The Environmental Protection Agency has teamed up with USDA to advance agricultural sustainability with the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges. The competition includes two challenges that seek proposals for new and existing fertilizer technologies to maintain or improve crop yields while reducing the impacts of fertilizers on the environment. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced …
AgTalks Kicks Off Town Hall Series
Iowa and national ag commodity leaders kicked off the first in a series of AgTalks virtual town hall meetings to discuss the future of agriculture, with a focus on trade and supply chains. Future meetings will be held over the next few weeks in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The AgTalks initiative is sponsored by Farmers for Free Trade, the …
Biofuels Caucus Discusses Ethanol Industry Challenges
Members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus held a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the challenges currently facing the ethanol industry and what can be done to help. Participating in the meeting were caucus members including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rodney Davis (R-IL) as well as ethanol and agricultural group leaders. House Agriculture …
COVID Cuts Revenue Prospects for Corn Crop
A new analysis from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is projecting a drastic drop in 2020 revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with impacts persisting into 2021. NCGA President Kevin Ross says the latest analysis projects a $59 per acre average revenue decline for the 2019 corn crop and an $89 per acre average revenue decline for …
Ethanol Report 6-11-20
One year after President Trump visited Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) to celebrate allowing E15 to be sold in the summer months, the ethanol industry is facing its toughest year ever, despite the fact that sales of E15 have indeed increased significantly. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, we take a look back at President Trump’s visit and …
President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant – One Year Later
One year ago on June 11, 2019, President Donald Trump made a victorious visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to celebrate regulatory changes that would finally allow year-round retail sales of 15% ethanol (E15). At the event, the President also heard from farmers and ethanol industry leaders about the devastating impact of RFS …
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 …
Ethanol Report 3-16-20
This episode of The Ethanol Report features an update on the 10th Circuit Court case and the Trump Administration considering an appeal, as well as how the Coronavirus is putting that on the back burner, and industrial ethanol is in demand to make hand sanitizer. The podcast features comments from from Badger State Ethanol CEO Erik Huschitt, National Corn Growers …
Farmers, Biofuel Producers Urge Trump to Support RFS
Farmer leaders and biofuel producers from the Midwest today expressed their concerns about news that the Trump administration has reversed course and decided to side with oil companies in their court battle against biofuels. The debate centers around a unanimous court decision that would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel …
2020 Commodity Classic
Commodity Classic is February 27-29, 2020 – America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural & educational experience! This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. Photos 2020 Commodity Classic Photo Album Audio Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue remarks on stage 31:05 Audio – Press Conferences Secretary of Agriculture …
NCGA Urges USMCA Passage and RFS Protection
Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and state corn organizations held a news conference Wednesday morning to urge the Trump Administration and members of Congress to finish the job on outstanding trade and ethanol issues important to corn farmers. Participating in the press conference were NCGA president Kevin Ross of Minden, Iowa; Patty Mann, Ohio Corn & Wheat …
NK Seeds Helping Farmers End Tough Year on Positive Note
A tough season like 2019 presents challenges to corn and soybean farmers, and an opportunity for companies like Syngenta and their NK Seeds brand to showcase varieties and traits that help them overcome those challenges. NK hybrids and varieties combine the latest in seed technology with top-of-the-line genetics, producing crops that withstand some of the biggest in-field challenges. Even in …
Iowa Groups Outraged Over EPA Proposal
Representatives of Iowa’s corn, ethanol, biodiesel and soybean producers held a press conference Wednesday in response to the Supplemental Proposal for Renewable Fuels Volumes released Tuesday by EPA. Iowa Corn Growers Association CEO Craig Floss quoted one farmer who is outraged over the proposal. “No more Iowa Nice, now it’s Iowa Pissed.” Floss was joined by Iowa Soybean Association farmer …
Farmers and Ethanol Producers Need Help Now
Ethanol producers and corn farmers held a telephone press conference Wednesday to spotlight recent research on the impacts of ethanol plant closings, a new survey on voter attitudes about ethanol, and a potential White House agreement to promote further renewable fuels use. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper hosted the call which included comments from: Neil Koehler, Chairman, …
USDA Acreage Report Commentary
With all the weather-related planting delays this year, USDA’s Acreage report out Friday was a big surprise to the trade with corn acres estimated to be three percent higher than last year. At the same time, soybean acres are estimated to be the lowest in six years. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2019 is estimated at 91.7 million …