Agribusiness Update for Tuesday 10/06/15

The U.S. and 11 other countries have reached an agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. For the U.S., the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement opens agricultural markets in Japan and Canada, among other things. Canada and Japan have agreed to increase access to their dairy markets, allowing some American dairy products in, but New Zealand also persuaded the U.S. to accept more of its milk products. The deal, however, must be approved by each nation's government. The President's administration must make the text of the deal public at least 60 days before sending it on to Congress.

USDA has awarded more than $113 million in program grants to support farmers growing fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops, also known as "specialty crops," through research, agricultural extension activities, and programs to increase demand and address the needs of America's specialty crop industry. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is awarding $63 million to 755 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program projects nation-wide.  The grants are issued to State departments of agriculture for projects that help support specialty crop growers. 

That's today's Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network of the West.