Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held his last official press conference of his tenure at USDA on Wednesday, announcing the publication of an interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks. The interim rule establishes guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production of biofuel feedstock commodity crops …
USDA Completes Reform of Packers & Stockyards Rule
In one of his last official acts in the waning days of the Biden administration, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the third installment in a series of regulatory reforms under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Along with other finalized updates, this completes a major regulatory reform intended to “level the playing field for farmers who raise chicken, turkeys, hogs, …
Clean Fuels Alliance Ready to Accelerate
“Accelerate” is the theme for the 2025 Clean Fuels Conference, Jan. 20-23 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel in San Diego, California. Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says the meeting theme refers to the rapid growth and transformative progress of the biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel industries. “With the clean fuels industry accelerating at an …
2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences
The National Cotton Council is ready to welcome all to the 2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences next week, January 14-16, at the New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA. Three days of individual reports, panel discussions, hands on workshops and seminars are designed to provide attendees with information they need to help producers make key cotton production/marketing-related decisions. Click here for the …
DWFI Podcast 40 – Irrigation’s Role in Agricultural Productivity
In the 40th episode of the Water for Food Podcast, Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI) Director of Communications and Public Relations Frances Hayes sits down with Darren Siekman at the Valmont Industries headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Darren is the Vice President of Policy and Industry Strategy at Valley Agriculture, a Valmont Company. The two discuss Valmont’s history and global …
ZimmCast 739 – Happy New Year ZimmCast
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. Welcome to another year of agriblogging and farm podcasting. It’s hard to believe that we’re coming close to 21 years since we started ZimmComm in 2004. Cindy and I have worked together in the ag marcom field for about 21 years before that. Now we’re doing some thinking and planning for 2025. I sense …
Year End Ethanol Report
2024 was a very good year for the ethanol industry, but the battle for year-round, nationwide E15 will once again continue on into the new year. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper comments on some of the top ethanol stories of the year, including the continuing roller coaster ride for …
Sen. Grassley Advocated for E15 in CR
The continuing resolution to be considered by Congress this week to keep the government operating is said to include a provision allowing the sale of E15 year-round, nationwide. Sen. Chuck Grassley told reporters Tuesday that he did not know if it was included, but he provided input to House Speaker Mike Johnson over the weekend regarding the importance of E15. …
House Speaker Says CR Will Have Aid for Farmers
During a press conference Tuesday morning, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said the continuing resolution (CR) to be considered this week in Congress will have funding in it for struggling farmers and ranchers. “We can’t do all of it right now but I think what you’ll see reflected in this final package is 10 billion, to start with,” said …
DWFI Podcast 39 – Navigating Climate Change in Nebraska: impacts on water stress and agricultural production in Nebraska
Nebraska, located in the U.S. “Corn Belt,” is well known for its agricultural and livestock production, generating around $31.1 billion in agricultural cash receipts in 2023. But how will climate change impact long-term agricultural production, and how can we adapt to changes to ensure water security and food supply for future generations? In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes …
Happy Thanksgiving Ethanol Report
As a record number of travelers are hitting the road this week for Thanksgiving, the ethanol industry is grateful to be able to keep travel more affordable this holiday season and all year long. While AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving, an analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) indicates that the use …
Ag Secretary Nominee Ready to Make Ag Great Again
After a fake news rumor late Friday naming a former U.S. Senator from Georgia, President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Texas native Brooke Rollins, president and chief executive officer of the America First Policy Institute, to become the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are …
Senate Panel Holds Hearing on Disaster Aid Funding
The Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing Wednesday on the $100 billion request for disaster funding from the Biden Administration. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) kicked off the discussion by outlining some of the devastating losses experienced in Georgia by agricultural producers as a results of Hurricane Helene. “Hurricane-force winds and torrential rains destroyed fall crops still in the field, knocked …
Grassley Comments on Senate Farm Bill Proposal
During his weekly call with farm reporters Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) gave his opinion on the last minute Farm Bill introduced Monday by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow. “The timing of this bill is disappointing and unrealistic,” said Grassley. “It’s a sad commentary that Senate Democrats kept farmers waiting two years before even releasing a bill text, while …
Last Minute Senate Farm Bill Introduced
On Monday, with only weeks before the end of this session of Congress, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) at last released the text of her nearly 1400 page farm bill the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. According to Sen. Stabenow, the bill includes funding from the IRA. “This bill will roll the historic investment we made in …