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
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
Reimbursement for grain lost in flooding may be question for Congress The government has an indemnity program for livestock killed by storms and flood, but nothing to compensate growers for grain lost to flooding. The issue took center stage Monday at an agriculture roundtable confronting the blizzard and flooding losses… Continue reading
Trump approves disaster aid to Iowa for flooding Two days after he signed a disaster proclamation for Nebraska, President Trump issued a similar declaration for Iowa, making federal assistance available in both states. Another avenue for aid could open this week — the Senate may vote on a $13.5-billion disaster… Continue reading
Initiative will use the ‘power of poultry’ to lift farmers from subsistence A new project, dubbed “Hatching Hope,” aims to improve the livelihoods of 100 million people, focusing on women farmers, in the coming decade through chicken farming, which is seen as a quick way to produce food at home… Continue reading
Tariffs on China ‘for a substantial period of time,’ says Trump An agreement between China and the United States to resolve the trade war “is coming along nicely,” said President Trump on Wednesday, although U.S. tariffs could remain in force for some time to assure that China lives up to… Continue reading
Brazil agrees to let some wheat enter duty-free, an opening for U.S. grain Wheat growers declared victory—”a big win”—with Brazil’s agreement on Tuesday to allow duty-free import of wheat grown outside of a South American trading bloc. In Iowa, ag-gag is reborn. What does that mean for other states? This… Continue reading
In a generation, mega-farms will dominate ‘production’ ag, analyst predicts Twenty years from now, vastly fewer but much larger farms will generate the lion’s share of agriculture output, said chief executive Brett Sciotto of Aimpoint Research. USDA biotech rules nearing update, says undersecretary The USDA soon will propose a modernized… Continue reading
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