While the Trump administration was met with applause from many in agriculture in suggesting it will grant an E15 summertime waiver, to allow sales year-round, oil industry officials are expressing concern. The American Petroleum Institute says forcing higher ethanol fuel blends into the marketplace “could have negative consequences for the American consumer.” API claims higher ethanol blends, such as E15, …
Farm Co-ops Applaud the American Food for American Schools Act
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives applauded the introduction of The American Food for American Schools Act. The legislation in the Senate will strengthen monitoring and enforcement of “Buy American” provisions of the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, if approved. Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, says the last several years has seen …
Farm Credit Administration Releases Quarterly Report
A report on the performance of the Farm Credit System shows 2018 is another challenging year for agriculture. The report, presented to the Farm Credit Administration board, outlines the economic issues affecting agriculture. Based on its first forecast of the 2018 farm economy, The Department of Agriculture projects net farm income to decline by 6.7 percent, with both crop and …
Pence: “Very Close” to Renegotiated NAFTA
Vice President Mike Pence said over the weekend he is “very hopeful” the U.S. is close to a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement. Talks to reach an agreement continue this week in Washington, D.C., as all sides are eyeing an early May finish line. Pence spoke at the Summit of the Americas in Peru over the weekend. He told …
Immigration Verification Proposal Scuttled
Florida businesses won’t have to worry about voters requiring them to verify the immigration status of new employees. The state Constitution Revision Commission on Monday rejected a proposal that would have asked voters in November to require businesses to use a system similar to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Employment Authorization Program, known as E-Verify, to determine immigration-related eligibility …
Perdue Applauds President Trump’s Selection for USDA’s Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded President Donald J. Trump’s selection of James Hubbard to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. Following the announcement, Secretary Perdue issued the following statement: “I am very excited by the selection of Jim Hubbard for this leadership role at USDA. Congress passed and President Trump …
NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Services Valued Over $7.8 Million
This week, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service hails Earth Team Volunteer efforts throughout the nation during National Volunteer Week. Our theme, “Volunteers Improve Today for Tomorrow,” uses April 15-21, 2018, to show gratitude to Earth Team volunteers for their superb service to conservation. The Earth Team is the agency’s volunteer workforce. This past fiscal year, more than 34,309 people donated …
Biodiesel Stakeholders Unite Over RFS Concerns
The National Biodiesel Board joined the American Soybean Association and the National Renderers Association in urging President Trump to keep his promises to rural voters. Kurt Kovarik, NBB vice president of federal affairs, says recent actions by the Environmental Protection Agency have undermined the president’s commitment to support consumer access to domestic renewable fuels, as well keeping the Renewable Fuels …
Exxon, Chevron Ask EPA for Biofuel Blending Exemptions
Energy giants Chevron and Exxon have asked the Environmental Protection Agency for waivers from the nation’s biofuels program that have typically been reserved for small refiners in financial trouble. A Reuters report says that will only add fuel to the fire in the debate between the oil and ethanol industries over how the Trump Administration should handle the RFS. An …
Rabobank: Domestic Dairy Demand to Climb in 2018
Domestic demand for dairy products like natural cheese and butter, along with premium dairy products, should rise in the second half of 2018. That prediction comes from Rabobank in its Dairy Quarterly 1 Report. “The stronger economic growth is projected to come mostly from the recent tax policy change, which translates to stronger dairy demand through increased food service and …