NGFA President and CEO Randy Gordon today announced promotions of several NGFA staff members, effective immediately: Max Fisher was promoted to Vice President, Economics and Government Relations. Fisher, who joined NGFA’s staff in 2013, provides economic analyses and policy expertise on a wide range of legislative, regulatory and public policy issues, including agricultural policy; international trade; futures market regulation; and transportation (with an emphasis on motor carriers). Max serves as principal staff liaison to NGFA’s Country Elevator and International Trade and ... Read More
News
See you in Indianapolis for #CEC19!
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will keynote the 48th annual NGFA Country Elevator Conference and Trade Show that takes place Dec. 8-10 in Indianapolis, Ind. A former member of NGFA’s Board of Directors and Country Elevator Committee, Perdue will address the CEC general session on Dec. 9 and join NGFA President and CEO Randy Gordon for a “fireside-chat” discussion and questions. More than 600 NGFA members and agribusiness professionals will gather at the J.W. Marriott in Indianapolis for the #CEC19 program and trade show. In addition to Perdue’s remarks, sessions will include insights ... Read More
Thailand delays bans on pesticides
Thailand announced Nov. 27 that it is revoking its plan to ban three pesticides after coming under pressure from Thai farmers, the U.S. government and agricultural sectors. Thailand’s National Hazardous Substance Committee (NHSC) on Oct. 22 acted to ban two chemical herbicides – glyphosate and paraquat – as well as the insecticide chlorpyrifos. The ban on paraquat and chlorpyrifos will be delayed until June 1, 2020, said Thailand’s Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit last week. Further, glyphosate no longer will be banned, but its use will be restricted, he said. The ... Read More
Agribusiness fights proposed lienholder filing legislation in Iowa
When the Iowa General Assembly reconvenes on Jan. 13, 2020, it will consider draft legislation produced by the Iowa Bankers Association that would increase the risk for agricultural buyers by converting the Iowa agricultural lienholder law from direct notice to central filing. Under the current direct notice law, lenders send direct notice of their liens to buyers of agricultural commodities, including livestock. In turn, when a seller executes a sale, the buyer issues a multiple-party check that includes the names of the seller and lienholders taken from the direct notice received by ... Read More
Senate panel advances Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner
A Senate committee on Dec. 3 advanced President Donald Trump’s nomination of Dr. Stephen Hahn to be the next U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved Hahn’s nomination by an 18-5 vote, sending his nomination to the full Senate. Ranking Member Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she opposed Hahn’s nomination because he “refused to commit to implementing a strong policy to clear non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes that have not undergone FDA review from the market – like the Trump administration promised to do before it ... Read More
CoBank report outlines tight margins for grain elevators in 2020
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media Grain elevators face significant challenges in the year ahead as they buy basis on corn, soybeans, and wheat at the highest levels seen in years, according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. “Following a highly volatile growing season wrought with inclement weather and trade uncertainty, grain elevators throughout the United States are bracing for a year of slimmer margins in their grain handling divisions,” wrote Tanner Ehmke, manager of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. “Delayed fall harvest ... Read More
CME Group announces futures and options fee increases
The CME Group on Dec. 2 issued a Special Executive Report (SER) announcing increases in exchange transaction fees for CBOT agricultural futures and options effective Feb. 1, 2020. Generally, futures and options transaction fees are scheduled to increase by 3 cents for individual and equity members of the exchange for both open outcry and Globex trades. The announced changes are summarized in this table. The SER from CME announcing fee changes for agricultural trades and other CME contracts can be accessed here. ... Read More
CRP general signup opens Dec. 9
By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations, and Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Dec. 5 it will open the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup from Dec. 9 to Feb. 28 – the first general signup since 2015. Signup includes “general” enrollment of large tracts of land, as well as continuous signup for high-priority stewardship practices. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is Feb. 28, 2020, while signup for continuous CRP is ongoing, USDA ... Read More
NGFA submits recommendations to STB on rail revenue adequacy
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media The NGFA on Nov. 26 submitted written testimony to the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) in advance of its Dec. 12-13 public hearing that will focus on the rail revenue adequacy recommendations of its Rate Reform Task Force report. In its statement, the NGFA made several recommendations regarding the STB’s efforts to craft a proposed rule on how to account for railroad revenue adequacy in rate-reasonableness determinations. “Such rules should be part of a suite of changes – including, but not limited to, the ... Read More
Japan approves “phase one” trade agreement with U.S.
By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations After Japan’s legislative body ratified “phase one” of the U.S.-Japan trade agreement on Dec. 3, the deal is expected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer commended Japan’s “quick action” to approve the trade agreement, and said he expects President Donald Trump to sign the implementing proclamation for the United States next week. “The positive results the United States and Japan will gain from these agreements would not be possible without the strong leadership of ... Read More
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