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More trade aid coming to farmers, Senate holds climate change hearing and slow planting season continues.

Janet Kubat Willette, E-Content Editor

May 24, 2019

2 Min Read
NolanBerg11/flySnow/SteveOehlenschlager/ThinkstockPhotos

Missed some ag news this week? Here’s seven ag stories to catch you up.

1. USDA released details of its latest round of trade aid on Thursday. The package includes $14.5 billion for direct payments to farmers across the country, it also offers $1.4 billion for the food purchase and distribution program and $100 million for the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program. – Farm Futures

2. The wettest year on record is raising costs for the nation’s biggest agricultural companies, stalling farmers’ fieldwork and slowing shipments across the Farm Belt. – The Wall Street Journal

3. A cold, wet spring that caused record slow corn planting has the 2019 crop squarely behind the 8-ball. While the slow start doesn’t doom the crop, the unusual political and economic environment of 2019 could make recovery more difficult than in other years with major delays. – Farm Futures

4. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, says agriculture has an opportunity to lead on climate change. The committee held a hearing on climate change and agriculture on May 21. – Wallaces Farmer

5. An Iowa farmer and soil scientist says soil carbon storage is not the silver bullet she thought it was, despite the attention from researchers, advocates and policymakers. – Iowa Public Radio

6. The Dairy Together campaign presented both short- and long-term options to curb the loss of small and midsized dairy farms during a stop in St. Johns, Michigan. The campaign was started by Wisconsin Farmers Union, National Farmers Organization and Holstein Association USA. The heart of the campaign is a different way to price milk that would discourage expansion of milk production and create price stability. – Michigan Farmer

7. Summit Utilities is proposing to construct an anaerobic digestion facility in Clinton, Maine, that will receive dairy manure from multiple farms. Once in the digester, the manure will be heated and decomposed, creating biogas. The gas will be injected in Summit’s system and used for cooking, heating and other processes. Summit anticipates the digester will supply about 45% of the company’s annual Maine residential gas demand. – Lewiston Sun Journal

And your bonus.

Monday is Memorial Day. Take some time this holiday weekend to honor the sacrifices of those who served. The Des Moines Register features the story of two Vietnam War veterans: Ronald Langel and James Lalley.

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