U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the United States submitted a counter notification in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Agriculture (COA) on India’s market price support (MPS) for wheat and rice. Filed on May 4, 2018, this is the first ever COA notification under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture regarding another …
USDA Celebrates World Trade Month
The Department of Agriculture is celebrating May as World Trade Month. In doing so, the department is highlighting its success and commitment to expanding trade of agricultural exports. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says he is “proud of the progress we make each day” at USDA regarding trade. The celebration comes as the U.S., however, is amid a trade dispute with …
Farm State Senators Worry About Trade During Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee convened a hearing on Tuesday and expressed a great deal of concern over the trade strategy of President Donald Trump and its effects on the U.S. farm economy. Politico says farm-state senators used the opportunity to direct Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to impress on the Trump administration just how sensitive commodity markets are to trade actions. …
Perdue Announces New Senior Leaders at USDA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the selection of senior leaders in several U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies. Perdue appointed Ken Isley as Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Administrator, Joel Baxley as Rural Housing Service (RHS) Administrator, and Martin Barbre as Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator. In addition, Perdue announced the appointment of Tommie Williams as Minister-Counselor for Agriculture …
Perdue Statement on House Committee Passage of 2018 Farm Bill
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding approval of the 2018 Farm Bill by the House Committee on Agriculture: “I commend Chairman Conaway and the House Committee on Agriculture for passing a comprehensive Farm Bill out of the Committee. The bill closely aligns with the Farm Bill Principles released by USDA in January and is nearly identical to …
Coalition Works to Expand Rural Broadband
A coalition of rural and farm groups are seeking to improve rural connectivity to broadband. The first in a series of workshops was held Wednesday at the Department of Agriculture. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai joined executives from the five partner organizations for the discussion. The coalition includes the Farm Foundation, The Rural …
Perdue Comments Regarding Chinese Duties on U.S. Sorghum
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement regarding China’s announcement of duties of almost 179 percent on U.S. sorghum imports: “The international grain market is about the freest market there is, and it is ludicrous to even mention ‘dumping,’ because China can buy product from anywhere they choose. This is clearly a political decision by the …
Perdue Applauds President Trump’s Selection for USDA’s Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded President Donald J. Trump’s selection of James Hubbard to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. Following the announcement, Secretary Perdue issued the following statement: “I am very excited by the selection of Jim Hubbard for this leadership role at USDA. Congress passed and President Trump …
Secretary Perdue Comments on Release of 2018 Farm Bill
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement on the release of the 2018 Farm Bill: “I applaud Chairman Conaway and the House Agriculture Committee for their diligence and hard work in crafting the 2018 Farm Bill. The trend of low commodity prices over recent years and headlines about trade disputes have caused anxiety among agricultural producers these …
Trump’s EO on Reducing Poverty Promotes Economic Independence
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order (EO), titled “Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility,” which calls for lifting American citizens from welfare to work, from dependence to independence, and from poverty to prosperity. Perdue issued the following statement: “I commend President Trump for his leadership on moving Americans back …