War is poisoning Ukraine’s famously fertile soil Ukrainian scientists say soil samples from the Kharkiv region show that “high concentrations of toxins such as mercury and arsenic from munitions and fuel are polluting the ground,” according to a Reuters report. SNA says now is not the time to raise school-meal… Continue reading

USDA’s Equity Commission calls for department-wide reform From its top officers down to its local offices, the Agriculture Department needs to institutionalize equity in its programs and its operations, said an administration-appointed commission on Tuesday after a year-long study of the USDA. Sometimes called “the last plantation” because of racial… Continue reading

Farm safety net cushions big operators the most Due to consolidation, federal farm supports increasingly are paid to the wealthiest producers, who have household incomes far above the rest of the country, said analysts at a think tank seminar on Monday. The stream of money to large operators was a… Continue reading

U.S. and EU, agricultural giants with fewer and fewer farmers For all their differences, the United States and the European Union share a common experience — the abrupt decline in farm numbers, said the agriculture ministers of the agricultural powerhouses. The transformation of the agriculture sector resulted in a relatively… Continue reading

Squeeze on Ukraine farmers to grow more severe in 2023 Low producer prices and high input costs will discourage grain production in Ukraine this year, said an IFPRI blog, as the Russian invasion of its neighbor hit the one-year mark. “Reduced plantings in Ukraine mean that the world will need… Continue reading

Amid tussle over milk labeling, FDA proposes ‘voluntary nutrient statements’ Americans know the difference in origin between cow’s milk and plant-based milk, and they ought to be told when a dairy alternative has a different nutrient makeup, said the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. Its proposal, for a statement… Continue reading

USDA issues grants to expand local meat processing capacity Five independent processors will receive grants totaling $59 million to expand local meat processing capacity, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Tuesday. The grants are part of a $1 billion initiative by the administration to strengthen the food supply chain and… Continue reading

USDA proposes online shopping for WIC recipients Four years after it launched a test of online grocery shopping for SNAP recipients — which rapidly expanded during the pandemic — the Agriculture Department proposed the same shopping flexibility for households enrolled in the WIC program. “We agree with WIC participants and… Continue reading

(AG Insider) As we near George Washington’s birthday Feb. 22 and celebrate Presidents’ Day Feb. 20 (which has traditionally honored both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln), it is an opportunity to look back at the impact that those presidents had on agriculture in the United States. Many will honor the… Continue reading

Did you miss some news this week? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a collection of the top headlines in agriculture. EPA tightens dicamba restrictions With less than two months until planting, EPA says no in-season dicamba applications will be allowed after June 12 in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, and after… Continue reading