rice

China countering U.S. protectionism "to the end, and at any cost," over proposed tariffs. Years of work to achieve U.S.-grown rice access to the Chinese market.

Market prices are down steeply from the commodity boom that ended in 2013. Buying U.S. farm commodities, making countries like Brazil and Argentina much more attractive to Mexican importers if the NAFTA talks fail, which would see higher cost. Fraudulent labeling continues to be a problem with organic imports.

**A growing concern among U.S. lawmakers and food manufacturers that they’ll see the price of sugar go up if the sugar refining industry gets what it’s demanding from Mexico. A group of 51 House members has signed onto a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross not to go through with some proposals like raising the floor price for raw and refined sugar and funneling some raw sugar imports directly

**The U.S. seems to have the upper hand in the sugar dispute with Mexico because, according to industry officials, its refiners would be happy to get their needed imports from elsewhere. The U.S. is demanding Mexico agree to a new suspension agreement that limits the amount of Mexican sugar exports in return for U...

**A market research firm says U.S. meat sales will reach nearly $100 billion dollars by 2021. “Packaged Facts” reports demand for animal protein will continue to grow in the face of challenges from plant-based protein alternatives. The study examines current and predicted topics including consumer attitudes, value-added products, and animal welfare...

The Trump administration is considering a 20% tax on Mexican imports to finance a border wall … and that has U.S. farm groups worrying about retaliation and possibly losing a major foreign market for rice, wheat, dairy, pork and many other Ag commodities...

Chief Ag negotiator for the office of US Trade, Representative Darci Vetter wants the playing field with China leveled for American farmers. The Obama Administration has accused China of failing to meet its World Trade Organization market access commitments for rice, wheat, and corn and recently issued a trade enforcement challenge...

Debbie Stabenow, the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, rolled out legislation on Monday that would increase assistance for urban farmers according to agri-pulse Washington watch.The Urban Agriculture Act of 2016, would open some USDA programs to those involved in urban production agriculture...

All but one of this year's Seahawks draft choices are now under contract, and free agent signings continue.