Trade war expands government role in agriculture, despite decades of free-market reforms
The multibillion-dollar Trump tariff payments to farmers are expanding the government role in agriculture despite decades of free-market reforms that told farmers to pursue profits rather than subsidies.
Come here, ERS and NIFA, say Kansas and Missouri lawmakers
With a USDA decision on relocating ERS and NIFA expected soon, Missouri and Kansas lawmakers said that Kansas City “is ideally located” to be the new home of the two research agencies.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
A water crisis in the Central Valley (New York Times): Many farmworkers who pick the produce that feeds the country live in unincorporated towns with polluted water, a chronic problem that the state has not yet figured out how to solve.
Perdue hits 50 (Ag Insider): In office for slightly more than two years, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will visit his 50th state, Utah, on Wednesday to sign a forest management agreement with Gov. Gary Herbert.
ASF vaccine will take years (The Hagstrom Report): Agriculture Undersecretary Greg Ibach told a House Agriculture subcommittee that scientists estimate it will take eight years to find an effective vaccine against African swine fever.
Gottlieb skeptical of CDB efficacy (STAT): Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb says there is no evidence to support putting the hemp derivative into the food supply but there may be a “pharmaceutical opportunity here.”
Trump puts USMCA ahead of infrastructure (Ag Insider): In a letter aimed at pressuring skeptical Democratic leaders in Congress, President Trump says: “Before we get to infrastructure, it is my strong view that Congress should first pass the important and popular USMCA trade deal.”
