Income weak, producers borrow more from ag banks Ag bankers report the largest summertime increase in non-real-estate loan volume in 16 years, driven primarily by demand for operating loans to pay day-to-day expenses, said a quarterly Federal Reserve report. Rural mothers are younger, have highest fertility rates Nationwide, women are… Continue reading
Perdue promotes America’s Harvest Box, the sequel The Trump administration’s budget-cutting plans for next year may well include a test, or even a full-scale revival, of “America’s Harvest Box,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Wednesday. Big Soda pours $20 million into fight against local soda taxes In June 2017,… Continue reading
USDA says it will deliver on Trump request for 5-percent spending cut Under orders from President Trump to cut spending by 5 percent, the USDA may try to slash the taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance program, eliminate a green-payment program, or take an ax to its research agencies, if recent proposals are… Continue reading
California vote pits food prices against animal welfare If fundraising is a predictor of electoral success, supporters of “cage-free” Proposition 12, which would specify how many square feet of space California farmers must provide for egg-laying chickens, sows and veal calves, will stroll to victory in a statewide referendum on… Continue reading
The only path to 2018 farm bill runs through Senate, say activists If Congress fails to pass a farm bill this year, it will be the fault of House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway, who would harm SNAP and land stewardship programs, said six anti-hunger, environmental and small-farm groups on Monday…. Continue reading
Hurricane Michael wallops Georgia cotton, pecans and poultry For Georgia farmers, Hurricane Michael is “the most widespread and devastating hurricane in recollection,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. More than 92 poultry barns, housing more than 2 million birds, were destroyed; cotton growers suffered massive losses; and pecan growers lost… Continue reading
Costly fire year greets new head of the Forest Service Forest Service chief Vicki Christiansen, who took office on Thursday after six months as interim chief, said the USDA agency would spend $2.6 billion on fire suppression “for this historic fire season,” roughly the same as in 2017. North Carolina… Continue reading
Dinner at school is a growing option for U.S. students Compared to the long-established school lunch program, after-school programs that provide snacks or supper to pupils are tiny. In fact, just 1.2 million suppers, versus 30 million lunches, are served in school each day. North Carolina ag losses from Florence… Continue reading
Trump gives the order for year-round sale of E15 On his way to a campaign rally in Iowa, President Trump started the regulatory process on Tuesday for year-round sales of a 15-percent blend of corn ethanol in gasoline, sought in the Farm Belt as a tonic for trade-war jitters. Fighting… Continue reading
‘It’s not just SNAP.’ Regional shift in subsidies tying up farm bill, Stabenow says. House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway would move hundreds of millions of dollars in crop subsidies to cotton growers to the disadvantage of northern farmers, said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, one of the “big four” farm bill negotiators…. Continue reading
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