Plant-based imitations of butter and other dairy products pose an increasing challenge for consumer understanding in the butter sector, which is dealing with proliferating imposters even as butter’s popularity grows. Because of this, the American Butter Institute is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take action before fake products make federal standards of identity for established terms such …
Study Shows Economic Impact of Grain Exports
A new study commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) points to the importance of export markets to U.S. farmers. The study highlights the total economic impact of U.S. grain exports to be $55 billion in 2016 and also shows grain exports supporting 271,000 jobs directly or indirectly, according to Kimberly Atkins, vice …
New Dicamba-tolerant Stoneville Varieties from BASF
BASF has added three new dicamba-tolerant Stoneville® cottonseed varieties to its ever-expanding cotton portfolio. Each of these new varieties is tolerant to Liberty,® Engenia® and glyphosate herbicides and brings three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood that an application for worm control will be needed. The new varieties include: ST 4480B3XF A new early- to mid-maturity variety for growers in …
VP Talks Trade with Minnesota Farmers
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 …
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 …
Senator Says Trade is Top Concern in Iowa
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Kinze Manufacturing, for a town hall meeting in Williamsburg, IA Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Iowa equipment manufacturers, farmers, small business owners, and others impacted by tariffs. The conversation included the impact of steel and aluminum tariffs on Iowa businesses and the state’s …
NCBA CEO Kendal Frazier Announces Retirement Plans
After 34 years with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the past four as CEO, Kendal Frazier has announced his plans for retirement. NCBA will begin the search process to select a new CEO immediately, and Frazier will remain in place to assist with the transition process, until Dec. 31. As CEO, Frazier has kept a sharp focus on the …
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 …
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 …
BASF FiberMax Event & TCGA Trade Show
BASF recently celebrated cotton growers who achieved four-bale or greater yields by welcoming them to the exclusive FiberMax® One Ton Club™ for their 2018 harvest results. Additionally, the FiberMax Maximizer Club™, now in its third year, recognized growers with dryland cotton fields yielding at least 1,000 pounds per acre with FiberMax varieties. The combined event was held during the 2019 …
Bayer Feed A Bee Milestone
The Bayer national pollinator forage initiative, Feed a Bee, has announced it has reached its goal of awarding grants supporting diverse forage for honey bees and other pollinators in all 50 states. The 50th recipient awarded recently was Gateway to the Arctic Camp in Talkeetna, Alaska. Interview with Dr. Becky Langer, project manager, Bayer North American Bee Care Program.