SNAP changes in Farm Bill and U.S. Wheat on NAFTA
From the Ag Information Network, I'm Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.**Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue wants to make one thing perfectly clear, the Trump administration wants significant changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps.
As reported in Agri-Pulse, SNAP is the largest ticket item in the farm bill and Republican lawmakers have already been signaling they want to reduce spending on the program that helps more than 40-million people buy groceries every year.
Perdue stressed the program must change to transition more people off of the assistance.
https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/10517-usda-ups-pressure-for-food-stamp-reform-in-2018-farm-bill
**Seven wheat groups from across the country sent a letter to leaders of the NAFTA nations stressing that continuing duty-free agricultural trade is critical to their success.
According to agriculture.com, Canada and the U.S. supply more than 60% of Mexico's wheat, and Mexico is the No. 1 market for U.S. wheat exports.
President Trump left open the possibility of a NAFTA withdrawal at the World Economic Forum, telling reporters "I think we have a good chance of an agreement, but we'll see," adding, "I may terminate NAFTA, I may not."
https://www.agriculture.com/news/wheat-groups-in-canada-mexico-and-us-ask-for-nafta-update-not-breakup
**Bayer and Monsanto may have to wait a few months for antitrust approval of their $66 billion merger.
The initial target to complete the deal was late 2017, but EU regulators say they may need until March 5 to complete their review. The combination would be the final step in consolidation in the seed and ag chemical sector to a Big 3 from a Big 6.
https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/turning-the-big-6-into-a-big-3-will-take-a-bit-longer