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 …
Alltech REBELation 2015
Over 3,000 REBELs representing 68 countries came together to share ideas, innovate, and reignite a passion for exploration at Alltech’s REBELation Week in Lexington, KY this week. The Alltech REBELation was held May 17-20 in Lexington, KY. This once-in-a-lifetime conference was a merger of “science, agriculture, entrepreneurship, business and marketing to inspire and re-engergize lives and businesses.” View photos from …
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 …
FAA Announces UAS Center of Excellence
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week announced the selection of Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence ASSURE, a consortium of universities headed by Mississippi State University (MSU), to lead the newly-designated FAA Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS COE). At a press conference last week, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, MSU President Mark Keenum and …
USDA Targets Aid to Drought Stricken States
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest an additional $21 million to help farmers and ranchers in eight drought-stricken states. NRCS will provide technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to target areas that are experiencing either exceptional or extreme drought conditions, including parts of California, Kansas, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. The …
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 …
NCGA Chair Comments on Planting Progress
Corn farmers nationwide planted about one third of the corn acreage nationwide in one week last week according to USDA’s latest crop progress report. The phenomenal progress included an increase of 38% in Nebraska and Illinois, 41% more in Missouri, 45% in Minnesota and an additional 54% of the acreage in Iowa. In this interview, Martin Barbre, Chairman of the …