House Agriculture Committee members, including valley congressman Jim Costa, want questions answered regarding the Department of Agriculture’s Families Food Box Program. Led by Democrat Marcia Fudge of Ohio, the group sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. They say the letter comes amid reports of contracts under the program awarded to companies with…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
DOT Publishes Hours of Service Rule
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published its final rule updating the “Hours of Service” rules designed to increase safety on America’s roads. The department updated multiple existing regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers. “America’s truckers are doing a heroic job of keeping our supply chains open during this unprecedented…… MORE
Group Seeks COVID-19 Ag Testing
The Sustainable Food Policy Alliance wants the White House to prioritize COVID-19 testing for food and agriculture workers. The group sent the request in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue this week. The organization urges that food and agriculture workers, as part of an essential industry, be heightened…… MORE
Chinese Questions on Phase One Trade Deal
Global Times, a Chinese state-owned media company, cites sources “close to the Chinese government” who say that China may want to redo the Phase One Trade Deal with the U.S. Politico says government advisers reportedly have said China should void the deal and renegotiate the four-month-old agreement with the U.S. so it’s more favorable…… MORE
Lawmakers Seek Help with Livestock Depopulation
A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants the Trump administration to provide guidance on how the Federal Emergency Management Agency can help farmers depopulate and dispose of livestock. Led by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, a Democrat from Minnesota, the group sent a letter to the White House. Specifically, the lawmakers request that the…… MORE
Multiple Meatpackers Will Reopen
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says meatpacking facilities across the U.S. will be reopening this week. He says the companies are opening up again “safely” and are a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure. These facilities have resumed or plan to resume operations this week following an Executive Order from President Trump directing the facilities…… MORE
China Status of Phase One Deal
Top negotiators from China and the U.S. will talk next week about the progress on the Phase One Trade Deal between the two countries. Bloomberg says the move comes after President Donald Trump threatened to terminate the agreement if Beijing doesn’t meet its obligations. The planned phone call will be the first time the…… MORE
Meat Supply Tighten
The reduction of meat processing capacity caused by U.S. plant closures and slowdowns has created a massive bottleneck in the nation’s meat and livestock supply chain. Nearly two dozen plants that process beef and pork products closed in April due to the COVID-19 outbreak, while many others have had to slow their production as…… MORE
Ag Survey At Three-year Low
Commodity price declines, supply-chain disruptions, and coronavirus concerns pushed the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer down to a three-year low in April. The barometer recorded a reading of 96, marking the first time the barometer has fallen below 100 since October 2016, and was 72 points below its record high just two-months prior.…… MORE
New Fed Loans Open
The Small Business Administration is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans and EIDL Advance programs to those in the agriculture industry. SBA’s EIDL portal has been closed since April 15th. However, the Agency reopened the portal in a limited capacity this week. SBA is reopening the Loan and Advance application portal to agricultural enterprises only.…… MORE
