Dogs specially trained by Agriculture Research Service (ARS) scientists have proven to be the most efficient way to detect huanglongbing, better known as citrus greening. Currently, the only solid hope of curtailing the spread of citrus greening is to eliminate trees with the disease as quickly as possible to prevent further spread. Early detection of the citrus greening pathogen is …
Secretary Perdue Press Call from Rome
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has been traveling Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy this week to engage with his counterparts on important issues facing agriculture at home and abroad. The Secretary, along with Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney has been participating in events with government officials and agricultural leaders. As President Trump was preparing to …
USDA Supporting International Year of Plant Health
USDA is kicking off efforts to create awareness in the U.S. for this International Year of Plant Health. The international campaign was declared by the U.N. at the end of 2019. A conference on plant health is planned for later this year with details to come. To bring worldwide attention to this challenge, the U.N. has declared 2020 as the …
USDA Deputy Secretary Talks Trade at Iowa Biofuels Summit
USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky had the pleasure of announcing the Senate passage of USMCA to the crowd at the 2020 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Thursday in Altoona, Iowa. “Just about 20 minutes ago, I’m proud to say that the Senate finally passed the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement on a vote of 89 to 10,” said Censky as the crowd …
USDA Under Secretary Visits SE Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney visited the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference on Friday and talked trade issues with members of the GA Fruit & Vegetable Association before touring the trade show. With the China Phase One trade deal slated to be signed next week, and USMCA getting one step closer to …
Corn Harvest Still Unfinished
The USDA crop progress report out yesterday afternoon should have been the last one for the 2019 season. But with 16 percent of the nation’s corn crop still in the field, NASS will continue to evaluate harvest progress for all crops each week to determine how long to continue the report. As of Sunday, 84 percent of the corn crop …
Fireside Chat with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
Our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, visited farm broadcasters on Friday. It was a fireside chat visit with now past-president of NAFB, Lorrie Boyer, KSIR. Members could submit questions for Lorrie to ask during the session. China was a major topic as USDA officially announced that the second tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting …
WASDE Lowers Wheat, Corn and Soybean Forecasts
The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from USDA has lower production and reduced use in the outlook for wheat, corn and soybeans. Wheat supplies are decreased 42 million bushels, based on updated production estimates for the states resurveyed following the NASS Small Grains Summary, issued September 30. Adjustments to production in these States, where significant acreage …
Secretary Perdue Talks Mexico Trade
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue led a trade mission to Mexico this week to investigate new opportunities with our nation’s largest bilateral trading partner and second-largest export market for agricultural products. The secretary was joined by the heads of six state departments of agriculture: Bryan Hurlburt of Connecticut, Celia Gould of Idaho, Joseph Bartenfelder of Maryland, Chris Chinn of …
USDA Deputy Secretary on Trade Mission in West Africa
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky is on a trade mission to West Africa this week to help United States exporters unlock new opportunities in a region where strong economic growth is driving demand for imported food and farm products. He is joined by representatives of more than 40 companies and organizations seeking to increase exports of U.S. agricultural …