U.S. needs more trade pacts as a hedge against China China is a golden market and a potential pothole for U.S. food and ag exports, said 20 farm and agribusiness groups in a letter to presidential aspirants. The letter, delivered ahead of the first debate among Republican contenders on Wednesday,… Continue reading

Bird flu takes a summer vacation The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza that killed a record 58.8 million birds in domestic flocks and drove up egg prices in 2022 and early 2023 has faded during the summer months, said USDA data published on Monday. Only three outbreaks, totaling 1,860… Continue reading

Rural broadband projects get $667 million in USDA backing The White House announced $677 million in grants and loans today for high-speed internet service in rural areas of 22 states and the Marshall Islands. With the fourth round of funding, the USDA has put $3.1 billion into 179 rural broadband… Continue reading

U.S. files USMCA challenge to Mexico’s corn import rules Putting its warnings into action, the Biden administration officially accused Mexico on Thursday of violating North American trade rules by prohibiting imports of genetically modified white corn used in making tortillas, a staple of the Mexican diet. Mexico, the birthplace of… Continue reading

GM crops grown on 55 percent of U.S. cropland, says USDA Farmer adoption of genetically modified crop varieties is spreading beyond the well-known dominance of the major field crops of corn, soybeans, and cotton, said a USDA report. When lesser-known GM crops such as canola, potatoes, and apples are counted,… Continue reading

Preserve SNAP benefits in 2023 farm bill Lawmakers should refuse to make any cuts in SNAP, which is expected to be a major issue in drafting the new farm bill, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said on Tuesday. Congress expanded the work requirement for able-bodied adults enrolled in SNAP… Continue reading

House chairman says 2023 farm bill will be later than expected Congress will have to temporarily extend the lifespan of the 2018 farm bill because it will miss the Sept. 30 deadline for enacting its successor, said House Agriculture chairman Glenn Thompson. It was the first direct acknowledgement by one… Continue reading

Big corn and soybean crops in 2023, but lower farm-gate value The price U.S. producers get for corn and soybeans, the two most widely grown crops in the country, will fall 16 percent compared to last year’s harvests due to a steep drop in commodity prices, according to USDA data…. Continue reading

(AG Insider) A growing number of states are reimbursing schools for buying locally grown and produced foods in an effort to improve children’s diets while supporting local farmers. Before the pandemic, eight states and the District of Columbia had programs subsidizing local food purchases at schools — seven more states… Continue reading

Vilsack urges Brazil ‘in the strongest terms’ to speed up mad-cow testing In stern terms, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told his Brazilian counterpart that beef trade between the nations hinges on prompt reporting of cattle diseases, especially mad cow disease. Earlier this year, Brazil reported two cases of atypical mad… Continue reading