September 30, 2019
Reuters writer Karl Plume reported last week that, “Chinese importers bought about 10 boatloads of U.S. soybeans on [Sept. 23rd] following deputy-level trade talks in Washington [Sept. 19th – 20th] that were overshadowed by the abrupt cancellation of a U.S. farm state visit by Chinese agriculture officials. “The deals for about 600,000 tonnes, slated for shipment from Pacific Northwest export terminals from October […]
September 26, 2019
Wall Street Journal writers Vivian Salama and Josh Zumbrun reported yesterday that, “President Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a trade-enhancement agreement that will lower agricultural tariffs in Japan, industrial tariffs in the U.S. and set new rules for digital trade between the world’s first- and third-largest economies. The limited accord, reached on the sidelines of the United […]
September 23, 2019
Wall Street Journal writer Vivian Salama reported last week that, “President Trump said China has started to buy U.S. agricultural products, and signaled optimism that his administration will be able to sign a trade deal with China before the 2020 presidential election. “‘They are starting to buy our farm products big league,’ Mr. Trump said.” Foreign Ag Service ✔@USDAForeignAg […]
September 20, 2019
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement highlighting actions announced by the Department of Labor (DOL) which will modernize the burdensome H2A visa process. First, DOL published a common-sense rule that eliminates the requirement to advertise a job opening in print newspapers instead shifting to advertising on the DOL and State Workforce […]
September 16, 2019
On Thursday, Wall Street Journal writers Lingling Wei, Chao Deng and Josh Zumbrun reported that, “China is looking to narrow the scope of its negotiations with the U.S. to only trade matters, seeking to put thornier national-security issues on a separate track in a bid to break deadlocked talks with the U.S.” The Journal writers explained that, Thursday’s move is […]
September 16, 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019 is Sept. 20, 2019. Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill, the program offers reasonably priced protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost […]
September 13, 2019
Over the next 6 months, producers will need to, again, decide between the ARC and PLC programs. These programs were first introduced in the 2014 Farm Bill and have been reauthorized – with a few changes– by the 2018 Farm Bill. Back in 2014, ARC-CO was favored for corn (93% of program acres), soybeans (97% of […]
September 12, 2019
Last week, the Federal Reserve Board released its August 2019 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining to the U.S. agricultural economy. Graph of Fed Districts from, “The Beige Book.” * Fifth District- Richmond– “In general, trade issues and low commodity prices were hurting farmers, including […]
September 10, 2019
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Signup for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will begin Sept. 11, 2019. “U.S. agriculture has been dealt a […]
September 10, 2019
Bloomberg writers Michael Hirtzer and Dominic Carey reported last week that, “The trade war between the U.S. and China continues to surprise agricultural markets, even delivering an unexpected reprieve for American farmers who have otherwise been roiled by the conflict. “U.S. soybean exports have jumped to a seasonal record at a time of the year when shipments typically slow due to dwindling supplies ahead […]
