The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is echoing comments from House Speaker Paul Ryan, calling on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks to conclude in an agreement this week. That is if the Trump administration wants Congress to consider an updated NAFTA before the end of 2018. House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady says …
Cargill Still Concerned About Likelihood of Trade War
Cargill remains concerned that the U.S. and China trade discussions will escalate into a trade war. In Comments sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Cargill officials say the tariffs proposal by the U.S. targeting China will “not effectively advance the goal of addressing distortive trade practices,” according to Reuters. Cargill sent a five-page letter to Lighthizer as the USTR …
Controlled Environment Ag Growing
Controlled environment agriculture is growing rapidly, according to a new report from CoBank. Controlled environment agriculture, a technology-based approach toward food production to use optimal growing conditions, often indoors, occurs in all 50 states, but the vast majority of the large facilities growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are in the Northeast, West and Southwest. CoBank says technological advancements and consumer …
Equipment Groups Release Policy Survey Results
In April, the Equipment Dealers Association and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers surveyed their members about the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and steel and aluminum tariffs on their businesses. Dealers and manufacturers were in consensus that the two most beneficial provisions of the tax legislation were the lower corporate tax rate and the favorable expensing provisions …
Nationwide Reveals Most Common Agribusiness Insurance Claims
Motor vehicle accidents top the list of insurance claims in farming in agribusiness. A statement from Nationwide Insurance says that accidents, workers compensation and misapplication of chemicals or drift issues, have accounted for more than 50,000 claims over the last three years. However, over the past three years, motor vehicle accidents have accounted for more than 20,000 total commercial agribusiness …
Enjoy the Great Outdoors This Summer: Maybe Even a Florida Forest
Feel an itch to see the “Real Florida?” Summer is just about here, so you can take the kids to theme parks, but the Sunshine State offers much more, if you want to venture outdoors. You might even try a forest. With the start of ecotourism season, visitors to Florida can explore everything from vineyards to farms to scenic trails. …
Five Counties in Georgia as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Florida
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Atkinson, Clinch, Coffee, Jeff Davis and Ware counties in Georgia as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by a recent drought. Farmers and ranchers in the following contiguous counties in Georgia also qualify for natural disaster assistance. Those counties are: Appling Charlton Pierce Bacon Echols Telfair Ben Hill Irwin Toombs Berrien Lanier Wheeler Brantley …
Georgia Blueberry Growers Suffer Second Consecutive Year of Loss
Commissioner Gary W. Black hosted a conference call to connect Georgia blueberry growers and agricultural industry representatives with USDA Under-secretary Bill Northey to discuss recent loss assessments for the 2018 blueberry crop. According to University of Georgia Extension, overall losses of both highbush and rabbiteye varieties could exceed 60 percent. This would mark the second consecutive year of significant loss …
Proposed Tariff Hearings Underway in Washington
Hearings are underway in Washington, D.C. on a proposed list of Chinese products the U.S. has targeted with 25 percent tariff. The three-day event features testimony from more than 100 witnesses. One of those testifying is farmer Michelle Erickson-Jones, a member of Farmers for Free Trade, who says the U.S. farm community is already feeling the effects of the threatened …
Soybean Growers Submit Comments on Tariff Proposal
The American Soybean Association recently submitted comments on the Section 301 tariffs to the United States Trade Representative during the 30-day open comment period. USTR recently initiated an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into the government of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. A slew of tit-for-tat tariffs …