China announced on Friday that it’s ready and willing to put tariffs on another $60 billion worth of American imports. If it follows through on the threat, the total tariff bill on American goods will be $130 billion. Agriculture continues to be on the hit list. Politico says an informal translation of the new list includes hops, maple syrup, whey …
African Swine Fever Found in China
The Swine Health Information Center says the first case of African Swine Fever was found in China last Friday. Farm Journal’s Pork Network says the outbreak was located in the northeast part of the country, which is a swine-dense area just 130 miles from the North Korean border. The infection was found on a small farm with 383 pigs. 47 …
Innovative Approach to Breeding Could Mean Higher Yields and Better Crops
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Albany, California, have found a way to streamline the process that scientists use to insert multiple genes into a crop plant, developing a reliable method that will make it easier to breed a variety of crops with vastly improved traits. The technology is expected to speed up the process for developing new varieties of …
USDA Invests $345.5 Million in Rural Electric Infrastructure to Improve Service
Projects Will Provide Improved Electric Reliability Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $345.5 million in 20 infrastructure projects (PDF, 121 KB) to improve rural electric service in 14 states. “Delivering reliable and affordable electricity to power rural America will help lay the groundwork for increased rural prosperity and economic opportunity,” Secretary Perdue said. “USDA …
Cattlemen Hold Successful Summer Business Meeting
More than 700 cattle industry leaders from across the country took part in the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting last week in Denver, Colorado. During the event, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) board of directors formally adopted policy positions on issues like international trade, the regulation of fake meat, and modernizing the Endangered Species Act. Joint Committees and Subcommittees met to …
New Florida Regulations for Harvesting Saw Palmetto Berries
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with the Endangered Plant Advisory Council, recently added saw palmetto to the Department’s commercially exploited plant list. The new requirements took effect July 17, 2018. OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT LEGAL BULLETIN 2018-02 SAW PALMETTO After receiving input from public and private landowners, conservation interests, and other interested parties, the Endangered Plant Advisory …
Clay County Young Farm Family Named Best in Alabama
Chris and Jordyn Upchurch of Clay County reaped the rewards of hard work and first-rate farming when they were named Alabama’s 2018 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) Aug. 4. The multi-generation farmers were honored at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 46th Commodity Producers Conference in Montgomery and will receive over $70,000 in prizes. Their Rockin U farm in Lineville encompasses over …
Southeast Cotton Producers to See San Joaquin Valley Agriculture
Eleven cotton producers from the Southeast will observe cotton and other agricultural operations in California’s San Joaquin Valley the week of August 13 as part of the National Cotton Council’s 2018 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program. Sponsored by Crop Science, a division of Bayer, through a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the P.I.E. is now in its 30th year and …
Chinese Import Tariffs May Climb Higher
The U.S. government is taking comments on a proposal to increase the tariff on Chinese imports from the current 10 percent rate up to 25 percent. The tariff increase would cover a wide selection of Chinese imports, including fruits, vegetables, garlic, and more. On June 18th, President Trump directed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to identify another $200 billion worth …
China Pushes Back Against U.S. Tariffs
China immediately responded to the latest U.S. tariff threat by publishing a list of $60 billion in U.S. imports it will lay tariffs on. That’s dependent on whether or not the U.S. follows through on its latest trade threats. Bloomberg says China will levy duties ranging from five percent up to 25 percent on more than 5,000 kinds of U.S. …