By Max Fisher, Vice President, Economics and Government Relations The U.S.-China economic and trade agreement signed on Jan. 15 at a White House ceremony contains significant specific commitments, time deadlines and enforcement metrics designed to provide more predictable trade between the two countries, as well as commitments by China to purchase at least $80 billion of U.S. food, agricultural and seafood products by the end of calendar year 2021. NGFA Chairman Eric Wilkey, president of Arizona Grain Inc., Casa Grande, Ariz., was among agricultural industry leaders who accepted ... Read More
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U.S., Japan and EU urge reforms of WTO subsidy trading rules
During a busy trade-focused week, the United States, European Union and Japan agreed to propose reform of the World Trade Organization’s trading rules to curb distortive subsidies. Following a meeting in Washington, trade ministers for the three countries – Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Kajiyama Hiroshi, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan – issued a joint statement that the WTO’s existing trading rules were insufficient to address market distortions resulting from government subsidies. The joint statement was the result of nearly ... Read More
KSU launches new program for risk management professionals
The Center for Risk Management Education and Research at Kansas State University unveiled a new executive education program designed for professionals with risk management responsibility. The inaugural two-and-a-half-day conference will be conducted April 14-16 in Manhattan, Kan., and is targeted at senior-level executives and managers, especially in the food and beverage, food processing/manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, and pet food sectors. Detailed program and registration information can be found here. Now in its seventh year of operation, the center previously has focused ... Read More
NGFA commends ratification of USMCA agreement
ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 16, 2020 -- The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) commended Congress for ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) after the Senate approved the trade deal on Jan. 16 by an overwhelming 89-10 vote. “The USMCA is a tremendous positive for the United States and the entire North American region and our interdependent economies,” said NGFA President and CEO Randy Gordon. “Having a sound and competitive free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada is critical to continued economic growth and job creation in the United States and the North American region. ... Read More
NGFA issues statement on signing of Phase One trade accord with China
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2020 -- The National Grain and Feed Association issued the following statement on the signing of the Phase One trade agreement with China. NGFA Chairman Eric Wilkey, president of Arizona Grain Inc., Casa Grande, Ariz., was among agricultural industry leaders attending the signing ceremony at the White House today. “The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) commends President Trump and his administration for successfully concluding and signing a Phase One trade accord with the People’s Republic of China. It represents a significant first step in resolving ... Read More
USDA, FDA, EPA launch joint website for biotech regulation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation on Jan. 9, where relevant background information and resources regarding the government’s regulatory policy on biotechnology products are housed. The website describes the federal review process for certain biotechnology-enhanced products and allows users to submit questions to the three agencies. USDA, FDA and EPA are the three regulatory agencies charged with overseeing agricultural biotechnology products ... Read More
New year, new WRDA: House subcommittee takes another step to update nation’s water infrastructure policy
By Bobby Frederick, Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy Congressional efforts to enact a biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) continued this week as the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment conducted a hearing to discuss proposals for a 2020 reauthorization of the law. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, R.D. James – who in that capacity heads the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) – and the chief of engineers and commanding general for the Corps, Lieutenant General Todd Semonite, testified ... Read More
USDA releases CRP rental rates, grants higher rates to 121 counties
By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the 2020 county average cash rental rates for non-irrigated cropland that will serve as the starting point for calculating rental rate offers for this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signups. The current CRP general signup is open until Feb. 28 and a CRP continuous signup is open and will be ongoing. Importantly, the 2018 farm law for the first time imposed statutory limits on rental rates, as advocated by NGFA. For the current CRP general signup, the CRP rental ... Read More
Timeline for Senate ratification vote on USMCA still murky
While the Senate Finance Committee easily approved the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) this week, the timing for a final ratification vote on the Senate floor remains unclear. The Senate committee approved the House-passed USMCA implementing legislation (H.R. 5430) by a 25-3 vote. Senate aides have said a full Senate vote on the accord likely will be delayed until after next week, since the legislation was referred to six other committees for review. “I look forward to a vote on the Senate floor, hopefully soon on final passage,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, ... Read More
NGFA industry group selects CargoDocs to deliver digital barge documentation solution
ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 8, 2020 – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) announced Jan. 8 a partnership with essDOCS, a company that enables paperless trade, to implement a project that will digitize barge trading documents, such as bills of lading, so that they may be transmitted electronically – a huge cost savings to the industry. The industry group directing and funding this project includes representatives from NGFA and the following member companies: Bunge North America, Inc.; Cargill, Inc.; Archer Daniels Midland Company; CGB Enterprises, Inc.; CHS Inc.; The Gavilon Group; Louis ... Read More
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