News
UK-Aussie Trade Negotiations to Continue
Published July 12, 2023
Trade talks between Australia and the United Kingdom broke down without a deal. Market access remains the biggest hurdle. Australia and the UK plan to resume trade negotiations next month.Simplot Settles With DOJ/EPA
Published July 12, 2023
J.R. Simplot has come to terms with the Justice Department and EPA over environmental issues with its Pocatello, Idaho facility. The company will pay $150 million to reduce the environmental impact of the fertilizer facility and pay a $1.5 million…Bill Seeks Limits on CCC Authority
Published July 12, 2023
Three Republican senators have introduced legislation to limit the distribution of funds through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. The agriculture secretary has broad discretionary authority to use CCC funds. During the Trump Administration, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue used the CCC to…Herd Rebuilding on Pause
Published July 11, 2023
U.S. Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper thinks cattle producers haven’t started rebuilding their herds yet. "I think hay is a little short and cattle prices are too good for producers to start retaining heifers." Tupper, who ranches near St. Onge,…A Mixed Bag for Potatoes
Published July 11, 2023
Rains have been hit or miss for spuds. Northland Potato Growers Association President Donavon Johnson says the potato crop is a mixed bag. "They all look really good above ground, but potatoes need a lot of water so there's some…File Hail Damage Claims on a Timely Basis
Published July 11, 2023
Sporadic hail has been seen in recent weeks. Ihry Insurance Agency agent Reed Ihry is thankful there hasn’t been many claims of severe hail damage this year. "Our Finley, (North Dakota) area towards Lakota, had a little hail, but overall,…Kansas Harvesters Struggle with Mud
Published July 11, 2023
Harvest conditions in southern Kansas remain dismal. Dean Karau is part of a custom harvesting crew and says the Kiowa area went from drought conditions and less than five inches of rain in the past year to over 30 inches…Ag Exports on Downward Spiral
Published July 11, 2023
For the first eight months of the marketing year, U.S. agriculture exports continued to run behind last year’s pace. USDA Economist Bart Kenner is looking at a lot of negative numbers. "It's the big downturn in bulk products that's the…Torres Small Confirmed as #2 at USDA
Published July 11, 2023
Xochitl Torres Small has been confirmed by the Senate as the next deputy secretary of agriculture. Torres Small has served as an undersecretary at USDA since 2021 and was a member of Congress from New Mexico for one term. Torres…