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Traffic along the Ohio River is seeing major hurdles this harvest season. Just last week, Lock & Dam 53 closed due to a break-down as the hydraulics that open and close the lower gate failed to work properly. On Wed., Oct. 11, the U.S. Waterways Council said the issue this week is the rising river level. That forced the Ohio River to shut down to traffic at Locks & Dam 52 earlier in the week. With river levels already exceeding the maximum locking stage of 20.7 feet and expected to rise further through the end of the week, the Waterways Council expects limits to be placed on navigation until either Sunday or Monday.

The fate of major trade deals continues to be a pain point for U.S. agriculture, but President Trump is continuing to follow through on a campaign promise in the new year to take a tougher stance on trade.

The Trump administration is considering a policy change that could allow an extra billion gallons or more of biofuel each year to qualify toward a U.S. mandate, lowering costs for refiners at the expense of ethanol producers, according to people briefed on the discussions.

Safety net payments are rolling from the USDA, and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says he hopes the money will help farmers that are facing tough times this year.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue gave his official nod to Greg Ibach and Bill Northey, recommending them for positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “These two nominees will bring experience and integrity to USDA the moment they walk in the door,” Perdue said in a prepared statement. Ibach was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Northey for the position of Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Greg Ibach serves as the Nebraska Director of Agriculture, while Northey is the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. The two candidates must be approved by the U.S. Senate in order to step into the USDA positions. Perdue said he looks forward to “their speedy passage through the committee and floor votes” and urged the Senate to “act on other nominees awaiting approval as well.”

Chip Flory commentary on river transportation problems leading to basis issues.

American Farm Bureau Federation tax expert Patricia Wolff outlines how the tax reform framework announced by the White House and Congress will impact farmers.

Corn and soybean stocks are both up from this time last year, per USDA’s Sept. 29 Grain Stocks report.

Michele Payn’s perspective is that people relate to food on an emotional level and not based on science and years of accumulated data. The importance of building connections with consumers—your neighbors next door--can’t be overstated by members of the agricultural community.

When it comes to communicating with the public, it’s important to strike a balance of transparency.