Organic Cotton Demand Higher and SNAP Serves Millions
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**Demand for organic U.S cotton is growing, but imports continue to pick up the slack of inadequate domestic production.
A new project by Texas A&M AgriLife Research aims to turn the situation around by identifying the challenges and opportunities for U.S. organic cotton growers.
Researchers expect the study to help U.S. producers determine how to improve yields, productivity, and sustainability in their existing fields and transition more acreage into organic production.
**The USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative are accepting applications for new members to serve on agricultural trade advisory committees.
Members of the committee provide advice to the administration on the implementation and enforcement of existing U.S. trade agreements, negotiation of new agreements, and other trade policy matters.
Committee members serve four-year terms and represent a cross-section of U.S. food and agricultural stakeholders.
Applications must be received by January 31.
**New data from USDA's Economic Research Service shows in fiscal year 2022, USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program served an average of 41.1 million people per month across the country.
SNAP is the largest domestic nutrition assistance program, accounting for about two-thirds of USDA spending on food and nutrition assistance in recent years.
SNAP participation increased nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic to a high of 12.5% of the population in fiscal year 2021.
