A coalition of 62 leading U.S. agriculture stakeholders are asking for continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization. A Corn Refiners Association release says the groups sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, as well as leaders of the Senate Finance, House Ways and Means, and the House and Senate Ag…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Cal Farm Bureau Supports More Help For Farmworkers
More than 160 farm groups, including the California Farm Bureau Federation, are part of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition urging the White House Coronavirus Task Force to take additional measures to help protect farmworkers. In a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, the coalition says, “We ask for your help as we continue to promote…… MORE
Endangered Species Act Hearing
A Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing focused on efforts to modernize the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2020 reauthorizes the ESA for the first time since 1992. Florida rancher Liesa Priddy says the legislation, “will be better for ranchers, better for states, better for the federal authorities,…… MORE
U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Campaign
American cotton growers now can join the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a new standard for verifying the sustainability progress of U.S. cotton. As consumers continue to demand eco-friendly products, enrolling in the Trust Protocol will help growers ensure markets for their cotton by verifiably demonstrating the sustainability record of American cotton in the global…… MORE
USDA Seeks Pasture Insurance Program
The Department of Agriculture seeks public comments on recommended improvements to the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Rainfall Index Crop Insurance Program by November 5th. USDA’s Risk Management Agency contracted for an independent evaluation of the program to determine its effectiveness as a risk management tool for livestock producers. RMA Administrator Martin Barbre says, “We want…… MORE
Signups Start Today for New USDA Relief
President Trump and Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced an additional $14 billion in aid for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruption and costs associated with COVID-19. The producer signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) at the USDA Farm Service Agency’s county offices starts on September 21st and runs through…… MORE
More Help for Cal Almond And Other Growers
According to the USDA, President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced up to an additional $14 billion dollars for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will begin September 21st and run through December 11, 2020.…… MORE
Valley Farmworker Help
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing on its website that the counties of Kings, Riverside and Tulare will participate in Housing for the Harvest. This program provide temporary hotel housing options for farm and food processing employees to self-isolate if they are COVID-19 positive and do not require hospitalization, or have been…… MORE
AFBF Supports Emergency Wildfire Act
The American Farm Bureau Federation wants Congress to give federal land management agencies additional tools and resources to prevent and recover from catastrophic wildfires. AFBF and 13 state Farm Bureaus sent a letter to Senate leadership supporting the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020. AFBF says the bipartisan legislation will expedite forest…… MORE
WTO Rules Against U.S. Sanctions on China
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is disappointed with a World Trade Organization report that says U.S. actions to combat China’s widespread theft of American technology were inconsistent with WTO rules. Lighthizer says the WTO panel report confirms what the Trump Administration has been saying all along. “The WTO is completely inadequate to stop China’s…… MORE
