U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday afternoon, along with agriculture industry representatives. “The farmers, ranchers, foresters and agricultural producers across America contribute a great deal to the American economy,” Secretary Perdue said. “I’m pleased to be here today, at the center of our economic activity, with all these …
EPA Updates RFS Website to Improve Transparency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today updated the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program website to increase transparency and include new data and information for both stakeholders and the public. The data will provide new information for renewable fuel producers, fuel refiners, importers, and marketers including: The number of small refinery exemption petitions received, approved, and denied for each compliance year; …
USDA Expands Crop Forecast from Last Month
The 2018 corn, soybean, and cotton crops are all forecast to be two percent larger than USDA predicted in August, in the latest crop production report issued Wednesday. Corn production is now forecast at 14.8 billion bushels, up 2 percent from August and up 2 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to …
RFS Issues Being Worked on “Feverishly”
Speaking with reporters at the swearing-in ceremony for new USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Jim Hubbard, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue provided an update on what is being done to resolve issues surrounding the Renewable Fuels Standard. “We’re working feverishly to resolve the RFS issue,” said Perdue, who added that he has been working with EPA Acting Administrator …
Secretary Perdue Comments on Current Issues
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited the Farm Progress Show this week, making an appearance for everyone at the show to enjoy with Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson in the VIP tent, followed by a press gaggle where trade was the number one topic, along with WOTUS and the Renewable Fuel Standard. Asked about Canada and its dairy policy – …
Secretary Sonny Shows Ethanol Support
A rally organized by corn and ethanol producers at the Farm Progress Show got the attention of USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey who stopped by to show their support. It was a last minute decision by the secretary, who brought greetings and another promise from President Trump, who called Perdue as …
Record Corn and Soybean Forecasts
A record high soybean crop and overall corn yield are expected this year, according to the latest Crop Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Up 4 percent from 2017, soybean production is forecast at a record 4.59 billion bushels, while corn growers are expected to decrease their production slightly from last year, forecast at 14.6 billion bushels. Average …
USDA Announces Trade Disruption Relief for Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers negatively impacted by recent trade actions. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a short-term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets in the long run to help American farmers compete globally. Specifically, …
Planted Acreage Report Surprises
USDA’s planted acreage report out Friday contained some surprising numbers for the trade. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates 89.6 million acres of soybeans planted in the United States for 2018, down 1 percent from last year, and corn area planted is estimated at 89.1 million acres, also down 1 percent from last year. All cotton planted area for …
White House Reorganization Plans Would Change USDA
During an open media cabinet meeting Thursday, which was mostly dominated by President Trump commenting on the immigration issue, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Mick Mulvaney gave an entertaining summary of the administration’s plans to reorganize the government. “It’s been almost a hundred years since anybody really reorganized the government,” said Mulvaney, before providing a couple of examples …