Former U.S. Trade Representative during the Obama administration Michael Froman says a U.S. withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement is still “a very real prospect.” Froman spoke last week in Washington, D.C. at an event hosted by the University of California. Politico reports Froman said: “There certainly is a desire by the president to withdraw from something, and …
USDA/NIFA Announces Funding to Grow the Bioeconomy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced six grants totaling nearly $21.1 million to support the development of new jet fuel, biobased products and biomaterials from renewable sources. Funding is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Our nation has made great strides in promoting the …
Margin Protection Crop Insurance Decision Due
Farmers have until the end of this month to decide if they’d like to take USDA’s new Margin Protection Crop Insurance plan. Known as M-P, the program most closely aligns with the current A-R-P, or Area Revenue Protection, crop insurance plan. University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Gary Schnitkey says while there is difference the one of note is the price …
USDA Approves D-SNAP for Florida Disaster Counties
Floridians struggling with the after-effects of Hurricane Irma could be eligible for help buying food through USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said that households who may not normally be eligible under regular SNAP rules may qualify for D-SNAP — if their income is under the disaster limits and they …
Deadline for WOTUS Rule Repeal Comments September 27
Landowners are being reminded the deadline to make comments on the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule repeal effort is Wednesday, September 27. The Environmental Protection Agency, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, will accept comment through that date. The EPA formally proposed to repeal the rule in late June, and the Trump administration plans to separately write a …
Dairy Producers Can Opt Out of MPP Coverage
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind dairy producers you can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). But there is something new this year, in that you can opt out of the program. In order to opt out, a producer should not sign up during the annual registration period. By opting out, a producer would …
Above Normal Temperatures Through the End of 2017
The National Weather Service is calling for above normal temperatures in the contiguous – U.S. over the last three months of 2017. The National Weather Service says the greatest chance of warmth comes in the Four Corners Region between October and December. This could possibly mean areas to the east may need some springtime rains to be ready for the …
NFU Urges a No Vote on Health Care Plan
The National Farmers Union says the latest health care reform effort from U.S. Senate leadership will not improve access to affordable and quality healthcare for family farmers and ranchers. NFU President Roger Johnson sent a letter to members of the Senate asking legislators to vote against the plan, known as the Graham-Cassidy Health Care Plan. Johnson also says NFU will …
Proposed Guest Worker Plan to Replace H-2A Worker Program
Virginia Republican Representative Bob Goodlatte will introduce a bill the week of September 25th that would replace the H-2A guest worker program. The bill is titled the Agricultural Guestworker Act and would replace the program that many in agriculture use to find labor. A Packer Dot Com article says Goodlatte, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, told the United Fresh …
Is NAFTA Renegotiation Slowing Other Trade Deals?
An Agri-Pulse report says the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations may actually be costing agriculture other opportunities. The non-yet-fully-staffed Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is fully occupied with NAFTA. However, groups like the National Pork Producers Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association want the Trump administration to push ahead with other trade agreements in order to cut …