A coalition of states has filed a legal challenge to a Trump administration decision to keep a widely used pesticide on the market in spite of studies that show it can harm the development of children’s brains. The coalition, led by New York, filed a motion to intervene in the legal battle over continued spraying of chlorpyrifos. The coalition says …
Russia Extends Ban on U.S. and E.U. Produce
Russia has extended its ban on produce from the U.S. and the European Union through the end of 2018. The ban was first put in place in 2014 and includes the U.S., E.U., Norway, Ukraine, and several other countries. The ban was going to expire on January 1st but Russia extended its sanctions after the E.U. extended its own trade …
Amazon Food Stamp Policy Ruffling Feathers
Amazon has a new Prime program for the millions of Americans who have EBT cards. The new policy is causing America’s grocers to complain to Washington, D.C. that the online giant may not be playing by the rules. Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report says USDA feels Amazon isn’t doing anything wrong. The grocery store industry is telling USDA officials and lawmakers …
Pork Wants U.S. Bilateral Trade Deal with Japan
The European Union and Japan formally agreed to the outline of a free trade deal. America’s pork producers want to know why the U.S. isn’t moving on its own bilateral deal with Japan, the highest value market for U.S. pork exports. A Pork Network Dot Com article says now that the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement has gone away, the U.S. needs …
Mexico is No Longer Top Buyer for U.S. Corn
U.S. corn shipments to Mexico have slipped in recent months and Mexico in no longer the number one buyer of American corn. A Bloomberg article says it may be a sign that trade tensions are forcing the country to look elsewhere for corn in case the U.S. is no longer a reliable supplier. Sales through May of this year were …
Legislature Seeks Spring Trial in Conservation Funding Fight
News Service of Florida Attorneys for the Florida House and Senate have asked a judge to schedule a trial during the last week of March and the first week of April in a long-running battle about whether lawmakers have properly carried out a 2014 constitutional amendment that required setting aside money for land-conservation efforts. The request, filed Monday in Leon …
Rabobank Issues Report on Declining Wheat Acres
Rabobank issued a report this week saying U.S. wheat acres have been on the decline for 35 years. This growing season, wheat acres are at their lowest point in 100 years. Those lower acres over a long period of time are going to have some ripple effects. RaboResearch Grains and Oilseed Analyst Stephen Nicholson found that the decreasing number of …
Brazil Delays Decision on Ethanol Import Tariff
Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade announced this week it would delay a decision to put an import tariff of 17 percent on U.S. ethanol. U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Tom Sleight, Renewable Fuels President and CEO Bob Dineen, and Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor put out a joint statement on the decision this week. The groups were encouraged by …
Optimism Returning to the Ag Producers Barometer
The Purdue/CME Group’s June survey shows producers are a little more optimistic about their financial position than they were last year. The shift is why the June index reading of 131 was unchanged from the May survey. The index has held steady for three straight months and remains well above the low levels of last November. The shift in producer …
Ag Groups React to RFS Volumes for 2018
Some advanced biofuels were cut when the Environmental Protection Agency released its proposed renewable fuels volumes for 2018. The American Soybean Association wasn’t pleased with the lack of growth proposed by the EPA in biomass-based diesel volumes as well as a reduction in advanced biofuels. A.S.A. President and Illinois farmer Ron Moore called it disappointing and a missed opportunity for …