Nebraska’s Greater Omaha Packing Company is sending U.S. beef to China, the first shipment of its kind in 14 years. After the U.S. and China finalized protocols to allow the U.S. to export beef to China, the Nebraska-based company announced it would send beef by air freight to a customer in Shanghai. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Department of …
China Trade Agreement Includes Biotech Approvals
The trade agreement between the U.S. and China that focused on U.S. beef also paved the way for Chinese approval of two U.S. genetically modified crop traits. The Wall Street Journal reports China has approved imports of two new varieties of genetically modified crops, clearing the way for U.S. agricultural companies to market new biotech seeds to farmers. Through the …
Senators Want NAFTA Renegotiations to Address Canada Poultry Market
A group of senators wants the renegotiation effort of the North American Free Trade Agreement to address U.S. poultry exports into Canada. The group, led by Delaware Democrat Tom Carper says Canada has engaged in protectionist trade policies that limit sales for U.S. poultry exporters. The Senators are asking the Donald Trump administration to address the issue during NAFTA renegotiation …
Secretary Perdue Hosts Inaugural Rural Prosperity Task Force Meeting
Task Force showcases broad interagency support for promoting economic growth and spurring innovation in rural America U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue hosted the inaugural meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. Joined by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Director of the White House Office of Management and …
Conaway, Peterson Praise U.S. Sugar Deal
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (MN-7) made the below remarks following an announcement that an agreement was reached between the U.S. sugar industry and the Department of Commerce to bring Mexican sugar into compliance with U.S. trade laws: “I am very pleased that the Department of Commerce was able to negotiate an …
Tractor Sales Up in May
The monthly survey of tractor sales in the U.S. shows increases in May. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reports the sale of all tractors in the U.S. in May 2017 were up eight percent compared to the same month last year. For the five months in 2017, a total of 92,000 tractors were sold which compares to 86,000 sold thru …
Meat Industry Lobbyist Injured in DC Area Shooting
A lobbyist for Tyson Foods was reported as one of the five victims wounded in the Washington, D.C. area shooting that targeted a Republican congressional baseball team practice. A spokesperson for Tyson Foods told meat industry publication Meatingplace that Matt Mika, Tyson Foods director of government relations in Washington, D.C., was injured in the shooting that took place at an …
New Zealand to Visit U.S. to Talk Trade
Trade officials from New Zealand will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and other U.S. trade officials. The New Zealand government says the nation’s Trade Minister Todd McClay will make New Zealand’s first official ministerial visit to Washington under the Trump administration this week and will be pressing to advance the U.S.-New Zealand trade relationship. The U.S. is the …
No USDA Nominees Until September
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told lawmakers this week he may be the lone political appointment at the Department of Agriculture until September, or later. Currently, 15 executive posts at USDA are vacant and await White House nomination. Perdue told the Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee the names of nominees for six positions, including that of deputy secretary, have been sent to …
USDA to Speed Through GMO Labeling Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to finalize GMO disclosure standards within a nine-month time frame, what Politico calls a breakneck pace for any rulemaking. USDA in that timeframe will go from proposing the regulation to finalizing the rules. That includes a likely three-month comment period, revisions, and White House approval, a process that also takes about three months. A …