(AG Insider) Senators with opposite views of the ethanol mandate verbally leaned on EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler on Wednesday, with one asking for relief from the requirement to mix the biofuel into gasoline and the other calling for him to unflinchingly enforce it. Wheeler said he has not reached… Continue reading
Trump launches coronavirus aid to agriculture, with a $750,000 top payment The Trump administration modified its $16-billion coronavirus aid program for agriculture so it will be easier for farmers, particularly livestock producers and specialty crop growers, to collect larger payments, to a maximum of $250,000 per person or $750,000… Continue reading
Schools are feeding millions of children. Now they face huge losses. Public schools served tens of millions of emergency meals in April to low-income children after coronavirus closures ended cafeteria service, said a survey released on Monday. But with roughly half of the school districts reporting a drop-off… Continue reading
House votes to double coronavirus payments to agriculture Senate Republicans will ignore the “unserious” $3-trillion coronavirus relief bill passed along party lines by the House in favor of steps such as liability shields for employers, said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The House bill included $16.5 billion for cash… Continue reading
Food insecurity doubles due to coronavirus, may exceed Great Recession One-fifth of Americans say they have had trouble getting enough food to eat during the economic turmoil of the cornavirus pandemic, a nearly overnight doubling of food insecurity in the United States, according to a national poll released on… Continue reading
Overcoming shame, Americans ask food banks for help Two of every five people visiting food banks “never had to ask for help for food” before — a gauge of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, said the chief operating officer of Feeding America. Katie Fitzgerald said food… Continue reading
Coronavirus could pare meat consumption by 10 pounds per American The coronavirus, which has shut down meat plants and put millions of people out of work, will reduce American meat consumption by 4 percent, or 10 pounds per person, this year, said the government on Tuesday in a new… Continue reading
China trade advisers push renegotiating U.S. trade pact – report Some Chinese trade advisers are arguing that Beijing should invalidate the “phase one” trade agreement that de-escalated the Sino-U.S. trade war as retaliation for a U.S. coronavirus blame campaign, reported a state-controlled Chinese newspaper on Monday. Pay hog… Continue reading
Most meat plants will be on line this week despite coronavirus, says Perdue Although beef and pork slaughter plants ran at less than three-fourths capacity last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says, “We think most of our facilities will be back on line” by the end of this week…. Continue reading
Food Box purchases will precede coronavirus checks to farmers Farmers and ranchers will begin signing up for $16 billion in coronavirus payments by the end of May if all goes according to plan, said a USDA spokesperson on Thursday. In that case, the payments would follow the USDA’s awarding… Continue reading
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