What Next for Year-Round E15?
Recent legislation that had been introduced to advance year-round access to E15 fuel in all 50 states failed in Washington, D.C. The bill failed due to a combination of legislative strategy and political dynamics. The decision was made despite the support from various stakeholders and the fact that a compromise deal ha...
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans Strategic Partnerships
Partnerships to promote the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This has been historically common collaboration in the five-year period when the new guidelines are issued. "USDA has long partnered with organizations and companies from across the private sector to promote the DGAs and messaging, with the shared goals...
Brooks Schaffer Market Report for Tuesday, March 10th
This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at brooks@palmettograin.com or 843-540-4540. Energy markets opened with fireworks Sunday night, with some crude contracts trading up to $120 per barrel. That pulled the grains and oilseeds along for the ride, reaching levels we have not see...
Cattle Trade Looking for Expanded Opportunities Overseas
No one in U.S. agriculture questions the importance of overseas trade to the sector's health. President Donald Trump has attempted to rebalance trade with overseas partners, and it's been a difficult challenge for producers with boots on the ground and products to sell. Kent Bacus, the executive director of governmenta...
Family Farmers to Address Shared Concerns During NFU Convention
The 124th National Farmers Union Convention got underway on Saturday in New Orleans. Rob Larew noted the annual event brought together hundreds of family farmers and ranchers to discuss current concerns and the future of the industry. "How can we create Farm Bills, for example, in the future that are actually goin...
Corn Growers Want Sales, Not Government Checks
While farmers are grateful for government assistance through the Farm Bridge Assistance Program, the goal is always to sell more commodities. Kenneth Hartman Jr., now the past president of the National Corn Growers Association, said the organization is always working to open more opportunities for U.S. corn producers. ...
Vance: Data Centers Can Work in Rural America if Done Right
The U.S. tech industry is continuing a push for more land for data centers in rural areas, and it's causing some farmer pushback. Data centers target rural areas because they require a lot of land and access to substantial water supplies and electricity. During a recent stop in Wisconsin, Vice President J.D. Vance talk...
House Farm Bill Markup Slows Over SNAP Funding
The House Ag farm bill markup has entered its second day, but the key stumbling block to a bipartisan bill has now come into sharp focus. The fight over SNAP versus farm programs has kept a new farm bill off the books for at least three years. Republicans got around that, boosting crop support levels with SNAP savings ...
A unique dogwood that brings color to the late-winter landscape
Even if I did not have access to a calendar, I would always know when we are nearing the end of winter. Of course, there are many signs in nature, but I defer to the blooming of my rather tall "Cornelian Cherry" tree. This unique species is a native to parts of Western Asia and southern Europe according to th...
Rain improves drought conditions as 80-degree weather arrives
Well, as you're waking up and looking at the weather on your phone, you may see something that you haven't seen in a long time: 80-degree weather. Spring is almost here, and it looks like we're already skipping spring, going straight to summer. We've got state assistant climatologist Corey Davis here. Corey, let's talk...