**Six months after the USDA promised to buy $1.2 billion worth of food from American pork, beef, and produce farmers, many are still waiting.

agriculture.com reports since Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the program in August, the agency has ordered just 11 percent of the food it promised to buy.

The pork industry has been hit particularly hard by the nearly year-long trade wars with China, Mexico and Canada.

**China isn't the only trade issue Washington D.C. is working on.

At some point this year, Congress is expected to vote on the USMCA agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada. The agreement still needs an up or down vote from both chambers of Congress.

House Ag Committee Chair, Collin Peterson of Minnesota tells agweb.com, he’s unsure of how other Democrats will vote at this point, but he will be doing everything he can to help get it passed.

 

**When the FDA approved genetically engineered animals as safe to eat three years ago, the door has been opened for AquaBounty Technologies to grow and sell Genetically Engineered salmon in the U.S.

According to agriculture.com, the fish, which developers say grows twice as fast as conventional Atlantic salmon on 25% less feed, will “contribute to a more sustainable food supply.”

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski is skeptical federal GMO food labeling rules will apply to fish, so she’s pursuing legislation requiring “genetically engineered” appear in the name.

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