USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is still seeking public comments on its interim final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program. CSP, the nation’s largest conservation program in terms of participating land, is designed to help farmers have more robust conservation activities. The program provides many benefits that include increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience …
Farm Groups Want Crop Insurance Protected in Fiscal 2021 Budget
(NAFB) — The Crop Insurance Coalition is asking Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue and the Office of Management and Budget to oppose crop insurance cuts as the Trump Administration develops its fiscal year 2021 budget. The Hagstrom Report says the coalition sent a letter to President Trump and OMB Acting Director Russell Vought, saying, “For good reason, the state of the …
Report says Phase One Trade Deal Signing May Happen This Weekend
(NAFB) — Reports surfaced on Monday that the Chinese Vice Premier will lead a delegation to Washington, D.C., to sign the Phase One trade deal. A source close to the situation tells the South China Morning Post that Liu (Lou) He will fly to Washington on Saturday to sign the agreement. The source said the U.S. extended the invitation and …
Skepticism Remains Over China Ag Purchases
(NAFB) — An Associated Press report says there are still people on both sides of the Pacific Ocean who remain skeptical about the actual amount of farm goods that China committed to buy in the “Phase One” trade agreement with the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the amount will total $40 billion a year. However, President Trump says the …
First U.S. Shipment of Chicken to China Arrives in January
(NAFB) — USA Poultry and Egg Export President Jim Sumner tells Agri-Pulse that the first U.S. chicken shipment to China in a long time will enter the Asian country in January. It marks a resumption of those shipments after China lifted a ban on U.S. chicken just over a month ago. The Chinese ban was initially implemented after an avian …
Farmers Union Wants Improvements to USMCA
(NAFB) — Back on December 10, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that the White House and her chamber of Congress had reached an agreement on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Deal. While the National Farmers Union was happy to see an effort to update the old North American Free Trade Agreement, the group says that effort didn’t go far …
USDA Announces Pilot Insurance Coverage for Hemp Growers
(USDA/RMA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced a new crop insurance option for hemp growers in select counties of 21 states in 2020. The pilot insurance program will provide Actual Production History (APH) coverage under 508(h) Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) for eligible producers in certain counties in Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, …
FDACS Grants Santa Claus Animal Movement Permit
(FDACS) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Division of Animal Industry issued a Certificate of Animal Movement to Mr. and Mrs. Claus of the North Pole. The permit will allow their reindeer to enter and exit “all homes, domiciles, encampments, and premises in Florida” between the hours of 8:00 PM December 24, 2019 and 7:00 AM …
Florida, Feds Still Working on Timber Money
(NSF) — Florida has its “foot on the gas pedal” to get federal money to timber growers who sustained massive damage when Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle last year. But agreements are still being finalized, with no set timeline for the first payments to go out from a $380.7 million block grant. Franco Ripple, a spokesman for state Agriculture Commissioner …
Mr. Claus Granted Movement Permit in United States
(USDA) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Nicholas Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited. The permit will allow reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 7 p.m. Dec. 24 and 7 a.m. Dec. 25 through or …