USDA is ‘lone wolf’ inventing climate program on its own, says GOP The senior Republican on the House Agriculture Committee accused the USDA of exceeding its authority — “We’re the ones that authorize programs”— by launching a $1 billion initiative to develop climate-smart commodities on Tuesday. A senior Republican on… Continue reading

USDA to put $1 billion into climate-smart pilot projects The USDA will spend $1 billion on climate-smart pilot projects, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Monday, delivering on a pledge made last September to help farmers develop a market for sustainably produced commodities. The demonstration projects could change the shape… Continue reading

Farm income is forecast far above average for second year Record-high expenses and sharply lower federal subsidies will erode farm income in 2022, according to a forecast by the Agriculture Department. Nonetheless, U.S. agriculture would see one of its best years on record, with net farm income 26 percent above… Continue reading

The new California gold rush into anaerobic digesters There’s money in manure for California dairy farmers with anaerobic digesters that capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from their cattle’s manure. Each cow on a farm with a digester can generate $2,827 a year in air pollution and biofuel credits for… Continue reading

Aid ‘natural climate solutions’ with bigger USDA stewardship spending, says report Congress should substantially increase — as much as double — funding for USDA stewardship programs that encourage climate mitigation and help farmers make money from climate-smart practices, said a Washington think tank on Wednesday. Rural America needs ‘circular economy,’… Continue reading

Farmer confidence sours amid rising costs, income squeeze Despite high farm income in 2021, farmer confidence has been on a nearly unbroken decline since last April, said Purdue University on Tuesday. “Producers expect financial performance in 2022 to be much weaker than in 2021,” said the monthly Ag Economy Barometer,… Continue reading

White House is working ‘from both ends’ to resolve ag export disruptions The Biden administration is employing a multi-pronged strategy to speed agricultural exports through congested ports, and a project in Oakland is one piece of it, said White House port envoy John Porcari on Monday. The government will pay… Continue reading

Hefty subsidy needed for adoption of cover crops Only 5 percent of U.S. cropland is planted to cover crops amid debate over their financial benefits to farmers. Congress may need to offer a “sizable” subsidy to growers if it wants large-scale adoption of the farming practice, said two university economists…. Continue reading

USDA reports: USDA’s cuts to South American corn and soybean crops stole the show in Wednesday’s WASDE report. “The January 2022 USDA report package did not move markets as significantly as previous January reports have,” says Farm Futures grain market analyst Jacqueline Holland. To learn more, read the full analysis…. Continue reading