All the noise made this week by biofuels supporters over proposed volume reductions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has apparently made an impression. In a letter to seven senators sent late Thursday, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt committed to final 2018 RFS renewable volume obligations “at levels equal or greater” to those that the agency proposed in July, as well …
Deere Wins Fight to Protect Green and Yellow
It’s not easy being John Deere green and yellow – especially if you are another equipment manufacturer. A U.S. District Court in Kentucky this week ruled in favor of Deere & Company protecting the use of the trademark green and yellow color combination on John Deere agricultural equipment. The court decision permanently bans the use of the John Deere colors …
GAP Report Says Ag Productivity Growth Too Slow
The Global Harvest Initiative 2017 GAP report was released Wednesday at the World Food Prize symposium in Des Moines, and for the fourth straight year it shows that global agricultural productivity growth is not accelerating fast enough to sustainably feed the world in 2050. “If agricultural productivity growth continues to decline, there will be significant ramifications for the economic vitality …
Deere Spotlights New Gator™ XUV Models
John Deere’s new gas-powered Gator XUV835 and diesel-powered Gator XUV865 utility vehicles were turning heads at the Sunbelt Ag Expo this week. “It’s our first ever three passenger wide vehicle,” said Mark Davey, John Deere marketing manager. “And we have the ability to give you a factory-installed cab, plus the ability to install heat and air from the factory.” Davey …
Iowa Biofuels Interests Get White House Attention
President Donald Trump called Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Wednesday to assure her that he continues to support the renewable fuels industry. “He reached out to me,” said Gov. Reynolds during a press conference in Iowa. “He made it clear that he stood with the Renewable Fuel Standard.” Gov. Reynolds also got a call from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who met …
Updated Deere Utility Tractors in the Sunbelt
John Deere is updating its popular 3-cylinder 5E Series Utility Tractors for model year 2018 and these versatile machines are on display this week at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia. “We lowered the hood down about five inches to give more visibility,” said John Doyle, product marketing manager for Deere. “We increased the size of the operator platform …
BASF Executives Discuss Bayer Acquisition
BASF Crop Protection business executives held a conference call with reporters Tuesday to discuss the agreement announced last Friday to purchase significant Bayer assets in the largest deal of its kind in history. The $7 billion deal includes Bayer’s global glufosinate-ammonium non-selective herbicide business, seed businesses for canola hybrids in North America under the InVigor® brand using the LibertyLink® trait …
GIPSA Rules Withdrawn by Administration
The Trump administration today announced it will withdraw controversial regulations under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) related to the buying and selling of livestock. The action includes an interim final rule that deals with harm to competition and one proposed related rule issued in the final days of the Obama administration. The interim final rule was scheduled …
Secretary Perdue in Europe
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has been on a whirlwind trip around Europe for the past several days, starting with meetings in London before participating in the G-7 ministerial, taking part in World Food Day in Rome and meeting Pope Francis yesterday, and concluding his trip today in Madrid. “It’s been a very productive trip,” said Perdue during a …
Hubbard Robo-Max Custom Feed for Automated Systems
As robotic milking equipment is becoming more prevalent in the dairy industry, the need for customized feed to use in the systems is increasing, so Hubbard Feeds came up with Robo-Max Computerized Feeder Pellets. “What we’ve found is that you really need to fine tune what’s going into your pellet formula by having the right amount of starch or energy …