New data from the Department of Agriculture shows U.S. honey bee numbers increased in the last year. USDA released its honey bee health survey this week, which found the number of commercial U.S. honey bee colonies rose three percent to 2.89 million as of April 1st, 2017 compared with a year earlier. The number of hives lost to Colony Collapse …
Trump Endorsed Immigration Bill Could Harm Farm Labor
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
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 …
Mexico Releases NAFTA Goals
Mexico says it plans to prioritize free access for goods and services in the upcoming North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Negotiations. Mexico this week announced the nation’s goals for the renegotiation effort, set to begin August 16th. Mexico is also seeking greater labor market integration and a strengthening of energy security, according to Reuters. Additionally, Mexico is looking to …
Post Offices ‘Abuzz’ Over Protect Pollinators Forever Stamps
The U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute tomorrow (August 3rd) to the beauty and importance of pollinators with stamps depicting two of our continent’s most iconic, the monarch butterfly and the western honeybee, each shown industriously pollinating a variety of plants native to North America. The Protect Pollinators Forever stamps will be dedicated at noon tomorrow at the American Philatelic Society National Summer …
NRCS Alabama Announces Soil Quality Sign-Up
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama has announced they are providing funding to help landowners improve soil quality through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024
Florida NRCS to Conduct State Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
Florida producers and landowners are being reminded that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Advisory Committee Meeting August 15 in Gainesville. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024
Conaway: Farm Bill Work to Begin in Eight Weeks
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway says work on the 2018 Farm Bill will start within the next eight weeks. Speaking during a farm bill listening session in his home state of Texas, Conaway told attendees that he wants to get the next farm bill on the House floor this year, according to the Hagstrom Report. After three hours of …
Mexico Names Chief NAFTA Negotiator
Mexico announced that Kenneth Smith Ramos would be the nation’s chief negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement talks set to begin later this month. Ramos will be Mexico’s chief technical negotiator for the talks between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, according to Politico. Ramos was previously at the trade and NAFTA office of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, …
Farmers Indicate Higher Outlook on Farm Economy
Farmers surveyed as part of the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer indicated more optimism in July because of better commodity prices expectations this fall. The monthly survey for July reached 139, its highest level since January 2017, and its second-highest level since data collection began in October 2015. The increase continues a trend seen over the summer of more optimism …