California Ag Today

On Friday USDA released its April Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, commonly known as the WASDE report. Changes this month are normally focused on U.S. old crop demand and South American production. For this year, the March and April reports also hold more interest given the potential impacts from Ukraine and Russia.

The White House Monday released the Rural Playbook, which will benefit rural communities. It is part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, sending billions of dollars to rural communities across the country.

An announcement from the White House allows for summer sales of E15. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue a national emergency waiver allowing gasoline blended at the higher rate of fifteen percent ethanol from June 1 to September 15.

Railways are a vital piece of the supply chain and are usually a cost-effective and reliable way to get agricultural goods to their destination. However, supply chain issues have led to an increase in unfilled rail car orders and the costs of railway shipping, according to American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Danny Munch.

Disruptive weather events across agriculture regions are a major part of commodity price movement. Nutrien Ag Solutions chief atmospheric scientist Eric Snodgrass says he’s waiting to see if mild moisture persists.

Today’s dairy farms look much different than they did a decade ago. With the pace of technology and scientific innovation, that’s sure to be the case for the next 10 years, as well.

The U.S.-China Business Council released its report on U.S. exports to China. After bottoming out in 2019 because of the trade war, American goods exported to China hit an all-time high last year of $149.2 billion. Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, says agriculture was the top category of exports to China in 2021.

According to the USDA, Livestock producers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Program will soon have extra assistance. Producers will receive emergency relief payments for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021 through the Farm Service Agency’s new Emergency Livestock Relief Program. Gloria Montaño-Greene, Deputy Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation...

Thanks for joining us to hear part two of U.S. port congestion making it hard for agricultural commodities to ship overseas. Ray Bowman of California is an international trade consultant and chairs the District Export Council of Southern California.