Bayer Closes Monsanto Acquisition

Dan Industry News Release, Seeds

It was announced in a release that Bayer had successfully completed the acquisition of Monsanto, but no branding changes will take place just yet. Monsanto will operate independently from Bayer for an interim period while Bayer completes the sale of some of its businesses to BASF. According to the conditional approval from the U.S. Department of Justice, the integration of Monsanto …

‘Got Milk?’: UF Experts Provide Facts, Tips for National Dairy Month

Dan Dairy, Florida, Industry News Release, Research

“Milk Does a Body Good” is not just an advertising slogan. It’s a way to get people to drink the dairy product, because it offers so many nutrients, says a University of Florida expert. But first, cows must produce milk. As we celebrate June as National Dairy Month, some UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences experts tout the benefits …

More Tariffs From Mexico Planned

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

More tariffs are expected from Mexico after the nation announced its 20 percent tariff on U.S. pork earlier this week. The list of tariffs from Mexico includes apples, cheeses, potatoes, cranberries, and “Tennessee” and bourbon whiskies, among other items. Mexico is responding to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs enacted by President Trump and put into place last week, after exempting …

Canada Seeking Answers Regarding U.S. Farmer Support Funds

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

Canada wants the U.S. to explain an additional $30 billion made available to support farmers harmed by trade woes, and how the U.S. might distribute the funds. Canada made the request through the World Trade Organization last week. Canada’s written question asked the United States to explain the U.S. Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, in which Congress lifted certain restrictions …

No RFS Changes From the White House, For Now

Dan Energy, Industry News Release

President Trump indicated he would not be signing a White House proposal that was “bad for farmers,” referring to the proposal offering changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The pledge followed an apparent conversation with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. Further, the comments came the same day Ernst criticized Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt over his handling of the …

More Than 20,000 Dairy Farms Have Signed up for MPP

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release

The Department of Agriculture this week said more than 20,000 dairy farmers have enrolled in the Dairy Margin Protection Program, which enrollment for closes Friday. USDA undersecretary Bill Northey told Politico he expects more producers to enroll in the program, compared to last year. In 2017, roughly 20,300 dairy farmers enrolled in the program, accounting for 64 percent of U.S. …

USDA and FDA Announce Key Step to Advance Collaborative Efforts to Streamline Produce Safety Requirements for Farmers

Dan Field Crops, Fruits, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing effort to make the oversight of food safety stronger and more efficient, USDA and FDA announced the alignment of the USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program (USDA H-GAP) with the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA’s) Produce Safety Rule. The new step is …

Ag Economy Barometer Monthly Results

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

Farmers showed more optimism in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The May survey reading was 141, 16 points higher than April and the highest since January of last year. A rating below 100 is negative, while a rating above 100 indicates positive sentiment regarding the agriculture industry. The rise in the barometer, a sentiment index derived from …