The process for the first round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments is underway. Farm Service Agency Director Richard Fordyce says the first payments have been mailed out. Round one of the three potential payments is 50 percent of the overall amount farmers may receive. Fordyce says expects up to $14.5 billion of payments will be sent to farmers, pending the trade negotiation …
Market Facilitation Program Signup Underway
Sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) has been underway for a little over three weeks now, and producers who have yet to do so are reminded to stop by your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to take part in the trade aid program. MFP is the largest part of the $16 billion package to help American ag …
Tariffs, Farm Income, Squeezing Sales for Deere
(NAFB) — Low farm income, a challenging growing season and the impact of trade tariffs on agriculture have farmers putting off purchases of equipment. The depressed farm economy is part of the factors why Deere &Co. trimmed its earnings forecast for the year to $3.2 billion, from an expected $3.3 billion and a five percent increase in sales. The sales …
China Makes August U.S. Pork Purchase
(NAFB) — The world’s biggest pork consumer bought just over 10,000 tons of U.S. pork sometime between August 2-8. Reuters says that was the biggest purchase of American pork in almost two months. The pork purchase is due for shipment this year as African Swine Fever continues to ravage the world’s biggest pork herd. The Chinese Commerce Ministry had said …
Hopeful for Constructive Trade Talks with China
An American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) official says President Trump’s decision to delay much of his latest tariff threat against China is a hopeful sign constructive trade talks can re-start. AFBF trade adviser Dave Salmonsen hopes the delay to December 15 in Trump’s 10-percent duty on some Chinese electronics, footwear and clothing, will do more than just avert higher holiday …
Trump Delays Tariff Hike Until December
(NAFB) —The Trump administration will delay part of a planned tariff increase on China until December. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office made the announcement Tuesday the administration would not implement the planned tariffs. Instead, the tariffs will be implemented December 15, 2019. USTR Robert Lighthizer says certain products are even being removed from the tariff list based on health, safety, …
China’s Buying Halt of U.S. Ag May Not Be Total
Many in agriculture are concerned after it was announced this week that China was stepping away from purchasing U.S. farm imports after President Trump increased tensions by his proposal to add 10% tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese imports starting September 1. And while some say this stoppage may not be total, it’s still not good news for many farmers …
Report Notes China Halting U.S. Agricultural Purchases
According to Bloomberg News, China has announced they are stepping away from further U.S. farm imports after President Trump increased tensions with the U.S. biggest agricultural trading partner last week. The Chinese government has asked its state-owned enterprises to suspend purchases of U.S. agricultural products, people familiar with the situation said. Trump last week proposed adding 10% tariffs on another $300 …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on China Halting U.S. Agricultural Imports
Tallahassee, Fla. (FDACS) – The Chinese government announced it will halt purchases of U.S. agricultural products, in response to President Donald Trump’s escalation of his trade war with China. Financial markets reacted with shock, calling it “massive…on a scale of 1 to 10, it’s an 11.” Earlier this year, China imposed 25 percent tariffs on many American agricultural products, which has been devastating …
More Trade Negotiations Not Tariffs
(NAFB) — President Trump’s planned new tariff on all remaining Chinese exports to the U.S. is not going over well with American agriculture, despite the patience of many in farming with the tariff war, so far. A new 10 percent tariff on all remaining $300 billion in China’s exports to the U.S. will start September first because China gave no …