Roughly 700 former Beef Products Inc. (BPI) employees have applied for financial aid from a fund created by a lawsuit settlement with ABC News. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports that BPI representatives are currently reviewing the applications to determine how it will distribute the funds, taking into account how employees were financially impacted and their length of service. The $10 …
Ethanol Groups Applaud EPA Point of Obligation Announcement
Last week’s decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject petitions to change the Renewable Fuel Standard point of obligation drew applause from ethanol groups. The American Coalition for Ethanol, known as ACE, said in a statement that the coalition is “grateful EPA is rejecting to change the rules for a handful of greedy refiners” who they say want …
Mexico Bans Select GMO Soybean Plantings in Seven States
Mexico’s agriculture sanitation authority has revoked Monsanto’s permit to commercialize genetically modified soybeans in seven states, a move Monsanto calls unjustified. Monsanto says in a statement that the permit had been withdrawn on unwarranted legal and technical grounds, according to Reuters. The company said it would take the necessary steps to safeguard its rights and those of farmers using the …
Trade Tops China, Canada Meeting Agenda
Trade will top the agenda between China and Canada next week during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to China. The visit is aimed at promoting a “progressive trade agenda” that Canada says will “create good, middle-class jobs,” according to Bloomberg News. The trip comes as Canada is in the midst of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with …
Survey Shows Young Farmers Ready to Defy Odds
The new generation of young farmers expects to overcome major barriers to their success in agriculture, according to a freshly released national survey. Young farmers expect to tackle barriers including access to land, affordable health care, and mounting student loan debt in their quest to farm. However, the 2017 National Young Farmer Survey says success will require deliberate policy change …
Agricultural Producers Reminded of Approaching Deadline
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Administrator Steve Peterson reminded eligible farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that they must return county committee election ballots to their local FSA office by Dec. 4, 2017, to ensure that their votes are counted. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 4, 2017. Producers who …
Operation Main Street Builds Trust With Consumers
Operation Main Street is the Pork Checkoff’s outreach program that tells the positive story of pork production. Through this program, volunteers speak to a variety of audiences, telling the pork industry’s story of innovation, quality and stewardship. Welcome, Minnesota pig farmer Wanda Patsche says these are important opportunities. Patsche is on the Minnesota Pork Board. She encourages other farmers to …
Florida SBDC Network Extends Deadline for Agribusiness Export Marketing Plan Service
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, has extended the deadline for a pilot program to help farmers and producers maximize their growth potential through export sales. The Agribusiness Export Marketing Plan provides qualified recipients with a customized export marketing plan. Designed to assist new-to-export and currently exporting growers and value-added …
John Deere Sales and Income Numbers Climb
Improving farm and construction equipment markets contributed to higher sales and income numbers for the fourth quarter and full year for John Deere. The company’s performance benefitted from advanced products and a flexible cost structure. John Deere’s 2018 income forecast calls for a net income of $2.8 billion. Net income for Deere and Company was just over $510 million, or …
H-2A Minimum Wage for Guest Workers Likely to Rise in Several States
The minimum wage for H-2A guest workers is likely to rise in several states during 2018. The National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) surveys the prevailing wages of field and livestock workers in different regions across the country. The NASS calculations are normally adopted by the U.S. Department of Labor in December as the Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for the …