During an unusual planting and harvesting season, safety issues are particularly relevant as high grain moisture levels are prompting the need for aeration strategies. The Grain Handling Safety Coalition noted that high-moisture grain harvested in 2009 resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of grain engulfments well into 2010. Because moisture levels are high again during this year’s harvest, the coalition issued the following safety reminders: “Problems tend to develop when wet grain is immobile inside of a grain bin for too long without being properly aerated or circulated. This ... Read More
News
National Grain and Feed Foundation – Your Support Gets Results!
…Support the Foundation that Supports the Industry… By Todd Kemp, Senior Vice President, Treasurer With year-end approaching, all NGFA members are invited to join in supporting the good work of the National Grain and Feed Foundation, the NGFA’s 501(c)(3) sister organization that funds research and public education efforts to benefit the grain, feed, processing and export industry. All contributions are fully tax-deductible! Click here to make a quick and easy donation. Why support this particular non-profit? Deb Calhoun is senior vice president of Waterways Council Inc., the ... Read More
Thailand’s ban on herbicides will affect U.S. exports
By Max Fisher, Director of Economics and Government Relations According to a Nov. 3 report from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Thailand’s ban on glyphosate and other chemicals incited widespread controversy in the country and potentially will shut down imports of several agricultural products. 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. Subsequently, Thai farmers have filed a petition with the Administrative Court ... Read More
BASF notifies NGFA of anticipated commercial canola launch in 2020
By Bobby Frederick, Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy BASF informed the NGFA this week that the company will launch a hybrid canola variety (MS8 x RF3 x MON 88302) under the commercial name “InVigor Choice LR344PC.” BASF’s stacked trait combines previously commercialized MS8xRF3, which confers glufosinate tolerance, and MON88302, which confers glyphosate tolerance. The initial launch is scheduled to occur in Canada only. Of particular importance to NGFA members, InVigor Choice LR344PC has received import approvals in a number of countries including the United States, ... Read More
USDA issues second set of Market Facilitation Program payments
By Max Fisher, Director of Economics and Government Relations After Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Nov. 15 the second tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments, USDA began issuing them this week. The first tranche was issued in late summer and equaled the higher of either 50 percent of the total payment expected or $15 per acre. The second tranche will equal 25 percent of the total payment expected, and the third tranche – if implemented – will equal the remaining 25 percent and occur in January 2020. Producers in counties receiving the ... Read More
First commercial harvest of Enlist E3™ soybeans underway
[Editor’s Note: This article is a summary of information provided to NGFA by Matt Rekeweg, U.S. industry relations and food chain leader, Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Ind.] U.S. soybean growers this fall are harvesting and delivering their first commercial planting of Enlist E3™ soybeans. Enlist E3 soybeans are part of the Enlist™ weed control system, which also includes corn and cotton. Enlist E3 soybeans are tolerant to three herbicides: 2,4-D choline in Enlist herbicides (the only 2,4-D herbicides authorized for use with Enlist crops), glyphosate and glufosinate. Enlist E3 ... Read More
USMCA approval, trade deals key to U.S. farm finances
By Todd Kemp, Senior Vice President, Treasurer A House Agriculture Committee subcommittee on Nov. 19 conducted a hearing to examine financial and credit conditions in U.S. production agriculture. The lone witness during the hearing was Glen Smith, chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration, the government agency charged with examining and regulating entities in the Farm Credit System (FCS). Trade uncertainties, large commodity supplies, and weather extremes were cited by Smith as challenges facing the current farm economy. He noted USDA estimates that net cash farm ... Read More
Congress, USTR to continue USMCA negotiations during congressional Thanksgiving recess
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media House Democrats and the White House have not reached a deal on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), raising concerns about the possibility of getting the trade deal through Congress by the end of the year. After House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer met on Nov. 21, Neal told reporters that they hadn’t reached an agreement, but it’s still “possible” to have a vote in the House by the end of December. Neal ... Read More
FERC takes action to address propane shortage
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced Nov. 19 that it will initiate a process with pipeline companies and shippers to explore actions to alleviate propane pipeline constraints in the Midwest. “By bringing the pipelines and shippers to the table, we are building on these efforts and establishing a dialogue focused on exploring concrete solutions,” said FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee. The commission also said it is moving forward with a proposal from a Texas-based pipeline company to provide emergency transportation of propane to the Midwest for 30 days. ... Read More
NGFA and more than 30 ag groups urge House lawmakers to support “phase-one” U.S.-Japan trade agreement
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media The NGFA and more than 30 food and agricultural associations expressed their strong support of the “phase-one” trade agreement between the U.S. and Japan in a Nov. 19 letter to the House Ways and Means Committee. “A trade agreement between the United States and Japan is critical since Japan is already the United States’ fourth‐largest agricultural export market and our major competitors have received impactful tariff reductions under the Comprehensive and Progressive for Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CP-TPP),” the ... Read More
National Grain and Feed Association
TwitterYoutubeFacebookLinkedin