By former USDA Secretary John R. Block
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture posted the announcement of this year’s World Food Prize Foundation laureate. At one time, he was the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, and he now runs the Afric…
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By former USDA Secretary John R. Block
I have two subjects to cover today. One that is very hopeful – Governor Terry Branstad, now Ambassador Terry Branstad, is headed to China. The other issue, which is not very hopeful, has to do with horses.
Amb…
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By former USDA Secretary John R. Block
It’s only been a week since confirmation, but Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has hit the ground running. He has ordered that schools be given more flexibility in their school lunch programs, more local c…
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Tags: Bill Northey, Canada, China, Food, John R. Block, NAFTA, Nutrition, Robert Lighthizer, School Food, School Lunch, Sonny Perdue, Trade, Trump Administration, USTR
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block
I can report that I was on my Illinois farm last week. Weather was beautiful and we planted 360 acres of corn. Then it rained. At least we got started. It is always exciting when you first hit the field…
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Tags: Agriculture, China, Export, Farm Economy, Farm Income, Farmer, John R. Block, President Trump, Thune, TPP, Trade
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block
I want to focus on trade today. From agriculture’s perspective, it is extremely important. 25% of ag income comes from products sold to other countries. Production from 1 out of every 3 acres is exported…
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By former USDA Secretary John R. Block
Last week, I – along with 2 other former Secretaries of Agriculture (Ann Veneman and Dan Glickman) – attended the portrait unveiling ceremony of Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Department of Agriculture. Vils…
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Tags: Agriculture, China, Donald Trump, Farm Bill, John R. Block, Nutrition, Rural America, Trade, Trump Administration, USDA, Vilsack
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block
Another week goes by – Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton look to be our Presidential candidates. It’s quite a contrast. Polls indicate that they are in a dead heat, but it’s a long time until November.
Tod…
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In the last several months, there has been a lot of attention on a number of separate issues and events which impact global food security across a range of activities, yet they have not been drawn together. From Pope Francis’ visit to the United St…
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Tags: Africa, Agnes Kalibata, AGRA, Agriculture, Biotechnology, China, Congress, Federal Preemption, Food, Food Security, Genetically Engineered, GMO Label, Marshall L. Matz, Smallholder, Stabenow, Sustainable Development Goals, White House
By John R. Block, as published in the Des Moines Register
As complex as the world trading system has become, it still fundamentally relies on something as simple as trust — that nations and people will be as good as their word.
Most basically, it…
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