Reaction to Presidential Trade Tariff Actions

Following action by President Trump yesterday to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion in Chinese imports, China is making its list of what U.S. products will be the target of retaliation. The list reportedly includes agricultural products such as U.S. pork, modified ethanol, wine, fruits and nuts, and soybeans are expected to be as well. U.S. Grains Council (USGC) …

USSEC Indonesia Trade Mission

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) hosted its 13th Annual Southeast Asia Soy Food Symposium in Indonesia, bringing together all stakeholders in the soy food industry in that region. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. USSEC SE Asia Buyers Conference Photo Album Audio Bringing …

GROWMARK, NRCS Partner for Conservation

GROWMARK and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently signed a national Memorandum of Understanding to further sound agronomic and conservation practices. Ryan White, Dir. of Agronomy Marketing and Agronomy Information Services for GROWMARK, says the MOU is about the GROWMARK system commitment to working with farmers in a profitable and sustainable way. “We both have the same customer and …

SMART Farmer Leon Sheets

In this episode of the SMART Farmer podcast, we hear from America’s Pig Farmer of the Year, Leon Sheets, who raises 33,000 pigs a year in northeast Iowa along with his wife and son. SMART Farmer podcast listeners may remember that we interviewed last year’s Pig Farmer of the Year Brad Greenway from South Dakota, who also serves as chairman …

Ethanol Report for St. Patrick’s Day

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen really got his Irish up this week over EPA administrator Scott Pruitt allowing bankrupt Philadelphia Energy Solutions to get out of half its obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), so he is really ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend. He updates us on the latest episode in the …

XCELIS™ is DuPont’s Fuel Ethanol Platform

DuPont gave its new XCELIS™ fuel ethanol platform a colorful debut at the National Ethanol Conference last month in San Antonio, with a rainbow of pastel colored arches along the walkway to the meeting area. “XCELIS is really the way we’re approaching the fuel alcohol market globally now as DuPont,” says Judy Underwood, DuPont Global Marketing Lead. “It’s a new …

Cabinet Members Testify on Infrastructure Needs

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and four other cabinet members testified this week before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing entitled “Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Administration Perspectives.” Secretary Perdue was joined by Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry.

Biodiesel and 2nd Gen Biofuels Need Stable Tax Policy

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy heard from representatives of the biodiesel and advanced biofuels industries Wednesday on the need for “Post Tax Reform of Recently Expired Tax Provisions” that are helping move the nation toward more diverse renewable fuels. Listen to Hubbard’s opening statement here: Listen to part of Meyer’s opening statement: Listen to Michael McAdams …

ZimmCast on Agri-Pulse and Alltech

Next week will be a busy week in Washington, DC with National Ag Day Activities, the Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit and American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual Fly-in. So this week’s program starts out with Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse, providing a preview of this year’s Summit program which features several panels and lots of well known individuals who will …

Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway

Three dairy producers from the U.S. are among those on the Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway to the Emerald Isle for a “how it’s made” tour of the KEENAN production facility in Borris, County Carlow, Ireland; a guided VIP experience at the new Pearse Lyons Distillery; visits to a number of high-performance Irish dairy farms; and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations …

Iowa Biofuels Groups Spotlight Oil Industry Study

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw and Iowa Biodiesel Board Executive Director Grant Kimberley held a joint press conference Friday to discuss an oil industry study make public by Reuters that shows putting a cap on prices for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS) would not be the “win-win” that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has repeatedly said he wants for both the oil and …

Fuel Retailers Join Chorus Against RIN Price Cap

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) gathered together three fuel retailers who market higher ethanol blends to talk about why a cap on the price of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS) would be detrimental to their businesses. Bruce Vollan of Midway Service in South Dakota, Charlie Good of Good & Quick in Iowa, and Mike Lewis of Pearson Fuels in California, have all …

SMART Farmer and Food Evolution

In this episode of the SMART Farmer podcast, we hear from an Academy Award nominated director who produced a documentary film that explores the debate about genetically modified organisms – better known as GMOs. The film is called Food Evolution and Scott Hamilton Kennedy attended the recent Commodity Classic in California to talk about how he came to tell this …

Ethanol Plant Operators Say No to RIN Price Cap

Discussions are expected to continue this week between oil refinery and biofuels interests over the price of Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, which were created under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as a way to encourage refiners to blend more biofuels. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) member plant owners are united in their opposition to the idea of capping RIN prices …

ZimmCast on GrainXchange and Supporting Checkoffs

In this week’s program you’ll get to hear the lates episode of the GROWMARK Podcast. GROWMARK has been a long term sponsor of the ZimmCast and we thought we’d feature one of their own podcasts. You can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes and Google Play. Additionally, I talk with Rob McLelland and Heidi Nelson of FLM Harvest about their …