USDA is considering the possibility of adjusting direct payments to producers who’ve been hurt by the trade war. The adjustments may include factoring in hurricane damage after southeast U.S. producers were hit hard by hurricanes this year. A DTN report says Perdue asked USDA staff to look at the fact that they believe payments should be based on actual production …
No USDA Trade Aid Planned For 2019
The Trump Administration has no plans in place for 2019 to give any more aid to farmers hurt by tariffs. Bloomberg says that’s based on assumptions that markets will recover even if the trade war with China keeps going. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue made that announcement last week. Back in July, the administration announced it would deliver $12 billion in …
Grassley: No Trade Aid for Smithfield Foods
When it comes to just who is eligible for trade aid, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said Smithfield Foods shouldn’t be one of the companies which are eligible help. Smithfield is owned by Chinese conglomerate WH Group. Grassley took to Twitter and says, “Smithfield seems to be in a ‘can’t-lose’ situation thanks to American taxpayers.” A spokesman for the Iowa Republican, …
Only Out of Control African Swine Fever Will Hurt U.S. Prices
A handful of economists tell Politico that the African Swine Fever outbreak in China and parts of Europe won’t have a major impact on U.S. exports. That’s due in large part to the fact that the outbreak has hit only a fraction of the massive Chinese hog industry. Chinese officials have culled hundreds of thousands of pigs from the nation’s …
USDA/FDA Meeting on What to Call Cell-Cultured Meat
Politico says a recent two-day joint USDA/FDA public gathering on cell-cultured food technology boiled down to a simple question. If it looks like meat and tastes like meat, can you call it meat? During the public comment period, stakeholders offered opinions on what the new form of meat should be called and how it should be labeled, which is a …
John Deere Gives Significant Grant to National FFA Organization
John Deere and the National FFA Organization have been in partnership for the past 75 years. To commemorate that, John Deere is making a $75,000 contribution to the FFA Living to Serve Platform. The funds are in addition to the wide range of FFA activities that John Deere already supports. Sam Allen, Deere and Company CEO and Chairman, says, “The …
Assistance Available through NRCS for Ag Land Damaged by Hurricane Michael
Florida farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality due to Hurricane Michael are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Agricultural producers in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, and Washington counties are eligible to apply for assistance. …
Georgia Farmers Share Hardship in Aftermath of Hurricane Michael
Georgia farmers are sharing their hardships in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, which struck the heart of rural Georgia in early October. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black and the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) have traveled to affected farms throughout the state and listened to the stories of farmers and farm families impacted by the storm. Each narrative returns to a …
Federal Reserve: NAFTA 2.0 Won’t Help Dairy Industry
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) replacement will not benefit dairy farmers, according to the Federal Reserve Bank. A report by the Federal Reserve says gains made by the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that will replace NAFTA are “too small and too far in the future to help dairy farmers.” The Minneapolis Fed reported that “a substantial number of dairy …
Drought Monitor: Wet Harvest Continues Next Week
The U.S. Drought Monitor weekly update shows more wet weather ahead for the Midwest. Much of the Corn Belt received adequate or above needed moisture this growing season. However, pockets in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma were extremely dry. Recent rains have turned the tables, and much of the Midwest is experiencing wet harvest conditions. The Drought Monitor notes that a …