The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) applauds the announcement by President Donald Trump that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is beginning a formal rulemaking process to allow year-round sales of E15 nationwide. Currently, E15 (gasoline containing 15% ethanol) cannot be sold during the summer months in most of the country. The de facto summertime ban on E15 is the result of …
Florida NRCS Closing Gulf Coast Offices for Hurricane Michael
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is closing its offices along the Gulf Coast in preparation for severe weather from Hurricane Michael. The status of office closures will be updated on the NRCS website. Contact a local Florida Field Office or Service Center here. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for …
CoBank: USMCA Provides Certainty, But More is Needed
The overhauled North American Free Trade Agreement, now named the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, will accomplish important objectives for U.S. agriculture, according to CoBank. However, a report by CoBank says what was not accomplished in the agreement is just as important. The report says that while having an agreement improves certainty, brings more market access and allows the White …
China Language in USMCA Not Surprising
Language against trade talks with China in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is not surprising, according to a Chinese editorial. The South China Morning Post, an English language newspaper based in China, says the policy is perhaps the worst feature of the USMCA for Beijing, as it may become a template for future trade talks Trump holds with allies such as Japan, …
Canada Dairy Organization Turns Down Trudeau Meeting
Dairy Farmers of Canada have rejected a meeting request from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The organization rejected the meeting because of the “absence of details on measures to mitigate the impact of the concessions” made in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The agreement, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, grants U.S. dairy more market access to Canada. Dairy Farmers …
USDA: Honey Bee Colony Number Steady
Elevated winter colony losses have not resulted in enduring declines in colony numbers, according to new data released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Instead, the number of U.S. honey bee colonies is either stable or growing depending on the dataset being considered. USDA says at the state level, loss rates are uncorrelated with year-to-year changes in the number of …
Livestock Shelters Open in Alabama in Preparation for Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael is expected to strike Florida’s Panhandle on Wednesday. In preparation for this intense storm, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has been in contact with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Horse Council and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services to provide temporary sheltering facilities for evacuated livestock, including horses and …
Georgia Peanut Commission to Promote Peanuts with Annual Event Oct. 15-19
The Georgia Peanut Commission and Georgia Bankers Association will join forces Oct. 15-19, 2018, to promote the 42nd annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week. Financial institutions and local banks across the state will offer a tribute to Georgia’s 4,500 peanut farm families and the sustainability they provide to Georgia’s state and local economies. The 2018 theme, “Bank on Georgia Peanuts,” will …
USDA Partners to Improve Community Infrastructure for 1.1 Million Rural Americans
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $181 million in 88 projects (PDF, 173 KB) that will build community infrastructure and facilities in 27 states. “Infrastructure is a foundation for quality of life and economic opportunity in small towns across our country,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny …
Perdue Favors Removal of Section 232 Tariffs on Canada, Mexico
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says he favors removing the Section 232 tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum which has led those countries to impose tariffs on U.S. farm products. Perdue acknowledged that the tariffs have “a dampening effect” on the benefits of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, according to the Hagstrom Report. Perdue said: “I would be an advocate …