Guatemala

The latest USDA led Ag trade mission is underway this week to Guatemala   “Guatemala, Central America's biggest economy and our top customer in the region," said Foreign Agricultural Service acting associate administrator Mark Slupek.  He is heading the ...

The USDA will provide $466.5 million to strengthen global food security through its two premiere international development programs.  Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the agency will provide $248 million to the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, and USDA will provide $218.5 million...

On Tuesday, the USDA gifted Texas A&M University $500,000 to establish international fellowship programs. The award is for the University’s Norman Borlaug Institute to establish and teach school-based programs in Guatemala through the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program. Admin ...

Last week, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, OSHA, adopted an emergency rule requiring employers to put new safeguards in place during extreme heat events. Under the new rules, when the heat index is at or above 80 degrees, employers are required to provide access to “sufficient shade and an adequate supply of drinking water”. When the ...

A man who authorities say drove his car over a teenage girl on the Yakama Reservation has been charged with federal involuntary manslaughter.  Joshua Cole Sampson, 34, was has been charged with the June 1st death of 17-year-old Petrona Mendez Ruiz.  In...

Governments in the U.S. and Guatemala are working together to form a “registered Foreign Labor Recruiter Program” for farmworkers who want to come to the U.S.  The initiative is part of several agreements that the governments are discussing to address what they call “irregular immigration patterns.”  Under the program, ...

All export markets are significant for American agriculture.  Ag undersecretary Ted McKinney, recently explained the context of the newly-created mission area of trade and foreign agricultural affairs.  As new markets open in nations like Paraguay, or existing markets such as Guatemala or India expand, everyone one of those means more revenue for the U.S. Farm a...

Ag Under Secretary for Trade Ted McKinney just concluded a trade mission to Guatemala and said there were representatives from 34 Ag and business trade groups, plus officials from seven state ag departments.  McKinney said there were about 450 business meetings during  Central America trip.   ...