Beating the announced deadline of June 1, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the volume requirements under the RFS program for 2014, 2015, and 2016 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. EPA is also proposing the volume requirement for biomass-based diesel for 2017. EPA is proposing to set the renewable fuel standards for 2014 …
New Food Bio Security Facility Groundbreaking
This week Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack helped to break ground on the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas. Secretaries Johnson and Vilsack were joined by a number of dignitaries on Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking, including Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran of Kansas, …
NRCS Launches Conservation Gateway
Farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners can now do business with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through a new Conservation Client Gateway web portal. NRCS chief Jason Weller says the portal will allow producers will have the ability to work with conservation planners online to access Farm Bill programs, request assistance and track payments for …
WOTUS Final Rule Announced
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule that has become known as the Waters of the United States or WOTUS. According to EPA, the rule “ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined and predictably determined, making permitting less costly, easier, and faster for businesses and industry.” EPA …
Seed Industry Part of Pollinator Plan
This week, the Task Force released its strategy, under the joint leadership of EPA and USDA and agriculture industry reaction to the plan has been very positive overall. In this interview, American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CEO Andy LaVigne talks about how the industry provided input in the development of the plan. He also discusses the upcoming 132nd ASTA Annual …
USFRA Toledo Food Dialogues to Focus on Water
Last year’s toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio, that left half a million people without clean water, underscored the delicate balance that exists between farming and drinking supplies. That’s why the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) chose Toldeo as the site for the next Food Dialogues on Tuesday, May 28, starting at 9 a.m. ET. This …
Memorial Weekend Ethanol Audio
In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks about a new report showing RIN credits have no impact on the price of gas, how E10 is safe for boaters, and when he expects to see the long overdue EPA proposal for volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Separate sound bites on topics: …
Novozymes Part of UN Bioenergy Initiative
A new UN Sustainable Energy for All initiative was announced this week with the goal of “doubling the global use of renewable energy and ensuring universal energy access by 2030.” Co-chaired by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, the initiative includes Novozymes, a global technology provider for the biofuels industry, as a partner …
COOL Ruling Reactions
The World Trade Organization this week issued its fourth and final ruling against the United States over Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for livestock and meat products. The final ruling maintained previous conclusions that “the amended COOL measure increases the record-keeping burden for imported livestock entailed by the original COOL measure.” Asked for his reaction, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says …
Ag Interests Urge TPA Passage
Senate Republicans and agriculture industry leaders held a press conference in Washington today to discuss the ways new trade deals could benefit the agriculture community and urge passage of the bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. Senators speaking on behalf of TPA included Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) …
Ethanol Industry Launches RFS Campaign
The ethanol industry through Fuels America launched a major advertising campaign in the nation’s capitol this week urging support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The campaign includes television advertising during morning news, Sunday morning talk shows, and cable television, as well as a digital campaign that includes a Politico homepage takeover, a Real Clear Politics Energy takeover, and banner …
Agren Introduces New SoilCalculator
Agren, Inc., a leading provider of sustainability technology to agriculture, today released a new version of its SoilCalculator application to estimate erosion and its associated economic cost. SoilCalculator’s updated web interface provides quicker results than in the past. And, report outputs quantify the economics of lost production due to erosion under different management alternatives. The enhanced reporting also helps growers …
2015 Animal Ag Alliance Summit
“Journey to the Extraordinary” was the theme for the 2015 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit, held in Kansas City instead of the usual Washington DC venue. The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislators, universities and government agencies. Animal Ag Summit Features Nat …
Senators Speak Out for Biodiesel Industry
Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) Thursday led a number of her Democratic colleagues in calling on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop the continued delays of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule and highlighted the impact that the uncertainty of the past two years has had on biodiesel industry. Joining Sen. Heitkamp were Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy …
Agriculture Part of New FAA UAS Program
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced new partnerships with industries, including agriculture, to explore the next steps in unmanned aircraft operations beyond the type of operations the agency proposed in the draft small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rule it published in February. The Pathfinder Program includes partnerships with three companies, including Raleigh-based manufacturer PrecisionHawk, which will be …