U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue provided opening remarks to a coalition of stakeholders Wednesday morning to launch a series of regional listening sessions targeting the expansion of broadband access in rural America. You can watch the recording here or listen below. USDA has had programs for years to assist with local and regional broadband efforts but there is still …
Senators Excited About Prospects for TPP Revisit
Farm state senators came out of a meeting with President Trump Thursday very optimistic about the future for agricultural trade. Republican Senators Pat Roberts of Kansas, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse of Nebraska held a press conference after the meeting and all agreed it was very productive, but the potential for re-entering the Trans Pacific …
Growth Energy CEO Testifies on High Octane Ethanol
Ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were the main focus of a House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles Friday. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor testified before the panel that ethanol is a ready solution for more efficient engines that require high octane fuels to operate effectively and lower greenhouse …
Trump on Ag Trade and Ethanol
Governors and senators from agricultural states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, North and South Dakota had a meeting with President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Thursday to discuss recent trade actions and how farmers may be impacted. In a press availability prior to the start of the meeting, President Trump talked about NAFTA, China, the European Union, …
House Ag Committee Unveils Agriculture and Nutrition Act
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) today introduced the first draft of a new farm bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). ““The farm bill keeps faith with our nation’s farmers and ranchers through the current agriculture recession by providing certainty and helping producers manage the enormous risks that are inherent in agriculture,” said Rep. Conaway. …
Ag Secretary Says RFS Waivers Create Demand Destruction
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue had the opportunity to give his opinion about the EPA granting numerous Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) waivers to refiners during a Senate Agricultural Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday. While the purpose of the hearing was to review USDA’s FY2019 budget request, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) brought up the RFS waiver issue and pointed out that he …
Power Up with #NAMA18
The 2018 National Agri-Marketing Conference is back in Kansas City April 11-13, with the theme “Power Up.” The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is the nation’s largest association for marketing and agribusiness professionals and this annual event features industry awards, educational sessions, and the Connection Point trade show. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free …
Legislative Tax Victories for Oklahoma Equipment Dealers
Comments from Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) Vice President of Government Affairs Eric Wareham (April 10, 2018 – Kansas City, Missouri) The 2018 Oklahoma state legislature has seen several bills this session that seek to increase revenue by making tax policy changes that would impact the agriculture industry at an already difficult time, and the Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) …
Ethanol Report on EPA Small Refinery Waivers
Outrage is growing this week over revelations that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been granting Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance exemptions to dozens of oil refineries. Combined with the approval of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions bankruptcy agreement and the agency’s refusal to enforce the 2016 RFS requirements as remanded by the courts, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is saying …
Growth Energy Comments on Recent EPA Actions
With the scandal over the Environmental Protection Agency granting numerous small refinery hardship waivers growing, Growth Energy has sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt demanding a moratorium on waivers being issued. In this edition of the Growth Energy Driving Ethanol podcast, CEO Emily Skor comments on this, as well as objections to the Philadelphia Energy …
Nebraska Water for Food at 8th World Water Forum in Brazil
The 8th World Water Forum, held in Brazil last month, drew more than 20,000 participants from 170 countries to focus on the challenges and solutions to ensuring water security around the world. The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska (DWFI) coordinated the Water for Food track of sessions with the Food and Agriculture …
China Adds Tariffs on Beef and Soybeans
More U.S. agricultural products are on the second list of retaliatory tariffs from China, including both soybeans and beef, of 25 percent. Kent Bacus, Director of International Trade and Market Access for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), calls the action unsettling but not surprising. “This is a battle between two governments, and the unfortunate casualties will be America’s cattlemen …
ASTA Pleased With USDA Decision on Gene Edited Plants
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is pleased with the clarification made by USDA last week regarding oversight of plants produced through innovative new breeding techniques, including gene editing. “The (USDA) announcement really clarifies the practice they’ve had had ongoing for the last couple of years in that products created through gene editing don’t need to go through pre-market, regulatory …
ZimmCast 578 from Ag Week in DC
This podcast includes National Ag Day comments from Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, interviews with American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), and comments from the newly appointed chief ag negotiator for USTR, Gregg Doud. You can find lots more audio and photos from all of …
Scholar Farms Offers Masterclass for Drones
If you’ve got a drone and are looking for some lessons then you need to talk to Dr. Greg Crutsinger, Founder, Scholar Farms. You can listen to my conversation with him about his newly announced Phytomappers Pro Masterclass below. The course is available for $397 from www.ScholarFarms.com. Additionally, there is a free lesson available, “A Quick Start Guide to Plants …