corn field and an American flag

Opinion: Appeasing hard-liners’ all but promises Farm Bill failure

The next U.S. Farm Bill, due by the end of this year, will profoundly impact the ag sector of Canada’s biggest trade partner for the next five years

The 2018 Farm Bill will expire Sept. 30. Simultaneously, the American government needs a new budget in place to open its doors Oct. 1. It will take a mighty effort for either to get done. In the three months between July 1 and Oct. 1, the House of Representatives is scheduled to be in session […] Read more

File photo of a cornfield in Mexico. (Roberto Cabrera/iStock/Getty Images)

Canada says will join as third party in U.S.-Mexico corn dispute

Mexico's measures 'not scientifically supported,' ministers say

Reuters — Canada said Friday it will participate as a third party in dispute settlement proceedings between the U.S. and Mexico regarding genetically modified (GM) corn in imported tortillas and dough, citing concerns about Mexico’s stance on the matter. The decision follows Washington’s request for a dispute settlement panel through the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which […] Read more

The poultry industry says China’s failure to lift bans 90 days after states eliminate avian flu from farms violates the Phase 1 trade agreement signed in 2020.

U.S. poultry bans continue over avian flu concerns

Importers keep their restrictions on shipments in place even as avian flu cases subside

U.S. poultry producers say they face prolonged economic pain from avian flu despite going months without infections in flocks as China and some smaller importers fail to lift trade bans implemented during the nation’s worst-ever outbreak of the virus. The lingering bans, imposed last year to prevent the spread of the disease, constrain the US$6 […] Read more

File photo of a cornfield in Mexico. (Roberto Cabrera/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. escalates Mexico corn trade spat with dispute panel request

Canada 'considering its next steps'

Washington | Reuters — The United States on Thursday escalated its objections to Mexico’s curbs on genetically modified corn imports, requesting a dispute settlement panel under the North American trade pact, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said. The request to send the dispute to arbitrators was announced after formal consultations failed to resolve deep divisions […] Read more


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Little change seen in USDA’s WASDE report

U.S. corn, soy, wheat production figures down from July report

MarketsFarm — August figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE) provided very few surprises and not much change after their release Friday. However, crop production and carryout estimates were tightened from those in July. USDA’s 2023-24 corn production estimate declined by 209 million bushels from July to 15.111 billion, […] Read more

Commercial vessels  –including vessels which are part of the Black Sea grain deal — wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Russia could be ready for Black Sea grain deal talks, but no evidence yet: US

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. said Russia has to return to Black Sea deal to market fertilizer, make agriculture transactions

United Nations | Reuters – The United States has been told that Russia is prepared to return to talks on a deal that had allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, but “we haven’t seen any evidence of that yet,” the U.S. envoy to the United Nations said on Tuesday. Russia quit the […] Read more

Real estate apps are already big business in residential markets. If they cut transaction costs, why not in agriculture too?
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U.S. Lawmakers seek to limit corporate, foreign ownership of farmland

Farm groups, lawmakers are concerned that foreign, investor ownership is driving up prices and threatening national security

Washington | Reuters – U.S. lawmakers from both parties are pushing legislation that would limit who can own American farmland, with a latest effort from Democratic Senator Cory Booker aimed at curbing corporate ownership. Farm groups and lawmakers are concerned that land buys by investors and foreign countries are driving up farmland prices and threatening […] Read more


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U.S. EPA denies nearly all biofuel blending exemption petitions

Refineries didn't prove hardship, agency said

New York | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday denied almost all outstanding petitions from oil refiners asking to be exempted from mandates that require them to mix biofuels into their fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has the authority to issue the exemptions, denied 26 petitions from 15 small refineries […] Read more

Photo: File

Mexican president moves to prioritize domestic corn for tortillas

Mexico is embroiled in a dispute with the U.S. over decree to limit use of GM corn

Mexico City | Reuters — Mexico’s president announced on Monday he will sign an agreement this week with makers of the country’s food staple tortillas that ensures they only use non-genetically modified (GM) white corn while also setting new tariffs on imports of the grain. Tariffs on white corn imports from countries that do not […] Read more