Round Two for Trade Payments

Round Two for Trade Payments

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue launched the second round of trade mitigation payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from the ongoing trade disputes with China, Mexico and Canada.

Perdue told reporters with the USDA that he did have to convince the Office of Management and Budget in a recent meeting that farmers are still struggling with low commodity prices, along with the tariff battles. The original plan was for just one round of payments with the hope that the tariff battles would be easing by the end of the year.

"In my opinion that's not the case just yet."

Round two will see soybean payments remain at 165 a bushel. Corn farmers will still get 1 cent a bushel.

Producers should contact your local Colorado Farm Service Agency office to get more details of the second round of payments.

Also this week, US Senator Cory Gardner introduced an amendment that would allow marijuana businesses to open bank accounts in their own names in states that have legalized the drug. Ten states and the District of Columbia now allow at least limited recreational use of marijuana. It remains illegal under federal law and banks are wary of taking on pot sellers so marijuana businesses must use cash in many instances.

Gardner referred to the 10th Amendment protection of states' powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution.

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