The White House let Congress know last Friday morning that it will be bringing the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement to lawmakers in a move that’s intended to bring new energy to the discussions. The move comes amid a presidential campaign that has both major party candidates coming out against the deal as a “job-killer.” Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report says President Obama feels the deal would pass in a lame-duck session of Congress, noting that he’d like to discuss that fact with lawmakers once the elections are over, instead of playing political football with the topic. Obama called America “a part of the global economy,” stressing the necessity of international supply chains and the importance of the export sector to U.S. jobs and the economy. While Republicans in Congress have questions about the deal they’d like answered, many Democrats called the deal a non-starter because of concerns about enforcing labor and environmental standards in countries like Vietnam. Currency manipulation is another part of the deal for which Congress wants awnsers on.

Both U.S. corn and soybean growers are expected to harvest record-high crops this year, according to the Crop Production report issued by the Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. USDA NASS Friday released the report that shows U.S. corn production is forecasted at 15.2 billion bushels, while soybean growers are expected to harvest 4.06 billion bushels in 2016. Average corn yield is forecast at 175.1 bushels per acre, setting a new record-high. U.S. soybean farmers also took advantage of the favorable weather conditions and are expected to increase their production by three percent from 2015. Soybean yields are expected to average 48.9 bushels per acre, reaching another record-high mark. Wheat production is forecasted at 2.32 billion bushels, up 13 percent from 2015. The report also included the first production forecast for U.S. cotton. NASS forecasts all cotton production at 15.9 million bales, up 23 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 800 pounds per harvested acre, up 34 pounds from last year.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the Department of Agriculture is one of the nation’s leading green power users. USDA is using more than 169 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which represents 35 percent of its total energy needs. The EPA recognizes USDA as number five on its Top 10 Federal Government list of the largest green power users. Additionally, USDA is number 43 on the National Top 100 list. The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program encouraging organizations to use green power to reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity use. By using green power, USDA is reducing 120 million metric tons of CO2 per year, or the equivalent of taking 25 million cars off the road. USDA is generating green power from on-site renewable energy including solar, wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal systems. USDA also uses alternative fuels in vehicles, designs and constructs high-performance green buildings and promotes the use of biobased products.

Cargill this week reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year ending May 31st, 2016. The report comes as the company is on what it calls a “transformative path” to strengthen financial performance. Cargill reported full year earnings were down 11 percent, but noted net earnings were up 50 percent. The net earnings jump is attributed to the reshaping of the company’s portfolio, including selling off multiple pieces of the business in the refocusing efforts. Cargill CEO David MacLennan says while Cargill has more work to do, the company has already made many changes and is “seeing improved results.”