(Monsanto) Every growing season, agronomists play a vital role in providing expertise and support for farmers. Once again this season, farmers can show their appreciation for their agronomic support teams during Agronomy Week to be celebrated April 2-6. Launched last year by the DEKALB, Asgrow and Deltapine brands, the annual event takes place the first week of April to help farmers recognize the contributions of their agronomists, seed dealers and crop consultants who help them get the most out of every acre. Pete Uitenbroek, DEKALB, Asgrow and Deltapine brand lead, notes that Agronomy Week was created as an industry-wide celebration. “We’re proud to promote recognition for agronomic team members throughout our industry,” he says. “These dedicated professionals work closely with farmers throughout the growing season, guiding key decision-making and monitoring crop performance to help them maximize their success.” During Agronomy Week, farmers, regardless of seed brand, can pay tribute to their agronomic team by nominating up to three individuals. U.S. farmers who submit nominations will be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a daily prize as well as the grand prize – tickets to a NASCAR race for one farmer and up to three members of their agronomic support team. Farmers can nominate their agronomic professionals and enter the sweepstakes at AgronomyWeek.com or by posting the professionals’ names on the DEKALB Asgrow Facebook page or Twitter with #AgronomyWeek and #contest.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is urging President Donald Trump to lift his tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. In a statement, AEM President Dennis Slater said the mere threat of tariffs or quotas has already contributed to higher steel prices, disrupted business operations for equipment manufacturers, and caused uncertainty in the business climate. AEM represents manufacturers of equipment, including agricultural machinery. The association says the tariffs will have negative impact on equipment manufacturers and their employees. Slater said he was encouraged by the exemption offers for some of equipment manufacturers’ largest suppliers of steel, but notes that the overall industry exemption process is confusing and burdensome for businesses. Slater concludes that the best thing President Trump can do to mitigate the negative impacts of the tariffs is to “end them, immediately.”

A leading U.S. agricultural economist suggests that the trade issues with China serve as a vehicle for negotiations. Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt says China may be simply signaling the U.S. that the nation wants to negotiate, just as the U.S. has seemed to signal to China in crafting the tariffs. That seems to be the case, too, according to action by some Trump administration officials. The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that U.S. officials were discussing with China several issues, from finance to manufacturing, which could ease trade tensions. Hurt points to the proposed tariffs on U.S. soybeans in response to the U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel as a signal of negotiation. He says that China needs U.S. soybeans, and would rather not start a trade war. The list of proposed tariffs by China on U.S. imports also includes a 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork.

Steel and aluminum tariffs crafted by the Trump administration based on national security have “severely damaged” the multilateral trade system, according to officials from China. In a translated news release, a Chinese trade official says the nation will take legal actions through the World Trade Organization to “maintain the stability and authority” of multilateral trade. The comment came late last week as China announced a list of 128 products to target in retaliatory measures, including U.S. soybeans and pork. China made a World Trade Organization filing Monday to seek consultations regarding the issue. China calls the move by the U.S. a “safeguard measure” as outlined in WTO rules. Being the two biggest economies in the world, China says the U.S. and China must “focus on cooperation” to promote trade relations between the two countries. The first flight of tariffs from China focuses on fruit, wines and ethanol, among other products, worth an estimated $1 billion. The second flight, should China move forward, covers pork, recycled aluminum, and other products.

The omnibus appropriations bill that’s already won approval in the House of Representatives doesn’t reinstitute the biodiesel tax credit. Kurt Kovarik, National Biodiesel Board VP of Federal Affairs, says his organization is disappointed that Congress once again hasn’t provided pro-growth tax certainty for a domestic energy industry that has broad bipartisan support. “The lack of urgency by Congress to extend this expired tax credit continues to frustrate the producers, blenders, and marketers of biodiesel,” says Kovarik, “and we will work to educate members of the economic and environmental benefits of increased use of biodiesel, so that Congress is poised to drive investments in this American energy industry. “Last February, Congress passed a retroactive biodiesel tax credit that applied to 2017 only. Producers continue to operate in 2018 without a tax credit, which is forcing biodiesel producers nationwide to carry the risk of the uncertainty caused by the lack of the tax credit. For some small biodiesel producers, that can be the difference between keeping the lights on or shuttering down.

(NPPC) The National Pork Producers Council warned that possible Chinese tariffs on U.S. pork could have a significant negative impact on rural America. China has indicated it will impose the duties in response to U.S. tariffs and restrictions – announced today – being placed on a host of Chinese goods. “We sell a lot of pork to China, so higher tariffs on our exports going there will harm our producers and undermine the rural economy,” said NPPC President Jim Heimerl, a pork producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “No one wins in these tit-for-tat trade disputes, least of all the farmers and the consumers.” Last year, the U.S. pork industry exported $1.1 billion of product to China, making that country the No. 2 value market for U.S. pork. Many economists, including Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, have cautioned that tariffs on U.S. agricultural products could disrupt exports to China. Lost sales would have severe economic consequences for America’s farmers, who shipped nearly $20 billion of goods to the Asian nation in 2017.

President Donald Trump announced an estimated $50 billion in tariffs against Chinese imports today. Bloomberg says it’s a retaliatory move against intellectual property violations. The move will take effect on more than 100 different types of Chinese products. The overall value of the tariffs was based on economic estimates of the damage caused by those intellectual property violations. Last year, Bloomberg says Trump instructed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to look into claims that China steals U.S. intellectual property and forces American companies to transfer their technical know-how to Chinese firms as a condition for doing business in the country. Lighthizer confirmed in testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday that the administration is considering both tariffs and curbs on Chinese investment. U.S. companies like Walmart and Amazon have warned the White House that tariffs on Chinese goods will hit consumers with higher prices. The Wall Street Journal says China plans on hitting back against Trump tariffs by targeting goods from states and industries that tend to employ Trump supporters. Ways and Means Chair Kevin Brady cautioned Lighthizer and the administration about “indiscriminate” tariffs against China, noting that “it’s not about backing down, it’s about hitting the target.”