NPC Calls For Tariffs on EU Fries and Protecting U.S. Citrus from Imports
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**Bug-eating birds can help farmers reduce populations of a damaging orchard pest, according to University of California research.
The project showed wintertime feeding behavior by the beneficial birds reduces larvae of the codling moth, which can damage walnuts, almonds and other crops.
Some birds can themselves damage crops, but the researchers say in nut orchards, the benefits of attracting beneficial birds outweighs any risks.
**In a letter sent to the U.S. Trade Representative, the National Potato Council and several state organizations requested the federal government increase tariffs on frozen fries imported from the European Union.
In the letter, according to potatocountry.com, the NPC cites a 500 percent increase in volume and more than 600 percent increase in value of EU frozen fry imports in just the past five years.
The trend is driven by lower cost imports, and the price disparity is impacted by factors like EU ag policies that give EU potato growers advantages U.S. farmers don’t have.
https://potatocountry.com/2020/08/31/us-potato-industry-calls-for-tariff-hike-on-eu-fries/
**California Citrus Mutual is commending the Trump administration’s plan to protect domestic growers of seasonal produce.
The citrus groups tells thepacker.com, low-priced imports have previously caused a substantial market disruption for the California citrus industry during its marketing season.
In 2017, low-priced citrus imports from the Southern Hemisphere increased 40% over 2016 shipments, causing significant price declines and harm to California growers.
https://www.thepacker.com/article/california-citrus-mutual-supports-domestic-protection-plans?mkt/
