In response to a request from Dianne Westmoreland, Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) acting State Executive Director in Georgia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 19 counties in Georgia as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by freeze that occurred from March 15, 2017, through March 18, 2017. Those counties are: Appling Brooks Echols McIntosh …
Overall Tractor Sales Trending Higher in 2017
Tractor sales in the United States increased again last month, representing a six percent increase since the beginning of the year. A monthly report by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows April tractor sales were up seven percent, compared to April of last year, with more than 67,000 sales reported. For the month, two-wheel drive under 40 horsepower tractors, were …
New Zealand Continues TPP Push Without U.S.
New Zealand continues its push for the Trans-Pacific Partnership without the United States. New Zealand this week completed its ratification process, approving of the final agreement. Although, the future is uncertain for the trade deal given President Donald Trump removed the U.S. from the agreement earlier this year. Despite that, A New Zealand trade official says ratifying TPP “sends a …
Dairy Industry Eager to Work With U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer
The dairy industry is eager to work with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to protect and expand market access for U.S. dairy while addressing problematic Canadian dairy policies, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) said today following Lighthizer’s Senate confirmation. Lighthizer will begin work on a variety of pressing trade policy issues, including …
Agriculture Groups Approve USDA Reorganization Announcement
Alabama Farmers Federation The Alabama Farmers Federation today joined farm groups nationwide in praising U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s creation of a trade and foreign agriculture affairs undersecretary as part of reorganizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “The reorganization initiated by Secretary Perdue is encouraging,” said Federation National Legislative Programs Director Mitt Walker. “By adding an undersecretary solely …
Secretary Perdue Announces Creation of Undersecretary for Trade
Reorganization of USDA Elevates Rural Development as Department Priority U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the creation of an undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a recognition of the ever-increasing importance of international trade to American agriculture. Perdue made the announcement standing by barges filled with agricultural products along the banks …
Mother’s Day on the Farm
Supermom Angela Starling from Live Oak, Florida, has three full-time jobs: mother, farmer and director of a medical/surgical department. She takes care of kids and family, baby goats and cows, abandoned dogs, a rescue horse–and their land. A mother’s work is never done. Cliff and Angela were high school sweethearts. After marriage, college, having kids and moving with Cliff’s job …
UF Entomologist Recognized for Helping Farmers in Myanmar
by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences A global organization has recognized a University of Florida entomologist for his volunteer work in Myanmar, where he helped tropical food growers improve their pest management practices. Daniel Carrillo, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, was one of 126 …
NPPC President Ken Maschhoff on USDA Establishing an Undersecretary for Trade
NPPC is very pleased that Secretary Perdue is establishing within USDA an undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, a position that we and others in agriculture fought to get included in the 2014 Farm Bill. Clearly, the Trump administration recognizes the importance of exports to U.S. agriculture, which has a trade surplus. The new undersecretary can help convey our …
May WASDE Report Mostly Neutral
The monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report by the Department of Agriculture released Wednesday predicts a U.S. corn crop of 14.06 billion bushels, down 1.08 billion from last year. The monthly report is also projecting a U.S. soybean crop of 4.25 billion bushels, down from the 4.3-billion-bushel crop last year. USDA projects ending stocks for new crop corn …