RFA Ethanol Podcast

Vilsack Traveling to Germany and France

Kelly Marshall

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be traveling to Berlin and Paris next week. April 4-5 he will be in Berlin, discussing rural economic development opportunities related to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with German officials and farmers.  Christian Schmidt, the German Mister of Food and Agriculture, as well as other government officials will also meet about the benefits to …

Trade, USDA

Ethanol Trade Mission to Peru

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) took part in a recent trade mission to Peru led by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack which included discussions about increasing cooperation with that country when it comes to ethanol production and exports. In this edition of the ZimmCast, RFA General Counsel Ed Hubbard talks about the March 13-15 trade mission which visited Lima and the …

Audio, Ethanol, International, RFA, Trade, USDA, ZimmCast

TPP is a Priority for SoyGrowers this Week

Kelly Marshall

The Trans-Pacific Partnership and its impact on the soybean growers of this nation is a top issue for the American Soybean Association.  Their annual spring meeting is being held this week in Washington D.C. and President Richard Wilkins has taken the opportunity to highlight what the agreement will mean to producers in a down farm economy. “We recognize that with …

Ag Groups, ASA, GMO, Trade

NFU Contests TPP Benefits for Ag

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Farmers Union was unimpressed with the economic analysis on the benefits of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) for agriculture released by Farm Bureau this week and promoted by USDA. “To broadly categorize agriculture as benefiting from this agreement is not giving due diligence to the serious concerns that are not addressed by TPP,” said NFU president Roger Johnson. …

AFBF, Trade

AFBF and USDA Team to Unveil TPP Benefits Report

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall got together to discuss the benefit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for agriculture as AFBF released an economic analysis of the pending trade agreement. “Until today, we didn’t have a specific documented review or study of that benefit,” said Vilsack, said in thanking Farm Bureau for doing the …

AFBF, Audio, Trade

#TPP Signed Amid Protests in New Zealand

Cindy Zimmerman

Protesters nearly shut down the city of Auckland, New Zealand yesterday, but the ceremonial signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) went on as scheduled. Trade ministers representing Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam gathered for the signing of the historic agreement concluded four months ago in Atlanta. The ministers …

Audio, International, NCBA, Trade

Key Issues Top Farm Bureau’s 2016 Strategic Plan

John Davis

Farm Bureau’s strategic action plan for 2016 includes several key issues for agriculture, including the government’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) action, protecting farmers’ rights to use biotechnology and trade issue. This news release from the group says the policy issues are a result of deliberations by delegates to the AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention in Orlando. “We will continue …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Trade, Water

Chile & Peru Slated for Stops on USDA Trade Mission

John Davis

Two South American countries have been slated for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) trade mission. This news release from the agency says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will lead a trade mission March 14-18 to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in Chile and Peru. “Thanks to existing free trade agreements, the United States enjoys strong trading relationships with both …

International, Trade, USDA

Ag Secy Vilsack Talks SOTU, Trade & Climate

Joanna Schroeder

USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack held a press call yesterday to discuss President Obama’s last State of the Union (SOTU) address. Vilsack, who has served in the capacity of Ag Secretary throughout Obama’s Administration, was in attendance during the speech. He said he is very proud to have been part of an administration that has basically taken the country from …

Audio, politics, Trade, USDA

Family Farmers Support Climate Focus in SOTU Address

Joanna Schroeder

Last night marked President Obama’s last State of the Union (SOTU) address, and as expected one area of focus was the fight against climate change. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson said after the speech that the administration’s focus on the climate change is an issue that farmers and ranchers across the U.S. have been dealing with for many …

Trade