6 years, 5 months ago American Farm Bureau Federation
Canada “Extremely Worried” About NAFTA Direction
Canada is “extremely worried” behind the scenes regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations. News network CTV of Canada reports the latest round of negotiations has caused concerns. The U.S. has since tabled a measure to dismantle Canada’s dairy supply management system, but the issue is likely to come up again. Canada refuses to make changes to the system, while the U.S. dairy industry is supporting the proposal. However, dairy is one a several U.S. proposals Canada calls “unreasonable.” A Canada NAFTA Advisory Council member says more people are saying “it looks like the Americans are driving towards a cliff on this, and Canada will have to follow.” Trade officials from Canada say the U.S. has set the stage for the nation to either pull out or get the "America first" agreement, which “doesn’t put Canada in a very good spot.” The negotiations will continue next month in Mexico.
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Coalition Calls for Double the Funding for USDA Research
More than 60 farm and commodity groups are calling for lawmakers to double the funding for agriculture research in the next farm bill. The coalition of 63 organizations sent a letter to House and Senate agriculture leaders, requesting the lawmakers increase the Department of Agriculture’s research, education and extension budget to $6 billion over the life of the next farm bill. The letter shows China has doubled its commitments to agricultural research. American Soybean Association President Richard Wilkins, whose organization is part of the coalition, said: “We need to regain and maintain our nation’s place as the international leader.” Coalition members range from conventional agricultural groups to those that often question large-scale, industrial agriculture, and their letter outlines ten specific policy recommendations, according to the Hagstrom Report.
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Canada Won’t Place Further Restrictions on Dicamba
Canada will not follow a move by the U.S. to place further restrictions on dicamba herbicides. Health Canada, responsible for regulations of herbicides, says it supports the current Canadian labels for dicamba. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently increased restrictions on the use of dicamba sprayed over crops, after the first season of use for dicamba-resistant soybeans turned up about three million acres with crop damage. However, as AgCanada reports, there appeared to be a much lower level of damage in Canada. In a statement, Health Canada said it was aware of the dicamba drift challenges in the U.S., but says Canada has already mandated that labels of dicamba products include spray drift precautions, use directions and buffer zones. The U.S. made dicamba herbicides for crop use restricted products, meaning applicators must be certified and follow a specific set of regulations, including what time, and under what conditions dicamba can be applied.
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Reuters Says WHO Glyphosate Report Full of Lies
A new report by Reuters says the World Health Organization purposefully distorted it’s finding on glyphosate, resulting in the United Nations claiming the weed killer is a carcinogen. Reuters examined documents from the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s assessment of glyphosate, a report that has prompted international disputes and lawsuits. The examination found key sections of the report by the WHO underwent significant changes and deletions before the report was finalized and made public. Analysts say: “In one instance, a fresh statistical analysis was inserted - effectively reversing the original finding.” A draft of the report reviewed by Reuters in a comparison with the published report showed the removal of multiple scientists' conclusions that their studies had found no link between glyphosate and cancer in laboratory animals. A Monsanto spokesperson, whose flagship product RoundUp uses glyphosate as a primary ingredient, told Reuters the changes to the draft shows how the WHO “manipulated and distorted scientific data.”
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U.S. Milk Production Slows Increase Level
U.S. milk production increased last month, but at a slower pace than seen earlier this year. The Department of Agriculture’s monthly Milk Production Report found September milk production was up just 1.1 percent, the smallest increase all year if you ignore February, according to the website Milk Business. February 2016 was a leap year, so this year’s February milk production was reported to be down 1.3 percent, but on a daily basis was actually up two percent. Estimated U.S. cow numbers also dipped slightly in September, down 4,000 head, but remain at 9.4 million. This is the fifth consecutive month of cow numbers at or above the 9.4 million level. California again reported a drop in milk production, down 3.4 percent. Meanwhile, four states reported milk production up at least five percent. Texas reported a ten percent increase, while Colorado milk production was up 7.4 percent. An increase of 6.9 percent was reported in Utah, and a 5.2 percent was reported in Kansas.
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USDA Offers Help to California Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set aside $4 million to help farmers and ranchers impacted by the California wildfires recover. USDA also announced Monday that households impacted by recent wildfires in Northern California could be eligible for help buying food through USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, will issue waivers for those interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to enable recovery work to begin immediately. Meanwhile, the Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency in California will meet farmers and landowners to assess damages and discuss technical and financial assistance. USDA says the Farm Service agency can help farmers and ranchers with a range of disaster assistance including compensation for livestock death and feed losses, risk coverage for specialty crops, and repair of damage to agricultural and private forest land. The wildfires have impacted seven counties in California’s wine country.
