A U.S. appeals court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to ban chlorpyrifos within 60 days. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reverses a Trump administration reversal of an Obama administration plan to impose a ban. Chlorpyrifos is used on cotton, corn, almonds and fruit trees including oranges, bananas and apples, to kill worms and insects. The pesticide has been linked to learning disabilities in children, according to the Hagstrom Report. EPA previously, in 2000, banned household use of chlorpyrifos over concerns the pesticide can harm the brain and nervous system. The Environmental Working Group calls the decision a “huge victory for public health. Meanwhile, CropLife America expressed disappointment with the decision, and is hopeful “EPA will consider all avenues of appeal” after review of the decision.
A poll by Farm Futures shows support to Donald Trump from farmers is slipping. The survey found that 60 percent of farmers would vote for the president if the election were held today. That’s down from the 75 percent support level Trump received from growers in the 2016 election. Meanwhile, 24 percent said they would not vote for reelection and 17 percent were unsure. 78 percent of those who voted for the president in 2016 said they would still vote for him today. Trade policy appears to be the biggest sticking point as farmers and ranchers have applauded much of Trump’s policy moves. 86 percent of those surveyed said Trump’s move to reduce regulation is good for their farm. Even 42 percent of Clinton voters backed the president on that effort. However, just eight percent of farmers support Trump’s claim that “trade wars are good and easy to win.” Farm Futures surveyed 924 growers from July 20 to August 2. Farmers were invited by email to fill out an online questionnaire.
U.S. exports of grain in all forms are on track to set a new record in 2017/2018, with two months of sales left to report, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and analysis by the U.S. Grains Council. During the first ten months of the marketing year, September 2017 to June 2018, the United States exported 98.3 million metric tons, or 38.7 billion bushels, of grain in all forms, up two percent year-over-year from last year’s record-setting pace. The feed grains in all forms calculation helps capture how much of U.S. coarse grain production is actually used in the world market by including the corn equivalent of co-products like ethanol and distiller’s dried grains with solubles, as well as beef, pork and poultry meat exports. Mike Dwyer, Grains Council chief economist, predicts grains in all forms exports could top 116 million metric tons, or 4.57 billion bushels, by the end of the marketing year. USGC says that achievement would come “despite a tumultuous trade environment, serving as a reminder of the resiliency” of U.S. exports and of the quality and price competitiveness of U.S. coarse grains and co-products.
The Department of Agriculture Thursday announced it would move some jobs out of Washington, D.C. under a realignment plan. The agency says the moves are intended to “improve customer service, strengthen offices and programs, and save taxpayer dollars.” As per the announcement, The Economic Research Service, currently under USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area, will realign with the Office of the Chief Economist under the Office of the Secretary. Additionally, most employees of ERS and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture will be relocated outside of Washington, DC. The movement of the employees is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. New locations have yet to be determined, and it is possible that the two may be co-located when their new homes are found. The movement of the Economic Research Service under the Office of Chief Economist, according to USDA “simply makes sense because the two have similar missions.” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the changes “are more steps down the path to better service to our customers.”
The farm economy in seven Midwestern states dipped in the second quarter of 2018, alongside a sharp drop in prices of key commodities and weakened agricultural credit conditions. The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank’s Agricultural Credit Survey released Thursday shows that despite challenges in the farm economy, farmland values have remained relatively steady and provided ongoing support to agricultural credit markets. A decline in farm income accelerated slightly in the second quarter as crop prices plummeted in June. Farm income was expected to remain subdued in the coming months, especially in states more heavily concentrated in commodities, such as soybeans, that have been targeted by retaliatory tariffs. The report says that ongoing weakness in the farm economy continued to dampen spending throughout the sector, and bankers indicated they expect borrowers to continue to reduce spending in coming months. Agricultural credit conditions also weakened at a slightly faster pace in the second quarter, and bankers continued to report a modest increase in problems with loan repayment.
Farmers for Free Trade Executive Director Brian Kuehl says he’s unhappy the White House is ratcheting up the trade war. While more tariffs on Chinese goods are set to go into effect in two weeks, he says the President is telling farmers to be patient as prices plummet and their markets are overtaken by foreign competitors. “That’s why with each new tariff announcement, polls show the patience of American farmers wearing thin,” Kuehl says. “Tariffs are causing long-term damage, not just to farming either, but also to American manufacturers and consumers.” He adds that members of Congress from both parties are hearing from Americans that are angry about tariffs while they’re back in their states and districts. “It’s time to end the trade war before tariffs cause any more economic pain for America’s heartland,” he adds. The group is launching an $800,000 ad campaign called “Tariffs Hurt the Heartland,” spread across radio, TV, print, and online ads on farm programming across the heartland. The ad buy is part of a larger $2.5 million national anti-tariff campaign the group launched in July.
The U.S. says it will begin imposing tariffs of 25 percent on an additional $16 billion in Chinese imports in t, further escalating the trade war between the two countries. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office says Customs will begin collecting the extra duties on 279 different product lines. The list includes a lot of industrial and machinery products. Agricultural machinery is on the list, including tractor pistons, seeders, planters, and irrigation systems. Bloomberg says this will be the second time the U.S. slapped more duties on Chinese imports in a month. The move comes as American companies complain that the more tariffs will eventually cost them more to do business and raise consumer prices. China has promised to retaliate with another $16 billion in tariffs on U.S. imports. The tariff total could actually increase soon. The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office is looking into the possibility of a ten percent tariff on another $200 billion in Chinese goods. Those duties could be implemented shortly after the comment period ends on September 5th.