On the way to Iowa this week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told a White House press pool that broadband internet has become the infrastructure of necessity in rural areas. His comments came as President Trump toured agriculture education facilities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to learn more about agriculture technology, and to pledge a focus on rural broadband in his infrastructure …
Ag Committee Features University Leaders in Agricultural Research
The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to discuss investments in agricultural research as a continuation of the committee’s hearing series on preparing for the next farm bill. Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and members of the committee heard from various university representatives on the opportunities and challenges institutions face in ensuring the U.S. remains a world leader in agricultural …
Supreme Court Want Quick Response on Citrus Veto
from: News Service of Florida The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday gave Gov. Rick Scott’s administration until noon Monday to respond to a lawsuit challenging the governor’s veto of $37.4 million intended to go to residents whose healthy citrus trees were cut down as the state tried to eradicate the citrus canker disease. The Supreme Court set the deadline after …
China Plans Bird Flu Vaccine for Poultry
China will begin vaccinating poultry next month against the H7N9 avian influenza virus which has claimed hundreds of lives and caused major damage to the nation’s poultry industry. Reuters says the program will kick off in early July and targets all species including broiler chickens, ducks, geese and laying hens. The managing director of the China Poultry Association says “in …
Study: TPP Withdrawal Creates Export Loss for U.S., Gains for Canada
A new study says the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership will cost the nation more than $3 billion in exports. Meanwhile, the remaining 11 members would enjoy marginal gains from the U.S.’ TPP withdrawal, with Mexico and Canada set to benefit the most. A study by a firm from Canada told the Global Trade Review this week that TPP-11 …
NAFTA Renegotiations to Take Center Stage
A series of public hearings next week on the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement seeks comments on the efforts. The U.S. is scheduled to post its NAFTA renegotiation goals July 17th, following the meetings. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday that while the negotiations will then begin August 16th, there is no …
Trump Pledges to Include Rural Broadband in Infrastructure Plan
President Donald Trump pledged to include rural broadband in his infrastructure plan while in Iowa Wednesday. The President visited Kirkwood University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to talk agricultural technology, and held a rally in downtown Cedar Rapids. Trump was joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross while highlighting the need to expand rural broadband to give …
Citrus Industry Tightens Belt Amid Industry Woes
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida The Florida Department of Citrus plans to continue to squeeze its operations during the coming year as the industry struggles, though travelers will still be able to receive free orange juice at state welcome centers. The Florida Citrus Commission, which oversees the department, approved a preliminary $17.5 million operating budget Wednesday that would …
USDA to Work With Landowners to Restore Longleaf Pine Forests on Private Lands
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released a two-year implementation strategy to help private landowners restore and protect 400,000 acres of longleaf pine forests, a unique but imperiled landscape of the Southeast. Through the strategy, NRCS furthers its ongoing effort to use existing Farm Bill programs and other resources to increase the abundance and improve the …
UF Scientist: Calves Conceived in Winter Perform Better
Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cows and humans have something in common: If you take better care of the mother during pregnancy, her children are likely to be healthier – and this impact should last a lifetime, a University of Florida scientist says. In the case of cows, cool conditions are key. A new UF/IFAS …