Vice President Mike Pence talked trade Thursday with Minnesota farmers and FFA leaders at R & J Johnson Farm near Glyndon. “Farmers need the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) done now. U.S. agriculture needs strong trade agreements to access 95% of the people in this world who live outside of the United States. Our number one and number two customers on …
ZimmCast 615 – Interviews From #Water4Food
This episode of the ZimmCast features interviews from the recent Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) 2019 Water for Food Global Conference. The “Water for a Hungry World” conference was held April 29-30 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. Interviewees include: Overview interview of the conference with Peter McCornick, Executive Director, Water for Food Institute Interview with Mark …
Ethanol Report on Higher Gas Prices
The summer driving season is getting closer and gas prices are just expected to get higher, but don’t blame ethanol. A recent analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association found that gas prices have been getting higher mainly because of a surge in crude oil prices since the start of the year, combined with normal seasonal gasoline pricing, as well as …
Stay Strong Nebraska Initiative for Farmers and Ranchers
“Stay Strong Nebraska” is an initiative created to help farmers and ranchers impacted by recent flooding, providing easy access to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Disaster Relief Fund and Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund with all donations remaining in the state. Federal officials estimate the bomb cyclone weather phenomenon and subsequent flooding caused $1.4 billion in damages in the state of …
U.S. Grains Council Board Names Next President And CEO
U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Director in Mexico Ryan LeGrand has been named as its next president and chief executive officer, effective next month. LeGrand joined the organization in Mexico in 2015 and has served as the director of the Council’s Mexico City office since 2016. In this capacity, he has overseen the expansion of the Council’s programming in that country …
Lawmakers Rally for Biodiesel Tax Incentive
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) hosted a press conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday featuring a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers including Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Grassley introduced The Tax Extender and …
RFA Submits Comments on E15/RIN Reform Proposal
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments on the April 29 deadline for EPA’s proposal allowing 15 percent ethanol blends (E15) to take advantage of the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver that currently applies to E10 during the summer months. The ethanol trade organization strongly supports the proposed regulatory fix that would allow year-round sales of E15 in conventional …
Water for a Hungry World Conference
The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska (DWFI) hosts the 2019 Water for Food Global Conference April 29-30 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. The conference will convene leading international experts and organizations to discuss “Water for a Hungry World: Innovation in Water and Food Security,” focusing on the next generation of research, smart …
Ethanol Report on EPA Proposals and Deadlines
The EPA proposal to allow year-round sales of E15, as well as reform the market for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS), was just announced March 12 – but the accelerated timeline for the rule means the comment period will be over on Monday April 29. In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen talks …
ZimmCast 614 – Golden ZimmComm Mic Interviews
This edition of the ZimmCast includes interviews from the 2019 National Agri-Marketing Conference. The episode begins with Sheri Seger, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, outgoing NAMA President and Scott McClure, Brighton, incoming NAMA President. Additional interviewees include: Richard Bettison, Beck Ag Peggy Findlay, Commodity Classic Kevin Lind, Cornstalk LLC Marilyn Cummins, Cummins Consulting Craig Dick, Cropstream Sam Romain, Dominate with SEO Gardner …
Pork Producers Talk Trade and Animal Disease
National Pork Producers Council officials held a press conference Thursday, the day after announcing World Pork Expo is cancelled this year due to concerns about African swine fever. More than 100 pork producers from around the country were in Washington D.C. this week for the Spring Legislative Action Conference to meet with their representatives in Congress to discuss issues such …
2019 NAMA Agri-Marketing Conference
With the theme of “Onward Upward” the National Agri-Marketing Conference was held April 10-12, 2019 in Kansas City. The annual event is a meeting of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), the nation’s largest association for professionals in marketing and agribusiness. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free of charge for digital or print publication …
Ethanol Report from Washington DC
The Environmental Protection Agency continues to be a major source of frustration for the ethanol industry, as the agency gives with one hand and takes away with the other as it keeps granting waivers for refineries from their obligations to blend ethanol while it works toward allowing year round sales of E15. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper …
ABLC2019 Renewable Fuels Policy Panel and Sen. Grassley Award
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was honored at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) in Washington DC April 4 with the Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in Bioenergy. The ABLC is actually six conferences in one place, including the 10th Annual Advanced Biofuels Summit. The Digest editor Jim Lane moderated the panel discussion which featured Mike McAdams, Advanced Biofuels Association; Geoff …
Study Examines Contribution of American Lamb Checkoff Program
The American Lamb Checkoff Program has positively contributed to American lamb demand and industry profits, according to the Texas A&M University 2019 report “Return on Investment in the American Lamb Checkoff Program” conducted by agricultural economists Gary Williams, Ph.D., and Dan Hanselka. After extensive econometric modeling, researchers concluded that the American Lamb Checkoff Program added from 2.4% to 2.7% of …