Ag exports

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages show wage and salary employment in agriculture has been stable the past decade.

While the volume of ag exports is projected to expand from 2021-30, U.S. exports of major crop and livestock commodities are also expected to face stiff competition from other exporters.

Trade tensions thawed slightly last week after China decided to exclude U.S. soybeans and pork from additional tariffs.

Export shipments to China out of Seattle and Tacoma ports fell 32% in 2018. The figures show AG exports out of the Northwest are down 21% THIS YEAR as of the end of March.

A new USDA study finds greenhouse gas emissions from corn-based ethanol are about 39-percent lower than gasoline, and when refined at natural gas-powered refineries.

With Trump tariff payments boosting Corn Belt farm revenue, farmer confidence shot to its highest level since last June, just before the trade war with China began.

Remaining 11 countries appear to be on the verge of ratifying the massive trade pact without the U.S.. Economic development leaders asking for support to modernize NAFTA agreement.

**Maintaining the duty-free status on U.S. Ag exports to Mexico and Canada is one of the key objectives for U.S. representatives preparing to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. That’s according to a list of goals by the U...

**During a visit with Ag leaders in Cedar Rapids, Iowa last week, President Trump delivered an optimistic campaign-style speeches embracing farmers and ranchers as the “backbone of America.” The president has come under fire from rural Democrats for proposed cuts in his first budget outline and for lacking specifics about plans to deliver some of his ambitious plans...

**As you probably know by now, President Trump is keeping campaign promise to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. He also announced the U.S. will begin negotiations to either re-enter the Paris agreement or start a new negotiation that would be a better deal for “our businesses, workers, people and taxpayers...