The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is no doubt the biggest issue for ag groups at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City this week. Representatives from six national farm groups joined USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Phil Karsting in Kansas City Wednesday for a press event to discuss the TPP. The event featured farmer leaders from the American …
ArmezonPRO Receives EPA Regislation For Use in Corn
Armezon PRO herbicide, from BASF, has received full EPA regislation. Armezon® PRO herbicide provides long-lasting residual control of emerged grass and broadleaf weeds. “Growers want flexible options to control weeds based on their farm’s needs,” said Daniel Waldstein, Technical Market Manager, Ph.D., BASF. “Armezon PRO herbicide has a wide application window and low use rate, resulting in time, storage and …
Senate Disapproves of #WOTUS
By a vote of 53-44, the U.S. Senate passed a joint “resolution of disapproval” of the EPA Clean Water rule known as ‘Waters of the United States’ (WOTUS). Resolution sponsor Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) says the action would “put an end to” the expanded EPA rule. “Our resolution stops the EPA from continuing to act as an unchecked federal agency …
DOT Announces Registration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that recreational users of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, must register their systems with the federal government. A task force will be created to develop recommendations for a registration process for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “Registering unmanned aircraft will help build a culture of accountability and responsibility, especially …
RFS Uncertainty Hurting Farm Income
The uncertainties around the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are threatening farm income and hurting the economic stability of rural economies. A new white paper from the National Farmers Union (NFU) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), using recent USDA data on net cash income for American farmers and ranchers, states that income is expected to decline by 26 percent …
Growers Adopting Enogen Corn for Ethanol
Growers are adopting Enogen corn for ethanol production and acres are expected to exceed 400,000 in 2016. Syngenta said there were 225,000 acres in production during the 2015 growing season and with the expected expansion and 16 ethanol plants utilizing the biotech corn designed specifically to enhance ethanol production, 1 billion gallons of ethanol per year will be produced. “This …
Lots of Reaction to TPP
Seems like everyone has something to say about the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement reached by negotiators meeting in Atlanta for more than five days, even though few details have been released. U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman does say that agriculture is a big winner under the agreement. “Tariffs will either be eliminated or greatly reduced or quotas will be significantly …
Staff Changes at NCGA
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has made some staffing realignments to place a renewed emphasis on demand under the newly created Market Development Department. The Market Development team adds two new members from current staff as Max Starbuck and Susan Powers join that department. In his new role, Starbuck will serve as Director of Market Development and focus on …
Corn Patent Improves Process for Bio Based Plastics
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) has just been issued a new patent relating to the imporved process used in making bio plastics. The patent specifically pertains to the compound isosorbide, which allows the use of more bio material in plastics and improves other properties, such as a plastic’s melting temperature. The patent, titled “Dianhydrosugar Production Process,” eliminates the need for an …
Corn Growers Thank Boehner for his Leadership
Speaker of the House John Boehner has announced his retirement, effective Oct. 30, 2015. The National Corn Growers Association thanked Boehner for being a friend to agriculture, with NCGA President Chip Bowling saying: “We are grateful for Speaker Boehner’s leadership in so many areas, including service on the House Agriculture Committee, and his work for a more transparent and productive …