Articles by Lydia Johnson

Ashley McFarland is the new president and CEO of the American Malting Barley Association. Jackson Takach has taken on leadership responsibilities for the Farm & Ranch operating segment at FarmerMac. Sarah Novak joined Zinpro Corporation as director of global industry relations and market intelligence. After the sudden passing of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, the Western Caucus elected Rep. Celeste Maloy as chair. Emma Hoffschneider joined the office of Rep. Adrian Smith as communications director. The House Agriculture Committee Republican promoted Kyle Upton and Austin Deberry, and hired Hannah Otte.

On the first of weekly visits across the U.S. ahead of the midterms, President Donald Trump used his speech in the nation’s top corn, pork, and ethanol-producing state to tout the benefits of his trade policies and express support for year-round E15, including a commitment to sign the provision into law if it reaches his desk. 

President Donald Trump will speak in America’s top corn-producing state today as growers plead for support of year-round E15 to drive market demand amid a challenging farm economy.

Trump is set to head to Iowa on Tuesday as the green diesel lobby presses him to move fast in finalizing key biofuel policies.

President Donald Trump kicks off a series of weekly campaign trips across the U.S. with a visit to Iowa even as the ethanol industry and corn producers are angry about the failure of an E15 provision to move in Congress. In Washington, Trump faces the prospect of another partial government shutdown after a second fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving immigration agents.

The U.S. House could be debating President Donald Trump’s trade policy next month. That’s because the House GOP leadership may have missed the last opportunity to extend a blockade on holding votes on Trump’s tariffs.

Ethanol industry backers expressed outrage Thursday after House leadership decided to create a study council for biofuel issues rather than including a year-round E15 provision in a fiscal 2026 spending package.

Midwest Republicans made a last-ditch attempt with House leadership to add year-round E15 to a fiscal 2026 appropriations package, and they came away with authorization of a council to study the issue and develop legislation to be considered next month. The rule for the funding package would set up the "E-15 Rural Domestic Energy Council."

IPR Fresh hired Mark Munger as vice president of marketing and business development. Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP promoted Taylor Triffo to managing director of legislative affairs. Emily Wier of San Diego was appointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. Daniel Curtin of Sacramento was reappointed to the California Water Commission. CalFlowers appointed Gustavo Gilchrist, president of Kennicott Bros. Co., to the group’s board of directors.  

House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson tells Agri-Pulse he wants $5 billion for specialty crop growers and additional money for forestry in a farm aid package that could exceed $15 billion.