Leaders of the dairy checkoff are working to help U.S. dairy farmers during these challenging times. Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff on behalf of 35,000 farmers, has prioritized work focused on three key areas: schools, hunger and foodservice and industry partnerships. Leaders outlined a shift in its business plan in a letter to USDA Secretary …
President Trump Says Help for Farmers Coming Soon
During the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said help for hurting farmers is coming soon. “We have money going out to our farmers in the pretty near future,” said President Trump. “The farmers got hurt very badly by all of this. People are eating less from the standpoint that there’s no restaurants that …
Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services – Episode 2
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services, where we break down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less. Crop science experts and others in the agriculture industry will discuss topics ranging from nitrogen loss and soil health to ways growers can increase operational efficiencies. Spring Weather Impact …
ACE: COVID-19 Exposes Flaw in RFS Rulemaking
The American Coalition for Ethanol is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address a shortcoming in the implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) which has been exposed with the recent nosedive in gasoline use as a result of COVID-19. ACE CEO Brian Jennings explains that the gasoline demand drop means a reduction in ethanol blending, meaning the 11.56 …
Impact of COVID-19 on Agriculture
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting farmers and ranchers as they work to maintain a stable domestic food supply. Changes in consumer purchases, the closing of schools and restaurants, and the drop in fuel demand has caused a sharp decline in commodity prices. Farmers are challenged to find methods to get products to consumers. The American Farm Bureau Federation brought together …
Georgia Congressmen Answer CARES Act Questions
The Georgia Peanut Commission hosted a webinar discussion on Friday with U.S. Congressmen Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Austin Scott (R-GA) and Bob Redding, The Redding Firm, to learn more about the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law March 27. The discussion includes important information for farmers and ranchers about the Payroll Protection Program …
Dairy Industry Calls on USDA for Direct Aid
The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, Dairy Business Association and Edge Farmer Cooperative held a media conference call Thursday to discuss the current situation being experienced in the dairy industry and to call on USDA for direct aid to farmers and a massive dairy commodity purchase. Press release from Edge. Participating in the press conference were: • John Umhoefer, Executive Director, …
Plummeting Ethanol Production and Potential Impacts on Planting Decisions
USDA’s 2020 Prospective Plantings report estimates planted acres for corn this year at 97.0 million acres, up 8 percent or 7.29 million acres from last year. But when farmers were surveyed a month ago, coronavirus had yet to have the impact it is now having on ethanol demand and prices thanks to a drastic cut in demand for gasoline with …
Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services
The Field Notes podcast series from Koch Agronomic Services (Koch) will break down the science and technology behind agronomy to help growers do more with less. Crop science experts and others in the agriculture industry will discuss topics ranging from nitrogen loss and soil health to ways growers can increase operational efficiencies. Welcome to the first episode. Understanding Nitrogen In …
Administration Will Not Appeal Tenth Circuit SRE Ruling
Biofuels stakeholders are celebrating some good news today with word that the Trump administration had made the decision not to request a rehearing of the recent unanimous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit that the EPA had “vastly exceeded its authority in granting exemptions from 2016 and 2017 RFS requirements to three refineries.” The challenge …
Senators Stress COVID-19 Relief for Agriculture
Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) led a Senate colloquy Monday to outline the importance of supporting farmers, ranchers and rural America in legislation to provide relief from the impacts of COVID-19. Hoeven worked to include $50 billion in funding authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Joining Hoeven …
Ethanol Report 3-23-20
Coronavirus is making its presence felt in the ethanol industry. Many ethanol plants are on the verge of closing as margins have become non-existent with lower gas prices and declining demand for transportation fuel nationwide. In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear from Renewable Fuels Association Chief Economist Scott Richman about the price and demand picture, three ethanol …
Farmers and Ranchers Committed to US Food Supply
America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to doing all they can do to maintain the nation’s food supply amid growing challenges posed by COVID-19. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president Zippy Duvall, along with Chalmers Carr, a peach farmer in South Carolina, and John Boelts, a produce farmer in Arizona, gave an update on how farmers are dealing with the …
Coronavirus is Latest Threat to Ethanol Industry
The impact that coronavirus is having on the energy markets is just the latest threat to the solvency of the U.S. ethanol industry, coming on top of weather, trade disputes and small refinery waivers that hurt producers last year. In a media conference call Thursday, Renewable Fuels Association leaders discussed the impact of these hits on ethanol producers and the …
NCBA Urges Steps to Maintain Beef Supply
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is working to maintain an adequate supply of beef for U.S. consumers during the current COVID-19 outbreak. NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane says they have taken a number of steps to help protect the value chain, starting with sending a request to Vice President Mike Pence for assurance that meat inspection …