PERDUE RESPONDS TO UGA STUDY ON USMCA
He oversees nation’s farm policy and he has bone to pick with UGA trade deal study
By Secretary Sonny Perdue
The Macon Telegraph and the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
May 26, 2019
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The University of Georgia recently published a study claiming the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement would cost some Georgia vegetable and fruit growers revenue and jobs. The sensational assertions are flat wrong. As a proud UGA alumnus, I’m here to tell you USMCA is good for Georgia’s farmers and all American agriculture.
Chapter by chapter, verse by verse, USMCA improves virtually every component of NAFTA and Georgia’s agriculture industry stands to gain significantly. It’s important to note we didn’t get all the improvements we wanted for seasonal fruits and vegetables. While we were hopeful we could make progress in the renewed NAFTA, USMCA isn’t a step backward. The UGA study assumed we lost ground, but the facts are it wasn’t ground we had to begin with. Since the inception of NAFTA more than 20 years ago, agricultural trade between our three countries has boomed. U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico increased by about 300% and our imports increased by almost 500%, benefiting producers and consumers on both sides of our borders.
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Let me give you some real data on Georgia’s agricultural output. Over the past 10 years under NAFTA, Georgia growers have seen vegetable sales increase by more than 23%, fruit and nut sales have gone up more than 100% and crop receipts have gone up more than 50%. Farm income in Georgia grew by more than 20% during that period. From USDA’s most recent Census of Agriculture: blueberry harvested acres increased by 37%, pepper acreage increased 157% and eggplant acreage increased by 45%. While fresh cucumber and tomato acreage decreased 8% for each crop, those changes are nowhere near the assumed damages by the UGA researchers. Furthermore, it is not unreasonable that my fellow Georgians would switch to crops that provide higher levels of profit. That is the beauty of our agricultural system – producers plant for the market, not for the program.
USMCA benefits Georgia’s entire agricultural industry. By ensuring better market access and solidifying commitments to fair and science-based trade rules with our top trading partners, USMCA is a big win. For the first time, trading rules specifically address agricultural biotechnology to support innovation and reduce trade-distorting policies. Poultry producers have new access to Canada for chicken and eggs, and expanded access for turkey. Corn growers maintain duty-free access to Mexico, which is the top market for U.S. corn. USMCA updates rules of origin for processed fruits to ensure preferences benefit U.S. producers.
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On my first day as secretary, President Donald Trump promised he’d fight for better deals for American farmers – USMCA is proof of that. Our farmers, ranchers, and producers have an abundance of the highest quality products they want to sell around the globe. President Trump is laying the foundation for a stronger farm economy through USMCA and other fair trade deals. When President Trump first mentioned the possibility of withdrawing from NAFTA, the universal hue and cry from agriculture was “do no harm.” Not only has he done that, USMCA is a better agreement than NAFTA on almost every front.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2019
Sen. Lee Introduces Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act Thursday, a bill that would empower local managers of wilderness areas to decide whether to allow and how to regulate non-motorized travel in wilderness areas.
“The National Wilderness Preservation System was created so that the American people could enjoy our country’s priceless natural areas,” Sen. Lee said. “This bill would enrich Americans’ enjoyment of the outdoors by expanding recreational opportunities in wilderness areas.”
The Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibits the use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, motorboats, and other forms of mechanical transport. Current Department of Interior policy considers non-motorized mountain bikes to be “mechanical transport.”
This bill would insert language to the Wilderness Act to ensure that the rules restricting “mechanical transport” do not include forms of nonmotorized travel in which the sole propulsive power is one or more persons.
Additionally, the bill would grant local officials the authority to determine whether, where, and when to allow permissible forms of nonmotorized travel over particular trails.
An online version of this release can be found here.
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How A Hybrid Model Can Help Retailers Survive The Online-Shopping Trend
With shoppers finding much of what they want online, the future of the brick-and-mortar store can seem bleak.
Such major retailers as J.C. Penney, Lowe’s, Gap and Family Dollar, among many others, have announced plans to close at least some stores across the United States this year.
Is it possible, though, that an answer for what’s troubling retailers these days could be a hybrid model that marries digital with an in-store experience?
Already some are trying such an approach, as when Amazon opened a Black Friday pop-up store in Madrid where customers could browse, scan the QR code to learn more about any item that drew their interest, and instantly make a purchase online.
“This no-pressure concept is becoming increasingly popular as today’s customer strongly rejects any hard-sell tactics,” says J.J. Delgado (www.jjdelgado.xyz), a former Amazon marketing manager in Europe who led the largest sales day in the company’s history.
“Instead, they favor an environment that allows them to make their own choices based on all the information that is available to them.”
Retailers have been facing a sea change in their customers’ shopping habits for some time now. A recent Harvard Business Review article pointed out that some stores are handling the problem by cutting the number of employees and reducing the amount of training they give employees. But the three Wharton School of Business professors who wrote the article conclude that approach is counterproductive.
In Delgado’s view, retailers can’t waste time lamenting what was. They need to adapt to what is.
“The future of shopping is not in decline, it is evolving,” he says.
Delgado offers a few suggestions on how a hybrid of digital with brick-and-mortar can work for retailers determined to survive in the digital marketplace:
The customer must experience something they can’t online. Shopping has become a multi-sensorial experience that goes much further than a mere retail transaction, Delgado says. It is about replacing the traditional shopping experience and putting the customer at the center of the whole retail process. “The customer wants authenticity and something of real value, not just monetary value but emotional value,” he says.
Store staff must provide the human connection not available online. “That human connection is the store’s trump card and they must play it right,” Delgado says. “Maximizing that connection and combining it with online connectivity is fundamental to creating the ideal hybrid experience.”
Companies must seek innovative ways to manage their new reality. The changing retail landscape is paving the way for deals between manufacturers, retailers and delivery companies to create ‘mashups’ that allow them to combine their strengths and combat their weaknesses, Delgado says.
“Amazon is the main player in this game, as we have seen with their acquisition of Whole Foods Market,” he says, “but many others are following suit.”
One example is the clothing chain Zara. The chain’s London store features interactive mirrors and high-tech facilities, and combines traditional shopping areas with online areas where customers can scan QR codes and make orders that in many cases are instantly delivered to the store on the same day.
“Some see the digital transformation as the cause for store closures, but it’s very possible that this same digital transformation also could provide the solution to retail woes,” Delgado says. “It is clear that we will soon see more hybrid-retail strategies as retailers seek ways of consolidating their online and offline presence to deliver a seamless customer experience.”
About J.J. Delgado
J.J. Delgado, co-author of Think Video: Smart Video Marketing & #Influencing (www.jjdelgado.xyz), is a professional speaker and digital-marketing expert. He is a former employee of Amazon who led the largest international-sales day in the company’s history. In addition, he was recognized as one of the Top 15 unofficial LinkedIn influencers of 2018. He has helped drive the growth of many organizations, including Amazon, Burger King, Pepsi, Hertz, Ford, Liberty Mutual and others.
Beatles vs. Elvis tribute show comes to Ogden stage
Touring show commemorates anniversary of Elvis' passing
OGDEN, UT (04/23/2019) Beatles or Elvis? Who was the real King of Rock 'n' Roll? Two of the greatest musical acts of all time face off in a high-octane, adrenaline-pumping musical showdown on Tuesday, August 13 at the Peery's Egyptian Theater courtesy of nationally touring Beatles band Abbey Road and premier Elvis tribute, Scot Bruce.
Where did the idea for this show come from?
“Music fans never had a chance to see the Beatles and Elvis perform on the same marquee,” said Nate Bott, who performs as "John Lennon" in the show.
“Now, music aficionados can watch this debate play out on stage.”
During the two-hour show, the bands perform three sets each, trading places in quick set changes and ending the night with an all-out encore involving both bands. The band members have their outfits custom-made, since avid fans know exactly what the Beatles and Elvis wore onstage during different time periods in their careers.
There’s a lot of good-natured jabbing between the bands as well.
“When it comes to stage presence, there is no comparison,” quips Bruce. “The Beatles couldn’t even dance.”
“Lennon and McCartney were the best songwriting duo of all time,” said Chris Overall, who plays “Paul McCartney” in the show."Elvis had other people write his songs."
"John Lennon said that If there were no Elvis, there would be no Beatles. Rock 'n' Roll started with Elvis…and we certainly know what happened when the Beatles got a hold of it!" said Bruce.
How can we compare the two biggest acts in the history of the music business?
“You put the two best tribute bands to the originals on stage and let the audience decide,” said show producer Andy Nagle.
August 16 marks the 42nd anniversary of the passing of Elvis.
Beatles vs. Elvis – A Musical Showdown comes to Peery’s Egyptian Theater on Tuesday, August 13 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35/$45/$55 and may be purchased by phone at (801) 689-8700, at the Theater Box Office or online at www.egyptiantheaterogden.com. The Egyptian Theater is located at 2415 Washington Blvd, Ogden, Utah 84401. The show is appropriate for all ages.
