NATIONAL AG NEWS SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
National Ag News for July 13, 2022
USDA Expands Crop Insurance for Double Crop Systems
The Department of Agriculture Tuesday announced an expansion of crop insurance availability for double-crop practices. To reduce the risk of raising two crops on the same land in one year – a practice known as double cropping – USDA’s Risk Management Agency is expanding double-crop insurance opportunities in over 1,500 counties where double cropping is viable. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined President Joe Biden at an Illinois farm in May to announce a series of actions to help farmers. Vilsack says, “Today, USDA is making good on one of those commitments and making it easier to plant double crops and sharing some of the financial risk.” For soybeans, double-crop coverage will be expanded to or streamlined in at least 681 counties. For grain sorghum, double-crop coverage will be expanded to or streamlined in at least 870 counties. The coverage expansion was guided by extensive outreach to nearly 70 grower groups covering 28 states.
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USDA Releases July WASDE Report
USDA released the July World Agriculture Supply and Demand report Tuesday. This month’s 2022/23 U.S. corn outlook calls for larger supplies and higher ending stocks. Corn beginning stocks were raised 25 million bushels, based on reduced feed and residual use for 2021/22 as indicated in the June 30 Grain Stocks report. The season-average farm price received by producers was lowered 10 cents to $6.65 per bushel. Oilseed production for 2022/23 is projected at 132.7 million tons, down 3.9 million from last month. Soybean production is projected at 4.5 billion bushels, down 135 million on lower harvested area. Harvested area, forecast at 87.5 million acres in the June 30 Acreage report, is down 2.6 million from last month. The season-average soybean price is forecasted at $14.40 per bushel, down $0.30 from last month. The outlook for 2022/23 U.S. wheat this month forecasts larger supplies, domestic use, exports, and ending stocks. The projected season-average price declined $0.25 per bushel to $10.50.
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USDA Accepts More than 3.1 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup
The Department of Agriculture is accepting offers for more than 3.1 million through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program Grassland Signup, the highest in history. The program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity and conservation. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “This year’s record-breaking Grassland CRP signup demonstrates the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs.” Nationwide, this year’s Grassland CRP signup surpassed last year’s 2.5 million acres by 22 percent. So far this year, producers have enrolled two million acres through the General Signup, and more than 464,000 acres have been submitted through the Continuous CRP Signup. This means about 5.6 million acres are entering CRP in 2023, surpassing the 3.9 million acres expiring this year. Producers can still make an offer to participate in CRP through the Continuous CRP Signup by contacting the FSA at their local USDA Service Center.
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House Ag Committee Leaders Launch Online Farm Bill Feedback Form
Leadership of the House Agriculture Committee this week announced an online form to gather farmer feedback for consideration in the next farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and Ranking Member Glenn “GT” Thompson announced the form for farmers and ranchers to submit their feedback and ideas for the 2023 Farm Bill. Chairman Scott says, “This is a chance to hear directly from farmers, ranchers and foresters across the nation.” Ranking Member Thompson adds, “Hearing directly from farm country about what’s working and what’s not is the only way to ensure we craft a bill that meets the needs of rural America.” In addition to the feedback gathered online, the House Agriculture Committee will continue to conduct hearings in Washington, DC and hold listening sessions across the country to gather input as we prepare for the 2023 Farm Bill. The online form is available on the House Ag Committee website.
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Meat Industry Leaders Strengthen Collaboration on Food Security
The North American Meat Institute’s Executive Board voted unanimously late Friday to designate food security as a non-competitive issue. Announces Tuesday, the action, according to the organization, strengthens industry-wide efforts to end hunger and ensure families in need have access to nutrient-dense meat. NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts says, “Declaring food security a non-competitive issue will allow the Meat Institute and its members to freely share best practices.” Potts says the action is especially important as the industry prepares to support the September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. Through the Protein PACT for the People, Animals and Climate of tomorrow, the Meat Institute has committed to fill the protein gap by 2025. The Meat Institute has also established a Food Security Committee to bring members together to facilitate discussion, information-sharing, and problem-solving related to charitable giving, hunger relief and food security.
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U.S. Residents Consumed Less Ice Cream in 2020 than in 2000
U.S. residents are scooping less of their favorite frozen treats than two decades ago. USDA’s Economic Research Service Tuesday reported that in 2020, the United States consumed about 21 pounds per person of frozen dairy products—about five pounds per capita less than in 2000. Consumption of regular ice cream in 2020 was estimated at 12.7 pounds per person, a decrease of about 3.4 pounds from 2000. At 6.9 pounds, per capita consumption of low-fat and nonfat ice cream was about the same in 2020 as in 2000. Consumption of other frozen dairy products, which include frozen yogurt, sherbet, and other frozen dairy products, decreased from 3.4 pounds to 1.6 pounds per person in the same period. This trend in frozen dairy products is in line with a decline in consumption of total caloric sweeteners per capita from 149.0 pounds in 2000 to 122.5 pounds per capita in 2020, reflecting shifting preferences among consumers.
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