The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank reports farm lending has stabilized, but risks remain. The Federal Reserve’s Agricultural Finance Databook shows risks in the sector have remained alongside a persistently …
NRCS Streamlining EQIP Applications for Fire Recovery
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is targeting $4 million to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in California recover from the recent wildfires. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) …
CDFA and DWR Award Grant to Improve Water Efficiency
The recipients of a joint water efficiency grant were announced recently by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the Department of Water Resources (DWR). A total of …
California Produce Getting Legislative Support
Governor Jerry Brown recently signed a bill requiring state agencies to prioritize California produce when purchasing food. Assembly Bill 822, mandates state-run institutions to buy agricultural products from California if …
TPP Members Nearing Agreement
As the U.S. remains focused on reworking the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and to a lesser extent, the U.S.-Korea Free (KORUS) Trade Agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is …
NAFTA Talks Reach Standstill
Agriculture and other contentious issues proposed by the U.S. during round four of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks have stalled the renegotiation effort. The U.S., Canada, and …
EPA Ending “Sue and Settle”
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt is touting a directive he signed this week to end the EPA’s so-called “sue and settle” strategy, a practice agriculture groups opposed. Pruitt …
Initial Progress Made on U.S.-Japan Trade Issues
The U.S. and Japan in a joint statement said the two nations have made “initial progress” on trade issues. The statement comes as Vice President Mike Pence talked with Japan’s …
NAFTA Commodity Groups Unite to Urge Negotiation Success
U.S. commodity export groups, along with counterparts from Canada and Mexico, are reiterating their support for free trade. The U.S. Grains Council, along with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, National …
Canada “Flatly Rejects” U.S. Dairy Proposal
Wrapping up the fourth round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S. proposed a dismantling of Canada’s dairy supply management system. Bloomberg reports Canada “flatly …
WOTUS Jurisdiction Case Reaches Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments stemming from the definition of the term ‘waters of the United States’, commonly known as the WOTUS rule. The case revolves around …
Weed Scientist Has Doubts Over Dicamba Restrictions Effectiveness
The Environmental Protection Agency last week declared dicamba under it’s “restricted use” category, but a weed scientist from Illinois has doubts the new restrictions will be beneficial. Aaron Hager, a …
NAFTA Talks Turn to Agriculture, Dairy
The U.S. wants to reverse Canada’s dairy supply management system as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation. U.S. negotiators centered on the agriculture chapter of NAFTA …
Business Leaders Push to Keep KORUS Intact
Business leaders from the U.S. and Korea are pressing South Korea and the United States to “eliminate the uncertainty” around the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS. The U.S.-Korea …