Bloomberg says President Trump wants to proceed with another $200 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports as soon as the public comment period wraps up next week. Six people familiar with the matter spoke anonymously with Bloomberg for the article. Companies and people have until Sept. 6 to submit comments on duties that will cover everything from semiconductors to selfie …
Lawsuit Filed Over Oil Refinery Waivers
Two of the biggest ethanol groups in America have sued both the Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Secretary Rick Perry. The focus of the suit is dozens of hardship waivers granted to oil refineries that allowed them to not blend ethanol into the fuel supply. Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association filed the suit to get access to records …
Agriculture Trade Surplus to Shrink
Agriculture is consistently one of the few areas of the American economy that sells more overseas than it buys. However, Farm Journal’s Ag Web Dot Com says that’s going to drop in the upcoming year. The surplus is set to shrink as shipments to China collapse because of the trade war with the U.S. A government forecast says the world’s …
China Suspends Hog Transportation Due to Swine Fever
China has suspended transportation of live hogs from provinces infected with African Swine Fever. Reuters says the Chinese Ag Minister will also shut down all live hog markets in the infected provinces. Pork is a staple meat in China, which has reported five cases of swine fever in five different provinces over the past month. The outbreak is prompting Chinese …
USDA Provides Help for Rural People Recovering From Opioid Misuse
Anne Hazlett, the USDA Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, announced that the agency has formalized an agreement to aid rural Americans in fighting the opioid epidemic. A nonprofit organization will purchase homes from the Department and convert them to transitional housing for people recovering from opioid misuse. “From the quality of life to workforce and economic opportunity, the …
State Officials Talk Dicamba in 2019
State pesticide regulators sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency with recommendations on re-registering three dicamba products for 2019. A DTN report says the American Association of Pesticide Control Officials want the EPA to set an early-season cutoff date, but only if states are permitted to use Special Local Needs labels to adjust those dates. These recommendations will carry …
USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2018 (fiscal year 2019). The CCC is required by law to quarterly announce estimates of sugar to be purchased and sold under the Feedstock Flexibility Program based on crop and consumption …
Farm Bill Differences Remain
Lawmakers met this week on the farm bill, making “good progress.” However, major differences remain between the House and Senate bills that the conference committee will address next week. Congress returns next week with 16 days in-session scheduled for the Senate in September, and 11 in-session days in the House of Representatives. That means differences in the farm bill must …
Administration on E15: “Let’s Get it Done”
Year-round E15 sales are nearing reality. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reports in Boone, Iowa at the Farm Progress Show that he has spoken with the President, who wants to make an announcement next week. Perdue told the Iowa City Gazette he received a phone call from the White House while attending the outdoor farm show. Trump told Perdue “let’s …
Texas Rep. Says Farm Bill Must Meet Objectives
A U.S. Representative from West-Texas says the farm bill must ensure a strong, viable ag sector. Republican Jodey Arrington, a member of the farm bill conference committee, penned an editorial this week. The congressman says the mission of the committee is clear: “to establish policies that support a vibrant agriculture economy, strengthen rural communities, maintain food security in America and …