The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, known as the 2018 farm bill, has now been made official after being signed by President Donald Trump today. It was a long and strenuous process drafting a version that both congressional houses could agree to. The farm bill will ultimately cost $867 billion… Continue reading
Christmas and other December holidays are steeped in a variety of traditions, but perhaps there is no other time of the year when celebrations revolve so strongly around U.S. agricultural products and thoughts of farm life. Christmas and holiday cards, trees, meals—all focal points of the holiday season—have strong ties… Continue reading
As the agribusiness landscape for crop inputs continues to change, 2018 was the scene of continued news surrounding mergers and acquisitions. Notably, headed into 2019, the four largest ag chemical companies are: Bayer ($12.9 billion in annual revenue); Syngenta (9.7 billion in annual revenue); BASF ($6.4 billion in annual revenue);… Continue reading
(AP) – For many there was a question whether the new farm bill would get passed before the end of the year. The measure, which ran into some partisan challenges in the U.S. House, along with some differences that needed to be worked out in the Senate, made it through last… Continue reading
Trump injects food stamp limits into signing of ‘really tremendous’ farm bill At the same time President Trump signed into law the 2018 farm bill, which modestly strengthens the farm safety net, loosens farm subsidy rules, and legalizes industrial hemp, he announced “immediate action on welfare reform” on Thursday through… Continue reading
(Washington, D.C., December 20, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today celebrated President Trump’s signing of the 2018 Farm Bill and issued the following statement: “This is a great day for our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers, as President Trump’s signature on this bill is a Christmas present to… Continue reading
Administration would toughen 90-day limit on food stamps On Thursday, hours before President Trump was expected to sign the farm bill, the administration has proposed restricting the power of states to waive the usual 90-day limit on food stamps for able-bodied adults who do not work at least 20 hours… Continue reading
Washington, D.C., December 18, 2018 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that representatives from the North Pole were among the visitors checking out the Agency’s new traveler information web page. The site, launched in September 2018, provides everyone with important information… Continue reading
Sales of antibiotics for livestock drop 41 percent as result of FDA efforts Sales of medically important antibiotics for use in food animals are down by 41 percent in two years as part of the FDA’s campaign to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics. Pork, the meat-export leader Large domestic hog… Continue reading
USDA doubles Trump tariff payments to farmers to $9.6 billion Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Monday the second and final round of $4.8 billion of Trump tariff payments, meaning crop and livestock producers will collect up to $9.6 billion in cash to cushion the impact of the Sino-U.S. trade… Continue reading
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