U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation and …
Reviewing the State of the Dairy Economy
The improvements to the dairy safety net are going to be implemented at a critical time for the industry. The enhancements made to essential dairy programs were included as part …
Impact of Trade on California Job Landscape
Last year California exported about $313 billion worth of goods and services, contributing to multiple areas of the state’s economy. Senior Advisor for International Affairs and Trade in the Governor’s …
More CA Farmers Increased Wages to Attract Qualified Farm Labor
In efforts to attract qualified farm labor, California farmers and ranchers have increased their wages due to the chronic employee shortages. In the recent Adapting to Farm Worker Scarcity Survey …
USDA Announces Repayment Options for Producers with Coverage in Previous MPP for Dairy
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that dairy producers who had coverage under the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which provided payments to producers when the price of milk …
New National Poll Shows Impacts of Rural Economy on Farmer Mental Health
A strong majority of farmers and farmworkers say financial issues, farm or business problems and fear of losing the farm impact farmers’ mental health, according to a new national Morning Consult …
Farm Groups Ask President, Congress for Disaster Relief
A group of 135 farm organizations and banks that supply seasonal loans to farms and ranches today called on the President and Congress to put aside political differences and supply …
Reporting Field Crew Property Theft
Theft has been an ongoing issue for the agriculture industry for years. People steal fruits and nuts, agriculture equipment, livestock and now personal items of field crew members. While theft …
USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help with H2A Applications, Managing Loans
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched two new features on farmers.gov to help customers manage their farm loans and navigate the application process for …
Farmers Need Disaster Relief Now
The following statement concerning congressional efforts to provide disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farms and ranches across the …
Details on the Administration’s Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2020
Ag groups are asking for cuts in the budget proposal for fiscal year 2020 be reconsidered. The budget proposes significant cuts to several safety net programs, as well as narrowing …
Dairy Producers Previously Enrolled in the Livestock Gross Margin Program Now Eligible for 2018 Margin Protection Program
Retroactive Enrollment Begins March 25 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program (LGM-Dairy) now have the opportunity …
Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Protect Farm Bill Program Funding
As farmers, ranchers and rural communities grapple with a devastatingly weak farm economy, nearly 200 organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and several state Farm Bureaus, are urging congressional …
Secretary Perdue Comments on President Trump’s Budget Proposal
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after President Trump submitted his FY 2020 budget proposal to Congress: “Our economy is booming, and unemployment is the lowest it’s …