China Deal as 2019 Ends and California Almond-Walnut Crops
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**As 2019 winds down, many still wonder whether or not President Trump will get a trade deal done with China.
INTL FCStone economist, Arlan Suderman tells agweb.com a partial deal, yes, but a full deal is unlikely.
Suderman says he got the impression China was serious when they brought 100 negotiators to Washington D.C.
Another difference is the mood of the China state press, publishing stories about how a trade agreement would be positive for China.
**Rainy spring weather that reduced California almond and walnut crops will lead to ripple effects on world markets.
A government report says world almond production will be down 3% this year, mainly due to a smaller California crop, but production will also be down in Europe.
However, world walnut production will rise 6% because of better weather in China.
**A bipartisan group, led by California Democrat Zoe Lofgren, and Sunnyside Republican Dan Newhouse, introduced a House bill to reform the agricultural labor system in the U.S.
According to the National Farmers Union, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, negotiated by a diverse group of ag stakeholders and farmworker advocates, includes provisions to both ensure a legal and stable workforce as well as protect the health and safety of farmworkers.
The bill would also make it easier to hire workers by simplifying the H-2A process and increasing the availability of green cards and visas for year-round workers.
