U.S. Department of Agriculture
Concerns over the world’s supply of grains and oilseeds are prompting the Biden administration to step in and encourage more production. Grain analysts say supplies of grains are tight due to the situation in Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine will dictate food prices, according to Vilsack: “We don’t really know what the impact is going to be on Ukraine’s crop this year, or what it’s going to look like in terms of exportability.”
Food prices continue to climb across the board. According to the latest Consumer Price Index, increasing grocery prices account for the largest share of the hike. However, shoppers don’t view prices as high.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack provided more details regarding the general CRP signup that ended March 11. He said only 1.8 million of the 4 million acres in expiring contracts will be re-enrolled in the program.
Nearly 4 million acres of CRP expire this year. Secy. Vilsack wrote to National Grain and Feed Association’s Mike Seyfert to share converting CRP is “unfeasible.” However, Vilsack did offer one caveat in his letter.
USDA says there are currently no plans to provide direct payments to farmers impacted by soaring fertilizer prices. The news comes as farm groups and lawmakers are asking assistance to help with rising fertilizer costs.
A growing number of lawmakers, farm groups and farmers are pleading for assistance from still surging fertilizer prices. One possibility for USDA would be to tap the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act.
USDA’s Prospective Plantings report came with some shocks as farmers revealed 2022 planting plans. Despite the higher than expected soybean acreage numbers, some analysts say the soybean balance sheet is still tight.
For 2022, USDA are expecting more soybean acres than corn. That’s according to the 2022 Prospective Plantings report released on March 31.
President Biden’s USDA FY 2023 budget proposal focuses on climate, conservation and research with $3.8 billion discretionary spending increase for USDA with climate, conservation and clean energy the major focal points.
USDA now expects food price inflation in 2022 to be from 4.5% to 5.5%, compared with 2021, based on the all-food Consumer Price Index. No category shows a potential decline.
Ted McKinney, NASDA CEO, led the climate conversation with a diverse list of speakers. From wildfires to water quality, each corner of the nation spoke to their state’s ag adversity, and their work in overcoming it.
It is clear the current administration sees the USDA and its influence over domestic agriculture as critical to fight climate change. What is not so clear is the definition of a “climate-smart” commodity.
Secretary Vilsack supports attorney generals search for answers. He says once the market studies are completed, “we may learn additional steps we can take.”
Expect Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to dominate the State of the Union address tonight. As for issues affecting agriculture, there may be few details offered, says USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Congress returns Monday, but to a very different situation due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is expected to be one of the key issues President Biden talks about during his State of the Union address.
In 2021, the first year the program was made available, producers enrolled 12.2 million acres of cover crops in PCCP, capturing a collective $59.5 million in premium subsidies.
Wiesemeyer says “you don’t spend some $300 million on these [soybean crushing] plants without a solid foundation of a market in the future.”
Dry conditions in South America continue to damage crop potential.
Rep. Garamendi says the USDA partnership with the Port of Oakland “isn’t going to solve the problem” because shippers deliver product to the U.S. and leave ports with empty containers.
Less than 1% of fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA show pesticide residue levels outside permitted ranges.
When we think of carbon credits, we often think of renewable energy markets like wind, solar and electric vehicles. Hemp is proven to absorb more CO2 per acre than any forest or commercial crop.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall told members this week he will continue to press for policy that progresses agriculture, citing AFBF’s work on changes to the White House’s “America the Beautiful” plan as an example.
AFBF’s in-person annual convention focused on everything from H-2A workers, drought, supply chain chaos and policy changes like the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the group Monday.
Available in select counties in 11 states, the Post Application Coverage Endorsement is available for non-irrigated corn.
The House and Senate are on recess this week, but work is ramping back up to finalize 2021 legislation before the New Year begins.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Rep. Cindy Axne joined AgriTalk with host Chip Flory and Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer recently to comb through President Biden’s reframe of the Build Back Better (BBB) plan.
The FSA administrator dives into farmer financing, programs, vaccine rates and more.
USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation talks carbon and goals.
Here is how some of the roughly $82 billion in agricultural spending could be dispersed.