Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue this week defended every aspect of his proposal to move some Agriculture Department offices out of the Washington Area. USDA has plans to place the Economic Research Service under the Office of the Chief Economist and to move most National Institute for Food and Agriculture employees out of Washington. In a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee …
NCBA Contest Seeks Cowboy Poets
A talent in poetry will win one cattleman or woman a trip to the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans next February. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is seeking applicants to its cowboy poetry contest. Five finalists will be selected by NCBA on October 26th, with public voting on submitted videos held November 6th through …
Pork Industry Commits To Fighting Antibiotic Resistance
The National Pork Producers Council is joining with more than 100 public- and private-sector U.S. organizations in a global initiative to create international standards and codes of practices to prevent unsafe residues of veterinary drugs in food, to develop integrated surveillance that can help mitigate risks associated with antibiotic use and to minimize the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance …
NCBA: KORUS “Tore Down” Trade Barriers, Helped Increase Beef Exports
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester released the following statement in response to the signing of the modernized Korea-United States Trade Agreement (KORUS): “KORUS is a prime example of how U.S. producers benefit from trade agreements that reduce tariffs and implement science-based standards. Less than a decade ago, U.S. beef exports to South Korea were severely limited by …
American Farm Bureau Encouraged by Korea Trade Agreement
The following statement can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “President Trump’s approval of the modernized U.S. – Korea Free Trade Agreement preserves a two-way trade relationship that greatly benefits America’s farmers and ranchers. South Korea bought $6.9 billion worth of U.S. agricultural goods last year, making it our sixth-largest export market. “Whether it’s corn, soybeans …
Perdue Comments on DOJ Filing in 9th Circuit Chlorpyrifos Ruling
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praised the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to request a rehearing of a pesticide case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. DOJ has asked for a panel rehearing and a rehearing en banc in a case in which the court directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban chlorpyrifos, a common and useful pesticide, within 60 …
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association Appoints Joyner as New President
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association Chairman Paul R. Orsenigo announced today that Mike Joyner has been named as the organization’s new president effective Oct. 15. Joyner’s experience in agricultural and environmental issues runs deep. Most recently, he served as assistant commissioner of agriculture and chief of staff for Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, helping to lead the state Department of Agriculture …
USDA Outlines Next Steps for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability
Greg Ibach, Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs, announced USDA’s four overarching goals for advancing animal disease traceability to protect the long-term health, marketability and economic viability of the U.S. livestock industry. “The landscape surrounding animal disease traceability has changed dramatically in the past decade, and producers across the nation recognize that a comprehensive …
On-time Farm Bill Hopes Dim
Hopes of an on-time farm bill are diminishing as lawmakers now have less than a week to finish a bill, get it passed by both chambers again, and on the President’s desk for signature. The current farm bill expires September 30th, and the conference committee still must agree on changes in the conservation programs of the farm bill and the …
U.S., Canada Talks on NAFTA Offer Little Progress
Stalled talks between the U.S. and Canada regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are expected to continue this week, as the U.S. desires to reach a deal by September 30th. Informal talks are likely over the next few days, according to Reuters, as global attention turns towards a U.N. meeting this week. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says …