Articles by Bill Tomson

USDA officials tell Agri-Pulse they are working “amicably” with the Biden transition team, which is paving the way for the incoming administration next week. On the international front, the transition team has been pressing USDA for details on the impacts of the “phase one” trade deal with China.

Prices for many commodities have risen sharply to levels not seen in several years. But the president of the nation’s largest farm group, the American Farm Bureau Federation, isn’t ruling out seeking additional federal relief in 2021.

U.S. soybean export sales are unusually strong in January for both the current 2020-21 marketing year and the upcoming 2021-22 marketing year, boosted by China’s efforts to both feed its growing swine herd and replenish stocks.

President-elect Joe Biden will nominate a former labor leader, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, to become labor secretary. That’s a critical position for farmers and farmworkers because of the Labor Department’s regulation of labor standards and authority over the H-2A visa program.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says he has had no part in any discussions with other cabinet members about invoking the 25th Amendment of the Constitution to oust President Donald Trump from office and doesn't anticipate such conversations will take place.

For all of the historic turmoil at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, President-elect Joe Biden is in a stronger position than ever as he prepares to take office. The Democratic sweep of the two Georgia runoffs gives Democrats control of an evenly divided Senate.

U.S. soybean future prices are on the rise amid continued Chinese demand and concerns of tight global supplies, putting markets in a “rationing” mode, according to a Cargill executive.

Hundreds of business leaders, including some in the ag industry, are calling on Congress not to delay confirming the results of November’s presidential election. Congress is set to meet today to count the electoral votes.

With a deal in place between the newly independent UK and the European Union, American ag groups are anxious to see the U.S. complete its own free trade agreement with the British as the Biden administration prepares to take the reins in ongoing talks.

It’s been more than a year and a half since Mexico has approved any new genetically modified seed traits and the country is showing no signs of relenting even though it remains “one of the world’s largest importers of GE corn and soy,” according to a new report from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.