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The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank reports farm lending has stabilized, but risks remain. The Federal Reserve’s Agricultural Finance Databook shows risks in the sector have remained alongside a persistently weak agricultural economy. The volume of non-real estate farm loans originated in the third quarter this year increased about two percent from the previous year.

The slight increase followed a similar year-over-year increase in the second quarter after sharp declines in lending activity the previous two quarters. Operating loans have continued to account for a rising share of commercial banks’ farm loan portfolio, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the total volume of non-real estate farm loans over the past year.

The report says that risk ratings on new farm loans have increased somewhat, interest rates have edged higher, and the loan-to-deposit ratio, a key measure of bank liquidity, also has increased.

(NAFB) – More than 15 countries in the Western Hemisphere have sent officials to the Ethanol Summit of the Americas to talk over current and future ethanol opportunities in the region. The event runs through Friday and is sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

Tom Sleight, U.S. Grains Council president and CEO says increasing cooperation between ethanol industries supports economic growth for all countries involved. “Collaborative efforts like this pave the way for expanded ethanol use across the region,” says Sleight. RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen says the dialogue is desperately needed across the industry due to a growing protectionism among many countries in the world.

“Protectionism will only thwart our efforts to expand this important industry and won’t help to address pressing regional energy and environmental needs,”

Dinneen says. In part, because of efforts like the Energy Summit of the Americas, the U.S. set a record for ethanol exports in the 2016-2017 marketing year at 1.37 billion gallons. That’s a corn equivalent of 488 million bushels in corn.

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Debbie Stabenow, the ranking democrat member of the Senate Ag Committee, wants to defend the farm bill from possible budget cuts that could come during the budget reconciliation process that got started this week. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says she filed an amendment on Wednesday that’s intended to keep all farm bill programs away from any spending reductions from 2019 to 2028.

The move is seen as mostly symbolic, coming as the Senate gets ready to consider the GOP budget resolution, which would pave the way for tax reform. The Senate’s budget resolution spares the Ag Committee from having to come up with cuts, while the House resolution calls for $10 billion in cuts over the next 10 years.

Those two measures will have to be reconciled. “As we write the Farm Bill,” Stabenow says, “we need to send a message to our farmers, families, and rural communities that they are not on the chopping block for cuts. This amendment protects farm programs from harmful budgets cuts.” She says the amendment also helps to protect America’s land and water, as well as invests in the country’s farmers and small towns.

(NAFB) The U.S. Senate Ag Committee announced today that it voted to send the USDA nominations of Greg Ibach from Nebraska and Bill Northey of Iowa on to the full Senate. Ibach is nominated to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, while Northey is nominated to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Committee Chair Pat Roberts of Kansas and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow of Michigan issued a statement saying, “The Senate Ag Committee continues to advance USDA nominees as swiftly as possible, and we expect a quick confirmation from the U.S. Senate. Greg Ibach and Bill Northey are qualified and respected public servants who know agriculture firsthand and they will serve rural America well at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” The Senate Ag Committee held a hearing on the nominees back on October 5. Both nominees have the full support of more than 60 farm organizations.

(NAFB)

Agriculture and other contentious issues proposed by the U.S. during round four of the North American Free Trade Agreement talks has stalled the renegotiation effort. The U.S., Canada and Mexico have now agreed to extend the talks into 2018, failing to meet the Trump Administration’s goal to conclude the talks by the end of this year.

The move comes as U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has confirmed the U.S. will table its dairy proposal, for now. The proposal seeks to end Canada’s dairy supply management program, a “non-starter” for Canada.

Lighthizer has also tabled a proposal related to produce exports, opposed by Mexico. Negotiators say the longer timeline allows for them to “dig in” to the tough issues, and pledge to continue to work out a deal, while acknowledging that strong differences remain. The next round of talks is scheduled for November 17th in Mexico.

(Beef Checkoff)

It’s the meat with a first name, beloved by chefs such as Michael Symon and David Chang and enjoyed around the country for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Whether you spell it bologna or baloney, it’s a lifelong favorite that we celebrate every October 24 for National Bologna Day.

This year, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) and Beef Checkoff are celebrating by unveiling a new guide to bologna that details all of the important bologna facts including its origin, how it’s made, different bologna styles, fun facts and recipes. Bologna fans can also test their knowledge with a bologna quiz and check out a range of bologna recipes. “Bologna is an American classic that links us back to our childhoods,” said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal.

“No matter how it is served, it is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.” Bologna is often served differently depending upon where people live. While most Americans have enjoyed traditional sliced bologna that is common on store shelves around the country, regional styles vary. I

n the Midwest, ring bolognas are often the preferred choice. These are smaller in diameter and sold as a semi-circle or a ring and may be sliced and eaten with crackers or split lengthwise and enjoyed in pastas and other dishes. Lebanon bologna is popular in Pennsylvania. It’s a beef bologna that is heavily smoked, known for its tangy and smoky flavor.

In Ohio, traditional bologna is often thick cut and fried before being enjoyed on a sandwich and in Memphis it is smoked and served with BBQ sauce. The Baltimore style hot dog features bologna wrapped around the hot dog for a meaty masterpiece. “Bologna’s versatility adds to the National Bologna Day fun,” said Mittenthal. “You can enjoy it for any meal or snack prepared differently.”

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The White House has directed the Environmental Protection Agency to stand down on efforts to weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard. Bloomberg reports the agency was told to abandon two changes that were under consideration: a possible reduction in biodiesel requirements and a proposal to allow exported renewable fuel to count toward domestic quotas.

President Donald Trump spoke with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Wednesday, who said she thought the “administration was feeling the pressure” from biofuels advocates. EPA administrator Scott Pruitt Tuesday met with a group of senators, led by Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, as the lawmakers claimed they “pushed Pruitt to abandon” the proposals.

Iowa’s junior Senator, Joni Ernst, said she would not commit to backing Trump’s EPA air office nominee, the office that oversees the renewable fuel program. Administration officials say the handful of senators blocked the administration by “threatening to hold nominees hostage until they get their way.”