1. The U.S. surpassed the 2015 HPAI death toll
Nearly 50,000 birds died after an outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza in South Dakota, sending the total number of bird deaths this year to more than 50.5 million. This broke the record set in 2015.
This is now the deadliest HPAI outbreak in U.S. history according to USDA.
To read the full story, click HERE.
2. U.S. and its allies agreed to meet to discuss a price cap on Russian oil
A price cap on Russian oil is set to take effect in about two weeks.
U.S. officials and our allies plan to discuss setting that cap at around $60 dollars a barrel and hope to have the plan in place before December 5th. The price cap is part of sanctions against Russia for its months-long assault on Ukraine.
To read the full story, click HERE.
3. Congress warned colleagues to be prepared to act on the rail deal
Earlier last week, the Smart Transportation Union, which represents 28,000 employees, voted to reject the deal brokered by the White House. That vote brought the total number of unions rejecting the deal to four.
President Biden says that a shutdown would be unacceptable, but said that he wants the unions and owners to resolve the dispute themselves.
Congressional leaders, like Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, called on others in Congress to be prepared to take action if all twelve unions cannot agree on a deal.
To read the full story, click HERE.
4. Low water levels along the Mississippi River are still hurting operations
Trillions of pounds of shipments have been shifted in an effort to lighten barges traveling down the shallow Mississippi. Grain cargoes by rail were up 4 percent, and they are running 6 percent above the three-year average. Every day it is looking more like Congress will need to step in.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said, “Congress should act like we did in the early 1990s.”
To read the full story, click HERE.
5. No-till farmer shattered records in his harvest
Russell Hedrick, a first-generation no-till farmer from North Carolina, made history with his 2022 harvest.
He submitted an entry of 459.51 bushels per acre to the North Carolina Corn Growers Association, beating the current national yield record of 442 bushels per acre held by Francis Childs.
To read the full story, click HERE.
