President Donald Trump announced an estimated $50 billion in tariffs against Chinese imports today. Bloomberg says it’s a retaliatory move against intellectual property violations. The move will take effect on …
Perdue Comments Regarding Omnibus Spending Bill
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the omnibus spending bill released by Congressional leaders: “The omnibus spending plan released last night contains a number of …
NFU Concerned About Harmful Modifications to Section 199A
Congressional appropriators revealed an omnibus appropriations bill that includes significant and harmful modifications to an important tax break for farmers and agricultural cooperatives. The break is known as Section 199A, …
Rural Mainstreet Index Remains Positive
Dodd-Frank Limits Lending for Most Rural Banks March Survey Results at a Glance: * For a second straight month the overall index rose above growth neutral. * Approximately 16.8 percent of …
Farm Bureau Compares Crop Insurance to Ad Hoc Disaster
As Congress continues preparation for the 2018 Farm Bill, rural America continues to voice its support for maintaining a strong crop insurance system. One of the loudest voices in that …
Key Farm Groups Like Co-op Tax Fix
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the National Grain and Feed Association are both in favor of a legislative proposal that would fix an unintended consequence of the Republican …
Early Stage Ag Tech Investments Up 29 Percent
Investments in the early stages of agricultural technology in 2017 increased 29 percent, compared to 2016. AgFunder, a self-proclaimed online investment marketplace for agricultural technology, reports early stage investment in …
Ag Producer Sentiment Improves; but Uncertainty about the Future of NAFTA Looms
The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer moved higher again in February. At 140 points, producer sentiment, which is based on monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the country, …
Ag Committee Members Press USDA on Payments to Deceased Farmers
Senate Ag Committee members Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan raised concerns with the USDA’s Farm Service Agency about farm program payments to deceased farmers. The Senators …
Perdue Advocates for Crop Insurance Program
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue walked a tightrope while talking with reporters about President Trump’s budget proposals that agriculture wasn’t enamored with. One of the proposals included cuts to crop …
Perdue Promotes “Harvest Box”
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue wants people who don’t like the idea of “America’s Harvest Box” to know that they are very serious about the idea. He says House Ag Committee …
Section 199A Fix Is Coming
A DTN report says Congress may be close to replacing the Section 199A language in the new tax law that curbs the advantages of farmers who sell their products to …
USDA Seeks Ideas to Help SNAP Participants Become Independent
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it is looking for innovative ideas to promote work and self-sufficiency among able-bodied adults participating in the department’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program …
Republicans Deliver Letter to Congressional Leadership Calling on Section 199A Changes
A group of Republican lawmakers Wednesday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan calling for changes to Section 199A in the tax code. …