Concerns Raised Over Impending Steel & Aluminum Tariffs The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) latest U.S. Ag Tractor and Combine Report shows total sales of self-propelled combines in February grew 34 percent compared to last year and sales of 4-wheel drive tractors increased 9 percent. Sales of 2-wheel drive tractors declined 10 percent for February compared to last year. “We’ve …
NCBA Applauds Another 90-Day Delay in Electronic Logging Device Mandate
Mandate Was To Have Taken Effect on Sunday, March 18 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement that the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate will be delayed another 90 days for agricultural haulers: “This is obviously good news for America’s cattle haulers and producers, and it will provide …
ARS Scientist Leads Consortium to Seek Honey Bee Disease Controls
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist Steven Cook will be leading a $1 million funded international consortium of scientists to seek new controls for Varroa mites, honey bees’ number one problem. Cook, with the Bee Research Laboratory, a part of ARS’s Beltsville (Maryland) Agricultural Research Center, will be the principal investigator of a group that will include scientists from the United States, Canada and Spain. ARS is …
Commodity Classic Attendance Tops 8,000
Attendance to the 2018 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California topped 8,000 guests. Convention organizers say included in the preliminary number of 8,055 registered in Anaheim were a record number of non-exhibitor first-time attendees, at 1,553. More than 3,600 farmers from across the nation and beyond attended the event, along with more than 150 media representatives. The event featured more than …
Early Stage Ag Tech Investments Up 29 Percent
Investments in the early stages of agricultural technology in 2017 increased 29 percent, compared to 2016. AgFunder, a self-proclaimed online investment marketplace for agricultural technology, reports early stage investment in agriculture tech startups reached $10.1 billion in 2017, up 29 percent. The increase reverses a downward trend seen in 2016, when agriculture tech investing dropped nine percent to $7.8 billion …
U.S. Will Engage With TPP-11 Countries Regarding Fair Trade
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the United States will engage TPP-11 members, emphasizing a need for “fairness” in expanding trade relationships with nations involved in the pact. TPP-11, now known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, or the CPTPP, was signed last week by the 11 remaining nations involved in the agreement. Tillerson made the comments last …
Hartzler Introduces Legislation to Address Broadband in Farm Bill
Republican U.S. House member Vicky Hartzler of Missouri is seeking to include rural broadband in the next farm bill. Monday, Hartzler introduced the Expanding Rural Access to Broadband Act, which she says would make necessary changes to existing Rural Utilities Telecommunications programs to ensure rural Americans aren’t left behind in the digital age. Hartzler says she plans to work with …
Peterson: House Ag Plans Farm Bill Mark-up Soon
Ranking House Agriculture Committee Democrat Collin Peterson says the committee plans to mark up the farm bill on March 20th, but a revolt over food stamp provisions could stop the bill from moving forward. The Hagstrom Report says Peterson and Committee Chairman Mike Conaway had “hit an impasse” regarding the nutrition title, and a spokesperson for Conaway could not confirm …
Farm Bureau Praises Withdrawal of Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The American Farm Bureau supports USDA’s decision to withdraw the misguided Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule. Livestock health and well-being is a priority for all farmers and ranchers. We rely on trained professionals, including animal scientists, nutritionists and veterinarians, to ensure the health and safety of …
USDA/NIFA Invests in Exploratory Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded grants to support the initial development of innovative ideas in agriculture and food production through the Exploratory Research Grants (ERG) program. Funding is made possible through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The ERG program fosters the creation …