News Archives
Previewing the USDA's Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report
A livestock economist says breeding inventory is a number to watch in this week’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report.

Forestry legislation backed by NCBA and PLC passes U.S. House
The Fix Our Forests Act on Tuesday passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote of 268 to 151.

14% of U.S. corn, 13% of soybeans harvested
The U.S. corn and soybean harvests stayed ahead of average last week. That followed a dry week in much of the region, with this week’s delays in some areas showing up in next week’s numbers.

USDA launches assistance network to support financially distressed farmers and ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative designed to provide personalized support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers across the nation.

Regulatory realities likely to keep over-the-top dicamba off the market in 2025
Like most farmers this time of year, Josh Gackle is field-focused as harvest gets underway. But that doesn't mean he isn't looking ahead.

USMEF statement on Colombia fully reopening to U.S. beef
With the Colombian government recently lifting its ban on U.S. beef originating from states in which H5N1 was detected in dairy cows, the Export Library for Colombia has been updated to reflect restored access for beef from 13 states.

Purdue, Bayer announce partnership to address regenerative agriculture on global scale
Purdue University and Bayer announced the creation of the Coalition for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture, a public-private partnership designed to help improve the soil health of farmland while also increasing food production for a growing population.

Economist says no big surprises in latest Cattle on Feed report
A livestock economist says there still aren’t clear signs the cattle herd is growing.

Corn growers applaud House vote to overturn tailpipe emissions
The National Corn Growers Association applauded the U.S. House of Representatives Friday for passing a bill that would overturn tailpipe emissions standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that focus solely on using electric vehicles to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
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Farmers talk harvest drydown, service trucks and playlists
Weather whiplash continued for Dan Lakey this week. After wishing for rain all summer, the Soda Springs, Idaho, farmer finally received measurable precipitation, only to have it delay harvest and cause drying concerns.

EFIF study showcases ethanol industry's central role in decarbonizing the transportation sector
The Energy Futures Initiative Foundation (EFIF), led by Ernest J. Moniz, the 13th U.S. Secretary of Energy, today released a new study detailing pathways to further decarbonize ethanol to reach near net-zero carbon intensity by 2035 and negative carbon intensity by 2050.

Free soil sampling program available for Indiana farmers
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state have worked with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a no-cost program with a focus on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations. The program, titled Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program, is open now for applicants through Nov. 1, 2024.

Good week for new crop corn, soybean export sales
New crop U.S. corn and soybean export sales were up on the week.

Limited ARC and PLC support leads Senators to call for aid
Crop farmers won't be able to count on any support from USDA commodity programs when payments are announced in October for Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage -- ARC and PLC.

Biden-Harris Administration announces final awards through landmark meat and poultry processing investment
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is awarding more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states to increase processing capacity, spur competition to expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers and create jobs in rural areas.

Gevo, Inc. announces sale of approximately $20 million of investment tax credits
Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) is pleased to announce the sale of approximately $20 million in Investment Tax Credits to an undisclosed corporate buyer. This transaction monetizes Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) Investment Tax Credits generated from the commercialization of a renewable natural gas (“RNG”) production facility by Gevo NW Iowa RNG, LLC (“Gevo RNG”) and provides net cash proceeds of approximately $17 million to Gevo after transaction fees.

Grain entrapment is the leading cause of agricultural confined space-related injuries and fatalities; researchers emphasize safety
Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program has released the 2023 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-related Injuries and Fatalities ahead of National Farm Safety and Health Week.
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Mizzou economists assess the ag economy, find mixed outlook for U.S. agriculture
United States net farm income in 2024 was $137 billion, falling slightly below the United States Department of Agriculture ‘s (USDA) September forecast and $9 billion lower than the 2023 figure, according to the latest update of the annual U.S. farm income and consumer food price report by The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri. Further declines in income are projected in 2025 as some moderation in production expenses and high cattle prices are not enough to offset the impact of lower crop prices.

Ethanol production falls to three month low
U.S. ethanol production hit a 12-week low last week.

EWG sues Tyson Foods over alleged 'greenwashing' of climate-smart beef products
Environmental Working Group is challenging claims by Tyson Foods that certain beef products have climate-smart benefits, accusing Tyson of "greenwashing" its environmental claims.

Delta, Minnesota SAF Hub announce plans for SAF blending facility and other unique milestones
Minnesota will soon be home to a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending facility – only the third in the United States – that will provide SAF supply via existing pipeline to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) – Delta’s second-largest hub where it uses 250 million gallons of fuel annually.

Farmers hope for interest rate relief as operating loan demand climbs
Interest rates on farm loans are at multi-decade highs, and many hope relief will come on Wednesday afternoon.

Taylor lauds ag trade mission to Vietnam
The expansion of agricultural trade to Vietnam is a priority for USDA.

Growth Energy to STB: Ethanol benefits depend on reliable rail service
Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, Wednesday highlighted a number of issues currently plaguing the nation’s rail service—which have resulted in delayed shipments, longer wait times, and higher costs for America’s ethanol producers.

Ag groups urge Congress to reauthorize crucial trade program
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), joined by 25 other agriculture groups, sent a letter this week to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee encouraging them to reauthorize a lapsed trade program, called the Generalized System of Preference.

U.S. dairy calls for swifit government action as Colombia moves to impose unjust tariffs
The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Tuesday expressed their strong disappointment with a preliminary ruling by Colombia’s government that unfairly targets U.S. dairy exporters by advancing baseless claims that U.S. milk powder was unduly subsidized.

Lawmakers consider temporary aid until new farm bill passed
A U.S. Senator from Kansas says time is running out to get a new farm bill, but there is a sense of urgency from a leader of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee to do something immediate to meet the needs of U.S farmers and ranchers.

RFA seeks update on EPA feedstocks audits, urges tighter regulations on imported UCO, tallow
In a letter sent today to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, the Renewable Fuels Association asked for an update on the agency’s investigation of certain biofuel feedstock imports and urged the adoption of more stringent feedstock verification requirements for imported used cooking oil and tallow.


