Rising cost of SNAP could drive farmers out of farm bill coalition
The price tag for SNAP is going up so quickly — doubling during the pandemic — that it will poison support for the farm subsidy and land stewardship programs that make up the rest of the farm bill, said the senior Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday. “You are going to crowd out our ability … to use funds on other programs,” said Arkansas Sen. John Boozman.
Report offers options, from modest to controversial, to boost climate resilience in ag
The USDA has taken steps to encourage climate resilience in the farm sector, “but the department could do more,” said the Government Accountability Office on Thursday. In a report, it listed 13 options. Some were relatively modest, such as prioritizing climate resilience as part of conservation planning. Others were sure to be controversial, such as requiring farmers to adopt climate-resilient practices if they want premium subsidies on crop insurance.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Ag emissions climb: EPA data show that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture increased 6 percent from 1990 to 2020, but the sector, a heavy user of fossil fuels and nitrogen fertilizer, “doesn’t have a solution on the horizon.” (Investigate Midwest)
USDA aims for ceiling: Sign-up for the Conservation Reserve, which pays landowners to retire fragile land from crops for 10 years or more, will run from Feb. 27 to April 7, with the Farm Service Agency aiming to reach the 27 million-acre cap set by law for fiscal 2023. (USDA)
Larger protective zones: The EPA said it would expand the size of so-called application exclusion zones, which are intended to protect people from exposure to pesticides being applied on farms, countermanding a Trump-era rule that is tied up in court. (EPA)
Fetterman seeks treatment: Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, checked himself into Walter Reed medical center to receive treatment for depression, said his chief of staff. (New York Times)
Newsom suspends rules: After criticism that California had “wasted” water by letting it flow to the sea during this winter’s storms, Gov. Gavin Newsom, looking to store more water, suspended environmental rules meant to protect endangered fish. (CalMatters)
