California Specialty Crop Grant Program and Potential Farm Bill Problems
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**California is getting $45.5 million from the USDA’s Specialty Crop Grant Program.
The money will benefit farm boards and producers and University of California system research centers, and some 100 agricultural projects will get funds to boost specialty market sales of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops.
The money includes $31.6 million in stimulus funds to help agriculture address impacts of the pandemic.
**U.S. oil refiners are upping the ante in the battle over biofuels in an attempt to win support from the Biden administration.
Reuters says they’re making moves in the biofuel credit market that may force some plants to close if the president doesn’t bail them out from Renewable Fuel Standard requirements.
Some of those refiners are betting that President Biden will side with them and roll back the RFS.
**There may be trouble ahead for the upcoming Farm Bill in Washington, D.C.
A Successful Farming article quotes a former USDA official who says the 2023 legislation could be in trouble if the political turbulence surrounding the last two farm bills keeps going.
The House defeated the normally-bipartisan bill in 2013 and 2018 because of a partisan battle over reduced SNAP spending.
More potential backlash could include the $53 billion worth of trade war and coronavirus relief payments given to farmers since 2018.
