Veronica Nigh

The FBI is investigating, and the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee wants to know if Russia was behind the recent ransomware attack on JBS USA. Chairman David Scott said the “cowardly hacking” of critical U.S. “food, energy, and financial systems must be stopped,” and Russia must be held “accountable” if it’s somehow involved. While the House Ag Committee Chairman h ...

This week’s ransomware attack on JBS, the world’s largest meat supplier, has refocused agriculture’s attention on cybersecurity and again raised key economic issues for the Ag and food industries. USDA has contacted several major meat processors, the FBI is investigating, and President Biden has launched a “rapid strategic review.” American Farm Bureau ...

Data shows China is closing the gap towards reaching the goal of purchases in the Phase One trade agreement. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh said according to numbers released in April of this year, exports bound for China are around $10 billion, which is roughly 25% of the 2021 goal of $40 billion ...

Last week, the USDA updated trade data tracking export sales to China. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh said China has increased purchases of U.S. farm products, but is not on pace to reach commitments made in the Phase 1 trade agreement ...

An American Farm Bureau Federation Market Intel analysis shows China is buying more U.S. commodities for the upcoming marketing year, starting in September. AFBF Economist Veronica Nigh said the analysis includes corn, soybeans, sorghum and cotton ...

Changes recently passed by the House and Senate to the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program offers farmers and ranchers more flexibility. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh said this should help farmers utilize the program more easily. “U ...

Maybe you're not familiar with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, the replacement to the Waters of the U.S. rule.  But the recent announcement by the Trump Administration is sitting well with many in farm country. “Repealing WOTUS is a big deal,” said Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.   The rep...

As the American Farm Bureau Federation and they’ll tell you an interim trade deal with China is a step towards a full agreement and normalized trade.  AFBF economist Veronica Nigh is hopeful the Phase One agreement is the first of many steps.   “...

In fiscal year 2019, the H-2A farm labor program again set a record for certified positions, the number of applications processed and approved.  American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh considers the more than 258,000 certified positions in 2019 a milestone.  ...

The USDA announced last week that the second round of the Market Facilitation Program payments will go out to eligible producers just before Thanksgiving.  Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, and many others in the farming community have said while the payments have been of assistance, producers would much rather have trade than aid.  So...