Agriculture Archives - Page 7 of 12

Daines Urges SBA to Ensure That Ag Businesses Receive Coronavirus Relief Funding

April 2, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that agricultural businesses are eligible for Coronavirus relief programs. “Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses in Montana and across the country are facing substantial market challenges due to the pandemic,” Daines wrote. “Small businesses, whether they are involved in agriculture or otherwise, need assistance in these unprecedented times and SBA can play an integral role in mitigating disruptions to our nation’s food supply and our economy more broadly.” To read the full letter, click HERE. Background: Daines has been leading the efforts in Congress

Daines Urges USDA to Provide Immediate Assistance to Cattle Producers

April 1, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting immediate assistance to cattle producers during the Coronavirus pandemic. “The COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated the need for domestic food security,” Daines wrote. “All farmers and ranchers are vital to our country’s ability to keep food on the table in a future pandemic or related crisis, and many producers, including young producers, are often highly leveraged and cannot fall back on years of equity in a time of crisis. As such, we urge you to quickly deliver relief to producers

Daines Calls On DOJ to Investigate Price-Fixing, Market Manipulation Within Cattle Market and Meatpacking Industry

March 19, 2020

U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the ongoing allegations of price-fixing and market manipulation within the cattle market and the beef meatpacking industry. “At a time when cattle producers are seeing record losses and bankruptcies, now exacerbated by the COVID-19, compared to the shelf price of meat at record highs – these margins fail to make sense. We ask that the Department of Justice Antitrust Division evaluate these dual concerns thoroughly and expeditiously in order to protect the integrity of America’s failing beef industry,” Daines wrote.

Pulse Growers Hopeful Trade Resumes with India

March 10, 2020

An ongoing trade war with India has caused market prices for peas, lentils and chickpeas to crash. But, pulse growers remain hopeful that recent efforts with India will help secure this important export market again. India is the world’s largest consumer of pulse crops, contributing to approximately 27 percent of the world’s consumption. And for Montana pulse growers like Jillien Streit from Chester losing this important export market as hurt their bottom line. “The U.S. market value to India for lentils, dry peas and chickpeas dropped 86 percent from the year 2016-17 to 2018-19” said Streit. “Our prices have plummeted

Daines Stresses Serious Concerns with USDA’s Decision to Lift Brazilian Beef Ban

February 28, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today expressed serious concerns with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) decision to lift its ban on Brazilian raw beef imports. Daines stressed the decision could put food safety standards at risk and questioned how USDA would monitor beef imports from Brazil moving forward. “In 2017, USDA FSIS refused entry to approximately 2 million pounds of beef from Brazil and subsequently announced the suspension of all imports of fresh beef from Brazil due to public health concerns, poor sanitary conditions, and animal health issues,” Daines wrote. “Given that the United States halted

Daines Urges President Trump to Secure Greater Opportunities for Montana Pulse Crop Farmers in India

February 20, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines wrote a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to fight for favorable pulse crop provisions during ongoing trade negotiations with India. Montana is the number one producer of pulse crops in the United States. “The most commonly consumed pulse crops in India are lentils, chickpeas, dried beans, and peas, yet the Republic of India has levied substantial tariffs on American pulse crops,” Daines wrote. “Engaging Prime Minister Modi on pulse crop tariffs as part of larger discussions to enhance the economic cooperation between our countries would be mutually beneficial to American producers

Daines, Gianforte Celebrate President Trump Signing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement

January 29, 2020

U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today celebrated President Trump signing a trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, also known as the USMCA, into law. Daines and Gianforte were joined by Montana State Senator Mike Cuffe (SD-1, Eureka) for the signing ceremony. To download the video, click HERE. “Just finished watching President Trump sign the historic US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement at the White House,” Daines said. “Great to be here with Greg Gianforte and Mike Cuffe, and it’s a great day for Montana’s farmers and ranchers.” “What an honor to be here at

Daines Secures Passage of USMCA out of U.S. Senate

January 16, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted for a critical trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, called the “USMCA,” out of the U.S. Senate. The trade agreement now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. “This trade deal is a big win for our farmers, ranchers, and small businesses across Montana and the country,” Daines said. “This deal provides certainty for Montana ag and protects critical access to our two biggest trading partners. I’m thankful for President Trump’s leadership getting this done, and look forward to it being signed into law.” To

Daines Celebrates Phase One U.S.-China Trade Agreement Signing at the White House

January 15, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined President Trump at the White House for the official signing ceremony of the Phase One U.S. – China Trade Agreement. Daines was joined by Cascade County Commissioner Joe Briggs for the White House event. To watch the full video click HERE. “What an honor to be here with Commissioner Joe Briggs of Cascade County, Great Falls Montana, for this historic U.S.-China trade signing ceremony,” Daines said. “I’ll tell you what, it means billions of dollars for our ag industry which is a big deal for Montanans, so big shout out to President

Daines Votes to Advance USMCA out of Senate Finance Committee

January 7, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to advance a critical trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, called the “USMCA,” out of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Daines serves as Montana’s lone voice on the Committee, which has jurisdiction over international trade action, and has been a strong proponent of advancing the trade deal. Click HERE to download full video “Today marks a very important step for farmers, ranchers, and small businesses across Montana as well as around our country,” Daines said. “Advancing this important trade deal between the United States, Canada and Mexico

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