Plan providing $291M for 69 Projects across 23 Coastal Counties Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a letter to Mr. Noah Valenstein, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Designated Alternate for the Governor of Florida to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council), approving the State of Florida’s State …
New NAFTA Faces Long Road Before Implementation
The updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has many procedural hurdles to pass before farmers and ranchers can see any benefits. President Trump called the agreement a “promise kept” regarding his trade agenda, as NAFTA will become the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement, or USMCA. The late-night announcement Sunday allows the Trump administration to beat a self-set deadline. The administration …
Agriculture Awaits New Farm Bill as 2014 Bill Expires
While Monday was a good day for trade, it also marked the first day without a farm bill. Lawmakers failed to gain a consensus in the farm bill conference committee before the Sept. 30 deadline, as the previous farm bill expired. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway says he is willing to stay in negotiations this month, even though the …
Branstad Responds to China Newspaper Ad Against U.S. Trade Policies
The trade war between China and the United States continues to spill over into a Midwest-based newspaper. Following a four-page paid editorial from China, a U.S. official offered up an editorial in the Des Moines Register blasting China’s propaganda aimed at Iowa farmers. Terry Branstad, former Iowa Governor and U.S. ambassador to China, wrote in the editorial that “it is …
AFBF Seeking Farm Dog of the Year
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is seeking the nation’s top farm dog. A new contest is asking farmers to submit their applications for the Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest. A partnership between AFBF and Nestle Purina PetCare, the contest “celebrates farm dogs who work alongside their people to bring nutritious food to our tables and our …
USDA-NASS Announces 2017 Census of Agriculture Response Rate, Data Release Details
United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) concluded data collection for the 2017 Census of Agriculture with a 71.5 percent national response rate. The Census, conducted once every five years, was mailed to more than 3 million known and potential farms and ranches across the United States late last year. Data collection ended this July. Puerto …
Secretary Perdue Statement on United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the announcement of a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): “The great news of a new USMCA deal is important for our economy as a whole, including the agricultural sector, which counts Canada and Mexico in our top three trading partners. I have long said that I believe our country is …
Groups Respond to New US-Mexico-Canada Agreement
AFBF: Farm Bureau Applauds Trade Progress with Canada The following statement regarding the announcement of trade progress with Canada can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Today’s announcement regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is welcome news. This was a hard-fought win and we commend the administration for all the efforts to solidify the trading relationships we have with …
China May Be Getting U.S. Soybeans Through the Backdoor
It’s possible that Chinese soybean buyers could still be getting American soybeans by purchasing their beans from Argentina. Export reports show that Argentina is buying soybeans from the U.S. and exporting its own production to China. However, a grain market expert says that’s not likely because a drought left Argentina grain stocks in short supply. “The issue is that Argentina …
Roberts Offers Hope for Temporary Farm Bill Program Funding
Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts says he’s working on getting the U.S. Ag Department to extend a “lifeline” to programs that will lack funding if a farm bill doesn’t pass by the Sunday deadline. The current farm bill runs out over the weekend and funding for a lot of smaller initiatives will be in limbo. Politico says there are …