President Trump spoke recently during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, saying farmers are starting to prosper. However, a Bloomberg article says the numbers tell a different story. “I hear they’re starting to do well in spite of everything,” the President said during comments from the meeting. “They’re selling corn, they’re selling soybeans, they’re selling everything, at levels that …
Continued Abuse of Small Refiner Waivers Renders Proposed 2019 RFS Volumes ‘Meaningless,’ RFA Tells EPA
In comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its proposed 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said it is “greatly concerned that continued abuse of small refinery exemptions will render the proposed volumes meaningless.” RFA urged the agency to account for small refinery exemptions prospectively when it calculates the RVO percentage, as …
American Farm Bureau Coalition Fights to Stop Illegal 2015 WOTUS Rule
The American Farm Bureau Federation and a broad coalition of business organizations have notified the federal district court in South Carolina they will appeal that court’s ruling yesterday that revived the overbroad, vague and illegal 2015 Waters of the United States Rule and made it the law of the land in 26 states. In a separate filing, the same coalition …
U.S., China, Far Apart in Trade War Talks
A Chinese delegation will travel to the U.S. as part of the ongoing trade war as both sides “remain far apart.” China said Thursday the delegation will meet with U.S. Treasury Undersecretary David Malpass to discuss trade issues. However, the South China Morning Post reports observers say the talks are unlikely to yield any breakthrough, but could lead to further …
NAFTA Talks Reach One-Year Mark, Close to U.S. Mexico Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation effort passed the one-year anniversary this week. A year ago Thursday, the U.S., Canada and Mexico convened for the start of the renegotiation talks. Now, the U.S. could be nearing a deal on NAFTA, at least with Mexico. Politico reports the political situation in both countries is such that each is more …
Animal Ag Groups Ask for Permanent Funding for Disease Preparedness
A coalition of animal agriculture stakeholders is seeking permanent funding for disease preparedness programs in the farm bill. In a letter to the farm bill conferee members, who will be ironing out differences between the House and Senate bills, the group specifically seeks permanent full funding for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. The groups say permanent funding …
NFU: Beef Producers Disadvantaged by Current “Product of U.S.A” Labeling Standards
The National Farmers Union (NFU) Thursday told the Department of Agriculture U.S. meat labeling standards are disadvantaging U.S. beef producers by allowing products born, raised, or slaughtered outside of the United States to carry the “Product of the U.S.A.” label. NFU wrote to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, that the standards “need to be changed immediately.” The NFU action …
BASF Closes Acquisition of Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds Business
BASF announced this week it has closed the acquisition of Bayer’s global vegetable seeds business. The transaction, BASF says in a news release, “adds a well-recognized brand with a very successful business track record to BASF’s portfolio.” The acquired vegetable seeds business comprises 24 crops and about 2,600 varieties. It also includes a research and development operation, and breeding systems …
Farm Bureau: Now, More Than Ever, We Must Ditch the Rule
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Due to a misguided ruling by a single federal district court, the overbroad, vague and illegal 2015 Waters of the United States Rule is now the law of the land in twenty-six states. “To avoid widespread uncertainty and potential enforcement against ordinary farming activities in these already-uncertain …
USDA Forest Service Announces New Strategy for Improving Forest Conditions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) announced a new strategy for managing catastrophic wildfires and the impacts of invasive species, drought, and insect and disease epidemics. Specifically, a new report titled Toward Shared Stewardship across Landscapes: An Outcome-based investment Strategy (PDF, 3.7 MB) outlines the USFS’s plans to work more closely with states to identify landscape-scale priorities for targeted treatments in …