ASTA to Discuss Various Issues at Annual Convention

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) will hold their 134th Annual Convention next week, as it will take place June 21-24 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne said while a variety of issues will be discussed, one of those, of course, will be trade. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding …

Agri View: Who Invented the Cotton Gin?

Everett Griner talks about who was the real inventor of the cotton gin in today’s Agri View.       One of the largest crops we grow in this country is cotton. It is also one of the most exported crops we grow. How much cotton do you suppose farmers would plant if we didn’t have Eli Whitney’s invention? The …

Wind and Solar Energy Cover Over 10 Percent of U.S. Power Generation

Wind farms and solar panels that dot the map of rural America now account for more than 10 percent of U.S. power generation. Bloomberg News reports wind farms in Texas, Oklahoma and elsewhere accounted for eight percent of electric generation, while residential and commercial solar installations provided about two percent. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says that during 2016, wind …

Organic Trade Associations Applauds USDA for Revoking Organic License

The Organic Trade Association welcomed a move by the Department of Agriculture aimed at stopping fraudulent organic products from entering the United States. USDA this week revoked the organic certificate for a Turkish firm for shipping nonorganic ingredients to the United States labeled as organic, according to the Hagstrom Report. The Organic Trade Association said “fraud cannot be tolerated in …

China Trade Agreement Includes Biotech Approvals

The trade agreement between the U.S. and China that focused on U.S. beef also paved the way for Chinese approval of two U.S. genetically modified crop traits. The Wall Street Journal reports China has approved imports of two new varieties of genetically modified crops, clearing the way for U.S. agricultural companies to market new biotech seeds to farmers. Through the …

Senators Want NAFTA Renegotiations to Address Canada Poultry Market

A group of senators wants the renegotiation effort of the North American Free Trade Agreement to address U.S. poultry exports into Canada. The group, led by Delaware Democrat Tom Carper says Canada has engaged in protectionist trade policies that limit sales for U.S. poultry exporters. The Senators are asking the Donald Trump administration to address the issue during NAFTA renegotiation …

Secretary Perdue Hosts Inaugural Rural Prosperity Task Force Meeting

Task Force showcases broad interagency support for promoting economic growth and spurring innovation in rural America U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue hosted the inaugural meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. Joined by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Director of the White House Office of Management and …

Conaway, Peterson Praise U.S. Sugar Deal

House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (MN-7) made the below remarks following an announcement that an agreement was reached between the U.S. sugar industry and the Department of Commerce to bring Mexican sugar into compliance with U.S. trade laws: “I am very pleased that the Department of Commerce was able to negotiate an …