An economic analysis of the ethanol industry found significant contributions to the U.S. Economy. Announced by the Renewable Fuels Association during its annual National Ethanol Conference, the organization says the study shows that despite regulatory and marketplace challenges in 2018, the industry made a “remarkable contribution” to the U.S. economy.

The analysis found that the industry supported nearly 366,000 jobs and generated nearly $46 billion in gross domestic product in 2018. According to the analysis, the production and use of 16.1 billion gallons of ethanol in 2018 generated an estimated $4.8 billion in tax revenue to the Federal Treasury and $4 billion in revenue to state and local governments.

The analysis also estimated the impact of the ethanol industry on the state economy in top ethanol-producing states. Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois were the top three states in terms of economic impacts, but states like Ohio, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, Missouri, California, and New York also benefited from ethanol plants’ contributions.

The Environmental Protection Agency will release a single draft rule to expand E15 sales, and make RIN market reforms. The announcement follows consideration that the rule would be split to allow the EPA to focus on finishing the E15 rule before the summer driving season.

However, an EPA official told Reuters, “the President had instructed us to keep it together.” The rule was expected to be released in draft form in February, but the government shutdown has delayed the rulemaking process. The EPA is still expecting to complete the rule, according to agency officials, by the June first start of the summer driving season.

If the agency fails to complete the rule on time, E15 sales would not be allowed in many markets due to current regulations. However, while the timeline is slim, the EPA official says the agency was moving at a “very expeditious” pace on the E15 rule. The agency has yet to announce a date for when the draft rule will be released.

The Environmental Protection Agency this week released a draft report on greenhouse gasses. The report says U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell .3 percent in 2017 from 2016, but estimates that methane emissions grew 1.5 percent. Politico reports the methane emission increase in 2017 was largely due to more emissions from cows and other livestock.

In all, the data shows the 2017 estimation represents the highest methane emissions since 2014. Earlier this week, Bill Gates, who funds climate change efforts through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, wrote of the methane livestock issue, stating only cattle “give off methane when they belch and pass gas.” He offered no solution, but rather language to focus on solutions to curb methane emissions.

Meanwhile, the comment period on the EPA draft report is open until March 14th. Comments may be submitted online through the Federal Register.

China’s President will meet with U.S. trade leaders Friday as the U.S. and China seek a trade deal before an early March deadline. The South China Morning Post reports China’s President Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet with a U.S. trade delegation in Beijing, which includes U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

China and the U.S. face an early March deadline set by the Trump administration to reach an agreement that could end the tit-for-tat trade war between the two nations. However, President Trump said this week he is open to extending the deadline, saying he could let the deadline “slide for a little while.”

Trump is expected to meet with China’s President sometime in March in what some say could be a move to close an agreement between China and the United States. The trade war served a blow to U.S. agriculture as China slapped retaliatory tariffs on U.S. farm commodities, most notably, soybeans and pork.

The Department of Agriculture Tuesday announced a listening session for input on implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. USDA is seeking public input on the changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency.

Each agency will consider stakeholder input when making discretionary decisions on program implementation. The listening session will be held February 26, at USDA offices in Washington, D.C. The listening session is open to the public, however, participants must register at farmers.gov/farmbill by February 22, to attend.

USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation Bill Northey says the farm bill “improves farm safety net programs, protects federal crop insurance, and preserves strong rural development and research initiatives.” He says USDA is eager to hear from stakeholders on how the agency can “streamline and improve program delivery while also enhancing customer service.”

A bipartisan group of Senators recently reintroduced legislation to lift the Cuba trade embargo. Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Patrick Leahy, along with Republican Mike Enzi reintroduced the bipartisan Freedom to Export to Cuba Act.

The legislation would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba and pave the way for new economic opportunities for American businesses and farmers by boosting U.S. exports. The legislation repeals key provisions of previous laws that block Americans from doing business in Cuba, but does not repeal portions of law that address human rights or property claims against the Cuban government.

Senator Leahy of Vermont said in a statement that the bill would “put more food on the plates of the Cuban people.” Cuba relies on agriculture imports to feed the 11 million people who live in Cuba and the 3.5 million tourists who visit each year. The Senators say Cuba represents a $2 billion opportunity for American farmers annually.

The agreement that averts the threatening government shutdown funds the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies without a final budget through the current fiscal year, which began last October. President Trump, speaking Tuesday morning, told reporters “I don’t think you’re going to see a shutdown,” but added he has yet to study the agreement, and was initially “not happy” with the proposal.

The deal includes $1.375 billion for border barriers and a roughly 17 percent reduction in the number of ICE detention beds. The agreement must still be drafted into legislation and pass both the House and Senate and get Trump’s approval by Friday to avoid another government shutdown. Politico reports another prolonged shutdown would be especially painful for agriculture, and it’s unclear if USDA could take steps to mitigate some of the headaches that accompanied the previous closures.