Reuters’ Karen Braun reported Tuesday that “survey work published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday showed June 1 U.S. corn stocks at 4.99 billion bushels, a four-year high, up 22% from a year earlier and up 7% from the 10-year average for June 1. But 61% of those corn supplies was held on […]
Farm Policy News
Shell Pauses Biofuels Project Amid Tough Market Conditions
Market Watch’s Louis Goss reported that “Shell on Tuesday said it had temporarily halted construction of a major biofuels production facility in the Netherlands, in a bid to ensure it is able to produce competitively in the face of an anticipated flood of sustainable fuels into the market from the U.S.” “The London-headquartered company first […]
John Deere Laying Off 600+ More Employees
Fox Business’ Michael Dorgan reported this past Saturday that “John Deere, the world’s largest seller of tractors and crop harvesters, has announced another wave of layoffs Friday, telling around 610 production staff at plants in Illinois and Iowa that they will be out of a job by the end of the summer.” “The company is […]
Corn Acres Down, Soybeans Up Over Last Year
FarmWeek’s Daniel Grant reported Friday that “a challenging planting season apparently didn’t stop U.S. farmers from seeding a hefty amount of corn and soybeans, according to USDA’s much-anticipated June acreage report released (this past) Friday. Despite wild weather fluctuations in recent months, USDA pegged planted acreage at 91.5 million acres of corn and 86.1 million […]
USDA to Pay Dairies For Milk Loss Due to Bird Flu
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported Thursday that “USDA will now pay dairy farmers for lost milk production if their herds have been infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza.” “Starting Monday, July 1, producers who have confirmed infections in their herds can apply for lost milk production at the Farm Service Agency under the Emergency […]
Iowa Regulators Approve Summit Carbon Pipeline Permit
The Des Moines Register’s Kevin Baskins reported that “after a 2½-year process filled with controversy, the Iowa Utilities Board on Tuesday approved Summit Carbon Solutions’ request to build a carbon capture pipeline across Iowa.” “In perhaps the most controversial part of its decision, the board said Summit will be able to use eminent domain to […]
House Farm Bill Provision Could Block Roundup Lawsuits
The Washington Post’s Tony Romm reported late last week that “the approximately 1,000-page House version of the (Farm Bill) contains a single section — drafted with the aid of Bayer — that could halt some lawsuits against Roundup, according to documents viewed by The Washington Post and seven people familiar with the matter, who spoke […]
Denmark Implementing Novel Tax on Farm Emissions
Bloomberg’s Sanne Wass reported Monday that “Denmark will introduce a levy on farm emissions in what is set to be one of the world’s first carbon taxes on agriculture, helping the Nordic nation reach its 2030 climate target with backing from key industry and environmental groups.” “Farmers will be taxed 300 kroner ($43) per ton […]
Rain Causing Growing Concern for U.S. Crops
Reuters’ Naveen Thukral reported Monday that “in the United States, a top food exporter, intense heat has gripped parts of the east coast, while excessive rains in the key Midwest growing region and forecasts for more wet weather have raised fears of floods.” “‘In the Midwest, the focus is shifting from heat to too much […]
New CBO Estimate Remains Below GOP Farm Bill Needs
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher reported Wednesday that “the Congressional Budget Office is sticking with a cost estimate for USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation spending authority that is far lower than congressional Republicans need to fund their farm bill proposals. CBO on Tuesday estimated that USDA’s use of its Section 5 authority under the CCC would total $12 […]
U.S. Farmers Holding On To Large Corn and Soybean Stocks
Reuters’ P.J. Huffstutter and Karl Plume reported Monday that “after stockpiling crops for much of this season due to low prices, many farmers in the world’s largest corn-producing nation continue to shun buyers despite few signs that prices will improve. Grain supplies are ample and early ratings of summer crops are the best in years.” […]
Ag Groups Suing Over Biden Emissions Rules
Reuters reported Tuesday that “the top U.S. oil and corn industry lobby groups said on Tuesday they were suing the administration of President Joe Biden over its plans to slash planet-warming tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks, arguing the regulations will cause economic harm.” “The American Petroleum Institute (API), which is the top U.S. oil […]
EU Adopts ‘Nature Restoration Plan’ Despite Ag Opposition
The Associated Press’ Samuel Petrequin reported that “European Union countries on Monday gave final approval to a major and long-awaited plan to better protect nature in the 27-nation bloc, a divisive issue after months of protests by farmers who argued that EU environmental and climate laws were driving them toward bankruptcy.” “After surviving a razor-thin […]
Despite Progress, Farm Bill Passage Growing More Unlikely in 2024
Despite recent progress on the 2024 Farm Bill — including passage of the House Agriculture Committee’s version of the bill and competing frameworks released in the Senate Agriculture Committee — lawmakers in recent days have been hinting that passage of a full Farm Bill in 2024 is growing more unlikely and that another extension of […]
House Subcommittee Approves Ag Funding Bill
E&E News’ Marc Heller reported earlier this week that “House appropriators Tuesday approved their annual agriculture spending bill for fiscal 2025 that would cut programs related to climate change and rural energy.” “Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) said the $25.9 billion measure would rein in wasteful spending on Biden administration priorities while maintaining […]
SNAP Participation Up, Spending Down in 2023
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increased 2.3% in 2023 to an average of 42.1 million people each month, while total federal spending on the program decreased 5.6% in 2023 to $112.8 billion, according to new research from the USDA’s Economic Research Service. The 42.1 million people participating in SNAP each month “was […]
Senate Ag GOP Unveils Farm Bill Framework
Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill and Grace Yarrow reported Tuesday that “Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans released their farm bill proposal Tuesday, which would significantly expand farm safety net programs, setting up a major clash with Democrats.” “The legislative framework, which outlines various policy priorities but does not contain bill text, largely mirrors the GOP-led House farm […]
Crop Insurance Coverage Exceeds 500 Million Acres for First Time
FERN’s Ag Insider reported Monday that “farmers and ranchers bought crop insurance policies on more than 500 million acres of land last year, the largest amount ever, driven by the surging popularity of forage policies. Overall enrollment in crop insurance was up 85% in the seven years from 2016, according to USDA data.” “In 2021, […]
Brazil Tax Change Could Make US Soybeans More Attractive
Bloomberg’s Clarice Couto reported this past Friday that “a surprising tax change in agriculture powerhouse Brazil has the potential to make soy grown in the world’s largest bean exporter less competitive with supplies from the US, according to a report from risk management firm Amius Ltd. The provisional measure, signed Tuesday by President Luiz Inacio […]
US Dairy Cows Dying and Being Culled Due to Avian Flu
Reuters’ Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek reported Thursday that “dairy cows infected with avian flu in five U.S. states have died or been slaughtered by farmers because they did not recover, state officials and academics told Reuters.” “Reports of the deaths suggest the bird flu outbreak in cows could take a greater economic toll in […]