Hidden costs of agrifood system tops $10 trillion
Food production and consumption — from farm to table to leftovers put in the trash can — carry “huge hidden costs” of at least $10 trillion a year, mostly from the consequences of unhealthy diets, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on Monday. In its State of Food and Agriculture report, the FAO urged governments and the private sector to use a true-cost accounting system to assess the flaws in the agrifood system and how to mitigate them.
Proposal would open door to carbon storage on Forest Service land
The U.S. Forest Service proposed a change in regulations on Monday that would allow it to consider requests to inject carbon dioxide beneath the 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. Carbon sequestration is a key element in President Biden’s goal of net-zero U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
The butterfat boom: The increased popularity among consumers of butter, cheese, and other full-fat dairy products is expected to grow for the foreseeable future and is encouraging dairy farmers to produce milk containing more butterfat. (CoBank)
‘Four corners’ for farm bill extension: With House Agriculture chairman Glenn Thompson calling for the extension of the current law through next Sept. 30, the four leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture committees are unanimous that the new farm bill will be completed in the new year. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
Strong winter wheat ratings: Half of U.S. winter wheat is in good or excellent condition, the best ratings for the crop at this time of the year since 2019, although only 31 percent of the wheat in top-producer Kansas rated as good or excellent. (USDA)
That ain’t hay: In terms of calories produced, the top crop in California is hay — livestock forage — at 12 trillion calories in 2019, more than the combined calories of the next two crops, rice and almonds, which are more palatable to humans. (Ag Data News)
