WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of Sen. David Perdue-Sept. 23, 2019) – U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and 11 senators on Friday sent a letter encouraging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to prioritize a reduction in pecan tariffs as the Trump Administration continues trade negotiations with India. Senator Perdue was joined in sending the letter by …
House Passes Continuing Resolution Allowing Aid Payments to Farmers
On a bipartisan vote of 301 to 123, the House passed a continuing resolution that funds the government through Nov. 21. The resolution includes a provision that will allow the ag department’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to continue to make aid payments to farmers. That includes Market Facilitation Payments to help make up for export sales lost in recent trade …
Chinese Delegation Heads Home Early
Chinese trade negotiators did an about-face on Friday, canceling a visit to meet U.S. farmers after they wrapped up trade talks in Washington last week. A CNBC article says the Chinese delegation is headed back to China earlier than planned. Nicole Rolf, director of national affairs with the Montana Farm Bureau, says there wasn’t any explanation as to why they …
Perdue Comments on Administrative Actions to Streamline H-2A Process
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement highlighting actions announced by the Department of Labor (DOL) that will modernize the burdensome H-2A visa process. First, DOL published a common-sense rule that eliminates the requirement to advertise a job opening in print newspapers, instead shifting to advertising on the DOL and State Workforce Agency websites, which are further …
Barbour County, Alabama, Designated as a Primary Natural Disaster Area
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border State Also Available WASHINGTON, D.C. (USDA/FSA-Sept. 20, 2019) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Barbour County, Alabama, as a primary natural disaster area. Producers who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. This natural disaster designation allows FSA to …
New Suspension Agreement is Step in Right Direction
Washington, D.C. (FTE-September 19, 2019) — The Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) welcomes the signing by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Mexican tomato exporters of a new agreement suspending the antidumping investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The new suspension agreement includes strong monitoring, enforcement and anti-circumvention provisions, including border inspections, that should help eliminate the injury to American tomato …
More Time Provided for Dairy Producers to Enroll in DMC Program
New Signup Deadline for Dairy Margin Coverage is September 27 WASHINGTON (USDA/FSA-Sept. 19, 2019) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the deadline to September 27 for dairy producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019. The deadline had been September 20. Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), …
Former Agriculture Secretaries Announce Support for USMCA
All former U.S. secretaries of agriculture since President Reagan’s administration announced support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need …
NCGA Leaders Fly-In to Washington
(NCGA) — NCGA State Executives, representing eleven state associations travelled to Washington, D.C. this week to urge members of Congress to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and continue the education effort on NCGA’s Low Carbon/High Octane proposal. The State Executives also pressed lawmakers to use their influence with President Trump regarding potential Administrative actions to mitigate the effects of RFS waivers. …
White House Sends Formal Announcement of Agreement with Japan
(NAFB) — The White House has notified Congress it will sign a trade agreement with Japan. President Donald Trump notified lawmakers he will enter an agreement on tariffs and digital trade with Japan, as the two sides wrap up the talks still this month. The White House published the notice Monday evening. Trump told lawmakers he is “pleased to report …