Donald Trump
Rural job growth is one-tenth of big-city total
The largest U.S. urban areas, with populations of 1 million or more, enjoyed a 2-percent expansion in the number of jobs since last June, while in rural counties "job growth was a bit more than a tenth of that rate, or 0.29 percent, or about 60,000 jobs," reports the Daily Yonder. In the 924 counties that are not adjacent to any metropolitan area, the number of jobs declined by just over 1,000.
GOP state senator to take on Heitkamp in North Dakota
Tom Campbell, a Republican state senator in North Dakota, has announced that he’ll try to steal the U.S. Senate seat in 2018 from Heidi Heitkamp — the state’s sole Democrat in Congress. Heitkamp, who was considered for a role in President Trump’s cabinet, was both the first senator and the first Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee to endorse Sonny Perdue to lead the USDA.
Farm groups to NAFTA negotiators: Do no harm, do no harm, do no harm
“From your perspective, would it have been better if the Trump administration had never raised the issue of renegotiating NAFTA?” The Bloomberg Radio reporter had to ask the question twice before he got an answer, maybe because it conveyed the uncomfortable, but undeniable, sentiment at Wednesday’s joint press conference by the three main farm groups from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
GOP grip on Alabama Senate race loosens
Having failed to win a majority of votes in Tuesday’s special primary, Sen. Luther Strange now faces the possibility that the controversial nature of his appointment could doom him in the Sept. 26 runoff with former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. If Strange loses to Moore, it could open the door for a Democratic upset in the general election, says Roll Call.
On NAFTA, Mexicans will try to give Trump a ‘win’ without losing
As Mexican officials head to Washington this week to begin renegotiating NAFTA, they are balancing their specific goals with an awareness that the American president cares as much, or more, about the optics of the deal than the specifics, says the Los Angeles Times.
Canada’s guest farmworker program accused of human rights abuses
With Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau taking to Twitter to welcome immigrants to his country, Canada has gained a reputation for being friendly to new arrivals. But now the nation’s guest farmworker program has come under scrutiny for human rights abuses and treatment that is anything but hospitable.
Study: Trump’s Justice Department easier on polluters than its predecessors
The Trump administration has allowed polluters to pay less than half the amount in civil penalties they were forced to pay under the three previous administrations, says a report by the Environmental Integrity Project.
Pruitt’s EPA accused of secret phone calls and armed guards
As he works to reverse many of the environmental regulations set under the Obama administration, EPA chief Scott Pruitt has dialed up both security and secrecy at the agency.
Trump’s war bluster has people stocking up on food, supplies
As the Trump administration spars with North Korea with threats of nuclear attacks, Americans are turning to so-called prepper businesses to stock up on food, water, and other supplies, reports The New York Times.
Few Trump detractors in Farm Belt at the six-month mark
Farmers voted overwhelmingly for President Trump last fall and they are ardent supporters to this day, according to a Farm Futures survey of 1,200 growers, as the president completed his sixth month in office. Some 49 percent gave Trump an "A" or a "B" grade on agriculture; only 10 percent, roughly the same portion who supported Democrat Hillary Clinton, gave him an "F."
Trump plays favorites in Alabama Senate race, Brooks cries foul
In a 22-word tweet, President Trump dove into the Republican primary for Senate in Alabama, endorsing appointed Sen. Luther Strange, a reliably conservative vote on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Three front-runners are vying for two spots on the runoff that is expected to follow Tuesday's primary; Rep. Mo Brooks said Trump was "somehow misled" into endorsing Strange.
Perdue: Trump and I believe in Clovis
If there was any question of backing for Sam Clovis, nominated to be USDA chief scientist, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, "I fully support the nomination" and "the president has confidence in his abilities." Perdue brushed aside questions whether Clovis, a college professor, has the credentials for the job.
Report: Under Trump, climate change went on the ‘avoid’ list at USDA agency
Officials at USDA's land stewardship agency told employees to use the phrase "weather extremes" rather than "climate change" as the Trump administration settled into office, says The Guardian, based on emails it obtained that showed the new administration "has had a stark impact on the language used by some federal employees."
Senate race in Alabama could change Ag panel lineup
The newest member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Luther Strange of Alabama, appointed to the Senate in February to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions, also is the first of the panel's members to face the voters. He's in a neck-and-neck race ahead of the Aug. 15 Republican primary election and has appealed to the farm block for support.
Interior Dept. investigating Zinke’s healthcare calls
The Interior Department's Office of Inspector General is undertaking a preliminary investigation into phone calls made by Secretary Ryan Zinke to Alaska’s Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, warning them that that they could lose their standing with the Trump administration in light of Murkowski’s vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act.
USDA nominee Clovis blogged about ‘race traders’ and called Obama a ‘Maoist’
President Trump’s nominee for USDA chief scientist described black leaders as “race traders” and called President Obama a “Maoist” in blogs produced a few years ago in conjunction with a radio talk show aimed at conservatives, said CNN. Clovis was co-chair of Trump’s presidential campaign, Trump’s liaison with farm groups and, since January, the White House’s chief political operative at USDA.
Chance that world will reach Paris climate treaty goals almost nil, says study
There is only a 5 percent chance that efforts to prevent global temperatures from rising less than 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century — the goal of the Paris climate deal — will succeed, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Clovis is most controversial USDA pick in 15 years
Facing a chilly reception from Capitol Hill, Sam Clovis is the most controversial selection for a senior USDA post since Iowa agribusinessman Tom Dorr in the opening days of the George W. Bush administration. Democratic Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware and Pat Leahy of Vermont have joined the senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, in questioning Clovis's qualifications for an agriculture undersecretary post that includes serving as USDA's chief scientist.
Trump and Vance oppose funding bill that includes farm aid
President-elect Donald Trump called for a “streamlined spending bill” that also increases the federal debt ceiling on Wednesday as a replacement for the three-month government funding bill that congressional leaders produced the preceding day. That bill included $10 billion to offset a decline in farm income and $21 billion in disaster relief for agriculture.