All sides of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) want a trilateral deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as the White House is pushing towards separate deals. Trade officials from Mexico, along with key lawmakers and trade officials in the U.S., agree a two-way NAFTA is “incomplete,” and won’t win the approval of the U.S. Congress. President Trump …
Ag Economy Barometer improves in August
The Ag Economy Barometer rebounded in August to a reading of 129 after falling to 117 in July. However, producer sentiment remains well below its late spring readings of 141 in May and 143 in June. Organizers say the shift occurred primarily because producer’s perception of current conditions improved as the Index of Current Conditions increased to a reading of …
Bison Association Launches Petition to Stop Buffalo Labeling
The National Bison Association wants the Department of Agriculture to immediately develop new labeling policies to stop water buffalo products sold in the U.S. from being labeled only as “buffalo.” The association launched an online petition last week seeking the measures from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration. The petition effort was launched …
U.S. Wheat Restructuring Efforts Close Moscow Office
As part of restructuring overseas offices, U.S. Wheat Associates will close its office in Moscow, Russia, at the end of this month. The organization says the reorganization reflects an effort to refocus resources toward markets with the best potential to grow U.S. wheat exports and returns for the farmers the organization represents. Based in part on the significant increase in …
China Predicted to cut U.S. Soybean exports
China’s exports of U.S. soybeans are expected to plummet over the next marketing year, according to the latest forecast. A soybean crushing industry executive told Reuters this week that China will almost entirely replace its soybean imports from the United States with Brazilian beans and other origins in the upcoming season. The latest forecast from China predicts Imports from the …
Agri View: Catfish Hybrid Catching On
Everett Griner talks about catfish farming and the hybrid catfish in today’s Agri View. Everett questions why people continue to buy imported catfish. Catfish Hybrid Catching On Catfish farming is not as prominent as it once was. It’s not dead either. There are who not only grow them. They are improving them. The catfish has long been the stepchild of …
Putnam Announces Winners of 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced the recipients of the Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award, which recognizes the environmentally innovative farming techniques of Florida’s farmers and ranchers. This year’s recipients are: Jim Strickland of Blackbeards’ Ranch in Manatee County, Chuck Allison of Wild Goose Farms in Umatilla, and James Shinn of Shinn Groves/ Tree O’Groves in Lake Alfred. Florida’s …
UF Researcher to Study Migration Trends, Health of Emerging Farm Workers
As the University of Florida IFAS Extension director for Hendry County, Gene McAvoy has seen firsthand a sea change in the types of workers now coming to the United States to work on farms. “It used to be 95 percent or more of the workers were from Mexico,” McAvoy said. “Now, it’s about 50 percent from Haiti and the Caribbean. …
Efforts Underway to Complete a New Farm Bill
With Congress returning after its summer break, many in agriculture will be watching the efforts to get the 2018 farm bill put together before the current bill expires at the end of the month. Efforts Underway to Complete a New Farm Bill Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
USDA Launches Trade Mitigation Programs
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue launched the trade mitigation package aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. Producers of certain commodities can now sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), while USDA will also begin to purchase identified commodities under a food purchase and distribution program. Additionally, USDA has begun …