Latest News From POLICY

Canada's CP Rail To Resume Operations After Arbitration Agreement
Canada's CP Rail To Resume Operations After Arbitration Agreement

Canada's Minister of Labour Seamus O'Regan Jr, who mediated the talks, said normal operations will continue at CP during the arbitration period.

Beef Advocates Share Their Stories in Celebration of National Ag Day
Beef Advocates Share Their Stories in Celebration of National Ag Day

In honor of National Ag Day, NCBA is sharing the stories of two advocates who play different roles in the industry, but both understand the importance of inspiring the next generation to get involved.

House Ag Committee Hearing Into Anti-competitive Practices Set For April
House Ag Committee Hearing Into Anti-competitive Practices Set For April

The U.S. House of Representatives' Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on April 27, 2022, on anti-competitive behavior by the nation’s largest beef packers.

Canadian Pacific Rail Strike to Add to Commodities Supply Shock, Hurt Farmers Ahead of Planting
Canadian Pacific Rail Strike to Add to Commodities Supply Shock, Hurt Farmers Ahead of Planting

A labor dispute that shut down operations at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd on Sunday is set to aggravate a shortage of commodities, and a prolonged lockdown could hurt farmers ahead of the spring planting season.

Seattle Selected for Port Pop-Up to Ease Ag Supply Chain
Seattle Selected for Port Pop-Up to Ease Ag Supply Chain

The Northwest Seaport Alliance is partnering the USDA to bring the Port of Seattle a 49-acre pop-up site that will accept both dry and refrigerated agricultural products for temporary storage.

John Phipps: In Right to Repair, Farmers May Be Watching the Wrong Battle
John Phipps: In Right to Repair, Farmers May Be Watching the Wrong Battle

The Right to Repair movement in agriculture is a popular cause with farmers, for various good and questionable reasons. As multiple states create Right to Repair rules, it looks like we may be watching the wrong battle.

Greg Henderson
U.S. Senate Works Overtime to Protect Sunshine

A foreign leader addressing a joint session of Congress this week was a rarity. Not to be outdone, the partisan and often cantankerous members of the U.S. Senate passed legislation unanimously on a voice vote!

Can E15 Really Replace Russian Oil Imports and Curb High Prices At The Pump?
Can E15 Really Replace Russian Oil Imports and Curb High Prices At The Pump?

As the White House looks to fill the gap of displaced Russian oil, agriculture says E15 is a ready-made answer. Analysis by the Nebraska Ethanol Board shows why bumping blends to E15 could ease prices at the pump.

Stephanie Mercier
Conservation Practices--A Ginsu Knife for Agriculture

Regardless of whether you call them sustainable, regenerative, or climate-smart, adoption of conservation practices such as cover cropping and no-till help both farmers and the general public.

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Year-Round E15 Sales Could Address Pain at the Pumps

A bipartisan group of senators penned a letter to President Biden, urging his administration to mitigate rising fuel costs by increasing higher blends of American biofuels.

3 Changes to Dicamba Label in Iowa and Minnesota
3 Changes to Dicamba Label in Iowa and Minnesota

In 2021, the agency reported it received 3,500 dicamba-related incident reports, including approximately 711 incidents in Minnesota and 528 incidents in Iowa.

Take Our Poll: How Do You Feel About Daylight Saving Time?
Take Our Poll: How Do You Feel About Daylight Saving Time?

Should daylight saving time be permanent?

Hunting Club Lawsuit Challenges Power of Government Surveillance on Private Land
Hunting Club Lawsuit Challenges Power of Government Surveillance on Private Land

How much power do game wardens possess without a warrant or probable cause? A hunting club lawsuit is heating up over the bounds of government access to private land.

4 Things to Know About the Renewable Fuel Standard
4 Things to Know About the Renewable Fuel Standard

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) gets a lot of headline time in agriculture as it directly correlates with corn and soybeans. Understanding the dynamics of RFS and the role government agencies play is another ballgame.

Russia May Suspend Grain Exports Until June 30
Russia May Suspend Grain Exports Until June 30

Russia may suspend exports of wheat, barley, corn and rye starting Tuesday and lasting until June 30, the Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing the agriculture ministry.

USDA's $1 Billion Bet on "Climate Smart Commodities"
USDA's $1 Billion Bet on "Climate Smart Commodities"

It is clear the current administration sees the USDA and its influence over domestic agriculture as critical to fight climate change. What is not so clear is the definition of a “climate-smart” commodity.

How the Russian Oil Ban Will Impact Clean Energy Debates
How the Russian Oil Ban Will Impact Clean Energy Debates

“Before the war with Ukraine, the President encouraged Russia to produce more oil to help us lower the price at the pump,” says U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). “That’s so hypocritical.”

Oil Pumps
Oil Price Surges to Highest Since 2008 on Delays in Iranian Talks

Oil prices soared to their highest since 2008 due to delays of Iranian nuclear talks and the potential return of Iranian crude to global markets, which are already suffering from Russian supply disruptions.

USDA, Attorney Generals Call on Economists to Study Soaring Fertilizer Costs
USDA, Attorney Generals Call on Economists to Study Soaring Fertilizer Costs

Secretary Vilsack supports attorney generals search for answers. He says once the market studies are completed, “we may learn additional steps we can take.”

Sorghum Producers Squash Food Vs. Fuel Debate As White House Weighs Waiving Ethanol Blending Mandate
Sorghum Producers Squash Food Vs. Fuel Debate As White House Weighs Waiving Ethanol Blending Mandate

A new Reuters report indicates the White House is exploring a solution that would remove Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) blending requirements for ethanol to help soften increasing food prices. 

BREAKING: Report: China Asked for Russia to Delay Attack on Ukraine Until After Winter Olympics
BREAKING: Report: China Asked for Russia to Delay Attack on Ukraine Until After Winter Olympics

UPDATE: 03/02 4:23 pm-EST-There are reports a missile struck a vessel flying under the flag of Bangladesh in Ukraine.

Missed Opportunity? Biden's State Of The Union Hits Big Meat, Neglects Renewable Diesel
Missed Opportunity? Biden's State Of The Union Hits Big Meat, Neglects Renewable Diesel

As the Ukraine crisis continues to grab the world’s attention, President Biden's State of the Union address declared the U.S. is in a better place than it was a year ago, while agriculture was left largely unmentioned.

President Biden likely to address War, Food and Fuel Costs, Ocean Shipping Reform
President Biden likely to address War, Food and Fuel Costs, Ocean Shipping Reform

Expect Russia's invasion of Ukraine to dominate the State of the Union address tonight. As for issues affecting agriculture, there may be few details offered, says USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Ukrainian Farmer Pleads: Will You Stand With Us In Our Moment of Need?
Ukrainian Farmer Pleads: Will You Stand With Us In Our Moment of Need?

"This is my plea, from a humble farmer in Ukraine to the people of the world: Please ask your governments to stop this reckless war, launched by that cruel and power-hungry authoritarian, Vladimir Putin."

U.S. Trade Tactics to Evolve with China's Infrastructure Plan
U.S. Trade Tactics to Evolve with China's Infrastructure Plan

With the U.S. on the back end of COVID-19 and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine unraveling, USTR Katherine Tai says her office is currently focused on three themes: resilience, sustainability and competition.

Four Debates Rural America Hasn’t Always Heard The Same Way
Four Debates Rural America Hasn’t Always Heard The Same Way

Hot-button issues in agriculture and rural America are sometimes subject to filters via message and messenger, contends Chris Gibbs.

Russian Invasion of Ukraine Overtakes Other Washington Issues as Congress Returns this Week
Russian Invasion of Ukraine Overtakes Other Washington Issues as Congress Returns this Week

Congress returns Monday, but to a very different situation due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is expected to be one of the key issues President Biden talks about during his State of the Union address.

Russia-Ukraine Crisis Shakes U.S. Markets, Gas and Oil Prices Surge
Russia-Ukraine Crisis Shakes U.S. Markets, Gas and Oil Prices Surge

An oil price of $120 a ton could send the global economy into a major recession and fan inflation in the U.S., which Jim Wiesemeyer says is already in double digits for rural Americans.

DOD Invests in Critical Minerals Ahead of RFS Ruling
DOD Invests in Critical Minerals Ahead of RFS Ruling

The Biden administration laid a stake in MP Materials for their battery plans that will likely power future fleets of electric vehicles.

JUST IN: ADM sets record for single soybean shipment from northern Brazil
JUST IN: ADM sets record for single soybean shipment from northern Brazil

By Nayara Figueiredo SAO PAULO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - U.S. grains merchant Archer-Daniels-Midland Co said on Tuesday it has carried out the largest soybean shipment in the history of the Ponta da Montanha

U.S. Ag Exports Shatter Records in 2021
U.S. Ag Exports Shatter Records in 2021

The top 10 export markets all saw gains in 2021, with six of the 10 (China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Colombia) setting new records.

Are Electric Vehicles the Reason RFS Missed the 2022 Renewable Fuel Goal?
Are Electric Vehicles the Reason RFS Missed the 2022 Renewable Fuel Goal?

The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee held its first hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard for the first time since 2016.

USDA Unveils Pandemic Cover Crop Program for 2022
USDA Unveils Pandemic Cover Crop Program for 2022

In 2021, the first year the program was made available, producers enrolled 12.2 million acres of cover crops in PCCP, capturing a collective $59.5 million in premium subsidies.

Ag Stakeholders Urge the EPA to Pause WOTUS Rewrite
Ag Stakeholders Urge the EPA to Pause WOTUS Rewrite

EPA public comment on WOTUS closed on Feb. 11. Industry leaders and lawmakers are rushing to plead their Clean Water Act case with agency officials.

Will Sustainable Fuel Power Your Farm Equipment In 10 Years?
Will Sustainable Fuel Power Your Farm Equipment In 10 Years?

Wiesemeyer says “you don’t spend some $300 million on these [soybean crushing] plants without a solid foundation of a market in the future.”

USDA Continues Haircut to South American Production
USDA Continues Haircut to South American Production

Dry conditions in South America continue to damage crop potential.

U.S. December Exports to China Drop, Cementing 'Phase 1' Purchases Shortfall
U.S. December Exports to China Drop, Cementing 'Phase 1' Purchases Shortfall

U.S. goods exports to China fell in December, cementing a $45 billion increase in the 2021 U.S.-China trade deficit and a major two-year shortfall in Beijing's purchase commitments under the "Phase 1" trade deal.

U.S., Japan Reach Deal to Cut Tariffs on Japanese Steel, Fight Excess Output
U.S., Japan Reach Deal to Cut Tariffs on Japanese Steel, Fight Excess Output

The U.S. and Japan announced a deal to remove Trump-era tariffs from about 1.25 million metric tons of Japanese steel imports annually after similar access was granted to European Union steelmakers last year.

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Farm Bill 2023 Drives Up the Heat in House Ag Committee Hearing

In his opening statements, Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) set the tone for the meeting, saying “a better, more sustainable future won’t come from the harsh, scolding voices of the naysayers.”

U.S. Ag Exports Missing The Boat Due To Out Of Whack World Supply Chain
U.S. Ag Exports Missing The Boat Due To Out Of Whack World Supply Chain

If international trade were an Olympic sport, then the U.S. would have lost this latest round of competition by more than a mile.

JBS Settles Price Fixing Allegations for $52.5M, Industry Responds
JBS Settles Price Fixing Allegations for $52.5M, Industry Responds

Colin Woodall, NCBA CEO, says the DOJ has an “obligation” to provide full transparency and finish the investigation to give cattle producers the full scope of the issue.

Will The USDA Pop-Up Site Solve The Clogged Ports Issue?
Will The USDA Pop-Up Site Solve The Clogged Ports Issue?

Rep. Garamendi says the USDA partnership with the Port of Oakland “isn’t going to solve the problem” because shippers deliver product to the U.S. and leave ports with empty containers.

Tony Romo Spokesman For 'Beef. It's What's For Dinner.'
Tony Romo Spokesman For 'Beef. It's What's For Dinner.'

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., funded by the Beef Checkoff, announced a new partnership with celebrity athlete and former football star Tony Romo at the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention.

Tractorcade: How an Epic Convoy and Legendary Farmer Army Shook Washington, D.C.
Tractorcade: How an Epic Convoy and Legendary Farmer Army Shook Washington, D.C.

What compelled a farmer to drive 1,800 miles in dead winter atop an open-cab tractor and rage against the political machine? Family, country, and a desperate love of agriculture.

USDA Anticipates Corn Acres to Remain Steady, Soybeans to Dip in 2022
USDA Anticipates Corn Acres to Remain Steady, Soybeans to Dip in 2022

Soybean exports in 2022 are likely to hit 2.15 billion bushels. USDA says the increase of 100 million is in part due to the current drought in South America.

Global Farmer Network
Tariff “Policy Shock” Is Real and Destructive

The pre-pandemic trade wars finally have a price tag for American agriculture: $27 billion.

Legislation on Competition Offers Healthcare Benefits to Rural America
Legislation on Competition Offers Healthcare Benefits to Rural America

“We would change the rules so hearing aids could be available over the counter at your local drugstore for walk-in and pickup”, Ramamurti says. “It would cost a couple hundred dollars instead of a few thousand."

Ukraine-Russia Tensions: What it Could Mean for Agriculture
Ukraine-Russia Tensions: What it Could Mean for Agriculture

Ukraine is a key player in global agriculture, and how these conflicts play out will have international impacts.

Is the U.S. Prepared to Support Electric Vehicles?
Is the U.S. Prepared to Support Electric Vehicles?

Mark Mills, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, recently joined Chip Flory on AgriTalk to talk about the logistics and supply chain challenges ahead for electric vehicles.

U.S., EU Downgrade Metal Tariff Dispute at WTO, Two Sides Turn Focus to China
U.S., EU Downgrade Metal Tariff Dispute at WTO, Two Sides Turn Focus to China

The United States and the European Union have downgraded their dispute at the WTO over steel and aluminum tariffs applied by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and subsequent EU retaliation.