A new online tool can help farmers and ranchers find information on U.S. Department of Agriculture farm loans that may best fit their operations. USDA has launched the new Farm Loan Discovery Tool as the newest feature on farmers.gov, the Department’s self-service website for farmers. USDA undersecretary Bill Northey says the tool can “help…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Farm Groups Evaluate H-2A Proposal
Agriculture groups are evaluating the Department of Labor’s H-2A proposal announced earlier this week. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall welcomed the proposal, thanking the Trump administration for “recognizing the need to reform” the program. However, noting the rule is lengthy, Duvall says AFBF will “evaluate it closely for its potential to assist…… MORE
Bill Would Increase Farm Debt Coverage
A bill passed by the House Judiciary Committee would increase the amount of farm debt covered by chapter 12 bankruptcy. Last week, the committee passed the Family Farmer Relief Act. Introduced by New York Representative, Democrat Antonio Delgado, the bill would increase the current debt limit used to determine whether a farmer is eligible…… MORE
Judge Slashes $80 Million Award in Roundup Cancer Case
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A U.S. judge lowered a jury’s damage award from $80 million to $25 million for a California cancer victim who used Monsanto’s Roundup weed-killer. The San Francisco Chronicle reports Monday that U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said he was required to reduce the punitive damage award because it went beyond constitutional…… MORE
Trump Responses To China On Ag Trade
President Donald Trump says China “is letting us down” by not purchasing U.S. agricultural products. China is not buying U.S. ag products as Trump says its leaders promised as part of an effort to negotiate towards ending the trade war. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G-20 Summit last month agreed to move…… MORE
USMCA to Congress this Fall
The White House will send the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to Congress after September first, setting up a busy fall schedule for lawmakers. While the goal of the move is to set up a vote before the end of the year, lawmakers will also be working on spending bills and nearing election season. Further, House Democrats…… MORE
Changing Poultry Outlook
A new outlook from Rabobank says African swine fever impacting pork production is balancing trade for poultry. The latest report on poultry found the sector has experienced gradually improving market conditions in the first half of 2019 and the trend is expected to remain over the coming months. The report says the main driver…… MORE
NFU Urges Cal Lawmakers To Modify USMCA
The National Farmers Union says the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement could be improved to reduce health care costs and protect rural jobs before it is sent to Congress for approval. In a letter sent to House speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, NFU President Roger Johnson emphasized the value of trade agreements to…… MORE
Cal Makes First Rice Sale to China
Reuters says a private importer in China purchased rice from the U.S for the first time ever, even though the two countries are in the middle of a trade war. Michael Klein, a spokesman for USA Rice, says a Chinese importer bought two containers, or about 40 tons, of medium-grain rice from Sun Valley Rice,…… MORE
Judge to Reassess $80 Million Award in Monsanto’s Roundup Cancer Case
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A federal judge says he will reconsider a jury’s $80 million damage award to a cancer victim who used Monsanto’s Roundup weed-killer. The San Francisco Chronicle reports U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said at a hearing Tuesday that he will reduce but not entirely eliminate punitive damages for what he called…… MORE
