CME Group is mulling potential changes to corn and soybean markets to address concerns the contracts’ prices are not accurately reflecting the underlying U.S. cash grain markets. Reuters reports that CME Group says it is “only in listening mode,” and that no changes are permanent. CME Group has been talking with customers about potential adjustments, as the discussions signal a …
Lobbyist Suggest Cotton, Dairy Fixes in Disaster Bill
Industry lobbyist for cotton and dairy say safety-net fixes are nearing. Key industry lobbyist told the Hagstrom Report they believe there will be fixes to the problems in the cotton and dairy programs in the package of appropriations and disaster funding that Senate leaders are working on. An unnamed source said: “This would be a big win for agriculture going …
Farmers Union Launches Farm Bill Campaign
American family farmers and ranchers are enduring the worst economic slide in generations, and they need Congress to pass a Farm Bill in 2018 to strengthen the farm safety net. In order to educate the general public and to generate support for a Farm Bill to be passed this year, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Farmers Union state divisions have …
Fix Emissions Reporting Law For Farmers, Says NPPC
The National Pork Producers Council asked Congress for a legislative fix to a federal emergency response law that now requires farmers to report emissions from the natural breakdown of manure to the U.S. Coast Guard. Testifying on behalf of NPPC, Dr. Howard Hill told members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works that livestock producers and the U.S. …
Over Regulation Threatens Family Farms, AFBF President Duvall Tells Senate
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, in testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, recounted a long list of regulatory abuses and missteps by the federal government. Drawing on his two years as president of the nation’s largest farming organization, Duvall called for bipartisan cooperation in reducing over regulation, which has been a target of administrations …
Lawmakers Seek Common Ground on Florida Forever
Lawmakers are continuing to work on restocking Florida Forever, the state’s once-prized land preservation program. However, Florida Forever spending is shaping up to be a big part of the environmental budget differences the House and Senate will have to settle in the coming weeks. The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday unanimously backed a wide-ranging proposal (HB …
Turkey Growers Seeking to Close Gap with Consumers
A new video series seeks to close the gap from farm to fork by America’s turkey farmers. The National Turkey Federation has prepared a new series of videos and resources that the group says “offers common-sense answers about raising healthy turkey flocks on family farms.” Featuring a series of videos introducing consumers to turkeys raised on corn and soybeans …
Perdue Applauds Trump’s USDA Rural Utility Services Administrator Selection
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue offered his applause to President Trump’s intent to appoint Kenneth Johnson to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service Administrator. Perdue says Johnson ‘s experience with rural utilities, including expanding access to high-speed Internet, “will serve us well as we strive to increase prosperity across rural America.” Johnson serves as general manager and CEO …
New U.K. Trade Commissioner to Focus on North America
The United Kingdom has hired a trade commissioner to focus specifically on North America. Ramping up efforts to prepare for post-Brexit trade negotiations, the U.K. hired two regionally focused trade commissioners that leadership says will lead trade relations with “key markets of the future.” Antony Phillipson, the current director-general of international trade in North America, has been tapped to serve …
January Ag Economy Barometer Results
The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer turned higher for January, showing some optimism among farmers and ranchers. After trending lower in late 2017, the monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the U.S. indicated that the measure of producer sentiment climbed to 135 points at the beginning of 2018, up nine points from December’s 126. Organizers say the …