Canada’s dairy subsidies have been a controversial topic during the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations. For many years, the U.S. dairy industry has claimed that their Canadian counterparts are heavily subsidized through their dairy supply management program. The U.S. says that supply management program, and the Class and pricing systems in place, creates an unfair playing field. The website Dairy Herd Dot Com says Canada has issued a report that says the U.S. should examine its own dairy subsidies before pointing the finger at Canada. Dairy Farmers of Canada commissioned the 588-page report that looks into the role that subsidies play in the U.S. dairy market. The report says that 73 percent of returns that American dairy farmers received in 2015 were the result of subsidies, including the Margin Protection Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Canadian report says those subsidies returned $12.06 per hundredweight. Sean Haney is the founder of the Canadian ag website Real Agriculture Dot Com, who says the report is tilted in favor of Canada. However, he also says it’s important to remember that there is probably some truth to the report as well.

The National Sorghum Producers are looking at how to respond to China’s announcement of anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations into imports of U.S. sorghum. China’s Ministry of Commerce made the investigation announcement on Sunday. National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust said his organization plans to fully participate in the investigations. They also intend to work closely with industry stakeholders and partners to demonstrate U.S. sorghum producers do not dump their product into the Chinese market and that U.S. sorghum isn’t unfairly subsidized. NSP says it’s had a long-standing relationship with customers in China. U.S. Grains Council CEO Tom Sleight says the Chinese market isn’t closed to American imports right now. As far as the industry knows, sales contracts are still being fulfilled. Roughly 100 sorghum producers happened to be in Washington, D.C., as the investigation announcement was made. Those producers were able to talk with elected officials about the situation and ask for their support. The investigation is expected to take up to a year.

President Donald Trump released his plan to upgrade the nation’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and airports. Bloomberg says it may be a tough sell in Congress. Democrats say it falls short and Republicans are said to be wary of another large spending measure. The 53-page document shows how Trump plans to stimulate $1.5 trillion in new investments. It also looks to shorten project permitting time to two years, invest in rural projects, and improve worker training. Many of the main points in the plan have been known for some time. There were some new elements in the proposal, including expanding the use of private-activity bonds to finance projects. That would extend the use of tax-exempt debt by private entities and broaden the number of projects the bonds could be used for. Other proposals include letting states add tolls on interstates, as well as fostering public-private partnerships in transit projects. The plan also proposes streamlining legally required environmental analysis for public projects. Under the plan, it would give regulators more latitude in waiving required environmental reviews and how it could impact a community.

Farmers and ranchers, don’t forget to respond to the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The first deadline of Feb. 5 has passed, but the USDA is encouraging all farmers and ranchers who haven’t yet done so to respond. Every response matters. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, will soon send another questionnaire to those who haven’t responded and start making follow-up phone calls later this month. There are two ways to respond: online at www.agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The census, conducted just once every five years, provides a complete account of the industry, its changes and emerging trends. Census data are widely used, often relied on when developing the Farm Bill and other farm policy, and when making decisions about disaster relief, community planning, technology development, and more. It is important that every producer be reflected in the data so that no operation or community is underserved in the years to come. The better the data, the more accurate the reports; the more accurate the reports, the more informed decisions will be, said USDA officials.
For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. For questions or assistance with the census, call toll-free (888) 424-7828.

Foreign countries that compete with the U.S. for world market share are increasing their spending on promoting ag exports. Several countries, as well as the European Union, spent close to $1 billion in public funds on ag export promotion in 2016. Studies are showing those countries outspent the U.S. 4 to 1. That’s a 70 percent increase in competitive public spending since 2011. U.S. public funding for its two largest export promotion programs is about $235 million per year, with the real value declining by 12 percent since 2011. A study commissioned by the Wine Institute and other ag groups shows that public investment from the EU and four European countries will exceed $550 million in 2019. “That’s more than twice what the U.S. authorizes for agricultural export development under the farm bill,” says Mark Powers, Chair of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Ag Exports. Canada and Italy have doubled their spending on ag export promotion while China and Brazil have tripled their investment. Tom Sleight, U.S. Grains Council CEO, says increasing competition is one reason why organizations that participate in USDA cost-share export programs are calling for more funding of the U.S. program.

Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts says the Bipartisan Budget Act passed in both chambers of Congress benefits Americans in many ways. It avoids a government shutdown, raises military funding, contains disaster assistance for several states that were hit hard by natural disasters, and improves livestock assistance programs. Roberts says, “In addition to disaster assistance for states hit hard by hurricanes, we’ve also improved livestock disaster programs to help producers recover from wildfires and other disasters.” More funds are available under the Emergency Assistance Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program. There’s also more money available under the Livestock Indemnity Program. There’s also a revision of the LIP program that lets producers who had livestock injured during a natural disaster and sold for a diminished value can qualify for a payment. House Ag Committee Chair Michael Conaway says delegations from the two hardest-hit states of Florida and Texas worked very hard to get something put together to help their producers. Conaway adds, “The relief includes vital improvements to standing disaster programs and addresses significant gaps in the safety net for cotton and dairy farmers.” He says they have more work to do on behalf of America’s farmers during the development of the 2018 farm bill.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley this week attempted to move forward the nomination of Bill Northey to a top Department of Agriculture post, but was again blocked by Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Grassley sought unanimous consent from his Senate colleagues on the chamber floor Wednesday. However, Cruz objected, further delaying Northey’s confirmation. Cruz has blocked the vote to confirm Northey as the USDA undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services since October of last year, wanting to reach a deal on biofuel credit prices under the Renewable Fuel Standard. On the Senate floor, Grassley stated: “Taking a nominee hostage to try and force an ill-conceived policy change is only going to cause more problems for this body in the future.” Ranking Senate Agriculture Committee Democrat Debbie Stabenow also called for the nomination to move forward. Stabenow said: “It’s important to note that Mr. Northey’s leadership is needed now on a number of issues, including disaster recovery for our farmers in the aftermath of hurricanes, wildfire and drought.”