AFBF Duvall on the Nomination of Robert Lighthizer for USTR

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

“The American Farm Bureau Federation looks forward to working with United States Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer. Mr. Lighthizer has had a long and distinguished career in trade, working in the White House, Senate and private sector to assure favorable trading conditions for American goods and services.

Ag Producer Confidence Index Reveals Hope

Dan Industry News Release

Producers show record optimism for coming year despite low incomes OMAHA, Neb. (Jan. 3, 2017) – Farmers have put tremendous hope in the new presidential administration to make their lives better, despite expectations of continued low commodity prices, relatively high production costs and the threat of trade wars with key commodity importers, this according to the latest DTN/The Progressive Farmer …

GIPSA Reduces Fees for Weighing and Inspection Services

Dan Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration is reducing inspection and weighing service fees by five percent beginning January 1, 2017. The reduction will remain in effect until further notice. “Due to the continuation of high grain exports, The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) operating reserve exceeds 4 ½ months of operating expenses.  FGIS also reviewed …

USDA Microloans for Farmers: Participation Patterns and Effects of Outreach

Dan Industry News Release

by Sarah Tulman, Nathaniel Higgins, Robert Williams, Michael Gerling, Charles Dodson, and Bruce McWilliams, Economic Research Service What is the Issue? USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) launched its Microloan program in January 2013 with the goal of better serving the needs of small farms, beginning farmers and ranchers, farmers and ranchers from historically socially disadvantaged groups (or SDA—women and racial …

China to Increase Farmland by 2020

Dan Industry News Release

The Chinese government has put together a five-year plan for land management from 2016 through 2020. Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today Report says the government will be adding another 3.2 million acres of farmable land to replace some of the nearly five million acres lost since 2003.

Burger King Switching to Antibiotic-Free Chickens

Dan Industry News Release, Poultry

The parent company of the Burger King and Tim Hortons restaurant chains announced it will no longer purchase chickens raised with antibiotics that are also used for humans. A Meating Place Dot Com report says Restaurant Brands International in Ontario, Canada, currently runs more than 19,000 restaurants in over 100 countries and U.S. territories.