Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced late last week the availability of a one-year extension for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expiring Sept. 30, 2019. The extension is a stopgap until the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can finish its rulemaking process to account for the changes to CRP that were made in the 2018 farm law. CRP contracts on approximately 1.6 million acres are currently scheduled to expire on Sept. 30. The signup for the one-year extension will begin June 3 and end on Aug. 23. The extension is not available to CRP participants if the ... Read More
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NGFA visits 100 lawmakers to advocate for USMCA
Members of the NGFA’s Executive, Country Elevator and International Trade/Agriculture Policy Committees and NGFA State/Regional Affiliated Associations gathered in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with the offices of more than 100 lawmakers about the urgency of passing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and other NGFA policy priorities. NGFA members heard a range of positions expressed by lawmakers and staff on USMCA, including strong support of the agreement, tempered support from those members of Congress who said they want to approve the pact but would need certain issues ... Read More
Senate confirms Tarbert as CFTC chairman
The Senate by an overwhelming 84-9 vote confirmed Heath Tarbert on June 5 as chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). A Republican who currently serves as assistant secretary of the treasury for international affairs, Tarbert will succeed fellow Republican Chris Giancarlo. He is expected to be sworn in officially in mid-July, with Giancarlo leaving CFTC around that same time. During testimony at his Senate Agriculture Committee confirmation hearing earlier this year, Tarbert stressed the CFTC’s special obligation to “…ensur(e) that our derivatives markets are ... Read More
USDA publishes new proposed rules for regulating biotech products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today (June 6) published a new proposed rule for the regulation of plant-based agricultural biotechnology products. Under the proposed rule, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – which has authority to determine whether agricultural biotech traits pose a plant pest or noxious weed risk to the environment – would exempt most crops developed with gene-editing techniques from regulation. APHIS said these plants can be produced through traditional breeding techniques, making them unlikely to pose a greater plant pest risk ... Read More
NGFA reiterates need for STB action on RR demurrage, accessorial practices
By Randy Gordon, President and CEO The NGFA on June 6 reiterated its call on the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) to follow up on its two-day public hearing on May 22-23 by developing specific policies and guidelines to govern Class I railroads’ demurrage and accessorial practices so that they are commercially fair and structured in a way that a rail customer operating efficiently can avoid such charges. Further, the NGFA urged that the agency’s rules should require that demurrage and accessorial tariffs imposed by carriers are reciprocal – providing the same treatment and ... Read More
Trump on track to impose new tariffs on Mexico, NGFA and NAEGA warn tariffs will damage USMCA progress
The United States will impose a 5 percent tariff on Mexican imports starting Monday (June 10), unless ongoing, week-long talks between U.S. and Mexican officials on measures to stem illegal migration across the U.S. southern border succeed before then. “Progress is being made, but not nearly enough!,” Trump tweeted on June 5. “Further talks with Mexico will resume tomorrow with the understanding that, if no agreement is reached, tariffs at the 5 percent level will begin on Monday, with monthly increases as per schedule.” Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard told reporters Wednesday ... Read More
Trump signs disaster aid bill
President Donald Trump on June 6 signed the $19 billion disaster aid bill, which includes about $3 billion to assist agricultural producers suffering from disasters that occurred in 2018 and 2019. Under the bill, payments for crop insurance policies under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program will cover up to 90 percent of the loss. Crops not covered under these programs can receive up to 70 percent of the loss.There is widespread confusion among growers as to how this provision may relate to crops prevented from being planted, noted the American ... Read More
Joint Statement by National Grain and Feed Association and North American Export Grain Association on Potential Imposition of U.S Tariffs on Mexico
ARLINGTON, Va., May 31, 2019 – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s May 30 announcement that he intends to impose escalating tariffs on Mexico starting June 10 in response to illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. “As organizations that strongly and unequivocally support speedy ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the NGFA and NAEGA commend the Trump administration for forwarding the draft Statement of Administrative Action ... Read More
A new, digital format for CONVEY19 arrives this summer
Starting June 12, the NGFA and Grain Journal will present “CONVEY19 – A Summer of Safety Streaming,” an entirely digital conference offering a mix of live webinars and downloadable original content. “We’re very excited to offer a digital conference, which will allow even more members of the grain handling, feed, processing and milling industry to access high-quality safety materials and industry experts,” said NGFA Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs Jess McCluer. “Thanks to the creative thinking and teamwork from the staff at Grain Journal and my colleagues at NGFA, ... Read More
Democrats chastise USDA for trade-disruption assistance that benefits foreign-owned companies
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media Trade-disruption assistance intended for American farmers should not include payments made to any foreign companies, said Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and eight other Democratic senators in a May 29 letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “While we understand (USDA’s) desire to aid farmers impacted by this trade disruption, we urge you to stop making trade mitigation commodity purchases that benefit foreign-owned companies,” the senators wrote. The Trump administration ... Read More
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