Farmers are becoming more positive regarding their current situations, and the future. The DTN/The Progressive Farmer Agriculture Confidence Index finds farmers are increasingly indicating a positive outlook. The index reached its third highest level ever recorded in its latest survey, reaching 134.8, up almost 22 points from the December/January level and slightly above the overall level of spring 2017. The …
Farmers Outline Harm from GIPSA Withdraw
A lawsuit brief filed on behalf of poultry farmers details the alleged harm from the Department of Agriculture’s GIPSA rule withdrawal. The Organization for Competitive Markets claims the Trump administration and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue sided “with big ag over small farmers,” saying the GIPSA final rule would have helped level the playing field between farmers and agribusiness. In the …
Trump Administration to Revise EPA CAFE Standards
The Trump administration Monday announced it will revise fuel-efficiency and emissions regulations for cars and light trucks. Bloomberg News was the first to report the revision effort that the administration says is needed because the current regulations are too aggressive. The Environmental Protection Agency is also considering revoking a waiver for California to allow the state to set its own …
U.S. Dairy Export Council Seeks Market Growth in China
The U.S. Dairy Export Council Monday announced a partnership with a university in China to grow U.S. exports in China. The Council has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jiangnan University to establish the U.S.-China Dairy Innovation Center at the university. Tom Vilsack, U.S. Dairy Export Federation President and CEO says the partnership is a “game-changing agreement” that will lead …
Ag Trade Group: China Tariffs a Tax on Farmers
A U.S. agricultural trade group says the tariffs announced by China are a tax on U.S. agriculture. Farmers for Free Trade, a coalition formed to promote agricultural trade, says the tax stems from protectionist trade policies by the Trump administration. Max Baucus, the organization’s Co-Chair, says the new tariffs “are a drag” on farmers struggling to make ends meet with …
China Enacts Tariffs Targeting U.S. Pork
China is moving forward with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, including the 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork. China’s Ministry of Finance announced Sunday it will suspend duty reductions on select imported goods from the United States. In the announcement, China says the Trump administration’s steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. violate World Trade Organization rules, and “did not …
USDA Warns Dangerous Pests are Emerging, Adds Cherry Fruit Fly to Alert List
April is “Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month” It’s spring, which means many invasive Hungry Pests are emerging and will soon begin feeding on trees, plants and crops. These destructive species – which include the emerald ash borer, gypsy moth and citrus greening disease – cost the nation $40 billion each year in damages and expensive eradication and control …
RFA Comments on China’s Latest Attack on U.S. Ethanol and Farmers
On Monday, China added a 15% tariff on U.S. ethanol imports. The move came in response to the Trump Administration’s announcement of duties on imported aluminum and steel products. This is in addition to an already-imposed duty of 30%, making the total tariff 45% on U.S. ethanol. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen had the following statement: “Once again …
UF Joins New Center to Create Fuel from Plants
The University of Florida is one of 17 institutions partnering with the University of Illinois in the $115-million Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI). Researchers will work to develop efficient ways to grow, transform and market biofuels. Fredy Altpeter, professor of agronomy in the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, will lead the UF/IFAS portion of the …
Farmers for Free Trade Continues Ad Campaign Aimed at President Trump
Farmers for Free Trade released another television ad on Thursday as part of the effort to highlight the damaging impact retaliation from a series of new tariffs will have on critical ag exports. The new spot features Indiana corn and soybean grower Brent Bible, whose soy operation relies on exports to China, as do many more across the country. “I’m …