Lighthizer Testimony: NAFTA Deal Possible in August

During congressional testimony on Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told lawmakers that it’s entirely possible that the three North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) members will reach a deal in August. Lighthizer says that would meet the Mexican objective of having current President Enrique Pena Nieto sign the deal before he leaves office in December. Bloomberg says U.S. trade …

Senate Stalls on Farm Bill Conference

The Senate left Washington on Thursday without voting to move the farm bill forward to conference, or even naming conferees. Politico says those were two goals that Ag Chair Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow wanted to get done before Senators left town. Politico says the delay could be a result of a number of different things, including backdoor, …

Groups Want “Fake Meat” Regulated by USDA

Seven groups that represent meat and poultry producers, as well as processors, wrote a letter to President Trump asking him to place cell-cultured protein products under USDA regulation. The meat industry website Meating Place Dot Com says the groups want these products held to the same high standards for food safety and labeling that meat and poultry are held to …

Agri View: Genetically, What Is a Fruit?

Have you thought of the tomato as a fruit? What about strawberries, watermelon, or grapes as vegetables? Everett Griner talks about what is genetically considered a fruit or a vegetable. He also lets us know one of the oldest fruits we eat in today’s Agri View. Genetically, What is a Fruit? I mentioned something recently about four varieties of potatoes. …

Secretary Perdue Statement on EJC Ruling on Genome Editing

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding this week’s European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on newer mutagenesis methods, otherwise known as genome editing. “Government policies should encourage scientific innovation without creating unnecessary barriers or unjustifiably stigmatizing new technologies. Unfortunately, this week’s ECJ ruling is a setback in this regard in that it narrowly considers newer genome editing methods to be within the scope of the European Union’s regressive and outdated …

USDA Invites Comments on the Implementation of the e-Connectivity Pilot Program

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced USDA is inviting comments on the implementation of the e-Connectivity Pilot Program established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 on March 23, 2018. USDA is developing this pilot program to catalyze private investment and bring broadband to unserved rural areas of the country. The new program provides a unique opportunity to develop …

4-H Extracurricular for My Child? 10 Reasons Why

With so many extracurricular activities available these days, parents and kids are overwhelmed with choices. To choose the right one, know what to prioritize, says Heather Kent, associate director of the Florida 4-H youth development program, part of University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension. “The 4-H motto is ‘To make the best better.’ The research shows …

Conaway on Trade Meeting with President Trump

Wednesday afternoon, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway attended a meeting at the White House with President Trump to discuss the most recent events with regard to trade. Here are comments made by the chairman following the meeting. Conaway on Trade Meeting Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …