Ag Policy
USDA raised its consumer food price forecast again, to 8.5% to 9.5% for 2022. The agency had initially predicted a 2% to 3% rise in prices. Eggs, fats and oils, and poultry prices are making the biggest gains.
“We have tried to work constructively with the Mexican government to address these concerns, but, unfortunately, U.S. companies continue to face unfair treatment in Mexico,” said Ambassador Tai.
The Sierra Club and Food & Water Watch are among 218 environmental groups that sent a letter Tuesday to EPA Administrator Michael Regan asking him to unleash EPA’s powers on so-called “factory farms.”
On July 20, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service formally proposed reducing the Pork Checkoff rate from 40 cents to 35 cents per $100 value for live animals, in line with a National Pork Producers Delegate Body vote.
As the Western U.S. faces a megadrought, why can’t the U.S. move water around the country like it’s done with energy? John Phipps explores the physical and political hurdles potential water infrastructure would face.
U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh remained optimistic about contract negotiations between workers and shipping companies for some of the country’s most important ports, even as talks extend past a previous deadline.
Infuriating price increases are the topic of the day, and but like the 80’s, rising inflation is driven largely by energy and the price of oil. It’s now less about the supply of oil, and more about refining capacity.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that some tariffs under USMCA could immediately be suspended, as he visited the White House to meet U.S. President Joe Biden.
The CPI, an inflation gauge measuring what consumers pay for goods and services, rose 1.3% from May to June. Prices were up across the economy, with gasoline far outpacing other categories, up 11.2%.
As labor negotiations continue between the railroads and unions, laborers voted to go on strike Monday unless President Biden intervenes. A potential strike would put additional strain on the fragile U.S. rail system.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced agricultural producers have already received more than $4 billion through the Emergency Relief Program (formerly WHIP+), representing 67% of the $6 billion projected to be paid.
NPPC urges the Biden administration to eliminate Taiwan’s unjustified restrictions on U.S. pork. NPPC notes $150 million in annual U.S. pork sales could be made to Taiwan if it removed its ractopamine ban.
Iowa pork producers won a major victory last week after the Iowa Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision said the state may provide livestock producers immunity from nuisance lawsuits such as ones complaining about odor.
As countries close down operating nuclear power plants, John Phipps says it’s clear the decision to overstate the minuscule risks- and assume greener power sources would be there to replace them -was wildly inaccurate.
The move is contingent on legislative action, which would temporarily lift the 18.3 cents tax per gallon on gasoline and 24 cents tax per gallon on diesel during the summer months.
A new opportunity at the National Pork Producers Council will allow Maria Zieba to continue her passion for trade and advocate for greater access to high-quality, affordable pork products for consumers around the globe.
The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act and Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act are both expected to get votes ad approval from the Senate Ag Committee this week, despite expected Republican opposition.
Costs associated with SEC’s controversial reporting requirements proposal on climate-related disclosures for investors would be significant and would lead to further industry consolidation, says NPPC’s Michael Formica.
While bilateral market access agreements have been very beneficial for U.S. pork producers, they take time to negotiate, and that’s the reason NPPC has been so strident in calling for the U.S. to join the CPTPP.
Reasonable public policy that preserves producers’ freedom to operate, ensures healthy animals, provides access to a reliable pipeline of workers and expands markets for pork products is needed for a sustainable future.
The zero-Covid strategy by the Chinese government is slowing their economy. In a rare admission, officials have lowered their GDP growth estimate, almost totally based on cities that aren’t working, especially ports.
From record-high gas and diesel prices on the road to a major spike in the price Americans paid for their Memorial Day weekend barbecue essentials, shoppers are seeing price spikes everywhere they go.
Transforming the U.S. food system by improving supply chains and addressing issues exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic was detailed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack during a speech at Georgetown University.
Shanghai offered some tax rebates for companies and allowed all manufacturers to resume operations from June as authorities rolled out policies to revitalize an economy impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns.
USDA is making $200 million available to create a new meat processing capacity expansion program, providing $25 million for workforce training under the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP).
USDA raised its estimated range of 6.5%-7.5% y/y increase from a range of 5%-6%, according to the May Food Price Outlook report, the highest forecast for all food prices and restaurant prices since 1981.
The White House is considering waiving U.S. gasoline environmental rules aimed at reducing summertime smog, hoping the waiver will combat rising pump prices, Reuters reported.
The U.S.-China trade war began in July 2018 when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on $550 billion worth of Chinese goods. Nearly four years later, the debate remains as to which country actually won.
Some farmers are concerned about the possibility of losing farmland to energy projects like wind and solar. John Phipps points out some major misconceptions about the placement of solar projects.
Is putting up a new swine barn in southwest Wisconsin national news? When the Associated Press released a story about AV Roth’s plans to construct a new hog building, he admits he was a little surprised.