The United Nations food agency says world food prices rose during March, driven by increases in grains and dairy costs. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s food price index measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat, and sugar. The March index was 1.1 percent higher than the February number. When compared to a year ago at …
USDA and SBA Join Forces to Help Rural American Businesses
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue and Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening small businesses and the agricultural economies in rural America. They signed the MOU during a stop on Perdue’s “Back to Our Roots” tour in Ohio. The collaboration is designed to do several things, including enhancing investment opportunities in rural America. The organizations …
Growth Energy Responds To EPA Waivers
Growth Energy sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt condemning the decision to give a small refinery waiver to one of the largest refiners in the U.S. They are also demanding a moratorium on waivers being issued by the EPA. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says they want the EPA to immediately stop issuing waivers and end …
White House Trade Chief Says U.S./China to Hold Trade Talks
A Bloomberg report says that American and Chinese officials have both indicated a willingness to find a negotiated solution to their trade differences. Top government officials are expected to hold talks before American tariffs on Chinese imports will take effect. White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro tells CNBC that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will lead …
Perdue Says Trade War May Affect the New Farm Bill
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says a potential trade dispute with China could have negative consequences on the new Farm Bill Congress is currently working on. Politico says Congress may need to factor in possible trade disruptions while working on the new legislation. China announced that dozens of U.S. farm products, including soybeans and beef, could potentially face a 25 percent …
Putnam Backs Trump on Revamping NAFTA
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam sent a letter Thursday to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that backed President Donald Trump’s push for a “more equitable North American Free Trade Agreement” with Canada and Mexico. “As you are aware, producers of perishable and seasonal agricultural products in Florida and other regions have been decimated by unfair trading practices resulting in a …
Putnam Urges NAFTA Changes to Better Protect Florida Agriculture
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam sent a letter to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer underscoring the importance of ensuring that Florida agriculture is better protected from unfair and illegal trade practices as NAFTA negotiations continue. “Current remedies available to address unfair trade practices are simply insufficient to protect Florida’s specialty crop producers. It is critical that the NAFTA negotiations result …
USMEF on China’s Additional Import Duties on U.S. Pork
Earlier this week the Chinese government announced the imposition of additional import duties on a range of U.S. products, including a 25 percent duty increase, on top of the existing 12 percent duty, on imports of U.S. pork and pork variety meat. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Joe Schuele has more. USMEF on China’s Additional Import Duties on US Pork …
Market Experts: Keep China Tariff in Perspective
No one has officially declared ‘war’ in the way of trade between the U.S. and China, but the nations are no doubt in the makings of a trade war. President Donald Trump insisted that “we are not in a trade war with China.” However, China fired back a proposed list of tariffs less than 24 hours after the Trump administration …
Groups Respond to Proposed Chinese Tariff Announcement
From American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) The following statement on the Chinese tariff announcement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farmers and ranchers are, by necessity, patient and optimistic. We know markets ebb and flow. But China’s threatened retaliation against last night’s U.S. tariff proposal is testing both the patience and optimism of families who …