budget

First Round of MFP Payments Underway

Dan Economy

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 …

john deere

Tariffs, Farm Income, Squeezing Sales for Deere

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

(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 …

market

China Makes August U.S. Pork Purchase

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Pork

(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 …

china phase one

Hopeful for Constructive Trade Talks with China

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

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 …

china phase one

Trump Delays Tariff Hike Until December

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Trade

(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, …

exports

China’s Buying Halt of U.S. Ag May Not Be Total

Dan Exports/Imports, Trade

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 …

international

Report Notes China Halting U.S. Agricultural Purchases

Dan Economy, Exports/Imports

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 …

export markets

Commissioner Nikki Fried on China Halting U.S. Agricultural Imports

Dan Exports/Imports, Florida, Industry News Release

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 …

china phase one

More Trade Negotiations Not Tariffs

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

(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 …