China’s latest shot in a tit-for-tat trade war is a World Trade Organization Complaint over U.S. solar tariffs. China filed a complaint with the WTO to help determine the legality of the U.S. policies, saying they not only harm China’s rights but also undermine the WTO’s authority, according to Reuters. China says the U.S. tariffs and the U.S. “decision to …
Agri View: A Look at Current Farm Politics
There have been several things going on lately in the political world that deal with agriculture. Everett Griner talks about farm politics in today’s Agri View. A Look at Current Farm Politics The farm block vote was one of Donald Trump’s strongest groups in the last presidential election. Farmers stood solidly behind his election. Recent issues that have direct impact …
USDA Invests $345.5 Million in Rural Electric Infrastructure to Improve Service
Projects Will Provide Improved Electric Reliability Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $345.5 million in 20 infrastructure projects (PDF, 121 KB) to improve rural electric service in 14 states. “Delivering reliable and affordable electricity to power rural America will help lay the groundwork for increased rural prosperity and economic opportunity,” Secretary Perdue said. “USDA …
NCGA Welcomes Administration Support for High Octane Fuels
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation are recognizing the benefits of high octane fuels, such as a mid-level ethanol blend, in their SAFE Vehicles rule. That is potentially very good news for corn farmers. The agencies specifically requested comments on how EPA, “could support the production and use of higher octane gasoline” in order to support fuel …
Ethanol Exports on Pace to Shatter Record in 2018
Government data released show that U.S. ethanol exports through June stood at 927.7 million gallons (mg), up 33 percent from the first half of 2017 and on pace to shatter last year’s record of 1.38 billion gallons (bg). According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), robust export markets are more important now than ever before, as actions by the Environmental …
Trump to Approve Year-Round E15 Soon
President Trump says his administration is “very close” to approving the year-round sale of the E15 blend of ethanol very soon. During a trip to Iowa on Thursday, Trump told the audience, “I’m very close to pulling off something that you’ve been looking forward to for many years, and that’s the 12-month E15 waiver. We’re getting very close to doing …
EPA Approves Sorghum Oil for Biofuels
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler approved sorghum as an eligible feedstock under the Renewable Fuels Standard. The announcement marks a significant step toward leveling the playing field for ethanol plants that extract oil from sorghum. The National Sorghum Producers worked closely with EPA over the past two years to establish a biofuels pathway for sorghum oil in the …
Dinneen to Become RFA Advisor, Cooper CEO
Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen will transition into an advisory role later this year. Serving as CEO since 2001, Dinneen has been with the organization for more than 30 years and will become RFA’s Senior Strategic Advisor in October. Executive Vice President Geoff Cooper will assume the position of president and CEO. Cooper joined RFA in 2008 as the …
EPA 2019 RFS Proposal Missing Opportunity to Set Things Right
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) implored the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use the 2019 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) rulemaking process to fix the extensive damage done to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by former Administrator Scott Pruitt. In testimony delivered at a public hearing in Ypsilanti, Mich., RFA Vice President of Government Affairs Samantha Slater said EPA’s 2019 RVO rule is an opportunity to correct the extensive damage done to demand for ethanol and America’s …
EPA Reportedly Ditches Hardship Waiver Fix
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ditched a proposal to make up for lost biofuel volumes stemming from hardship waivers as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard. The plan was seen as a fix for the waivers granted generously by the EPA under former administer Scott Pruitt, which lowered biofuel volumes by granting refiners a break from the rules. The …