Pesticide Use Down and Adjusting Input Spending
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**A new study shows California farmers’ use of higher-risk pesticides is on the decline.
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s reports the state’s agricultural pesticide use dropped in pounds applied AND acres treated between 2021 and 22, with the 5% overall decline reflecting a decade-long trend.
Over that time, California has seen a 77% decrease in groundwater contaminants and a 21% drop in toxic air contaminants.
**Rabobank released a report on how farmers adjust input spending when commodity prices drop.
The report says farm machinery is a hard asset that can be maintained, deferring new purchases.
Lower fertilizer prices typically shoulder the bulk of changes in expenditures, but farmers can also adjust those volumes.
Seed spending has increased markedly over the past 20 years, but as some seed patents expire, seed production costs are expected to dictate price.
**Programs that benefit every family in America are too important to put off any longer.
That’s the message from the American Farm Bureau and more than 500 other groups in a letter to Congressional leaders calling for the passage of a new farm bill.
The groups represent agriculture, nutrition, conservation, the environment, rural development, and several other economic sectors.
They say passing a stopgap extension would risk further delay following an election.
