Brownfield Ag News anchor and former NAFB president Tom Steever got a 20 minute interview with President Obama this week on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal and what it means for agriculture. “So this is really a big deal,” the President told Brownfield Ag News Tuesday, “and the key to getting it passed is just making sure that people …
Lots of Reaction to TPP
Seems like everyone has something to say about the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement reached by negotiators meeting in Atlanta for more than five days, even though few details have been released. U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman does say that agriculture is a big winner under the agreement. “Tariffs will either be eliminated or greatly reduced or quotas will be significantly …
Dairy Policy Talks at #WDE15
Policies concerning our nation’s dairy industry were just a few of the topics Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, Ben Brancel, discussed while attending the 2015 World Dairy Expo. “Today I think price in most all commodities are issues whether you are talking milk or grain prices. Of course low grain prices help that dairy farmer out when …
USDA Looks to Expand Export Opportunities in Africa
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking to expand this country’s agriculture export opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. This agency news release says a trade mission will go to Accra, Ghana, Nov. 17-20. “Two years ago, I led a mission to southern Africa to launch USDA’s Sub-Saharan Africa Trade Initiative, which aims to expand U.S. agricultural and commercial ties in …
NFU DC Fly-In Focuses on Top Issues
Members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) are meeting with administration officials and Congressional representatives in Washington DC this week for the organization’s 2015 Fall Legislative Fly-In. “This fall has proven to be a very important time for several Farmers Union issues, including the path forward for voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), the full implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) …
MGEX Has Record Fiscal Year
It was a good year trading for MGEX. This news release from the Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) says it set new all-time records in both total volume and electronic volume. Total volume finished the year at 2,278,559 contracts traded, a 13 percent increase over the previous record set a year ago. This marks the third …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Gov. Martin O’Malley
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Gov. Martin O’Malley. [The former governor of Maryland is a] Democratic candidate for President in 2016. In this interview you’ll hear his views on renewable fuel policy, environmental stewardship, global trade and why he believes leading a state like Maryland uniquely qualifies his bid for the Oval Office. Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse …
Corn Growers in Cuba
Nine farmer leaders and staff members from the National Corn Growers Association, the U.S. Grains Council and the North Dakota Barley Council traveled to Cuba last week to see first-hand opportunities for expanding U.S. coarse grain exports if trade is fully normalized with the island nation. The mission was part of an ongoing effort by the grains industry to assess …
TPA Signed With Eye Toward New Agreements
President Obama signed two trade bills passed by Congress on Monday, one authorizing Trade Promotion Authority and one renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance. The president pointed out that while the bills will help negotiations move forward on trade agreements such as the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), they are not the actual agreements. “We still …
Fast Track Makes it to the Finish Line
After lots of drama and much political posturing, Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) finally cleared the final hurdle before being sent to the president’s desk, passing the U.S. Senate Wednesday by a vote of 60-38. “The Senate’s bipartisan passage of Trade Promotion Authority today sends a strong signal to foreign governments that we mean business at the bargaining table and are …