Merck Animal Health and Tyson Foods are providing funding to Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Poultry Science department to build a new research facility. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports the two companies have provided a $500,000 gift for the laboratory where scientists will focus on solving intestinal health issues in poultry. A University spokesperson says the …
EPA Considering Dicamba Registration as Injury Reports Climb
Herbicide injury reports are mounting in the South and the Midwest. A DTN report says state regulators and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are looking at the situation carefully. Most of the damage reports revolve around dicamba. However, there are 2,4-D damage reports coming out of the southern states. Most of the dicamba injury complaints are coming out of the …
Doggett Named Corn Growers Interim CEO
The National Corn Growers selected Jon Doggett, the current NCGA Executive Vice President, as their new interim CEO. He’ll start the new duties August 1, after the departure of current CEO Chris Novak. Doggett has been in the EVP role since 2014. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Public Policy and continues to manage the NCGA’s 11-person …
NPPC Wants Regulations Reined In Further
American pork producers are facing the triple-whammy of declining income, a growing labor shortage, and volatile markets caused by trade disputes. They don’t also need to contend with costly red tape and unfunded mandates from Washington. Those were key points in National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) testimony at a congressional hearing on impacts of regulations on small businesses and farmers. …
China Says Washington Trade Actions Will Hurt American Workers
A Reuters report says China accused the Trump Administration of being capricious in its handling of trade issues. Chinese government officials warned U.S. workers and farmers that they’ll be hurt because of the administration’s brandishing of “big sticks.” Beijing officials said previous bilateral discussions with the U.S. were effective. However, the commerce ministry spokesman says Beijing has had to respond …
Senate Farm Bill Setting Up for Debate
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set the process in motion for considering the farm bill on the Senate floor. On Monday evening, Politico says the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the motion to proceed to the farm bill legislation, which will likely pave the way for debate. The Congressional Budget Office posted its breakdown of the …
EPA Calls Off Biofuel Quota Announcement
Criticism from the oil industry caused the Trump Administration to restart talks over a proposal to require large refineries to blend more biofuel to make up for exemptions granted to smaller refineries. Three people with knowledge of the situation told Bloomberg that, because of the new discussions, the Environmental Protection Agency called off a planned Friday announcement on proposed biofuel …
Trump Reorganization Plan Offers Big Changes to USDA
A government reorganization plan by President Trump would rename the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Health and Public Welfare. Notably, the plan would move the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from the Department of Agriculture to the new so-called welfare department. The plan would also reorganize USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the food safety …
EPA RFS Volumes Proposal Expected Friday
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to roll out a proposal for volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2019 Friday, June 22, 2018. Some suspect the proposal will include a reallocation of gallons displaced by hardship waivers, according to Politico. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said late last month that he spoke with EPA administrator Scott Pruitt about the …
EU Imposes Retaliatory Tariffs on the U.S.
The European Union’s (EU) response to Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs take effect Friday, June 22, 2018. The EU will be charging import duties of 25 percent on a range of U.S. goods. Reuters reports that the European Commission formally adopted a law putting in place the duties on 2.8 billion euros, or $3.2 billion, worth of U.S. goods, including …