Politics

RSS

The Agriculture Department published a list of hundreds of beef and pork production and storage facilities that are now eligible to export to China under the new, less-restrictive regulations negotiated in the “phase one” trade agreement.

Farm groups are lobbying Congress and the Trump administration for a number of relief measures to help producers cope with the slide in many commodity markets that has deepened as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens.

Negotiations on a massive new stimulus package are taking a new step today after Senate Republicans released their legislative proposal late Thursday evening.

The USDA announced Thursday that U.S. exporters are reporting large sales of U.S. corn and wheat to China after years of depressed trade. A new report shows export sales of 750,000 metric tons of U.S. corn and 340,000 metric tons of hard red winter wheat to China.

The Trump administration has labeled agriculture as a critical industry in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, allowing businesses to continue operating as usual amid current and potential restrictions created to stem the spread of the virus.

As fuel prices begin to drop nationwide, ethanol and biodiesel plants are making hard decisions as to whether to shut down or idle production.

The USA Poultry and Egg Export Council is confirming that China and the U.S. have signed off on an agreement that the Chinese government will not over-react to outbreaks of avian influenza in the U.S.

Local and regional agriculture and food markets stand to lose up to $688.7 million in sales through May because of the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to analysts familiar with the sector.

The restaurant industry estimates it will lose $225 billion, 25% of its annual revenue, if the industry is shut down for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

China, continuing to live up to promises made in the “phase one” trade deal, is working with the U.S. to finalize certification for hundreds of U.S. beef processing plants as well as approve a wide variety of beef cuts and beef products in preparation for a resumption in trade.