White House creates Office of Environmental Justice
On Earth Day, President Biden signed an executive order making environmental justice — the fair treatment of all people in the development and enforcement of environmental policies — part of the everyday work of federal agencies.
G7 farm ministers: Expand Ukraine grain exports via the Black Sea
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had a devastating impact on global food security, said Group of Seven agriculture ministers on Sunday in a communique that called for expansion of Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea Grain corridor that is exempt from attack.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Think tank promotes child labor: The think tank Foundation for Government Accountability, which advocates stricter work requirements for SNAP, is a prominent proponent for states to relax child labor laws intended to keep youth out of dangerous jobs. (Washington Post)
Maximum water allocations: After abundant precipitation during the rainy season, California officials boosted water allocations to 100 percent for public water agencies, the highest allocation since 2006. (Gov. Newsom)
Vote on budget bill: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the House would vote this week on a GOP bill that would raise the federal debt ceiling for a year in exchange for spending cuts that include broader application of SNAP work requirements and elimination of biofuel incentives. (Reuters)
100 million acres: There are more than 100 million acres of old-growth and mature forests on federal land, according to a inventory by the Interior and Agriculture departments that could spark a fight over how much timberland to protect and how much to cut. (Washington Post)
‘The armadillos are coming’: The armadillo, typically a resident of the Southeast, has been spotted as far north as Missouri and North Carolina, and eventually could reach New England, thanks to warmer year-round weather due to climate change, says a wildlife expert. (Axios)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
North American Agricultural Journalists hold annual meeting, through Tuesday, Washington. Speakers include the four leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture committees.
FAO officials Lauren Phillips and Vanya Slavchevska discuss the report “Status of Women in Agrifood Systems,” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 10 a.m. ET, Washington.
The House Agriculture Committee holds farm bill listening session, 2 p.m. ET, Newberry, Florida.
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies holds 2023 Water Week, through Friday, Washington.
North American Millers Association holds 2023 spring conference, through Tuesday, Orlando.
American Dairy Products Institute and American Butter Institute hold annual joint conference, through Tuesday, Chicago.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
Farm Foundation holds an online forum, ‘Water rights and policy in agriculture today,” 10 a.m. ET. Speakers include Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. For details or to register, click here.
American Enterprise Institute holds a panel discussion on “The 2023 farm bill: Rational commodity price and income support programs,” 10 a.m. ET, Washington.
House considers HR 90, which encourages the Federal Communications Commission to promote precision agriculture through satellite connectivity, under rules that limit debate, bar amendments and require a two-thirds majority for passage, said Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
House Rules Committee meets to discuss terms of debate for GOP-sponsored “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023,” which proposes large cuts in federal spending in exchange for increasing the debt limit for a year, 4 p.m. ET, H-313, The Capitol.
International Fresh Produce Association holds policy and regulatory forum, through Wednesday, Washington.
USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook report, 9 a.m. ET. At present, grocery prices were forecast to rise 7.8 percent this year, compared to 11.4 percent during 2021 and the 20-year average of 2.5 percent.
USDA releases monthly Cold Storage report, 3 p.m. ET.
Wednesday
The House could vote on the Republican-sponsored “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a list of legislation ready for a vote. Among the act’s provisions is an expansion of the age range of people who face a 90-day limit on SNAP benefits unless they work at least 20 hours a week. The bill also would eliminate biofuel incentives, including the $1.25 a gallon credit for sustainable aviation fuel, that were created last year in the climate, health and tax law.
House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “Producer perspectives on the 2023 farm bill,” 10 a.m ET, 1300 Longworth.
USAID administrator Samantha Power testifies at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the U.S. Agency for International Development, 10 a.m. ET, 419 Dirksen.
Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, 2 p.m. ET, 138 Dirksen.
Thursday
USDA leaders launch the $3 billion Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative with an online event, 11 a.m. ET. “Participants will hear more about this effort and what USDA hopes to accomplish, the latest on the awarded projects, and information about the new Partnerships Network,” says USDA.
House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, “The future of digital assets: Identifying the regulatory gaps in spot market regulation,” 2 p.m. ET.
The School Nutrition Association holds 2023 National Leadership Conference, through Saturday, Louisville.
USDA releases annual Poultry Production and Value report, 3 p.m. ET.
Friday
Sens. John Boozman, the senior Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Roger Marshall speak at a roundtable sponsored by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, 8:45 a.m. ET, Kansas City.
USDA releases monthly Agricultural Prices report, 3 p.m. ET.
Sunday
Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Berkeley Food Institute and American University’s Center for Environment, Community and Equity and its Antiracist Research Policy Center hold “Pointing the farm bill toward racial justice,” through May 2. A two-day conference in Warrenton, Virginia, will be followed by a briefing on Capitol Hill on May 2.
