USDA report looks at ways to grow biomass market
Expanding the market for biomass-based products, which include furniture, bioplastics, and biofuels, would create new sources of revenue for the agricultural sector, said a USDA report released on Thursday. It recommends a broad-ranging effort by the government to encourage greater production.
Republicans would put half of climate funding into commodity subsidies
Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow rejected on Thursday a Republican proposal to move several billion dollars of climate funds into the commodity title of the farm bill. “No, the answer to that is no,” Stabenow said at an expo on climate-smart agriculture practices.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Big world soybean crop: Global soybean production is forecast to expand 6 percent in 2024/25, to a record 413 million metric tons, because of increased plantings and better yields following adverse weather in Brazil in 2023/24. (International Grains Council)
Promoting organic markets: Five dozen projects will share $40.5 million from the Organic Market Development Grant program to improve processing capacity, explore new technologies to promote organic products, purchase equipment to help meet rising demand, and develop new markets. (USDA)
Meat Institute logo: The trade group unveiled a new logo: a blue circle, evocative of a plate, that surrounds the group’s name and “keeps meat at the very center of nourishing today and sustaining tomorrow.” (Meat Institute)
Noem video sparks lawsuit: A consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit against South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem alleging she had engaged in misleading advertising practices when she made a five-minute promotional video for a dental practice in Texas. (South Dakota Searchlight)
