Month: August 2019

Mild recovery forecast for U.S. ag exports after a trade war tumble   U.S. farm exports plunged by an abrupt 6 percent this year due to the Sino-U.S. trade war and a worldwide slowdown in economic growth, but they will rebound mildly in the year ahead, said the USDA on… Continue reading

Report maps ways to cut food waste by 50 percent globally   The World Resources Institute released a report Thursday that shows how the world could cut food waste by 50 percent by 2030, offering findings that are in line with the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Achieving… Continue reading

As Trump’s trade agenda falters, Dems see rural America in play for 2020   After years of effectively writing off rural voters, based on their solid support for the GOP, Democratic candidates for the White House are suddenly turning up frequently in Iowa —  where the primary season kicks off… Continue reading

Trump trade rollercoaster heads back up, but with conflicting claims After a weekend in which Trump lashed out angrily at China, calling its leader “an enemy,” Trump was making nice again at the end of the G7 summit on Monday, praising Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “great man” and… Continue reading

Promise of Japan deal caps Trump’s turbulent weekend on trade In 48-hour span, starting Friday, President Trump roiled global markets by Tweeting his intention to again raise tariffs on China and ordering U.S. companies out of the country, then appeared to backpedal, saying at the G7 summit he was having… Continue reading

‘Big pile of money’ for farmers could backfire in Congress The Trump administration enabled multimillion-dollar payments to some large operators in this year’s round of trade war payments by obliterating the usual limits on farm subsidies, said the president of the National Farmers Union on Thursday U.S. apple exports plunge… Continue reading

New agreement will govern imports of tomatoes from Mexico The Commerce Department and Mexican tomato growers initialed a new agreement that, beginning on Sept. 19, will control U.S. imports of roughly $2 billion a year worth of fresh tomatoes from Mexico, said officials from both nations on Wednesday. Lawmakers call… Continue reading

Largest ethanol maker closes Indiana plant, blames EPA waivers At the same time that POET, the largest U.S. ethanol maker, said it was forced to shut down an Indiana plant due to EPA “mismanagement” of the ethanol mandate, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said that “farmers feel the… Continue reading