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 …
Secretary Perdue to Attend House Ag Committee Hearing on Rural Economy
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will take part in a House Agriculture Committee hearing next week on the rural economy. The House Agriculture Committee will hold the hearing next Wednesday, May 17th. The hearing seeks testimony on how the rural and farm economy is holding up amid a downturn in farm income and commodity prices. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway …
Perdue to Announce USDA Reorganization Thursday Afternoon
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will announce “ USDA reorganization ” during an event in Cincinnati, Ohio Thursday afternoon. While details remain sparse, many suspect the Department of Agriculture will announce the creation of an office of an undersecretary for trade, according to the Hagstrom Report. Perdue will make the announcement at Consolidated Grain and Barge, a grain shipping company. Perdue …
Agriculture Vulnerable Amid Trade Risks
U.S. agriculture stands to lose big if a trade dispute with Mexico or Canada surfaces. CoBank CEO Tom Halverson told Bloomberg News recently that agriculture is in a “vulnerable position.” President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and is vowing to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, as Halverson point out, Mexico is considering Brazil and …
U.S. Views NAFTA Less Favorable than Canada, Mexico
A new poll released by the Pew Research Center says American’s view of the North American Free Trade Agreement is more negative than other NAFTA partner countries. The research shows that about half of U.S. citizens say the trade agreement is good for the U.S., while 76 percent of Canadians say the agreement is good for Canada. Meanwhile, 60 percent …
Canada Considering Trade Retaliatory Options
Canada is exploring retaliatory options after the Donald Trump administration announced tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber last month. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (true-doh) is exploring ways to push back against the United States, although what options Canada is considering remain unclear. A trade official from Canada called the move normal, according to Politico. The remarks came after Trudeau over …