New fair play rule hurts livestock producers, say ag groups
One of the largest U.S. farm groups called for the incoming Biden administration to rescind a new fair play rule for livestock marketing, unveiled by the Agriculture Department on Thursday, that it sees as a setback for family farmers in dealing with the handful of companies that dominate the meat industry.
Biden makes it official: Vilsack for agriculture secretary
Two days after the news leaked, President-elect Joe Biden formally announced Tom Vilsack as his nominee for agriculture secretary on Thursday. The Vilsack nomination was one of five announced for officials in charge of domestic programs.
In farewell speech, Roberts regrets gridlock, salutes Freedom to Farm
Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts, retiring after 40 years in Congress, urged more civility and friendship among lawmakers in a farewell speech on Thursday that touched on his prominent role in passing the 1996 farm bill that, for the most part, ended federal control over what crops farmers grow.
North Carolina records show scope of pandemic in meat plants
During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the outbreak was far worse at several North Carolina meatpacking plants than was previously known and had spread to previously undisclosed facilities, documents released in a public records request show. “At the height of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of positive cases at 10 North Carolina meatpacking plants was 75 percent higher than reported publicly.”
Today’s Quick Hits
Smallest soy stockpile in seven years: After swelling to a record 909 million bushels two years ago, the U.S. soybean stockpile will plunge to 175 million bushels by next Aug. 30, as exports return to volumes not seen since the start of the trade war with China. (USDA)
Shoplifting as hunger soars: Retailers, police, and security experts say that shoplifting has become much more common during the pandemic, and that there is “a growing subset of Americans who are stealing food to survive.” (Washington Post)
Dolphins threatened by extinction: All four known freshwater dolphin species are threatened with extinction, said the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which reported that 31 species overall have gone extinct since it issued its previous “Red List” of threatened species. (Associated Press)
Sesame as an allergen: The Senate passed a bill requiring that sesame be labeled as an allergen, though a similar vote is needed in the House before Congress adjourns for the year if the bill is to become law. (Allergic Living)
Coronavirus at Foster Farms plants: Poultry processor Foster Farms is coping with Covid-19 outbreaks at three plants in the Central Valley, two in Fresno and one in Livingston. (KQED)
