WEST

RSS

New hope for grape growers * USMCA set for big House sendoff

A Virginia lawyer heavily involved in Roundup litigation has been charged with attempted extortion for “threatening to inflict substantial financial and reputational harm” on an unnamed chemical company unless he received $200 million in “consulting fees,” the Justice Department says.

Friant-Canal fix gets spotlight * Biotech labeling is back

The Strategic Growth Council awarded $57 million in new grants for preserving agricultural lands on Tuesday.

The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement easily clears the House Ways and Means Committee, teeing up a vote of the full House on Thursday.

The House approved a pair of fiscal 2020 spending packages Tuesday that will provide a fresh infusion of disaster relief to farmers, extend the expired biodiesel credit to 2022 and bolster port inspections to protect U.S. agriculture for African swine fever and other threats.

Scientists offer little hope for delta smelt * Full speed ahead for USMCA

A congressional agreement to fund the government for fiscal 2020 includes an additional $1.5 billion in disaster relief for farmers and would revive the biodiesel tax credit and extend it through 2022.

Possible snag for USMCA * China’s key pledges on ag buys, trade barriers * Could wage rates save H-2A reform?

In what is setting up to be an historic week, the House is poised to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement after a bitter debate over the impeachment of President Donald Trump, and lawmakers also are rushing to pass legislation to fund the government for fiscal 2020.