China buys corn and soybeans ‘to keep me happy,’ says Trump – August 17, 2020

China buys corn and soybeans ‘to keep me happy,’ says Trump

The expected six-month review of the Sino-U.S. trade agreement failed to materialize on Saturday but President Trump expressed satisfaction with the increasing pace of farm export sales to China. During a news conference, Trump said, “China has been buying a lot of — a lot of things, and they’re doing it to keep me happy but they’re dreaming about Joe Biden.”

 

Sam Clovis, tainted in Russia probe, resurfaces in Trump campaign

A national co-chair of the 2016 Trump campaign, Sam Clovis, is a member of the newly announced Farmers and Ranchers for Trump, according to the organization’s website. Clovis withdrew his nomination for USDA chief scientist on Nov. 2, 2017, after investigators said he encouraged a campaign staff worker to try to contact Russians claiming to have harmful information about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

 

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Another round of coronavirus aid: During a broadcast interview, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, “The good news is we’re working on really the second tranche of” coronavirus aid to farmers with sign-up to begin in September. (AgWeb)

 

Corn, soybeans hit hard in Iowa: The derecho affected more than half of Iowa and in the 36 counties that were hit the hardest, “the storm likely had the greatest impact on 3.57 million acres of corn and 2.5 million acres of soybeans,” as well as destroying tens of millions of bushels of grain storage, said the Iowa state Agriculture Department. (IDALS)

 

Pandemic hurts conservation funding: Tourism pays for conservation in much of Africa so the pandemic is forcing a debate over how to support the vital work. (Ensia)

 

Labor issues for cherry farmers: Cherry growers find it increasingly difficult to secure enough workers to harvest their fruit, and the laborers worry about the pandemic and earning a fair wage. (New York Times Magazine)

 

Enforce dairy rules in USMCA: A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including House Agriculture chairman Collin Peterson, asked the Trump administration for strong enforcement of the dairy provisions of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. (House Agriculture)

 

ON THE CALENDAR

Monday

National Press Club holds online “Newsmaker” panel discussion, “Back to school 2020: Feeding young minds in uncertain times,” 3 p.m. ET. Speakers include former education secretary Arne Duncan.

USDA releases first-ever National Farmers Market Managers report, 3 p.m. ET. USDA said it will use the data “to measure the customer demand for local foods from the Farmer’s Market manager’s perspective, look for potential expansion opportunities, target access to nutritional foods, market nutritional education, measure access to local foods and organic foods, and strengthen community engagement. This survey will be conducted every five years.”

USDA issues weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.

Tuesday

USDA releases monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook noon ET.

USDA releases monthly Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook, 3 p.m. ET.

Wednesday

USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, the Conservation Technology Information Center and the American Seed Trade Association release the 2020 National Cover Crop Survey, based on data from 1,172 farmers, 10 a.m. ET.

R-CALF USA holds annual convention, through Friday, Deadwood, South Dakota.

Thursday

Trade group USApple holds Outlook 2020 online, through Friday, Chicago.

First of two online hearings by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, USDA and the Commerce Department “to discuss foreign trade policies that may be harming American growers of seasonal and perishable produce. At the hearings, officials from the federal agencies will hear from interested persons on how the Trump Administration can support these producers and redress any unfair harm,” 9 a.m. ET.

USDA releases monthly Livestock Slaughter report, 3 p.m. ET.

Friday

Final day to enroll in a Conservation Reserve pilot program to plant cover crops on up to 50,000 acres in the “prairie pothole” region in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, with contracts for the Soil Health and Income Protection Program running three to five years.

USDA releases monthly Cattle on Feed report, 3 p.m. ET.

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