Source: News Service of Florida Clad in jeans and a blue-checkered shirt with rolled-up sleeves, Adam Putnam easily blended into the rural North Florida residents attending the annual Wausau Possum Festival in early August. “I’m a farmer, a business owner,” the boyish-looking, 44-year-old Republican candidate for governor told the crowd in a brief speech. “The foundation of my campaign is …
China: U.S. Agriculture May Never Bounce Back
China threatens that U.S. agriculture won’t recover from the tit-for-tat trade war between the two countries. In the South China Morning Post, a government official warned that U.S. agriculture may never regain lost market share stemming from the trade war. China alleges that “many countries have the willingness” and capacity to take over market share occupied by U.S. goods. Since …
China Accepts U.S. Soybean Shipment with 25 Percent Tariff
China Monday accepted the 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans, as a vessel waiting to dock for five weeks reached port and began unloading. The move marks the first shipment of U.S. soybeans to be accepted with a 25 percent tariff stemming from the U.S.-China trade war. China’s state grain stockpiling company accepted the shipment, even as government officials warned …
NCBA Calls R-CALF Effort an Attack on Beef Checkoff
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) alleges that R-CALF (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund) is attacking the beef checkoff. Last week, R-CALF asked for an injunction against collection of checkoff funds be expanded to 13 more states. The injunction currently only applies to Montana. In a statement, R-CALF says its members in other states “object to being required to turn over their …
Bayer Takes Market Hit from Glyphosate Ruling
The first day of trading following a jury ruling against Monsanto pushed shares of Bayer down 12 percent. Monsanto, recently acquired by Bayer, was ordered to pay $289 million as part of a lawsuit alleging glyphosate causes cancer. While Bayer says the verdict is “at odds with the weight of scientific evidence,” the ruling by a California Jury claimed glyphosate, …
Sorghum Growers Disappointed in Chlorpyrifos Ruling
National Sorghum Producers expressed disappointment in last week’s court decision to impose a ban on chlorpyrifos, a useful pesticide for sorghum growers. Last week, a U.S. appeals court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to revoke tolerances and cancel all registration for chlorpyrifos within 60 days. In response, NSP chairman Don Bloss of Nebraska expressed disappointment in the decision, calling the …
Tractor, Combine Sales, Posting Strong Numbers
Overall U.S. sales of tractors and combines continued to post strong numbers, led by combines and four-wheel-drive tractors, according to the July 2018 report from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. July U.S. sales of combines gained 37 percent compared to last year, with year-to-date growth of nearly 24 percent compared to last year’s January-July numbers. U.S. sales of four-wheel-drive tractors …
Farming Groups Call for Swift Farm Bill Passage
The two largest farming groups in the United States called for swift passage of the farm bill by a congressional conference committee. Faced with the lowest farm income in 12 years, the presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union are asking Senate and House conferees to move quickly. Everything from commodity price supports to childhood nutrition, …
National FFA Organization Names VIP Recipients
Nineteen individuals will be honored in an onstage ceremony with the VIP Citation at this year’s National FFA Convention & Expo, held in Indianapolis Oct. 24-27. The VIP Citation recognizes individuals’ significant contributions to FFA and agricultural education. Those individuals receiving this distinction include Jim Aschwanden of Galt, Calif.; Greg Beard of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Michael Kent Boggs of …
Brazilian Judge Suspends Glyphosate Use
A Brazilian judge has suspended the use of products containing glyphosate. The federal judge halted new registrations of products containing glyphosate and will suspend existing registrations while the Brazilian government reevaluates the toxicity of glyphosate products, according to Reuters. The decision, however, could face several appeals. Brazil’s public health agency, as well as the Agriculture Ministry, have announced plans to …