Ag Policy
Farmers and ranchers have more time to sign up for the Paycheck Protection Program. The Senate passed legislation to extend the deadline from March 31 to May 31.
A second bill to change the H-2A guest worker program has been introduced in the House. This version would move oversight from the Department of Labor to USDA.
As USDA Vilsack prepares to testify before the House Ag Committee Thursday on the state of black farmers in the U.S., he is highlighting disparities in coronavirus aid payments to minority and disadvantaged farmers.
USDA will move forward with $20 per acre payments for price-trigger crops outlined in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) round three with checks going out starting in April.
The Biden Admin. is readying a $3T infrastructure and economic plan. While officials say the plan centers around roads and infrastructure projects, critics say that’s only a small piece of the potential proposal.
One year has passed since the red meat trade provisions of the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement entered into force, expanding access for U.S. beef and pork in the world’s largest red meat import market.
For a fifth year, the White House is publicly recognizing March 23, 2021, as National Ag Day. As part of the proclamation, the White House salutes farmers and ranchers for the contributions they continue to make.
Proposition 12, California’s animal welfare rule, is slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. But with these new regulations still mired in a legal battle, the pork industry is left in limbo, Rabobank says.
Farmers for Free Trade wants to see a full implementation of the Phase One trade agreement. A year into the deal, there are still accountability and compliance issues with China.
In a unanimous Senate vote on Wednesday, Katharine Tai was confirmed as the next U.S. Trade Representative. The trade expert was confirmed with a vote of 98-0.
The idea has met resistance over fears of political backlash.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) said he will not support an extreme climate agenda that fails to consider that rural Americans will have to shoulder the burden of it.
A pork producer, a professional, a mom, a storyteller, a champion for the pork industry. Jen Sorenson, newly elected NPPC president, is hitting the ground running in her new role.
While trade is not a headline of the Biden Administration in the first 100 days, it’s not stopping Katherine Tai from making her voice heard. Tai is now waiting full confirmation vote to put her ideas to work.
The pork bologna was discovered under the seats and floorboard of a vehicle upon inspection at the border crossing from Mexico.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to eliminate the Voluntary Trichinae Certification Program and remove the regulations associated with the program from the Code of Federal Regulations.
The Meat Institute filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to review an earlier ruling of the Meat Institute’s challenge to the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 12.
75% of Pulse respondents say they strongly disapprove of the job done by President Joe Biden so far.
Congress got a clearer view of President Biden’s trade agenda this week as the Senate Finance Committee questioned Katherine Tai, Biden’s nominee to serve as the United States Trade Representative.
The Senate has scheduled a vote on Tom Vilsack’s nomination for Secretary of Agriculture on Feb. 23. In early February, the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approved President Biden’s pick to lead USDA.
Biden’s USTR nominee was a key player in the USMCA negotiations, and some think USMCA may be a template for future trade talks, including the possibility of rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Trade seems to be taking a back seat in Washington. From COVID-19 recovery to a focus on climate, other issues are taking priority in the new White House. That’s not stopping ag groups from pushing for key trade deals.
The net farm income story this year is far from over. Farmer Mac’s chief economist says history shows USDA’s initial look at net farm income is typically too low and this year may be no different.
USDA’s first look at net farm income shows without continued ad hoc government payments, net farm income will drop this year.
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) may be back on the table, but it’s far from a done deal. The topic was brought up during Tom Vilsack’s confirmation hear thing week, but one economist says the economics have changed.
2020 was a banner year for pork exports. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) will release the final 2020 data early next week, but USMEF’s CEO says the data will confirm record pork exports last year.
He’s the only USDA secretary that has served in one administration and has been asked to come back years later. For Tom Vilsack, it’s an opportunity he is looking forward to for many reasons.
Whether it’s to fulfill Phase One promised, or an increased need for feed, some say the timing of the record Chinese buys isn’t a coincidence. So, what’s driving the record demand from China?
Tom Vilsack, during Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday, said he was willing to consider reimplementation of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulations for meat products.
During U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s confirmation hearing in January, Yellen previewed how the Biden administration may address trade issues with China.