Coronavirus Trade Delays and Final MFP Payments
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your
Agribusiness Update.
**The likelihood coronavirus will impact demand and distribution of food to China is still unknown.
That’s according to U.S. Meat Export Federation vice president Joel Haggard who says despite rumors to the contrary, ports are functioning and imported goods continue to enter China much like they did during the SARS outbreak.
Haggard says the Chinese government is taking measures to ensure food distribution channels run as smoothly as possible.
**At the direction of President Trump, Ag Secretary Sonny
Perdue announced the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program payments to assist farmers hit hard by retaliatory tariffs.
The payments began showing up in farmers’ bank accounts at the end of last week.
Perdue tells agweb.com, while it’s great to start 2020 with the signings of the USMCA and the Phase-One China deals, we must not forget that 2019 was a tough year for farmers.
https://www.agweb.com/article/usda-issues-third-tranche-2019-mfp-payments?mkt/
**Farm labor legislation remains on the back-burner in the Senate where bipartisan efforts are underway to craft a farmworker immigration bill.
National Council of Agricultural Employers CEO, Michael Marsh tells thepacker.com, the House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in December by a 260 to 165 vote.
Marsh says the Republican-controlled Senate is likely to create its own version of a farm worker bill, but won’t likely take it up until after Super Tuesday, March 3rd.
https://www.thepacker.com/article/farmworker-legislation-simmers-senate?mkt/
