Yesterday we reported that many agricultural groups were pleased with the signing of the phase-one trade agreement between the United States and China. Today, the trade news continues as the U.S. Senate has passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 89-10. Many agricultural groups also cheered that news. Secretary Perdue Statement on Senate Passage of USMCA (USDA) — …
FSA Encourages Producers to Enroll Soon in ARC and PLC Programs
Producers, Beat the Rush – Call Today to Make an Appointment (USDA/FSA) — USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk Loss (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 15, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year. Although more than 200,000 producers have enrolled to date, FSA anticipates 1.5 …
Ag Groups Respond to Phase One Trade Deal Signing
Secretary Perdue: China Phase I Deal is a Bonanza for American Agriculture U.S. Secretary Perdue issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed the historic Phase One Trade Agreement between the United States and China: “This agreement is proof President Trump’s negotiating strategy is working. While it took China a long time to realize President Trump was serious, …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on USTR Commitments to Seasonal Produce Protections
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement regarding formal commitments recently made by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to protect American seasonal produce growers from unfair trade practices harming the industry: “While discouraging that the USMCA and its implementing legislation lacked protections for our seasonal producers, I thank Ambassador Lighthizer for his formal commitments to address this urgent …
McConnell: Senate to Process USMCA This Week
(NAFB) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggests the Senate will vote on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) this week. Bloomberg News expects a vote Thursday, as the Senate committees required to sign off on the implementing legislation are doing so quickly. However, a final vote has not been confirmed. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the agreement on …
USDA Reminds Historically Underserved Producers of Advance Payment Option
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind historically underserved producers, who participate in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), of the advance payment option. NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr explains how this program works. (USDA/NRCS) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds historically underserved producers, who are participating in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), of the advance payment option. …
E-Verify Divides Republican Leaders as Session Starts
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push for a politically charged immigration proposal has begun to expose a clash between Republicans as this year’s legislative session starts. The governor kicked off the session Tuesday by reminding lawmakers about one of his top priorities: a proposed mandate for all Florida employers to use the federal government’s E-Verify system to check new hires …
Key Senator Files Plan for Everglades, Water Money
(NSF) — The Senate’s top budget writer filed a proposal Monday that would put into law Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to spend $625 million a year on Everglades and water-quality projects. The proposal (SB 1878), filed by Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, would carry out a DeSantis priority to spend $2.5 billion over four years on such projects. The …
Bad News for U.S. Beef/Chicken in Potential U.K. Trade Deal
(NAFB) — The U.S. beef and poultry industries got some bad news through a recent article on BBC Dot Com. Chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef will be kept out of the United Kingdom under any potential trade deal with the U.S. That comes straight from the UK environmental secretary. Theresa Villiers tells the BBC that the current European Union ban …
Beef Quality Assurance Program Continues Impressive Growth
More than 100,000 Now Certified Online in Beef Checkoff-funded Program (NCBA) – The Beef Quality Assurance program continues to grow significantly, with more than 100,000 cattle producers now certified through its online learning system. The online option was introduced by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, in early 2017. Since the BQA program was initiated …