Month: August 2023

GM crops grown on 55 percent of U.S. cropland, says USDA Farmer adoption of genetically modified crop varieties is spreading beyond the well-known dominance of the major field crops of corn, soybeans, and cotton, said a USDA report. When lesser-known GM crops such as canola, potatoes, and apples are counted,… Continue reading

Preserve SNAP benefits in 2023 farm bill Lawmakers should refuse to make any cuts in SNAP, which is expected to be a major issue in drafting the new farm bill, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said on Tuesday. Congress expanded the work requirement for able-bodied adults enrolled in SNAP… Continue reading

House chairman says 2023 farm bill will be later than expected Congress will have to temporarily extend the lifespan of the 2018 farm bill because it will miss the Sept. 30 deadline for enacting its successor, said House Agriculture chairman Glenn Thompson. It was the first direct acknowledgement by one… Continue reading

Big corn and soybean crops in 2023, but lower farm-gate value The price U.S. producers get for corn and soybeans, the two most widely grown crops in the country, will fall 16 percent compared to last year’s harvests due to a steep drop in commodity prices, according to USDA data…. Continue reading

(AG Insider) A growing number of states are reimbursing schools for buying locally grown and produced foods in an effort to improve children’s diets while supporting local farmers. Before the pandemic, eight states and the District of Columbia had programs subsidizing local food purchases at schools — seven more states… Continue reading

Vilsack urges Brazil ‘in the strongest terms’ to speed up mad-cow testing In stern terms, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told his Brazilian counterpart that beef trade between the nations hinges on prompt reporting of cattle diseases, especially mad cow disease. Earlier this year, Brazil reported two cases of atypical mad… Continue reading

Lawmaker says farm bill should be split in two: SNAP and agriculture A decade after the House briefly put the idea into play, a senior Republican on the House Agriculture Committee said the far-ranging farm bill should be divided into two separate pieces of legislation: SNAP and everything else. SNAP,… Continue reading

House Republicans court defeat of farm bill with SNAP talk, say Democrats The 2023 farm bill is headed for defeat if Republican leaders meddle with SNAP, said Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee on Monday, pointing to floor votes that delayed enactment of the 2014 and 2018 bills. It was… Continue reading

Cropland values soar 33 percent in three years After years of stagnation, cropland values rose an average of $1,300 an acre in the three years since the pandemic hit the United States, according to the Agriculture Department. Values mushroomed 33 percent at the same time that farmers enjoyed back-to-back years… Continue reading

High interest rates fall heaviest on less-profitable farmers Interest rates doubled in the past year for agricultural loans, the fastest increase since the early 1980s, with the least-profitable farmers feeling the impact the most, said the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. “All producers should prepare for elevated interest rates by incorporating… Continue reading