Biden sees bigger role for US farms due to Ukraine war

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden wants to put a spotlight on the spike in food prices from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Democrat plans to travel on Wednesday (May 11, 2022) to an Illinois farm to emphasize how U.S. agricultural exports can relieve the financial pressures being felt worldwide. The war in Ukraine has disrupted supply of that country’s wheat to global markets. The war also has triggered higher costs for oil, natural gas and fertilizer. A U.N. agency says its food price index in April jumped nearly 30% from a year ago. Americans are also bearing some pain as food prices are up 9.4% from a year ago, the largest increase in 41 years.