GOP hoots ‘elitist’ as Democrats question USDA’s plan to relocate researchers Hoping to dissuade Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, farm-state Democrats in Congress asked for a cost-benefit analysis that would justify moving two USDA research agencies out of Washington. Two senior Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee ridiculed the opposition to… Continue reading
House USDA-FDA spending bill delays hog slaughter rule, blocks ERS/NIFA move The bill also restores a U.S. ban on gene-edited babies. Committee leaders said they hoped to spark a debate that would lead to federal guidelines on the limits of gene-editing technology. Trade war and planting delays erode farmer confidence… Continue reading
Chaotic spring may lead Trump administration to loosen limits on trade aid USDA lawyers may have an answer this week on whether Trump tariff payments, intended to mitigate the impact of the trade war, can be given to farmers unable to plant a crop this year, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny… Continue reading
Trump tariffs target top U.S. ag trade partner Just months after retaliatory tariffs deposed China as the leading customer for U.S. farm exports, President Trump threatened import duties of up to 25 percent on Mexico, the No. 1 food and ag trade partner of the United States. Farm groups fear… Continue reading
Smallest U.S. ag exports in three years amid trade war The trade war with China and low commodity prices will combine to slash U.S. farm exports by 4.5 percent this fiscal year, said the USDA on Thursday in a quarterly forecast. Exports of $137 billion would be the smallest since… Continue reading
Pence goes to Canada, looking for a sprint to the new NAFTA Vice President Mike Pence and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are scheduled to confer today in Ottawa on what could be a summertime sprint in both countries to ratify the USMCA trade agreement. SNAP boosted rural employment during… Continue reading
Corn losses in rainy spring will be ‘similar to a severe drought’ in scope Heading into the final week of May, U.S. farmers have planted only 46 percent of the corn and soybean acreage that they intended this year, due to the rainy spring. Controversial pesticide use sees dramatic increase… Continue reading
Trump tariff payments could triple farm subsidies this year When Congress passed the 2018 farm policy law, analysts estimated farm subsidies would cost an average $6.1 billion a year. The Trump tariff payments, ordered by the White House to mitigate the impact of the trade war, could triple the total… Continue reading
More trade aid coming to farmers, Senate holds climate change hearing and slow planting season continues. Missed some ag news this week? Here’s seven ag stories to catch you up. 1. USDA released details of its latest round of trade aid on Thursday. The package includes $14.5 billion for direct… Continue reading
Trump announces $16-billion farm bailout, Perdue says more possible President Trump announced a $16-billion aid package on Thursday to buffer the impact of the trade war on farmers and ranchers this year. Speaking separately to reporters, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said billions of dollars of additional aid may flow in… Continue reading
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