By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said President Trump is committed to protecting agriculture in his trade negotiations with China. Perdue acknowledged Trump’s “unique negotiating style,” but noted that the president has promised him he would not allow the agricultural sectors to “be the casualties in this trade dispute.” He also noted past administrations’ strategies to work with China to correct its trade policies have fallen flat. “I applaud the President for calling ... Read More
Subject-focused News
2018-2019 committee apprentices visit DC leaders and House members on Capitol Hill
The NGFA’s 2018-2019 Committee Apprentice Program (CAP) members gathered in Washington, D.C., this week to learn more about the committee structure of the NGFA and the policy work the Association conducts with government agencies and on Capitol Hill. Ray Starling, special assistant to President Donald Trump for agriculture, trade and food assistance, met for an hour with the group of 22 CAPs in the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building to provide an overview of his work and answer questions about the administration’s agricultural and trade policies. This year’s CAPs also met ... Read More
China imposes steep import duties on U.S. sorghum
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Marketing Effective April 18, China began imposing duties of almost 179 percent on U.S. sorghum imports. China’s Ministry of Commerce said that Chinese importers of U.S. sorghum will be required to put down a 178.6 percent deposit, even on sorghum cargoes already en route, in anticipation of the anti-dumping tariffs. China had initiated an investigation into U.S. sorghum imports in February. China imported more than 5.2 million metric tons of U.S. sorghum during the last marketing year. The National Sorghum Producers (NSP) ... Read More
House Agriculture Committee advances farm bill
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Marketing The House Agriculture Committee approved its version of a new farm bill on a 26-20 party line vote on April 18, after hours of criticism from Democrats over the bill’s work-related reforms to the supplemental food-assistance program. Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, told reporters after the markup he is focused on getting the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R.2) passed on the House floor. “My job is to get a bill across the floor, not respond to individual attacks or insinuations,” he said. Democrats on the ... Read More
U.S. Food, Agriculture Group urges Trump administration to pursue ‘intense, high-level’ trade negotiations with China
By Randy Gordon, President The Asia-Pacific Working Group of the broad-based U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialogue for Trade on April 19 urged President Trump and his administration to expeditiously begin “intense, high-level negotiations” with the Chinese government to resolve distortive trade practices before the imposition of additional tariffs “that would harm both countries.” The group also urged the president to use bilateral or multilateral negotiations to reengage in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as additional leverage during ... Read More
NGFA urges FDA to revise draft guidance to clarify exemption for grain elevators under FSMA
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Marketing The NGFA this week urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise its draft guidance to clarify that grain elevators that solely store and handle raw agricultural commodities are exempt from certain Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements, as permitted under the law, regardless of whether they are located on the same premises as a feed mill or grain processing plant that is subject to such regulations. The recommendation was among several made by NGFA in a statement submitted on April 18 to ... Read More
Majority of TIGER grants awarded to rural projects
By Max Fisher, Director of Economics and Government Relations In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) awarded nearly $500 million in grant funding to 41 recipients for road, transit, maritime and rail projects through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. More than 64 percent of the funds were awarded to rural projects. TIGER grants are awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. Eligible applicants for TIGER grants are state, local and ... Read More
Collect resources and register employees who participated in the “Stand-Up for Grain Engulfment Prevention Week”
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) completed a major safety outreach effort, the “Stand-Up for Grain Engulfment Prevention Awareness Week” from April 9-13, to help raise awareness about grain bin engulfment hazards, provide education and training, and convey safety best practices. Made possible by the NGFA-OSHA Alliance, in collaboration with Grain Elevator and Processing Society, the stand-up week promoted grain bin safety on both farms and at commercial grain handling facilities. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens ... Read More
NGFA Hill Briefing: Farm bill alters conservation programs, new NGFA committee apprentices come to town
By Bobby Frederick, Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy The Week that Was: This week, the Senate focused on confirmation hearings and votes for more of President Trump’s nominees for administration positions. Meanwhile, on the heels of last month’s $1.3 trillion omnibus spending agreement, House Republicans considered a balanced budget amendment, which fell short of the two-thirds support necessary to pass. An even bigger development occurred on April 11, as House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced he would not seek re-election in November. Control of the House will be ... Read More
NGFA recommends Senate confirmation of STB nominees
The NGFA and a diverse range of agricultural producers and agribusinesses urged the leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee to recommend the confirmation of Patrick Fuchs and Michelle Schulz to serve as new members of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The groups noted in an April 10 letter that the STB needs a full and functioning set of members, as the agency “serves a vital role, given its charge to provide fair, objective and fact-based regulatory oversight of a freight rail industry that is exempt from U.S. antitrust law and now consists of only seven major Class I railroads – ... Read More
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