U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross gave testimony to a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Thursday, during which trade with China was a key topic. Channel News Asia Dot Com says Ross hopes to reduce the differences between the two countries, in which hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce are at stake in a trade war. Ross led a delegation to …
St. Louis Fed Survey Shows Farm Income Down Once Again
Farm income declined in the first quarter of 2018, the 17th-consecutive quarter of lower income numbers. The latest Agricultural Finance Monitor, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, shows quality farmland values and cash rents were also slightly lower than in 2017. The St. Louis Fed surveyed 24 agricultural banks in the Eighth Federal Reserve District, which includes …
USDA/NIFA Invests in Research on the Implications of Gene Editing Technologies
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced awards to advance research on public engagement and the implications of gene drive and other gene editing technologies. The funding is made possible through the Social Implications of Emerging Technologies initiative within NIFA’s Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities (AERC)’s program area. “Recent advances in gene editing …
Secretary Perdue Names FSA Administrator
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of Richard Fordyce to serve as Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). In his role, Fordyce will provide leadership for FSA and its mission to support agricultural production across America through a network of over 2,100 county and 50 state offices. “As a fourth-generation farmer, …
Seeking BQA Awards Nominations
Applications for the 12th annual National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards are being accepted until June 1. The 2019 National BQA Awards recognize five winners in the areas of beef, dairy, marketing and education: The BQA Cow Calf and BQA Feedyard award recognizes producers who best demonstrate the implementation of BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective …
SBA Deadline to Apply for Working Capital Loans for 2017 Frost and Freeze in Georgia
The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding businesses in Georgia that working capital loans are still available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations located in the counties of Burke, Columbia, Richmond and Screven in Georgia as a result of the frost and freeze on March 4 – 17, 2017. “Businesses that …
NCC: Farm Legislation Passage Much Needed
The National Cotton Council (NCC) is urging the U.S. House of Representatives to approve the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 without any damaging amendments to farm policy. NCC Chairman Ron Craft, a Plains, Texas, ginner, said that legislation, recently approved by the House Agriculture Committee, includes critically important policies for cotton producers and the entire U.S. cotton industry. He …
Perdue Announces FSIS Key Leadership
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of Carmen Rottenberg and Paul Kiecker to key leadership positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Rottenberg has been named the Administrator of FSIS and Kiecker the Deputy Administrator. “Providing all Americans access to a safe and secure food supply is one of USDA’s …
Ag Interest Spread Cash in Cabinet Race
From farmers to horse trainers, agricultural interests put up more than $100,000 in April to support three candidates running for Florida agriculture commissioner, with U.S. Sugar Corp. accounting for $30,000, new finance reports show. Republicans Denise Grimsley of Sebring, Matt Caldwell of North Fort Myers and Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven each topped six figures in April fundraising, with Troutman’s …
Senate Ag Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Farmer Veteran Legislation
Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee are touting legislation that will help veterans in agriculture. Introduced by Committee Chair Pat Roberts and ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow, the Farmer Veteran Opportunity Act of 2018 makes all new veterans eligible for support from the Department of Agriculture. The Senators say the bill also improves access for farmer veterans across eight existing initiatives …