The Surface Transportation Board says it will hold public hearings on April 26 and 27 on recent rail service problems and recovery efforts involving several Class One carriers. The Board plans to direct several executive-level officials from many major railways to appear during the hearing. Rail network reliability is essential to the nation’s economy and…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
World Beef Demand Continues to Soar
U.S. beef exports turned in another strong performance in February. USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the strong month for beef was led by excellent value growth in key Asian and Latin American markets. Beef exports hit 108,500 metric tons in February, 5% higher than last year. Beef’s export value rose…… MORE
USDA Strengthens Pollinator Research Support
The Department of Agriculture is expanding its commitment to advancing research and priorities that support pollinator health. USDA is soliciting nominations for members to serve on its newly formed USDA National Pollinator Subcommittee. The subcommittee is part of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board. The board provides feedback to the Agriculture…… MORE
USDA Says No To Allowing CRP Acres For Crop Production
A letter obtained by Politico indicates the Department of Agriculture will not open Conservation Reserve Program acres for crop production. In a letter to the National Grain and Feed Association, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “Quickly converting this land to crop production is clearly unfeasible.” Vilsack notes that most acres enrolled in CRP are largely…… MORE
Senate Passes Ocean Shipping Reform Bill
The Senate reform bill would make it more difficult for ocean carriers to refuse to load American goods that are ready to get shipped from U.S. ports. The legislation is a federal response to congested ports. Some shipping lines find it more profitable to haul empty shipping containers back to Asia than carry loaded containers,…… MORE
Senate Passes Ocean Shipping Reform Bill
The Senate passes the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. The reform bill would make it more difficult for ocean carriers to refuse to load American goods that are ready to get shipped from U.S. ports. The legislation is a federal response to congested ports. Some shipping lines find it more profitable to haul empty shipping containers…… MORE
Supreme Court to Hear Case Against Prop. 12
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation against California’s Proposition 12. The law bans the sale of pork from hogs born to sows that weren’t raised according to the state’s production standards. NPPC President Terry Wolters says, “We are…… MORE
New American Beef Trade Agreement With Japan
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. and Japan reached an agreement that will help keep more American beef flowing into Japan. Both countries agree to increase the beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. The Hagstrom Report says it’s now less likely that U.S. exports…… MORE
Ocean Shipping Reform Makes Progress
The Senate Commerce Committee supports passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. According to the the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, that committee support calls for action to address shipping supply chain challenges. Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation says, “Export supply chain issues continue to…… MORE
Farmer Share Of Food Dollar Increases
The farm share of the food dollar increased one cent in 2020, according to new data from USDA’s Economic Research Service. On average, U.S. farmers received 16 cents for farm commodity sales from each consumer dollar spent on domestically produced food in 2020, up from a revised 15 cents in 2019. Known as the farm…… MORE
