USDA orders testing nationwide for bird flu virus in milk fresh from the cow
The Agriculture Department will launch a testing program next week that looks for the bird flu virus in milk fresh from the farm to get a clearer picture of the prevalence of the H5N1 virus among U.S. dairy herds. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the tests would complement ongoing efforts to identify infected herds and stop the spread of bird flu.
Farm groups prod Congress for economic relief.
With two weeks left in the congressional schedule for this year, time is running out for lawmakers to provide financial relief to agriculture, said two farm groups. “It is imperative that they address the well-defined and fully substantiated needs of farmers just trying to hold on for another season,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
So, will prices rise or not?: President-elect Donald Trump said in a televised interview that tariffs “cost Americans nothing”; but when asked about estimates they could raise prices, he said, “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow.” (NPR)
Most rural hospitals lack maternity wards: More than 500 hospitals have closed their maternity wards since 2010, leaving most rural hospitals and a third of urban hospitals without obstetric care, said a study published in the journal JAMA. (New York Times)
Perdue as China ambassador: David Perdue, who served on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said that as U.S. ambassador to China, he would implement “President Trump’s strategy to make the world safe again.” (Perdue)
Food index is highest in 19 months: Vegetable oil prices rose steeply for the second month in a row and helped push the FAO Food Price Index to its highest level since April 2023. But prices are still 20.4-percent lower than at inflation’s peak in March 2022. (Food and Agriculture Organization)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
USA Rice holds its annual Outlook Conference, through Tuesday, Little Rock, Arkansas.
United Soybean Board, in charge of funding generated by the soybean checkoff, holds board meetings, through Thursday, St. Charles, Missouri.
Tuesday
USDA releases monthly Crop Production and WASDE reports, noon ET. Traders expect the USDA to slightly increase its forecast of the soybean crops in Brazil and Argentina.
USDA releases “America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance: 2024 Edition,” 9 a.m. ET. The Economic Research Service will host a webinar on the report at 1 p.m. ET.
National Grain and Feed Association holds Country Elevator Conference and trade show, through Thursday, Kansas City.
American Seed Trade Association holds ASTA’s Field Seed Convention 2024, through Friday, Orlando.
American Peanut Council holds 2024 APC Insights, through Wednesday, Atlanta.
The California Almond Board holds The Almond Conference, through Thursday, Sacramento.
Wednesday
The Labor Department releases monthly Consumer Price Index report, 8:30 a.m. ET. At present, the food inflation rate is 2.9 percent and the overall U.S. inflation rate is 2.6 percent.
The Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at Ohio State University hosts a webinar, “Urban willingness to pay to protect nearby farmland, nature, and local food,” noon ET.
Thursday
Farm Foundation holds an online forum, “Tax year 2025: Potential impacts and opportunities for farmers and the agriculture sector,” 10 a.m. ET. Speakers are Mark Albright of the IRS, Kent Baucus of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Tia McDonald of USDA’s Economic Research Service, Paul Neiffer of Farm CPA Report, and Elizabeth Swanson of Pinion.
Farmdoc daily holds a webinar, “Bridging the gap: Technology adoption in smallholder farms,” noon ET.
Friday
USDA releases annual Cost of Pollination report, 3 p.m. ET. The report provides data on the cost of pollination for tree fruit, melons, blueberries, vegetables, citrus, and other crops in price per acre, colonies used, price per colony, and total value of pollination by class and type of fruit.