Outgoing Kansas U.S. House Representative Tim Huelskamp (Hugh-els-camp), who lost his reelection bid in the Republican primary, says he was approached by President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team about becoming secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The Topeka Capital Journal reports the outspoken Republican says he sent his resume to Trump’s team, which he says reached out to him this week. Huelskamp holds a doctorate in agriculture policy from American University in Washington, D.C., where he graduated in 1995. However, he was kicked off the House Agriculture Committee in 2012 and lost his reelection bid in one of the largest agriculture-focused districts in the nation. Kansas farm groups endorsed his challenger, Roger Marshall, who now takes Huelskamp’s seat in the House. And former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman said he would be surprised if Huelskamp is chosen due to his “adversarial relationship with congressional leaders.” Glickman says: “You cannot have burned bridges,” adding “You have to work with Congress” as USDA Secretary.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway hinted he would be open to splitting the Farm Bill ahead of the 2018 cycle. The Texas Republican said he is “committed to getting both sides of the Farm Bill extended on time” following a meeting examining the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Conaway says the process is to be determined but said “If it’s together, great. If it’s separate, great. Whichever is the easiest path,” when asked about farm bill negotiations in the next Congress. Politico says the controversial idea is opposed by many farm and anti-hunger groups. Before the election, Farm Bill talks were expected to start sometime in early 2017.

For a 15th straight month, the Rural Mainstreet Index fell below growth neutral. The Index compiled by Creighton University rose to 36.6 from October’s 31.8, but remains below the growth neutral level of 50 on a scale of 0-100. Bankers questioned in the 10 Midwestern states included in the survey cite a negative cash flow for one-fifth of livestock farmers and the 36th consecutive month of lower farmland prices as contributing to the pessimistic measurement. Survey organizer Ernie Goss says: “Farm commodity prices continue to slam Rural Mainstreet economies.” Over the past 12 months, livestock commodity prices have tumbled 27.2 percent and grain commodity prices have slumped by 16.6 percent. The farmland and ranchland-price index for November climbed to a frail 30.8 from October’s 25.0. Meanwhile, the November farm equipment-sales index increased to 15.4 from 13.1 from October.

The Senate Agriculture Committee penned a letter to President Obama this week urging him to press China to prioritize biotechnology approvals. The bipartisan letter contains 37 signatures, 16 of which are Senate Agriculture Committee members, and asks the President to urge China to move forward in deregulating products awaiting final approval. The letter says: “The Chinese government fails to remain transparent, science-based, and timely in its regulatory process,” impacting farmers and ranchers abilities to access critical markets in China. The letter also called on President Obama to eliminate trade barriers due to regulatory systems the lawmakers claim “don’t operate based on scientific assessments.”

Cattle producers from Canada will urge the nation to retaliate against the United States, should U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump revive the U.S. Country-of-Origin meat labeling program (COOL). An internal memo within Trump’s transition team detailed how the new administration would immediately initiate changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, according to Reuters. That could include measures on COOL, which would reignite a six-year trade battle between the U.S. and Canada. U.S. lawmakers repealed COOL last December after the World Trade Organization approved more than $10 billion in trade retaliations by Canada. Canadian Cattlemen’s Association spokesperson John Masswohl says: “We’re watching, and if we think it discriminates against our cattle, our recommendation is going to be that tariffs go into place immediately.” However, he added that until it’s clear how Trump might approach COOL, no action is necessary.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key wants to talk trade issues with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. In a phone call between the two this week, Key told Trump he wished to talk further about trade and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Key told Radio New Zealand that TPP was “worthy of a much fuller discussion,” adding that Trump needs the chance to get a proper assessment before seeing how “we can move things forward.” The Prime Minister said Trump was not rejecting the notion. New Zealand indicated the nation would give the new U.S. administration time to fully consider its trade agenda. That comes after New Zealand’s Parliament approved legislation last week allowing the nation to join TPP, despite the likelihood the trade deal will not proceed.

A new report from Rabobank says the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States has the food and agriculture sector awaiting clarification on his policies and positions. The Rabobank Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory group authored the report on the possible implications of the election. Rabobank analysts say Republican-controlled Executive and Legislative branches could “mean swift action when the new administration takes office.” Rabobank notes the advisory group is watching trade, labor and farm bill talks for potential policy changes that could have longer-term implications on the industry. The report says while President-elect Trump’s policies are yet to be clearly defined, his statements during the campaign suggest drastic changes from current policy could be on the horizon. Finally, the report predicts agriculture markets may be impacted by foreign exchange volatility in the short term as Trump takes office in January.

Quarantines related to the discovery of bovine tuberculosis in Canada have expanded into the Saskatchewan providence. Ag Canada reports two farms in southwestern Saskatchewan were added to the list of those under quarantine. The quarantines stem from an Alberta cow testing positive for bovine tuberculosis at a United States packing plant. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently reported approximately 33 farms in Alberta are under quarantine while the nation investigates the case, which could take several months. The agency has only confirmed one case and the source of infection so far remains “unknown.” The agency says genetic analysis also shows the bovine TB organism from the infected cow is not the same as any strains detected in domestic animals or wildlife to date in Canada. Canada is still considered officially free of bovine TB and would lose that status only if another separate case is confirmed within 48 months. Other TB-positive animals found in connection to the current probe would not be considered a separate case.