Category Archives: General Interest

Jacob Bunge and Richard Rubin reported today at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Some agricultural companies are revamping operations to avoid being stung by the new U.S. tax law. “Ethanol makers and family-owned grain companies are setting up new agricultural cooperatives to benefit from a provision in the law that gives farmers larger tax savings… Continue Reading

A  news release earlier this week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) indicated that, “Last year’s hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, devastated parts of the South, Midwest, Northern Plains, and California, and were a stark reminder that agriculture is an inherently risky business. Federal crop insurance indemnities for these disasters totaled more… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from Sen. Deb Fischer (R., Neb.) indicated that, “Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) introduced the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act. The bill, which has a number… Continue Reading

Stephen Gruber-Miller reported yesterday at The Des Moines Register Online that, “Should the Iowa Supreme Court declare unconstitutional a law that shields large animal feeding operations from lawsuits? “That’s the question the justices heard Monday night during oral arguments in Honomichl v. Valley View Swine. Its answer is likely to have an impact on the number… Continue Reading

Financial Times writer Emiko Terazono reported yesterday that, “A sharp slowdown in US craft beer sales growth has sent the speciality hop market from boom to bust with its effects starting to be felt by growers beyond its shores. “The fall comes as growers both in the US, the world’s leading hop producer and exporter, and… Continue Reading

DTN writer Todd Neeley reported last week that, “Three years after President Barack Obama’s administration finalized the waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule in 2015, agriculture groups and states find themselves in a familiar position — back in court to block the rule. “In the latest move, the American Farm Bureau Federation and other… Continue Reading

Cole Epley reported on Friday at the Omaha World-Herald Online that, “[Nebraska] State Sen. Tom Brewer said Thursday that his latest proposal in front of a legislative committee isn’t about slowing down Nebraska wind energy development. “Instead, the Gordon legislator’s proposal to restrict Nebraska public power utilities’ eminent domain authority is about protecting private property interests,… Continue Reading

DTN writer Pam Smith reported yesterday that, “The clock is ticking for dicamba herbicides registered for use in Xtend soybean and cotton. The success or failure of the coming spray season will determine if ‘over the top’ use of dicamba in those crops remains a tool for farmers beyond 2018. “In late 2016, the Environmental… Continue Reading

Associated Press writer Verena Dobnik reported on Tuesday that, “Eleven Democratic state attorneys general on Tuesday sued President Donald Trump’s administration over its decision to delay implementation of an Obama-era rule that would have expanded the number of wetlands and small waterways protected by the Clean Water Act. “New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said last week’s… Continue Reading