The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), built global markets for U.S. agriculture in 2019. Tyron Spearman has the story. Foreign Agricultural Service Builds Global Markets for U.S. Agriculture in 2019 (USDA/FAS) — Throughout 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continued to deliver on its promise to pursue free, fair and reciprocal trade and …
USDA Taking Input on CSP Rule
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers they are still seeking public comments on its interim final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The changes include Increasing payment rates for adoption of cover crop rotations, Introducing a new supplemental payment for advanced grazing management, Creating one-time payment for developing a comprehensive conservation plan and Providing specific …
USMCA Senate Prospects
Following a landslide vote to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the House last week, the trade deal heads to the Senate. A vote, expected in January, could come early in the month, pending how the impeachment articles are handled. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week elected to hang on the impeachment documents, rather than send them off immediately to …
USCA Disappointed in Lack of COOL in USMCA
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) expressed disappointment last week because country of origin labeling (COOL) was not included in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The group penned a letter to President Donald Trump following House passage of the USMCA implementing legislation. Leo McDonnell, USCA Director Emeritus, writes, “This administration promised to “Make America Great Again,” but it is becoming evident this …
Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner Wraps Up 2019
The iconic brand continues to celebrate beef as Americans’ favorite protein by highlighting its great taste, nutritional benefits, and stories about the people who raise it (NCBA) — Two years after it was relaunched, the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand has had a reach of more than 1 billion consumers with drool worthy and informative digital marketing and social media content. …
Broadband Map Fix Will Reveal Needs
(AFBF) — The House of Representatives passed Farm Bureau-backed legislation that will improve the accuracy of broadband coverage maps to better identify needs. The Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (H.R. 4229) requires broadband providers to report more specific data to create a significantly more accurate and granular National Broadband Map. With more precise data, federal agencies can …
Fried Remains Opposed to Trade Deal
(NSF) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried isn’t joining the bipartisan support for a revised trade deal with Canada and Mexico that is backed by Republican President Donald Trump and the Democratic-run U.S. House. Fried, Florida’s only statewide elected Democrat, said she was “deeply disappointed” protections for seasonal growers were not included in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is intended …
Peanut Butter Challenge Back on Track After Hurricane Michael Recovery
(UF/IFAS) — Last year’s UF/IFAS Extension Peanut Butter Challenge was just getting started when Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle. As the communities dealt with the aftermath and UF/IFAS Extension offices became collection points for all varieties of donations, the annual peanut butter jar collection became less of a focus than the many items of need during recovery. This year’s …
Battle to Claim Credit for Final Version of USMCA
(NAFB) — While the U.S-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) did pass in the U.S. House on Thursday, both Republicans and Democrats claimed credit for the final version of the pact. Agri-Pulse says Republican lawmakers piled their praise upon President Trump for demanding that the North American Free Trade Agreement be renegotiated. However, Democrats say the changes they demanded were what made …
House, Senate, Pass Ag Spending Package
(NAFB) — The House and Senate this week came together in passage of spending bills for fiscal year 2020. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, says, “bipartisan cooperation has made this possible.” The spending package for agriculture includes $23.5 billion in discretionary funding, $451 million above fiscal year 2019 enacted levels. It also includes $1.5 billion in …