The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind agricultural producers affected by Hurricane Michael that representatives from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development (RD) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) will present disaster assistance workshops next week. Topics to be discussed include emergency assistance for livestock & crop-related expenses and losses; financial assistance programs …
Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Cancel Benefits of USMCA
Steel and aluminum tariffs by the U.S. will hurt agriculture more than NAFTA 2.0 will help. The updated North American Free Trade Agreement, known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), would grow U.S. agricultural exports by $450 million a year, according to the Farm Foundation. However, the organization says the retaliatory tariffs in response to the tariffs that President Donald Trump …
Special EQIP Signup Continues in Georgia
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia wants to remind farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality because of Hurricane Michael, sign up for financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) ends November 16. Special EQIP Signup Continues in Georgia Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion and educational work of the …
Vietnam Winning U.S.-China Trade War
Vietnam is emerging as the winner of the U.S.-China trade war. A new analysis by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China shows companies in China and the U.S. are losing market share, especially to companies from Vietnam, as a result of the trade war. Companies in China also report they are losing sales to companies from India, the …
Trump Administration Plans Hearing on Trade with Japan
The Trump administration will hold a hearing in December to help craft negotiating objectives for a trade deal between the U.S. and Japan. A recent Federal Register notice seeks public comment with a deadline of November 26th, and a hearing scheduled for December 10th in Washington, DC. The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office is seeking the comments to develop U.S. negotiating …
Secretary Perdue Regarding EPA Decision on Dicamba
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend the registration of dicamba for two years. The extension is for “over-the-top” use to control weeds in fields for cotton and soybean plants genetically engineered to resist dicamba. Perdue’s statement is as follows: “It is important that the EPA …
EPA Announces Changes To Dicamba Registration
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is extending the registration of dicamba for two years for “over-the-top” use (application to growing plants) to control weeds in fields for cotton and soybean plants genetically engineered to resist dicamba. This action was informed by input from and extensive collaboration between EPA, state regulators, farmers, academic researchers, pesticide manufacturers and other …
Updated TPP to Take Effect This Year
The Trans-Pacific-Partnership (TPP) replacement that does not include the United States will take effect at the end of this year. Australia and Canada filed ratification documents this week for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, kicking off a 60-day waiting period before the agreement takes effect, as now six countries have ratified the deal. President Donald Trump removed …
Fixed 5G Wireless Not Likely to Bridge Urban-Rural Divide
Fixed 5G wireless is an unlikely candidate to solve rural America’s broadband challenges, according to a new report by CoBank. Rural telecommunication providers have identified 5G fixed wireless as a potential option. However, the report says high costs, competition, spectrum propagation and ecosystem headwinds stand in the way. Verizon is implementing 5G in urban markets, but a CoBank spokesperson says …
Funding to Increase Access to Education, Workforce Training and Health Care Opportunities in Rural Communities
Investments will help more than 4.5 million rural Americans Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that USDA is awarding grants for 128 projects to increase access to job training (PDF, 351 KB), educational and health care services in rural areas. “Empowering rural Americans with access to services for quality of life and economic development is critical to rural prosperity,” Secretary Perdue said. “Distance …