IARN — Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Montana Democrat John Tester sponsored a bill, earlier this year, aimed at addressing the suicide rates among farmers and those involved in agriculture. The measure called the Seeding Rural Resilience Act is now awaiting approval as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Read more
Iowa brings in 10th warmest November on record
IARN — It was a warmer than normal month of November for the state of Iowa.
According to Iowa State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan, the November 2020 temperature summary shows Iowa had its 10th warmest November in 148 years of records. The state’s average temperature was 42.1 degrees. Read more
Supply and Demand report viewed as “disappointment”
IARN — South American weather forecasts have influenced United States grains markets, but not the USDA’s monthly Supply and Demand report. A commodities broker breaks down the report below. Read more
USDA to increase incentive payments for continuous CRP
IARN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is increasing incentive payments for practices installed on land enrolled in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is upping the Practice Incentive Payment for installing practices, from 5 percent to 20 percent. Additionally, producers will receive a 10 percent incentive payment for water quality practices on land enrolled in CRP’s continuous signup. FSA administers CRP on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation. Read more
Biofuels coalition challenging 31 Small Refinery Exemptions in 2018
IARN — The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), National Biodiesel Board (NBB), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), and National Farmers Union (NFU) yesterday filed a brief challenging EPA’s August 2019 decision to exempt 31 small refineries from their obligations to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2018. Collectively known as the Biofuels Coalition for this case, the group submitted its filing to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that EPA lacked the authority to issue such exemptions and that it acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner in attempting to do so. Read more
Dairy farmers could face challenging 2021, UM professor says
IARN — A dairy economist believes the industry will face a tough road at the start of 2021. Read more