The Donald Trump administration intensified a decades-old trade dispute with Canada this week, announcing tariffs up to 24 percent on imported softwood lumber. Bloomberg News reports the step escalates an economic battle among neighboring countries that normally have one of the friendliest international relationships in the world. It follows a fight over a new Canadian milk policy that U.S. producers …
Perdue Off to Work as USDA Secretary
Newly minted Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue ditched his coat and tie, and rolled up his sleeves Tuesday morning, getting to work at the Department of Agriculture during an address to USDA employees. Following Senate confirmation Monday, the former Georgia Governor was sworn in Tuesday morning by Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, also from Georgia. Perdue preached transparency, ethics and …
USDA Announces $4.8 Million Available to Support Food Safety Outreach Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $4.8 million in available funding to develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance projects. This funding, offered through the Food Safety Outreach Program and administered by NIFA, will address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning …
AFBF’s President Duvall Joins in Historic White House Ag Roundtable
During a meeting with farmers and ranchers, President Donald Trump pledged that his administration, including newly installed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, would work to address critical challenges faced by agriculture, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. Duvall was among 14 farmers and ranchers from across the country who met at the White House with Trump, Vice …
Executive Order Creates New Agriculture Panel
President Trump’s Executive Order President Trump’s Executive Order established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity “to ensure the informed exercise of regulatory authority that impacts agriculture and rural communities.” As Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue will serve as the task force’s chairman. “It is in the national interest to promote American agriculture while protecting and supporting the rural …
2017 W.O. Atwater Memorial Lecturer Renews Call for Excellence in Nutrition Research
“Traveling the Road from Precision to Imprecision: Have I Gone in the Wrong Direction?” is the title of Dennis M. Bier‘s 2017 Agricultural Research Service (ARS) W. O. Atwater Memorial Lecture, which he delivered at the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting in Chicago. Bier is a renowned advocate for the highest standards of experiment design and increased rigor in nutritional research. …
Sonny Perdue Sworn in as 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Sonny Perdue was sworn in as the 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture by fellow Georgian and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Clarence Thomas in a brief ceremony at the Supreme Court building. The U.S. Senate confirmed Secretary Perdue by a vote of 87-to-11 on Monday evening. After Secretary Perdue took the oath of office, he addressed employees at …
Historic White House Ag Roundtable Discussion Includes Florida Farmer
Fourteen farmers from across the country, including American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, are meeting with President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for an agriculture roundtable discussion. During the roundtable, the farmers will discuss with Trump and Perdue the issues the White House believes are most pressing for American agriculture. Farmers from California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, …
Lobbyist Backs Away From Florida Forever Comments
From: News Service of Florida Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida and a prominent environmental lobbyist, released a statement Tuesday walking back concerns about a House measure that would alter the distribution of money for land conservation. Draper said he was wrong Monday to link a House bill (PCB GAC17-06) that would change the state’s Florida Forever land-conservation program …
NFU President Attends March for Science in D.C.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson spoke to thousands attending the Washington, D.C. March for Science over the weekend that also included former Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. Johnson spoke at the flagship march held in Washington, D.C., saying: “Farmers Union members are acutely aware of the important roles that science and science-based policies play in the success of American …