House Republicans are scheduled to debate their choice for a new speaker this evening, even as some GOP moderates push for reinstating Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy, R-Calif., held an extended news conference on Monday to call for action in support of Israel and didn’t rule out returning to the post. Had his harshest critics prevailed, the government would have been shut down when Israel was attacked by Hamas on Saturday, McCarthy said. “What if government wasn't open? How weak would we be then?” McCarthy asked rhetorically.
McCarthy also noted more than once that he was ousted despite the support of 96% of the GOP conference.
By the way: Rep. John Duarte, a first-term California Republican who sits on the House Ag Committee, told Fox News that neither of the two declared candidates for speaker, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, have the experience needed right now. Duarte called on a few Democrats to enable McCarthy’s return to the speakership by abstaining from the vote.
“Kevin McCarthy will step back in, if he's got the support and believes that is the best thing for the country. And I can't see how he wouldn't believe that the country needs his leadership right now as the speaker of the House,” Duarte said.
RFK Jr. switches to independent
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has thrown a new wrinkle into the 2024 presidential race by declaring as an independent, abandoning his run for the Democratic nomination. “A rising tide of discontent is now sweeping our country,” Kennedy said Monday as he announced his independent run.
RFK Jr. could potentially take votes from parties. He’s built a following over the years because of his outspoken criticism of vaccines. And he’s also waged a long-running battle against animal agriculture and large agribusiness.
At the Iowa State Fair in August, RFK Jr. attacked the proposed carbon sequestration pipelines that have been controversial among landowners in the upper Midwest. Kennedy proposed that as president the pipelines would never be built. Kennedy originally rose to public prominence as an environmental lawyer.
Anxiety over war’s impact on Israeli potash
Israel, home to the Dead Sea Works, is the fourth largest exporter of potash in the world, and the war being waged against Hamas in Gaza has raised concerns that international supplies could be impacted.
A StoneX analyst says potash operations do not appear to be affected by the violence, but Safety4Sea is reporting that the Port of Ashdod – a port near Gaza that is key for shipping fertilizer – is “currently operating in ‘emergency mode’ status.”
Another concern is the potential involvement of Iran in the Hamas strikes and how that could impact shipping safety.
Iowa Democratic Party to wait until Super Tuesday to release caucus results
The Iowa Democratic Party will not release the results of its presidential caucus until March 3 to comply with calendar changes made by the Democratic National Committee, potentially limiting how much attention candidates give to agricultural and rural policy issues.
Iowa’s Democratic caucus will still be held in January, following state law that requires it to hold a caucus no later than the fourth Monday in February, but the results will not be announced until Super Tuesday.
Keep in mind: Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status has historically had great influence on the prospects of presidential candidates, driving them to discuss agricultural and rural issues important to residents of the Midwestern state.
Four ingredients banned in foods in California
Four ingredients targeted by food safety advocates will not be allowed in foods sold in California by 2027, under a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Among them is Red Dye No. 3, banned for use in cosmetics by the Food and Drug Administration in 1990 but still allowed in nearly 3,000 food products. The other three substances are brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate and propylparaben.
Consumer groups called on the Food and Drug Administration to take similar action.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel said the law will not ban any foods or products. “It simply will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes and switch to safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and so many other places around the globe." he said in a news release.
Mexico demand sustains strong US pork exports
The U.S. had a strong month for pork exports in August, according to a new analysis by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, and record shipments to Mexico were key to the robust trade. The U.S. shipped 91,297 metric tons of pork to Mexico in August – a 12.5% increase from the same month a year ago. The value of those exports reached $211.7 million, a 9% increase and record monthly high.
The new data shows that the U.S. exported a record-setting 705,312 tons of pork to Mexico in the first eight months of 2023 with a value of $1.47 billion – an 18% increase from the same period in 2022.
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“I cannot say enough about Mexico’s remarkable demand for U.S. pork and the critical revenue these exports drive for the U.S. industry,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “But the story of this year’s export growth extends well beyond Mexico, as demand is climbing in other Western Hemisphere destinations and the U.S. industry is also achieving gains in several Asia-Pacific markets.”
Keep in mind: Total U.S. exports from January through August reached 1.91 million tons – 11% higher than the total at the same time last year – with a value of $5.32 billion.
Strong rains don’t hold Back Brazil soy planting
Brazilian farmers have planted about 10% of this year’s soybean crop – mostly in the key production states of Paraná and Mato Grosso despite “intense rain” in some regions, according to the latest report from the consulting firm AgRural.
Area planted jumped sharply from the previous week, when the firm was estimating 5.2% completion. The country is ahead of last year’s rate at this time, which was 9.6%.
USDA is predicting Brazil will produce 163 million metric tons of soybeans for its 2023-24 marketing year, up from 156 million tons for 2022-23.
Moffitt in Montana to celebrate one-year anniversary of organic program
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt will be in Belgrade, Montana, today to tour Amaltheia Organic Dairy Farm and participate in a fireside chat with Montana Organic Association, organic farmers and TOPP mentors and mentees.
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