Farm Bureau urges members to turn ‘energy and passion’ against clean water rule
The president of the largest U.S. farm group called for members to bring the “same energy and devotion when it comes to WOTUS” that they used last year to preserve a tax break on inherited property. President Zippy Duvall said the American Farm Bureau Federation also influenced legislation and USDA programs on climate mitigation to ensure that they “respect farmers.”
USDA puts additional $750 million into school meals
An adjustment in reimbursement rates for school meals will put an additional $750 million into child nutrition programs that were expected to cost $27 billion this year, said the Agriculture Department. The adjustment came three weeks after the USDA said up to 100,000 schools would get a share of $1.5 billion dedicated to easing the impact of supply chain disruptions and the pandemic on school meals.
Today’s Quick Hits
Undeterred, Thune runs: Although former president Trump has tried to recruit a challenger, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate and a member of its Agriculture Committee, said he will run this year for a fourth term. (Thune)
Omicron and meat: Pork and beef processors, hit hard by the 2020 arrival of Covid-19, do not report significant problems with the omicron variant; but USDA said cattle and hog slaughter declined last week and the meat inspectors union says “omicron is nailing us.” (Bloomberg)
Global potato crunch: Restaurants from Japan to Kenya have run out or rationed sales of french fries because of supply chain disruptions and bad weather for potatoes. (Washington Post)
Expedite dicamba lawsuit: Environmental groups asked a federal district court in Arizona for a speedy hearing of their lawsuit seeking to overturn the EPA’s approval in 2020 of continued use of the weed killer dicamba. (Center for Food Safety)
Carbon credit costs: The cost of certifying carbon sequestration “is nearly as important a question as how one actually certifies,” say two Iowa State University analysts; high costs could limit participation to large producers who can afford them. (CARD Policy Briefs)
On The Calendar
Monday
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks at American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention, 11:30 a.m. ET, Atlanta.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joins Federation of Southern Cooperatives for an announcement underscoring USDA commitment to sustainable agriculture systems and ensuring broader participation in USDA programs by underserved farmers and ranchers, East Point, Georgia.
House convenes for the 2022 session, 6:30 p.m. ET.
The National Farmers Union holds a virtual Women’s Conference, through Thursday.
The Maine Agriculture Department hosts an online State of Maine Agricultural Trades Show, through Friday.
Two economists from the Rosario Board of Trade discuss the agricultural outlook for Argentina during a webinar sponsored by The Chicago Farmers.
Tuesday
Senate Banking Committee holds confirmation hearing on the nomination of Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell for a second term, 10 a.m. ET, 106 Dirksen.
Wednesday
The House Agriculture Committee holds an online hearing, “Implications of electric vehicle investments for agriculture and rural America,” 10 a.m. ET.
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, quarterly Grain Stocks report and annual Crop Production and Winter Wheat Seedings reports, noon ET. Analysts, who expect little change in USDA estimates of the 2021 fall-harvested crops, said in a Reuters survey that winter wheat seedings would total 34.3 million acres, the second increase in a row since plantings dropped to 30.45 million acres in 2020.
Senate Health Committee holds confirmation hearing on the nomination of Robert Califf for FDA commissioner, 10 a.m. ET. Location to be determined.
The Labor Department releases the monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET.
Jan. 17
Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday that commemorates the life of the civil rights leader and has become a day to promote equal rights for all. In 1983, President Reagan signed legislation creating the holiday, observed on the third Monday of January, close to King’s birth date of Jan. 15, 1929. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, four years before he was assassinated in Memphis, where he was to lead a march in support of striking garbage workers.
National Biodiesel Board holds the annual National Biodiesel Conference and Expo, through Jan. 20, Las Vegas.
