Archived Content
Keystone Pipeline Gets Crucial Clearance to Cross Nebraska
Why the Chicken May Still Cross the Border, Nafta or No Nafta
No stranger to dirty boots, John Dillard, an attorney with OFW Law, focuses his practice on agricultural and environmental litigation.
Canada Nafta Negotiator Sees More Movement Than Labor Leader
Nafta Nations Say Quick Deal on Table as Inaugural Talks End (1)
In Washington Clash of Industries, King Corn Trounces Big Oil
The Indiana-based author and speaker shares why farmers must take time now to share the stories behind food before their license to operate is revoked.
Nafta or No Nafta, the $12.43-an-Hour Pay Gap Is Irresistible
In a bizarre land rights and endangered species case, what will the Supreme Court decide about Casper the Ghost Frog and 1,500 private acres belonging to Edward Poitevent?
Rural America continues to be left behind in the race for high-speed internet service. Current solutions are expensive, slow, limited or intermittent.
Results from California’s Proposition 2 are mixed, with happy hens but higher egg prices.
Senate GOP to Back Trump on Border Wall, Risking Shutdown Fight
Rural America turned out for President Donald Trump in the election, but as farmers get ready to hear him speak at the American Farm Bureau Federation conference on Monday, one issue looms large: a shortage of workers.
Traffic along the Ohio River is seeing major hurdles this harvest season. Just last week, Lock & Dam 53 closed due to a break-down as the hydraulics that open and close the lower gate failed to work properly. On Wed., Oct. 11, the U.S. Waterways Council said the issue this week is the rising river level. That forced the Ohio River to shut down to traffic at Locks & Dam 52 earlier in the week. With river levels already exceeding the maximum locking stage of 20.7 feet and expected to rise further through the end of the week, the Waterways Council expects limits to be placed on navigation until either Sunday or Monday.
Over the summer, producers experienced policy whiplash as several key agricultural issues took center stage in Washington, D.C.
The fate of major trade deals continues to be a pain point for U.S. agriculture, but President Trump is continuing to follow through on a campaign promise in the new year to take a tougher stance on trade.
FAA: Farm equipment radio interference threatens air traffic
A farmer’s photo and his accompanying statement on Twitter recently summed up the views of many U.S. wheat growers today. “Yes, I’m planting wheat, and no, I don’t know why,” the farmer said. That perspective is understandable. After the USDA released its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) in early November, corn and soybeans took the lead story away from wheat. Ending stocks for wheat for 2017/18 have been lowered 25 million bushels, with the report citing increased exports as the cause.
Trump Welcomes Trudeau to Washington With Another Nafta Threat
A nomination for undersecretary of Agriculture for research, education and economics doesn’t typically draw much controversy.
The Trump administration is considering a policy change that could allow an extra billion gallons or more of biofuel each year to qualify toward a U.S. mandate, lowering costs for refiners at the expense of ethanol producers, according to people briefed on the discussions.
Safety net payments are rolling from the USDA, and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says he hopes the money will help farmers that are facing tough times this year.
Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue gave his official nod to Greg Ibach and Bill Northey, recommending them for positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “These two nominees will bring experience and integrity to USDA the moment they walk in the door,” Perdue said in a prepared statement. Ibach was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Northey for the position of Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Greg Ibach serves as the Nebraska Director of Agriculture, while Northey is the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. The two candidates must be approved by the U.S. Senate in order to step into the USDA positions. Perdue said he looks forward to “their speedy passage through the committee and floor votes” and urged the Senate to “act on other nominees awaiting approval as well.”
Chip Flory commentary on river transportation problems leading to basis issues.
American Farm Bureau Federation tax expert Patricia Wolff outlines how the tax reform framework announced by the White House and Congress will impact farmers.
A law requiring foreign investors to report transactions of farmland to the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been on the books for almost 40 years. But as the amount of foreign-controlled farmland doubled in millions of acres between 2004 and 2014, the USDA has lapsed in enforcing the law, a review of USDA documents has found.
Corn and soybean stocks are both up from this time last year, per USDA’s Sept. 29 Grain Stocks report.
When it comes to communicating with the public, it’s important to strike a balance of transparency.