The ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow, may have a challenger in entertainer Kid Rock in the upcoming 2018 election. Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, has not declared his candidacy, and many still consider the move a mere publicity stunt. However, as Politico points out, a recent poll conducted last month shows …
DuPont to Purchase Granular Inc.
DuPont last week announced that it would buy Granular Inc. for $300 million. The software company provides software management that helps the business side of farm operations, and both parties expect to close the acquisition at the end of the third quarter of this year. The acquisition gives DuPont ownership of Granular’s Farm Management Software and AcreValue website that together …
U.S. Feed Grain and Ethanol Exports Up
Feed grain exports from the U.S. are up 20 percent this year and could set a record high, according to the U.S. Grains Council. Exports of U.S. feed grains in all forms were up 20 percent year-over-year from September through June to 96.9 million metric tons, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Grains Council says …
U.S. Beef Products Struggling in China
U.S. beef products are struggling to gain traction following a return to China after a 14-year ban. Bloomberg reports that U.S. cuts of beef are largely unnoticeable in China’s meat isles. China, the world’s largest pork producer, and the consumer has seen beef demand climb as incomes increase, prompting people to spend on new and varied types of food. Imports …
Wall Street Journal Names Agriculture a NAFTA Issue to Watch
With the first round of negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) set for Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal listed agriculture as an issue to watch throughout the negotiation process. Noting that corn, beef and pork producers are happy with the current NAFTA, The Wall Street Journal points out that disagreements over agriculture can quickly turn bitter in …
Canada Plans to Protect its Dairy System in New NAFTA
Canada plans to protect its dairy system under a new North American Free Trade Agreement. As the first round of talks gets underway Wednesday, Canada officials say they will protect the nation’s system of tariffs and quotas that keep domestic dairy prices high and imports low. U.S. dairy farmers strongly dislike the system and want it dismantled. Canada’s Foreign Minister …
NMPF Statement on Comments from Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland
“In her speech to Parliament, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland seems to want it both ways – free trade with the United States in areas where Canada is competitive, but high protectionist walls when it comes to keeping out U.S. dairy imports. Moreover, Minister Freeland’s comments Monday about the dairy trade elements of the upcoming NAFTA talks are completely …
APHIS Publishes Final Rule to Allow Fresh Hass Avocado Fruit from Colombia into the Continental U.S.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is publishing a final rule to allow the importation of fresh Hass avocado fruit from Colombia into the continental United States using a systems approach designed to ensure imports do not introduce pests into the United States. The systems approach is a series of overlapping measures taken …
A Faster, Less Costly Way to Process Walnuts
Walnut drying is expensive and energy intensive, according to ARS engineer Zhongli Pan in Albany, California. The current hot-air drying method takes more than 24 hours to dry walnuts and uses a significant amount of natural gas and electricity. Infrared—a form of intense light that’s felt, but not seen—dries walnuts faster and is less expensive. It’s a type of electromagnetic radiation—as are …
Nomination Deadline Nearing for Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame is still accepting nominations for the class of 2018, but not much longer, as the deadline for nominations is September 1, 2017. The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made lasting contributions to Florida agriculture. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services partners with the Florida Agricultural Hall …