News Archives
Concern next Trump EPA could "reprise giving out small refinery exemptions"
There’s concern Small Refinery Exemptions could ramp up during President Trump’s second term.

RFA shares input with House Ways and Means on biofuel tax credits
With certain modifications and proper implementation, the Clean Fuel Production Credit (“45Z”) could create important new market opportunities for farmers, lower fuel prices for consumers, enhance energy security, and reduce emissions, the Renewable Fuels Association wrote Friday in response to a request for information from members of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Hoeven secures additional 3 million EID tags from USDA to help ranchers comply with new tag mandate
Senator John Hoeven, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will provide an additional 3 million electronic identification (EID) tags for U.S ranchers.

From income deductions to estate tax: the cost of letting TCJA expire for farmers
An analysis conducted earlier this year by USDA's Economic Research Service showed farmers would see their tax obligations grow by $8.9 billion if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is not extended.

USMEF CEO says outlook for beef remains strong
The CEO of the US Meat Export Federation says the outlook for beef is strong heading into 2025.

CoBank releases 2025 Year Ahead report - Forces That Will Shape the U.S. Rural Economy
The U.S. continues to benefit from solid economic growth, low unemployment and moderating inflation. From today’s vantage point, the U.S. economy seems likely to continue on that trajectory into 2025. However, the outlook for the rural economy is more volatile and uncertain.

Summit Carbon Solutions receives pipeline permit from Minnesota PUC
Summit Carbon Solutions is pleased to announce that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has granted a permit for the company’s 28-mile pipeline route through Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in Nebraska poultry
In the past week, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), in conjunction with
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) has detected two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry flocks in
Nebraska.

Farm bill extension stalls as Republicans oppose using IRA funds to aid farmers
Nearly $10 billion in immediate economic aid to farmers could be lost because House Republican leaders oppose how Democrats came up with the money for the aid.

Modest changes for weekly ethanol production
U.S. ethanol production rebounded slightly last week.

U.S. sales of ag tractors and combines drops in November 2024
According to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), U.S. sales of Ag tractors and combines fell in November 2024 compared to the year before.

Decades of Ingenuity: Growth and Progress over 60 years
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Yield Contest. Participants delivered outstanding yields, once again showcasing the ingenuity and resilience that define U.S. agriculture.

Governor Parson proclaims December as Christmas Tree Month in Missouri
Governor Mike Parson recently hosted a ceremony proclaiming December as Christmas Tree Month in Missouri. The proclamation was presented to winners of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association’s annual wreath and tree contests, held earlier this year at the association’s annual convention.

Grassley certain of farm bill but unsure on disaster aid
The congressional wheels are in motion to extend the current farm bill into 2025.

Fish and Wildlife Services proposes Endangered Species Act protection for monarch butterfly
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing protection for one of the nation’s most beloved species -- the monarch butterfly -- and is encouraging the public to be part of its recovery. 

USDA cuts U.S. corn ending stocks by 200M bushels
USDA cut corn ending stocks by 200 million bushels (mb), aggressively improving its forecasts for exports and ethanol production. The new ending stocks estimate, 1.738 billion bushels (bb), is 62 mb below the lowest pre-report trade estimate.

K-State biochemists make significant breakthrough in increasing purity of specialized plant oils
Some of the more commonly known and grown oilseed crops in the U.S. have long been canola, soybeans and sunflowers, but a breakthrough by Kansas State University biochemists could lead to the cover crops pennycress and camelina also becoming a source for improved biodiesel.

USGC 2024/25 Corn Harvest Quality Report shows high yield, low BCFM
According to the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 2024/2025 Corn Harvest Quality Report, the 14th such annual survey published globally earlier this week, the 2024 U.S. corn crop is projected to be the third largest on record with the highest 100-kernel weight in the history of the report and lower broken corn and foreign material (BCFM), lower total damage and lower moisture than in the last five years.

Congress clears way for final passage of new water infrastructure 'WRDA' bill
Congress is poised to pass the latest water infrastructure bill under the "Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024," which will help offset some inland waterway costs while focusing heavily on flood risks nationally.

Syngenta and Enko use artificial intelligence to advance safe, sustainable weed control solutions
Syngenta Crop Protection has reached a new milestone in its collaboration with AI-informed crop health company Enko® to discover novel weed control molecules, advancing efforts to bring much-needed innovation in herbicide technology to farmers. 

October red meat exports above year-ago levels; pork on record pace
Exports of U.S. beef and pork posted year-over-year increases in October, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), with pork exports well-positioned to set annual volume and value records in 2024.
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University of Missouri announces new rural energy center
The University of Missouri has announced a new center focusing on rural energy, innovation, and policy. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in a Sioux County commercial layer flock
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial layer flock in Sioux County, Iowa. This is Iowa’s sixth detection of H5N1 HPAI within poultry in 2024. 

Potential port strike creating some economic angst
A Creighton University economist says there are concerns Atlantic and Gulf Coast port workers could strike again in mid-January.

USDA announces new federal order, begins National Milk Testing Strategy to address H5N1 in dairy herds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the start of its National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), which builds on measures taken by USDA and federal and state partners since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle was first detected in March 2024.

USDA to shift focus to U.S. demand, South American production in December WASDE
USDA does not adjust U.S. production figures in the December report, instead taking the opportunity to focus on the demand side of the balance sheet, which went largely ignored in the November report, much to the frustration of traders. The December WASDE report also offers slightly more confidence in the accuracy of USDA's estimates, albeit slightly, and there remain categories that have proven to be largely difficult to predict early in the marketing season.

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Costa on RM race; Learn about Brooke Rollins
California Rep. Jim Costa is challenging the House Ag Committee’s current ranking member, David Scott of Georgia, and Angie Craig of Minnesota for the top Democratic position on the panel. We ask about Costa’s vision for the committee.

Rep. Greg Steube announces Senate passage of his disaster tax relief legislation
U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) recently announced his legislation, H.R. 5863 The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation provides long-awaited tax relief for Americans harmed by recent hurricanes, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and the train derailment in Ohio. The legislation now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law. 


