(IARN) — Midwest lawmakers Thursday introduced legislation to overhaul the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ process for managing water resource projects along the lower Missouri River system. Senators from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska introduced the bill to establish a new program that would require the Corps of Engineers to implement a system-wide approach to water development projects to reduce flood risk and improve flood protection along the lower Missouri River. Read more
Senator Ernst Urges Farmers Not To Panic Over EU Trade
(IARN) — It’s the latest topic on a trade carousel that seems to keep going around in circles. First, it was our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), that left our trade future with Japan in question. Next, it was time to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and renegotiate with our neighbors to the north and south. Finally, the first shots were fired in a trade war with China. Now, we are looking at the future of trade with both the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) in a post-Brexit world. Some farmers have already told this reporter that they are watching this with a stronger microscope and a fresh memory, but one Iowa Senator is urging farmers not to worry. Read more
Biofuels Advocates Again Calling On President Trump To Uphold RFS
(IARN) — As we start 2020, we seem to be revisiting a topic that resonated throughout the Midwest and especially in Iowa over the past three years. Biofuels supporters are once again asking President Donald Trump to uphold the law and support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Once again, a court has mandated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hold up its end of the law, and once again, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is leading the charge to fight the courts and try to undermine federal law in support of oil companies.
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Grassley Weighs In On EU & UK Trade Possibilities
(IARN) — With Great Britain (UK) making its “Brexit” at the end of the year, the door is open to trade possibilities with both the UK and the European Union (EU). The Trump Administration has made agreements with both a top priority for 2020. The Administration is willing to levy tariffs on the EU as early as the 14th of this month to bring them to the table. The practice of tariffs is not a new tactic for the Administration; they used them to get trade deals with China, Mexico, and Canada. Read more
Grain Markets See Silver Lining In Sorghum Purchases From China
(IARN) — Chinese buyers returned to the U.S. grain market last week, purchasing significant amounts of sorghum. Jim McCormick, branch manager of Ag Market, speaks to what looks to be a “buying spree.” Read more
Vietnam To Buy $3 Billion In U.S. Farm Products
(IARN) — Vietnam is committing to buy $3 billion in U.S. farm goods to shrink the soaring trade surplus it has with America. Bloomberg says the Asian nation is looking to appease the Trump administration, which isn’t happy about the deficit. Vietnam is also looking to satisfy the complaints of U.S. companies that face difficulties in accessing Vietnamese markets. Read more