While attending the 2018 USA Peanut Congress at Amelia Island, FL. this week, Tyron Spearman had a chance to talk with one of the featured speakers, Congressman Frank Lucas from Oklahoma. Lucas, a former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, talked about work being done on the 2018 Farm Bill. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester …
U.S. Beef Faces New Challenge in China
It has been just over one year since China reopened to U.S. beef after an absence of nearly 14 years. The U.S. beef industry has made progress in establishing a customer base in China, but is about to face a steep challenge – an additional 25 percent retaliatory tariff, which will raise China’s total import duty rate on U.S. beef …
USDA Taking Comments on Product of USA Label
The Department of Agriculture is accepting public comment on a policy that allows foreign beef to be labeled as “Product of USA” if inspected in the United States. The comment period opened last week following a petition by the American Grassfed Association and the Organization for Competitive Markets. The petition demands the Food Safety Inspection Service policy be changed to …
China Dropping Tariffs on Feed Grains from Asian Countries
China is dropping tariffs on feed ingredients from five Asian countries as it seeks supplies that do not originate in the United States. The ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China is bringing further tariffs on U.S. soybeans and coproducts imported to China, as retaliation on U.S. tariffs implemented on China. Thus, China is seeking cheaper soybeans, soymeal, soybean …
Trade Promotion Authority to Auto-Renew
Trade Promotion Authority will auto-renew at the end of this month due to no congressional action. Originally authorized by Congress during the Obama administration for the advancement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPA will auto-renew for another three years. The renewal comes due to the inaction by the House and Senate during a three-month window to pass a resolution of disapproval …
Senate Farm Bill Making Progress
The Senate early this week showed large support for the farm bill, or at least debate on the bill. The procedural cloture vote Monday passed easily, 89-3. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the chamber has the opportunity to finalize this bill this week. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday, calling the legislation “the …
USDA Assisting Cotton Growers with Safety Net Changes
The Department of Agriculture is helping cotton farmers prepare for new safety net coverage. The Farm Service Agency is sending acreage history and yield reports to agricultural producers with generic base acres covered by the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. USDA says the data will help producers decide the best options for how to allocate generic base …
EU, China, Working to Strengthen Trade Ties
The European Union is working to strengthen trade ties with China as the U.S. and China are embattled in a trade war. Repercussions of the trade war are being felt throughout U.S. agriculture, as the retaliatory tariffs from China will soon go into effect. Meanwhile, the EU is taking full advantage of the situation, and engaging with China to further …
Perdue: Trump Will Protect Farmers
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says President Donald Trump will protect U.S. farmers from trade retaliations. In a USA Today editorial, Perdue says if China does not soon mend its ways, “we will quickly begin fulfilling our promise to support producers.” Perdue says Trump knows U.S. farmers feed, fuel and clothe the world, and that he will “not allow U.S. agriculture …
Tyson, Merck Fund Poultry Research Facility
Merck Animal Health and Tyson Foods are providing funding to Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Poultry Science department to build a new research facility. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports the two companies have provided a $500,000 gift for the laboratory where scientists will focus on solving intestinal health issues in poultry. A University spokesperson says the …