Farmers support trade war despite their financial losses   Farmers in three Midwestern states say the China-U.S. trade war is hitting them in the pocketbook, but they support President Trump’s policy of piling tariffs on the one-time top customer for U.S. agriculture exports, say Iowa State University researchers.   Lawmakers… Continue reading

U.S. economy slows as corn and soy output soar, according to USDA projection   With a return to normal weather, farmers will expand vastly their corn and soybean plantings next year — enough to produce their largest corn crop ever and the fourth-largest soybean crop, according to USDA’s agricultural projections…. Continue reading

More students in jeopardy if USDA tightens SNAP rules   Two weeks ago, the USDA said that up to 982,000 children would lose automatic access to free meals at school under its plan to tighten SNAP eligibility rules. Now a study by the Urban Institute says an additional 1.05 million… Continue reading

Backers aim for quick action on farm labor reform   Dozens of farm groups stood with 44 lawmakers — one-tenth of the U.S. House membership — on Wednesday in support of bipartisan legislation to provide legal status to undocumented farmworkers and to modernize the H-2A agricultural guestworker program. Lead sponsor… Continue reading

USDA embraces hemp as a crop, but many hurdles remain for growers   On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture tempered optimism about hemp, a new, money-making crop for many farmers, with caution of obstacles for an emerging industry.   Lawmakers agree on bill offering path to legal status for farm… Continue reading

USDA takes an earlier look at the long-term crop forecast   Almost unnoticed, the USDA has shifted to an earlier reference point for an arcane but important document that helps shape the federal budget and provides a first look at the likely size of next year’s crops.   Multiple lawsuits… Continue reading

Senate to vote on funding for ‘heirs property’ initiative   The Senate is scheduled to vote today on an amendment to provide $5 million for a re-lending program that would be a step toward resolving ownership issues for farmers operating on so-called heirs property — land that passed from one… Continue reading