First round of Trump tariff payments could top $4 billion Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue discussed compensation to farmers for trade-war losses moments after a speech in which he lauded exports as a way to boost farm income. Tougher SNAP rules may worsen food insecurity, per USDA analysis The USDA estimated… Continue reading

Money begins to flow on second year of Trump bailout of U.S. agriculture Two months after President Trump announced a $16-billion package to buffer the impact of the Sino-U.S. trade war on farmers and ranchers this year, the first driblet of the money is flowing — $100 million for market… Continue reading

https://earthjustice.org/blog/2019-july/bees-and-beekeepers-sulfoxaflor-pesticides-epa-die-off-trump (EarthJusctice) It’s been a particularly terrible summer for bees. Recently, the U.S. EPA announced it is allowing the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor back on the market. And just a few weeks prior, the USDA announced it is suspending data collection for its annual honeybee survey, which provides critical information to… Continue reading

From: https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/7-ag-stories-you-might-have-missed-week-july-19-2019 ERS, NIFA relocation, dwindling orange groves in California and proposal to redo H-2A Need a quick catch up on the news? Here are seven ag stories you might have missed this week. 1. The Labor Department has announced changes to the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. The American… Continue reading

USDA says agencies are going to Kansas City regardless of staff refusals Newly hired USDA employees will begin work in Kansas City on Monday as part of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s decision to move two research agencies out of Washington. The USDA said it would use “an aggressive hiring strategy”… Continue reading

For livestock groups, USMCA and year-round labor visas are top priorities Immigration reform and assuring a tariff-free market for meat exports were top priorities for livestock groups that spoke at a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing. White House fleshes out immigration plan, but no mention of farm labor Presidential adviser and… Continue reading

World hunger up, afflicts 820 million people One in nine of the earth’s population is undernourished and the global hunger rate is creeping up from the low set in 2015, said five UN agencies in a report on Monday. Labor Department to mandate digital H-2A program The Labor Department on… Continue reading

USDA identifies two Monsanto strains in rogue GMO wheat in Washington State The GMO wheat discovered growing wild in a Washington State field this spring actually sprouted from two different strains developed by Monsanto, the USDA announced over the weekend. Genetically engineered wheat is not approved for cultivation anywhere in… Continue reading

Via:https://www.farmprogress.com/dairy/7-ag-stories-you-might-have-missed-week-july-12-2019   How did POET get its start? Wisconsin breeder named Master Breeder. JPMorgan pulls back on ag investments. Missed some ag news this week? Here are seven stories to catch you up. 1. JPMorgan Chase & Co invested in the agriculture sector in the late 2000s, growing its farm-loan… Continue reading