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 …
Assistance Helps Farmers, Ranchers Conserve Natural Resources
Application deadline for financial assistance Dec. 21 Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until Dec. 21 for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2019 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year. Through EQIP, agricultural landowners may …
ASTA Statement on FDA Plant and Animal Biotechnology Innovation Action Plan
The following is a statement from American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President & CEO Andrew LaVigne regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Action Plan on biotechnology innovation: “We’re encouraged by FDA’s announcement that the agency is moving forward on a plan to provide clarity and foster future innovation around evolving plant breeding methods. “ASTA submitted detailed comments on this topic to …
USDA Planning Trade Aid Round Two Distribution
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is readying round-two of trade mitigation payments for farmers. The payments are the second half of the $12 billion program by the Trump administration to compensate farmers for losses stemming from Trump’s trade agenda. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said he doesn’t expect the payments “any later than December,” according to Politico. USDA previously used about …
Dairy Farmers Ask Trump Administration to Provide Needed Compensation for Lost Trade
U.S. dairy farmers at their annual meeting asked President Donald Trump to recognize the significant economic losses milk producers are suffering because of the administration’s implementation of Section 232 and 301 tariffs. The duties have resulted in retaliatory tariffs against U.S. dairy exports, particularly in Mexico and China. They continue to cause severe economic harm to U.S. dairy farmers, according …