Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calls passing a farm bill a top priority for the lame duck session, but the conference committee must first come to an agreement. Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts was hopeful for an agreement Thursday, but said House Ag Committee Chair Mike Conaway refused to come to an agreement, blaming the delay on the Texas Republican. However, Conaway called Roberts comments “finger-pointing” that would not help to bring about a deal, according to Politico. Roberts noted that Conaway was holding out on signing the conference report because he has concerns with at least six titles of the bill, including commodity, nutrition and conservation. Roberts said of the conference committee leadership he is “very troubled by the fact that we have agreement among three, but we can’t get the fourth one.” Conaway says he has “some things” he hasn’t agreed to, but adds that so does Roberts, and Ranking Senate Ag Member Debbie Stabenow and Ranking House Ag Member Collin Peterson. Conway concludes “pick your poison as to who you think is standing in the way.”

60 farm and food groups, along with others, are urging Congress to block a proposed move of Department of Agriculture agencies out of the Washington, D.C. area. The group penned a letter to leaders of the House and Senate agricultural appropriations subcommittees requesting they protect the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Announced by the American Statistical Association this week, the coalition requested that agriculture appropriators “specify that no funding be used for relocation or realignment of ERS and that no funding be used for the NIFA relocation beyond that already provided for its relocation within the National Capital Region.” The letter states the fundamental concern is that the proposed relocation and realignment will undermine the quality and breadth of the work the agencies support and perform, “work that is vital to informing and supporting U.S. agriculture, food and rural economies.”

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.