U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, DVM and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. announced a joint public meeting to be held on Oct. 23-24, 2018 to …
Industry Coalition Opposes New China Tariffs
A coalition of more than 150 business groups, including several in agriculture, wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week regarding trade. The Hagstrom Report says the …
What’s Next for E-Verify Immigration System
All employers would be required to use the E-Verify system to check the immigration status of employees. Milk Business Dot Com says the requirement is part of some revisions to …
OTA Wants Voluntary Checkoff Program
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced a plan to move the industry toward a voluntary industry-invested organic research, promotion, and education checkoff program. It will be put together and in …
Swine Fever Spreads; FAO Calls Emergency Meeting
China reported another four cases of African Swine Fever. The trade website Meating Place Dot Com says that brings the total number of cases to 13 since the virus was …
Kansas Cattle Traceability Project Moving Forward
The Kansas-based Cattle Trace pilot project is on track to begin testing a purpose-built infrastructure for cattle disease traceability by this fall. Traceability is a top priority for the cattle …
Farm Bill Merging Process Underway
President Donald Trump has called on Congress to pass a farm bill with work requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, there appears to be no clear path forward …
Agreement Streamlines Repair of High-Tech Farm Equipment
An agreement signed representatives of California farmers and farm-equipment dealers will make it easier for farmers to diagnose and repair equipment without accessing or downloading proprietary software or code. Leaders …
Canada, U.S. NAFTA Talks Appear to be Progressing
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks between the U.S. and Canada continue as farm leaders remain hopeful an agreement will be made soon. A small group of state …
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Ag Trade Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a trade hearing next week, titled “Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade.” Among those attending the hearing is Dr. Robert Johansson, the Chief Economist at …
August Rural Mainstreet Index Rises, Ag Worries Remain
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above growth neutral in August for a seventh straight month. The monthly survey of bank CEO’s in ten Midwestern states climbed to 54.8 …
University Analysis: EPA’s Refiner Waivers Could Cost Ethanol Industry $20 Billion in Losses
A recent analysis by economists at the University of Missouri’s Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) shows that the U.S. ethanol industry could lose 4.6 billion gallons of domestic …
Tariffs Impacting Ag Equipment Manufactures, Dealers
A survey by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers finds steel and aluminum tariffs are harming the industry. The survey, primarily focused on the current new equipment inventory levels, shows both …
ASTA Requests Exemptions for Seeds on Proposed Chinese Tariffs List
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is requesting that seeds for sowing be exempted from the proposed list of supplemental retaliatory tariffs on China under Section 301 of the Trade …