Articles by Bill Tomson

China is technically open to U.S. rice now – the Chinese ban was lifted Friday - but trade can’t begin flowing yet thanks to bureaucratic steps that remain unfinished, according to U.S. industry officials.

Normally at this time of the year, California farmers would be packing and shipping millions of cartons of oranges to China – but not now.

The government shutdown is now in effect, but that doesn’t mean USDA officials aren’t still keeping the nation’s meat supply safe and doing many of the jobs that keeps agricultural commerce flowing. However, some farm payments may be delayed after the first week.

The Department of Agriculture announced this morning export sales of 1.19 million tons of U.S. soybeans to China, the third such announcement in the past seven days after months of virtually no trade amid U.S. and Chinese trade hostilities.

President Donald Trump announced today approval for billions of dollars in assistance payments for farmers who have been hurt by foreign tariffs during U.S. trade battles with China, Mexico, Canada and others.

The USDA announced Friday a 300,000 metric ton sale of U.S. soybeans to Chinese buyers, following a Thursday purchase announcement of 1.13 million tons.

The USDA confirmed Thursday morning that China has purchased 1.13 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans, ending months of virtually no purchases since the Chinese government levied a 25 percent tariff on soybeans, corn, wheat, sorghum and other ag commodities.

Some of the nation's largest farm and food groups say when it comes to a new free trade agreement with Japan, speed is of the essence.

British Prime Minister Theresa May today called off a Tuesday vote by the U.K. Parliament on her negotiated plan to withdraw from the European Union. Without giving a specific timeline, May said the vote was delayed because she believed her Brexit plan "would be rejected by a significant margin.”