Whether one is a fan of the White House’s Let’s Move! initiative or not, it almost inarguably plays a large role in our nation’s discussions on food. Today, Let’s Move! Executive Director and White House Senior Advisor on Nutrition Policy Sam Kass made a major statement about the future of food during the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives conference backing …
White House on Climate Change and Farmers
Agriculture is a big part of the new White House climate change assessment report out this week. “Corn producers in Iowa, oyster growers in Washington state and maple syrup producers in Vermont are all observing climate-related changes that are outside of recent experience,” the report states. Immediately after the report was released on Tuesday, the administrator of the Environmental Protection …
Secretary Vilsack at Commodity Classic
As long as he has been Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack has made it a priority to address the annual Commodity Classic, so for the fifth time he took the stage last week at the event in front of a record crowd of more than 7,000. “It is awfully nice to come here today to talk about the PASSAGE of …
EPA Official Talks about RFS Proposal
The man directly responsible for the EPA proposal to lower the 2014 volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) last week addressed members of the ethanol industry directly impacted by that plan. “I really wanted to provide you with some context and what our thinking was behind our 2014 RVO proposal,” said Chris Grundler, EPA Director of the Office …
Oil Giants Lining Pocket in Wake of EPA Announcement
If you happen to be an ethanol proponent and you get asked by friends over the holiday what all the hub-bub is about related to the Environmental Protection Agency and their recent ethanol snub, just tell them to follow the money. You see the stock values of four of the five biggest oil companies surged by a combined $23 billion …
In World of Polluters Oil Has No Rivals
They call it black gold and Texas Tea but I prefer to call it environmental anathema; that rare combination of disgrace and abomination. Better that than using the words that I would like to use that got my mouth washed out with soap as a child. Ok, Thanksgiving is almost upon us so I want to purge a little bile …
EPA Head Visits Iowa
The newly confirmed head of the Environmental Protection Agency visited the Iowa State Fair last week, where she spoke about her goal of building a better relationship with farmers. “My commitment to you is that at the end of my term, we will have a stronger, more productive, more trusting relationship between EPA and the agriculture community,” said EPA Administrator …
Presidential Candidates Address Ag Issues
The American Farm Bureau Federation recently got answers from President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in a questionnaire asking the candidates about their positions on energy, farm policy, fiscal policy, labor and more. On energy, both candidates say they support maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard. “Our rural communities, farmers, and ranchers can increase our energy independence and boost …
Unemployed? Feeling Broke? Urge Congress to Pass Pending Free Trade Agreements
The majority of average Americans are still painfully cognizant of the recession’s impact upon their lives. With high levels of unemployment and little disposable income, regular Americans wonder what the government has done to bail them out. Right now, Congress has a chance to improve the lives of 22,500 people while improving the economy as a whole simply by passing …
Biofuels Part of Obama Secure Energy Future
Biofuels, including ethanol, are part of the Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future outlined Wednesday by President Obama. “In an economy that relies on oil, rising prices at the pump affect everybody – workers and farmers; truck drivers and restaurant owners,” said the president during a speech at Georgetown University. “The only way for America’s energy supply to be truly …