That Chicago soda tax was an even bigger hot mess than predicted

Back in December of last year, over vocal protests from residents, Cook County, Illinois adopted a policy similar to many other cash strapped, liberal municipalities. They decided to save the people from themselves and simultaneously put a bunch of money in the city's nearly empty coffers by imposing a sin tax on soda and other "sweetened beverages."

AM markets: Canada worries prop up soybeans, but not wheat

Certainly, the first set of data of many to be released on Thursday - including a monthly report on Brazilian grains from Conab, a twice-monthly briefing on Brazilian sugar output from Unica, and the US Department of Agriculture's monthly Wasde tome - looked at first sight negative for prices. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board showed Malaysian palm oil inventories far bigger than investors had expected last month, provoked by the biggest surge in output in nearly three years.

USDA loan program may help local flood victims

Kenosha County has issued a news release about a loan program that might be of help to victims of recent flooding: Wisconsin Emergency Management is citing a loan program available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office as a possible source of funds to help residents affected by the recent floods. USDA Rural Development has funding available for very low and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area.

What will the Wasde bring? Grains make small gains, for now

The, modestly, positive tone around in early deals was there at the close too, as traders proved reluctant to take values too far in any direction ahead of key data ahead. Thursday will bring a slew of ag commodity statistics, starting off with monthly data on Malaysian palm oil production and stocks, followed by the monthly briefing on Brazilian crops from Conab.

Farm income could be lowest in 12 years, falls by more than half

Farm income this year could be the lowest since 2006, a reflection of low commodity prices, exporting issues and in some places, lousy weather. Nationwide, net farm income has fallen by more than half since 2013, and it's expected to drop another 6.7% this year - to the lowest level since 2006, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The Guardian Claims Trump’s USDA Blacklists And Censors Use Of Term ‘Climate Change’

Officials at the Department of Agriculture are telling employees at the agency to use terms such as "weather extremes" when referring to "climate change," The Guardian reported Monday. Bianca Moebius-Clune, a director of foil health at the Natural Resources Conservation Service , told employees at the USDA to replace terms referring to global warming with more vanilla terms such as "weather extremes," according to a series of emails the outlet obtained.

USDA Provides Operating Loans To Farmers Through Different Programs

USDA PROVIDES OPERATING LOANS TO FARMERS THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS Aug. 4, 2017 Source: USDA news release The USDA Farm Service Agency provides loans to farmers through a number of programs. Direct Operating Microloans are designed to be more convenient and accessible than FSA's traditional Direct Operating Loans for groups such as beginning farmers, women, and veterans.

USDA Farmland Values Show Iowa Up 1.9 Percent, Nebraska Down

The latest farm real estate values are out and the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the average acre of farmland in Iowa rose 1.9 percent from a year ago to $8,000 an acre, returning to the same value posted in 2015. Iowa is the only state in the five-state corn belt region which also includes Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio to see an increase in value.

Our Opinion: Area schools compassionate while struggling with parents’ meal debts

Schools in Central Missouri, along with the rest of the nation, have been struggling with how to deal with outstanding balances on school-provided meals. The Southern Boone school district has amassed about $30,000 in debt from outstanding meal balances.

Minnesota 4-H’ers Set to Compete in Eighth Annual Poultry Prince…

Minnesota 4-H poultry participants will have the opportunity to put their knowledge and industry experience to the test during the eighth annual Poultry Prince and Princess Contest , held at the Minnesota State Fair from August 24 through August 27, 2017. The scholarship program, put on by Minnesota 4-H and Gold'n Plump , recognizes the skills, leadership and confidence of the state's top young poultry experts by awarding two participants with the Poultry Prince and Princess ambassador titles and scholarships of $1,000 each.

CNN’s Headline On This Story Makes Trump’s USDA Pick Seem Racist

CNN published an article Wednesday suggesting that President Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Agriculture has a history of lobbing racial comments against supporters of the Obama administration. Sam Clovis, a former radio host who Trump nominated to head the USDA, once called Democrats and activists "race traitors" and "race traders," according to a report Wednesday from CNN's KFILE.

USDA: Most GE Corn And Cotton Seeds Now Have Both Herbicide Tolerance And Insect Resistance

USDA: MOST GE CORN AND COTTON SEEDS NOW HAVE BOTH HERBICIDE TOLERANCE AND INSECT RESISTANCE Aug. 1, 2017 Source: USDA news release Genetically engineered seeds have become widely used in major field crop production in the United States. Herbicide-tolerant crops were developed to survive the application of certain herbicides that previously would have destroyed the crop along with the targeted weeds.

WCAP announces participation in three USDA Child and Adult Care Food Programs

Waldo Community Action Partners has announced its participation in three USDA Child and Adult Care Food Programs. The programs are: Child and Adult Care Food Program for Head Start Day Care Centers for enrolled participants of Head Start and Early Head Start Child Day Care Centers, Child and Adult Care Food Program as a sponsor of Family Day Care Homes for children enrolled in a day care center, and Child and Adult Care Food Program at the Belfast Head Start Center At-Risk Child Care Program for children from birth through 18 years of age.

Letter urges USDA to make milk agricultural commodity

U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make milk an agricultural commodity under the Federal Crop Insurance program. Ms. Stefanik joined other members of Congress in submitting a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting the change, which would put the dairy industry in a better position to recover from severe declines in milk prices.