MFBF Update
Here's the latest from the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. This week, MFBF Director of Public Policy Amber Glaeser has a farm bill update, stressing the importance of the amendment process.
News
Farmers Speed Up Herbicide Application
The heavy soils near Wahpeton, North Dakota will likely be planted before Thursday’s rain. GL Crop Consulting President, Greg LaPlante, says planting in the sandier soils is slow. The frost is still coming out of the ground. Small grains are…
Working Out the Details of ARC-County Payments
Getting a farm bill written and negotiated in the next work period is the goal for the Senate Agriculture Committee. Lawmakers are working out the details of some fixes for ARC-County. This includes Senator Thune/Brown’s marker legislation. North Dakota Senator…
SD Farmers Seeing Fertilizer Application Delays
The Wilmot, South Dakota area hasn’t experienced any fertilizer shortages, However, with farmers in the fields at the same time, fertilizer spreaders are trying to keep up. "We haven't heard that the actual product has been unavailable," says Wilmot farmer…
DNC Delivers $$$ to MN DFL for Rural Vote
The Democratic National Committee is providing a $100,000 grant to the Minnesota DFL. The money will be used to support the DFL’s strategy for rural Minnesota. The Republicans have the majority in both the Minnesota House and Senate with much…
Starling Moves From White House to USDA
The Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture Ray Starling is making a move to USDA. Starling will take over as Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s chief of staff, replacing Heidi Green, who is returning to her home state of Georgia.
AMS Has a New Administrator
Bruce Summers has been appointed as the administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Summers has been working at AMS for more than 30 years.
A New Development in U.S.-China Trade Relations
In a weekend tweet, President Donald Trump said he is working with the Chinese government to ease penalties for a major Chinese communications company. Within the Washington Beltway, this move is seen as a bargaining chip to reduce the threat…
Organic Checkoff Rule is Terminated
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service plans to terminate the rulemaking process for a proposed organic checkoff program. Nearly 15,000 comments were submitted to the Federal Register and the comments highlight a split within the organic industry about the checkoff program.
Former WestBred Leader Passes
Ron Ueland, who was the former president and general manager of WestBred, died over the weekend. Ueland, 65, was building Montana Craft Malt, a malting company for the craft brewing industry.
