President Trump agreed Wednesday evening to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, and “not to terminate NAFTA at this time” after a day of speculation that he might sign an executive order withdrawing from the 23-year-old agreement. “It is my privilege to bring NAFTA up to date through renegotiation,” said Trump in a statement. …
Trump Puts Agriculture in the Spotlight
President Trump welcomed new Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on his first day in office for a White House “Farmers Roundtable” and the signing of an Executive Order establishing an Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. During the signing, President Trump commented on the current trade dispute with Canada over dairy product pricing. “(w)here the dairy farmers up …
#Plant17 Makes Progress
Some dry days last week helped farmers make up for slow progress the week before as corn planting gained 11 points to almost be at the average for this time of year at 17 percent, according to the latest crop progress report out Monday. Illinois and Missouri jumped ahead last week in corn planting progress, planting over one quarter of …
It’s a Sonny Day for America
The U.S. Senate has formally confirmed the nomination of George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III to serve as the 31st Secretary of Agriculture. The final vote was 87 to 11. Agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator, and governor of Georgia, Perdue worked on the family farm in central Georgia andn will be only the fourth agriculture secretary who can claim to have been …
SMART Farmer Nancy Kavazanjian
This is episode number six of the USFRA SMART Farmer podcast and this one is with Nancy Kavazanjian, who served as the second chairperson of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. Nancy farms with her husband Charlie Hammer in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on land that has been in his family for 150 years. She grew up on Long Island, made …
Ethanol and Earth Day
Ethanol has a seat on the ground at one of the largest Earth Day events in the country this weekend – Earth Day Texas, which last year hosted over 130,000 attendees, over 700 exhibitors and more than 250 speakers. Even bigger and better this year, the event includes the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Day Odyssey where Renewable Fuels Association …
Bayer Bee Center Celebrates 10K Visitors
The Bee Care Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina celebrated its third anniversary this week by welcoming its 10,000th visitor. The Bee Care Program invited a group of fourth-graders from a local school to serve as the honorary “10,000th visitors” and everyone had a great time while learning about the role honey bees play in the environment through a …
Farm Foundation Reschedules NAFTA Forum
A Farm Foundation Forum on the Future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that was postponed last month due to a snowstorm has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 26. Invited to present perspectives on the issue are former American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman, Melissa San Miguel with the Grocery Manufacturers Association; and Linda Dempsey, Vice President of …
Earth Day Science Resources from USFRA
Earth Day is joining the March for Science this year with a rally and teach-in on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Saturday to “defend the vital public service role science plays in our communities and our world,” with support from organizations like the American Chemical Society. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has prepared a toolkit for farmers …
ASTA Pleased with New International Seed Standard
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is pleased with the passage of a final International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) for Seed during the recent International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in Korea. American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Senior Director of Seed Health and Trade Ric Dunkle, who attended the IPPC, says ASTA has been advocating for a seed ISPM for …