2022 record, U.S. farm income third-highest ever U.S. agriculture is headed for the third year in a row of far-above-average income, estimated the Agriculture Department on Tuesday. Lower market prices for corn, soybeans, cotton, hogs, broiler chickens and eggs will combine with rising expenses to pull down net farm income… Continue reading

White House checklist cites livestock marketing, ocean shipping In a summary of achievements, the White House pointed on Monday to progress toward increased competition, including action on livestock marketing, consumer right-to-repair and ocean shipping rates. It said President Biden would “highlight progress we need to continue to make to promote… Continue reading

USDA proposes first-ever limit on sugar in school meals Public schools would face their first-ever limit on sugar in the food they serve in their cafeterias as part of an Agriculture Department proposal for healthier meals. The USDA package called for a staggered phase-in of new standards on sugar, sodium,… Continue reading

Air Force sees national security threat in Chinese-owned corn mill China-based Fufeng Group may be forced to abandon plans for a corn milling plant in North Dakota, with the Air Force declaring the project “a significant threat to national security.” Ag corporations boom despite California’s historic drought In a report… Continue reading

‘Unify’ splintered food regulation duties under a single FDA leader After a baby formula crisis and a scathing critique of the FDA’s disjointed structure, Commissioner Robert Califf said on Tuesday he would reorganize the agency to put food safety offices under the control of a powerful deputy commissioner. Consumer groups… Continue reading

FDA needs a deputy commissioner for food, lawmakers, industry and public health If FDA commissioner Robert Califf listens to outside advice, he would create a powerful post — deputy commissioner for food — as part of restructuring of the agency. Califf could unveil a “new vision” for the FDA —… Continue reading

Ag trade and food aid are focus of first D.C. hearing on 2023 farm bill Foreign trade and U.S. food aid will be the subjects on Wednesday of “the first of many hearings the committee has planned as we gear up for the 2023 farm bill,” said the leaders of… Continue reading

Deputy secretary will be first Biden appointee to leave USDA Jewel Bronaugh, the first Black person to serve as Agriculture deputy secretary, said on Thursday that she would leave the USDA at the end of February “so I can spend more time with my family.” Bronaugh, who oversees the USDA’s… Continue reading

High food inflation to persist in 2023 The 9.9 percent food inflation rate of 2022 will be followed by a 7.1 percent rate this year, the highest rates in three decades, said USDA economists on Wednesday. Egg prices were forecast to rise 27 percent this year, on top of a… Continue reading

Food affordability remains a global challenge Fears of persistently high world food prices, sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and disruption of global supply chains, have subsided but food affordability remains a challenge at the household and macro-economic levels, said three analysts on Tuesday. “These risks will remain high” in… Continue reading