Corn Refiners Association (CRA) President & CEO John Bode appeared before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to give testimony on behalf of CRA. The hearing, held due to concerns expressed by users of the freight rail network and other stakeholders about the changes to demurrage and accessorial tariffs being implemented by various Class I railroads, took place in the Main …
Safe Trade Allowed to Continue in the Event African Swine Fever
United States Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Dr. Jack Shere working in collaboration with the Canada’s CVO, Dr. Jaspinder Komal, issued the following statement: We are pleased to announce that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have agreed to allow safe trade to continue in the event African swine fever (ASF) is reported …
NRCS White Oak Initiative Sign-Up in North Alabama
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind landowners sign-up is underway for a new initiative focused on increasing the number of white oak timber stands in north Alabama. According to the United States Forest Service’s Forest Inventory, white oak regeneration is not keeping pace with the amount of white oak timber being harvested and if not reversed, could …
“Beef Cattle Industry Has Great Story to Tell” On Climate
Direct Emissions From Beef Cattle Only 2% of Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Lyons-Blythe Testifies Testifying on behalf of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Kansas cattle producer Debbie Lyons-Blythe delivered a clear message about eCommerce carbon offsets at a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on climate change. “The U.S. cattle industry is proud of its history as stewards of …
Nikki Fried Urges Immediate Action by U.S. Senate on Disaster Relief
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried urged the U.S. Senate to take immediate action on long-overdue Hurricane Michael relief. With both chambers set to adjourn on Friday until June 3, Fried asked senators to send a bipartisan disaster assistance package to the President’s desk before the end of the week. The U.S. House passed a bipartisan disaster bill on May 10. …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on Vice President Pence in Florida
Vice President Mike Pence visited Jacksonville, Florida to promote the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, as the Trump Administration faces bipartisan labor, environmental, and agricultural opposition to the deal. Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement: “This supposed ‘better deal’ is a bad deal for Florida farmers, and could put farms out of business. Smoke and mirrors from the White House won’t help our proud but struggling …
Trump to Meet with Chinese President in June
President Donald Trump said last week he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. The announcement comes as the trade war between the two largest economies in the world grew even more intense. Reuters says China has already announced it would retaliate on a host of American goods, ranging from frozen vegetables to citrus fruits to natural gas. …
Florida NRCS Holding State Technical Committee Meeting
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee Meeting this Tuesday, May 21 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Doyle Conner Agriculture Building Auditorium in Gainesville. The meeting is open to the public and will give an overview of the 2018 Farm Bill programs and conservation easements. NRCS will solicit recommendations …
Industry Reactions on the Removal of Section 232 Tariffs
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement after the Section 232 tariffs were removed from Canada and Mexico. “Today’s announcement is a big win for American agriculture and the economy as a whole. I thank President Trump for negotiating a great deal and for negotiating the removal of these tariffs. Canada and Mexico …
Farm Bureau Statement on Trump Immigration Reform Proposal
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Farm Bureau welcomes President Trump’s focus on fixing our nation’s broken immigration system. However, nowhere is reform more critical than in the agricultural sector. Labor shortages now are being felt by farmers and ranchers across the country, in dairy, fruits and vegetables, mushroom, livestock and other sectors. …