Ginners School Conference Webcasts on Reducing Bale Contamination, Use of RFID Technologies Now Available Cotton ginners and producers recently gathered in Stoneville, Mississippi for an annual Ginners School conference to learn and discuss how to use radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for module tracking and data management, reducing contamination in cotton bales, and other important topics. The event’s educational presentations …
Stabenow States Concern with Clovis Nomination
Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow is concerned that Sam Clovis is not qualified to be an Agriculture Department Undersecretary. In a statement last week, Stabenow said: “This nominee seems to lack the necessary agricultural science and research qualifications that are required by the Farm Bill.” President Trump announced he would nominate Clovis to serve as the USDA Under …
Canada Wants Dispute Mechanism in NAFTA Redo
Canada says it is critical that the North American Free Trade Agreement includes a dispute resolution mechanism, setting up a potential clash with the United States once renegotiations begin next month. The United States goals for the NAFTA renegotiation released last week include a desire to ditch the Chapter 19 dispute settlement mechanism. That mechanism has hindered the U.S. from …
Campbell Leaving GMA Over GMO Labeling, Labeling Bill Comment Period Extended
Campbell Soup Company will leave the Grocery Manufacturers Association by the end of the year over a dispute on labeling of genetically modified ingredients, according to Politico. GMA is opposed to GMO labeling, while Campbell has long been vocal about increasing transparency of its ingredients. Campbell Chief Executive Denise Morrison told investors the move was not for financial reasons but …
Perdue Speaks Alabama Farmers’ Language
Alabama farmers are hopeful a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture laid the groundwork for improved farm programs, trade, and communication. Secretary Sonny Perdue told Alabama Farmers Federation leaders he wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to partner with farmers. “My goal is to make….the USDA to be identified, recognized and acknowledged as the most efficient, the most …
FDA Grants to Help States Comply with FSMA Produce Rule
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing $30.9 million in funding to support 43 states in their continued efforts to help implement the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) produce safety rule. The funds represent the largest total of grants made available by the FDA to support compliance with the rule, which seeks to update and strengthen the FDA’s …
U.S., China Sign Agreement to Provide Market Access for U.S. Rice Exports
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue Thursday announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reached a final agreement with Chinese officials to allow the United States to begin exporting rice to China for the first time. Secretary Perdue says the agreement has been in the works for more than a decade and says the agreement represents “an exceptional opportunity” with potential for …
Mexican Ambassador Addresses Corn Farmers
Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., Gerónimo Gutiérrez spoke to more than 200 corn farmers from the National Corn Growers Association this week in Washington, D.C. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both the American and Mexican agriculture industries, and Mexico is optimistic about the prospects of modernizing the trade agreement, Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez told more than …
McKinney, Clovis, Officially Nominated for USDA Posts
President Donald Trump has nominated Ted McKinney for Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs and Dr. Sam Clovis for Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. Both have long been rumored to take top seats at the Department of Agriculture for months. McKinney currently serves as the director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Clovis was …
First Round of NAFTA Talks Scheduled
As expected, U.S. trade officials confirmed this week that North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations would begin August 16th, the first day allowed by U.S. law. The office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced this week that the talks would kick off in Washington, D.C. on August 16th, and the initial rounds of negotiations are scheduled to wrap up …