The 2017 World Pork Expo is getting underway today (Wednesday) In Des Moines, Iowa. The annual event includes the Pork Checkoff and the National Pork Producers Council and features thousands of U.S. and global pork producers, industry professionals and industry experts at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The event offers learning sessions and seminars, a trade show, and a hospitality tent …
Monthly Farm Economy Survey Holds Steady
A monthly survey on farmers thoughts regarding the farm economy held steady last month. The latest reading of the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which is based on a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the country, was 130. The producer sentiment index has hovered near 130 for five of the last six months and remains considerably stronger …
Beef and Pork Exports Moderate in April, Remain Above Year-ago Levels
U.S. red meat exports last month slowed moderately from the pace established in March, but were still significantly higher year-over-year, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Beef exports reached 99,000 metric tons in April, up 13 percent from a year ago, valued at $550.4 million. For January through April, beef exports were up 14 percent in volume and 18 …
Canada, U.S., Ag Leaders Talk Tade
The top agriculture leaders from the United States and Canada met earlier this week, discussing trade and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. While no negotiations took place during the meeting, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the pair did lay out concerns on agricultural trade issues, including dairy. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the …
Agri View: Controlling Palmer Amaranth, or Pigweed
Everett Griner talks about the trials and tribulations producers are having controlling Palmer Amaranth, or Pigweed in today’s Agri View. One of the biggest and costliest problems in producing a crop is controlling weeds. They are all getting harder to kill. Some worse than others. Pigweeds. The genetic name for it, of course, is Palmer Amaranth. I believe …
Farm Bureau Asks Senate Committee to Advance EPA Nominee Susan Bodine
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall has asked the leadership of a Senate committee to approve the nomination of Susan Bodine to Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance of the Environmental Protection Agency. Duvall’s letter to Chairman John Barrasso and Ranking Member Tom Carper of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works praised …
U.S. Grains Council Statement On Announcement Of New Sugar Suspension Agreement
A statement from U.S. Grains Council (USGC) President and CEO Tom Sleight: “We are pleased to hear that U.S. and Mexican negotiators have reached a new sugar suspension agreement. This milestone is an important one as we work to maintain our existing, robust trade of U.S. grains and related products while awaiting the beginning of NAFTA modernization negotiations. “Mexico is …
Conaway Applauds Delay of Compliance Dates for FSMA Agricultural Water Standards
“Producers need additional time to come into compliance with FSMA’s produce safety rules and I commend the FDA for providing this needed flexibility.” House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) issued the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intention to delay the compliance dates for agricultural water requirements in the FDA Food Safety …
Perdue Statement on Sugar Agreement with Mexico
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a statement regarding a new agreement between the United States and Mexico regarding the importation of Mexican sugar. The U.S. Department of Commerce has been reviewing a 2014 agreement with the government of Mexico and the Mexican sugar refiners that suspended anti-dumping and countervailing duties on the import of Mexican sugar into the …
Second Lady Karen Pence, Secretary Perdue Unveil Beehive at Vice President’s Residence
Ask Public to Help Boost Pollinator Population Second Lady Karen Pence and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today unveiled a newly-installed beehive on the grounds of the Vice President’s residence, drawing attention to the plight of pollinators whose numbers are in decline. Together, the two urged Americans to do their own part to help reverse the population trend among the creatures, …