The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences honored some of its most ardent supporters at its annual Dinner of Distinction, held recently. This was the fifth year for the awards banquet that recognizes individuals and organizations that support and advance UF/IFAS in its research, teaching and Extension efforts. “Land-grant universities are special places, and the agriculture and …
NAFTA Negotiators Head to Washington This Week
NAFTA negotiators head into the fourth of seven scheduled rounds of talks this week in Washington, and agriculture is concerned as the talks enter a critical stage. American Farm Bureau (AFB) trade adviser Dave Salmonsen says the pace of talks and discussion of more sensitive issues is heightening tensions as the three-NAFTA partners try to score so-far, elusive gains. U.S. …
China Imports More U.S. Trash than Ag Products
China imports more U.S. trash than agricultural commodities, but that could soon change. China earlier this year filed a notice with the World Trade Organization about its plans to limit the entry of “foreign waste.” The Wall Street Journal reports this week that under the new rules, China by year’s end would ban imports of used plastics and require paper-scrap …
Microsoft Investing in Rural Tech Jobs, Broadband Projects
Microsoft announced last week it will team up with communities in six states to invest in technology jobs and broadband in rural areas. The Microsoft initiative TechSpark is a multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment to help teach computer science to students, expand rural broadband and help create and fill jobs, according to AgriMarketing. The communities involved are in North Dakota, Texas, Virginia, …
World Wildlife Fund UK: Meat Production is Killing the Planet
A study by the World Wildlife Fund UK claims the land required to feed food-producing animals is destroying the earth’s biodiversity. The World Wildlife Fund UK recently released its report, “Appetite for Destruction,” which claims that the United Kingdom’s food supply alone is linked to 33 species extinctions. However, as meat industry publication Meatingplace points out, contradicting the report is …
Beef Exports Remain Strong, Pork Slightly Lower
A monthly measure of meat exports shows U.S. beef posted another outstanding performance in August, remaining well above last year’s pace, and August pork exports increased from the previous month but were down slightly year-over-year. The U.S. Meat Export Federation reports that August beef exports totaled 112,000 metric tons, up five percent from a year ago and the largest of …
Business Leaders to Talk Trade with Mexico
Negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement continue Wednesday, with some speculating agriculture issues to finally emerge in the talks. However, while negotiators will be in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will lead a delegation of U.S. CEO’s to Mexico City. Bloomberg reports that the U.S. business leaders will meet with counterparts from Mexico’s private sector and …
Agriculture Changes Expected in KORUS Revisions
A South Korea trade lawyer believes changes to agricultural trade will top the list of changes requested in KORUS, the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. During a meeting last week between U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and South Korea trade officials, the two nations agreed to open KORUS to renegotiation. The U.S. proposed revisions to language in KORUS regarding industrial goods, …
House Agriculture Working on 2018 Farm Bill
The House Agriculture Committee is drafting the next farm bill and could bring the bill up for consideration by the full House of Representatives yet this year. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway commented last week on the timeframe of getting the 2018 Farm Bill through the House and Senate. Conaway says the Committee and staff are putting “pencil to …
UF Study: Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes Abound in Deforested Lands
Most disease-transmitting mosquito species live in deforested areas, a finding that may influence decisions on where and when to cut down trees, a new University of Florida study shows. Deforestation occurs when people remove trees to make way for neighborhoods, farms, shopping centers, and other land uses, said Nathan Burkett-Cadena, a UF/IFAS entomologist and lead author of the study. For …