- Clock Keeps Ticking Away for USMCA Vote
USMCA-ticking-clock Congress is making news every day, but usually that news has nothing to do with what most farmers are concerned about, specifically USMCA, and the clock is ticking. Two more week-long breaks are coming between now and Christmas, and a possible House impeachment action around Thanksgiving and a December ... read more - Phase One Deal with China Making Progress
President Trump has given some insight into the China Phase One negotiations that could lead to $40-$50 billion in ag purchases. During his cabinet meeting on Monday, Trump said farmers and farm groups that he spoke to said $20 million from China in ag purchases annually would be a good ... read more - EPA Unveils Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in Detroit
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler at Bell Isle. Photo: Ashley DavenportEPA Unveils Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in Detroit
On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler unveiled his 29-page Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III in a windy Detroit.
There has been a lot of collaboration in developing the ... read more
- Legislation Introduced to Help Support Rural Hospitals
New legislation in the Senate would support rural health care providers to deliver high-quality care. Introduced by Kansas Republican Pat Roberts and Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, the Rural ACO Improvement Act would fix a glitch in the program, according to the lawmakers. The legislation would change the accountable care ... read more - EPA Finalizes Rule to Repeal WOTUS
The Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday published the final rule repealing the Waters of the U.S. rule. The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers effort repeals and returns the law to provisions in place prior to 2015. The new rule will go into effect on December 23, 2019. However, legal challenges ... read more - Corn Yields Continue to Disappoint While Soybean Yields Continue to Surprise
Corn Yields Continue to Disappoint While Soybean Yields Continue to Surprise It is a trend we have been seeing in many parts of the state: better than expected soybean yields and lower than expected corn yields. That is also the trend in Southeast Indiana. Farmers there are well into harvest ... read more - Stabenow: Is MFP Unfair to North and Midwest Counties?
The top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee wants to know why southern producers have received higher payment rates than others through the Market Facilitation Program. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan questioned the methods behind calculating the payments Thursday during a hearing on the 2018 farm bill. “I don’t see how ... read more - Mexico: USMCA Would Provide Certainty in Global Trade
A government official from Mexico says global trade uncertainty is another reason the U.S. and Canada should ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Mexico’s Finance Minister last week noted global trade was a common topic during the fall meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington. Arturo Herrera says ... read more - Ross: China Phase One Must be Right Agreement
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Monday suggested the phase one agreement with China doesn’t have to be ready to sign next month. Speaking on Fox Business Network, Ross says, “It has to be the right deal, and it doesn’t have to be in November.” President Donald Trump has indicated the ... read more - AFBF Applauds Bill Addressing Rural Stress
New legislation in the Senate addresses mental health and stress stemming from the farm economy. The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomes the Seeding Rural Resilience Act that seeks to address rural stress and mental health. Senators Chuck Grassley and Jon Tester introduced the legislation this week. R.J. Karney, ... read more
