‘I will not relent’ on farm bill demands, says Glenn Thompson
The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee insisted on a broad-scale reprogramming of agricultural funding as the price for agreement on the new farm bill on Wednesday. Chairman Glenn Thompson suggested $50 billion in cuts, mostly to climate change and public nutrition programs, earlier this fall to pay for larger spending on crop subsidies.
House votes against ‘de facto EV mandate’
The Republican-controlled House voted, 221-197, to block a proposed EPA rule on tail-pipe emissions that could make electric vehicles the best-selling new cars and pickup trucks by 2032. The vote on Wednesday stood in contrast to the ongoing UN climate summit, where steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are under discussion.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Glyphosate lost punch quickly: Weeds began showing resistance to glyphosate in just two or three years after the herbicide was introduced alongside GMO crops, and within a decade they were 32 percent less responsive to the weedkiller, said researchers who recommend diversity in weed control methods. (University of Illinois)
Committee approves USDA nominee: The Senate Agriculture committee unanimously cleared for a floor vote the nomination of Basil Gooden, a former Virginia state agriculture secretary, to serve as agriculture undersecretary for rural development. (Senate Agriculture)
Update Good Practices list: After years of prodding, the Risk Management Agency said it would accept all conservation practices offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a sister agency, as Good Farming Practices for determining crop insurance coverage. (USDA)
Roundup headaches for Bayer: Analysts and investors worry that Bayer, which lost four jury trials in a row, could be assessed billions of dollars in additional damages from continuing litigation over its Roundup weedkiller, “threatening the 160-year-old company’s future.” (New York Times)
USDA tribal advisory committee: At a White House conference, the USDA announced 11 appointees to its new Tribal Advisory Committee and $4.3 million in Indigenous Animals and Meat Processing grants to four tribes. (USDA)
