Six-week government funding bill is proposed
The Senate was scheduled to take a procedural vote on Tuesday afternoon to keep the government running until early March, a six-week extension of the stop-gap funding bill now in place. If Congress fails to act, funding for the USDA and four other federal departments would expire on Friday.
U.S. crop prices head downhill after roller coaster climb
After soaring to sky-high levels following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. corn, soybean, and wheat prices are coming back to earth as supplies expand worldwide, said the Agriculture Department. The average price for corn this marketing year will be 27 percent lower, wheat 18 percent lower, and soybeans 10 percent lower than last season, said USDA analysts in a new look at global supply and demand.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Drought and the farm bill: The new farm bill should address “the heightened production risks posed by a hotter, drier future,” particularly in the Plains and the West, said 17 senators in a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee leaders. (Bennet)
Tester pushes land bills: Montana Sen. Jon Tester urged his colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration to back legislation to bar adversary nations from buying U.S. farmland and to give the government the power to review all significant farmland purchases by foreigners. (Tester)
Using USDA’s ‘bank’: Congress could resolve a deadlock over how to pay for higher reference prices in the farm bill by using USDA’s “bank,” the $30 billion reserve held by the Commodity Credit Corp., said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
Fishery tests Chevron deference: The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in a case that involves fishery regulations and could sink the long-standing ‘Chevron’ rule of giving deference to agencies to define their powers. (New York Times)
Mexico gobbles U.S. pork: Data are still being compiled for the final month of the calendar year, but U.S. pork exports to Mexico already total $2.12 billion, enough to make 2023 the best year on record for sales to the U.S. neighbor, said the U.S. Meat Export Federation. (USMEF)
ON THE CALENDAR
Tuesday
Representatives of more than 100 nations and major international organizations attend the 54th World Economic Forum, through Friday, Davos, Switzerland.
Final day of the School Nutrition Association’s annual School Nutrition Industry Conference, Orlando, Florida.
Wednesday
EcoFarm holds its 44th annual EcoFarm Conference, through Saturday, Pacific Grove, California.
The Risk Management Agency holds an online workshop to discuss new and expanded livestock risk management products such as Dairy Revenue Protection and Livestock Gross Margin, 1 p.m. ET. The USDA agency will also hold several Livestock Roadshow sessions around the country through March 7.
Thursday
Cynthia Cordes of the law firm Husch Blackwell speaks at the annual legal update sponsored by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, 12:30 a.m. ET, Kansas City.
Friday
Funding for the USDA expires at midnight unless Congress agrees on a new funding package.
Alliance for a Stronger FDA holds a webinar on FDA reorganization plans, 11 a.m. ET. Speakers include FDA deputy commissioner Janet Woodcock, FDA deputy commissioner for food Jim Jones, FDA chief scientist Namandje Bumpus, and Donald Painter, acting director of the FDA’s Center on Food Safety and Nutrition.
USDA releases monthly Cattle on Feed and Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry reports, 3 p.m. ET.
Sunday
American Farm Bureau Federation holds its 105th annual convention, through Jan. 24, Salt Lake City.
International Dairy Foods Association holds the Dairy Forum 2024, through Jan. 24, Phoenix.
