Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that USDA is investing $392 million (PDF, 238 KB) to help rebuild and improve rural water and wastewater infrastructure in 42 states. “Put …
Senators Grill Administration Officials at Trade Hearing
Ag state senators peppered Trump Administration officials at USDA and the Office of the Trade Representative with questions regarding trade policy. The Thursday hearing focused on the Trump Administration’s policies …
Trump: the U.S. Under “No Pressure” to Make Deal with China
President Donald Trump pushed back at the Wall Street Journal, which ran an article saying the U.S. was under pressure to make a deal with China. The Hill Dot Com …
Mexico Heading to Washington to Move NAFTA Forward
Mexican officials are on their way to Washington to work on the wording of the trade agreement between Mexico and the U.S. A Bloomberg article says they’re prepared to enter …
Roberts Asks Conaway, Peterson, to Remain in Washington
Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts is also chair of the House-Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee. The Hagstrom Report says Roberts feels Congress is running out of time to finish …
Organic Production Project to Evaluate Advantages of No-Till Farming
A new organic production project will be looking closely at soil conditions and evaluating the effects of tilling in vegetable production. The project is being funded through a grant from …
Farm Bill Passage On-time Uncertain
Time to finish the farm bill before the September 30th deadline is running out. House and Senate ag leaders are working to quickly iron out differences between the two versions …
Trump Administration Seeking China Trade Talks
The Trump administration proposes a new round of trade talks between the U.S. and China to stop an additional round of tariffs on Chinese exports. The Wall Street Journal reports …
State Ag Officials Voice Concerns with Trade Approach
State agriculture officials say the Trump administration needs to aggressively seek market access across the globe, while expressing concerns with the administration’s trade agenda. The National Association of State Departments …
USDA Details Trade Damage Estimate Calculations
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released a detailed accounting of how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calculated estimated damage from trade disruptions. USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist …
USDA Says Meat and Animal Product Exports up in 2018
All major U.S. animal protein sources experienced growth in exports in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service …
Lawsuits Seeking Mandatory Travel Pay for Ag Workers
A group of lawsuits that have been filed recently is looking to require mandatory travel pay for agricultural workers who use employer transportation. California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) is seeking …
Farm Bill Extension Not Ruled Out
Getting a farm bill done before current law expires at the end of this month may not happen, as congressional leaders have not ruled out an extension. The 2014 farm …
NAFTA Main Sticking Point Indeed is Dairy
Negotiators from Canada returned to Washington, D.C. Tuesday in an effort to reach a deal on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland joined U.S. …