A coalition of agriculture groups has asked Congress to include language in an appropriations bill to allow ten states to increase commercial truck weight limits. The coalition is asking Congress to allow the states to engage in a pilot program to obtain information on the safety and environmental benefits of increasing the maximum commercial truck weight on interstate highways. In a letter sent to leaders of the House Appropriations Committee, the coalition noted that it’s been 35 years since the government last updated the gross vehicle weight limit of 80,000 pounds on federal interstate highways. Meanwhile, all 50 states have passed exceptions allowing trucks greater than the weight limit to operate on local roads. Also, more than 30 states have higher limits on their portions of interstate highways. Under the pilot program, ten states could opt-in to allow 91,000-pound, six-axle, bridge formula-compliant trucks on federal interstate highways within their borders, and collect additional safety data regarding the gross vehicle weight and axle configurations of commercial trucks involved in serious accidents.

A new industry report suggests improvements in optimism in agriculture is fueled by discussions over federal tax and regulatory reform. Farm Policy Facts reports policy experts are hopeful the momentum will continue, especially if Congress makes sound decisions regarding farm policy, which provides a foundation for the rural economy. Agricultural equipment sales have increased for six straight months, and the outlook for future sales is promising, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest says one of the best ways to help all growers turn the tide is by combining legislative certainty on the farm policy front with lower taxes and continued reductions in regulatory burdens. Combest says: “We need stronger policies right now, not weaker ones, and if lawmakers can provide that kind of certainty, farmers are poised for a comeback.”

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The largest animal vaccine company in China plans to open its first U.S. location in Manhattan.

Kansas State announced Wednesday that Jinyu Bio-technology Co. will open research labs and offices at the university’s office park sometime next year.

The company will research and design of vaccines for pigs and cattle. It also will develop educational materials for Chinese companies and veterinarians. For now, it will employ four to six scientists.

Jinyu Chairman Chongyu Zhang said the company believes Manhattan and Kansas State are leaders in animal health research that is relevant around the world.

The company also was attracted to Manhattan by its connection with the KC Animal Health Corridor, which is home to more than 300 animal health companies stretching from Manhattan to Columbia, Missouri.

A railroad company that exports U.S. agricultural products to Mexico is closely watching the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation effort. Kansas City Southern Railway Company CEO Pat Ottensmeyer told KMBC-TV in Kansas City, Missouri: “We once branded ourselves the NAFTA railroad.” Since NAFTA took effect, the railway has grown to send 40 percent of its business to Mexico. The CEO says a strong agriculture industry would rally the railway through any NAFTA uncertainty. Agriculture exports have grown 330 percent since 1993. Ottensmeyer is part of the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue Group formed in 2013, a private sector voice on trade and economic issues when negotiations happen between the two countries. While President Trump plans to renegotiate NAFTA and has threatened to end the agreement, Ottennsmeyer says as time goes on, he gets “more and more confident that there is going to be a reasonable resolution” to the NAFTA discussions.” The company says it would be extremely difficult for the President to remove the United States from NAFTA, without the approval of Mexico and Canada, adding that any taxes or tariffs would also have to go through Congress.

The Food and Drug Administration is considering a delaying implementation of a revamped nutrition facts panel on retail goods. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports the move would follow a request by industry groups that have asked the FDA to delay the new food labels by three years. The updated labels are scheduled to start being used by July of next year. However, industry groups say they need more time to line the nutrition panel up with GMO labeling rules by USDA that are due out next July. In testimony before House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on agriculture, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said: “We’re going to be taking a hard look at the implementation schedule.” Under the Obama administration, FDA announced the changes to reflect updated science, and to provide an update on serving sizes.

The 11 remaining member nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are moving on with finalizing the agreement without the United States. Four months after the United States announced it would withdraw from the trade agreement, the remaining 11 TPP countries agreed to “launch a process to assess options to bring the comprehensive, high-quality agreement into force expeditiously, including how to facilitate membership for the original signatories.” The countries agreed on a November 10th deadline at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in Vietnam. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says the move will not draw the U.S. back to the trade agreement, stressing the need for bilateral negotiations. TPP would be worth an estimated $4 billion to U.S. agriculture, if the U.S. were included in the agreement.

Nominee’s for The Department of Agriculture’s political post within the agency are expected within a month or so. Sources close to the Secretary have allegedly told Politico that Perdue has made his picks for key positions within USDA, and those picks could be announced in June. There are nearly a dozen political positions that require confirmation by the U.S. Senate, to go along with near 200-some political appointees within the federal government. No official announcements have been made yet by USDA or Perdue, but several have speculated that Steve Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association, will be nominated as USDA undersecretary. Other names floated for USDA posts include Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, Indiana Agriculture Department Director Ted McKinney, and Sam Clovis, who has served on the USDA transition team.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister told the nation’s lawmakers this week negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement would start in August, the earliest possible by U.S. law. Chrystia Freeland briefed Canadian lawmakers Monday on the negotiation process. She says a time crunch is looming, with the U.S. and Mexico in the biggest hurry to start talks. The Canadian Press reports pre-negotiation consultations will take several months. Then, once talks begin between Canada, Mexico and the U.S., there are only a few months left before political obstacles start popping up, causing potential delays. Those obstacles include the 2018 presidential elections in Mexico and the U.S. midterm election cycle. Currently, the three countries are consulting with domestic partners as they prepare for negotiating positions. Negotiations can begin any time after August 16th, after a 90-day consolation period required by U.S. law.