U.S. Wheat Associates announced it would close its office located in Cairo, Egypt in December. U.S. Wheat President Vince Peterson called the decision “difficult.” However, he said the organization saw a need to begin adjusting its activities in the Middle East and North Africa several years ago as the supply of significantly lower-priced wheat from Russia increased. The organization previously …
Report Shows Uncertainty Harming Farmers
Trade and regulatory uncertainty is hampering U.S. Farmers. The Global Harvest Initiative released its 2017 GAP reports or Global Productivity Report. The report shows that for the fourth straight year, global agricultural productivity growth is not accelerating fast enough to sustainably feed the world in 2050. Meanwhile, the report says uncertainty about trade opportunities and regulations complicates planning for U.S. …
TPP Members Nearing Agreement
As the U.S. remains focused on reworking the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and to a lesser extent, the U.S.-Korea Free (KORUS) Trade Agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is heading closer to reality. TPP was worth an estimated $4 billion annually to U.S. agriculture. However, upon taking office ten months ago, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the …
Blairsville, GA Farmers Produce State Record Pumpkin
Tim Grizzle and Patrick Fix (pictured at right) of Blairsville, Georgia recently harvested the current Georgia state record pumpkin. The giant gourd weighed in at 1306 pounds, a state record according to The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. The pumpkin, currently on display at the Union County Farmers Market, will remain there until the end of October. by Larry Flegle, WUCG-FM, Blairsville, …
Trump Directs EPA to Back Away from RFS Proposals
Bloomberg reports the White House has told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stand down on proposals that biofuels advocates say threaten the Renewable Fuel Standard. The news comes after Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds spoke with President Trump Wednesday morning over the phone before a planned meeting between the two next week. Reynolds said she made the case for …
NMPF Comments on Round 4 of NAFTA Negotiations
“We are pleased that U.S. trade negotiators have told Canada that its problematic dairy policies must be addressed in the negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). “The proposal advanced by the U.S. Trade Representative is the right approach to move dairy trade between our two countries closer to the free trade relationship that exists for most other …
Pork Checkoff Adjusts Digital Strategy; Announces Partnership With Yummly, Part II
The Pork Checkoff has partnered with the website and mobile app called Yummly. National Pork Board vice president of domestic marketing Jarrod Sutton says digital opportunities like this put pork recipes in front of today’s consumer. There are also opportunities to educate consumers about cooking temps and other quality characteristics. Thirdly, consumers want a consistent, high-quality product. Those messages will …
Perdue Talks About Successful European Trip
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue toured Europe, speaking with officials from several different countries about a variety of issues, including trade. After stops in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, Perdue said the trip has been very productive. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would be withdrawing the interim final rule under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards …
USDA Helps Small Businesses Develop New Agricultural Products, Technology
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced grants to help bring agricultural business ideas from the drawing board to the marketplace. Funding is made through NIFA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program. “For small agricultural businesses, the federal government is a key, initial investor to help them get great ideas into the marketplace,” said …
AFBF Backs Timely Reg Review of Food Production Tools
Coordinated federal review of advances in agricultural biotechnology will help America’s farmers and ranchers achieve gains in efficiency and productivity needed to meet the continued challenges of the 21st century, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “American agriculture must stay on the cutting edge of technology,” Duvall said. “Agency collaboration and efficient government review of new food …