Farm groups look at Trump and see a potential ally
President-elect Donald Trump is getting a welcoming handshake from farm groups often identified with Democrats or populists, not just those touting free enterprise and low taxes. The National Farmers Union said in a letter to Trump that the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, backed by many farm groups, is a threat to the rural economy, so "we hope to work with your administration on fair trade deals."
USDA drafting a new beef checkoff amid industry disarray
The Agriculture Department is drafting a $1 a head beef checkoff program of its own that would run alongside the current $1 checkoff that is a lightning rod for complaints of favoritism.
Fewer cattle will mean fewer seats on check-off board
The board that oversees the beef check-off program would lose three seats under a reapportionment proposed by USDA in the Federal Register.