Proposed rule would ease standards for retailers that accept SNAP The Department of Agriculture issued a proposed rule Friday that would ease the standards for how many and what types of products food retailers must stock in order to accept SNAP benefits at their stores. An Obama-era rule had expanded… Continue reading
Trump, dropping Mexico threat, says ‘very close’ to China deal U.S. and Chinese negotiators may be within four weeks of resolving the Sino-U.S. trade war, said President Trump on Thursday. Trump said the nations are working on a comprehensive agreement. “And whether it’s our farmers or our technology people, all… Continue reading
SNAP defenders blast USDA time-limit proposal The administration is motivated by conservative ideology, not facts, with its proposal to toughen the 90-day limit on food stamps for able-bodied adults, said the chair of a House Agriculture subcommittee on Wednesday, vowing “to do everything I can to stop this rule.” Farm… Continue reading
Farm lenders urge disaster aid for Southeast and Midwest During a House hearing, Farm Credit System leaders called for assistance to producers hit by hurricanes in the Southeast last fall and by flooding in the Midwest this spring. Farmers expect to win Sino-U.S. trade war U.S. and Chinese officials are… Continue reading
Disaster bill sidetracked in Senate in fight over Puerto Rico aid Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shelved, at least for the moment, a $14-billion disaster aid bill on Monday after Democrats and Republicans took turns threatening a filibuster over aid to Puerto Rico. Grassley urges Trump to remove tariffs on… Continue reading
U.S. crop production unlikely to suffer much from floods Spring flooding in the northern Plains and western Corn Belt will have a marginal impact on corn and soybean plantings, according to a USDA survey of growers and initial tallies of flooded land. At Iowa forum, Democratic presidential candidates vow to… Continue reading
Big soy crop globally even if U.S. cuts back U.S. farmers will harvest a sharply smaller soybean crop this year, driven away from the oilseed by weak market prices and a staggeringly large soy surplus resulting from a string of bumper crops. Even so, the International Grains Council projects the… Continue reading
Perdue could pick new home for ERS and NIFA in May The USDA is working briskly to move two scientific agencies out of Washington, an aide to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told lawmakers on Wednesday, despite skepticism on Capitol Hill about whether the relocations are justified. “We anticipate we will… Continue reading
USDA Offers Conservation Assistance to Landowners to Protect Wetlands, Agricultural Lands and Grasslands NRCS plans to invest $450 million this year in conservation easements through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). This program helps private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands and… Continue reading
Senate clears way for disaster aid to agriculture In a test vote, senators overwhelmingly supported a $13.5 billion disaster bill on Tuesday that includes flood aid for the northern Plains and western Corn Belt. Two medical groups back soda taxes Citing strong evidence of an increased risk of heart disease… Continue reading
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