Articles by Bill Tomson

China buys another 567,000 tons of US corn

04/03/20 10:45 AM By Bill Tomson

China is continuing to live up to its purchase promises under the “phase one” trade deal, buying up 567,000 metric tons of U.S. corn, according to new export sales announced Friday by the USDA. Most of it — 504,000 tons — is for delivery in the 2020-21 marketing year, while 63,000 tons are for delivery in the current 2019-20 marketing year.

Daybreak April 3: Confusion reigns over COVID-19 relief

04/03/20 9:36 AM By Philip Brasher, Bill Tomson, Steve Davies, and Ben Nuelle

Today’s supposed to be the first day that farms and other small businesses can start applying for those forgivable loans that are intended to help employers cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

US bakers celebrate more sugar as coronavirus spurs consumer demand

04/02/20 2:52 PM By Bill Tomson

The USDA’s decision to open the tightly-controlled U.S. sugar market to more foreign sugar comes as a relief for bakers and food manufacturers.

Daybreak April 2: Farmers, allies appeal to USDA for COVID-19 relief

04/02/20 9:01 AM By Philip Brasher, Bill Tomson, Steve Davies, and Ben Nuelle

Advice continues to flow into USDA for how it should divvy up the $9.5 billion that was included in the $2 trillion stimulus bill for livestock, specialty crops and local agriculture.

Daybreak April 1: Ready for you: Forgivable loans to cover payroll

04/01/20 9:45 AM By Philip Brasher, Bill Tomson, Ben Nuelle, and Steve Davies

Help is on the way to small businesses across the country, including farms and other ag employers. The Small Business Administration has released rules for a landmark $349 billion forgivable loan program funded by the $2 trillion economic stimulus bill.

China opens its growing market to US pet food

04/01/20 6:25 AM By Bill Tomson

China’s decision in November to lift its ban on U.S. poultry and the subsequent “phase one” trade deal are already boosting U.S. exports for American pet food products and sales to the Chinese market are expected to grow exponentially, spurring hundreds of millions of dollars in sales.

Daybreak March 31: ‘Very large’ pandemic impact on farm income seen

03/31/20 9:12 AM By Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Ben Nuelle, and Bill Tomson

Economists already were predicting that 2020 would be another tough year for the farm economy even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and oil prices plunge. Now, a top farm economist who’s advising USDA says he expects the pandemic to have a “very large” impact on farm income.

Daybreak March 30: Mnuchin looks to distribute aid quickly

03/30/20 9:27 AM By Philip Brasher, Ben Nuelle, Bill Tomson, and Steve Davies

Now that President Donald Trump has signed the historic $2 trillion economic relief package into law, work now turns to getting the money out as quickly as possible. “This doesn’t do anybody any good if it takes a long time,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday.

Daybreak March 27: Trump plan looks to regionalize risk

03/27/20 9:38 AM By Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Bill Tomson, Ben Nuelle, and Spencer Chase

The Trump administration is paving the way toward potentially restarting the economy in some areas of the country.

Daybreak March 26: Will Phase 3 be enough?

03/26/20 9:03 AM By Philip Brasher, Hannah Pagel, Bill Tomson, Ben Nuelle, and Steve Davies

The $2 trillion Phase 3 stimulus package that passed the Senate late Wednesday night has a lot for ag, but not everyone thinks the sector is getting what will be needed for 2020. Starting with USDA.

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April 21, 2024

Beth Ellikidis, Vice President, Agriculture and Environment for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Beth Ellikidis, Vice President, Agriculture and Environment for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. The Biden administration recently announced its Bioeconomy Board, creating new products and services to boost the U.S. economy and workforce and enhance our quality of life and the environment. Ellikidis says BIO’s goal is simply to advocate for the possible. She sees products that will improve agriculture productivity while at the same time lessen the industry’s environmental footprint. Ellikidis says the nation’s regulatory structure is strained to keep up with scientific advancements provided by fast-moving private industry research.

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04.19.2024

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: April 19, 2024: Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., on farm bill, specialty crops

California Democrat Salud Carbajal sits on the House Ag Committee and is working on his first farm bill. He joins us to discuss the latest politics surrounding a farm bill timeline and whether or not the House Ag Committee can meet a Memorial Day deadline proposed by House Ag Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa. He also discusses the challenges facing the specialty crop industry and how mechanization can be used to help workforce shortages.

Then, Dennis Nuxoll with the Western Growers Association and Tom Sell with Combest, Sell & Associates join to chat about the political environment facing a farm bill and challenges facing specialty crop producers.

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