Energy

President Donald Trump has ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all trade with Spain despite an upward trend of U.S. agricultural exports to the country. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, says Congress needs to move on legislation to allow voluntary, year-round sales of higher ethanol fuel blends, known as E15, before lawmakers adjourn for five weeks starting in early October.

The Agriculture Department has agreed to enroll 2.2 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program this year out of the 2.5 million acres offered by landowners under all three program signups. The National Corn Growers Association is calling for heightened transparency from agricultural input companies as it releases a new study that shows U.S. farmers paying substantially more for seeds and pesticides than their counterparts in Brazil. 

The stakes for farmers in the pending 45Z tax credit rules are high as financially struggling crop growers seek to tap expanding low-carbon fuel markets. 

The cost of borrowing money is in focus as the Federal Reserve is set to release details of its latest meeting on Wednesday. The minutes will provide hints on if the central bank is inclined to raise interest rates any time soon. Thirty-one cases of screwworm have been found in the U.S., though only 17 are active, according to the latest data from USDA. 

A new survey commissioned by the American Biogas Council found that expanding biogas capture is broadly popular among Americans, with 77% supporting the measure. 

As Washington prepares for a big week in agriculture, with review of the North American trade deal, farm labor legislation and one of USDA’s biggest reports of the year all on tap, the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was tested this weekend. EPA’s new mandates for biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard are welcome, but the soybean crush industry also needs a signal from the agency on whether to keep expanding, Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says.

 The Senate’s draft farm bill doesn’t include language for year-round E15 or the elimination of California’s Proposition 12, but Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman is still highly optimistic both measures will make it through Congress this year. The two biggest U.S. ethanol trade groups are defending the Trump administration against legal challenges to EPA biofuel-blending rules from environmentalists, biogas groups and oil refiners.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced long-awaited regenerative ag rules aimed at helping farmers fully benefit from biofuel markets. 

The American Petroleum Institute says Congress needs to stick with a House-passed E15 bill as President Donald Trump formally asks lawmakers to clear a new funding package that also includes the pro-ethanol measure. 

President Donald Trump made the biggest pitch for year-round E15 since his first term, calling on Congress to include the pro-ethanol measure in a nearly $88 billion legislative package to fund a raft of items, including the Iran war and $11 billion in financial aid for farmers. Members of Clean Fuels Alliance America gathered on Capitol Hill this week to stress the need to pass legislation to expand biomass-based diesel use in ocean-going vessels.