Bill Tomson

Armed thieves are threatening the viability of U.S. rice exports to Haiti, the largest foreign market for U.S. long grain milled rice.

President Biden’s sweeping executive order pledges to address the corporate consolidation in U.S. agribusiness that has long frustrated many farmers, but his administration still has a lot of work to do to deliver on his promised relief.

President Biden is expected to sign his executive order today addressing concentration in agribusiness, transportation and other sectors. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to promote the White House initiative.

The White House is making the case that the bipartisan infrastructure agreement offers broad benefits to rural Americans and not just by expanding broadband, fixing roads and bridges and renovating locks and dams.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told Mexican government officials Wednesday that the country needs to resume its stalled process of approving genetically modified crops and pressed for an update on the country’s progress on increasing access for U.S. potatoes.

USDA will be taking some action to curb the market power of equipment manufacturers and other agribusiness giants. But it’s not clear yet what kind of teeth there will be in what USDA does.

U.S. peanut farmers were enjoying an expanding market in the European Union until government officials there decided to tighten up restrictions in 2019. Now U.S. exports are about a third of what they were and shipments are falling fast as American farmers try to make their case to European regulators and plead for help from the Biden administration to help regain the lucrative market.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng will travel to Mexico City July 7 to meet with Mexican Economy Secretary Tatiana Clouthier