The 2018 Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC), set for January 3-5 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas, will provide insight on current research and emerging technology – to help attendees improve production, processing and marketing efficiency. The BWCC, coordinated by the National Cotton Council (NCC), annually brings together university and USDA researchers, Extension personnel/agents, consultants, and industry sales/support personnel. …
Stabenow Intends to Meet with Clovis
Ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee Debbie Stabenow wants to meet with Sam Clovis. Clovis is the controversial nominee for the Department of Agriculture’s chief scientist post. Stabenow told reporters earlier this week that she doesn’t feel Clovis meets the criteria for the job, a stance she has held since his nomination. Meanwhile, Chairman Pat Roberts told reporters last …
Dairy Industry Cautions Japan to Respect Current Trade Relationships
Japan’s agriculture officials must respect current market access between Japan and its trading partners, including the United States, when reviewing a list of geographical indications (GIs) proposed by the European Union (EU), or else risk disrupting one of the world’s largest consumer marketplaces, the U.S. dairy industry urged. In a letter to the Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, leaders …
NMPF Urges Government-Take Action Against Misleading Labeling of “Blue Magic” Milk
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) urged federal and state food regulators to take enforcement action against imitation dairy product “Blue Magic Cashew Milk” for continuing to ignore federal standards of identity for dairy products. In a letter sent today to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, NMPF said that use of …
Trade Mission to Brazil Affect Ethanol Import Tariff?
An ethanol industry official hopes this week’s USDA-led trade mission to Brazil will convince the country’s leaders to reverse a renewed tariff on ethanol imports. Growth Energy’s Chris Bliley does not see the Brazil trip with leaders from two-dozen agribusinesses and trade groups as rewarding Brazil for its renewed 20-percent tariff on imported ethanol. Key players in the ethanol industry, …
Officials Survey Hurricane Damage in Florida
On September 18, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Congressman Tom Rooney ad Senator Marco Rubio flew in a helicopter to get an aerial view of farm damage from Hurricane Irma. Described by Rubio as an “agriculture catastrophe,” the storm ravished many Florida crops. Since many Florida vegetables were not in the ground yet, they …
Producers Affected by Hurricanes Granted Extra Time on Claims
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced special procedures to assist producers who lost crops or livestock or had other damage to their farms or ranches as a result of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Also, because of the severe and widespread damage caused by the hurricanes, USDA will provide additional flexibility to assist farm loan borrowers. “The impact is shocking and …
Putnam Says Irma Will Hurt Ag Industry
From nursery businesses in Miami-Dade County to citrus growers in Central Florida, the agriculture industry will take a hit from Hurricane Irma, state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said. Putnam, who is running for governor next year, said during an interview on Fox 13 in Tampa that protecting people is the priority, but, based on past storms, the powerful hurricane will …
Secretary Perdue Announces USDA Improvements
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the realignment of a number of offices within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to improve customer service and maximize efficiency. The actions involve innovation, consolidation, and the rearrangement of certain offices into more logical organizational reporting structures. The changes build on the reorganization Perdue announced in May. As with the previous …
Vietnam Reopens Market to U.S. DDGS Exports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the government of Vietnam has notified the U.S. that it will resume imports of American distillers dried grains (DDGS). In December 2016, Vietnam suspended imports of U.S. DDGS after reported detections of quarantine pests in U.S. shipments. Prior to the suspension, Vietnam was …