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The nation's pork producers are feeling the fallout of California’s Proposition 12. AgDay’s Michelle Rook said this is a huge blow to the nation's pork producers, especially when it comes to interstate commerce. 

Dr. Vince Malanga shares insights on the U.S. economic outlook, and what areas demand the most attention.

Unrelenting inflation continues to weigh down the U.S. economy and agriculture. Still, CoBank says it believes the Fed will stick with its decision to cut interest rates three times in 2024.

When Trish Cook, past president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, joined 20 Iowa pig farmers on a trip to California to see the effect of Proposition 12, she wasn’t surprised by the amount of chaos it's created.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson said he will move a bipartisan farm gill out of his committee in May.

Patchwork regulations are expensive and a real concern for producers.

A North Carolina pork producer and NPPC's Holly Cook presented to members of Congress on the economic and on-farm impacts of California Proposition 12 and Massachusetts Question 3. Here's why it matters.

With pork producers facing prolonged economic headwinds, recent USDA commodity purchases of pork offer relief at pivotal times. It’s important to understand how these programs work, says NPPC president Lori Stevermer.

California’s Proposition 12 has already raised pork prices for consumers in California and decreased pork sales volumes in the state, according to data compiled by the USDA's Office of the Chief Economist.  

The new 45Z tax credit passed in the Inflation Reduction Act, slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2025, means a farmer's carbon intensity score will soon be worth more, especially if your corn goes to an ethanol plant.

President Biden delivered a defiant argument for a second term in his SOTU speech Thursday. From the economy to his thoughts on infrastructure, the border and climate, there were several key takeaways for agriculture.

Exports were a shining star for the U.S. pork industry in 2023, says National Pork Board's Courtney Knupp. And with the market dynamics at play, that means a lot to a U.S. pork producer’s bottom line.  

There will be chaos in the U.S. meat marketplace without congressional action on California's Prop 12 law that tightened animal welfare requirements for pork products sold in the state, says U.S. Secretary of Ag Vilsack.

NPPC's Chase Adams says most of the questions he receives from producers lately center around California Proposition 12. He stressed the importance of getting a farm bill in 2024 during his talk at Ohio Pork Congress.

Phil Borgic vividly remembers sitting in his civics class years ago. He thought it was pretty cut and dry that one state can’t tell another how to run their business. But that didn’t apply for Prop 12, he told AgriTalk.

Pork producers across the country continue to voice their concerns over how California’s Proposition 12 could negatively impact family farms and are looking to Congress for a solution.

AgriTalk has extended an invitation to all the 2024 presidential hopefuls to join Host Chip Flory and answer five standard questions about what they would focus on once in office.

Although implementation of California’s Proposition 12 is technically in effect, experts agree the practical aspect of enforcement is less obvious. The most notable changes will follow full enforcement on Jan. 1, 2024.

In a significant development for the U.S. pork industry, the Philippines has announced the extension of reduced tariff rates on imported pork through the end of 2024.

“Schillinger Farms is Prop 12 compliant in California.” Messages like this are popping up on social media as show pig producers who’ve become Proposition 12 certified prepare to sell show pigs in California in 2024.

COP28's decision to not include food and agriculture as a way to meet climate goals was influenced by a request from the G77 group of developing countries for additional review related to agriculture and food.

"California Prop 12 has the potential to disrupt the free movement of goods across state lines and poses a serious threat to small family farms," Hinson testified before the House Committee on Agriculture.

 Some Republican House and Senate members have expressed their concerns to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, particularly regarding the new payment formula used for ERP in 2022.

Analysts say an initial cut could be made as early as first quarter 2024. One of the key factors the central banking system will consider is whether its inflation rate target of 2% has been achieved.

An extension of the current farm bill is now a reality. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders were able to extend the current legislation as a possible government shutdown looms.

The debate over immigration continues to be an issue in Washington. However, the Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor shows economists are still skeptical it's enough for Congress to act on immigration reform.

The Last Acre Act would help expand high-speed internet access across eligible farmland, ranchland and farm sites. At least 15% of farms and ranches have no access to the internet today. 

Rep. Thompson, chairman of the House Ag Committee, continues to express optimism about passing a new farm bill in December in the House of Representatives. But he says an extension of the current farm bill is needed.

The Panama Canal is now cutting its daily ship transits by half this winter due to severe drought.

Political unrest, a healthy ag economy and the start of an election year. These are all reasons economists in the October Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor think it could 2025 before Congress passes a new farm bill.

While the U.S. and EU aim to make progress during an upcoming summit, reaching a final agreement is uncertain. This issue has significant implications for U.S./EU ties, climate goals, and geopolitics.

Work by the House or Senate Agriculture Committee on a new farm bill is essentially stalled, Randy Russell tells AgriTalk's Chip Flory. Russell says that could be the case until government funding issues are resolved.

China's Commerce minister expressed concerns over trade and tech restrictions to U.S. Senate Majority Leader this week. That's as the U.S. Commerce Department added 42 more Chinese companies to the export blacklist.

The attack on Israel by Hamas adds urgency to GOP efforts to elect a new House speaker. The need to focus on Israel may help get a House GOP leadership decision this week, several lawmakers said. 

With the government funding in place for now, work on a new farm bill can continue, with the same questions (timing, funding, Title 1 reform, etc.) still being unanswered. 

Has the costly impact of Proposition 12 reached California consumers? A new study out of the USDA Chief Economist's Office suggests it has.

California Department of Food and Agriculture released details on the on-site inspection requirements for a pork producer obtaining a third-party certification according to Proposition 12. 

As brent crude futures soar toward $100, it's creating a new battle in the Federal Reserve's effort to fight inflation. One money manager warns another rate hike is likely. 

The proposal would strengthen protections for farmworkers in the H-2A program and help prevent abuses that undermine wages and standards for all agricultural workers, according to the Department of Labor.

China's GDP growth could possibly drop lower than the U.S. this year. In fact, fewer and fewer sectors are healthy, and only then by direct government intervention.

Waters of the U.S. rules have evolved many times in the past 50 years. EPA announced another round of changes on Tuesday, following a May Supreme Court ruling that required EPA to revise the definition.

USDA on Thursday lowered expectations for both ag exports and imports in FY 2023. The export decline is linked to corn and wheat, while the import decline is correlated with easing prices.

There is a chance we might see new tax legislation before year-end. However, I wouldn't count on getting what you want.

The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire at the end of September. When Congress resumes, their top two priorities will have to be met before the Farm Bill becomes a priority.

“Mexico’s decree, which runs counter to scientific findings and is in direct violation of USMCA, is negatively impacting American corn growers,” said Tom Haag, NCGA president.

Ray Starling, general counsel at the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, details what the recent rulings mean for growers and the ag industry as a whole.

Reports of empty meat shelves in California can’t be attributed to Prop 12, said Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Agriculture, at the Ag Media Summit in Palm Springs, Calif. At least, not yet.

It’s not feasible to expect all pork producers to comply with Proposition 12, explains Kelly Cushman, NPPC vice president of domestic policy. Here's a look at her chat with Chip Flory of AgriTalk this week.

Sens. Chuck Grassley and Sherrod Brown have introduced the Farm Program Integrity Act. It would create a cap of $250,000 in commodity support for a single farm operation and, potentially, some undesirable side effects.

NPPC supports the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act, but Clemens Food Group is not supportive, and Hormel, Smithfield and Tyson have said they intend to comply with California's Prop 12 law.