(FTE) — In a unanimous decision, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) made an affirmative determination that dumped Mexican tomato imports threaten the U.S. industry with material injury. This determination comes on the heels of an announcement last month by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which found that Mexican tomatoes had been dumped in the U.S. market at an average …
Legislation to Preserve Family Farms Introduced in Congress
(NCBA) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced its strong support for the “Preserving Family Farms Act of 2019.” Introduced by U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D – 20th Dist. – Calif.) and Jackie Walorski (R – 2nd Dist. – Ind.), this important bipartisan legislation would expand IRS Code Section 2032A to allow more ranchers and farmers to take advantage …
Tyson to Reopen Kansas Beef Plant Next Month
(NAFB) — Tyson will reopen a Kansas beef processing facility next month, following repairs prompted by an August fire that disrupted operations at the facility. This week, Tyson announced repairs at the Holcomb, Kansas facility are nearly complete, and efforts to resume beef processing are planned for the first week of December. The company expects the plant to be fully …
NRCS Focusing on Serving their Customers
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a proud history of supporting America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. For more than 80 years, they have helped producers keep their working lands working, along with improving the quality of our air, water, soil and habitat. This is being done through one-on-one, personalized advice, finding the best solutions to meet unique conservation goals. NRCS Chief, Matt …
New Rules Aimed at Protecting Tomato Crops
(NSF) — New federal inspection rules go into place Friday on tomatoes and peppers, a month after Florida agricultural officials expressed concern that a virus had been found in tomatoes imported from Mexico. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that tomatoes and pepper fruit from Mexico, Israel and the Netherlands must be inspected for tomato brown rugose fruit virus, …
Georgia Pecans Enter Taiwanese Markets
GDA Expands Trade Efforts (GDA) — More than 51,000 pounds of Georgia pecans are headed to Taiwan and are expected to enter retail stores by mid-December. The pecan export purchased from a grower in Ocilla, Georgia is a direct result of bilateral trade efforts between Georgia and Taiwan. During October, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black joined representatives from the Georgia Pecan Growers …
Farm Bureau Calls for Improvements to Ag Labor Bill
(AFBF) — The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Legislation advanced by the House Judiciary Committee falls short of a long-term solution to farm labor shortages, which constitute one of the most significant barriers to farm success in several regions of the country. “Before the bill was introduced, modifications were made in response …
Application Deadline for RCPP is December 3
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds potential partners the application deadline for the updated Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is December 3, 2019. Potential partners are encouraged to submit proposals that will improve water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. RCPP eligible partners include private industry, non-government organizations, Indian tribes, state and local governments, …
Amazing Creatures in Longleaf Pine Flatwoods and Sandhills
A wide diversity of remarkable animals calls longleaf pine flatwoods and sandhills habitats home. And USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites landowners to discover species special to naturalist Dirk Stevenson, who has spent much of his life in the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States wading swamps and exploring pine landscapes in his field studies of imperiled and declining amphibians, …
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Rises Only a Penny
(AFBF) — The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 34th annual survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $48.91, or less than $5.00 per person. This is a 1-cent increase from last year’s average of $48.90. “The average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner is essentially unchanged …