Chuck Abbott
Washington, D.C.
@chuckabbott@journa.host
Covering U.S. farm, food, rural and ag trade policy, mostly.
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Articles by Chuck Abbott
Why add Klea Edge 444A and Klea 456A to my current inventory of refrigerants?
Q: Why add Klea Edge 444A and Klea 456A to my current inventory of refrigerants? The answer is simple – three P’s – Price, Planet, and Performance. For both shops and consumers, there is a real value proposition for adopting refrigerants R-444A and R-456A. The first, R-444A, is a direct replacement for R-1234yf, and the second, R-456A, is designed to replace R-134a; the two most common refrigerants used today in vehicles in the United States and around the world.
Refrigerant change is on the horizon
A new refrigerant option for R-1234yf, known as R-444A, is now available for automotive professional use. R-444A has been thoroughly vetted for over a decade and is under consideration for first fill by leading vehicle manufacturers worldwide. As an economical refrigerant option for R-1234yf for aftermarket vehicle service providers, R-444A provides a boost to A/C system cooling performance and is more energy efficient. Why should R-444A be considered over R-1234yf?
Tom Vilsack
For former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, retirement at age 74 is out of the question. “There’s work to be done in food and nutrition security,” said the tireless proponent for climate-smart agriculture and creating new sources of farm income. “And I will look for opportunities to be engaged in that effort,” he added during his final days in office. On Jan. 28, about two weeks after Successful Farming sat down with Vilsack, he was announced as the CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation.
Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack's Journey: What Comes After 12 Years at USDA?
For Tom Vilsack, a tireless proponent as agriculture secretary for climate-smart agriculture and creating new sources of farm income, retirement is out of the question at age 74. “There’s work to be done in food and nutrition security, and I will look for opportunities to be engaged in that effort,” he said during his final days as USDA secretary of agriculture. With nearly 12 years of service in the Obama and Biden administrations, Vilsack is the second-longest serving agriculture secretary.
NEW FACE AT THE USDA
Think tank leader Brooke Rollins, a top White House aide during the first Trump administration, will start work as agriculture secretary with a valuable asset: the president’s ear, outgoing Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “She has a relationship with the president. Boy, that is really, really important in the ag job,” said Vilsack, who led the USDA for 12 of the past 16 years. “I’m confident she will be confirmed.” President-elect Donald J.
Louisiana Patient Is First Severe U.S. Case of Bird Flu
A Louisiana resident was hospitalized with “severe illness” due to the bird flu virus, the most serious U.S. case since the viral disease appeared in wild birds in the South nearly three years ago, said the Centers for Disease Control on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as bird flu outbreaks in dairy herds, previously limited to the Central Valley, were detected in Southern California.
Year-End Package Has $10 Billion in Economic Relief for Agriculture
Congressional leaders have agreed on $10 billion in financial aid to farmers to offset lower commodity prices and high production costs, said House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday. The money would be part of a must-pass bill to fund the government for the next three months. “So I think what you’ll see reflected in this final package is $10 billion,” Johnson said during a news conference. “The CR [continuing resolution] is coming together. Bipartisan work is ongoing.
Craig Wins First-Round Vote for House Democratic Ag Leader
Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, elected four times from a swing district south of the Twin Cities, won the endorsement of the House Democratic Steering Committee on Monday to be the party’s leader on the Agriculture Committee beginning in January. The full Democratic caucus was scheduled to vote on the post on Tuesday. The party usually follows the committee’s recommendations but success is not guaranteed. Reps.
Farm Groups Demand Ag Aid Despite Congressional Impasse
Major U.S. farm groups said they would try to torpedo a short-term government funding bill in Congress this week unless it contains a multibillion-dollar bailout for agriculture. Negotiations fell apart over the weekend on inclusion of so-called economic aid in the only must-pass bill left before adjournment, scheduled for Friday.
Two Thirds of Large Crop Farms Use Precision Agriculture Technology, Says Report
Some 68% of large crop farms use precision agriculture technology that generates information that aids decision-making by operators, such as yield monitors, yield maps, and soil maps, said the USDA on Tuesday. The annual “Farms and Ranches at a Glance” report showed higher-volume farms are heavy users of the technology, notwithstanding earlier reports showing a low usage rate by farmers nationwide.
Today’s quick hits, Dec. 11, 2024
More legumes, less meat: Americans would be advised to eat more legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils, while consuming less red and processed meat if the government adopts suggestions from the experts helping to write the new Dietary Guidelines. (HHS and USDA) Judges block Kroger deal: A federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington State blocked the proposed $24.6 billion merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertons, the largest grocery merger in U.S. history.
Equipment Sales Falter as Farm Income Slows, Tariffs a Concern, Say Regional Feds
Farm equipment sales are slowing alongside the downturn in farm income, creating a headwind to overall U.S. investment activity, said the Beige Book, a summary of economic conditions in Federal Reserve Bank districts. In discussing agriculture, the St. Louis Fed said some businesses were building inventory in anticipation of potential tariffs on imported goods.
U.S. proposal would protect monarch butterfly as threatened species
The orange-and-black monarch butterfly, known for migrating thousands of miles, would be protected as a threatened species under a proposal by the Interior Department on Tuesday. The monarch population has dropped by 80 percent since the 1980s due to loss of habitat, exposure to pesticides, and climate change. “The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Two thirds of large crop farms use precision agriculture technology, says report
Some 68 percent of large crop farms use precision agriculture technology that generates information that aids decision-making by operators, such as yield monitors, yield maps, and soil maps, said the USDA on Tuesday. The annual “Farms and Ranches at a Glance” report showed higher-volume farms are heavy users of the technology, notwithstanding earlier reports showing… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, Dec. 10, 2024
Farm activist Corky Jones dies: Nebraska farmer Corky Jones, a former president of the American Agriculture Movement and a leader of the 1979 Tractorcade that brought hundreds of farmers to Washington to seek change in U.S. farm policy, has died at age 92. (Farm Aid) Eleven warmest months: The average temperature for the 48 contiguous states from January through Novermber was 57.1 degrees F, 3.3 degrees above average and the warmest on record for the 11-month period.
USDA Orders Testing Nationwide for Bird Flu Virus in Milk Fresh From the Cow
The Agriculture Department will launch a testing program next week that looks for the bird flu virus in milk fresh from the farm to get a clearer picture of the prevalence of the H5N1 virus among U.S. dairy herds. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the tests would complement ongoing efforts to identify infected herds and stop the spread of bird flu.
Reports of three new human cases of bird flu include California child
Arizona health officials said two workers employed at poultry farms have recovered from mild cases of bird flu while the public health agency in Marin County, north of San Francisco, said it was investigating a possible bird flu infection of a child. If confirmed by the CDC, the U.S. total for bird flu infections would… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Equipment sales falter as farm income slows, tariffs a concern, say regional Feds
Farm equipment sales are slowing alongside the downturn in farm income, creating a headwind to overall U.S. investment activity, said the Beige Book, a summary of economic conditions in Federal Reserve Bank districts. In discussing agriculture, the St. Louis Fed said some businesses were building inventory in anticipation of potential tariffs on imported goods. Lower… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, Dec. 9, 2024
So, will prices rise or not?: President-elect Donald Trump said in a televised interview that tariffs “cost Americans nothing”; but when asked about estimates they could raise prices, he said, “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow.” (NPR) Most rural hospitals lack maternity wards: More than 500 hospitals have closed their maternity wards since 2010, leaving most rural hospitals and a third of urban hospitals without obstetric care, said a study published in the journal JAMA.
USDA orders testing nationwide for bird flu virus in milk fresh from the cow
The Agriculture Department will launch a testing program next week that looks for the bird flu virus in milk fresh from the farm to get a clearer picture of the prevalence of the H5N1 virus among U.S. dairy herds. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the tests would complement ongoing efforts to identify infected herds and… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Farm groups prod Congress for economic relief
With two weeks left in the congressional schedule for this year, time is running out for lawmakers to provide financial relief to agriculture, said two farm groups. “It is imperative that they address the well-defined and fully substantiated needs of farmers just trying to hold on for another season,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, December 6, 2024
Ukraine keeps exporting grain: Despite lower yields and the loss of cropland because of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has maintained its presence as a major corn and wheat exporter, said analysts. (farmdoc daily) Loeffler to head SBA: President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee during her brief tenure, to lead the Small Business Administration.
Negotiate Before Applying Tariffs, Farm Bureau Says
The largest U.S. farm group would prefer negotiation, rather than a salvo of tariffs, as the first step in resolving U.S. disputes with other nations, said the American Farm Bureau Federation’s chief economist on Wednesday. “I think it’s important, when we’re talking about friends like Mexico and Canada, that we talk first,” said economist Roger Cryan.
One mutation could make H5N1 a greater threat, researchers say
While there has been no sign of person-to-person spread of bird flu, researchers said on Thursday that a single mutation in the H5N1 avian influenza virus could enhance the virus’ ability to attach to human cells. That could potentially increase the possibility of transmission among humans, said the study, led by a team of scientists… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
FDA is doing ‘not much’ against diabetes and obesity epidemics, says Sanders
The Food and Drug Administration ought to take on the food industry to protect Americans from ultra-processed foods loaded with salt, fat, and sugar, said Senate Health committee chairman Bernie Sanders on Thursday. “That is your job,” Sanders interjected when FDA commissioner Robert Califf said improvements in the U.S. diet will require societal consensus over… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, December 5, 2024
Gray defeats Duarte: Former state legislator Adam Gray, a Democrat, edged Rep. John Duarte, a Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee, to win election to the House from a Central Valley district in California. (Associated Press) Navarro picked for trade role: Peter Navarro, who served time in prison for refusing to testify before Congress about the Jan. 6 insurrection, will return to the White House as “senior counselor for trade and manufacturing,” said President-elect Donald Trump.
Strong Livestock Revenue Slows Decline in U.S. Farm Income
Farm income is down for the second year in a row, with receipts from corn and soybeans — the two largest field crops — off by a combined $23.5 billion from 2023 levels, but higher than expected livestock revenue is a counterweight, said the Agriculture Department on Tuesday. It estimated net farm income, a broad measure of profits, at $140.7 billion this year, down by $6 billion from last year but still the fourth-highest level on record.
Raw Farm recalls all unpasteurized whole milk and cream products
A Fresno dairy recalled all of its unpasteurized whole milk and cream products following “multiple bird flu detections in the company’s milk and dairy in the past week,” said the California Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control confirmed the 32nd human case of bird flu in the state. “Raw… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Negotiate before applying tariffs, Farm Bureau says
The largest U.S. farm group would prefer negotiation, rather than a salvo of tariffs, as the first step in resolving U.S. disputes with other nations, said the American Farm Bureau Federation’s chief economist on Wednesday. “I think it’s important, when we’re talking about friends like Mexico and Canada, that we talk first,” said economist Roger… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, Dec. 4, 2024
Klobuchar is No. 3 leader: Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who was expected to become the senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee in January, was elected as the third-ranking leader among Senate Democrats, chairing the steering and policy committee.
Judge overturns USDA rule on genetically engineered plants
The Agriculture Department shirked its duties in a 2020 rule that exempted genetically engineered plants from pre-market review if they were unlikely to pose an environmental risk, ruled U.S. district judge James Donato on Tuesday. Donato overturned the rule, issued during the first Trump administration, and told USDA to reconsider it. Dubbed SECURE, the regulation‚Ķ » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Strong livestock revenue slows decline in U.S. farm income
Farm income is down for the second year in a row, with receipts from corn and soybeans — the two largest field crops — off by a combined $23.5 billion from 2023 levels, but higher than expected livestock revenue is a counterweight, said the Agriculture Department on Tuesday. It estimated net farm income, a broad… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
A ‘Trump bump’ on the farm, with a dollop of trade war anxiety
As it did eight years ago, Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election has ignited a surge of enthusiasm among farmers, although two-fifths of them say there is a risk of a damaging trade war, said a Purdue University poll released on Tuesday. The Ag Economy Barometer, a gauge of farmer confidence, surged 30 points… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, Dec. 3, 2024
57 people with bird flu: Two additional human cases of bird flu were confirmed in California, raising the state’s total to 31 and the U.S. total to 57 cases since the viral disease was identified in dairy cattle in late March; almost all involve dairy and poultry workers. (CDC) SNAP ‘skimming’ fix to expire: A provision allowing the USDA to replace SNAP benefits stolen by so-called card skimming will expire on Dec. 20 unless it is extended as part of a government funding bill, said a think tank.
‘Tariff Man’ Trump Picks Trade Hawk to Run USTR
President-elect Donald Trump, who declared, “I am a tariff man,” in 2018, selected Jamieson Greer, an important figure in the Sino-U.S. trade war, to serve as U.S. trade representative (USTR) in his second term. Trump announced the choice during a string of days in which he threatened high import duties on a dozen countries, including Canada, Mexico, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
Boozman calls for ‘significant’ farm aid this year
Congress should authorize “significant economic assistance” to farmers before the end of this year to offset lower commodity prices and high production costs, said the senior Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday. “Federal assistance must support agricultural producers facing market losses and it needs to happen quickly,” said Arkansas Sen. John Boozman with… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Imports own the olive oil market in the United States
Domestic production of olive oil, based mostly in California, is six times larger than it was 20 years ago but it amounts to less than 2 percent of the U.S.’s steadily growing consumption, forecast to be more than 400,000 metric tons this year, say USDA analysts. Drought in Europe, the major producer, drove import prices… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, Dec. 2, 2024
California suspends Raw Farm: State agriculture officials barred Raw Farm, based in Fresno, from distributing its unpasteurized dairy products because of tests indicating dairy cattle on the farm were infected by the H5N1 avian flu virus. (Los Angeles Times) Gray leads Duarte: After trailing for days, former state legislator Adam Gray took a 190-vote lead over Rep.
Fundamentals suggest decline in farmland values in 2025
Higher interest rates and lower returns from rented land are among indicators “suggesting land value reductions of around 3 percent in 2025,” said three agricultural economists at the farmdoc daily blog. “A 3 percent decline would be in line with observed adjustment since the 1980s as well as expectations from professional farm managers surveyed in… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Voracious U.S. Demand Means Biggest Food and Ag Trade Deficit Ever
Americans are consuming ever-larger amounts of imported fruits, vegetables, wine, alcohol, coffee, and beef, an appetite that will drive the food and ag trade deficit to a record $45.5 billion this fiscal year, estimated the Agriculture Department on Tuesday. Imports would be a sizzling $9.3 billion larger than in just-ended fiscal 2024, while food and ag exports decline for the third year in a row due to lower commodity prices.
Today’s quick hits, Nov. 27, 2024
Ruling on H-2A workers: In a ruling that affects Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Alabama, a federal district judge blocked a Biden administration expansion of protections for agricultural guest workers; the change was blocked in 17 other states by a different judge in August.
Three-Way Democratic Race at House Agriculture Committee
Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig launched a campaign on Monday to be elected the Democratic leader on the House Agriculture Committee, joining two other candidates, California Rep. Jim Costa and Georgia Rep. David Scott, currently the ranking member. Costa and Craig say they will defend SNAP and climate funding in the new farm bill and carry a Democratic message to rural America, a weak spot for the party.
Bird flu hits California farms hard in November
The avian influenza virus was identified in 100 dairy herds in the past week and in two dozen domestic flocks with more than 3 million birds so far this month in California, the U.S. hot spot for the viral disease, said state and USDA data on Tuesday. The state accounts for two-thirds of the 650… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Voracious U.S. demand means biggest food and ag trade deficit ever
Americans are consuming ever-larger amounts of imported fruits, vegetables, wine, alcohol, coffee, and beef, an appetite that will drive the food and ag trade deficit to a record $45.5 billion this fiscal year, estimated the Agriculture Department on Tuesday. Imports would be a sizzling $9.3 billion larger than in just-ended fiscal 2024, while food and… » Read More The Ag Insider content is only available to members.
Today’s quick hits, Nov. 26, 2024
Low grocery inflation: Food-at-home prices will rise by 1.2 percent this year, the lowest grocery inflation rate since 0.9 percent in 2019, and by 1.6 percent in the new year, with chicken, fish, eggs, fats and oils, and bakery products costing more, said USDA economists.
Three-way Democratic race at House Agriculture Committee
Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig launched a campaign on Monday to be elected the Democratic leader on the House Agriculture Committee, joining two other candidates, California Rep. Jim Costa and Georgia Rep. David Scott, currently the ranking member. Costa and Craig say they will defend SNAP and climate funding in the new farm bill and carry… » Read More FERN’s Ag Insider gives you the reporting you need every day to navigate the difficult terrain of food and agriculture policy.
Today’s quick hits, Nov. 25, 2024
Chavez-DeRemer for Labor: President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee defeated for re-election, to serve as Labor secretary. (NPR) Screwworm found in Mexico: The USDA said it would restrict movement of animal commodities from Mexico following the discovery of New World screwworm in a cow in southern Mexico near the Guatemala border; screwworm maggots can infest warm-blooded animals, including people.
Trump chooses former White House adviser to become Agriculture secretary
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Brooke Rollins, director of his Domestic Policy Council during his first term, for Agriculture secretary, saying she would “spearhead the effort to protect American farmers, who are truly the backbone of our country.” Rollins is chief executive of a think tank that has advocated stronger work requirements for SNAP recipients.
Farm Income Declines in Northern Plains, Say Ag Bankers
The two-year decline in commodity prices drove down farm income in the northern Plains this summer, ag bankers said overwhelmingly in a survey by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank, and they expect income to fall again this winter. Farmers have cut back on major purchases, the bankers said, and loan demand is up. Regional Fed banks in Chicago and Kansas City have also reported lower farm income in their districts.
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