The Puerto Rico Farm Bureau has established the Puerto Rico Agricultural Relief Fund to help address the agricultural losses inflicted this past September by Hurricane Maria. The hurricane struck Puerto …
Producers Looking to D.C. for Disaster Aid
Florida citrus growers were optimistic after the House passed an $81 billion disaster package by a vote of 251-169. However, Politico says House Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas says …
Group Files FTC Complaint Against HSUS
The Center for Consumer Freedom filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission regarding the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS). The non-profit CCF says the Humane Society is responsible …
Continuing Resolution Means No Cuts to Ag Programs
Lawmakers passed a Continuing Resolution on Thursday to keep the federal government fully-funded through January 19. That averts a potential government shutdown and gives President Trump and Congressional lawmakers time …
United States Hogs and Pigs Inventory Up 2 Percent
As of December 1, there were 73.2 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up 2 percent from December 2016, but down slightly from September 1, 2017, according to the …
USDA Issues Permit for Santa’s Reindeer
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, …
Citrus Avoids Damage with Short Periods of Freeze
Temperatures throughout most of the Central Valley citrus belt failed to reach predicted lows Thursday night and Friday morning. In the coldest of areas, temperatures dipped to 26 degrees, although …
Foreign Ag Service Contributes to Export Success
International trade was an economic driver for rural America in 2017. U.S. farm and food exports totaled $140.5 billion for the fiscal year, which is the third-highest number on record. …
Hops Industry Toasting This Holiday Season
There’s an awful lot for the hops industry to be toasting to this holiday season. The USDA Economic Research Service released numbers this week showing that hops production in Idaho, …
Infrastructure Overhaul Talks to Begin in January
South Dakota Republican John Thune, Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, will be very involved with President Trump’s $1 billion plan to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure in January. A Pro …
Groups Want Tax-Extender Bill Passed in 2017
More than 50 groups representing a wide scope of businesses sent a letter this week to Congress asking for approval of a multi-year extension of a series of expired tax …
Setting Aside Money In Case of NAFTA Failure?
A Politico report shows just how worried some lawmakers are about the potential failure of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. Officials began talking on Tuesday about putting …
Conaway Applauds House-Passed Hurricane, Wildfire, and Natural Disaster Aid Package
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) applauded House passage of a supplemental appropriations bill to address the disaster losses suffered by millions of Americans across the country, including …
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Reflects on Year of Progress
The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, highlighted some of the agency’s accomplishments during 2017 to improve the productivity, uses, and sustainability of national forests and …