Farmers markets now have an online tool that provides the markets with accessible resources to understand legal issues and legal risk. The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law school, along with the Farmers Market Coalition, and others, have launched the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit online, a free resource created with support from the Department of Agriculture. The …
Native Farm Bill Coalition Formed
More than 30 native American tribes have formed the Native Farm Bill Coalition in an effort to give native American farms a voice at the farm bill table. Minnesota Public Radio reports that the coalition is an outgrowth of programs to improve health and expand access to health food for Native Americans. The coalition says that for decades, Indian Country …
U.S. Top Beef Exporter to South Korea
The United States has reclaimed the title of top beef exporter to South Korea in 2017. The change comes 14 years after a U.S. outbreak of mad cow disease that led to a ban of U.S. beef in South Korea, handing the top spot of the market to Australia, according to Reuters. U.S. beef shipments jumped 13.7 percent last year …
NPPC: Mexico Pork Exports Rule Maintains Good Trade Relationship
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says allowing Mexico to export pork to the U.S. is a sign of good trade relations. The Department of Agriculture last week finalized a regulation allowing Mexican states to export pork to the United States. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is implementing a science-based risk assessment that determined Mexico is free of …
Speaker Ryan: Canada the Real Problem with NAFTA
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin says the biggest problem with the North American Free Trade Agreement “comes from the North,” referring to Canada. Ryan points to Canadian dairy producers dumping low-cost products on the market to compete with Wisconsin farms, as the real issue with NAFTA. Late last week, the Republican said NAFTA needs updated, but said the …
Senator Ernst Suggests Trump is Softening on NAFTA Threats
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa told the Iowa Corn Growers Association this week that President Donald Trump appears to be reassessing his position on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ernst told farmers Monday that “I think he has doubts,” when it comes to withdrawing from NAFTA. Iowa’s Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Ernst expects a follow up NAFTA …
Farmers Celebrate 2017 Victories
From tax reform, to the Waters of the U.S. Rule, officials in Washington, D.C., gave farmers and ranchers plenty to cheer about last year. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall this month told Farm Bureau members at the organization’s Annual Convention that tax reform topped the list. Tax Duvall says the Waters of the U.S. rule was one of …
National Potato Council: Trade A Concern
During the Potato Expo last week, National Potato Council President Cully Easterday of Washington State said the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation provides concern to the industry. Trade Regarding NAFTA, Easterday says the three member nations have to work together, and he remains optimistic. Agreement Canada and Mexico were two of the top three export markets for U.S. …
2018 Setting a Friendlier Tone for Commodities
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released reports that included World Ag Supply and Demand and 2017 Crop Production figures. The agency said American farmers posted an average of 176.6 bushel per acre after the 2017 corn harvest, bringing in a total of 14.604 billion bushels. The soybean harvest brought in 4.329 billion bushels, with an average yield of …
USDA Hazlett on Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Report
On behalf of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett discussed key findings and recommendations, and the strategies for implementing the recommendations, from the newly released report by the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. Created by President Donald Trump in April 2017 and chaired by Secretary Perdue, the Task Force …