As U.S.-China talks resume, the biggest U.S. farm group asks for an end of trade war tariffs
The largest U.S. farm group urged trade negotiators “to write the next chapter” in Sino-U.S. relations this week by eliminating trade war tariffs that are depressing ag exports, an important part of farm income. On Monday, the USDA reported an uptick in soybean exports to China, but there was no sign of large “goodwill” purchases on the eve of negotiations in Shanghai.
In SNAP proposal, USDA hides effect on school meals, says House chairman
Although a half-million children would lose access to free meals at school under a Trump administration proposal to restrict eligibility for food stamps, the USDA has not published that fact, said the chairman of the House Education Committee on Monday.
St. Albans dairy co-op members vote to merge with Dairy Farmers of America
The farmer-members of the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery in Vermont voted overwhelmingly on Monday to merge with the nation’s largest dairy cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Who’s getting trade aid? Rich white men. (New Food Economy): The vast majority of aid distributed through the USDA’s Market Facilitation Program has gone to white male farmers, and payments skew toward supporting upper middle-class or wealthy farmers.
Gender diversity on the farm (Reuters): Women and non-binary people are running some of Long Island’s best-known organic farms, contributing to a trend of increased gender diversity among organic farm owners.
EPA to decide soon on RFS waivers (Reuters): While touring an oil refinery, EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler said the agency hopes to be “making decisions in the next few weeks and month at the most” on requests by refiners for waivers from having to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Toxic algae poisons California’s sea lions (San Luis Obispo Tribune): Algal blooms are appearing earlier than usual and contain a toxin that, in low doses, causes intestinal distress in sea lions and that, in high doses, can lead to seizures and even brain damage in the animals.
Soybeans burn at flood-stranded elevator (DTN/Progressive Farmer): A pile of soybeans estimated in the hundreds of thousands of bushels has been burning for two weeks in northwest Missouri outside of a grain elevator surrounded by floodwater from the Missouri River.
Pet food maker sues over salmonella (Food Safety News): The pet food company Lystn LLC sued the FDA, saying its absolute ban on salmonella bacteria violated the Constitution and “deprives the people of freedom of food choice for their pets.”
