Sharpshooter Gene Editing and World Food Prices Down in April

**Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, are researching gene-editing technology that may help neutralize a dangerous agricultural pest.

The research is targeting the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a pest whose resistance to insecticides has been growing.

The flying insect transmits bacteria that causes Pierce’s Disease, which infects vineyards and poses a worrisome challenge for California’s $58 billion wine industry.

**World food prices took a small step down in April after reaching a record high in March.

Reuters reports the Food and Agriculture Organization’s food price index, which tracks the most globally-traded food commodities, averaged 158.5 points in April compared to 159.7 in March.

But, after dropping from the March high point, the April index is still almost 20 percent higher than last year.

**The Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously passed its Water Resources Development Act of 2022.

It’s good news for farmers who transport their crops through the infrastructure system like ports, inland waterways, locks and dams, and will allow them to remain competitive in the global market.

A proposal within the bill would permanently adjust the inland waterways cost-share to 75 percent general revenue and 25 percent Inland Waterways Trust Fund.

It would also eliminate the sunset provisions to preserve these changes in perpetuity.