When Glen Aiken wasn’t helping his grandfather wrangle cattle in the smothering Texas heat, he was traveling with his father to meat packing houses across the region. “I swear I visited every meat packing plant between Oklahoma City and El Paso before I was 12 years old,” Aiken joked. So, when it came time to choose a college major, animal …
China Files WTO Complaint, Pledges to Lower Some Tariffs
China has filed a dispute with the World Trade Organization alleging the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum violate world trade rules. However, the nation also re-confirmed it will open its economy by lowering tariffs on cars, paving the way for negotiations. “Actions speak louder than words” when it comes to China, one U.S. economist told Reuters. But, China’s President …
Trade War Help for Farmers: All Options on the Table
A top Department of Agriculture official says “all options are on the table” when it comes to finding relief from a trade war with China for farmers. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky told reporters earlier this week USDA is “looking at all of our authorities” to find ways to assist farmers, according to Politico. Those options include buying up …
GAO Issues Report on Cattle Markets
A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows supply and demand factors, such as a drought that affected the price of cattle feed, affected changes in prices of fed cattle—those ready for slaughter from 2013 through 2016. The price of fed cattle has fluctuated widely from 2013 through 2016 and experienced a sharp downturn beginning in late 2015, raising …
WASDE Report Predicts Record Soybean Crop for Brazil
The latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand (WASDE) Report from the Department of Agriculture shows Brazil is reaching a record soybean planting. USDA predicted a record Brazilian soybean crop in the report Tuesday of 115 million metric tons, or 4.2 billion bushels. Domestically, U.S. soybean supply and use changes for 2017/18 include increased crush, lower seed and residual use, and …
Southeast Dairy Stewardship Program
Dairy producers, managers, herdsmen, veterinarians, and consultants are invited to attend the first module of the Southeast Dairy Stewardship Program (SDSP). It will be held in Okeechobee, FL, on April 25 and in Valdosta, GA on April 26. The SDSP will provide up to date training for dairy producers, managers, herdsmen, veterinarians, and consultants in areas relevant to animal welfare …
Farm Groups Want Farm Bill to Address Farmer Suicides
A group of farm organizations led by the National Farmers Union are urging Congress to address farmer suicide rates in the next farm bill. The Coalition of 35 farm groups are asking lawmakers to make mental health treatment more accessible to farmers through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. NFU points out that farmers and ranchers commit suicide at …
Proposed Tariffs Realigning Soybean Trade
The proposed tariffs on U.S. soybeans as part of the trade war beginnings between China and the U.S. is shifting trade habits. Trump announced the intention last week to seek $100 billion of tariffs on additional Chinese products, which comes after China announced intention of a 25 percent soybean tariff. Data from the Department of Agriculture Friday shows other nations …
NAFTA Talks Progressing
Trade officials from the U.S., Mexico and Canada are hopeful to reach a consensus on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by early May. A trade negotiator from Mexico says “there’s a very high probability of reaching an agreement in principle,” within the next month, according to the Wall Street Journal. Trade leaders from each nation met in Washington, …
USDA Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-Raised Fish Losses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $34 million to help agricultural producers recover from 2017 natural disasters through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), which covers losses not covered by certain other USDA disaster assistance programs. These payments are being made available today, and they are part of a broader USDA effort to help producers …