People who follow a Mediterranean-style eating plan that incorporates lean red meat can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s according to new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study compared Mediterranean-style red meat intake, typically three ounces per day, to a lower intake of three ounces twice a week. The research showed that consuming up …
Producer Sentiment Rises Slightly in June
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose slightly in the month of June, coming in at an index of 143, two points higher than May. Ag producers’ sentiment rose slightly in spite of economic challenges like retaliatory tariffs from American trading partners. This month’s slight rise in the index was surprising given a collapse in prices for some of …
Final Countdown for 2017 Census of Agriculture
There is still time to complete the Census of Agriculture for producers who may have missed the June 15th deadline. A Farm Journal report notes that completed forms were first due from farmers back in February, but the deadline has been extended through the end of July. A press release from the National Agricultural Statistics Service says they extended the …
Mexico’s New President Wants NAFTA Deal
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is the new president of Mexico, winning the election in what an Associated Press article called a “crushing victory.” The morning after he won the new job, he thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his congratulatory message and said he’ll reach out to the U.S. leader to “reach an understanding.” Lopez Obrador called the congratulatory Tweet …
Too Early to Talk U.S. Withdrawal From WTO
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says it’s “too early” to talk about the possibiity of the United States leaving the World Trade Organization. A Bloomberg report says the discussion comes about as a result of the Trump Administration continuing to talk about ways to improve the organization. During an interview with CNBC, Ross said, “The WTO knows there are some reforms …
Anger Rises as Tariffs Take Effect
Lawmakers may have left steamy Washington, D.C., for cooler temperatures, but Politico says they’ve only just begun to heat up talks to kill President Donald Trump’s rapidly spreading tariff war. In talking about Trump’s tariffs, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah says, “I want to kill them.” The Finance Committee chaired by Hatch is working on legislation to rein the president …
Kansas Announces Pilot Disease Traceability Program for Cattle
Kansas state government officials and leaders from the Kansas livestock industry announced a new program called the Cattle Trace Pilot Project. Cattle Trace is a unique public-private project that will develop and test a cattle disease traceability infrastructure in the state, which will hopefully be a catalyst in discussing and designing a national traceability program. Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer was …
Senate Approves Pesticide Registration Improvement Act
Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow announced that the Senate has unanimously approved the reauthorization of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act. “The U.S. Senate just passed a bipartisan farm bill to provide farmers and ranchers with some certainty amid a tough economy,” Roberts says, “and we can add to this certainty for producers and many …
Quebec Says Canada Should Rethink Dairy Policy
The largest dairy-producing province in Canada says the country should reconsider its dairy policy to help ease tensions with the United States. The Premiere of Quebec says the perception is that the Class 7 milk-pricing policy was put in place to hurt the competitiveness of American dairy products. Phillippe Couillard tells Bloomberg that the pricing policy seems to be the …
More Ag Tariffs In Place This Week
Major U.S. trading partners, including China, Canada, and Mexico are hitting back against the Trump Administration’s trade policies by putting retaliatory duties on almost $50 billion worth of U.S. goods. Politico says the final list of tariffs in Canada includes a lot of U.S. agricultural products, including orange juice, maple syrup, and U.S. prepared beef products. Canada’s Foreign Minister says …