The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) have urged Congress to eliminate the threat of damaging new tariffs on dairy exports to Canada and Mexico by solving a trade dispute over country-of-origin meat labeling in the massive year-end spending bill currently being negotiated on Capitol Hill. In a letter sent yesterday to House and … Read More
House Passes Bill to Address Abuse of EAJA
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council applaud the House passage of H.R. 3279 Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), requires oversight and transparency of funds awarded under EAJA. Philip Ellis, NCBA president and Wyoming rancher, said the bill is critical to leveling the playing field between … Read More
Dairy Applauds Inclusion of Milk in Transportation Bill
The National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association praise Congress for its decision to include in a conference report a dairy-specific amendment that would benefit producers, processors and consumers. The organizations now urge Congress to pass the report so that it can reach President Obama’s desk by the Dec. 4 deadline. The bipartisan amendment, sponsored by Reps. Richard … Read More
Catfish Farmers Applaud USDA's Inspection Rule
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finalized a rule that acts to establish an inspection program for U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish and catfish-like imports. The rule, which will ultimately require producers in the U.S. and countries that export catfish and catfish-like products to the U.S. to meet safety standards set by the USDA, has been sought after for years … Read More
NPPC Discusses WOTUS At #NAFB15
The nation’s pork producers used Trade Talk at the 2015 National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) Convention as an opportunity to discuss the impact of several major US policy and trade decisions that recently went into effect, and highlighted ways the pork industry is getting involved. John Weber, President-Elect for the National Pork Producers Council(NPPC), sat down with AgWired, giving … Read More
NFU Opposes Namibian Beef Imports
Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union (NFU), has urged the Obama administration to oppose a proposed rule that would make Namibia eligible to export meat to the United States. The opposition is due to a recent outbreak of Foot-And-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Southern African nation. “The fear over FMD is warranted,” said Johnson in comments submitted to … Read More
Pork Industry Expresses Support for TPP
National Pork Producers Council President-elect John Weber referred to the Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) as “the biggest commercial opportunity ever for U.S. pork producers,” during a press conference this week on the recently concluded free trade deal. “America’s pork producers strongly and unequivocally support the TPP, and we urge Congress to quickly pass it,” said Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. … Read More
John Block Reports on TTIP
This week in Washington, John Block is reporting on the European Trade Agreement with the United States (TTIP) that is still in the process of negotiation. Should the agreement succeed in passing through both ends of the government, it will be considered an incredible win for agriculture. Recent changes in European legislation, however, are making the success of the agreement … Read More
White House Pulls South Africa’s AGOA Benefits
The White House has announced that beginning Jan. 1 South Africa will lose its privilege to ship to the United States agricultural products through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) at a zero-tariff rate. The National Pork Producers Council supports this and has been urging the administration to withdraw or limit trade benefits for South Africa because of that … Read More
NCBA Comments on Truck Weight Reform
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis released the following statement regarding the failure to include Representative Ribble’s truck reform language in H.R. 22 Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. “The vote taken tonight [Tuesday] is an injustice to America’s cattle producers. Truck weight regulations affect every cattle producer’s bottom line. Outdated federal transportation laws force trucks to carry partially … Read More