Chad Nolan Ward, Jr. hails from a long line of forestry workers. The Union County resident and University of Florida student says the profession is in his blood. “My father is a third-generation logger and owns the family business, Chad Ward Enterprises,” Ward said. “I knew as a small child that I wanted to continue the family legacy.” Now his …
House Farm Bill Dormant Amid Immigration Dispute
House Republican leadership is currently struggling with immigration issues and it’s put the House farm bill that didn’t pass on Friday right on the back burner. The Hagstrom Report describes the bill as “dormant.” Speaker Paul Ryan called for reconsideration of the bill immediately after the vote on Friday. He declared that the “ayes” had won the voice vote but …
USDA Official Hopeful by Recent Trade Advancements with China
While a trade war may be on hold between the U.S. and China, a Department of Agriculture official says the Trump administration remains ready to support farmers and ranchers, if needed. China and the U.S. put the trade war tariffs on hold, for now, as the two sides are negotiating. Speaking at the ONE18: The Alltech Ideas Conference, USDA Undersecretary …
China Promises to Buy More American Agricultural Goods
After two rounds of trade talks between the world’s largest economies, China has promised to buy significantly more U.S. agriculture and energy products to help reduce its trade surplus with America. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin outlined his targets for boosting sales over the weekend but it remains unclear if China has agreed to reduce the deficit by the $200 billion …
Administration Focusing on Good, Not Quick, NAFTA 2.0
Bloomberg says the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are all on separate pages when it comes to a new North American Free Trade Agreement. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the administration is more focused on reaching a good deal rather than an immediate one. Mnuchin says it doesn’t matter if it’s passed in this session of Congress or the next one. …
John Deere Raising Prices to Cover Steel Costs
Deere & Company is raising equipment prices in order to protect profits as costs rise. The farm and construction machinery manufacturer says profits were up 50 percent and equipment sales were up 34 percent annually in its latest quarter. However, a Dow Jones report says those numbers disappointed analysts. Deere’s share rose nearly six percent as investors are focusing on …
Consumers Buy More Organic in 2017
More of America’s grocery carts were filled with organic products in 2017. The Organic Trade Association’s 2018 Industry Survey shows consumers were buying everything from organic produce and organic ice cream to organic fresh juices and organic dried beans. U.S. organic sales totaled a new record of $49.4 billion in 2017, up 6.4 percent from the previous year. That total …
New ‘Got Jobs?’ Campaign Demonstrates Dairy’s Substantial Impact on US Economy, States and Local Communities
Most Americans know milk and other dairy products are an essential part of a healthy diet. But less well-known is dairy’s contribution to the health of the U.S. economy and the economies of every state across the country. A new storytelling campaign launched by the U.S. dairy industry aims to shine a brighter, data-driven spotlight on the positive effects of …
UF Experts: Prepare Your Farm Early for Hurricane Season
It’s the beginning of hurricane season, time for farmers in Florida to worry about potential damage from a storm. Every farm and ranch in Florida must have an emergency plan in case of a hurricane, said a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension director. “The main thing is that farmers need to be prepared to be self-sufficient …
House Members Call for End to Thailand’s Ban on U.S. Pork
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Virachai Plasai, ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States, calling for the removal of restrictions on imports of U.S. farm products, including U.S. pork. The bipartisan letter – signed by 44 members and sponsored by Representatives David Young, R-IA, and Ron Kind, D-WI – calls for the …