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Tariffs, farm bill, farmland prices and cover crops among items in the news this week.

Janet Kubat Willette, E-Content Editor

June 15, 2018

2 Min Read
NolanBerg11/flySnow/SteveOehlenschlager/ThinkstockPhotos

Need a quick catch-up on agricultural news of the week? Here are seven stories you might have missed.

1. President Trump announced $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports on June 15. The first wave of tariffs will total $34 billion and take effect July 6, with another $16 billion still to be reviewed. The risk of global trade war is creating anxiety among executives whose firms rely on foreign markets for revenue or to keep costs down with imported products. – Farm Futures 

2. The Senate Agriculture Committee approved the farm bill on a 20-1 vote June 13, sending the bill to the Senate floor. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell intends to bring the bill up for a floor vote prior to the July 4 recess. The bill makes changes to the dairy program and extends the Conservation Reserve Program.  – American Agriculturalist 

3. The 2017 Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey found 60% of farmland in Iowa is owned by people age 65 and older and 35% of farmland is owned by someone 74 and older. – Wallaces Farmer

4. The Accurate Labels Act, bipartisan legislation to provide American consumers with clear, accurate, meaningful nutrition information and prevent the issuance of inaccurate labels has been introduced. – Wisconsin Agriculturalist

5. Land values in Kansas continue to soften with the ongoing downturn in the ag economy as a whole, but good quality land that offers amenities can still bring an above average price. – Kansas Farmer

6. Conservation service staff share five basic tips for cover cropping. They include understanding what you’re trying to accomplish with your cover crops, developing a plan, knowing your planting window and seeding options and deciding on a termination strategy. – Indiana Prairie Farmer 

7. Italy will not ratify the European Union’s free trade agreement with Canada. Italy has the most food products with Protected Designation of Origin and Protected Geographical Indication labels of any European country. - Reuters

And your bonus:

Domestic agritourism is on the rise. Vacationers can hunker down at working farms and ranches throughout the United States. The result is a culinary immersion. Rural getaways allow people to reconnect with the land. – USA Today

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