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 …
U.S. Planning Another Round of China Tariffs
The United States is readying more tariffs against China if there is no positive momentum following a meeting between President Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping. Bloomberg News reports the new round will be announced if the talks during the G20 summit between the two fails. The new round, proposed to be announced in early December, would apply to imports …
70 Percent of Farmland to Change Hands in Next 20 Years
Farmers National Company says 70 percent of farmland will transfer ownership over the next 20 years. The transfers will occur by sale, will, trust beneficiary or gifts, according to the company. For farm and ranch operations, land is by far the most significant asset in this transfer of wealth. Over the next five years, ten percent of the 911 million …
Canada Announces New Dairy Working Groups
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada this week announced new dairy working groups to address industry concerns. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced the new working groups comprised of dairy farmers and processors. Canada says that while informal engagement has already begun with the dairy sector, the working groups bring together officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, representatives from national dairy organizations and …