Heat Slows Tomatoes and FFA Membership Record
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**With searing heat impacting pollination for some plantings and harvest for others, California processing tomato growers say they’re anticipating average yields at best.
As farmers began harvesting across the Central Valley during the past few weeks, the crop was already set to be a light one.
Tomato processors contracted 40,000 fewer acres from farmers this year due to bolstered inventory from last year’s bumper crop, aiming to process about 10% less tonnage.
**The National FFA has reached a record-breaking milestone of more than one million members, up 8.6% from last year.
National FFA says states that have shown the largest membership percentage growth this past year are Utah, Florida, and Alaska.
CEO Scott Stump says we know there are many opportunities in agriculture, from being a community leader to filling the need in one of more than 350 careers in agriculture.
**The Congressional Budget Office’s official cost estimate of the House Ag Committee’s farm bill shows it’s $33 billion over budget and fails to pay for a large increase in crop subsidies.
House Ag Chair GT Thompson says if the CBO doesn’t change its mind, he’ll rely on the House Budget Committee instead.
The CBO estimate creates a large obstacle to passing a farm bill and Congress is already 10 months late.
