Republicans ‘just don’t have the votes’ for farm bill – September 30, 2024

Republicans ‘just don’t have the votes’ for farm bill

The Republican-controlled House has not advanced a new farm bill because “they just don’t have the votes” to pass a bill that is $33 billion over budget, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack over the weekend. Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow was more “practical,” he said, by proposing a smaller increase in so-called reference prices and finding the money to pay for it.

Five Missouri healthcare workers with respiratory symptoms to be tested for bird flu

Blood samples from five healthcare workers in Missouri will be tested for exposure to the avian flu virus, said the Centers for Disease Control in a weekly update on bird flu. The workers developed mild respiratory symptoms while involved in treatment of a patient infected with the H5N1 virus but who had no known contact with animals.

Farmers take out more operating loans as revenue tightens

Bankers reported a 10-percent increase in farm operating loans this summer, compared to a year ago, said the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. “A moderation in the agricultural economy and lower farm sector liquidity has spurred higher financing needs and credit conditions have also shown signs of tightening,” said the bank, based on quarterly reports from lenders.

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

‘Moderate’ is the label: First-term Rep. John Duarte, a Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee, and Democrat Adam Gray both present themselves as moderates in a rematch of the U.S. House race in California’s Central Valley that Duarte won by 564 votes two years ago. (Los Angeles Times)

Tougher food additives rule: Under a bill filed by Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, chemical food additives would be subject to FDA approval, a stricter standard than the current system where foodmakers can declare a substance is “generally regarded as safe.” (Food Safety News)

More ag disaster funding: Thirteen U.S. representatives filed a bill to provide an additional $14 billion to the USDA for disaster relief of losses on 2023 crops, ranging from droughts and floods to wildfires. (Valadao)

ON THE CALENDAR

Monday

USDA releases annual Small Grains Summary and quarterly Grain Stocks reports, noon ET. In a Reuters survey, traders said they expected the Sept. 1 corn and soybean stocks to be the largest in four years, thanks to large U.S. crops. They said this year’s wheat crop would be slightly smaller than the 1.98 billion bushels that USDA forecast earlier this year.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.

Tuesday

CBS News holds vice-presidential debate between Republican nominee J.D. Vance and Democratic nominee Tim Walz, 9 p.m. ET, New York.
Inauguration day for the new president of Mexico, who serves a six-year term. The change in administration is a national holiday. Claudia Sheinbaum was elected president on June 2 to succeed Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Purdue University releases Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly gauge of the health of the agricultural economy.
Opening day for World Dairy Expo, through Friday, Madison, Wisconsin.

Wednesday

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small speaks during a webinar “designed for students, faculty, and mentors interested in issues and careers in agricultural and food law”; sponsored by the National Agricultural Library, noon ET.
International Food Policy Research Institute holds a policy seminar, “Debt distress and the right to food in Africa,” 9:30 a.m. ET.

Friday

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks at Global Dairy Summit, held at the World Dairy Expo, 10 a.m. ET.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization releases monthly Food Price Index, Rome.

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