Hurricane Michael devastated Georgia agriculture during the most inopportune time; harvest season for many agricultural commodities. One of those commodities included peanuts, where 50 percent of the crop had been harvested. The remaining 50 percent is yet to be harvested as crop conditions deteriorate and damaged peanut buying points struggle to regain power to dry and grade the peanuts. Many …
USMCA a Framework for Future Trade Deals
A White House adviser says the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a model for future trade agreements. USMCA will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), if approved. Kevin Hassett, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said this week that other potential agreements will “look very much alike, and very much like this,” according to Politico. His …
USDA Announces Pink Bollworm Eradication Significantly Saving Cotton Farmers in Yearly Control Costs
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that U.S. cotton is free — after more than 100 years — of the devastating pink bollworm. This pest has cost U.S. producers tens of millions of dollars in yearly control costs and yield losses. Thanks to rigorous control and regulatory activities carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state departments …
Conaway Determined to Complete Farm Bill
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway remains determined to finish the farm bill this year. During an event in Omaha, Nebraska, Conaway told DTN “there’s plenty of motivation for the four of us to get this farm bill done,” referring to the four leaders of the farm bill conference committee. Conaway says farm bill negotiators are still working through issues …
Timber Damage from Hurricane Michael Estimated at $1.3 Billion
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, announced the estimated value of timber damage in Florida due to Hurricane Michael is $1.3 billion, impacting nearly three million acres of forestland. “This is a catastrophic loss to the forest industry in the Florida Panhandle,” said …
Study: E15 to Provide Limited Ethanol Market Impact
Year-round E15 sales will have a limited ethanol market impact, according to analysts. President Donald Trump recently announced a directive to move towards year-round E15 sales, and industry analysts say that would have a limited impact on the depressed U.S. ethanol market, with record supplies and prices for the fuel hovering near the lowest in a decade. There are more …
NBB to EPA: Small Refinery Exemptions Destroy Demand for Biodiesel
A letter by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) asks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fully account for small refinery exemptions in the annual Renewable Fuel Standard rules. Specifically, the letter addresses EPA acting administrator Andrew Wheeler, asking him to “end the demand destruction for biodiesel.” The letter asks EPA to set RFS biomass-based diesel volumes for 2020 at 2.8 …
Throw Out Water Rule, Farm Bureau, Others Tell Texas Court
A 2015 rule that expands the federal government’s control over private land nationwide should be vacated in its entirety, attorneys argued in papers filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. AFBF and a broad coalition of business groups, along with the state of Texas and others, are suing to do away with the 2015 “Waters …
Putnam Continues to Meet with Agricultural Leaders to Assess Damage
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam has been in regular communication with federal partners, including Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary Sonny Perdue, as well as the agriculture industry to assess agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Michael. He met with agricultural leaders on the topic, and the Florida Forest Service is finalizing its analysis of damage to timber. “Recovery …
USDA Provides Hurricane Michael Victims Needed Relief and Recovery Aid
To help residents, farmers and ranchers affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid people in their recovery efforts. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are actively responding, providing emergency response staffing and a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance …