USDA report finds barriers to farmers in carbon markets
More than nine out of 10 farmers are aware of carbon markets but only a fraction of them are participants, said a USDA report on Monday that listed several barriers, including a “limited return on investment as a result of high transaction costs.” Carbon contracts have been promoted as a way for farmers to be paid for locking carbon into the soil as part of their day-to-day operations.
Hands off climate change funds, say House Ag Democrats
All 24 Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee signed a letter telling panel leaders on Monday “it would ultimately be a disservice to American farmers” to hijack the $20 billion earmarked in the farm bill for climate-mitigation projects. Some lawmakers, with Republicans the most vocal, would use the money to fatten the crop subsidy system.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Vilsack to announce export aid: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is scheduled to announce on Tuesday new funding for USDA food aid and market promotion programs in the face of a decline in farm exports from their 2022 peak. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
Teens in poultry plant: More than two dozen minors, mainly from Guatemala, performed meat processing and sanitation duties at a poultry plant in Kidron, Ohio, said advocates who spoke after a federal raid of the plant. (NBC News)
Rural-urban religious parity: Despite the pervasive depictions of rural religious fervor, roughly equal portions of rural and urban Americans say they are Christians or attend religious services weekly. (Daily Yonder)
Soymeal exports set record: In the just-ended 2022/23 trade year, a record 13.2 million tons of U.S. soybean meal were exported. Shipments are forecast at an even-higher 13.9 million tons in the new trade year; soymeal is in ready supply due to demand for soy oil in making biofuels. (USDA)
