More companies are departing the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Politico reports that the Kraft Heinz Company and DowDuPont are the latest to part ways with the association. The two companies join the Campbell Soup Company, Nestle, Dean Foods, Mars, Tyson Foods and Unilever. Politico says GMA staff are also leaving, including high-ranking executives. GMA pledges changes: A spokesperson for GMA said …
Canada Offering Livestock Producers Tax Relief
The Government of Canada Wednesday released the final list of designated regions where livestock tax deferral has been authorized for 2017 due to drought, flood or excess moisture. In November, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the initial list of designated regions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, for livestock tax deferral purposes. But, the agency says ongoing analysis has …
New Records for U.S. Beef Export Value, Pork Export Volume in 2017
2017 was a record-breaking year for U.S. red meat exports, with beef export value exceeding $7 billion for only the second time. Pork exports, meanwhile, easily surpassed the previous year’s volume record. The U.S. Meat Export Federation reports beef exports totaled 1.26 million metric tons, up six percent from 2016. This was the fourth-largest volume on record and the second-largest …
CME Group Mulling Changes to Corn and Soy Contracts
CME Group is mulling potential changes to corn and soybean markets to address concerns the contracts’ prices are not accurately reflecting the underlying U.S. cash grain markets. Reuters reports that CME Group says it is “only in listening mode,” and that no changes are permanent. CME Group has been talking with customers about potential adjustments, as the discussions signal a …
Lobbyist Suggest Cotton, Dairy Fixes in Disaster Bill
Industry lobbyist for cotton and dairy say safety-net fixes are nearing. Key industry lobbyist told the Hagstrom Report they believe there will be fixes to the problems in the cotton and dairy programs in the package of appropriations and disaster funding that Senate leaders are working on. An unnamed source said: “This would be a big win for agriculture going …
Farmers Union Launches Farm Bill Campaign
American family farmers and ranchers are enduring the worst economic slide in generations, and they need Congress to pass a Farm Bill in 2018 to strengthen the farm safety net. In order to educate the general public and to generate support for a Farm Bill to be passed this year, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Farmers Union state divisions have …
Fix Emissions Reporting Law For Farmers, Says NPPC
The National Pork Producers Council asked Congress for a legislative fix to a federal emergency response law that now requires farmers to report emissions from the natural breakdown of manure to the U.S. Coast Guard. Testifying on behalf of NPPC, Dr. Howard Hill told members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works that livestock producers and the U.S. …
Over Regulation Threatens Family Farms, AFBF President Duvall Tells Senate
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, in testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, recounted a long list of regulatory abuses and missteps by the federal government. Drawing on his two years as president of the nation’s largest farming organization, Duvall called for bipartisan cooperation in reducing over regulation, which has been a target of administrations …
Lawmakers Seek Common Ground on Florida Forever
Lawmakers are continuing to work on restocking Florida Forever, the state’s once-prized land preservation program. However, Florida Forever spending is shaping up to be a big part of the environmental budget differences the House and Senate will have to settle in the coming weeks. The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday unanimously backed a wide-ranging proposal (HB …
Turkey Growers Seeking to Close Gap with Consumers
A new video series seeks to close the gap from farm to fork by America’s turkey farmers. The National Turkey Federation has prepared a new series of videos and resources that the group says “offers common-sense answers about raising healthy turkey flocks on family farms.” Featuring a series of videos introducing consumers to turkeys raised on corn and soybeans …