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 …
Stabenow to Shield Farm Bill from Cuts
Debbie Stabenow, the ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, wants to defend the farm bill from possible budget cuts that could come during the budget reconciliation process that got started this week. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says she filed an amendment on Wednesday that’s intended to keep all farm bill programs away from any spending reductions from 2019 to …
Senate Ag Committee Sends Ibach, Northey to Full Senate
The U.S. Senate Ag Committee announced that it voted to send the USDA nominations of Greg Ibach from Nebraska and Bill Northey of Iowa on to the full Senate. Ibach is nominated to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, while Northey is nominated to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Committee …
NFU on USDA Farmer Fair Practices Rule Decision
Earlier this week, the Department of Agriculture announced it would be terminating the Farmer Fair Practices Rule on Competitive Injury. A rule that, according to the National Farmers Unions, would have provided the most basic of protections to American family farmers and ranchers as they endure increasingly concentrated markets and unfair treatment from multinational meatpackers. NFU President Roger Johnson says …