Trade negotiators are accusing each other of sabotaging attempts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) following the latest round of talks. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland accused the U.S. of pursuing a “winner take all” approach. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said of the talks that the NAFTA trade partners do not seem “willing to make any …
Ag Exports Key to Trump NAFTA Deficit Strategy
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts says agricultural exports are key to achieving President Donald Trump’s plan for reducing the trade deficit with NAFTA members. The White House says more ag exports into Canada and Mexico through the North American Free Trade Agreement will help reduce the trade deficit, and Senator Roberts agrees. Roberts spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Robert …
Report: Farm Lending Stabilizing
The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank reports farm lending has stabilized, but risks remain. The Federal Reserve’s Agricultural Finance Databook shows risks in the sector have remained alongside a persistently weak agricultural economy. The volume of non-real estate farm loans originated in the third quarter this year increased about two percent from the previous year. The slight increase followed a …
Securing All Livestock Equitably Details
Livestock producers many times only have one payday a year. That’s when they load trucks and head to the local sale barn. This day can be nerve-racking for the producer as they wait to see how the market will fare for them. It can be made more nerve-racking and even stomach sickening when the check for the livestock does not …
GPC Applauds Revision of Seg. 2 Peanuts Published in Federal Register
The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) applauds the efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service final rule (7 CFR Part 996) published in the Federal Register to revise the minimum quality and handling standards for domestic and imported peanuts marketed in the United States. This rule implements a recommendation from the Peanut Standards Board to raise the …
RFA Statement on EPA Letter to Senators on RFS Commitment
In a letter to seven senators sent late Thursday, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt committed to final 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations at levels equal or greater to those that the agency proposed in July, as well as a commitment to finalize the rule by the Nov. 30 statutory deadline. In the letter, Pruitt also announced EPA will finalize …
Trump may be Keeping Campaign Promise on Protecting Renewable Fuels Mandate
President Trump may be keeping his campaign promise on protecting the nation’s renewable fuels mandate. Administration sources have told various media that the White House ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to hold off on controversial changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The move comes after a political backlash from Midwestern lawmakers. Calls to the White House were not immediately returned, …
Rural Mainstreet Index Fears Farm Foreclosure Threat to Banks
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index is still below growth-neutral, which it has been for some time. The index jumped six points from September to October, but low crop prices are still inhibiting growth. Ernie Goss, the author of the index, says, “As a result of low commodity prices and weak farm income, 9.5 percent of bank CEOs expect farm …
Ethanol Summit of the Americas Talks Global Usage
More than 15 countries in the Western Hemisphere have sent officials to the Ethanol Summit of the Americas to talk over current and future ethanol opportunities in the region. The event runs through Friday (10/20/2017) and is sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. Tom Sleight, U.S. Grains Council president, and …
Farm State Senators Keep Pressure on EPA
Farm-state Senators have been keeping the pressure on the Environmental Protection Agency over its actions on biofuels. Politico’s Morning Energy says the small group of Senators has been blocking votes on EPA nominees. South Dakota Senator John Thune is a member of the group, who says, “We have enough of a bloc of Midwestern Senators that they’re going to have …