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 …
Adam Putnam Returns to Roots to Start Governor’s Race
by Lloyd Dunkelberger The News Service of Florida Standing in front of a huge Florida flag covering the stately pillars of a century-old county courthouse with orange crates on the steps, Republican Adam Putnam on Wednesday used a combination of small-town nostalgia, conservative politics and a deep knowledge of his home state to launch his gubernatorial campaign. “I can’t imagine …
First Loans Awarded in the Rural Energy Savings Program
Acting Deputy Under Secretary Roger Glendenning announced that USDA is providing zero-interest loan website to two rural energy providers to help business and residential customers lower energy use and costs. “Funding commercial, farm and residential energy efficiency investments supports rural economies,” Glendenning said. “These investments save money for consumers, create jobs in the community and help energy providers better manage …
ASTA Hosts Meeting to Discuss Palmer Amaranth, other Weed Issues
On May 9, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) hosted a meeting of grower groups, seed companies, and state government officials to discuss a collaborative approach to addressing Palmer amaranth and other weed seed issues. The meeting, which took place in Des Moines, Iowa, served as a productive information-exchange and strategic dialog about potential short- and long-term solutions. “Weeds like …
Robotic Apple Picker a labor Solution for Orchards
A robotic apple picker is inching closer to commercialization and possible relief from labor issues for the nation’s apple growers. Abundant Robotics is in the process of perfecting a prototype that can pick one apple every one to two seconds, possibly giving the apple industry a solution to labor challenges. Company leaders tell Farm Journal’s AgWeb that the goal is …
Another Study Calls Dairy Fats OK
Another study suggests that dairy fats do not increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The Study, published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, concluded that consumption of dairy fats had a “neutral” effect on human health. A researcher leading the study at England’s Reading University said: “There’s been a lot of publicity over the last five to ten …
USDA Announces Delay, Reconsideration of Organic Livestock Rule
The Department of Agriculture Tuesday announced it would delay implementation of the final Organic Livestock Standards rule until November 14th, 2017. The rule was published in January in the final days of the Obama administration, and USDA is taking an additional six months to allow time for further consideration. The effective date for this rule was initially March 20th, 2017, …