(NAFB)

Wrapping up the fourth round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. proposed a dismantling of Canada’s dairy supply management system. Bloomberg reports Canada “flatly rejects” the proposal by the United States.

The proposal would effectively kill Canada’s supply management system by fully eliminating tariffs on supply-managed products over ten years.

President Donald Trump earlier this year called the system “unfair,” and used the system as part of his threat to withdraw from NAFTA. Canada’s government dismissed the U.S. dairy proposal, while the Dairy Farmers of Canada called it “outrageous.”

The U.S. proposal, according to Canada officials, would effectively end supply management. Canada’s Agriculture Minister said to “deal with anything else is simply a non-starter.” Former U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman urged that the U.S. proposals be considered opening offers, saying “it’s a negotiation.”

(NCGA)

When planning a family vacation, you probably don’t put a lot of thought into which gas stations you are going to stop at, when you are going to stop and the type of gasoline you are going to fill-up with.

Well, Renewable Fuels Association’s Vice President of Industry Relations, Robert White, did just that and recently shared his journey. The average U.S. worker leaves nearly half of his or her vacation days on the table each year.

I am usually guilty of this too, but this year I wanted to make the most of time off and find a fun trip for myself, my wife and our 13-month-old daughter. We decided on visiting some national parks and monuments in Colorado and Utah. Naturally, this adventure had to be done in a Flex Fuel vehicle, and we chose our 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee as our mode of transportation. The goal – to make the nearly 2,400-mile trip using only E85!

You can read the rest of the story which originally ran as a blog post created and distributed by the Renewable Fuels Association at: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/2017/09/vacation-powered-by-e85/

National livestock groups are hailing the Department of Agriculture’s withdraw of a GIPSA rule a victory.

USDA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing it would withdraw the interim final rule under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, known as GIPSA. Through submitted comments, USDA said a common theme of those opposed to the interim final rule was that it would lead to increased litigation. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association called the withdraw a victory for beef producers and consumers.

The National Chicken Council says the rule “would have opened the floodgates to frivolous and costly litigation,” while applauding the USDA action.

The National Pork Producers Council, which says it led the opposition effort against the interim final rule, said the organization was “very pleased” with the move. NPPC says an Informa Economics study found that the 2010 GIPSA Rule would have cost the U.S. pork industry more than $420 million annually, more than $4 per hog, in added litigation costs.

(NAFB)

Four ethanol-state governors are expressing concerns regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard to President Donald Trump. In a letter Monday, the governors of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota, told the president they were concerned about “where the EPA’s proposed implementation of RFS policy is heading,” and its impact on farmers and the rural economy.

The four Republicans urged the president to keep his campaign promises to rural America to support the RFS. The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a request for additional comments on reducing previously finalized volumes required by the RFS program and on using waiver authorities to further reduce biodiesel volumes. The National Biodiesel Board echoed the comments from the letter, saying the latest proposed cuts to the RFS volumes threaten jobs in rural America, along with hurting companies that have invested to comply with the RFS, and undermines energy security goals of the RFS program.

(NAFB) The Environmental Protection Agency last week declared dicamba under it’s “restricted use” category, but a weed scientist from Illinois has doubts the new restrictions will be beneficial. Aaron Hager, a weed scientist and professor at the University of Illinois, told Reuters: “Nothing in these new restrictions addresses volatility, and that’s still an issue.” The EPA said Friday it would classify dicamba as restricted use, limit spray times and required wind conditions, along with requiring detailed record keeping of dicamba use. Under the requirements, certified pesticide applicators, or people under their supervision, will be allowed to spray dicamba in 2018. However, that restriction may not do much to reduce crop damage related to sprayings because many farmers and commercial applicators are already certified, according to experts. Monsanto and BASF, makers of dicamba-based herbicides, welcomed the EPA announcement. Growers across the U.S. said this summer that dicamba affected areas other than where it was sprayed, damaging millions of acres of crops that could not tolerate the herbicides.

Canada and Mexico have both said they are not walking away from the North American Free Trade Agreement following hard-hitting proposals by the United States. However, online source Axios points out that folks on Capitol Hill are starting to ask “when” not “if” President Trump will issue a notice to withdraw from NAFTA.

The U.S. hardball approach on dairy and automotive trade, along with the Buy American initiative, and others, has sources close to the negotiation saying “there’s no chance of a compromise solution,” unless U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer changes tactics.

The White House has not denied that Trump and Lighthizer have discussed the six-month withdrawal notice, but say that doesn’t mean he’s moments away from doing so. Mexico and Canada, meanwhile, are not walking away from the talks, as both sides agree to take part in the negotiations “in good faith,” due to NAFTA’s benefits for both countries.

The U.S. wants to reverse Canada’s dairy supply management system as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation. U.S. negotiators centered on the agriculture chapter of NAFTA over the weekend, and proposed to reverse Canadian dairy pricing program that has undercut certain U.S. dairy exports to Canada.

The text, which demands that Canada eliminates an industry pricing classification that lowered domestic prices for certain milk protein products to the minimum global price, was met with swift pushback, according to Politico.

The proposal, called a “five-page attack” on Canada’s management system, also includes transparency requirements for Canada to report pricing decisions. A labor union representing dairy workers in Canada said the U.S. is “preparing a full assault on Canada’s supply management system.” The U.S. has long protested Canada’s system of tariffs and export limits designed to protect the domestic market, which is not part of the original NAFTA agreement.

(MO Dept. of AG)

On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an agreement with Monsanto, BASF and DuPont on measures to minimize the potential for off-target movement of Dicamba and further ensure effective use of three pesticides: DuPont’s FeXapan, BASF’s Engenia and Monsanto’s XtendiMax.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is reviewing these requirements as preparations are made for the 2018 growing season. “This announcement gives farmers certainty moving forward as they make seed purchases for the next year,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “We will continue to work alongside farmers, researchers, industry partners, and farm and commodity organizations to safeguard these important tools in the best interest of all Missouri agriculture.” The Department is also working with the University of Missouri and other researchers to strengthen education and training specific to Dicamba and other auxin herbicides. The EPA’s announcement specifically addresses new label restrictions for the 2018 growing season for the following registered pesticides:

DuPont FeXapan herbicide plus VaporGrip Technology, EPA Registration Number 352-913;
Engenia Herbicide, EPA Registration Number 7969-345; and
XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology, EPA Registration Number 524-617

To see the full news release from the EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-states-collective-efforts-lead-regulatory-action-dicamba. More detailed information about Dicamba is available at Agriculture.Mo.Gov/dicamba.