By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Before I focus on this week’s subject, I just want to say a few words about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Scott Pruitt led the EPA as President Trump’s “deregulator in chief.” He aggressively worked to get rid of the regulatory burden that was weighing on our economy and […]
John Block: Trump Trumps NATO Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you. And now for today’s commentary
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I am headed to China this week with 30 farm broadcasters and farm and ranch leaders. We will talk to Ambassador Terry Branstad and other U.S. representatives in our Embassy and spend time with Chinese government leaders. Given the level of trade war attacks that are in place, we
Jack Block: Trade and China Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Next week, I am going to China. Last November, I was asked by the National Association of Farm Broadcasters to lead a team of farm broadcasters and ag leaders to visit China. At that time, we all knew how important China is to our industry. We knew then that
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It could be announced any time, but we still don’t know. Will the EPA provide a waiver to allow the sale of E15 ethanol blended fuel during the summer? Right now, the sale of E15 is restricted June 1 through September 15. National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Skunes
John Block: Issues Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block President Trump and Conservative Members of Congress have been trying to cut back on wasteful spending. The President wants a more efficient government by reforming civil service rules – a “merit system” doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Our federal government has 2 million public sector employees. Because of
Jack Block: This and That Read More »
After a nearly nine month delay, the United States Senate earlier this week finally voted to confirm the nomination of Dana Baiocco to be a commissioner of the CPSC. With this vote, one of the strange aberrations of the Trump Administration ceases: the 3-1 Democratic majority that the Administration and the Senate has allowed for
A Welcome Fresh Perspective at the CPSC Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I was on the farm in Illinois last week. I went into the coffee shop, talked to neighbors, and all the questions were about a trade war and the farm bill legislation. Almost everyone in the county is a Trump supporter. They understand that the U.S. runs a massive
Jack Block: Trade and the Farm Bill Read More »
Debate over the 2018 Farm Bill, likely to start in earnest this week with House consideration of H.R. 2, may focus sharp attention on the question of whether taxpayer costs for Federal Crop Insurance are reasonable and supportable. At least five amendments filed for floor consideration are intended to limit these costs in different ways.
Federal Crop Insurance AIPs: Some Misconceptions about Underwriting Gains Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I was wondering if spring would ever come. We had snow on the farm just 3 weeks ago. Suddenly, things changed. The sun came out, and it began to dry and warm the soil. I’m on the farm this week, and almost overnight we have all of our corn
Jack Block: Down on the Farm Read More »
Farmers, ranchers, and the whole ag industry have a lot to worry about. Start with farm income – our income has been cut in half over the last 3 or 4 years. There are some hopeful developments. The drought in Argentina and a production shortfall in Brazil may help to lift some of our prices.
Jack Block: Farmers Worry Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block A few months ago, did we ever think that direct talks between President Trump and Kim Jong Un to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula could ever happen? Of course, it hasn’t happened yet, but the process is moving that way. After all the sabre rattling and confrontational
Jack Block: North Korea Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are under a lot of stress as we enter planting season. Farm income has been cut in half and uncertainty fills the air as we move into the 2018 year. Trade war – we are already being hurt, but there are some encouraging
John Block: Uncertain Times Read More »
This week on Wednesday, April 18, the full House Agriculture Committee met and successfully voted to report its version of a 2018 Farm Bill, based on a draft released last week by Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and backed by Committee Republicans (H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018). The bill was passed
Part 1: The House Farm Bill Mark-Up Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Here is what I read in the Wall Street Journal: “Deficit financing has become the mother’s milk of politics. Each party is giving the other its wish list with all the bells and whistles included and asking future generations to pick up the tab.” The Congressional Budget Office projects
The Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2018 (H.R. 5425) was introduced on April 4, 2018, by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. A joint press statement announcing the bill was released by Rep. Pallone and co-sponsor Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the ranking member of the House
In a highly unusual decision, a Federal District Court judge in Maryland granted summary judgment in a food stamp licensing appeal brought by a Baltimore convenience store without permitting the retailer to conduct any discovery whatsoever. In Negash v. United States, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett dismissed the retailer’s appeal of a Final Agency
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I don’t think we have any idea where the Trump tariffs on steel and aluminum will take us. There is still a lot of concern about how they could backfire on us, costing markets and pushing up the cost of cars, tractors, and everything metal. However, boosting the cost
John Block: Where To From Here? Read More »
By Marshall Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse The drafting of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) has started….and it’s a good start. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced that, for the first time, the departments will seek public comments on the proposed priority topics and supporting scientific questions
Dietary Guidelines 2020 Read More »
By Nina Fedoroff and Alison Van Eenennaam, as published in the Des Moines Register In his speech at the recent American Farm Bureau convention, President Trump said his administration was “streamlining regulations that have blocked cutting-edge biotechnology.” Why is this necessary? Paraphrasing New York Times columnist Paul Krugman’s words on economic policy, it’s because we’re still living with “zombie” biotech
How the Federal Government Can Get Biotech Regulation Right Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block If we are anything in this country, we are creative – from the Internet, to GPS driving my tractor while planting corn. Did you know that Goodyear Tire Company is now using soybean oil to make their tires? If you want better traction, hit the road with soy-based tires.
John Block: Creativity Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I have been on the farm in Illinois the last few days. As we loaded a semi with market hogs and I walked through the barns with baby pigs, it made me think once again about the challenges farmers face. As I reported last week, the outlook can change
John Block: Down on the Farm Read More »
Congress Bars FNS from Enforcing Portions of its Enhancing Retailer Standards in SNAP Final Rule Federal agencies are viewed by many as possessing immense power over regulated businesses. This is especially true at the Food and Nutrition Service (“FNS”) in the context of retail food stores that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”),
Food companies and industry trade associations have overwhelmingly supported a decision by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to move the U.S. Codex Office from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to the Office of the Undersecretary for Trade and Agricultural Affairs led by Ted McKinney. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) is a United
Relocation of U.S. Codex Office Makes Sense Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I have a number of subjects to put on the table today. To open this up, I want to remind everyone just how much our farm and ranch economy is suffering today. Farm income is expected to fall 7% to $60 billion this year. That is less than half
John Block: Opportunities and Challenges Read More »
In the 1993 classic movie, Groundhog Day, the protagonist is caught in a time loop and forced to repeat things over and over again. This year, on February 2, the CPSC celebrated Groundhog Day by agreeing to settle a timeliness action brought against Michaels Stores. For the CPSC, in true Groundhog Day-style, the Michaels’ settlement
Groundhog Day at the CPSC Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Today, my subject is Senator Bob Dole (Kansas). Two weeks ago, he received the Congressional Gold Medal – the highest award bestowed by the U.S. Congress. Very few individuals have been so honored. The Senator is a decorated World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Congress longer
John Block: Senator Bob Dole Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block From my perspective, our government has been getting some good things done. Remember a year ago when hundreds of out-of-towners blocked the construction of the North Dakota pipeline? The government spent millions of dollars on law enforcement and court fights. In the end, the pipeline was completed. North Dakota
John Block: Good Things Done Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It has been 25 years since a President of the United States addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). The last President to speak was President George H. W. Bush. President Donald Trump spoke this week in Nashville, Tennessee, to a cheering, packed house of farmers and ranchers. They
John Block: Trump – AFBF Speech Read More »
Of all the issues surrounding a new Farm Bill in 2018, perhaps none unifies American agricultural producers more than Federal Crop Insurance, provided by USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Be it North or South, big or small, row crops or specialty, organic or conventional, the FCIC crop insurance program is today viewed almost universally
Top Priority for the 2018 Farm Bill: Protect Federal Crop Insurance Read More »
According to the Wall Street Journal: “Organic milk sales have cooled as the very shoppers who drove demand for the specialty product not long ago move on to newer alternatives, leaving dairy sellers and producers grappling with oversupply….Now, organic-milk supplies have ballooned just as demand has stalled. Many shoppers have moved on to substitutes such
“Milk” Comes from Breasts/Udders Read More »
By Marshall L. Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse When it comes to agriculture research, no organization is as important to our farmers as is USDA and the Agriculture Research Service (ARS). ARS works with our land grant universities to support US farmers and ranchers. Our unique system of research and extension is a major reason for our
The Vast Army Fighting Hunger Around the Globe Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I want to look back at 2017. In some respects, President Trump had a pretty rough year with his critics, including much of the mainstream media attacking him without relief. However, I think the case can be made that he and the Republican Congress had an impressive year. Tax
John Block: Trump’s Year Read More »
More announcements are being made each day. We will update this list, as appropriate. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP WHITE HOUSE STAFF Chief of Staff – Reince Priebus – head of the RNC (Resigned July 27, 2017) Gen. John Kelly, former Secretary of Homeland Security under President Trump and USMC – United States Southern Command (July 28,
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The Holiday season is here. Amazing – Tax reform legislation has passed, and President Trump has said he will sign it. That is a big Christmas present. President Trump and Republicans in Congress got it done without any Democratic help. Before President Trump was elected, Democrats — including President
John Block: Tax Reform Passes, a Present for the Holiday Season Read More »
