Impact of Trump’s hiring freeze unclear

Executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Monday instituted an across-the-board hiring freeze for the federal government, but it is still unclear how the order will affect agencies located on the Big Island. The memorandum released Monday states that "no vacant positions existing at noon on January 22, 2017, may be filled, and no new positions may be created, except in limited circumstances.

Trump administration in gag order to Department of Agriculture researchers

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily halt all contracts, grants and interagency agreements pending a review, according to sources. The White House sent a letter to the EPA's Office of Administration and Resources Management ordering the freeze on Monday, an EPA staffer told Reuters.

Threats to US trade with China, Mexico ‘far bigger deal’ than loss of TPP

Threats to US trade with China or Mexico, which have been raised by Donald Trump's US presidency, look far more serious than the loss of the TPP deal, a senior CME Group executive said, foreseeing a jump in ag price volatility. Erik Norland, executive director and senior economist of CME Group, downplayed President Trump's decision on Monday to withdraw the US from the TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal, saying that "I do not think it really changes very much".

Letter: Hassan, Shaheen must work to reject EPA nominee

Our senators understand how important the environment is to our economy, our children and our public health. This month Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen will have an opportunity to confirm, or not, the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Facebook lifts ban, allows RT to post content1 hour ago

Moscow, Jan 20: After an "unexplained" 20-hour ban on Russian television network RT posting content on its Facebook page till Donald Trump takes oath as US President, the social networking giant on Friday lifted the restriction, allowing RT to go live. Facing criticism for allegedly spreading fake news that favoured Trump and racial bias in hate speech censorship, a Facebook bot banned RT from posting content on its page on Thursday.

Trump: Sonny Perdue will be ‘great’ Agriculture secretary

Donald Trump wrapped up his initial Cabinet nominations Thursday, tapping former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue to be secretary of Agriculture. Trump: Sonny Perdue will be 'great' Agriculture secretary Donald Trump wrapped up his initial Cabinet nominations Thursday, tapping former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue to be secretary of Agriculture.

Trump to Nominate Sonny Perdue as Agriculture Secretary

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Sonny Perdue III, the former governor of Georgia, as his choice for the next U.S. secretary of agriculture. "From growing up on a farm to being governor of a big agriculture state, he has spent his whole life understanding and solving the challenges our farmers face, and he is going to deliver big results for all Americans who earn their living off the land," Trump said in a statement.

In break with Trump, EPA pick says climate change isn’t hoax

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator-designate, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. WASHINGTON – Donald Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that climate change is real, breaking with both the president-elect and his own past statements.

Pruitt’s leadership at EPA will restore its constitutional role

That slogan should be printed on t-shirts and given to every protestor who comes to disrupt the confirmation hearing for Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Appearing before Congress in 2015 in his capacity as a state attorney general, Pruitt noted how the EPA is an important agency that plays a vital role in protecting our environment.

Northey: Grants Available to Help Promote Specialty Crops

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting applications for grant funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The grants are available to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa.

Organic Farming Research Foundation receives federal grant

The federal government has selected the Organic Farming Research Foundation in Santa Cruz as the recipient of a competitive grant, a foundation spokeswoman announced Monday morning. The grant was issued by the United States Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, and is designed to facilitate the increased use of the agency's programs and services among organic farmers.

Hedge funds turn sweeter on wheat just in time

Hedge funds turned less downbeat over wheat futures ahead of last week's data showing a surprise slump in US sowings, potentially limiting the prospects of further price rises, but appear caught out in cotton. Managed money, a proxy for speculators, hiked its net long position in futures and options in the top 13 US-traded agricultural commodities, from coffee to corn, by more than 95,000 contracts in the week to last Tuesday, analysis of data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulator shows.

How Trump can get the Dow to 20,000 :0

On Nov. 9, President-elect Donald Trump won the election, and the Dow Jones began its upward march from 18,332 in the wee hours after Hillary Clinton's concession call. The Dow rallied relatively uninterrupted straight through to Jan. 6, when it got within a fraction of a point of crossing the hurdle of 20K, peaking at 19,999.63.

January WASDE Viewed as a – Positive’ for Ag Equipment

In his annual message, John Deere's Chairman, Sam Allen, described the company's long-term prospects as "bullish," but added, "We don't mean to minimize the challenges we're facing at the present time there are signs that some of our key markets may be approaching a bottom, but we are not anticipating a turnaround in 2017." USDA's most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released on Jan. 12, provided some credence to Allen's remarks.