Articles by Derrick Cain

Discussions among lawmakers and stakeholders are expected to continue this week about the EPA’s decision to lower the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirement, how to move forward on a long-term farm bill, and how to resolve budget issues between the Senate and the House.

A coalition of agricultural and food organizations led by the National Pork Producers Council urged Congress today to establish criteria for revoking a country’s tariff-free access to the U.S. market if it fails to give U.S. products treatment consistent with international trade rules.

The EPA issued a proposed rule today to lower the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) requirement for 2014 below the congressional mandate to 15.21 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel for blending into gasoline.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reiterated his department’s commitment Thursday to helping the growth of the renewable fuel industry as stakeholders anxiously await the EPA’s decision on setting the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) requirement for 2014.

Congress could save about $130 billion over 10 years from reductions or changes to several agriculture-related programs, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said in a report released Wednesday.

A bipartisan group of 32 senators sent a letter Thursday asking the Obama administration to support “reasonable growth” in the biodiesel industry next year under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The House announced its conferees today for the upcoming negotiations with the Senate over legislation to reauthorize the nation’s water resources development programs.

Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, offered a motion to instruct conferees on the farm bill Tuesday night dealing with the energy title and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The USDA is projecting a record high production rate for corn while also expecting higher production rates for wheat and soybean, the department said today in its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.