The two-year budget deal passed by Congressional leaders is key for agriculture, including farm program fixes, disaster aid and tax break extenders. American Farm Bureau budget adviser, RJ Karney, looks at some of the key program fixes needed to write the next farm bill. Two-year Budget Deal Key for Agriculture-1 Karney says AFBF and Ag Committee leaders were also behind …
NCC: New Cotton Policy Gives Much Needed Boost
The National Cotton Council (NCC) greatly appreciates Congress’ passage of a supplemental disaster bill that includes critically needed policy that restores eligibility for cotton in the Title I Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs of the farm bill. The legislation also includes important agricultural disaster assistance, as well as additional support to dairy producers. “This measure will provide …
USDA February WASDE Report
The latest monthly World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from the Department of Agriculture shows lower estimated soybean exports for the 2017-18 crop year. USDA lowered soybean exports by 60 million bushels to 2.1 billion bushels. The U.S. season-average soybean price range for 2017/18 is projected at $8.90 to $9.70 per bushel, unchanged from the previous report. USDA …
Cruz Hold on Northey Continues
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley this week attempted to move forward the nomination of Bill Northey to a top Department of Agriculture post, but was again blocked by Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Grassley sought unanimous consent from his Senate colleagues on the chamber floor Wednesday. However, Cruz objected, further delaying Northey’s confirmation. Cruz has blocked the vote to confirm Northey as …
Conaway Wants Farm Bill Movement Next Month
House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway this week expressed his desire to see mark-up and a vote on the farm bill by the end of March in the House of Representatives. Conaway says that timetable would leave plenty of time to work out differences with the Senate version of the bill and ensure new legislation is finalized before the farm …
Groups Want Injunction Against WOTUS Rule
The National Pork Producers Council and a diverse coalition of agricultural and business groups late Wednesday (2/7/2018) – in the case American Farm Bureau Federation, et. al. vs. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – filed a request in federal court for a nationwide preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Obama administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. The Clean …
Highlights From the February 2018 Farm Income Forecast
Farm Sector Profits Expected To Decline in 2018 Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast to decrease $4.3 billion (6.7 percent) from 2017 to $59.5 billion in 2018, the lowest net farm income level in nominal dollar terms since 2006. Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease $5.0 billion (5.1 percent) to $91.9 billion, the lowest …
More Depart from Grocery Manufacturers Association
More companies are departing the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Politico reports that the Kraft Heinz Company and DowDuPont are the latest to part ways with the association. The two companies join the Campbell Soup Company, Nestle, Dean Foods, Mars, Tyson Foods and Unilever. Politico says GMA staff are also leaving, including high-ranking executives. GMA pledges changes: A spokesperson for GMA said …
Canada Offering Livestock Producers Tax Relief
The Government of Canada Wednesday released the final list of designated regions where livestock tax deferral has been authorized for 2017 due to drought, flood or excess moisture. In November, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the initial list of designated regions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, for livestock tax deferral purposes. But, the agency says ongoing analysis has …
New Records for U.S. Beef Export Value, Pork Export Volume in 2017
2017 was a record-breaking year for U.S. red meat exports, with beef export value exceeding $7 billion for only the second time. Pork exports, meanwhile, easily surpassed the previous year’s volume record. The U.S. Meat Export Federation reports beef exports totaled 1.26 million metric tons, up six percent from 2016. This was the fourth-largest volume on record and the second-largest …