Ethanol plants are now able to shift to the manufacture of hand sanitizer without permits from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is working with Iowa Prison Industries for the production of hand sanitizer during the national shortage. Two Iowa biofuel refineries – Absolute Energy and Western Iowa Energy – sent the …
Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Producing Free Hand Sanitizer
In an effort to help combat the spread of coronavirus, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. is using its alcohol supply to produce hand sanitizer and provide it free of charge. The first batch of 200 bottles was delivered to city hall in Lexington on Friday and additional batches will be delivered this week. “When my late husband, Pearse Lyons, and …
Farmers and Ranchers Committed to US Food Supply
America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to doing all they can do to maintain the nation’s food supply amid growing challenges posed by COVID-19. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president Zippy Duvall, along with Chalmers Carr, a peach farmer in South Carolina, and John Boelts, a produce farmer in Arizona, gave an update on how farmers are dealing with the …
Coronavirus is Latest Threat to Ethanol Industry
The impact that coronavirus is having on the energy markets is just the latest threat to the solvency of the U.S. ethanol industry, coming on top of weather, trade disputes and small refinery waivers that hurt producers last year. In a media conference call Thursday, Renewable Fuels Association leaders discussed the impact of these hits on ethanol producers and the …
NCBA Urges Steps to Maintain Beef Supply
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is working to maintain an adequate supply of beef for U.S. consumers during the current COVID-19 outbreak. NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane says they have taken a number of steps to help protect the value chain, starting with sending a request to Vice President Mike Pence for assurance that meat inspection …
Agriculture Groups Urge Action on Farm Labor
Agriculture organizations are urging immediate action on the evolving farm labor situation to avoid impacting the nation’s food supply during this critical time. The Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to recognize all H-2A as well as any other non-immigrant visa petition involving an agricultural worker visa consular processing functions as essential and direct U.S. …
COVID-19 Restrictions Could Impact Food Supply
Beginning today, the United States will suspend routine immigrant and nonimmigrant processing visa services in Mexico indefinitely, including immigrant workers approved under the H-2A guest worker program who are needed to help farmers and ranchers get food in the grocery stores. “The decision to halt visa application processing in Mexico will restrict the number of immigrant workers being allowed to …
IFAJ 2020 Congress Cancelled
The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) 2020 Congress scheduled for June 24-28 in Denmark has been cancelled due to coronavirus. The decision also applies to the pre-congress in Copenhagen/Zealand and the two post-congresses on Funen and the Faroe Islands. Everyone who has signed up will get a full refund, and so will all sponsors. We are naturally very sorry …
2020 Agri-Marketing Conference Postponed
The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is charting a different course for the 2020 Agri-Marketing Conference. In light of the rapidly changing situation with COVID-19, NAMA leadership has made the very difficult decision to postpone the annual Agri-Marketing Conference scheduled for April 15-17 in San Diego. While the conference is postponed, it is not canceled! The NAMA board is actively looking …
NAFB Postpones Washington Watch
In line with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations due to COVID-19, the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) has postponed its 2020 Leadership NAFB and 2020 Washington Watch events scheduled for next month in Washington, D.C. NAFB is in the process of rescheduling both events, slated for April 24-26 and April 27-29 respectively. From NAFB: For those attendees registered …