IARN –Export sales data was not the only factor offering support to grains Thursday.
U.S. Department of Agriculture officials reported a private export sale of 272,000 tons of soybeans to China for 2019/2020 marketing year delivery. Jim McCormick, branch manager of Ag Market.Net, says export data pairs well with trade rumors. Read more
IARN — COVID-19 rapidly spread across large metropolitan areas first. Public health officials now report heightened amounts of positive cases in rural communities. Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chairwoman (DPCC) Debbie Stabenow says increasing reports in rural America enhance “particular challenges and risks.” Read more
IARN — On Wednesday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) held a public meeting to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on American agricultural markets. At the beginning of the meeting, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue addressed the group about the progress being made at his agency to help farmers at this time. Read more
IARN — America’s cattle producers extend their day-to-day operations, despite challenges brought on by COVID-19. These producers supply grocery stores with products, which continue to fly off shelves.
A program funded by producers offers resources for consumers, who are preparing more beef at home.
The Beef Checkoff provides consumers with resources to assist them in feeding delicious, safe, nutritious beef to their families, shares Buck Wehrbein, Federation of State Beef Councils chairman. Read more
IARN — New industry analysis released this week suggests darker days lie ahead for ethanol.
“The ethanol industry is going through a challenging and difficult time,” says Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association president and Chief Executive Officer.
“Gasoline demand collapsed, in response to stay-at-home orders. We’ve seen a dramatic reduction in ethanol consumption and production,” Cooper said. Read more
IARN — A coalition of commodity groups seeks to block a challenge that would toss out the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plans to reregister glyphosate. The group filed a joint motion to intervene on April 20 in the case to support EPA’s decision. The Natural Resources Defense Council is challenging the reregistration approval. Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide. Growers and others depend on it for effective weed control and to minimize tillage farming practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve more land for native habitats.
EPA on January 22, published its interim decision for the 15-year registration review of glyphosate, as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. It included a variety of determinations about glyphosate, including revision of requirements for drift management, off-target effects, herbicide resistance management practices, and a human health risk assessment in which EPA found glyphosate posed no significant cancer or non-cancer human health risks. The coalition of farm groups includes the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, and eight others.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.