U.S. Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to help Florida fruit and vegetable growers combat unfair trade practices. The bill comes amid long-standing and increasing complaints from Florida farmers that Mexican growers illegally flood the U.S. market with subsidized produce during the winter season. Florida is one of the few places in the country that can …
Crayfish Personalities May Be Key to Understanding Water Ecosystems
Just like people come in different personalities, animals vary in their behavior. For example, some crayfish can be shier while others are bolder, a University of Florida scientist says. While crayfish are known as those little, lobster-like crustaceans eaten by some as a delicacy in soups, bisques and étouffées and are used by others as fish bait, Lindsey Reisinger and …
Maximize Cattle Production and Help Bobwhites
You may be familiar with the northern bobwhite and its decline, and while many of us call them quail, there’s been a population dip of more than 80 percent over the past 60 years. But USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants cattle farmers to know they can greatly help the species with a few tweaks to their operations. Maximize Cattle Production and Help Bobwhites …
U.S. Says Canada Not Making Needed NAFTA Concessions
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer charges Canada is not making needed concessions to strike a deal on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As the U.S. ideal deadline will pass this weekend, the U.S. is gearing up to move forward with a Mexico-only agreement. Lighthizer said there was “some distance” between the two sides on issues such as access …
EU Chef Team Learns about U.S. Beef
A team of chefs from Poland, Finland, Germany, Romania, Italy, France, Holland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria recently spent a week in Colorado learning about U.S. beef as part of a U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) program designed to make them advocates for U.S. beef back in their home countries. Ralph Loos has the story. EU Chef Team Learns about …
NPPC: Auto Import Tariffs Will Prompt More Retaliation Against American Agriculture
U.S. tariffs on auto imports likely would prompt retaliation from some of American agriculture’s biggest trading partners, leading to catastrophic financial harm to farmers, warned the National Pork Producers Council in comments submitted to the Senate Committee on Finance. In its ongoing efforts to realign U.S. trade policy, the Trump administration is considering putting duties on autos and auto parts …
China Passing on U.S. Soybeans, Purchasing from Brazil
China soybean processors are purchasing record volumes of Brazilian soybeans and cutting purchases of U.S. soybeans. U.S. soybeans face steep tariffs in China thanks to the ongoing tit-for-tat trade war between the U.S. and China. A Singapore-based trader told Reuters that China is “willing to pay higher prices for Brazilian beans than what domestic crushers are paying.” Brazil’s typical soybean …
Cargill CEO Concerned with Long-Term Health of Ag in Trade Dispute
The CEO of Cargill says he is concerned with the long-term health of U.S. agriculture due to impacts from the U.S.-China trade dispute. Cargill CEO David McLennan told Bloomberg News a long-term dispute with China could squeeze the U.S. out as China turns to other sellers of soybeans, as the nation is doing now. Soybean prices are near the lowest …
Kansas Representative Exploring Ways to Trade with Cuba
A U.S. representative is seeking ways to open markets with Cuba. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, spoke with Cuba’s President earlier this week. The two discussed trade opportunities between Cuba and the U.S., a priority over the last few years for U.S. agriculture and more-so given the current trade climate. Marshall says the U.S. “can and should be Cuba’s …
Celebrating National Chocolate Milk Day
Cathy Isom begins her series of celebrating food by filling you in on why you’ll want to get your hands on a sweet, frosty, chocolatey treat today. That’s coming up on this Land of Ours. Celebrating National Chocolate Milk Day Across the country, folks will be enjoying a tall, frosty glass of chocolate milk. Today is National Chocolate Milk Day, which …