Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pronounced himself pleased with U.S. efforts at the COP28 climate change meeting in Dubai, citing, in particular, a declaration signed by 152 countries outlining “the steps that need to be taken in order to ensure that we can produce the food necessary to meet the nutritional needs of the world now, and in the future, in light of a changing climate.”
The declaration, he said in a call with reporters Sunday, is “very, very consistent with what [USDA] and the Biden-Harris administration and the United States farmers and ranchers have been engaged in. And in fact, I would say that, in this COP, we flipped the script for American agriculture.”
Vilsack said other countries expressed interest in USDA’s $300 million effort to quantify the impact of conservation practices on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration and particularly “the willingness of the Department of Agriculture in the U.S. to share information with the world as to what we learned.”
FAO releases ‘road map’ to cut GHG emissions from ag and food systems
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has released an ambitious roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from “agrifood systems” below the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set by the 2016 Paris Agreement.
In particular, FAO says it wants to reduce methane emissions 25% by 2030 compared to 2020 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. It also wants to transform ag and food systems into a carbon sink by 2050.
“Actions targeting the livestock sector should prioritize enhancing the efficiency of production, particularly among low-productivity producers,” the FAO report says.
While livestock “serves as a crucial source of high-quality protein and essential micronutrients, and is vital for normal development and good health, especially within vulnerable or remote communities,” the sector also directly contributes 26% of all agrifood system emissions (including enteric fermentation and manure),” the report says.
By the way: The roadmap came two days after another FAO report looking at how to reduce emissions from livestock.
FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo said “solutions such as improving animal health, breeding practices, reducing food loss and waste, and directly targeting GHG emissions have the potential to provide multiple benefits for people and the planet, but they require investments in the sector to narrow efficiency gaps, while meeting an increased global demand for animal protein.”
House Rules tees up whole milk bill
The House Rules Committee meets today to prepare a bill for floor debate that would ensure schools can offer whole milk to kids. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 would prevent whole milk from being counted toward overall fat restrictions in school meals.
The 16 amendments proposed for the bill as of Sunday included one that would allow whole milk to be organic or nonorganic.
Another amendment would prevent the USDA from issuing any rule that bans varieties of milk, including chocolate milk. A third proposal would express the sense of Congress that whole milk should be the drink of choice for American schoolchildren.
Keep in mind: The debate comes as a scientific advisory committee is preparing recommendations for the next update of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which currently recommend limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10% of daily calories.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group, has been trying to stop the House bill, arguing it runs counter to the dietary guidelines. The bill’s supporters argue there is a scientific basis for treating dairy fat differently than other fats.
For more on the bill and this week’s ag agenda, read our Washington Week Ahead.
USDA: DMC sign-up coming early 2024
The beginning of 2024 is rapidly approaching, and USDA has yet to conduct a sign-up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program. In a statement, the department tells Agri-Pulse USDA’s Farm Service Agency is currently working on revising the rule for the program as a result of provisions in the yearlong extension of the 2018 farm bill.
“We anticipate the announcement of enrollment early in calendar year 2024,” the statement says.
Why it matters: DMC is expected to continue triggering payments to producers, at least in the early part of 2024.
Geologists say reductions in Ogallala Aquifer use could stabilize reserves in Western Kansas
Ogallala Aquifer water levels could be steadied in most of Western Kansas with pumping reductions of between 18% and 32%, according to a recent analysis from the state’s Geological Survey.
The aquifer appears to be faring better in South Central Kansas, with only 0.7% reductions needed to achieve stable water levels, the Kansas Geological Survey estimates.
Cut through the clutter! We deliver the news you need to stay informed about farm, food and rural issues. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse here.
Keep in mind: The Ogallala Aquifer is the backbone of agriculture on the central and southern Plains, but its water supplies have dwindled from overuse in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. Water levels in those regions have dropped more than 100 feet since 1950, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
House members introduce Innovative FEED Act to update FDA regulations
Many animal feed additive products with potential nutritional and environmental benefits end up in an expensive and long drug regulation review process.
The Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act, or Innovative FEED Act, introduced by a bipartisan group of House members Thursday would establish a zootechnical animal food substance category for the Food and Drug Administration to consider new products, rather than the currently required animal drug pathway.
The bill has already been introduced in the Senate.
The American Feed Industry Association is urging Congress to give FDA the ability to evaluate these new products within the agency’s existing food additive petition process. “Dozens of countries have already safely approved and started using these feed ingredients on farms, resulting in improved animal production, well-being, reduced pre-harvest food safety concerns, and a smaller environmental footprint,” AFIA says.
Lead House co-sponsors include Reps. Greg Pence, R-Ind., Jim Baird, R-Ind., Kim Schrier, D-Wash., and Angie Craig, D-Minn.
He said it: “I didn't hear much about that. I did hear about the important role that strategies for methane reduction can play in making the current livestock industry sustainable, and a recognition that there is a need and will be a continually growing need for more protein.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, asked on a press call Sunday whether he had heard much talk at COP28 about reducing meat consumption as a climate strategy.
Philip Brasher, Jacqui Fatka and Noah Wicks contributed to this report
Please direct questions or comments to Associate Editor Steve Davies.
