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The Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants, or RAMP-UP Act, seeks to increase the nation’s meat packing capacity. The bill was introduced last week by Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-R) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN-D). Lucas…

More Commodities Now Eligible for CFAP, but Peaches Dropped

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says additional commodities, including beets, lettuce and peas, have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), and producers will be able to submit applications that include these commodities beginning on Monday, July 13. However,…

Trump, Obrador Celebrate USMCA

U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met in Washington, D.C., this week to celebrate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement. After multiple meetings among senior officials from both nations, the U.S. and Mexican presidents signed a…

Sweltering Heat Coming to Carolinas

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us according to climatologist Corey Davis.

Grocery Store Supply Chain Working to Recover from COVID-19

The retail grocers who sell finished agricultural products like beef and eggs to consumers have had a rough time during COVID-19. Greg Ferrara is the President and CEO of the National Grocers Association, who says their stores saw unprecedented demand…

The Economic Perspective: “The Spanish Flu”

Mary: I’m Mary Walden, with economist MW, welcoming you to the economic perspective. Today’s program looks at the Spanish flu. Mike, as today we cope with the coronavirus, there’s been mush discussion about an earlier pandemic, the so-called Spanish flu. …

Restaurant Traffic Stalls Amid Increase in COVID-19 Cases

The recovery of U.S. restaurant customer transactions slowed for the second week in a row as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in many states, according to research firm NPD Group. For the week ending June 28, total customer transactions at…

Dairy Margin Coverage Program Payment Triggered for May

The May 2020 income-over-feed cost margin triggered the third payment in 2020 of the Dairy Margin Coverage program. In May, the income over feed cost margin was $5.37 per hundredweight. To date, FSA has issued more than $176 million in…

John R. Block Reports from Washington July 9, 2020 “Pandemic Costs”