Tariff Payments Could Triple Farm Subsidies – May 28, 2019

Trump tariff payments could triple farm subsidies this year

When Congress passed the 2018 farm policy law, analysts estimated farm subsidies would cost an average $6.1 billion a year. The Trump tariff payments, ordered by the White House to mitigate the impact of the trade war, could triple the total for expenditures to farmers this year.

Catch shares lead to consolidation of Alaskan fisheries

A recent study documenting consolidation and specialization in Alaska’s fisheries over the past three decades illustrates a broader trend taking hold in coastal communities across the country. Catch share programs are turning fishing rights into tradable commodities, driving up the cost to fish and consolidating fishing rights into the hands of a few wealthy owners.

New attempt for House passage of disaster bill possible this week

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says “we will take action” as early as this week to pass a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill that allots $3 billion for agriculture, including compensation for farmers prevented from planting crops due to floods and rain this spring.

TODAY’S QUICK HITS

Hog disease in China bolsters U.S. pork price (USDA): Ample U.S. supplies are driving down the price of pork in grocery stores this year but the decline will be smaller than earlier forecast, down 1.5 percent instead of 2.5 percent.  African swine fever has killed so many hogs in China that export demand is rising.

Vietnam kills 5 percent of its hogs (Reuters): Vietnam has culled 1.7 million hogs, or 5 percent of its stock, in two weeks in fighting an epidemic of the African swine fever, which officials describe as the most dangerous and costly outbreak of its kind ever.

Administration to close rural job-training centers (Washington Post): The Forest Service told the Labor Department it will withdraw from operating nine Civilian Conservation Centers in rural areas that train young people for fighting wildfires and other jobs.

Grassley applies for another Trump tariff payment (Des Moines Register):  For the second year in a row, Senate Finance chairman Chuck Grassley, an Iowa farmer, will apply for a USDA payment created to mitigate the Farm Belt impact of trade war, said a spokesman.

Judge blocks Bud Light ‘corn syrup’ ads (AP): U.S. District Judge William Conley granted a preliminary injunction that blocks Anheuser-Busch from using the words “corn syrup” in ads without providing more context about the fermentation aid used by rival MillerCoors.

ON THE CALENDAR

Tuesday
– House meets in pro forma session, creating opportunity to try again to pass $19.1 billion disaster bill that includes $3 billion in agricultural relief. Rep. Chip Roy, Texas Republican, objected to action on HR 2157 on Friday during a pro forma session.

– USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report, 4 p.m. ET.

– Ducks Unlimited holds annual national convention, through Sunday, Waikoloa, Hawaii.

Wednesday
– National Cattlemen’s Beef Association holds annual Young Cattlemen’s Conference, through June 7, Denver and Washington.

Thursday
– House Small Business subcommittee hearing, “Small businesses and their limitations without reliable access to rural broadband,” Scandia, New Mexico.

– USDA releases semi-annual Farm Labor report, delayed from May 23 by the partial government shutdown, and quarterly Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade, 3 p.m. ET.

– International Grains Council releases monthly Grain Market Report, London.

Friday
– House Small Business subcommittee hearing, “Disconnected: Rural broadband and the business case for small carriers,” 10 a.m. ET, 2360 Rayburn.

– USDA issues U.S. and Canadian Cattle and Sheep, and U.S. and Canadian Hogs reports, 3 p.m. ET.

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