agricultural

Trump Talks Trade with South Korea

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

President Donald Trump met with the new President of South Korea on Friday and opened up the session with tough trade talk. An L.A. Times article says Trump announced he will be renegotiating a trade agreement with South Korea that’s already been in place for five years. The agreement is a co-legacy for both Presidents Bush and Obama and it …

house

House Subcommittee Limits USDA Cuts to 5 Percent

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee advanced the fiscal year 2018 spending bill for discretionary programs at USDA and other agencies at just over $20 billion. That’s a $1.1 billion cut from last year’s funding bill and 5.2 percent less than current funding levels. If those numbers hold, USDA would get roughly $876 million less in funding levels compared to the …

Soybean Field Rows in summer

USDA Report Shows Record Soybean Acres

Dan Industry News Release, Soybeans

The USDA released it’s June Acreage and Stocks report on Friday, with soybean acres coming in at record levels. Soybean planted area for 2017 is estimated at a record high 89.5 million acres, up 7 percent from last year. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2017 is estimated at 90.9 million acres, down 3 percent from last year. Area …

biodiesel

NBB Considers Legal Action over Biodiesel Dumping

Dan Energy, Industry News Release

The National Biodiesel Board says it will consider all possible legal actions as it looks into what it calls a flood of biodiesel entering the country from Argentina. The N.B.B. says new data is out showing subsidized biodiesel imports from Argentina are still continuing to surge, pushing even higher in recent weeks. A June report from a business intelligence company …

perdue beef china

Groups Celebrate First U.S. Beef to China

Dan Beef, Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

In a historic ceremony on Friday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) helped welcome the first shipments of American-produced beef into China since 2003. NCBA President Craig Uden joined Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad, and Chinese officials at the ceremony in Beijing. The highlight came when Uden and Perdue participated in a “joint cutting of the prime …

trade deal

Farm Groups Have Their Say at NAFTA Hearings

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

Farm groups and Ag organizations spoke their mind during hearings before the International Trade Commission on the upcoming North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations. While they all had different messages, Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report said the overriding theme was a simple one: don’t harm agricultural exports. Each speaker pushed for benefits favorable to their groups while trying to hold onto …

trump

In China, Perdue Welcomes U.S. Beef back to Market

Dan Beef, Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

Slices Ceremonial Prime Rib, Meets with Chinese Officials in Beijing U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue joined with U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad to slice a Nebraska prime rib in a Beijing ceremony, formally marking the return of U.S. beef to the Chinese market after a 13-year hiatus. Perdue celebrated the reintroduction of American beef products to China after …

Two Counties in Georgia Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Dan Georgia, Industry News Release, Weather

In response to a request from Dianne Westmoreland, Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Acting State Executive Director in Georgia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Burke and Wilcox counties in Georgia as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by freeze that occurred from March 15, 2017, through March 17, 2017. Farmers and ranchers in the …

act

Ag Terrorism Act Arrives at President Trumps Desk

Dan Industry News Release

The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act recently passed through both the Senate and House of Representatives in a bipartisan fashion. It now awaits the final approval of President Trump. A Bovine Vet Online Dot Com article says the language in the bill helps to clarify what the role of the Department of Homeland Security is as it works with …