Tests show African Swine Fever in China is not linked animal feed, according to a Chinese pork firm. Reuters reports tests “failed to confirm” the presence of African Swine Fever in animal feeds. The test came after recent reports that suspected ASF was linked to animal feed produced by a Chinese company. However, the company confirmed testing failed to show a link. Raw materials and finished products of animal feed were collected and tested last week. Still, contaminated feed is feared to be a contributor in China’s widespread outbreak of ASF, which reportedly has resulted in the deaths of 200,000 pigs since early August. China has previously blamed the outbreak on food scraps, often fed to backyard pigs. Last month, China confirmed 62 percent of the first 21 outbreaks were related to the feeding of kitchen waste. Regulations require that kitchen waste is heated before being fed to pigs, but experts say that step is often skipped. The practice has since been banned.

With Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives, key party leaders in the chamber are demanding changes to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. The USMCA, an updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, is expected to be signed by the U.S., Mexico and Canada during the upcoming G-20 summit at the end of this month. However, Congress must approve the deal on a simple up or down vote. New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell, who is positioned to chair the Ways and Means Trade subcommittee, says there needs “to be not only changes in the legislation but more enforcement.” Bloomberg News reports that with a presidential election in 2020, Democrats might be reluctant to approve a deal negotiated by Trump. Democrats may push for tougher labor provisions, which was a consistent demand by the party in an updated trade agreement. However, so far, no specific changes have been mentioned.

A strong marketing plan is the key for success for farmers dealing with depressed prices, according to the American Bankers Association. A tip-sheet released by the association offers farmers a few simple tips to develop and maintain a solid marketing plan. “A well-developed marketing plan can take some of the price risk off the table, which is especially important in today’s ag economy,” according to an ABA spokesperson. For farmers, ABA says you should know your break-even costs, act on opportunity to profit, set and stick to goals, remove emotion from marketing, keep things simple, avoid spot markets and understand the tools available to you. The information was developed by the ABA Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee. The Association released the tips in conjunction with its National Agricultural Bankers Conference held in Omaha, Nebraska, this week.

(NCGA) The National Corn Growers Association has extended the deadline by which National Corn Yield Contest entrants must report by ten days to Nov. 26. This additional time is to allow entrants who have had to delay harvesting because of the unfavorable conditions a chance to fully participate in the exciting contest. The online harvest entry is available to both farmers and seed representatives using the same login process as the initial entry. Login does require submission of the entrant’s NCGA membership number. To complete their forms, entrants will upload weigh tickets and a yield calculation worksheet that details the number of rows harvested and length of each pass. Prior to upload, both documents must be signed by the contest supervisor and a tutorial video is available online. Winners receive national recognition in publications such as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide, as well as cash trips or other awards from participating sponsoring seed, chemical, and crop protection companies. The winners will be honored during Commodity Classic 2019 in Orlando, Florida.

The prospect of getting a farm bill finished in the lame duck session appears low, as there is much the conference committee must agree on. Lawmakers returned to work this week with a busy lame duck session in store, and a farm bill full of disagreements on policy. The House and Senate must work quickly to also pass federal funding items by early December. Politico reports House Ag Committee leadership met briefly early this week, but appears no decisions have been made. Representative Collin Peterson, the expected House Ag Committee Chairman next year, has been adamant that he does not want to rewrite a farm bill next year. Current Chair, Mike Conaway, has previously said that the two are looking to “figure out a way to get a House offer” that is passible by the Senate. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa told reporters Tuesday that a one-year extension of the 2014 farm bill may be needed, as the farm bill debate could extend into next year.

The decline in the nation’s rural population first began in 2010, before reaching its lowest level in 2011-2012. Rural areas lost nearly 62,000 residents that year, alone. However, since then it’s begun to reverse. The Economic Research Service at the USDA made that announcement in its annual report titled “Rural America at a Glance.” As recently as 2016-2017, the ERS says rural counties added population for the first time this decade due to people moving in as the economy improved. The rural unemployment rate peaked at 10.3 percent in 2010, dropping steadily since then to 4.3 percent in 2017. After peaking in 2013, rural poverty rates across all racial and ethnic groups have also declined since then. However, the overall graying of rural America is still continuing. Rural areas are attracting retirees and losing new people coming into the workforce. Rural counties are still more attractive to retirees who are looking for scenic or lifestyle amenities.

U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the proposed rulemaking from the Department of Labor regarding the H-2A Visa Program. The proposed new rule would require American employers looking for temporary help to advertise their job openings to domestic workers online, instead of in expensive newspaper ads that reach a limited audience. This is one of the first steps in H-2A regulatory reform that was promised in May through a joint statement from the Secretaries of Agriculture, Labor, State, and Homeland Security. Perdue says one of the biggest concerns he hears about from farmers during his travels around the country is the shortage of legal farm labor. “Our farmers and ranchers are the most productive in the world and they want to obey immigration law,” says Perdue. “When American workers aren’t available, farmers turn to the H-2A program that is overly bureaucratic and cost prohibitive. Using regulations like this is one way to modernize H-2A to reach more American workers while providing relief to farmers from one of the high costs of the program.” Perdue says it’s good to see government using 21st Century technology, rather than limiting farmers to placing notices in want ads.