Articles by Bill Tomson

The U.S. needs to take enforcement action under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to address Mexico’s continued refusal to approve genetically modified crop traits and counter Mexico’s threat to ban GMO corn from the human food supply, Biotechnology Innovation Organization President and CEO Michelle McMurry-Heath told lawmakers Tuesday.

The House Agriculture Committee today takes up legislation that would authorize up to $8.5 billion in aid for disasters in 2020 and 2021. The nine-page bill builds on provisions of the temporary WHIP programs that started in the wake of the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires and then expanded as WHIP+ in 2018 and 2019.

Republicans and Democrats both say they are close to wrapping up the final details of a bipartisan infrastructure package for the Senate to consider.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is sounding the alarm over potential duties on fertilizer imports from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago, two major suppliers being investigated by the U.S. government over claims of market-distorting subsidies.

The House Agriculture Committee will vote next week on a bill that would extend a popular ag disaster program, WHIP+, for two years. Lawmakers have been working on revisions to the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus, which provided assistance to producers for losses in 2018 and 2019.

Supporters of the Growing Climate Solutions Act are signing up new co-sponsors for the Senate-passed legislation in hopes of getting the House to take up the bill.

A major but temporary agricultural disaster program could be in for some revisions. The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus, or WHIP+, provided assistance to producers for losses in 2018 and 2019.

The U.S. still only has a relatively small slice of the Chinese market but American whey, skim milk powder, cheese and other products are reaching new highs as China recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and African swine fever.

Some Senate Democrats are talking about adding immigration measures, including farmworker provisions, to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package that they’re developing. But critics say it’s highly unlikely the Senate parliamentarian would allow immigration language to stay in a budget reconciliation measure.

Taiwan needs to undo the damage it’s doing to U.S. pork exports. That’s one of the contentious messages delivered by the U.S. to Taiwan during recent trade talks, according to sources close to the discussions.