Month: July 2019

As U.S.-China talks resume, the biggest U.S. farm group asks for an end of trade war tariffs The largest U.S. farm group urged trade negotiators “to write the next chapter” in Sino-U.S. relations this week by eliminating trade war tariffs that are depressing ag exports, an important part of farm… Continue reading

Sino-U.S. trade war could last until late 2020, says Trump President Trump was ambivalent about this week’s trade talks with China, saying “I don’t know if they’re going to make a deal,” even as China hinted at goodwill purchases of U.S. farm exports. Meanwhile, the White House said China, the… Continue reading

Growing Healthy Soil: Certain helpful insects are good for the environment, public perception and your bottom line.    (USDA) What do you know about the value of pollinators or beneficial insects? They’re certainly good for farmers since they enhance certain crops, but beyond that most of us don’t know very much… Continue reading

From https://www.farmprogress.com/trade/7-ag-stories-you-might-have-missed-week-july-26-2019 Trade aid announced, Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act passes in New York and the Floatingfarm Need a quick catch up on the news? Here are seven ag stories you might have missed this week. 1. USDA released the details of the 2019 Market Facilitation Program this week. The program has… Continue reading

Farm income will surge 4 percent if China ends soy tariffs, say analysts If China eliminated its punishing trade war tariffs on U.S. soybeans, net farm income would climb by nearly $3 billion this year and $4 billion in 2020, said three university economists in examining one aspect of the… Continue reading

Administration says its proposal to tighten SNAP rules would cut 3 million recipients The Trump administration would oust one in every 12 SNAP recipients, a total of 3.1 million people, under a plan released today to restrict access to food stamps through so-called categorical eligibility. “Some states are taking advantage… Continue reading

First round of Trump tariff payments could top $4 billion Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue discussed compensation to farmers for trade-war losses moments after a speech in which he lauded exports as a way to boost farm income. Tougher SNAP rules may worsen food insecurity, per USDA analysis The USDA estimated… Continue reading

Money begins to flow on second year of Trump bailout of U.S. agriculture Two months after President Trump announced a $16-billion package to buffer the impact of the Sino-U.S. trade war on farmers and ranchers this year, the first driblet of the money is flowing — $100 million for market… Continue reading

https://earthjustice.org/blog/2019-july/bees-and-beekeepers-sulfoxaflor-pesticides-epa-die-off-trump (EarthJusctice) It’s been a particularly terrible summer for bees. Recently, the U.S. EPA announced it is allowing the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor back on the market. And just a few weeks prior, the USDA announced it is suspending data collection for its annual honeybee survey, which provides critical information to… Continue reading

From: https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/7-ag-stories-you-might-have-missed-week-july-19-2019 ERS, NIFA relocation, dwindling orange groves in California and proposal to redo H-2A Need a quick catch up on the news? Here are seven ag stories you might have missed this week. 1. The Labor Department has announced changes to the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. The American… Continue reading