Latest News From POLICY

WTO Says Goods Trade Fell in Q3 on Supply Chain Challenges, Omicron Raises Risks
WTO Says Goods Trade Fell in Q3 on Supply Chain Challenges, Omicron Raises Risks

Trade volume slipped between July-September due to supply chain disruptions, shortages of production inputs and rising COVID-19 cases, the WTO said in a statement on its website.

Q&A with FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux
Q&A with FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux

The FSA administrator dives into farmer financing, programs, vaccine rates and more.

USDA's Robert Bonnie Talks Climate Smart Agriculture, Carbon and More

USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation talks carbon and goals.

Ag Groups Urge Biden Administration to Grant Travel Exemptions to South African H-2A Farm Workers
Ag Groups Urge Biden Administration to Grant Travel Exemptions to South African H-2A Farm Workers

More than 60 ag groups telling the Biden Administration on Monday the nearly 7,000 South African farm workers should be exempted from restrictions related to the Omicron variant. 

capitol trees
3 Hot-Button Ag Items for Build Back Better

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

United Just Completed First Flight Fueled by SAF, Here's Why Soybean Growers Should Take Note
United Just Completed First Flight Fueled by SAF, Here's Why Soybean Growers Should Take Note

As airlines jet out to reduce their carbon footprint, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel are taking flight. And analysts say it could be a demand boon for U.S. farmers.

CBO Report Shows True Cost of Biden Administration's Build Back Better Plan Closer to $5T
CBO Report Shows True Cost of Biden Administration's Build Back Better Plan Closer to $5T

Senate leadership’s timeline for the BBB proposal is just before Christmas, according to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin is calling for a strategic pause for the vote, delaying it into 2022.

Soybeans in Cart
USDA's December Crop Reports Produced No Real Surprises; Here's Why

Most of the report's focus was on wheat; USDA made little change to corn and soybeans for both domestic and South American production.

EPA Rolls Out Three Biofuels Proposals
EPA Rolls Out Three Biofuels Proposals

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

The Next Chapter of WOTUS
The Next Chapter of WOTUS

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

DC Signal to Noise: How Congress May Close Out 2021
DC Signal to Noise: How Congress May Close Out 2021

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.

USDA-office
White House Says 4.4% of USDA Employees Didn't Comply with Biden Administration's Vaccine Mandate

The White House says 95.6% of USDA employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or filed for an exemption, but the number who've received the vaccine is the lowest among reported federal agencies.

Oil Pumps
Could the White House's Plan to Tap Into Oil Reserves Actually Fuel Corn Prices?

The White House announced Tuesday it's tapping into oil reserves in an effort to help relieve the rising prices at the pump. But could the decision drive oil prices higher and impact corn prices? Analysts weigh in.

DC Signal to Noise: Inflation's Slice of Thanksgiving Pie
DC Signal to Noise: Inflation's Slice of Thanksgiving Pie

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

The House passes BBB Act — Do the costs outweigh the benefits?
The House passes BBB Act — Do the costs outweigh the benefits?

The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Joe Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ plan, also known as the reconciliation package. This vote came after months of debate and countless rewrites to the plan.

John Phipps: Chinese Consumers Save More Money Than Americans, Here's What it Means
John Phipps: Chinese Consumers Save More Money Than Americans, Here's What it Means

One result of the pandemic was a spike in savings rates. In the U.S. last April, Americans collectively saved a record 30% of their income. John Phipps looks at China's savings rate and what it's meant for exports.

Trade Mentioned, Not a Focus of Biden-Xi Talks as China Warns U.S. It's 'Playing with Fire' on Taiwan
Trade Mentioned, Not a Focus of Biden-Xi Talks as China Warns U.S. It's 'Playing with Fire' on Taiwan

High-level talks between the U.S. and China yielded no major outcome Monday night. From human rights issues to crypto mining, leaders talked about a number of issues. Trade was mentioned but was not a priority topic.

Farmers and applicators should check state rules before applying the product
Farm Groups Rip Into EPA with Claims Agency Failed To Use Best Available Science in Latest Herbicide Evaluation

EPA released an environmental impact evaluation of commonly used herbicides such as glyphosate and atrazine. The report released Nov. 12 has several ag groups frustrated, even questioning "the science" EPA used. 

2021 Corn Exports to China Set To Crush Expected Target By 1,000%, Phase One Finale In Focus
2021 Corn Exports to China Set To Crush Expected Target By 1,000%, Phase One Finale In Focus

Recent soybean sales have created doubts on just how much China will source. One Ohio State University ag economist says corn, cotton, wheat and pork exports are solid when you compare them to overall commitments.

EPA Administrator Issues Warning: Agriculture And Big Oil May Not Be Happy With Impending RFS Announcement
EPA Administrator Issues Warning: Agriculture And Big Oil May Not Be Happy With Impending RFS Announcement

Pro Farmer's Jim Wiesemeyer reports EPA Administrator Michael Regan says the biofuels blending requirements won't favor oil or agriculture, comments that lead to more chatter a RFS announcement may finally be coming.

Soybeans in sunset
Soybean Prices Find Strength After Friendly USDA Report

The November Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates reports gave a lift to grain prices. 

DC Signal to Noise: Infrastructure Passed; It's Time for Reconciliation
DC Signal to Noise: Infrastructure Passed; It's Time for Reconciliation

The $1.2T infrastructure bill passed through the House following months of negotiation. Farm country can expect $550 billion in new spending. AgriTalk’s Chip Flory and Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer take a closer look.

Dissecting Congress' $1.2T Infrastructure Plan, What's In It For Agriculture?
Dissecting Congress' $1.2T Infrastructure Plan, What's In It For Agriculture?

After months of negotiation, the House passed the $1.2T infrastructure Bill. With $550 billion in new spending, from roads and bridges to a boost to broadband, we look into what's in the bill for agriculture.

Hurry Up and Wait: Supply Chain Struggles Continue
Hurry Up and Wait: Supply Chain Struggles Continue

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.

World Leaders Are Placing Big Bets On Agriculture In The Growing Climate Crisis Debate
World Leaders Are Placing Big Bets On Agriculture In The Growing Climate Crisis Debate

The Biden administration kicked off the nearly week-long trip EU climate trip with a $1 billion announcement. And there's more funds in the Build Back Better program, but some say details are still sparse.

Reap More From Your Data
Senators on Cyberattacks: ‘Agricultural Security is National Security’

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.

DC Signal to Noise: Ethanol and Infrastructure
DC Signal to Noise: Ethanol and Infrastructure

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?

From Historic Conservation Funding to Farmer Debt Relief, Who Will Pay for Biden's Revised Build Back Better Plan?
From Historic Conservation Funding to Farmer Debt Relief, Who Will Pay for Biden's Revised Build Back Better Plan?

Biden's new Build Back Better plan could have a sweeping impact on ag. The plan provides a boost to biofuels and conservation efforts and expands USDA's proposed minority farmer and rancher debt relief by $6 billion.

$1B to Biofuels in Build Back Better
$1B to Biofuels in Build Back Better

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.

DC Signal to Noise: The Weight of the National Elections
DC Signal to Noise: The Weight of the National Elections

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

 Newest Tax Proposal in Washington Won’t Impact Most Farmers Today, But Tax Expert Warns it Could Be a Trojan Horse for Higher Taxes
Newest Tax Proposal in Washington Won’t Impact Most Farmers Today, But Tax Expert Warns it Could Be a Trojan Horse for Higher Taxes

The newest tax proposal in Washington would impose a tax on billionaires. A farm tax expert warns the proposed changes could turn into a trojan horse for farmers and result in higher taxes within a decade.

USDA Office Building
Is a Flood of FSA Staffing Shortages Coming Soon? USDA Denies FSA Vaccine Exemption Request

USDA said late last week it’s not approving a vaccine mandate exemption for Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees, and now there are fears the next shortage farmers will face will be with FSA local field staff.

Airplane
Southwest Airlines Could Soon be Fueled by Soybeans

Southwest Airlines announced the airline plans to replace 10% of its total jet fuel consumption with the sustainable aviation fuel by 2030. The push for sustainable aviation fuel could be a big demand boon for soybeans.

USDA Stuns the Soybean Market with Changes in October Report
USDA Stuns the Soybean Market with Changes in October Report

USDA's October Crop Production and WASDE reports caused the soybean markets to tank Tuesday. One analyst says he thinks USDA's soybean could could continue to rise as soybean demand shows signs of trouble.

Corn and Soybean Exports Remain Strong, as Export Sales Show Signs of Trouble
Corn and Soybean Exports Remain Strong, as Export Sales Show Signs of Trouble

Despite slowdowns in the export sales picture, actual exports are still running 26% ahead of the same time period last year, and with higher commodity prices, bulk export values are up 60%. USDA says that's led by corn.

How Dredging the Mississippi River Could Uncover $461 Million
How Dredging the Mississippi River Could Uncover $461 Million

And other reasons you should care about infrastructure.

China Presses U.S. to Cancel Tariffs in Test of Bilateral Engagement
China Presses U.S. to Cancel Tariffs in Test of Bilateral Engagement

China said on Saturday it pressed the United States to eliminate tariffs in talks between the countries' top trade officials that Washington saw as a test of bilateral engagement between the world's biggest economies.

trade cargo
U.S., China Container Shipping Rates Plummet 50%, Backlog of Unfilled Orders Grows

As backlogs at U.S. ports and climbing shipping rates plague the supply chain, new data shows container shipping rates between the U.S and China are dropping by more than 50% in  just a month. 

U.S. & China Expected to Hold Virtual Meeting
U.S. & China Expected to Hold Virtual Meeting

A virtual working meeting is expected before year's end between President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

New NCGA President, Iowa Farmer Chris Edgington, Assesses Goals and Priorities
New NCGA President, Iowa Farmer Chris Edgington, Assesses Goals and Priorities

Chris Edgington, a row-crop farmer based near St. Ansgar, shares his perspective on what drives most U.S. producers today.

Tariffs to Remain in Place, but U.S. Trade Rep Wants to Talk with China
Tariffs to Remain in Place, but U.S. Trade Rep Wants to Talk with China

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.

USDA Announces New Effort to Strengthen the Food Supply Chain
USDA Announces New Effort to Strengthen the Food Supply Chain

USDA is announcing a plan that involves another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

USDA Addressing Ag Adversity with Additional $3 Billion
USDA Addressing Ag Adversity with Additional $3 Billion

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

Secy. Vilsack, ‘I think at the end of the day I should pay tax’
Secy. Vilsack, ‘I think at the end of the day I should pay tax’

Chip Flory is joined by USDA Secretary Vilsack to discuss who is affected by stepped-up basis and why he thinks agricultural America should be in support of it.

Grassley Comments on Reported RFS Cuts, Vilsack Defends Administration’s ‘Stable’ Approach to Blending Targets
Grassley Comments on Reported RFS Cuts, Vilsack Defends Administration’s ‘Stable’ Approach to Blending Targets

On Wednesday, Reuters reported EPA is mulling cuts to biofuel blending levels, calling it a win for big oil. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley commented on the RFS rumors on AgriTalk.

AgriTalk: Clarity Needed on $3.5 Trillion Budget Reconciliation Bill
AgriTalk: Clarity Needed on $3.5 Trillion Budget Reconciliation Bill

On Tuesday, Bill Northey weighed in with some perspective on the budget reconciliation bill, which is part of the Biden administration's Build Back Better agenda.

winter wheat
China's Wheat Imports Hit Highest in Two Decades Signaling Strong Demand for Animal Feed

China's wheat imports hit the highest level in two decades, currently accounting for 19% of global consumption. The U.S. supplied 3 million metric tons of wheat imports during the last marketing year, or a 28% share.

Gulf Of Mexico Barge Traffic: A Delicate Balance and The $1 Million Question
Gulf Of Mexico Barge Traffic: A Delicate Balance and The $1 Million Question

According to the Soy Transportation Coalition, the 256-mile stretch of the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 60% of U.S. soybean exports, as well as 59% of corn exports

DC Signal to Noise: Immigration and Infrastructure Heat Up
DC Signal to Noise: Immigration and Infrastructure Heat Up

AgriTalk's Chip Flory and Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer discuss the situation at the southern border with Haitians, the latest on the battle over the infrastructure bills and more.

As USDA Turns to CRP to Meet Climate Goals, Research Shows 10% Cut to Corn Production Would Raise Prices by 5%
As USDA Turns to CRP to Meet Climate Goals, Research Shows 10% Cut to Corn Production Would Raise Prices by 5%

As USDA continues efforts to expand CRP program to help meet climate goals, one Kansas State economist is also looking into what the expansion of CRP means for commodity prices.