Members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus held a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the challenges currently facing the ethanol industry and what can be done to help. Caucus members participating in the meeting were including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rodney Davis (R-IL) as well as ethanol and agricultural group leaders. House Agriculture …
COVID Cuts Revenue Prospects for Corn Crop
A new analysis from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is projecting a drastic drop in 2020 revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with impacts persisting into 2021. NCGA President Kevin Ross says the latest analysis projects a $59 per acre average revenue decline for the 2019 corn crop and an $89 per acre average revenue decline for …
President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant – One Year Later
It was one year ago today that President Donald Trump made a victorious visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to celebrate regulatory changes that would finally allow year-round retail sales of 15% ethanol (E15). At the event, the President also heard from farmers and ethanol industry leaders about the devastating impact of RFS …
Farm & Biofuel Groups Challenge Retroactive RFS Waivers
Nine leading biofuel and farm organizations sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler Tuesday asking him for answers on what is seen as a new effort to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). During a Senate hearing last month, administration officials confirmed their consideration of retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs) covering previous years. The “gap-filings” are …
EPA Issues Order on Dicamba Registrations
Late last night, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an order on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision on dicamba registrations regarding the sale, distribution, and use of existing stocks of the three affected dicamba products – XtendiMax with vapor grip technology, Engenia, and FeXapan. According to EPA, distribution or sale of the products is “generally prohibited except for …
NAMA Adds Virtual Option to Agri-Marketing Conference
The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is now offering the 2020 Agri-Marketing Conference as both a live and virtual conference, August 11-13, 2020. The virtual conference will be offered for $495 and $635 for members and non-members, respectively. The non-member rate includes one free year of NAMA membership. Features of the virtual conference include a virtual trade show, virtual happy hours, …
Farmfest and Dakotafest Canceled for 2020
Both the Minnesota Farmfest and Dakotafest have been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IDEAg Group LLC., which is owned by American Farm Bureau Federation, made the decision to cancel with great disappointment according to AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We understand the impact this has on the ag community, but simply put, it is the right decision to …
Ag Retailers Urge Immediate Stay of Dicamba Order
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is urging EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to seek an immediate stay of federal court order and appeal the ruling “using all legal avenues available.” President and CEO Daren Coppock says part of the problem is the order itself, but a bigger part is the timing to hand it down right in the middle of the …
Dicamba Decision Leaves Farmers in Limbo
This week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling that vacates current U.S. registrations of certain low-volatility dicamba products, such as Bayer’s XtendiMax and BASF’s Engenia, halting sales immediately. The court ruled EPA violated federal regulations when it extended approval of registration for the herbicide for another two years in October 2018. Bayer and BASF …
2020 World Dairy Expo Cancelled
For the first time in its 53-year history, World Dairy Expo® has been cancelled. The World Dairy Expo Executive Committee reached this difficult decision based on the public health orders and restrictions related to COVID-19, in place and issued by Public Health Madison & Dane County. World Dairy Expo 2020 was set to take place at the Alliant Energy Center …