China Progress on Phase-1 and Organic Sales Higher
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your
Agribusiness Update.
**As local agencies implement a new state groundwater law, farmers fear water costs could rise to unsustainable levels, and farm groups say that appears to be happening in one area.
The California Farm Bureau and Western Growers say an agency in the Indian Wells Valley of eastern Kern County has imposed a water-replenishment fee so high farmers can’t afford it.
The groups have asked the agency to respect farmers’ overlying water rights.
**The U.S. Trade Representative and USDA have issued a report highlighting the progress made to date in implementing the agricultural provisions in the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement.
To date, China has implemented at least 50 of the 57 technical commitments under the Phase One Agreement that should benefit American farmers for decades to come.
China also has substantially ramped up its purchases of U.S. ag products, having purchased over $23 billion worth, roughly 71% of its Phase One obligation.
**The USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service released the results of the 2019 Organic Survey, which show total sales of $9.93 billion in organic products, an increase of $2.37 billion, or 31% percent, from 2016.
California lead the nation in certified organic sales with $3.6 billion, 36% of the U.S. total and four times that of any other state.
Washington, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Texas round out the top five.
