Trump cites sluggish ag sales as reason to expand trade war A day after the White House reported constructive talks with China, President Trump expanded the Sino-U.S. trade war on Thursday, saying China wasn’t buying enough U.S. farm exports and Beijing wasn’t moving fast enough in negotiations. ‘Dead zone’ in… Continue reading

Former Ag chairman Conaway, farm subsidy defender and SNAP skeptic, will retire Staunch conservative Michael Conaway, an eight-term Republican from west Texas and the most divisive House Agriculture chairman in decades, said on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of 2020. With Costco chicken plant set to open,… Continue reading

SNAP benefits ‘fall short,’ an increase would improve food security, says think tank The premiere U.S. anti-hunger program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, fails to assure a healthy diet for millions of low-income Americans, said the think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on Tuesday. Trump threatens long-running trade… Continue reading

As U.S.-China talks resume, the biggest U.S. farm group asks for an end of trade war tariffs The largest U.S. farm group urged trade negotiators “to write the next chapter” in Sino-U.S. relations this week by eliminating trade war tariffs that are depressing ag exports, an important part of farm… Continue reading

Sino-U.S. trade war could last until late 2020, says Trump President Trump was ambivalent about this week’s trade talks with China, saying “I don’t know if they’re going to make a deal,” even as China hinted at goodwill purchases of U.S. farm exports. Meanwhile, the White House said China, the… Continue reading

Growing Healthy Soil: Certain helpful insects are good for the environment, public perception and your bottom line.    (USDA) What do you know about the value of pollinators or beneficial insects? They’re certainly good for farmers since they enhance certain crops, but beyond that most of us don’t know very much… Continue reading

From https://www.farmprogress.com/trade/7-ag-stories-you-might-have-missed-week-july-26-2019 Trade aid announced, Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act passes in New York and the Floatingfarm Need a quick catch up on the news? Here are seven ag stories you might have missed this week. 1. USDA released the details of the 2019 Market Facilitation Program this week. The program has… Continue reading

Farm income will surge 4 percent if China ends soy tariffs, say analysts If China eliminated its punishing trade war tariffs on U.S. soybeans, net farm income would climb by nearly $3 billion this year and $4 billion in 2020, said three university economists in examining one aspect of the… Continue reading