Soybean planted acreage topped corn for the first time since 1983, the USDA reported in its Planted Acreage Report on Friday. Soybean acreage is 89.6 million acres. That’s actually 1 percent lower than last year as planted acres are either down or unchanged in 14 of the 31 biggest soybean states. Corn acres are also down 1 percent from last …
NCBA Responds to Canada Tariff Hikes on U.S. Beef Imports
Canada has announced it will place higher tariffs on U.S. beef imports starting on Sunday, July 1. Kent Bacus is the NCBA Director of International Trade and Market Access, and he says Canada has finally followed through on actions it’s been threatening for months. “Canada has followed through on a threat to slap a tariff on $170 million worth of …
International Lawsuit Targets Heart of Trump Tariffs
A lawsuit filed at the Court of International Trade targets the heart of President Trump’s trade agenda, the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. An industry group that represents steel importers and traders will also challenge the constitutionality of the law that gave the president the power to enact the tariffs. The American Institute for International Steel filed the lawsuit, …
CDC Retracts Farmer Suicide Rate Findings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a week ago confirmed its widely cited research on farmer suicides was wrong. The research from 2016 reported that farmers have the highest suicide rate in the country. That report found that workers in the “farming, fishing, and forestry,” job category held a suicide rate over four times the national average, far and …
Senate Passes Farm Bill, Next Stop: Conference
The Senate passed a bipartisan farm bill Thursday, sending the legislation to conference so the House and Senate can mend their differences. The vote, 86 to 11, capped off a day of consideration on the Senate floor. In a way, the Senate offered a warning shot to the House, tabling an amendment Thursday afternoon that would tighten work requirements under …
Groups Applaud Passage of the Senate Farm Bill
The Senate farm bill was passed by a margin of 86 to 11 on Thursday, meeting the unofficial goal of getting the bill passed before the Independence Day holiday. Many in the agriculture industry applauded the outcome. From the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Kevin Kester, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, today released the following statement: “Today’s successful Senate …
Gov. Scott Takes More Action to Combat Algal Blooms
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott met with White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to continue advocating for full funding for the repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. The Governor also spoke about the importance of the federal government quickly approving the EAA reservoir project, which will hold more water south of …
USDA Report Highlights Benefits of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for Farmers
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today highlighted a new report showing the positive impacts of President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) on American farms. Six months after the President signed the tax cuts and reforms into law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) has released a report, titled “Estimated Effects …
Senator David Perdue: Farm Bill Is A Jobs Bill
“Agriculture is not just a business, it’s a way of life for many people around our country” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about the 2018 Farm Bill, which is currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. Click here to watch. Highlights: Farm Bill Is A …
Commodity Classic Releases 2019 Schedule
ST. LOUIS (June 27, 2018) — Commodity Classic has released its tentative schedule for the 2019 show slated for Thursday, February 28 through Saturday, March 2 in Orlando, Fla. Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused educational and agricultural experience. The 2019 schedule includes extended trade show hours, allowing attendees to spend even more time with the wide array of …