Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is preparing to support Hurricane Florence evacuees and assist with response efforts. “Last year, our neighbors selflessly supported our response efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma, and now it’s our turn to assist others. Hurricane Florence is a serious storm, and we …
State Ag Officials Voice Concerns with Trade Approach
State agriculture officials say the Trump administration needs to aggressively seek market access across the globe, while expressing concerns with the administration’s trade agenda. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture passed two resolutions this week during its annual meeting that leadership says reaffirms the critical importance of international trade to the organization. The group of state agriculture officials …
WASDE Predicts Second-largest Corn Crop, Record Soybean Crop
The Latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand report predicts the second-largest corn crop for the United States this year and a record soybean crop. Corn production is forecast at 14.82 billion bushels, up 241 million from last month on an increased yield forecast. The outlook predicts larger production, increased domestic use, greater exports, and higher ending stocks. The season-average corn …
USDA Says Meat and Animal Product Exports up in 2018
All major U.S. animal protein sources experienced growth in exports in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service said this week that trade data for the first half of the year indicate year-over-year growth for U.S. exports of all major meats as well as dairy and eggs. Dairy …
Refiner Waivers Could Cost Ethanol Industry $20 Billion
New research estimates the U.S. ethanol industry could lose 4.6 billion gallons of domestic demand and $20 billion in sales from the administration’s approach to the Renewable Fuel Standard. Economists at the University of Missouri estimated the losses over the next six years, if the Environmental Protection Agency continues exempting dozens of small refiners from their blending obligations under the …
Monthly Tractor, Combine Sales Increase
Farmers and ranchers purchased more combines and tractors last month according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The latest monthly report shows tractor sales were up 14 percent in August, compared to the same period last year, and combine sales were up 23 percent for the month. Two-wheel- drive tractors under 40 horsepower sales increased 19 …
Farm, Ethanol Groups Urge President to Restore Integrity to RFS, Allow Year-Round E15 Sales
In a letter to President Trump, the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, National Sorghum Producers, American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, and Renewable Fuels Association urged the administration to act immediately to restore the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and allow year-round sales of E15 and other mid-level ethanol blends. The groups …
Farm Bill Extension Not Ruled Out
Getting a farm bill done before current law expires at the end of this month may not happen, as congressional leaders have not ruled out an extension. The 2014 farm bill expires on September 30th, and lawmakers have few days this week to iron out differences between the House and Senate versions of the new farm bill. Politico reports leaders …
NAFTA Main Sticking Point Indeed is Dairy
Negotiators from Canada returned to Washington, D.C. Tuesday in an effort to reach a deal on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland joined U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as the U.S. looks to wrap up talks with Canada quickly. However, talks are not expected the rest of the week with a looming hurricane along …
Indonesia and Australia Commit to Trade Agreement
Indonesia and Australia last week concluded negotiations on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The partnership deepens the trade ties between the countries, benefiting a multitude of industries, including agriculture. The National Pork Producers Council says the organization is pushing for full access to the Australian market, noting that pork is the largest U.S. agricultural export to Australia. However, NPPC …