The Cotton Board has hired two new Regional Communication Managers (RCMs). Christi Chadwell will serve as the Southwest RCM, with a territory including central and south Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Shelley Heinrich will serve as the Southern Plains RCM, covering North Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The new RCMs will train under the current Southwest RCM, Bob Stanley, who …
U.S. Frozen Beef Tariff Increase Starts in Japan
Late last week, Japan announced its “safeguard” tariff on frozen U.S. beef, increasing the tariff from 38.5 percent to 50 percent. The new rate begins today, August 1, and will last through March 31, 2018. The United States beef industry says had the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement been in effect, or if the U.S. had a bilateral trade deal with …
Rep. Albritton Discusses Changes in Florida House
By Jaci Schreckengost Ben Albritton, Florida House Representative of District 56, says there have been changes in the Florida House since the transition between Speaker Crisafulli and Speaker Corcoran in 2016. According to Albritton, the former speaker, Crisafulli, supported many policies for agriculture during his time as speaker. While the new speaker, Corcoran, has not had as much of a …
National Peach Month
Cathy Isom tells us about a month-long celebration for one of the greatest tasting fruits. That’s coming up on “This Land of Ours.” August is National Peach Month. Eat them right off the tree, sliced in cream, make peach cobbler with ice cream or you can even blend them in delicious smoothies or slushies. It doesn’t matter how you …
Canada Egg Production Up Nearly 5 Percent This Year
Egg production in Canada is on the rise, increasing 4.4 percent in the last year. Statistics Canada, the nation’s statistics agency, says Canadian egg producers generated 64.5 million dozen eggs from May 2016 to May this year. Placement of hatchery chicks on farms rose four percent to 65.5 million birds from June 2016 to June 2017 and stocks of frozen …
Consumers Have Trouble Reading Food Labels
A new poll finds that many American consumers are having issues with date labels on their food products. The poll, led by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, found 60 percent of 1,000 American consumers surveyed have had discussions in their homes about the exact meaning of such terms as “best by, use by, sell by, use or freeze by” that currently …
Growth Energy Calls Court Decision on RVO’s a Win for Consumers
Growth Energy calls a court ruling against the Environmental Protection Agency a win for consumers. Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down what Growth Energy calls a flawed methodology by the EPA to reduce the 2016 total Renewable Volume Obligations, or RVO’s, under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The court decision was in response to …
South Korea Asks for KORUS Review Delay
South Korea last week requested the Trump administration to postpone any review of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement until a new trade minister is appointed in South Korea. The request comes after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requested a review of the agreement on July 12th in a letter to Korea’s former minister of trade. South Korea suggested that both …
Perdue: No Signs Mexico Will Buy South America’s Corn, Soybeans
While in Mexico Friday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said he has no indication that Mexico will buy corn and soybeans from Argentina and Brazil or other countries. Perdue met with counterparts in Mexico to discuss trade and told reporters following the discussion that it was understandable Mexico would make inquiries to other nations, but he sees no signs of …
Poultry Producers Comment on NAFTA Renegotiation Plans
U.S. poultry producers say the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement could bring trade improvements. The National Chicken Council and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council together called NAFTA a “bonanza for American Agriculture.” However, the groups say some trade issues could be improved under the renegotiation effort. The National Chicken Council says Canada and the United …