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 …
Groups Respond to Passage of USMCA
America’s Cattle Producers Hail House Passage Of USMCA NCBA Urges Senate to Swiftly Follow House’s Lead (NCBA) — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Jennifer Houston issued the following statement regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 385-41: “This was a crucial win for all U.S. beef producers and a reassurance …
USMCA Leaves Florida Producers Out in the Cold
Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL), member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after voting ‘no’ on the shortfalls of the USMCA agreement for Florida farmers. “NAFTA was originally created to remove traditional trade barriers and facilitate economic growth amongst the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Our great state of Florida is one of the biggest agriculture partners in …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Comments on House Passage of USMCA
(FDACS) — The U.S. House passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). In response, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “It is deeply disappointing that seasonal protections were not included in this USMCA implementing legislation. For nearly a year, I have called repeatedly for effective, timely relief from unfair trade practices for America’s seasonal produce growers in the USMCA. …