A Chinese firm made big news in 2013 by spending $4.7 billion to acquire U.S. processor Smithfield Foods. In that same deal, the company also acquired over 146,000 acres of …
Dow Degree Day Report: NOW in Pistachios, August 7
Dow AgroSciences and Intrepid Edge insecticide bring us the Navel Orangeworm (NOW) Degree Day Report for pistachios as of August 7. Degree days are determined using the calculator at the …
Poll: Tax Reform Needed for Farmers and America
A commanding majority of American voters support tax reform, a nationwide poll shows, while most voters also support tax changes that would benefit America’s farm and ranch families. The survey …
Almond Producers Top Users of Pollination Services
The Department of Agriculture says almond growers were the top users of pollination services in 2016. Farmers growing crops that depend on pollination can rely on wild pollinators in the …
Top U.S. Milk Processor Struggling
A new report shows that Dean Foods Company is struggling amid slowing milk sales and rising costs. The news comes as Dean’s largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, is preparing to open …
Perdue Turning to Industry for Dicamba Fix
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue indicated to reporters this week that he would like to see the industry work out a fix on dicamba issues. Perdue said: “I would much prefer …
USDA Proposes Less Restriction on Mexican Pork Exports
The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to recognize Mexico as free of classical swine fever. The proposal replaces a previous proposal by APHIS that …
USTR Seeking Input on KORUS
The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Office has asked a group of industry advisors to provide feedback on potential changes to the U.S. free trade agreement with Korea (KORUS). World Trade …
Zinke Proposes New Sage Grouse Management Plan
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has announced a new plan to manage sage grouse in 11 Western states. Zinke said the new protocol would go into effect immediately, and the new …
Dow DuPont Merger to Close This Month
DuPont and The Dow Chemical Company have announced that all required regulatory approvals and clearances have been received to close on a merger of the two companies. The merger will …
Ports Contract Eases Trade Concerns
A contract agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association has eased trade concerns. The two ratified a three-year extension to the labor contract for …
USDA NASS: Cropland Values Stable
An annual report by the Department of Agriculture shows cropland values have remained stable this year. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Land Values 2017 Summary shows a slight increase …
Farm Bill Could Reach House Floor Early 2018
House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway of Texas says he wants to finish the next farm bill this year, with the bill reaching the U.S. House floor for a vote in …
June Results Confirm Strong First Half for U.S. Red Meat Exports
U.S. pork and beef exports continued to trend above year-ago levels in June, capping a very strong first half of the year. According to statistics released by USDA and compiled …