Refinery state senators are hitting back against the Trump administration for bowing to pressure from ethanol supporters last week and abandoning proposed changes in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) this week put a hold on the nomination of Iowa’s Bill Northey for USDA Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation, who was approved by the Senate …
Trump Commits to Agriculture in Iowa
President Donald Trump stood among various models of John Deere and Case IH farm equipment as he pledged to boost agriculture exports, loosen federal regulations on the agriculture industry, and support ethanol and biofuels yesterday while speaking to a crowd of about 250 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “Today we are celebrating the dignity of work and …
ASTA Annual Conference in Full Swing
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual conference is in full swing in Minneapolis, MN with both Cindy and Kelly on the ground to bring you all the news. To kick off our coverage of the event Cindy spoke with President and CEO Andy LaVigne about the past year’s work and what ASTA hopes to accomplish at the conference for the …
Bayer Talks Policy – Trade, WOTUS, Farm Bill
News from Washington comes daily and every decision in one way, shape or form impacts our agriculture community. The Bayer AgVocacy Form provided a platform for key policy issues to be discussed and Bayer’s Federal Relations and Policy Senior Director, Jim McVaney, shared his insights into the new administration. “The fact that agriculture didn’t play a role in the President’s …
Terry Branstad Addresses Ag Outlook Forum
The distinguished speaker at this year’s USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum was former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who was recently nominated as ambassador to China. Branstad took time during his speech to praise incoming Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and share his thoughts on the future of agriculture and economic development in rural America. “Simply put, American agriculture is tied to …
Farm Bureau President Speaks at USDA Ag Outlook Forum
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s public policy agenda shares much in common with the Trump administration on issues like regulatory reform and tax reform. But even harder issues such as farm labor and trade should present opportunities to engage with Congress and the White House, alike, AFBF President Zippy Duvall told participants at the USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum. Duvall said …
#NBB17 Spotlight on Washington Session
The room was packed for the annual Spotlight on Washington session at the 2017 National Biodiesel Conference last week, which was more popular than ever this year with the advent of a new presidential administration. Reprising their roles for the session were former Sen. Byron Dorgan and former Cong. Kenny Hulshof, and they were joined by other DC insiders Jim …
MO Lt. Gov Praises Perdue as U.S. Sec of Ag
Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson has commended President Trump on his selection of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In a statement, Lieutenant Governor Parson praised Governor Perdue’s accomplishments in both the governmental and private sectors. “Governor Perdue and I share a common past being raised on family farms, serving our country in the …
Exploring the New Political Landscape at #AFBF17
The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States has ushered in a whole new political landscape, which was discussed during one of the sessions early Monday morning at the American Farm Bureau Federation 2017 Annual Convention. “What we thought was impossible politically is now possible,” said Stan Barnes, President, Copper State Consulting Group in Phoenix. “We’re not …
#Ethanol Reaction to Trump Team Mixed
Some ethanol interests are getting a little nervous about the oil industry ties of several Trump administration cabinet selections. Those include former Texas Governor Rick Perry for energy secretary, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) issued a call-to-action to its grassroots membership last …