Philip Brasher

A bill that would lay the groundwork for ag carbon markets by putting USDA in charge of certifying farm advisers and credit verifiers won easy Senate approval Thursday in a defeat for some progressives and fossil fuel advocates on opposite sides of the climate issue.

Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow is expressing optimism that the Senate will pass the Growing Climate Solutions Act today. But the Senate will first debate an amendment by Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee that would weaken a critical provision of the legislation, which is intended to speed development of ag carbon markets.

A United Nations-led effort to jump-start progress on meeting global sustainability goals is raising fears among U.S. farm groups that it will lead to recommendations that denigrate U.S. farming practices and discourage meat consumption.

The beef industry will face scrutiny this week from senators who are under pressure to curb the pricing power of big meatpackers, while the full Senate is nearing a vote on a bill to accelerate the development of ag carbon markets.

The Biden administration plans to re-issue tougher standards for livestock and poultry production that will end the egg industry’s practice of using porches to provide hens with access to the outdoors.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told senators Tuesday that his department is working on measures that will “significantly” increase U.S. meatpacking capacity, a top priority of producers who believe industry concentration is depressing livestock prices.

An organization that monitors the accuracy of advertising claims says that the maker of Beyond Meat is being untruthful when it says on its website that the plant-based meat alternatives contain no “synthetically produced ingredients.”

Landowners will have until July 23 to apply for the Conservation Reserve Program general signup. USDA announced the deadline Tuesday. The signup opened in January, but USDA announced in April that it would increase payment rates and offer other financial incentives in a bid to get 4 million more acres enrolled in the program.

President Joe Biden heads to Brussels for meetings this week with European Union for discussions likely to touch on ongoing trade disputes, while Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack heads to Capitol Hill to face questioning about his policy plans.

Debt relief payments to minority farmers from the Agriculture Department are on hold after a federal judge granted a restraining order in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the program.