Associated Press
Ag News: Beef Trade Losses
The U.S. Meat Export Federation is assessing the potential losses in U.S. beef. European Union, Japan and members of TTP are finding other places to buy Beef.
Ag News: USMEF Latina American Showcase
U.S. Meat Export held its Latin American Product Showcase that drew a record numbre of red meat buyers from the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
Memorial Day Parade is May 26 — Sign Up Now to Take Part
Yakima’s Memorial Day parade is Saturday (May 26), starting at 10 a.m. Show your support for our fallen men and women of the military and to those you have loved and lost.
Post-Holiday Exports Down and Budget Deal Optimism
Holiday blues, Export sales were delayed and a number of cancellations. Congressional leaders trying to reach a budget deal before the deadline next Friday.
Retail Egg Prices Reach New Lows; Another Soda Tax
**Retail prices for generic, white eggs are reaching the lowest levels we’ve seen in a long time because of overproduction.
The volatile egg market stems from the Bird Flu outbreak in 2015 that killed nearly 50 million hens and turkeys in the Midwest...
Zinke, Trump Aim for Energy Dominance; Beef Packers Certified to China
**Explaining a new focus for U.S. energy policy, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says he and President Trump are going beyond “energy independence” to pursue “energy dominance,” and fossil fuels and coal will certainly be part of the mix...
Energy Bill Back to Congress and Organic Feed Shortage
**A Senate energy bill that failed to make it through the last Congress will be the starting point for talks in this Congress
That’s according to top Senate staffers on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Speaking at the Energy & Environmental Symposium, ENR learership sounded optimistic about the chances for agreement.
...
Lawmakers Worry About Sugar Prices; Renegotiate NAFTA Now
**A growing concern among U.S. lawmakers and food manufacturers that they’ll see the price of sugar go up if the sugar refining industry gets what it’s demanding from Mexico.
A group of 51 House members has signed onto a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross not to go through with some proposals like raising the floor price for raw and refined sugar and funneling some raw sugar imports directly
Perdue Hits Road Early; Trump Wants Tax Rates Slashed
**It took newly sworn Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue only a few days to take his show on the road.
Perdue’s first official visit as Secretary was to Kansas City last week where he met with the Department of Agriculture’s Beacon Facility, where he said he puts trade at the top of his agenda...
Grocery Decline; Mexico Considers Lifting Corn Tariffs
**Grocery prices declined to a 50-year low last year.
The USDA says retail food prices dropped 1.3 percent, the first ANNUAL decline since 1967.
Increased production of many commodities, lower transportation costs and a strong dollar were some of the reasons for the declines...
Nat’l Farmers Union Policy Positions; Ag Data Storage
**Farmers and ranchers participating in the National Farmers Union Anniversary Convention endorsed several farm bill provisions designed to shore up farm income while “vehemently” opposing any spending cuts and recommending additional spending to shore up the farm safety net...
Short Term Spending Bill and Japan Approves TPP
The Senate passed a short-term fiscal 2017 spending bill to avert a government shutdown and then gave final congressional approval to a water projects bill that includes drought relief for California farmers.
The new measure, which the Senate approved 63-36 about 11 p...