Farm labor shortage continues (Philly.com): In Pennsylvania, farms face a labor shortage resulting from increased deportations and raids under the Trump administration. The state’s mushroom growers are particularly short-handed.
ERS exodus (Politico): Economists at USDA’s Economic Research Service are exiting en masse, fearing retaliation for their research findings and frustrated with the Trump administration’s efforts to relocate the agency outside of DC.
The swelling veggie burger bubble (Bloomberg): It seems like everyone wants a bite out of the veggie burger market these days—enthusiasm for faux meat burgers is swelling among fast food chains and meat manufacturers.
Trump, GOP senators discuss immigration (FERN’s Ag Insider): President Trump discussed “a potential plan that would secure the border, protect and raise wages for the American worker and move toward a merit-based immigration system,” said a White House spokesman. The bare-bones description of the meeting did not mention agricultural labor.
North Dakotans split from NAWG (NDGGA): The North Dakota Grain Growers Association, representing one of the largest wheat-growing states in the nation, withdrew from membership in the National Association of Wheat Growers after three years of dispute, saying it was “no longer seeing adequate return on investment” of dues to NAWG.
U.S. terminates tomato deal with Mexico (Commerce): As it promised 90 days ago, the Commerce Department terminated a 2013 “suspension agreement” with Mexico because of complaints by Florida growers of tomato dumping; cash desposits will be collected on imports while negotiations continue for a successor agreement.