Farmers in China will plant less corn this season, resulting in the nation’s smallest crop in six years. A poll by Reuters finds that during the spring planting season, growers in China plan to cut corn acreage for the second straight year to 35.2 million hectares, the equivalent of roughly 85 million acres, 4.1 percent less than a year ago. …
EPA Administrator Promises Back-to-Basics Agenda
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt last week promised a back-to-basics agenda approach for the federal agency. While visiting a Pennsylvania coal mine, Pruitt announced the agenda, saying the new focus “means returning EPA to its core mission: protecting the environment by engaging with state, local,and tribal partners to create sensible regulations that enhance economic growth.” In his speech to …
Little Time to Reverse Organic Livestock Rules
If confirmed next Monday, Agriculture Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue will have little time to oppose organic livestock rules finalized by the Department of Agriculture just a day before President Donald Trump was sworn in. Politico reports the rules will go into effect May 19th, but Congress has until April 28th to undo the measure, and Congress doesn’t seem likely to …
USDA Seeking to Advance Modernized Pork Slaughter
The Department of Agriculture wants to move forward with a modernization of pork slaughter. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service last week announced the agency wants to move forward with a system that will focus inspection resources and improve food safety. The effort is supported by the National Pork Producers Council, which says the improvements would increase efficiency and effectiveness …
Japan Taking Lead on TPP Without U.S.
Japan is seeking to revive the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal without the United States. President Donald Trump in January removed the U.S. from the deal that was estimated to be worth more than $4 billion to U.S. agriculture. Now, Japan is seeking to amend the deal to 11 nations, cutting out the U.S., and moving forward. The Nikkei (Nee-kay) …
Scott Pushes for Money to Repair Lake Okeechobee Dike
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Gov. Rick Scott waded into the legislative battle over Everglades restoration Monday. The governor gave support to a revised Senate water-storage plan and called for lawmakers to financially help the federal government speed repairs to the dike around Lake Okeechobee. In a news conference as the legislative session entered its final three weeks, …
Order Rescinding the Prohibition of Poultry Exhibitions and the Assembling of Poultry to be Sold Issued
After weeks of extensive testing of both commercial and backyard flocks within the surveillance zones established in Alabama, there has been no new detection of avian influenza. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan, in consultation with state veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier, officially rescinds the Order Prohibiting Poultry Exhibitions and the Assembly of Poultry to be Sold in Alabama*. This …
DDG Prices at Lowest Point in a Decade
Recent trade tensions have hit the dried distiller’s grain market hard. Prices for the U.S. corn byproduct used in animal feed have dropped to the lowest they’ve been at for this time of year in a decade. Earlier this year, China imposed import tariffs on the product, slowing American exports to the world’s largest market. A Bloomberg Report says the …
Immigration Raids Could Send Milk Prices Soaring
Continued immigration raids on American dairy farms could send milk prices soaring. Jaime Castaneda, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Trade Policy for the National Milk Producers Federation, says the price of a gallon of milk could possibly approach $8. The Hagstrom Report says Castaneda was part of a panel on immigration at the Consumer Federation of America’s National …
Stockholders Approve Farm Credit Merger
Three Farm Credit organizations received stockholder approval to merge their businesses together into one organization. As of July first, Farm Credit Services, AgStar Financial Services, and Badgerland Financial will become Compeer Financial. The boards of directors of each organization first began looking into the possibility of merging assets back in February of last year. Each recommended moving forward with the …