Tuesday was the first anniversary for Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture and he spent it briefing the Senate Agriculture Committee on The State of Rural America. Most of the questioning for the secretary revolved around trade issues and the farm economy. Listen to opening comments and questioning by Sen. Roberts and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Launch of E-Connectivity Listening Sessions
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue provided opening remarks to a coalition of stakeholders Wednesday morning to launch a series of regional listening sessions targeting the expansion of broadband access in rural America. You can watch the recording here or listen below. USDA has had programs for years to assist with local and regional broadband efforts but there is still …
Ag Secretary Says RFS Waivers Create Demand Destruction
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue had the opportunity to give his opinion about the EPA granting numerous Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) waivers to refiners during a Senate Agricultural Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday. While the purpose of the hearing was to review USDA’s FY2019 budget request, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) brought up the RFS waiver issue and pointed out that he …
Farmers Intend to Plant Less Corn and Soybeans in 2018
U.S. farmers are expected to plant more soybean acres than corn but overall intentions are down slightly from the record year in 2017, according to the Prospective Plantings report released today by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant an estimated 89.0 million acres of soybeans and 88.0 million acres of …
GROWMARK, NRCS Partner for Conservation
GROWMARK and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently signed a national Memorandum of Understanding to further sound agronomic and conservation practices. Ryan White, Dir. of Agronomy Marketing and Agronomy Information Services for GROWMARK, says the MOU is about the GROWMARK system commitment to working with farmers in a profitable and sustainable way. “We both have the same customer and …
National Ag Day 2018
The 45th celebration of National Ag Day in Washington D.C., March 20, 2018. Events, organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA), include presidential proclamation, National Press Club panel on The Consumer, the Farmer and Sustainability and Taste of Ag reception at the Library of Congress. This year’s theme is Agriculture: Food for Life. Highlights of the day included an address …
Cabinet Members Testify on Infrastructure Needs
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and four other cabinet members testified this week before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing entitled “Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Administration Perspectives.” Secretary Perdue was joined by Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
Perdue Discusses State of Rural Economy
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue briefed members of the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday on the current state of the rural economy and USDA’s farm bill priorities. Secretary Perdue was asked about a number of issues impacting different areas of the nation, including sorghum, nutrition programs, dairy, specialty crops, trade, FMD vaccine, getting undersecretaries approved by Congress, labor and immigration, broadband access, …
Senators Speak Out to Approve Northey Nomination
After nearly four months of having the nomination of Iowa’s Bill Northey to the U.S. Department of Agriculture held up by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) brought it up on the Senate floor Wednesday and called on other colleagues to back him up. Northey was nominated to be USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation in …
Agriculture Secretary Comments on Timely Topics
It’s been a busy year for Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, starting with being nominated for the job by President Trump the day before the inauguration. This week, Sec. Perdue made his first appearance at the National Press Club to talk about USDA’s mission, the 2018 farm bill, trade, and other topics. Last week, he was interviewed by Iowa Agribusiness …
Corn Crop Increase Surprises
USDA surprised many with the crop production forecast out this month estimating a two percent increase from last month for corn. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 175.4 bushels per acre, up 3.6 bushels from the October forecast and up 0.8 bushel from 2016. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record …
2017 NAFB Convention
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) held its 74th annual convention November 8-10 in Kansas City. The fast-paced agenda included talks from biotech defender Dr. Kevin Folta and philanthropist Howard G. Buffett, an appearance by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, and the annual Trade Talk featuring over 100 agribusiness companies and organizations. This virtual ag newsroom is courtesy of …
Ibach Sworn in, Northey Still on Hold for USDA
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue traveled to Omaha yesterday to swear-in new Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach in his home state. During the swearing-in ceremony, Perdue expressed his disappointment that Bill Northey was not also being sworn in at the same time, after his nomination was put on hold last week by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in …
Secretary Perdue at 90th FFA Convention
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue attended his first National FFA Convention this week and held a press conference to take questions about various topics, prior to addressing the group’s opening general session. Perdue appeared at the press conference with six members of the FFA policy committee and was asked about a number of topics, including the 2018 farm bill, trade and …
GIPSA Rules Withdrawn by Administration
The Trump administration today announced it will withdraw controversial regulations under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) related to the buying and selling of livestock. The action includes an interim final rule that deals with harm to competition and one proposed related rule issued in the final days of the Obama administration. The interim final rule was scheduled …