A bill endorsed by President Donald Trump that would change the U.S. immigration system may harm farm labor. The bill by Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia would reduce the number of legal immigrants coming into the United States and emphasize highly educated immigrants over what is regarded as the low-skilled laborers, which could be …
Senate Democrats Revive Bill to End Cuba Embargo
Senate Democrats are pushing back against President Trump concerning Cuba, reviving a bill to lift the U.S. embargo. In mid-June, Trump rolled back former President Barack Obama’s historic opening to the island. The group of Senators, led by Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, introduced the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2017, which would establish normal trade relations with the island nation, in …
Mexico Releases NAFTA Goals
Mexico says it plans to prioritize free access for goods and services in the upcoming North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Negotiations. Mexico this week announced the nation’s goals for the renegotiation effort, set to begin August 16th. Mexico is also seeking greater labor market integration and a strengthening of energy security, according to Reuters. Additionally, Mexico is looking to …
Agri View: Goat Meat Demand and Consumption
Everett Griner talks about the demand and consumption of goat meat in today’s Agri View. Where would you go if you wanted to buy some goat meat? The only place I know is to go out and buy one and butcher it yourself. That may not appeal to you. But, it might, eventually. You see, the demand …
New Drying Sensor for Peanuts
A new peanut drying sensor network could make things easier for peanut growers and processors. According to a story from Tyron Spearman, the new sensor monitors temperatures and humidity levels inside semi-trailers and the kernel moisture content, and no one has to climb into the trailers to collect peanuts and check their moisture content. Image: ARS scientists developed a new moisture-monitoring …
H-2A Contracts, Costs and Considerations
By Jaci Schreckengost The H-2A program is a guest-worker program that allows people from other countries to come to the United States on a visa as agricultural employees for temporary, seasonal work. Many industries are beginning to use H-2A due to uncertainty over the domestic labor supply, says Fritz Roka, an associate professor of agriculture economics at the University of …
Post Offices ‘Abuzz’ Over Protect Pollinators Forever Stamps
The U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute tomorrow (August 3rd) to the beauty and importance of pollinators with stamps depicting two of our continent’s most iconic, the monarch butterfly and the western honeybee, each shown industriously pollinating a variety of plants native to North America. The Protect Pollinators Forever stamps will be dedicated at noon tomorrow at the American Philatelic Society National Summer …
Trump Unveils New Immigration Legislation
Since the beginning of his presidential campaign, Donald Trump has been vocal about his urgency to reform U.S. immigration policy. When he was elected, business leaders, especially within the agriculture industry, waited to see what Trump’s immigration plans were and what those plans would mean for their workforce. An announcement from Trump today, August 2, may give the agriculture industry …
WOTUS Comment Period Ends August 28
It was announced back at the end of June by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt that the EPA had sent its repeal of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule to the federal register, thus beginning the process of ending the regulation. A comment period on WOTUS has been open but it will end August 28th. National Cattlemen’s …
Efforts to Assist Georgia Cotton Producers Continue
Representatives from the Georgia cotton industry were in Washington, D.C. recently to join others from across the belt to talk with lawmakers about ways to help U.S. cotton producers deal with the ongoing financial stress. Georgia Cotton Commission Executive Director Richey Seaton says they discussed a couple of initiatives. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps …