Ex-Trade Negotiator Says Trump “Misguided” on NAFTA

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

The Trump Administration’s goal to reduce trade deficits by renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement is not a good one. That’s the opinion of former top Obama-era trade negotiator Darci Vetter. Captial Press Dot Com says Vetter feels that goal may cause unforeseen and unintentional consequences for farm exports. Vetter was the chief U.S. agricultural trade negotiator from 2014 …

Webcast Outlines Proper Cleaning Procedures for Sprayer Systems

Dan Cotton, Industry News Release

Inadequate or improper cleaning of sprayer systems can often cause contamination issues and costly damage to plant foliage. A new Focus on Cotton webcast titled “Tank Cleaning” helps cotton growers, consultants, and other industry experts properly remove all unwanted residue from equipment and prevent the unintentional introduction of herbicides to sensitive or non-labeled cotton crops. This 29-minute talk by Fred …

“Good-Guy” Fungus to Take on Killer of Oaks and Ornamental Crops

Dan Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

A beneficial soil fungus could offer a bio-based approach to battling Phytophthora ramorum, a pathogen that kills oaks, other tree species, and woody ornamentals. BioWorks, Inc. of Victor, New York, is collaborating with Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Tim Widmer to commercially formulate the fungus, Trichoderma asperellum. The species is a mycoparasite, meaning it attacks and kills other fungi, including P. ramorum, a fungus-like …

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue Proclaims National Farmers Market Week

Dan Industry News Release

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has proclaimed Aug. 6-12 to be National Farmers Market Week. This is the eighteenth year USDA has supported local producers by encouraging families to meet, and buy from, the farmers and other vendors at their local farmers market. The proclamation Perdue signed notes farmers markets and other agricultural direct marketing outlets contribute approximately $9 billion …

Cow-Calf Producer Conference is Next Week in Auburn

Dan Alabama, Cattle, Industry News Release

Cow-calf producers across Alabama will have the chance to gain valuable insight on how to rebuild their herds successfully during the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences’ 2017 Beef Cattle Conference. It will be held Saturday, August 12th, from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m., at the Ham Wilson Livestock Arena in Auburn. The theme of this year’s event is “Back to …

Ireland Could be GMO-Free Haven

Dan Industry News Release, Seeds

Ireland Minister of State for Agriculture Andrew Doyle says the island nation should have a status as GMO-free to maintain biodiversity. The Irish Times reports that the comments by Doyle were expressed as his personal opinion, and not that of the nation’s Agricultural and Food Development Authority, which takes the “follow the science” approach. Doyle claims the island could be …

Trump Endorsed Immigration Bill Could Harm Farm Labor

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

A bill endorsed by President Donald Trump that would change the U.S. immigration system may harm farm labor. The bill by Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia would reduce the number of legal immigrants coming into the United States and emphasize highly educated immigrants over what is regarded as the low-skilled laborers, which could be …

Senate Democrats Revive Bill to End Cuba Embargo

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

Senate Democrats are pushing back against President Trump concerning Cuba, reviving a bill to lift the U.S. embargo. In mid-June, Trump rolled back former President Barack Obama’s historic opening to the island. The group of Senators, led by Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, introduced the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2017, which would establish normal trade relations with the island nation, in …