Bill Tomson

Daybreak Oct 1: USDA killing wage survey, raising questions about H-2A rates

10/01/20 9:58 AM By Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Ben Nuelle, and Bill Tomson

USDA has announced plans to kill its survey of farmworker wages, a move the United Farm Workers claims is aimed at cutting wages for H-2A workers. In a notice posted Wednesday, USDA says the fall survey conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics Service is no longer needed because of data that is available from other sources.

Daybreak Sept 30: Trump attacks on China; Biden targets Brazil on climate

09/30/20 9:12 AM By Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Ben Nuelle, and Bill Tomson

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The first of three presidential debates is over and it was a brawl. President Donald Trump briefly touched on trade policy, accusing Biden of being weak on China. “China ate your lunch, Joe,” Trump charged at one point.

Brazil seeks bigger sugar sales to US during ethanol quota talks

09/30/20 6:35 AM By Bill Tomson

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The U.S. and Brazil have not yet reached a deal on U.S. demands to be able to sell the country more ethanol, but the Brazilian government is making clear what it is demanding in return, according to sources in both countries. Brazil wants more access to the lucrative and tightly guarded U.S. sugar market.

Daybreak 29: House Dems roll out new COVID aid bill

09/29/20 9:06 AM By Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Ben Nuelle, and Bill Tomson

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House Democrats are moving ahead with a new coronavirus aid bill despite failing to reach a deal with the White House. The new measure is scaled back from the HEROES Act that passed the House in May but would still cost $2.2 trillion, which is well above the amount Republicans say they could support.

Doud optimistic on strong ag deal with UK

09/28/20 2:19 PM By Bill Tomson

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The U.S. and the U.K. still have a lot of negotiating ahead of them, but the British will likely agree to a free trade agreement that allows for increased trade in beef, pork and poultry, says Gregg Doud, the U.S. Trade Representative’s top agriculture negotiator.

Daybreak Sept 28: Supreme Court fight awaits Senate

09/28/20 9:09 AM By Steve Davies and Bill Tomson

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Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett made clear in her introduction at the White House on Saturday that she maintain her textualist approach to interpreting laws. She said “a judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold.”

Daybreak Sept 25: Ag groups appeal for PPE, testing

09/25/20 9:08 AM By Spencer Chase, Steve Davies, Ben Nuelle, and Bill Tomson

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Farmers are still struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. So, nearly 170 farm groups are calling for federal help in getting personal protective equipment and COVID-19 testing resources for farmworkers “as we continue to promote the health and safety of our farm employees and rural communities.”

Farm groups to USTR: WTO critical for US ag exports

09/24/20 3:24 PM By Bill Tomson

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U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer recently called the World Trade Organization “a mess,” but some of the largest U.S. agricultural groups and companies are speaking out in a new letter to stress the importance of the WTO to American farmers.

South Korea close to filling quota pledge for US rice

09/24/20 12:21 PM By Bill Tomson

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South Korea, in a deal struck with the Trump administration last November, agreed to buy at least 132,304 metric tons of U.S. rice annually and the country is getting close to meeting that promise for 2020, according to U.S. government and industry officials.

Daybreak Sept 24: Nations raise concern over US farm subsidies at WTO

09/24/20 9:05 AM By Steve Davies, Ben Nuelle, and Bill Tomson

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A former chief economist for USDA, Joe Glauber, warned recently that the billions of dollars in payments to farmers to offset trade wars and COVID-19 impacts would “attract attention” on an international level. And that’s exactly what’s happening.

Newsmakers

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

06.05.2026

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Karen Ross on California agriculture, water, MAHA, Prop 12

California agriculture operates at a scale and under conditions unlike anywhere else in the country, yet the policy decisions extend far beyond state lines. We spent the week in Sacramento for the annual Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Issues Summit West and caught up with California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to discuss the challenges, opportunities and innovations shaping California agriculture, and why the rest of the country should be paying attention to the Golden State.

Plus, Ag Council of California President Emily Rooney outlines concerning plastic and packaging regulations and Chris Zanobini, president and CEO of Ag Association Management Services Inc., describes the "regulatory jenga" plaguing California agriculture.

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