The tit-for-tat trade war with China means a lower forecast for the value of U.S. beef and pork exports next year. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service said in its latest quarterly Situation and Outlook Report released this week that forecasts total exports of beef, pork, dairy, poultry and other livestock products combined are expected to decline $300 million …
Environmental Groups Urge EPA to Revoke Dicamba Approval
Environmental groups are using the courts to argue against renewing approval of dicamba. The groups are arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to analyze the risks of now Bayer’s dicamba-based weed killer posed to nearby crops before approving it in 2016, according to Reuters. Monsanto, a unit of Bayer, urged the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Bayer expects …
Companies Targeted by Senator Sanders Fire Back
Companies targeted by Senator Bernie Sanders are firing back, calling his statements inaccurate in his accusations over food stamps. Sanders plans to introduce legislation that would require large companies, specifically, Amazon, Walmart, and others, to pay a 100 percent tax on government benefits to their employees, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a significant portion of the farm bill. Amazon …
USDA Scientist Receives the Borlaug Field Award
The World Food Prize Foundation announced that Matthew Rouse, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist, is the winner of the 2018 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation, at the Sustainable Development Goals Conference in the Netherlands. The award recognizes exceptional, science-based achievements of individuals under the age of 40, who have advanced human development …
Fast Track Rejected in Conservation Funding Case
An appeals court this week turned down a request by environmental groups to quickly move a major conservation-funding case to the Florida Supreme Court. Attorneys for the state House and Senate last month appealed a Leon County circuit judge’s ruling that said lawmakers did not properly carry out a 2014 constitutional amendment that requires spending on land and water conservation. …
Top Ag Lawmakers Meet Ahead of Farm Bill Conference
The top lawmakers on the farm bill conference committee met this week, ahead of the first formal meeting next week. The farm bill conference is set to meet September 5th, in the first public meeting likely dominated by posturing and speeches. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts told Politico that he, Senate Agriculture ranking member Debbie Stabenow, House Agriculture Committee …
Canada Ready to Make Concession on Dairy Trade
Despite posturing by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada ‘won’t back down’ on dairy issues, Canada is ready to make concessions. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland rejoined the discussion in Washington this week. The Globe and Mail reports Canada is ready to make concessions to the Trump administration on Canada’s protected dairy market in a bid to save a …
R-CALF Looking for COOL in NAFTA
R-CALF is hopeful the details of the U.S.-Mexico announcement as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations will include country-of-origin meat labeling. R-CALF, a long-time supporter of COOL, in a statement by its CEO said: “We hope that a further release of details will show that COOL will be required for Mexican beef and beef from Mexican …
Environmental Groups Seek Clean Water Language in Farm Bill
Environmental groups want clean water regulations in the farm bill. A coalition of environmental groups penned a letter to the farm bill conference committee with suggestions the coalition claims will “help address the challenges facing the nation’s drinking water supplies.” There have already been several victims of water contamination in the country that professionals who offer camp lejeune water contamination …
Webpage Highlighting Resources to Bridge the Broadband e-Connectivity Infrastructure Gap
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue unveiled a new webpage featuring information about the importance of rural e-Connectivity and the ways the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing to help deploy high-speed broadband infrastructure in rural America. “Rural high-speed broadband e-Connectivity is as important for economic development as rail, roads, bridges and airports – and as vital as the buildouts of …