A waiver by the Department of Transportation allows agriculture the exemption to electronic logging device requirements in commercial trucks that take effect next month. The 90-day waiver was granted in response to a petition by the American Farm Bureau Federation and other ag groups. AFBF congressional relations director Andrew Walmsley says the waiver allows the agency to reevaluate the mandate’s …
2017 Census of Agriculture Gets Underway
Questionnaires being sent to over 3 million U.S. producers The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) starts mailing the 2017 Census of Agriculture to the nation’s producers this week. Conducted once every five years, the census aims to get a complete and accurate picture of American agriculture. The resulting data are used by farmers, ranchers, trade …
Perdue Announces National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board Appointments
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of six members to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. The terms for these appointees are effective immediately and expire on June 30, 2020. Newly appointed members are: Randell W. Eronimous, Seattle, Wash. (Region 13) Erin S. Sharp, Cincinnati, Ohio (At-large, processor) Reappointed members are: Lynne M. Bohan, Lynnfield, Mass. …
Big Week for Agriculture in Washington
It’s a “big” week for agriculture in Washington, with key actions likely to have an impact on producers’ bottom-line. The U.S. Senate is expected to take a “make-or-break” vote Thursday or Friday on the GOP’s tax plan, that Republicans will have to pass with a likely razor-thin, Republican-only majority. The GOP is edging closer to the needed votes, and President …
Capitol Christmas Tree Arrives
A nearly 80-foot tall Christmas tree arrived Monday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service provides a tree each year from a different state for the Capitol. This year’s tree, an Engelmann Spruce, is 79 feet tall and comes from northwest Montana. The 15,000 lbs., the 76-year-old tree made a two-week, 3,400-mile journey to …
Former BPI Employees Apply for Financial Aid Fund
Roughly 700 former Beef Products Inc. (BPI) employees have applied for financial aid from a fund created by a lawsuit settlement with ABC News. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports that BPI representatives are currently reviewing the applications to determine how it will distribute the funds, taking into account how employees were financially impacted and their length of service. The $10 …
Ethanol Groups Applaud EPA Point of Obligation Announcement
Last week’s decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject petitions to change the Renewable Fuel Standard point of obligation drew applause from ethanol groups. The American Coalition for Ethanol, known as ACE, said in a statement that the coalition is “grateful EPA is rejecting to change the rules for a handful of greedy refiners” who they say want …
Mexico Bans Select GMO Soybean Plantings in Seven States
Mexico’s agriculture sanitation authority has revoked Monsanto’s permit to commercialize genetically modified soybeans in seven states, a move Monsanto calls unjustified. Monsanto says in a statement that the permit had been withdrawn on unwarranted legal and technical grounds, according to Reuters. The company said it would take the necessary steps to safeguard its rights and those of farmers using the …
Trade Tops China, Canada Meeting Agenda
Trade will top the agenda between China and Canada next week during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to China. The visit is aimed at promoting a “progressive trade agenda” that Canada says will “create good, middle-class jobs,” according to Bloomberg News. The trip comes as Canada is in the midst of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with …
Survey Shows Young Farmers Ready to Defy Odds
The new generation of young farmers expects to overcome major barriers to their success in agriculture, according to a freshly released national survey. Young farmers expect to tackle barriers including access to land, affordable health care, and mounting student loan debt in their quest to farm. However, the 2017 National Young Farmer Survey says success will require deliberate policy change …