World Trade Issues

Agricultural trade operates in a global market and is subject to the capricious nature of governments, weather and evolving trade agreements. Articles will explore the ever-changing landscape of commodity markets and offer insight in ways to take advantage of international trade.

May 25, 2012

video

What’s happened to bipartisanship in Congress? Part 2

Congressional redistricting and political polarization have created a situation in which members find it more difficult than ever to compromise....More
May 25, 2012

video

What’s happened to bipartisanship in Congress?

The new realities of partisan politics are leading to more paralysis in Congress, a veteran Congressional observer says....More
May 24, 2012

Article

Europe watches GM crops trials dwindle

Scientists and commercial firms in Europe that use genetic engineering methods in plant research and plant breeding have for years had to witness the destruction of crop trials. In other quarters too they face fierce public opposition, which is why the political situation surrounding the authorization of GM plants is so fraught with difficulty....More
May 24, 2012

Article

USDA expands credit access for farmers

USDA has made substantial, year-over-year gains in expanding credit opportunities for farmers and ranchers across the United States. USDA is seeking comments on a new microloan program to help small and family operations progress through their start-up years with needed resources, while building capacity, increasing equity, and eventually graduating to commercial credit....More
May 21, 2012

Article

Stronger risk management sought in 2012 farm law

NCC Chairman Chuck Coley, in May 16 testimony before that Committee’s General Farm Commodities & Risk Management Subcommittee, emphasized that even with budget constraints and trade concerns, it is critically important that new farm law provide certainty to those involved in production agriculture because “they make long-term investment decisions based in part on federal farm policy.”...More
May 21, 2012

Article

Senate Agriculture Committee leaders update farm bill progress

On Wednesday morning, Senate Agriculture Committee leadership was optimistic a farm bill recently passed out of committee will soon hit the Senate floor....More
May 21, 2012

Article

AFBF: Multi-legged stool best approach for farm bill

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman at a hearing today on Capitol Hill re-emphasized his organizations’ support of a single commodity option and a strong crop insurance program in the 2012 farm bill....More
May 17, 2012

Article

Feds say land values rise in three-state area

A quarterly survey of agricultural credit conditions across a three-state region (Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico) by the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank indicates agricultural property values continued to rise for irrigated and non-irrigated land in the first quarter of 2012, some bankers calling the results a positive indication of a strong ag economy in spite of last year’s devastating and far-reaching drought....More
May 17, 2012

Article

USDA marks 150 years of progress and innovation

President Abraham Lincoln established the USDA 150 years ago. In creating USDA, President Lincoln knew that agriculture provided for a stable and secure society—hence the moniker “The People’s Department.”...More
May 17, 2012

Article

DCP, ACRE signup deadline is June 1

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson reminds producers that enrollment for the 2012 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) ends June 1.  ...More