The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation effort passed the one-year anniversary this week. A year ago Thursday, the U.S., Canada and Mexico convened for the start of the renegotiation talks. Now, the U.S. could be nearing a deal on NAFTA, at least with Mexico. Politico reports the political situation in both countries is such that each is more …
Animal Ag Groups Ask for Permanent Funding for Disease Preparedness
A coalition of animal agriculture stakeholders is seeking permanent funding for disease preparedness programs in the farm bill. In a letter to the farm bill conferee members, who will be ironing out differences between the House and Senate bills, the group specifically seeks permanent full funding for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. The groups say permanent funding …
NFU: Beef Producers Disadvantaged by Current “Product of U.S.A” Labeling Standards
The National Farmers Union (NFU) Thursday told the Department of Agriculture U.S. meat labeling standards are disadvantaging U.S. beef producers by allowing products born, raised, or slaughtered outside of the United States to carry the “Product of the U.S.A.” label. NFU wrote to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, that the standards “need to be changed immediately.” The NFU action …
BASF Closes Acquisition of Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds Business
BASF announced this week it has closed the acquisition of Bayer’s global vegetable seeds business. The transaction, BASF says in a news release, “adds a well-recognized brand with a very successful business track record to BASF’s portfolio.” The acquired vegetable seeds business comprises 24 crops and about 2,600 varieties. It also includes a research and development operation, and breeding systems …
Farm Bureau: Now, More Than Ever, We Must Ditch the Rule
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Due to a misguided ruling by a single federal district court, the overbroad, vague and illegal 2015 Waters of the United States Rule is now the law of the land in twenty-six states. “To avoid widespread uncertainty and potential enforcement against ordinary farming activities in these already-uncertain …
USDA Forest Service Announces New Strategy for Improving Forest Conditions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) announced a new strategy for managing catastrophic wildfires and the impacts of invasive species, drought, and insect and disease epidemics. Specifically, a new report titled Toward Shared Stewardship across Landscapes: An Outcome-based investment Strategy (PDF, 3.7 MB) outlines the USFS’s plans to work more closely with states to identify landscape-scale priorities for targeted treatments in …
Deliver a Farm Bill before Current Law Expires
America’s two largest farm groups are delivering a loud message to farm bill negotiators: ‘Don’t get hung up on differences, deliver a farm bill before current law expires, September 30th. With the lowest farm income in 12-years and a tariff war depleting U.S. market share overseas, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), National Farmers Union NFU) and more than 150 other …
China Files WTO Complaint over U.S. Solar Tariffs
China’s latest shot in a tit-for-tat trade war is a World Trade Organization Complaint over U.S. solar tariffs. China filed a complaint with the WTO to help determine the legality of the U.S. policies, saying they not only harm China’s rights but also undermine the WTO’s authority, according to Reuters. China says the U.S. tariffs and the U.S. “decision to …
FDA Extends FSMA Compliance
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week it would extend its deadlines and inspection time frames for when certain-sized facilities should come into compliance with some Food Safety Modernization Act. The move, applauded by the American Feed Industry Association, gives the FDA more time to release the final FSMA guidance documents and train its inspectors. AFIA says the …
Answer Upcoming NASS Survey; It Impacts Your Bottom Line
The confidential crop survey from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be arriving in the mailboxes of Southern farmers soon, and it is very important that recipients take the time to complete it. The number of farmers completing the confidential NASS crop survey has been declining in recent years—and that’s bad news for farmers. This is bad news for …