President Donald Trump announced an estimated $50 billion in tariffs against Chinese imports today. Bloomberg says it’s a retaliatory move against intellectual property violations. The move will take effect on more than 100 different types of Chinese products. The overall value of the tariffs was based on economic estimates of the damage caused by those intellectual property violations. Last year, …
Chinese Retaliation On U.S. Pork Exports Will Harm The Rural Economy
The National Pork Producers Council warned that possible Chinese tariffs on U.S. pork could have a significant negative impact on rural America. China has indicated it will impose the duties in response to U.S. tariffs and restrictions – being placed on a host of Chinese goods. “We sell a lot of pork to China, so higher tariffs on our exports …
USDA/NIFA Announces Support to Relieve Veterinarian Shortage Situations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of funding to help assure rural communities have sufficient access to livestock veterinary services. Funding is made through NIFA’s Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP). The VSGP is designed to support education and extension activities and practice enhancement initiatives that will enable veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, …
Nuts for Calories!
Not all of nuts’ calories are taken up by the human body; on some of them, the body gets a free pass, according to studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Physiologists David Baer and Janet Novotny, with ARS’s Food Components and Health Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, recently looked at how many of an almond’s, walnut’s, and pistachio’s calories can actually be used by the …
Perdue Comments Regarding Omnibus Spending Bill
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the omnibus spending bill released by Congressional leaders: “The omnibus spending plan released last night contains a number of our priorities at USDA. Fixing the so-called ‘grain glitch’ 199A problem is simply an issue of fairness. We should not be picking winners and losers through the federal tax code …
NCBA Encouraged by “Positive Developments” in Omnibus Spending Bill
Colin Woodall, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), released the following statement: “The omnibus spending bill includes a number of positive developments for cattlemen and women, including language that would prevent 200,000 farms and ranches from being regulated like toxic waste sites, delay the implementation of electronic logging devices for livestock haulers for another six months, …
Farm Bill Talks Hit a Snag
House farm bill talks have hit a snag over the key issue of food stamp eligibility requirements. The top House Ag Democrat is balking at a GOP farm bill proposal to add new work requirements to be eligible for food stamps, requirements that Senate Ag members are unlikely to accept. Collin Peterson issued a statement after sharing details with the …
NFU Concerned About Harmful Modifications to Section 199A
Congressional appropriators revealed an omnibus appropriations bill that includes significant and harmful modifications to an important tax break for farmers and agricultural cooperatives. The break is known as Section 199A, was included in last year’s tax overhaul, as a means of leveling the playing field between ag cooperatives and corporations who received a sizeable tax break in the legislation. The …
John Deere Concerned About Trade Retaliation
The world’s largest maker of agriculture equipment, Deere and Company, is worried that possible trade tensions between the U.S. and other countries could affect its machinery sales. A Bloomberg report says the steel and aluminum tariffs on imports to America will have an impact on the company. But, Deere is much more worried about possible trade retaliation that could target …
U.S. Talking With Other Countries About Tariff Exemptions
The U.S. is currently discussing the possibility of steel and aluminum tariff exemptions with a handful of other countries. A Reuters report says America is currently in talks with the European Union, Australia, and Argentina. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified before the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday that President Donald Trump will soon make a decision on imposing …