Secretary Perdue Statement on President Trump’s Tax Reform Agenda
(Washington, DC, August 30, 2017) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today expressed his strong support for President Trump’s tax reform agenda as a great benefit to the American agriculture community. Perdue issued the following statement:
“Just as he has done with excessive and costly regulations, President Trump has focused on the problem of onerous and burdensome taxes. Most agricultural operations are, in fact, small businesses, and the time and costs associated with merely complying with the tax code are impeding American prosperity. Farming is a complex enterprise, as even the smallest operations know, so the attention and financial resources that are diverted to handling taxes are an extra barrier to success.
“People should be able to keep more of what they have earned through the sweat of their brows, which will also invigorate the entire United States economy. The Death Tax is one section of the code that is particularly offensive to agriculture, as too many family farms have had to be broken up or sold off to pay the tax bill. The president’s tax reform package will be of great benefit to agriculture and help improve rural prosperity.”
==============================
HSU attends Utah Wildlife Board Meeting in opposition to proposed increase in cougar permits
WHAT: The Humane Society of Utah (HSU) and other Utah wildlife organizations are opposed to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) suggested increase in the number of cougar hunting permits for the 2017-2018 trophy hunting season. DWR is proposing a statewide quota of 571 cougars, not including the number of cougars that can be killed in four unlimited hunting units around the state.
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 31 2017, begins at 9 a.m.
Cougar Recommendations and Rule Amendments for 2017-2018 is #8 on the current agenda.
https://wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/board/2017-08_board_agenda.pdf
WHO: The Utah Wildlife Board will vote on the recommended quota increase.
WHERE: State Department of Natural Resources Auditorium
1594 West North Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah
WHY: The Humane Society of Utah believes that people should treat all creatures decently, and protect them from cruelty, avoidable suffering, and unnecessary killing. The majority of cougars in Utah are hunted using radio-collared hounds to chase cougars into trees or rock ledges where a trophy hunter can shoot these cats at close range. HSU and its members are opposed to trophy hunting, which has no utilitarian function and is not a comprehensive solution to managing wildlife.
Cougar population estimates are highly subjective, variable, and widely viewed as inaccurate. The proposed quota does not reflect the actual status of Utah cougars and is biased to the demands of consumptive groups. Non-consumptive users are, unfortunately, viewed as lesser stakeholders in wildlife management decisions.
“We’re asking for additional unbiased research to be done before making any decision, and non-lethal population control methods whenever possible,” said Deann Shepherd, HSU representative. “We can’t base the decision to kill more cougars on the premise that they must be doing okay because hunters are killing so many. Due to hunting, lion populations are getting younger, and younger lions are more prone to conflicts. Hunting is likely increasing the risks rather than reducing them.”
================================
REGIONAL NEWS RELEASE United States Department of Agriculture NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE MOUNTAIN REGIONAL FIELD OFFICE P.O. BOX 150969 · Lakewood, CO 80215-9966
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2017 Contact: Bill Meyer (800) 392-3202
AGRICULTURAL PRICES RECEIVED
Prices Received – Mountain Region States and United States: July 2017 with Comparisons State July 2016 June 2017 July 2017 Barley, All (dollars per bushel) (dollars per bushel) (dollars per bushel) Colorado ............................. 5.45 5.38 4.28 Montana .............................. 5.22 4.19 4.48 Wyoming ............................ (D) (D) (D) United States ....................... 5.00 4.47 4.54 Corn Colorado ............................. 3.64 3.55 3.72 United States ....................... 3.60 3.43 3.49 Wheat, All Arizona ............................... (D) (D) (D) Colorado ............................. 3.27 3.37 4.08 Montana .............................. 4.62 4.63 5.00 United States ....................... 3.75 4.37 4.77 Cotton, Upland (dollars per pound) (dollars per pound) (dollars per pound) Arizona ............................... (D) (S) (S) United States ....................... 0.745 0.697 0.714 Hay, Alfalfa (dollars per ton) (dollars per ton) (dollars per ton) Arizona ............................... 140.00 180.00 170.00 Colorado ............................. 150.00 170.00 170.00 Montana .............................. 130.00 135.00 135.00 New Mexico ....................... 165.00 185.00 180.00 Utah .................................... 130.00 125.00 125.00 Wyoming ............................ 125.00 125.00 130.00 United States ....................... 138.00 154.00 152.00 Hay, Other Arizona ............................... 160.00 170.00 180.00 Colorado ............................. 160.00 175.00 175.00 Montana .............................. 120.00 135.00 135.00 New Mexico ....................... 140.00 165.00 165.00 Utah .................................... 100.00 110.00 110.00 Wyoming ............................ 110.00 120.00 120.00 United States ....................... 111.00 125.00 126.00 Milk, All (dollars per hundredweight) (dollars per hundredweight) (dollars per hundredweight) Arizona ............................... 15.30 16.70 17.20 Colorado ............................. 16.20 17.70 17.70 New Mexico ....................... 15.20 15.70 16.20 Utah .................................... 15.40 17.10 17.00 United States ....................... 16.10 17.30 17.30 (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (S) Insufficient number of reports to establish an estimate.
UNITED STATES
July Prices Received Index Down 2.9 Percent
The July Prices Received Index (Agricultural Production), at 95.3, decreased 2.9 percent from June 2017. At 86.3, the Crop Production Index decreased 1.1 percent and the Livestock Production Index, at 104.0, decreased 3.1 percent. Producers received lower prices for cattle, broilers, and calves but higher prices for market eggs, hogs, and wheat. Compared with a year earlier, the Prices Received Index is up 5.3 percent. The Crop Production Index increased 2.1 percent and the Livestock Production Index 8.3 percent. In addition to prices, the indexes are influenced by the monthly mix of commodities producers market. Increased monthly movement of grapes, wheat, hay, and cotton offset the decreased marketing of milk, oranges, cattle, and broilers. The Food Commodities Index, at 100.5, is down 3.5 percent from the previous month but up 6.7 percent from July 2016.
July Prices Paid Index Unchanged
The July Prices Paid Index for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW), at 107.0, is unchanged from June 2017 but is up 1.4 percent from July 2016. Lower prices in July for nitrogen, feeder cattle, potash & phosphate, and milk cows offset higher prices for concentrates, feed grains, LP gas, and other services.
For a full copy of the Agricultural Prices report please visit www.nass.usda.gov. For state specific questions please contact:
Arizona – Dave DeWalt 1-800-645-7286 Colorado – William R. Meyer 1-800-392-3202 Montana – Eric Sommer 1-800-835-2612 New Mexico – Longino Bustillos 1-800-530-8810 Utah – John Hilton 1-800-747-8522 Wyoming – Rhonda Brandt 1-800-892-1660
