AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AL (ACES-Sept. 25, 2019) — Registration for the 2020 Alabama Industrial Hemp Program opens Oct 7. Growers, processors, handlers and universities will have until Nov. 14 to submit applications. Documentation Required Dennis Delaney, team leader for Alabama Extension’s Hemp Action Team, said it is important applicants submit all required documentation as well the application fee. “Everyone must submit …
NCBA President Jennifer Houston Testifies on State of Cattle Industry
WASHINGTON (NCBA-Sept. 25, 2019) — Jennifer Houston, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), testified about the current state of the cattle industry before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Topics ranged from the effects of the recent fire at a Tyson beef processing facility in Kansas to the pending reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading …
U.S. Pork Industry Facing Headwinds, Iowa Pork Producers President Tells Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPPC-Sept. 25, 2019) — The U.S. pork industry is facing serious headwinds both at home and abroad that need to be addressed to ensure the industry remains competitive, allowing for expanded production, greater job growth and continued contribution to rural communities across the country, Iowa Pork Producers President Trent Thiele testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee. U.S. pork …
Chinese Demand Pushing Meat Prices Higher
(NAFB) — China has recently been buying a lot of meat. The Wall Street Journal says their recent purchases are pushing up the prices of beef, pork, and poultry around the globe. Meat buyers are increasing their activity after African Swine Fever hit the country hard and reduced the size of the world’s largest pig herd by more than a …
More Optimism for Upcoming Talks Between the U.S. and China
(NAFB) — The Chinese Vice Premier, who’s leading China’s efforts in the trade talks with the United States, will be back in Washington next week. An Agri-Pulse report says he’ll be across the table from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Earlier this week on the sidelines of the United Nation’s General Assembly in New York, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin …
DeSantis, Cabinet Approve Conservation Land Deals
(NSF-September 24, 2019) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet agreed Tuesday to spend $7.6 million to conserve more than 8,100 acres in Walton and Putnam counties. The acquisitions include two deals in Walton County that are part of a broader conservation effort known as the Seven Runs Creek Final Phase Florida Forever project and a parcel in Putnam …
Senator David Perdue Leads Effort to Lower Indian Pecan Tariffs
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of Sen. David Perdue-Sept. 23, 2019) – U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and 11 senators on Friday sent a letter encouraging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to prioritize a reduction in pecan tariffs as the Trump Administration continues trade negotiations with India. Senator Perdue was joined in sending the letter by …
House Passes Continuing Resolution Allowing Aid Payments to Farmers
On a bipartisan vote of 301 to 123, the House passed a continuing resolution that funds the government through Nov. 21. The resolution includes a provision that will allow the ag department’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to continue to make aid payments to farmers. That includes Market Facilitation Payments to help make up for export sales lost in recent trade …
Chinese Delegation Heads Home Early
Chinese trade negotiators did an about-face on Friday, canceling a visit to meet U.S. farmers after they wrapped up trade talks in Washington last week. A CNBC article says the Chinese delegation is headed back to China earlier than planned. Nicole Rolf, director of national affairs with the Montana Farm Bureau, says there wasn’t any explanation as to why they …
Perdue Comments on Administrative Actions to Streamline H-2A Process
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement highlighting actions announced by the Department of Labor (DOL) that will modernize the burdensome H-2A visa process. First, DOL published a common-sense rule that eliminates the requirement to advertise a job opening in print newspapers, instead shifting to advertising on the DOL and State Workforce Agency websites, which are further …