Farmers and consumers can benefit from a more drought-tolerant peanut, and scientists from the University of Florida and Georgia Institute of Technology will soon begin research to develop a more resilient crop. With it, growers would be able to produce more market-ready peanuts, and consumers can get more of the protein-filled legume. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences agronomists …
U.S. Pork Calls for Level Playing Field as FDA Makes Regulatory Land Grab
Already bearing the brunt of global trade retaliation against American agriculture, U.S. pork producers now face additional headwinds in the form of a regulatory land grab by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assert its proper oversight of two emerging issues critical to the future of …
U.S. to Further Implement Trade Tariffs
The U.S. plans to implement more tariffs on China as part of an ongoing trade war between the two countries. In a statement released this week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says he was ordered by President Trump to begin the process of imposing tariffs of ten percent on an additional $200 billion of Chinese imports. The tariffs will follow …
EU Trade Chief: Targeting U.S. Ag in Tariffs Best Hope for Trade Change
In retaliating against trade tariffs, the European Union is doubling down on American Whiskey. EU trade chief Cecilia Malmström shut down a request to remove U.S. whiskey from the tariff list as fear the move would place further retaliation from the U.S. on Scotch whiskey. In making the statement, Politico reports Malmström intends to hit the U.S. “where it hurts,” …
Tractor, Combine Sales Increase in June
Tractor and combine sales increased in June. A monthly report by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows the sale of all tractors in the U.S. in June were up 12 percent compared to the same month last year. For the six months in 2018, a total of 123,300 tractors were sold which compares to 115,700 sold thru June 2017, representing …
Lawsuit Alleges Seed Company Intentionally Sold Subpar Products to Black Farmers
A group of Mid-South farmers claims Stine Seed Company purposefully switched seeds to sell black farmers a subpar product last year. The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association alleges a distributor switched out certified seed for lesser quality soybean seeds, and that despite above average rainfall, the farmers saw limited soybean yield from the seeds during the 2017 harvest. The seeds …
White House Backs Everglades Reservoir
The White House on Tuesday backed Florida’s effort to secure federal funding for a reservoir intended to move water away from Lake Okeechobee and reduce discharges that residents blame for repeated toxic algae outbreaks spreading on both coasts. The request by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to include funding for the roughly $1.6 billion Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, approved …
Trump: No Hurry to Settle NAFTA
President Donald Trump told Fox News he’s not going to rush into a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He thinks the U.S. can get a better deal by waiting until after the dust settles on the midterm elections in the fall. Agriculture groups fall on the other end of the spectrum, wanting a deal done as quickly as …
First Monsanto Cancer Trial Begins
A trial is underway this week in California as witnesses will begin to testify in the first case alleging that Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer causes cancer. Politico says Lee Johnson, a groundskeeper for a California school district, alleges that years of spraying hundreds of gallons of the product caused him to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer. Opening statements …
Cooperative Wants Price Floors on Dairy Products
While low milk prices and a trade war continue to make things difficult for America’s dairy farmers, a northeast U.S. cooperative is asking the government to step in and help boost milk prices. Agri-Mark, which represents over 900 members, sent a letter to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue asking him to implement price floors for butter, cheese, and nonfat dry milk. …