Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today hosted a media conference call to discuss President Obama’s FY15 budget for the USDA. “The President’s 2015 USDA budget proposal achieves reform and results for the American taxpayer; fosters opportunity for the men and women living, working and raising families in rural America; and supports innovation through strategic, future-focused investments,” said Vilsack. Listen to or …
2014 National Ethanol Conference
The 19th annual National Ethanol Conference, presented by the Renewable Fuels Association, was held February 17-19, 2014 at the J.W. Marriott in Orlando, Florida. With the theme of “Falling Walls, Rising Tides,” the conference had a big focus on the EPA proposal for 2014 volume obligations under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Presentations addressed the state of the ethanol industry, …
MGEX Calls on US and Canada Crops
The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) hosted two crop calls in the past week to discuss reports out of Stats Canada and USDA. The Stats Canada field crop report was released on February 4 and was analyzed by Wayne Palmer and Brian Voth of Agri-Trend. Jack Scoville of the Price Futures Group discussed the USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate …
President Signs Farm Bill
President Obama traveled to Michigan State University to sign the Agricultural Act of 2014 at the alma mater of Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Stabenow was among those who joined the president as he signed the bill, along with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and others. Listen to or download the …
Vilsack on Farm Bill Priorities
The U.S. Senate today passed the long-overdue 2012 Farm Bill by a vote of 68-32. According to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, the Agricultural Act of 2014 will “reform agriculture programs, reduce the deficit, and help farmers, ranchers and business owners grow the economy.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the bill includes “meaningful reform and billions of dollars in …
USDA Offers Drought Help for California
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced USDA is making $20 million available for agricultural water conservation efforts throughout California to combat the effects of drought. Interested landowners and managers have until March 3, 2014 to apply for available funds. Vilsack held a press conference today with Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) and California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross.
Iowa Senator to Vote No on Farm Bill
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced last week that he intends to vote against the farm bill conference report passed by the House. In a floor speech on Thursday, January 30, Sen. Grassley explained why he opposed the Agricultural Act of 2014. “I strongly support the business of agriculture….But if I were to vote yes on this bill, it would be …
Cong. Emanuel Cleaver Interview
More Democrats than Republicans voted against the conference committee farm bill this week in the U.S. House, mostly because of the nutrition program reforms, but 89 did vote in favor despite that and one was Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), former mayor of Kansas City. In this interview, Rep. Cleaver explains why he voted in favor of the farm bill …
Livestock Groups Address Farm Bill Concerns
Livestock organizations and food associations are opposing the farm bill out of conference committee this week because makes no changes to the Country of Origin Labeling law (COOL), which is being challenged by Mexico and Canada over world trade violations. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Scott George, National Association of Manufacturers director of international trade policy Jessica Lemos, and National …
RFS Hearing in the Heartland
Hundreds of biofuel supporters from around the Midwest gathered in Des Moines Thursday to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at a “Hearing in the Heartland: Supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard” hosted by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. The hearing was organized after EPA declined to do so and included comments from dozens of lawmakers, government officials, farmers, biofuel …
MGEX Call on WASDE Report
USDA released the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Report on January 10. Minneapolis Grain Exchange hosted a conference call with Brad Paulson of Northern Crops Marketing and Investment to analyze the numbers.
Sen. Thune on Farm Bill and RFS
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) answered questions from reporters this week on when a farm bill might be done and what he would like to see in it, as well as his thoughts on the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Audio courtesy of Agri-Pulse.
Sen. Leahy Talks about Need for Farm Bill
Farm bill conference committee member Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) took to the floor on Tuesday to talk about the need for Congress to pass a five-year farm bill. Leahy, who is a member of the House-Senate conference committee on the bill, says they are making progress toward getting compromise legislation passed.
USDA Call on Exports and Farm Bill
USDA Under Secretary Michael T. Scuse held a telephone media call today to highlight the need for a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill to promote U.S. agricultural exports. Joining him was Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton and Dave Ramirez, Export Sales Director of Ohio-based Trophy Nut.
USDA Press Conferences
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held two press conferences the week of December 9, 2013 on two totally different subjects, but both times he was asked his thoughts about Congress not getting a farm bill done. On December 11, Vilsack was joined by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in announcing a joint “Farm-to-Fleet” venture to make biofuel blends part of …