Trump heads for farm country as midterms near Ten days ahead of the midterm elections, President Trump will tout his agricultural record to a pared-down crowd of 7,000 teenagers at the FFA national convention in Indianapolis and campaign in southern Illinois for an imperiled Republican member of the House Agriculture… Continue reading
USDA and FDA seek to cooperate on regulating cell culture technology The Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration began a two-day stakeholder meeting Tuesday to discuss how to regulate livestock and poultry produced with cell-culture technology. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb emphasized that… Continue reading
Income weak, producers borrow more from ag banks Ag bankers report the largest summertime increase in non-real-estate loan volume in 16 years, driven primarily by demand for operating loans to pay day-to-day expenses, said a quarterly Federal Reserve report. Rural mothers are younger, have highest fertility rates Nationwide, women are… Continue reading
The only path to 2018 farm bill runs through Senate, say activists If Congress fails to pass a farm bill this year, it will be the fault of House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway, who would harm SNAP and land stewardship programs, said six anti-hunger, environmental and small-farm groups on Monday…. Continue reading
Hurricane Michael wallops Georgia cotton, pecans and poultry For Georgia farmers, Hurricane Michael is “the most widespread and devastating hurricane in recollection,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. More than 92 poultry barns, housing more than 2 million birds, were destroyed; cotton growers suffered massive losses; and pecan growers lost… Continue reading
Farm bill deadlock raises chances of short-term extension Iowa’s Chuck Grassley was one of two senators on Tuesday to suggest an extension of the farm law that expired at the start of this week. President Trump has backed House Republicans in demanding stronger work requirements on a larger number of… Continue reading
Florence swamps Matthew as North Carolina agriculture scourge Twice as many livestock have died in North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence as perished in Hurricane Matthew two years ago, and more manure lagoons have been damaged or flooded, state agencies said on Wednesday. Cities protest farm bill ban on local… Continue reading
Trump orders tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports With a warning against retaliation that targets “our farmers or other industries,” President Trump ordered a new wave of tariffs on Chinese products and imports, this time on $200 billion of goods that will face a 10 percent duty initially and… Continue reading
Looming renewal of ‘fish bill’ reveals industry-advocate divide More than 100 organizations submitted a letter to members of Congress on Wednesday asking them to oppose ocean aquaculture. The letter was delivered as the looming renewal of the “fish bill,” the Magnuson-Stevens Act, reveals divides between the fishing industry and environmentalists,… Continue reading
Two SNAP proposals in the House could cut enrollment by 8 percent, say researchers A nonpartisan research group says that two of the lesser-known provisions at issue during Senate-House negotiations over the 2018 farm bill could reduce food stamp enrollment by 8 percent. Those affected would include large numbers of… Continue reading
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