Applications are now being accepted for Class XI of the Peanut Leadership Academy. To be eligible for participation, candidates must derive their primary livelihood from farming and currently produce peanuts, make a commitment to the program and agree to attend all sessions except in times of illness or a family emergency, be between the ages of 22 and 45 and …
Tolar Resigns as President of Georgia Agribusiness Council
Georgia Agribusiness announced that Bryan Tolar has officially resigned from his seat as President effective August 31, 2018. The Council is thankful for Tolar’s service and dedication to the Agribusiness council. They wish Tolar much success in his future and know he will be blessed in all things. Executive Committee is currently accepting interested candidates to fill Tolar’s position. Please …
Ag Groups Respond to WOTUS Ruling
Last week’s federal court ruling lifting a delay on the controversial, Obama-era Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule has drawn a swift rebuke by key farm groups. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duval calls the South Carolina U.S. District Court ruling that upends a Trump EPA delay of WOTUS until 2020 while the agency rewrites WOTUS, “misguided.” Here …
Bayer/Monsanto Merger Clears All Hurdles
It has taken months of divesting, negotiating and waiting, but Bayer and Monsanto will complete their merger. An agweb.com article notes German-based Bayer can now officially begin integrating Monsanto after Bayer divested itself of certain Crop Science businesses in a sale to BASF. The name Monsanto is expected to officially disappear in the future. However, familiar brand names like Dekalb, …
Ag Lenders Worried About Farmers
Depressed commodity prices, poor weather, and trade war ramifications aren’t just worrying for the nation’s farmers. The second quarter Agriculture Credit Conditions Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis says ag bankers are worried as well. The report, which covers April through June, says farm income, spending on capital equipment, and household purchases all decreased. Nearly half of the …
Growth Energy Comments on Proposed 2019 RVO Targets
Growth Energy submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on the last day of the comment period on the agency’s proposed 2019 renewable volume obligation (RVO) targets. Growth Energy is asking the EPA to make the proposed numbers real by accounting for lost gallons which were caused by small refinery exemptions and reallocating those gallons to other refineries to fulfill …
Trump: “Farmers Are Doing Well”
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 …