A handful of farm groups says the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation goals favor corporate agribusiness over family farmers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Politico reports that a coalition of farm groups argues that increasing exports won’t replace the need for fair prices in disputes such as the one over Canada’s dairy supply management system, along with eliminating …
USDA Disaster Designation for 11 Alabama Counties
United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, announced that 11 Alabama counties are under a Secretarial natural disaster designation. Farmers in these counties which are classified by USDA as “primary” may be eligible for emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). Those farmers in counties that are contiguous to these primary counties may be eligible as well. The …
Alabama NRCS Soil Quality Sign-Up Continues
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama, Ben Malone, recently announced the agency is providing funding to help landowners improve soil quality through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. But the signup deadline is August 28. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Agritourism Offers Luxury in Northwest Florida
According to USDA’s Ag Census, 105 million visitors spent more than $85 billion in 2015 on agritourism in Florida. The number of Florida farms offering recreational experiences more than doubled from 2007 to 2012. And technical and financial assistance available from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has helped some of these small farms achieve their goals. Sponsored …
U.S., Canadian and Mexican Farm Groups Support Modernized NAFTA
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and Mexico’s Consejo Nacional Agropecuario (CNA) sent a joint letter to Canadian, the United States, and Mexican government officials reiterating their calls that NAFTA renegotiations should aim to modernize the agreement, rather than dismantle it. The AFBF, CFA, and CNA agree that agriculture represents one of NAFTA’s biggest success …
U.S. to Pursue Other Trade Openings During NAFTA Talks
The U.S. will continue to pursue other trade openings during expected months of talks to modernize NAFTA. Major new bilateral deals may have to await the conclusion of NAFTA talks. U.S. agriculture has one eye on protecting years of gains under NAFTA, but the other on U.S. efforts to expand ag trade elsewhere, after President Trump ditched TPP. U.S. Trade …
FDA Relaxes Restrictions on Ultra-Filtered Milk
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is easing its policy on some domestic milk products, making a change the dairy industry has pushed for over the last 20 years. Trade tension with Canada brought the issue to the forefront. Earlier this year, Canada changed policy and stopped importing ultra-filtered milk from the U.S. As a result, many American milk processors …
Dicamba Damage Reports Still Climbing
A new report issued on Monday shows the dicamba damage footprint is still growing. Both the number of investigations and damaged acres are climbing, especially in the Midwest. Kevin Bradley, a plant science professor at the University of Missouri, compiled the data and it shows complaints of off-site dicamba movement now cover 21 states, stretching from North Dakota to Georgia. …
Canada Bringing Guarded Optimism to NAFTA Talks
Canada is bringing a mix of optimism and dread at the thought of damaging its most important trading relationship as the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations begin this week. The Washington Post reports Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke to the National Governors Association conference in July, making a pitch for free trade. Trudeau told the governors, “Free …
Trump Wants Produce Dumping Protection in NAFTA 2.0
As NAFTA renegotiations begin on Wednesday, U.S. negotiators are planning to introduce a proposal aimed at making it easier for produce growers to bring potential anti-dumping cases against Mexico. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says that’s a move that will make Southeast growers happy, but it could also fuel criticism of the Trump administration’s protectionism. The proposal would make it easier …