Biofuel industry groups are welcoming passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the historic package of nearly $370 billion in climate-related funding. The bill includes $500 million for biofuel infrastructure funding for USDA, plus new tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel and for low-carbon biofuels, plus extensions of some existing tax incentives.
Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition of Ethanol, called the bill “far-reaching.” Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, said the legislation "represents the most significant federal commitment to low-carbon biofuels since the Renewable Fuel Standard was expanded by Congress in 2007."
Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America, which represents biodiesel and renewable diesel producers, said the measure provides his industry “long-term certainty in tax policy.”
Keep in mind: Most farm groups stayed relatively quiet as the bill moved through the Senate and House. That’s not surprising given the strong GOP opposition to the measure. But there will be plenty of interest as USDA prepares to spend the money that’s allotted, including nearly $20 billion for conservation programs and more than $3 billion for farm debt relief.
The measure cleared the House late Friday afternoon on a strict party-line vote, 220-207. Afterwards, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., held a bill enrollment ceremony to ready the legislation for President Biden’s signature.
USTR to make trade pitch in Iowa this week
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is heading to Iowa Wednesday to make the case that the Biden administration is expanding foreign market access for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
Tai will be joining Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Iowa Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne in the farm state for a “series of events” to highlight success stories and “discuss how the Biden Administration’s trade agenda can deliver inclusive economic growth to all communities.”
Tai and Vilsack will also be talking up the Inflation Reduction Act while they are in Iowa this week.
White House: US-Taiwan trade talks not impacted by rising China tensions
Tensions between the U.S. and China are high after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, but that won’t impact the Biden administration’s efforts to bring together a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan, according to a White House official.
When it comes to Taiwan, Kurt Campbell, the White House Indo-Pacific coordinator, said Friday that the U.S. is “developing an ambitious roadmap for trade negotiations, which we intend to announce in the coming days.”
Hunger conference proponent says White House on track
The White House has yet to even announce a date for the Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health that’s supposed to take place in September. But the leading congressional proponent of the event, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., says there’s broad interest from around the country in the proceedings.
The administration is “all hands on deck,” he said, adding that departments and agencies across the government have been asked to participate.
“If they were not doing the kind of job that we all expect them to do on this, I'd be the first to complain, but I can’t,” he said.
Asked when he expects the White House to provide the date, McGovern said, “I’m hoping, soon.”
Why it matters: It will be the first such White House hunger conference since the 1969 event that led to a dramatic expansion of federal food assistance programs.
EPA plans to grant permanent E-15 waiver to eight states by next summer
The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to grant waivers to eight Midwestern states that would allow E-15 to be sold year-round on a permanent basis by next summer’s driving season.
Rod Snyder, who spoke at the American Coalition for Ethanol’s annual conference on Friday, said the agency is “actively engaging" with the governors of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio on the rule.
"From the regulatory side, we feel like this state-by-state conversation is the most immediate opportunity,” Snyder told Agri-Pulse.
Where one ethanol group stands: “As odd as this sounds, I think it’s going to be easier to try and get legislation passed through Congress than it is for all 50 governors to say, ‘we want to allow E-15 year-round in our states.’ But it’s a hell of a steep hill to climb,” said Brian Jennings, the CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol.
Corteva, Bayer sue each other in Delaware over technology
Corteva Agriscience and Bayer have filed separate lawsuits against each other, Corteva alleging infringement of a patent on enzymes it uses in its Enlist corn and Bayer alleging that Corteva used Bayer technology in developing its E3 soybeans.
Both lawsuits were filed in Delaware, Corteva’s in federal court and Bayer’s in state court. The Bayer lawsuit was sealed.
“With knowledge of Corteva’s invention, defendants have made and used transgenic plants that produce an AAD-1 enzyme having dual activity against 2,4-D and quizalofop,” Corteva alleges in the lawsuit.
More from Bayer: The company will announce today it is offering growers a new digital platform to help them adopt regenerative practices.
“ForGround offers growers tools, resources, discounts, as well as the potential to earn revenue through the Bayer Carbon Program,” the company says in the announcement.
"Based on the successful foundation of the existing Bayer Carbon Program, ForGround will expand and evolve to go beyond carbon offsets to explore other ways that farmers can make a positive impact in their operations, through the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices and technologies, and the potential to connect with companies to help them meet their sustainability goals from foot printing to value chain interventions all the way to carbon offsets,” Bayer says.
She said it. “Mother Earth gets angry from time to time, and this legislation will help us address all of that.” - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaking at the bill enrollment ceremony for the Inflation Reduction Act.
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