The October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates out today from USDA lowered the 2019-20 production outlook for corn and soybeans. This month’s 2019/20 U.S. corn outlook is for slightly lower production, reduced exports and corn used for ethanol, greater feed and residual use, and lower ending stocks. Corn production is forecast at 13.779 billion bushels, down 20 million as …
EPA and USDA Announce Biofuels Agreement
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and USDA Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued joint statements on an agreement promoting biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard. “President Trump’s leadership has led to an agreement that continues to promote domestic ethanol and biodiesel production, supporting our Nation’s farmers and providing greater energy security,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Today’s agreement …
Sonny and Zippy Debut Podcasts
Fellow agricultural leaders from Georgia both introduced new podcasts this week. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue introduced “The Sonnyside of the Farm,” a monthly podcast with new editions every first Friday of the month. Born and raised on a family farm in middle Georgia, Secretary Perdue is an agriculturalist through and through – having worked as a veterinarian, owning his …
Past and Current Ag Secretaries Support USMCA
All former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture since President Reagan’s Administration this week announced their support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA …
Hemp Industrial Park Debuts at #FPS19
Hemp has officially arrived as an agricultural commodity with its inclusion as an exhibit at the 2019 Farm Progress Show. The Hemp Industrial Park featured hemp company and organization exhibitors, daily educational presentations, and examples of products made from hemp. “It’s been an amazing experience all around,” said Erica Stark, executive director of the National Hemp Association. She says that …
ZimmCast 624 – #FPS19
It was a busy Farm Progress Show this year with great weather and lots to talk about. Happy to have a long weekend to recover from our labor! In this edition of the ZimmCast, you will hear from some of the many voices at #FPS19, including Show Manager Matt Jungmann, BASF External Communications Manager Casey Allen, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, …
USDA Secretary Addresses Ag Issues at #FPS19
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue spent a full day at Farm Progress Show in just a few hours. After listening to farmers’ concerns during an Ag Policy Forum across the street, the secretary drove a tractor in the ride and drive, took a call from President Trump during a live show on stage with Max Armstrong, and then answered questions from …
Secretary Perdue at Illinois Ag Policy Forum
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue told those gathered at an ag policy forum during the 2019 Farm Progress Show that he expects President Trump to announce small refinery waiver mitigation efforts soon. Perdue declined to provide further details about the coming announcement. Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation including Rep. Rodney Davis, Rep. John Shimkus, Rep. Mike Bost and …
USDA RMA Responding to Weather Challenges
It’s been a busy year for the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) as the weather has thrown plenty of challenges at farmers across the country. Widespread flooding in the spring slowed things down for growers, and RMA responded with the decision to extend the acreage reporting deadline by one week in 14 states. But that wasn’t the only action they …
USDA Updates Acreage and Production Forecasts
In the August Crop Production report released today, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) revised planted acres downwards, while at the same time increasing corn production to 13.9 billion bushels and raising the average national yield by more than 3 bushels to 169.5 bushels an acre in the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand (WASDE) report. NASS noted that survey …