Del Monte Closes Last Plant and Trump Reduces Tariffs on India
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**California farmers who grow fruit for canned products suffered a major setback this month as Del Monte announced plans to close its only remaining cannery in the state.
The cannery’s closure will reportedly affect roughly 600 employees and 1,200 seasonal workers in Modesto.
The closure ends Del Monte’s more than 100-year history as a processor of California-grown fruits and vegetables, potentially leaving scores of farmers without a buyer for their produce.
**President Trump says the U.S. will cut tariffs on Indian goods to 18% after India agreed to stop purchasing Russian crude oil, a major new trade and energy deal between the two countries.
Trump said India also committed to reducing its tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. products to zero and to buying more than $500 billion worth of American products, including agricultural goods.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the agreement.
**USDA says it will release glow-in-the-dark sterile flies along the U.S.–Mexico border to prevent the New World screwworm from spreading north and threatening American livestock.
The flesh-eating parasite has recently been detected in northern Mexico, prompting renewed concern among cattle producers and animal health officials.
USDA officials said the sterile insect technique, which was used successfully to eradicate the pest from the U.S. decades ago, disrupts reproduction and limits population growth.
