecting plant workers and inspectors.
Trump tries again with Hutchins (White House): With no fanfare, the White House asked again for Senate confirmation of Scott Hutchins, a former DowDuPont executive first nominated in July 2018, as USDA chief scientist and undersecretary for research.
Court upholds grazing allotments (Capital Press): The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled the Forest Service protected bull trout habitats when it issued permits allowing livestock to graze in the Malneur National Forest in Oregon. Environmentalists had argued the government violated its forest management plans.
Hunting for food during pandemic (Reuters): Game and fish agencies across the nation report an increase in hunting licenses and permit applications this spring, possibly because hunters have more time to get into the woods; one novice says he wants to “get a bunch of food.”
Low approval rating for Ernst (Iowa Starting Line): More Iowans disapprove than approve, 43 to 37, of the job performance of first-term Sen. Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, according to a survey by Public Policy Polling.
