Former Senators Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and James Talent of Missouri both played major roles in the legislation that established the current Renewable Fuels Standard. This week, the two say Congress should investigate the waivers to the RFS granted to more than two-dozen refineries by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. In a statement released by the National Biodiesel …
EPA Chief Faces Scrutiny on Capitol Hill
Lawmakers peppered Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt with questions on ethics and spending allegations that have prompted bipartisan calls for his ouster. An Associated Press report says the EPA boss was on the defensive as he blamed “half-truths” and “twisted” allegations as attempts to undermine the Trump administration’s anti-regulatory agenda. The public questioning on Capitol Hill comes after a …
U.S. Beef Could Expand In E.U. To Help Avoid Trade War
The European Union is preparing to allow more tariff-free U.S. beef into the region as part of an attempt to avoid a trade war. Politico says the move comes at the same time French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are making high-level diplomatic trips to Washington, D.C. Both leaders are trying to dissuade President Donald Trump from …
Perdue To Allow Modified FMD Virus Onto US Mainland
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has authorized the movement of a modified, non-infectious version of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center to the U.S. mainland for the purposes of continued vaccine development and study.  While modified FMD virus is unable to cause disease and presents no risk of transmitting the disease, it …
Secretary Perdue Comments on Senate Confirmation of Ken Barbic
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding Senate confirmation of Ken Barbic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations: “As USDA continues its mission of helping agricultural producers feed, fuel, and clothe the world, effective communication with Congress is a key element. Ken Barbic will bring a combination of an agricultural background …
Trump Says NAFTA Talks Are “Doing Nicely”
President Donald Trump says this week that the North American Free Trade Agreement talks are “moving along nicely.” Bloomberg says trade ministers from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. are meeting in Washington, D.C., and pushing to finish an agreement by early May. During a meeting with the president of France, Trump said, “NAFTA, as you know, is moving along. I …
NFU Board of Directors Opposes Current House Farm Bill
The National Farmers Union Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution opposing the current version of the House Farm Bill that passed out of the Ag Committee last week. The Board called on House members to make significant changes in the legislation before passing it. The Board says in a release that, “The House Farm Bill, as currently written, lacks …
Farm State Senators Worry About Trade During Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee convened a hearing on Tuesday and expressed a great deal of concern over the trade strategy of President Donald Trump and its effects on the U.S. farm economy. Politico says farm-state senators used the opportunity to direct Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to impress on the Trump administration just how sensitive commodity markets are to trade actions. …
Soybean Growers Talking Tariffs, Trade on Capitol Hill
American Soybean Association farmer-leaders from across the country are on Capitol Hill this week to talk with lawmakers about the potential impact of Chinese tariffs on U.S. soybeans. ASA President John Heisdorffer says China purchases 61 percent of U.S. soybean exports, as well as 30 percent of the overall U.S. soybean production. “In short, trade with China matters and is …
USDA Rural Development Innovation Center Launches Interactive Webpage
To Share Best Practices for Rural Economic Development Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today unveiled a new interactive webpage to identify best practices for building rural prosperity. “Rural communities need forward-thinking strategies to build strong, resilient futures,” Hazlett said. “USDA’s Rural Development Innovation Center is focused on identifying unique opportunities, pioneering new, creative solutions to tough challenges, …