Vice President Mike Pence visited Jacksonville, Florida to promote the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, as the Trump Administration faces bipartisan labor, environmental, and agricultural opposition to the deal. Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement: “This supposed ‘better deal’ is a bad deal for Florida farmers, and could put farms out of business. Smoke and mirrors from the White House won’t help our proud but struggling …
Trump to Meet with Chinese President in June
President Donald Trump said last week he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. The announcement comes as the trade war between the two largest economies in the world grew even more intense. Reuters says China has already announced it would retaliate on a host of American goods, ranging from frozen vegetables to citrus fruits to natural gas. …
Industry Reactions on the Removal of Section 232 Tariffs
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement after the Section 232 tariffs were removed from Canada and Mexico. “Today’s announcement is a big win for American agriculture and the economy as a whole. I thank President Trump for negotiating a great deal and for negotiating the removal of these tariffs. Canada and Mexico …
Farm Bureau Statement on Trump Immigration Reform Proposal
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Farm Bureau welcomes President Trump’s focus on fixing our nation’s broken immigration system. However, nowhere is reform more critical than in the agricultural sector. Labor shortages now are being felt by farmers and ranchers across the country, in dairy, fruits and vegetables, mushroom, livestock and other sectors. …
NCBA Applauds Greater U.S. Beef Access to Japan
“Great News,” Will Hopefully Lead to Elimination of More Non-Tariff, Non-Science-Based Trade Barriers In Near Future National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Jennifer Houston issued the following statement regarding the announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that Japan will allow products from U.S. cattle, regardless of age, to be imported into that country for the first time since 2003: …
U.S. Beef Gains Full Access to Japan
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the United States and Japan have agreed on new terms and conditions that eliminate Japan’s longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef exports, paving the way for expanded sales to the United States’ top global beef market. Last week, on the margins of the G-20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Niigata, Japan, Secretary Perdue met …
Facts of the Flow: Lake Okeechobee, 2019 Year-to-Date
Here is the latest update on inflows into Lake Okeechobee for the calendar year to date. This data is provided by SFWMD’s DBHYDRO database. Source: SFWMD Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities to Develop Preliminary Data For Future Grant ProjectsMay 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
The USDA Announces New Vision for Animal Genomics
A new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) blueprint, published today in Frontiers and Genetics, will serve as a guide for research and funding in animal genomics for 2018-2027 that will facilitate genomic solutions to enable producers to meet increasing future demands for animal products by a growing world population. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the National Institute for Food and …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Addresses Florida Congressional Delegation in Washington
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried appeared before Members of Congress from Florida to discuss key issues facing the agriculture industry. At the invitation of delegation co-chairs U.S. Rep. Alcee L. Hastings and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, Fried spoke on a panel alongside industry group leaders from the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, and the Florida Forestry Association. Commissioner Fried raised …
USDA Enhances African Swine Fever Surveillance Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is furthering its overall African Swine Fever (ASF) preparedness efforts with the implementation of a surveillance plan. As part of this plan, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will work with the swine industry, the states, and veterinary diagnostic laboratories to test for ASF. ASF is a highly contagious and deadly disease …