Articles by Bill Tomson

There are still a lot of Brazilian soybeans filling up China's port stocks, and that’s expected to continue for at least another month. But the Chinese are not waiting to commit to buying up U.S. soybeans for delivery in the 2021-22 marketing year, according to analysts and USDA data.

The Supreme Court’s rejection of a petition seeking review of California’s Proposition 12, which sets animal housing standards for meat sold in the state, ends an effort by the North American Meat Institute to set aside the requirements. But the meat industry has another shot at legal redemption in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court will announce as soon as today whether it will rule on the legality of California’s Proposition 12, which has nationwide implications for sectors of the livestock industry. Prop 12 requires meat sold in California to be produced according to the state’s animal housing standards.

A bipartisan infrastructure deal that President Joe Biden is endorsing would provide a dramatic increase in spending for rural broadband while also pouring new money into roads and bridges and U.S. waterway improvements.

Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow is expressing optimism that the Senate will pass the Growing Climate Solutions Act today. But the Senate will first debate an amendment by Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee that would weaken a critical provision of the legislation, which is intended to speed development of ag carbon markets.

American ag exporters have been finding it increasingly difficult to get their commodities into containers and onto ships as Chinese companies and international shippers monopolize ocean transportation, but lawmakers are hoping to alleviate the situation with new legislation.

The Senate could vote soon on the Growing Climate Solutions Act, a bill intended to speed the development of ag carbon markets, but it’s not yet clear what the House will do with the legislation.

The U.S. and UK have reached a deal to end a dispute over aircraft subsidies as trade leaders from both countries express new optimism over strengthening trade ties.

The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack are taking exception to the white farmers who are challenging a debt relief program for minority producers.