India reduces import tariffs on U.S. turkey and duck meat
In the second breakthrough in three months, India said on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting that it would reduce import duties on frozen U.S. turkey and duck meat. Lower tariffs will give U.S. exports a chance to win sales in the rapidly growing market, said U.S. poultry groups, while calling for India to open its market further.
Global rice price soars to 15-year high
The monthly Food Price Index, which measures international prices for a basket of food commodities, fell for the seventh time this year despite a nearly 10 percent surge in rice prices, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Rice prices are at a 15-year high because of India’s decision to restrict exports of non-basmati white rice.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
WASDE turns 50: Created as a response to the “Great Grain Robbery” of 1972, the USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, which tracks production, trade, and usage of major commodities worldwide, was published for the first time on Sept. 17, 1973. (USDA)
PUC staff challenge Summit: Days after the state Public Utilities Commission denied a carbon pipeline permit to Navigator CO2, PUC staff workers filed a motion to deny Summit Carbon Solutions’ application to construct a carbon pipeline in South Dakota. (South Dakota Searchlight)
Climate window narrows: Ahead of the UN climate summit in November, a global “stocktake” report says the world is moving too slowly to curb global warming and “there is a rapidly narrowing window” to cut emissions and avoid an ever-worsening series of disasters. (Washington Post)
Fertilizer prices up: Global fertilizer supplies appear sufficient and prices, after declining for more than a year, rose in August along with natural gas prices. (AMIS Market Monitor)
California Assembly’s rural leader: Robert Rivas, who grew up in farmworker housing in Central California, is the first speaker of the California state Assembly in a generation from a rural district. (Los Angeles Times)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
NFU holds Fall Legislative Fly-In, through Wednesday, Washington. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small will speak to NFU members on Monday; a White House briefing is scheduled for Wednesday.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture holds annual meeting, through Thursday, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small will speak on Wednesday morning.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.
Tuesday
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. Traders expect marginal reductions in the corn and soybean harvests due to stresses from hot weather in August. The corn crop would be the third-largest, rather than the second largest, and the soybean crop would be the eighth-largest.
Census Bureau releases annual Income, Poverty and Health Insurance report, 10 a.m. ET. Last year, the U.S. poverty rate was 11.6 percent, unchanged from the previous year, and the rural poverty rate was 15 percent, not significantly different from the previous year’s 14.1 percent.
Consumer Federation of America holds the 46th annual Food Policy Conference, Washington.
CropLife America holds annual meeting, through Wednesday, Nashville.
The International Fresh Produce Association holds its Washington Conference, through Friday, Washington.
Wednesday
The Labor Department releases monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET. The U.S. inflation rate was 3.2 percent and the food inflation rate was 4.9 percent in the report released a month ago.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, “Examining the effects of extreme heat and weather on transportation,” 10 a.m. ET, 406 Dirksen.
Farm Foundation holds an online conference, “U.S. farm households’ social and economic needs and the future of agriculture.”
Sunday
International nonprofit Climate Group hosts Climate Week NYC — “the largest climate event of its kind” —through Sept. 24, New York City. Climate Week is held annually in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly and is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York.
