Society is changing, and the connection back to the farm is declining. Agriculture is facing the challenge of relating to a public that doesn’t relate with agriculture. Wes Jamison, Professor of Public Relations at Palm Beach Atlantic University, says it anti-ag groups, specifically anti-animal agriculture groups, are very successful in their mission. Opposition But, agriculture is fighting back. Jamison explains …
AFBF, NFU, Joint Survey Shows Impact of Opioid Epidemic on Rural America
A survey by Morning Consult shows 74 percent of farmers and farm workers say they have been directly impacted by opioid abuse. A collaboration between the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union, AFBF President Zippy Duvall says the survey is a united approach to the opioid crisis. Survey National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says the survey shows …
NIFA Supports Increasing Rural Prosperity through Education, Mentoring, and Technical Assistance Programs for the Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced awards made to support the next generation of farmers and ranchers through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). The BFRDP program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, aims to help address issues associated with the rising age and decrease in the number of U.S. …
Perdue on President’s “Bring Back Main Street” Message
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue echoed President Donald J. Trump’s message that tax cuts and reforms are needed to increase American prosperity. The president delivered remarks with a “Bring Back Main Street” theme in St. Charles, Missouri, highlighting the need for tax relief to boost the economy, particularly in the heartland. Perdue issued the following statement: “The people of …
NCBA Membership Drive Encourages Commitment
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has helped the industry secure several wins in Washington, D.C., including against the “Waters of the United States” rule and the Bureau of Land Management’s Planning 2.0 rule. The NCBA also played a role in helping American beef exports to return to China. The organization is asking its members to help with recruiting new …
Canada Looking to Boost Pork Exports to China
A recent ten-day trade mission to China gave Canada an opportunity to showcase its pork products in a market of 1.3 billion people hungry for more pork. Farm Scape Dot Com says Federal Ag Trade Minister Lawrence McCauley led the mission, accompanied by multiple representatives of the Canadian pork industry, which stopped in three cities over the ten-day trip. Neil …
Brazil Company Expecting to Resume Exports to U.S. in 2018
The fourth-largest beef company in Brazil, Minerva SA, expects to resume exporting fresh beef to American in the first quarter of next year. A Reuters report says Minerva Chief Executive Fernando Galletti made the announcement to local media this week, saying he believes it because of his company’s communication with the government. Galletti says, “That’s the expectation we are hearing …
NAFTA Withdrawal Threat Already Affecting U.S. Trade
Even though the Trump Administration hasn’t followed through on a potential threat to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the possibility is already affecting the U.S. Grain Trade. The fifth round of talks wrapped up last week in Mexico, with all sides promising to get the deal done “as soon as possible.” U.S Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer …
Trump Asks Roberts for Raincheck on NAFTA Discussion
President Trump took a trip to visit Republicans on Capitol Hill Tuesday with a focus on finding more votes for the tax-cut bill. However, Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts took the opportunity to bring up agricultural concern over the NAFTA negotiations. As the president walked out of the meeting, Politico says he asked Roberts, “How are your farmers?” Roberts …
Soybeans to Overtake Corn in 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a preview of its long-term planting projections Tuesday. The USDA considers a lot of factors when making the projections, including macroeconomic conditions, GDP growth, and farm policy. An important projection from the early release is the overall number of planted acres. Total planted acres for the eight principal crops and land in the Conservation …