California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • U.S. Ag Exporters Can Now Apply to Participate in South Korea Trade Mission

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, will lead the agribusiness trade mission to Seoul, South Korea on March 25 – 28, 2024. USDA is currently inviting U.S. exporters who wish to participate in this trade mission to submit their application.

    “North Asian markets are a source of stability for U.S. exports and an opportunity for market share expansion due to its heavy reliance on food imports and underlying macroeconomic growth,” said Taylor. “While the Republic of Korea is already one of our top export markets, we see tremendous potential for growth as the demand for health and fitness, ready-to-eat, and convenience products is growing, providing a great opportunity for U.S. exporters to expand their sales in the region.”

    The trade mission will offer U.S. agribusinesses the potential to increase or expand their food and agricultural exports to the region. While in Seoul, participants will engage in two days of business-to-business meetings with potential importers, processors and distributors. Additionally, attendees will receive in-depth market briefings from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and industry trade experts to better understand market dynamics and consumer trends, as well as participate in site visits and other networking opportunities.

    With a population of roughly 52 million people and limited arable land, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) relies on imports to satisfy consumer demand for food variety, lower prices and greater convenience. In 2022, South Korea imported approximately $41.1 billion worth of agricultural goods, and the United States was the leading supplier with $10.4 billion in agricultural exports. The United States is South Korea’s top overall supplier and its leading source for an array of farm products, including beef, almonds, fresh cherries, fresh oranges, hides and skins, soybeans, dried distillers grains (DDGS), ethanol and wheat. The United States and the Republic of Korea implemented the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) in 2012.

    As a result of the pandemic, as well as demographic and economic trends in South Korea, the market has seen a boom in e-commerce. In addition to traditional hypermarkets and retail markets, e-commerce platforms can be important to increasing sales in Korea. The market has been trending to higher demands for products of convenience, such as ready-to-eat foods, home meal kits and smaller portion-size packages. There has also been an emphasis on health and fitness products due to general healthy lifestyle changes as well as an aging population.

    U.S. exporters who wish to participate in this agribusiness trade mission must apply by December 18, 2023. Click to apply online.

    For those U.S. companies selected, USDA highly recommends purchasing travel insurance and checking with the airline on their cancellation/adjustment policies and flexibility. We recognize the global travel situation remains fluid and uncertain. USDA will continue to monitor the situation carefully and will keep participants apprised of any changes to entry requirements.

  • FDA Foods Coalition to Advocate for the Implementation of Proposed Redesign of Human Foods Program

    The FDA Foods Coalition was launched on Oct. 26th to advocate for a modernized, effective foods program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) focused on preventing foodborne illness outbreaks and other food safety risks, and decreasing diet-related chronic diseases. Made up of consumer advocates, food industry representatives, public health groups, and state and local regulators, the Coalition will educate policymakers, media and the public about improving the governance of the FDA Human Foods Program.

    The Coalition is supportive of FDA’s proposed redesign of the Human Foods Program and looks forward to working with Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D., and new Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones to implement these changes and facilitate greater transparency, accountability and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

    Many of the organizations in the diverse coalition began working together following FDA’s delayed response to the infant formula crisis and called on Commissioner Califf to appoint a leader empowered to address the fundamental problems plaguing the agency’s foods program. In response, Commissioner Califf ordered an external review of the program by the Reagan Udall Foundation, which concluded that the FDA’s culture, organizational structure, and governance model undermine its effectiveness. Earlier this year, Commissioner Califf announced plans to adopt many of those recommendations and recently appointed Jim Jones as deputy commissioner of its Human Foods Program.

    “Consumers depend on the FDA to be effectively organized and governed to prevent food safety risks and ensure our food is safe,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports and co-chair of the FDA Foods Coalition. “Commissioner Califf has proposed a redesign that will allow the Human Foods Program to carry out its critical mission and make the agency more accountable and transparent. Our coalition supports these changes and believes the implementation of them is critically important to all of the FDA’s food system stakeholders.”

    “Industry needs a strong, unified, and modernized FDA to facilitate innovation, growth, and the production of safe, nutritious foods that are accessible and affordable for all consumers,” said Roberta Wagner, senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at the International Dairy Foods Association and co-chair of the FDA Foods Coalition. “The coalition will continue to advocate that FDA shift away from its traditional reactionary model to a modernized, prevention-oriented oversight model that aligns with industry’s immense efforts to ensure continual improvement and prevent problems from occurring, as exemplified by industry’s ongoing implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Industry values FDA’s oversight role in assuring companies produce safe food every day for American consumers, and we look forward to supporting the agency’s Human Foods Program through this coalition.”

    “FDA needs substantial additional resources to strengthen and improve its human food safety and nutrition programs.  Maximizing the value of such an investment will require stakeholders and the FDA to address the organizational, cultural, and policy challenges that confront food safety,” saidSteven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. “The FDA Foods Coalition is uniquely positioned to achieve this and is a natural complement to the Alliance’s efforts to increase funding.”

    In addition to Consumer Reports and the International Dairy Foods Association, the Coalition includes the American Frozen Food Institute, Association of Food and Drug Officials, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Brands Association, Consumer Federation of America, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, International Fresh Produce Association, Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association, STOP Foodborne Illness, and Western Growers. The Coalition will continue its outreach to other stakeholders that align with this mission.

    The FDA Foods Coalition will work with the agency to ensure that FDA’s Human Foods Program:

    ●       Communicates, embraces and promotes a clear and compelling vision, mission and value statement.
    ●       Institutes an organizational structure with a single leader with a clear articulation of roles, responsibilities, and accountability and a culture that is well-equipped to sustain leadership transitions.
    ●       Establishes — through the new deputy commissioner position — a management system that fully integrates the Human Foods Program on policy, resource management, and field operations, and leads a program-wide transformation that prioritizes the shift to a public health prevention culture in both headquarters and field operations.
    ●       Develops and nurtures a culture where regulatory decision-making is focused on consumer safety and public health, rooted in scientific evidence and FDA’s legal framework, and occurs in a timely and predictable way.
    ●       Prioritizes meaningful stakeholder engagement and collaboration in regulatory priority setting and decision making based on science-driven and effective risk management principles, maximum transparency, and data sharing.
    ●       Establishes a stronger, more cooperative relationship with state, local, and tribal governments, including fulfilling the FSMA vision of a National Integrated Food Safety System.
    ●       Formulates an appropriations strategy that considers stakeholder input and includes a well-defined, prioritized agenda and clarity and transparency on how program funding would be allocated.

    ●       Has authority and resources to ensure that the agency’s Enterprise Modernization initiative meets the operational and data management needs of the Human Foods Program.

  • Congressmen Valadao, Langworthy Introduce Legislation to Stop Bans on Traditional Energy Sources

    Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) joined Representatives Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Tom McClintock (CA-05), Jim Moylan (GU-AL), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), and Clay Higgins (LA-03) to introduce the Energy Choice Act. This bill would prohibit states or localities from prohibiting an energy service’s connection, reconnection, modification, installation, or expansion based on the type of energy source being delivered.

    “California has been ground zero for misguided mandates that penalize traditional energy sources – driving up costs for working families and further stressing our state’s already unreliable power grid,” said Congressman Valadao. “Governor Newsom has banned the sale of combustion-engine vehicles in the state after 2035 – putting the interests of extreme environmentalists over hardworking Californians. I’m proud to support the Energy Choice Act to put an end to these misguided energy policies and ensure an all-of-the-above approach to energy production and use.”

    “Governor Kathy Hochul and Democrats in Albany are hurting Upstate New Yorkers with their relentless war on American energy,” said Congressman Langworthy. “Her effort to ban the use of gas in buildings across the state will not only increase energy costs for families, but it will also eliminate a reliable and necessary source of energy that keeps homes heated and people safe during our extreme winter storms. As this is becoming a dangerous trend in blue states across the country, the Energy Choice Act would end these costly bans and secure our nation’s energy future.”

    “To achieve energy independence we need energy diversification, but not to the exclusion of traditional energy sources,” Congresswoman Malliotakis said. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to prevent states like New York from banning specific types of energy to increase reliability, protect our constituents during the cold winter months and ensure Americans have access to affordable energy options.”

    “President Biden and Governor Hochul continue to squash American energy production and infringe on Americans’ right to choose how they heat their homes by implementing legislation to make energy for our communities less reliable and more expensive,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Energy Choice Act would prevent any state attacks on energy choice to save our families money and unleash American energy dominance. The Left must end their war on natural gas and allow Americans to choose the energy sources that work best for them!”

    “As a result of weak policies, the American people are burdened by a higher cost of living now more than ever before,” said Congressman Moylan. “The Energy Choice Act works to ease the pockets of Americans by giving them the right to access affordable and reliable energy through prohibiting restrictions on natural gas. Most importantly, this bill would make us less dependent on foreign adversaries for our energy needs.”

    Background:

    In August of 2022, California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a measure requiring all new vehicles sold in the state of California to emit zero emissions by 2035. Since then, nine other states have committed to following California’s standard, saying they will enforce the ban on the sale of all internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. These states include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, and Rhode Island.

    In April of this year, Congressman Valadao led a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to reconsider this policy and cited the impacts on the state’s electrical grid, supply chain, and economy.

    The full text of the bill can be found here.

  • $328 Million Available for Drought and Climate Resiliency Projects with Focus on the West

    The Department of the Interior recently announced up to $328 million in funding opportunities available through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, to help communities address impacts of climate change through water recycling, water storage and desalination projects. The funds come primarily from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s WaterSMART and Small Storage programs, as well as through annual appropriations, and the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.

    President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents the largest investment in climate resilience in the nation’s history and is providing much-needed resources to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and climate change, including protecting the short- and long-term sustainability of the Colorado River System. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Reclamation is investing a total of $8.3 billion over five years for water infrastructure projects, including water purification and reuse, water storage and conveyance, desalination and dam safety. The Inflation Reduction Act is investing an additional $4.6 billion to address the historic drought.

    “In the wake of severe drought conditions throughout the West, the Department is bringing every tool and resource to bear — including significant investments through President Biden’s Investing America agenda — to help build community resilience to drought and climate change for generations to come,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Through today’s funding, we are partnering with local communities to advance innovative solutions for water conservation and expand local water storage supplies.”

    “Through these historic investments in climate resilience, Reclamation is offering a variety of opportunities to assist communities and irrigation districts in fully utilizing their current water supplies and tapping into potential new supplies,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “As we work with our stakeholders to address impacts of climate change, these projects will diversify water portfolios and help provide flexibility.”

    Reclamation is implementing an overall $1 billion investment for WaterSMART grants and $100 million for Small Storage Program grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide financial assistance to water managers to help conserve and use water more efficiently, implement renewable energy projects, investigate and develop water marketing strategies, mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict, and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States.

    These programs also advance the Justice40 Initiative, part of the Biden administration’s historic commitment to environmental justice, which aims to ensure 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that have been marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

    As part of the announcement, Reclamation is opening three funding opportunities for water recycling and reuse, desalination construction and small water storage projects:

    Water Recycling Projects

    Through Reclamation’s Title XVI Program, a total of $239 million is available for water reclamation and reuse projects. Reclamation will provide financial assistance to local water agencies for the planning, design, and construction of water reclamation and reuse projects. Water recycling is an important tool used to stretch limited water supplies.

    Desalination Construction Projects

    Reclamation is making up to $64 million available for desalination construction projects. Desalination projects develop and supplement municipal and irrigation water supplies through the treatment of ocean or brackish water, thereby providing a local supply, providing flexibility during water shortages, and diversifying the water supply. These projects provide growing communities with new sources of clean water and increase water management flexibility, making water supplies more reliable.

    Small Water Storage Projects

    Reclamation is making up to $25 million available for small surface water and groundwater storage projects in the 17 Western states, Hawaii and Alaska. Surface water and groundwater storage projects are essential tools in stretching the limited water supplies caused by a changing climate. Funding is available for projects with a water storage capacity between 200 and 30,000 acre-feet that increase surface water or groundwater storage.

    Information on these funding opportunities is available at grants.gov or Reclamation’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law webpage.

    About the U.S. Department of the Interior

    The Department of the Interior (DOI) conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper.

  • Valadao Introduces Bill to Expand Access to Fresh Produce

    On September 21, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) joined Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to introduce H.R. 5589, the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill establishes a new mechanism for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase a wide variety of U.S.-grown fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to those in need.

    “We need to ensure our food insecure residents in the Central Valley have access to the fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables we grow right in our own backyard,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bill not only helps our neighbors in need, but it also helps our domestic agriculture sector by ensuring the produce they grow is being put to good use. I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan bill that will strengthen our agriculture economy and make fresh produce more widely available to those in need.”

    “Far too many families across the United States do not have readily available access to high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “The USDA’s Commodity Procurement program buys more than $3 billion in domestically produced foods annually and helps drive important reforms across our food system. That is why I am introducing the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act with Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman David Valadao. This will allow our diverse local and regional supply chains the opportunity to distribute U.S.-grown fresh produce to those in need.”

    “Improving access to local fruits and vegetables is a win-win for Ohio farmers and residents,” said Senator Brown. “Not only does this bill make it easier for Ohio residents to access local produce, but it will also help create shorter American supply chains, ensuring Ohio small family farmers and businesses keep more of their money in their community.”

    Background:

    On average, USDA directly purchases more than $2 billion annually of domestic commodities to redistribute to feeding sites around the country. Today, only five fresh produce commodities are available within the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) catalog, accounting for just under $6.5 million of purchases. While USDA added a fresh produce box in 2021, it has had limited uptake due to constraints to the current program that limit the variety of fresh produce that can be included. The Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act seeks to address the shortcomings of the current program to make a wider variety of produce available to organizations serving food insecure populations.

    The Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act would:

    • Provide USDA with an additional tool to partner with existing growers and fresh produce distributors to procure a greater amount of fresh fruits and vegetables
    • Distribute U.S.-grown fresh fruits and vegetables to local food banks, schools, youth-serving organizations, tribal governments, and other nonprofit community members serving nutrition insecure populations.
    • Strengthen access to a wide variety of U.S.-grown fresh fruits and vegetables to recipients in need by including at least seven types of U.S.-grown fresh fruits in vegetables to vulnerable communities living in poverty.
    • Provide opportunities for a wider variety of high-quality produce sourced, packed, and distributed from growers and distributors of all sizes, including veteran, women-owned, and socially disadvantaged members of the agriculture community.

  • State Reaches Settlement with Major California Pesticide Applicator

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced it reached a settlement with a major agricultural pesticide-application business regarding numerous violations of state law that endangered workers and the public.

    In November 2022, DPR initiated a licensing disciplinary action against TriCal Inc., one of the state’s largest agricultural pesticide applicators and the largest single applicator of 1,3-D. The pesticide 1,3-D has been linked to potential acute and cancer health effects at certain levels of exposure.

    DPR’s licensing action cites 9 incidents and 61 pesticide use violations in Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties involving 1,3-D and/or chloropicrin.

    The settlement reached today will require a two-year probation of TriCal’s license. The probation requirements include:

    • Providing seven-day advance public notification to neighbors within difficult-to-evacuate sites and sensitive sites of planned pesticide applications, such as school facilities, nursing homes, or occupied residences or businesses.
    • Using special impermeable ground-covering tarps for certain types of applications.
    • Enhanced post-application monitoring for all fumigations near difficult-to-evacuate sites, sensitive sites and bystander areas. Bystander areas include wildlife habitat, sidewalks and parking lots.Creating and hiring three new compliance coordinator positions and adding additional trained staff to increase monitoring during applications.

      TriCal must also develop a “stewardship program” to improve the education and resources provided to pesticide applicators.

      “Licensed pesticide applicators must adhere to the state’s strict requirements governing the safe use of pesticides,” said Julie Henderson, DPR Director. “Compliance with the state’s pesticide use laws and regulations is essential to protecting the health of workers, communities, and the environment, and to the sustainability of healthy food production in California.”

      DPR’s settlement with TriCal follows a series of enforcement actions taken by local, state, and federal agencies. Enforcement actions from county agricultural commissioners in 12 counties assessed more than $125,000 in administrative civil penalties against TriCal between 2014 and 2020. In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assessed a $44,275 fine for federal pesticide violations occurring in Fresno County. Most recently, TriCal paid $400,000 in penalties as part of a judgment in a Monterey County civil action for a series of pesticide incidents in that county. Unlike the previous enforcement actions which sought monetary penalties, DPR’s action imposes probationary requirements. As the state agency responsible for administering the professional pesticide applicator licensing program, DPR has authority to take licensing action based on violations of pesticide use requirements.

      The majority of the “priority episodes” DPR cited in the licensing disciplinary action occurred in Monterey County. Priority episodes are defined as violations that result in serious illness or injury, or that affect more than five people or result in significant property damage or crop loss. In an October 2019 priority episode cited in the action, 39 fieldworkers in Monterey County were exposed to 1,3-D and chloropicrin due to TriCal’s misapplication of the pesticides. Thirty-two fieldworkers experienced symptoms of pesticide exposure and three sought medical care for their symptoms.

      Investigations of these violations were conducted by county agricultural commissioners.

      “The additional probationary requirements will increase transparency about the use of these products to neighboring communities and agricultural businesses while also creating uniform use conditions across California to continue to ensure the safe and effective use of these pesticides” said Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo. “California has the most robust pesticide regulatory program in our nation, and today’s actions demonstrate the commitment at the state and local level to protect our agricultural workers and communities.”

      Failure to comply with the terms of the settlement could result in license suspension. The full terms of the settlement can be found here.

      ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION

      The California Department of Pesticide Regulation protects human health and the environment by fostering sustainable pest management and carrying out a robust regulatory program.

      DPR’s work includes conducting scientific evaluations of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment prior to and following registration, registering all pesticides prior to sale or use in California, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide laws and regulations in coordination with 55 County Agricultural Commissioners and their combined 500 field inspectors across the state’s 58 counties. DPR invests in innovative research, outreach, and education to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices and conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to pesticide safety information. More information about DPR.

  • CAWG-Sponsored Groundwater Recharge Legislation Sent to Governor

    This week, SB 659 (Ashby, D-Sacramento), which is co-sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), cleared its final legislative hurdle and was sent to Governor Newsom for consideration. SB 659, The California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023, puts California on a path to develop additional groundwater recharge opportunities that increase the recharge of the state’s groundwater basins.

    “SB 659 represents the most significant effort since creation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014, in emphasizing the supply side of managing groundwater,” said Natalie Collins, President of CAWG. “CAWG thanks Senator Angelique Ashby for her leadership in authoring this bill. We also thank our co-sponsor Regional Water Authority in Sacramento for partnering with CAWG on this important legislation.”

    SB 659 would give the Newsom Administration the needed authority to implement long-term strategies (regulations, funding, etc.) to ensure that addressing the impacts of climate change are a key component in securing a reliable source of WATER FOR ALL of California. This bill will lead toward a meaningful increase in the amount of groundwater recharged and help to take advantage of the state’s vast groundwater storage capacity.

    Senator Ashby said, “Groundwater recharge projects provide multiple benefits, such as reducing flood risk, storing water for future droughts, maintaining agricultural productivity and domestic water use, improving management for environmental flows, and sustaining groundwater dependent ecosystems.”

    Due to the impact of climate change, it has become imperative that we capture stormwater and substantially accelerate our groundwater recharge efforts. That is why a meaningful coalition of 52 organizations representing the agricultural industry, builders, water agencies, local agencies, and environmental organizations are all in support of SB 659.

    Newsom has until October 14 to act on SB 659.

  • India’s Rice Export Ban: Short-Term Benefit, Long-Term Challenge for U.S. Rice

    U.S. rice producers and exporters stand to benefit from India’s recent decision to ban exports of white rice, as global demand for U.S. rice is expected to rise. Increased demand will temporarily lift prices for U.S. rice producers and the industry is well-positioned to meet higher demand for exports. However, the short-term benefits of India’s rice export ban will give way to the longer-term consequence of an oversupplied global market and severe price correction when the ban is ultimately reversed.

    According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, higher global rice prices resulting from India’s export ban will prompt other countries to expand rice production, increasing global supplies. When India’s ban is reversed, presumably after the country’s elections next May, the growing rice surplus in India will be dumped on the export market and world rice prices will over-correct from the sudden flood in supply.

    “The good news is that the ban will benefit U.S. rice producers with stronger export demand, particularly from Iraq and possibly the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America,” said Tanner Ehmke, lead grains and oilseeds economist for CoBank. “Unfortunately, a prolonged period of abnormally depressed rice prices and lower incomes among rice farmers, including in the U.S., will likely follow the reversal of India’s rice export ban.”

    India’s government imposed a ban on non-basmati rice exports on July 20 following a jump in food inflation in June and erratic weather that negatively impacted the country’s spring-planted rice crop. The move was made to contain rising domestic rice prices amid higher overall food costs, geopolitical risk in the Black Sea raising wheat prices and the threat of El Nino diminishing Indian rice harvests.

    The threat of reduced global rice supplies sent India’s top importers across Asia, West Africa and the Middle East scrambling to secure supplies in anticipation of global shortages. Prices of white 5% broken rice in Thailand, the second largest rice exporter with about 13% of global market share, have climbed 18% since the Indian export ban was imposed. Should other rice-exporting countries also restrict exports, world rice prices including in the U.S. would become extremely volatile.

    So far, U.S. rough rice prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have been virtually unchanged relative to other global exporters like Thailand since India’s export ban was imposed. However, the U.S. likely will see new demand emerge to backfill into markets that are more price-sensitive to higher Asian rice prices.

    The U.S. will be well-positioned to meet higher export demand with all-rice production expected to reach 203.6 million cwt., a year-over-year increase of 26.9%, according to USDA. Potential new export business that emerges because of the ban will most likely be for long-grain rice, which is projected at 146.8 million cwt., up 14.5% year-over-year. Longer term, the U.S. rice industry should prepare for a period of heightened market volatility.

    Read the research brief, India Rice Ban Will Benefit U.S. Rice Exports, Increase Market Volatility.

    About CoBank

    CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

    CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

  • USDA Accepting Applications for Angola Agribusiness Trade Mission

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small will lead the first-ever U.S. agribusiness trade mission to Luanda, Angola on Nov. 28 – Dec. 1. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service is now accepting applications from U.S. exporters who wish to participate in this trade mission.

    “When it comes to trade opportunity, Sub-Saharan Africa is both promising and often over-looked, and the USDA trade mission to Angola presents an incredible prospect for U.S. food and agriculture exporters to expand and explore new business opportunities,” said Torres Small. “Angola is one of the largest markets in Africa, and with imports making up more than half of its food market, Angola is a perfect location for U.S. exporters to introduce more American-made products to African consumers.”

    While in Angola, participants will conduct business-to-business meetings with potential buyers, receive in-depth market briefings from FAS and industry trade experts, and participate in site visits and other networking opportunities. In addition to meeting with importers in Angola, U.S. participants will also meet with buyers from neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.

    With a population of nearly 36 million people, many of whom are middle- and high-income consumers, Angola is looking for high-quality imported products. In 2022, U.S. food and agriculture exports to Angola totaled $236.8 million, making it the 7 largest African market for U.S. exporters. Consumer-oriented products accounted for more than 99 percent of U.S. agricultural and food exports to Angola in 2022. Angola was the largest U.S. poultry market in Africa, and the sixth largest globally last year, importing more than $232 million of American poultry and poultry products.

    The Angolan market presents strong export opportunities including poultry, pulses and dry beans, wheat, and wine. Local and U.S. industry partners also see opportunities for other products, including rice and soy and vegetable oils, and other consumer-oriented products, including beef, pork, sauces and condiments, and distilled spirits.

    The deadline to apply for the Angola trade mission is Friday, August 25. The application form is available online. To learn more about this and other USDA agribusiness trade missions, visit fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.

  • American Agri-Women Announces Road to Influence Inaugural Cohort

    Six dynamic women will make up the inaugural Cohort of the American Agri-Women (AAW) Road to influence. The Road to Influence (RTI) is a new program developed by AAW designed to be a bold and innovative personal development experience for members. The program is intended to identify and move beyond limiting beliefs and behaviors, ultimately resulting in stronger leaders for AAW and beyond. The initial cohort will kick off their journey on August 24 in conjunction with the AAW event, Leading, Empowering & Aspiring toward Progress (L.E.A.P.) in Reno, Nev. L.E.A.P. is open to all AAW members, registration is available at www.agr.fyi/leap.

    Through a combination of virtual and in-person sessions, participants will develop critical skills in areas such as communication, collaboration, driving vision and purpose, trust, managing conflict, and persuasion. In person sessions will be held in conjunction with AAW events through the 2024 AAW Convention in Wisconsin and the program will culminate in a capstone project designed to bring value to AAW, its state and industry affiliates, and members.

    “AAW has a vision to create a one-of-a-kind development program for members,” said AAW Leadership Development Team Lead Sara Reid Herman. “Road to Influence is the culmination of an 18-month effort of a team of established leaders within the organization to identify the core competencies we want to develop in our membership. We are confident this program will strengthen and refine those skills within the culture of our organization.”

    AAW is grateful for sponsorship from key industry alliances such as John Deere, Syngenta, Valent, and AAW Past President Mitzi Perdue to make this vision a reality. These partners will provide financial support, curriculum consultation, and additional resources to bring the program to fruition. In addition, AAW will partner with learning and development professional Sarah Hummell to provide key course content and program facilitation.

    Initial Cohort members:

    • Debbie Bacigalupi – Co Owner, BaciBeef and Ranch Hand, Cold Springs Ranch, Montague, Calif.
    • Vikkie Becker – Co Owner, Becker Farms, Alexander, Ill.
    • Jenny Hitner – Owner, Timber Town Real Estate & Century Forest Management, Monroe, Ore.
    • Ally Moreau – Business Analyst, American National Insurance Co., Feura Bush, N.Y.
    • Donnell Scott – Food Labeling Professional, AIB International, Manhattan, Kan.
    • Chrissy Wozniak – Founder, North American Ag, Cape Coral, Fla.About American Agri-Women

      American Agri-Women (AAW) is the national coalition of farm, ranch, and agribusiness women’s organizations and state and commodity affiliate organizations. AAW’s Vision for the 2023 Farm Bill can be found at www.americanagriwomen.org. AAW promotes the welfare of our national security through safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW website for more information and to join www.americanagriwomen.org.