The Department of Agriculture is making changes to the Livestock Risk Protection insurance program for feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine starting this summer. USDA’s Risk Management Agency says changes include moving premium due dates to the end of the endorsement period and increasing premium subsidies to assist producers. RMA Administrator Martin Barbre says…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Restaurant Coronavirus Recovery
The restaurant industry recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is underway. New data shows the industry brought back 1.37 million workers last month, and consumers are eating out again. More restaurants, and particularly large chain restaurants, have seen a resurgence in sales in recent weeks. However, Restaurant Business Online reports the industry remains far below…… MORE
USMCA Soon Starts
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement starts in just a few weeks from now. Politico says North American leaders are selling USMCA as a big win that will remove uncertainty in the region. However, there are still some agricultural issues between the U.S. and Mexico that have to be worked out yet. Kenneth Smith Ramos, Mexico’s…… MORE
Dicamba Court Ruling
Makers of dicamba herbicides are assessing what’s next following a court ruling vacating registration of the products. A U.S. appeals court ruling this week vacates current U.S. registrations of certain low volatility dicamba products, including Bayer’s XtendiMax Herbicide. The ruling comes after a group of environmental organizations filed a petition challenging the Environmental Protection…… MORE
Nutrition Coalition Urges Delay
The Nutrition Coalition alleges there is a serious threat to the integrity and trustworthiness of the nation’s federal nutrition policy. The coalition released earlier this week, allegations made by one or more members of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, under the direction of the Department of Agriculture. The coalition expressed concerns about the committee’s…… MORE
Ag Economy Barometer Improves
After a sharp drop in March and April, farmer sentiment in May improved slightly. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose to 103, seven points higher than April. However, the index remained almost 40 points below its all-time high of 168 that was set in February of this year. The people behind this…… MORE
China Halts Buying Some Ag Products
China is halting imports of some U.S. agricultural products through state-run agricultural companies. The move comes as a response to tensions between the U.S. and China regarding Hong Kong. Bloomberg News reports state-owned traders Cofco and Sinograin were ordered to suspend purchases. The action is the latest by China, which puts a trade agreement…… MORE
Dairy Month Celebration
In celebration of June Dairy Month, Dairy Management, Inc., as well as state and regional checkoff teams across the country, are showcasing dairy’s resilience and community impact during COVID-19. The efforts kicked off on June 1, which is World Milk Day, with a video titled “Raising Gallons.” It features Olympians, NFL players, famous chefs,…… MORE
House & Senate Ag Committees Get Low Grades
The House Agriculture Committee got a D grade and the Senate Ag Committee received a C- on oversight. Those grades came from the Lugar Center, which was founded by former Indiana Republican Senator and Ag Committee Chair Richard Lugar, in a report that measured congressional oversight. The Hagstrom Report says the Congressional Oversight Hearing…… MORE
H-2A Worker Increases
The Department of Agriculture says the number of H-2A workers increased fivefold between 2005 and 2019. Calling the data an indicator of the scarcity of farm labor, USDA’s Economic Research Service says the number of H-2A positions requested and approved increased from just over 48,000 in 2005 to nearly 258,000 in 2019. The H-2A…… MORE
