Difficult choices when crop insurance, disaster aid and Trump’s bailout intersect The farm safety net offers many strands of support to farmers swamped by a historically slow planting season, but the strands pull in different directions, says associate professor Bradley Lubben, of the University of Nebraska. “The complexity for producer… Continue reading

(Farm Progress) Trade aid criticized at WTO, USMCA passes in Mexico and double cropping in Nebraska Missed some agricultural news this week? Here are seven stories to catch you up. 1. The Trump administration’s $16 billion of trade aid has been criticized by World Trade Organization members. The European Union,… Continue reading

Trump: USMCA vote will be ‘very bipartisan’ On Thursday, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seated at his side, President Trump predicted a “very bipartisan” vote in Congress for adoption of the so-called new NAFTA, though when the House will vote on the trade pact is unclear. After undercover investigation… Continue reading

White House targets ag provisions in veto threat of mammoth funding bill The U.S. House opened debate on a mammoth federal spending bill, including money for the USDA, on Tuesday under the threat of a presidential veto of the $322 billion bill. The White House said it opposed half a… Continue reading

Some ‘plussing up’ needed before White House seeks USMCA vote U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer said he was in discussions with House Democrats about “plussing up” the new NAFTA and shied away on Tuesday from suggesting when the White House will ask for a vote on it. Environmental groups sue… Continue reading

Wheat buyers aren’t phased by discovery of rogue GMO wheat Unlike earlier incidents, Asian customers for wheat grown in the U.S. Northwest did not bat an eye at the USDA announcement that GMO wheat was found growing in the wild in Washington State. More changes in store as USDA assesses… Continue reading

Perdue and lawmakers compete in USDA relocation race Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue fired the starting gun for a sprint to move two USDA science agencies to Kansas City before opponents in Congress can stop him. In seven weeks, or possibly sooner, the first of the relocated employees are to report… Continue reading

Time for a deal with China, say farm-state senators Half a dozen farm-state senators urged Trump trade officials on Thursday to speedily resolve the Sino-U.S. trade war that is compounding hard times on the farm. Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts brushed aside assurances of a rosy future when trade deals… Continue reading

Perdue chooses new homes for two USDA research agencies Ten months after he announced the initiative, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will meet with USDA employees privately Thursday and then announce to the public the new homes for two research agencies now sited in Washington. Forest Service to scale back environmental… Continue reading