Representatives Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey sent a bipartisan letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the future of AM radio in new vehicles.

They expressed concerns over auto makers’ decision to drop AM radio access in the new electric vehicles that will be coming to market. The members talked about the important role that AM radio plays in providing life-saving information to the public. They also asked FEMA to outline what impact this would have on the nation’s Emergency Alert System and what steps the agency is taking to prevent this from happening in future vehicle models.

“AM radio has extensive geographic reach, including areas where there’s little cell service or broadband internet access,” they say in the letter. “Given the growth in electric vehicle sales, it’s vital that FEMA makes clear the impact that no AM radios will have on public safety.”

Clean Fuels Alliance America joined four other trade associations in sending a letter to EPA administrator Michael Regan regarding biofuel volumes in the Renewable Fuels Standard.

They want the EPA chief to substantially raise the biomass-based diesel and overall advanced biofuel volumes in the RFS for 2023-2025. The letter highlights the need for strong RFS volumes to support the goals of the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. “Our industries need these fuels to decarbonize air transport, long-haul shipping and trucking, home heating, and to meet the needs of our customers and supply chain partners,” the letter says. “The proposed RFS volumes are simply inconsistent with the investments our industries will make to continue expanding production and commercial availability of these fuels by 2025.”

The groups also say in the letter that their industries continue to make significant investments in producing, distributing, and using low-carbon fuels, but more can be done.

A group of taxpayer, agriculture, and environmental organizations held a press conference to urge Congressional leadership to reject attempts to increase reference prices for covered commodities.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition was one of the groups who opposed raising the Price Loss Coverage reference prices in the 2023 Farm Bill at a time when gross farm income is higher than ever. “Taxpayer commodity program subsidies were designed as a safety net tool, triggered when necessary, to help protect against unpredictable losses that are a part of farming,” says Billy Hackett, NSAC Policy Specialist. “It’s not an annual entitlement program for the country’s most successful farms. Ten percent of the farms get 70 percent of the subsidies and throwing money at an unsustainable system is no solution.”

The other organizations taking part in the press conference included the Environmental Working Group, FreedomWorks, the National Taxpayers Union, Farm Action, and several others.

(WASHINGTON D.C.)– On Friday, the USDA released the May 2023 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. This report offers the first look at the new crop balance sheets for the 23/24 marketing year.

On the corn side, USDA says 2023/24 ending stocks are at 2.222 billion bushels, which is up from 1.417 billion this year and higher than trade expectations of 2.094 billion bushels. USDA cut old crop corn exports by 75 million bushels on the report but USDA says that U.S. corn exports for 2023/24 are set to rise by 325 million bushels to 2.1 billion, as lower prices support a sharp increase in global trade following a decline in the 2022/23 marketing year.

In soybeans, USDA says that new-crop ending stocks are projected at 335 million bushels. That is up from 215 million last year and much higher than the trade expectations of 293 million bushels. The soybean crush for 23/24 is projected at 2.31 billion bushels.

As for the wheat side of the balance sheet, USDA say the outlook for U.S. wheat is for reduced supplies and exports, increased domestic use and smaller stocks compared to this year. The all wheat production estimate is 1.659 billion bushels, up slightly from last year’s 1.650 billion bushel number. There was a big increase in acres as well. New crop ending stocks for wheat are at 556 million bushels, down from 598 million last year and the lowest in 16 years.

You can view the full report here: https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde

Below is market commentary and analysis of the May WASDE report with Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX:

The NAFB News Service and more has contributed to our follow-up coverage on Prop 12. You can read our original story here: https://americanagnetwork.com/2023/05/supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-californias-prop-12/

(WASHINGTON D.C.) — The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to California’s Prop 12. The law bans the sale of pork from pigs that are kept in tightly confined spaces. The justices voted 5-4 to uphold a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau that sought to invalidate the law. The groups argued that the measure violated a U.S. constitutional provision called the Commerce Clause that courts say gives the federal government the power to regulate interstate commerce, not the states themselves.

“While the Constitution addresses many weighty issues, the type of pork chops California merchants may sell is not on that list,” wrote conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, who authored the Court’s main opinion.

The Prop 12 measure was approved by California voters in 2018. It bans in-state sales of pork, veal, and eggs from animals whose confinements didn’t meet space requirements.

The National Pork Producers Council reacted negatively to the Supreme Court’s decision on California’s Prop 12. “We are very disappointed with the Supreme Court’s opinion,” says Scott Hays, NPPC president. “Allowing state overreach will increase prices for consumers and drive small farms out of business, leading to more consolidation.” NPPC is still evaluating the Court’s full opinion to fully understand all the implications. “We will continue fighting for our pork farmers and American families against misguided regulations,” Hays adds.

Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S., says she’s “delighted” that the Supreme Court upheld California’s Prop 12. “It’s the nation’s strongest farm animal welfare law, and the Court made clear that preventing animal cruelty and protecting public health are core functions of our state governments,” she says. Also, HS-USA “won’t stop fighting until the pork industry stops confining sows in cages so small they can’t turn around.”

House Ag Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) shared his reaction to the news; “I certainly respect the authority of the individual States and I appreciate the Supreme Court’s instinct to exercise caution when adjudicating conflicting state interests. That said, I am disappointed in today’s decision on California’s Proposition 12. U.S producers simply cannot operate in a system where one state can dictate production standards for the entire country,” said Chairman Thompson. “I will continue to review today’s decision and explore solutions that ensure the hardworking farmers and ranchers who put the food on the tables of the American people can do so without being unduly burdened by excessive regulation.”

Also, Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, Tracey Mann (R-KS), shared the following statement; “States have the right to govern affairs within their borders, but today’s ruling is a gross misstep by the Supreme Court as it not only threatens the livelihoods of American hog farmers, but also sets a terrible precedent for interstate commerce,” said Rep. Mann.“This decision opens the door to unthinkable, unscientific regulatory overreach against all producers. Today it’s the pig pen, tomorrow it’s the whole barnyard.”

Free trade deals, nutrition, African Swine Fever, and foreign acceptance of cutting-edge Ag technology highlighted the latest House farm bill hearing. Ag Republicans and witnesses argued the Biden Administration needs to do market-opening free trade deals.

National Pork Producers President-Elect Lori Stevermer; “Negotiate better market access for U.S. agriculture in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Economic Prosperity is a good starting point, but the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers should be part of the discussion.”

But not part of the intended discussion and lurking in the background—SNAP. Nutrition, Foreign Ag, and Horticulture Chair Brad Finstad; “There’s been some public fodder on the types of topics we should address, and when we should address them, namely, in the nutrition space. I want to say, rest assured, we will be discussing those issues starting at the full committee level during our first work period in June.”

Ranking Democrat Jahana Hayes fired back; “The public fodder comes from me because I am deeply concerned about nutrition and have not seen any movement on the committee in the 118th Congress.” Charging House Republicans’ debt ceiling-budget bill will endanger SNAP benefits for some one million Americans. GOP leaders deny that, but SNAP leader Jim McGovern predicted a farm bill that threatens food security is, quote “going nowhere.”

The hearing got back to market access, keeping out animal diseases like African Swine Fever and getting others to accept new Ag technology. Former U.S. Ag Trade Negotiator Greg Doud; “My most pressing concern, however, is getting our government and other governments around the world to approve these technologies, so these innovations, which improve the environment, safety, and nutrition for consumers everywhere can be commercialized.”

Doud says U.S. industry spent $23 billion in the last two years on new Ag technology, but nations like Canada and Mexico, with its pending GMO corn ban, have stood in the way.

Separately, the full House Ag Committee unanimously passed several non-controversial bills to promote Precision Ag, boost block grant disaster help, interagency Ag research, and even authorize a dog training center for USDA’s Beagle Brigade inspection teams.

Authorities in South Korea have ordered the culling of several hundred cattle and put biosecurity measures in place after cases of foot and mouth disease were found in a central province.

The Cattle Site says the cases marked the first confirmed outbreak of FMD since January 2019. The current contagion occurred on three farms in a province south of Seoul, the country’s capital. The South Korean Vice Ag Minister says related agencies and local governments were asked to make all-out efforts on preventative measures to stop the further spread of foot and mouth disease. A team was sent to the area to investigate the outbreak, disinfect farms in surrounding areas, and put a 48-hour hold in place on all movement of people or livestock in the area.

Foot and Mouth is highly transmissible and causes lesions and lameness in cattle, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals. Authorities plan to cull 360 cattle.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman, released the following statement following a meeting at the White House about the 2023 Farm Bill on Thursday:

“Today, the four leaders of the Agriculture Committees had a conversation with President Biden and Secretary Vilsack on the importance of passing a bipartisan Farm Bill this year. The Farm Bill is a jobs bill. It is a safety net for farmers and consumers, and it is an investment in our rural communities and the health of the American people. The Agriculture Committees have a long tradition of bipartisan cooperation, and we look forward to continuing that tradition through our work on the 2023 Farm Bill.”

Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jim Risch of Idaho led a bipartisan group in calling out the administration’s draft guidance on labeling non-dairy product imitators. The Biden administration’s guidance allows non-dairy products to use dairy names like milk when labeling their products.

The Food and Drug Administration contradicted its own regulations by releasing guidance that would allow plant-based products to continue using dairy terms despite not containing dairy or having the nutritional value of dairy products. “The inaction by FDA harms public health as a result of consumer misperception over dairy products’ inherent nutritional value,” the Senators wrote. “As a result, it’s imperative that FDA enforce existing standards of identity for dairy in both current and future guidance.”

The two senators have led the charge to crack down on imitation products using dairy’s name. They authored bipartisan legislation called the Dairy Pride Act to combat the unfair labeling practice.

The American Farm Bureau Federation has extended the deadline to May 26 for entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2024 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.

The tenth year of this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to the challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farm Bureau is offering $165,000 in startup funds through the course of the competition, which will culminate in the top ten semi-finalists competing in a live pitch competition in front of Farm Bureau members, investors, and industry representatives at the 2024 Farm Bureau National Convention.

“Start-up companies like those we recognize through the Ag Innovation Challenge play an important role in the future of American agriculture,” says AFBF President Zippy Duvall. Detailed eligibility guidelines and the competition timeline can be found at fb.org/challenge. “Farmers rely on continuous improvements powered by innovation to keep providing food, fuel, and fiber,” Duvall says.