Latest News From Jenna Hoffman

The war in Ukraine will dictate food prices, according to Vilsack: "We don’t really know what the impact is going to be on Ukraine’s crop this year, or what it’s going to look like in terms of exportability.”

Researchers analyzed several factors leading to soybean yield loss in a 26-year herbicide study conducted across the state of Illinois.

EPA believes the current pesticide approval system has major “unsustainable and legally tenuous” setbacks. Courts currently dictate ESA cases for the EPA, but this new workplan will allow the Agency to work alone.

Stakeholders applaud President Biden following months of pleading for increased biofuel availability while others set the record straight on biofuel impacts on the climate.

In order to get ahead of weeds, you need to know what weeds you’re up against. There are several weed identifying apps available, but how accurate are they? Researchers at MSU have the answers.

Nearly 4 million acres of CRP expire this year. Secy. Vilsack wrote to National Grain and Feed Association's Mike Seyfert to share converting CRP is “unfeasible.” However, Vilsack did offer one caveat in his letter.

With Ukraine and Russia at war in the midst of a world moving away from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lot to consider in the 2023 Farm Bill. Industry experts weighed-in to share their predictions.

The Senate Commerce Committee passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), helping agricultural exporters level the playing field for American exports.

Experts say using less herbicide, or cutting the rate of product per acre, isn't a good solution.

Ted McKinney, NASDA CEO, led the climate conversation with a diverse list of speakers. From wildfires to water quality, each corner of the nation spoke to their state’s ag adversity, and their work in overcoming it.

The National Mall in Washington, D.C. will look different this week. AEM is hosting a Celebration of Modern Agriculture event to showcase the nation’s finest agricultural machinery.

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.

The U.S. is the second or third top importer for each of the three major components of fertilizer. Top producers of the major components of fertilizer include China, Russia, Canada, Morocco and Belarus.

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.

“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.”

Roughly 3,000 Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (CP Rail) workers voted 96.7% in favor of going on strike starting March 16 if a collective bargaining agreement is not penned. CP Rail halts would mean trouble for fertilizer.

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

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.

Combined corn and soybean area is forecast at 180 million acres, below the historical high of 180.6 million planted in 2021.

Input costs are high across the board this year. In leu of low glyphosate availability and increasing costs, whispers of an alternative have trickled down to Bayer’s research and development team.

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.

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.

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

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.”

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.

Secretary Vilsack hinted there is a new trade position to be filled at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The AFBF suggests EPA halt their plan to rewrite WOTUS until it has more guidance in deciding which waters are categorized under the federal jurisdiction.

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.

When we think of carbon credits, we often think of renewable energy markets like wind, solar and electric vehicles. Hemp is proven to absorb more CO2 per acre than any forest or commercial crop.

COVID-19-related legislation continues to run the gavel, while rural America urges Congress to deliver on its economic relief promises. Here are three issues to watch.

The EPA says prior to Jan. 11, 2022, the agency “did not consistently assess the potential effects of conventional pesticides on listed species when registering new active ingredients.”

Available in select counties in 11 states, the Post Application Coverage Endorsement is available for non-irrigated corn.

The House and Senate are on recess this week, but work is ramping back up to finalize 2021 legislation before the New Year begins.

For the upcoming 2023 farm bill, expect chatter and debate about carbon markets, conservation, trade and more. Policy watchers encourage farmers to keep an eye on these issues, as discussions begin in January.

In 2020, this segment of the food industry grew by over 10%. In fact, the growth over the past decade has been 10% compounded annually. Should you have a part in the growing trend?

Here is how some of the roughly $82 billion in agricultural spending could be dispersed.

EPA proposes to reduce biofuels blending levels, add a supplemental obligation to volumes and reject 65 pending applications for small refinery exemptions.

The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are seeking comment on the pre-2015 WOTUS rule published in the Federal Register.

AgriTalk Host Chip Flory and Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer discuss plans Congress will probably have these last weeks of 2021, including the debt ceiling and the Build Back Better plan in the Senate.

Build Back Better heads to the Senate while Conservation Credit Corporation allocates $27 billion to conservation. Plus, when will the EPA announce RFS mandates?

IHS Markit’s Ken Ericksen joins AgriTalk to share supply chain discussions while Leprino Foods’ Mike Durkin gives testimony at House Ag Committee hearing to emphasize dairy export issues.

Cyber criminals struck the agricultural industry once more. This time, a dairy processing company in Wisconsin. Senators Grassley and Ernst take the Floor while Resilience’s Davis Hake talks insurance.

Chip Flory and Jim Wiesemeyer recap last week's Day of Ethanol on AgriTalk and discuss where other fossil fuels may stand. Plus, when will the latest Infrastructure bill(s) be voted on in the House?

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Rep. Cindy Axne joined AgriTalk with host Chip Flory and Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer recently to comb through President Biden’s reframe of the Build Back Better (BBB) plan.

David Wasserman, Senior Editor, U.S. House of Representatives for The Cook Political Report, shares his perspective on potential outcomes of national elections.

With a focus on reducing environmental effects from nitrogen and phosphorous while maintaining or increasing crop yields, contestants were to formulate a concept and submit within a two-month window.

USTR divulges President Biden’s intentions with U.S.-China Trade Phase One while House Ag Committee’s Thompson applauds Trump and demonstrates hope in Biden.

Secretary Vilsack addresses issues in market disruptions, climate change, and animal disease prevention as well as how the Biden Administration plans to eliminate them.

University of Illinois gained ground in unearthing genetic code sequencing in non-target-site herbicide resistance.

Chip Flory discusses reconciliation bill outlooks with South Dakota and Arkansas Senators as well as AFBF President.