Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler Tuesday announced the final rule amending the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, which exempts farmers. The amendments clarify that reporting of air emissions from animal waste at farms is not required under the law.

Wheeler says the change “allows emergency responders and farmers to focus on protecting the public and feeding the nation, not routine animal waste emissions.” Farm groups welcomed the exemption. The rule is the final piece in the implementation of the FARM Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support last year and eliminated the need for livestock farmers to estimate and report emissions from the natural breakdown of manure.

National Pork Producers Council President David Herring says the measure was approved because “it was unnecessary and impractical” for farmers to report. And, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Jennifer Houston says Congress made “a common-sense decision” to exempt livestock producers, adding NCBA is “glad to see EPA fully implement the law.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is open to cutting interest rates if necessary, due to trade disputes between the U.S. and others. Powell opened a Chicago Fed conference stating “we do not know how or when these issues will be resolved,” adding “we are closely monitoring the implications,” according to Bloomberg News.

Powell says the Federal Reserve will “act as appropriate” to sustain the current economic expansion in the United States. Earlier in the week, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard called for a rate cut, citing the threat to economic growth posed by trade tensions. Investors appear to expect up to a half percentage point cut in the rate.

Meanwhile, President Trump has increased trade tensions, escalating the trade war with China after nearly reaching an agreement, and threatening new tariffs against Mexico. The already historically low-interest rates prompt some fear that the Federal Reserve Bank would have a limited response, should an economic recession occur, as rates generally can’t be cut below zero.

The Ag Economy Barometer dropped again in May. The barometer reading of 101 was 14 points lower than a month earlier and was the lowest barometer reading since October 2016. For the second month in a row, the decline in farmer sentiment was attributable to big declines in both the Index of Current Conditions, which fell from 99 in April to 84 in May, and the Index of Future Expectations, which fell from 123 in April to 108 in May.

A rating below 100 is negative, while a rating above 100 indicates positive sentiment regarding the agriculture industry. This month’s declines in the barometer and its two sub-indices effectively erased all of the large improvement in farmer sentiment that took place following the November 2016 election.

Producers’ confidence that the trade dispute with China will be resolved quickly is dissipating as farmers were also less confident that the trade dispute would ultimately be resolved in a way that favors U.S. agriculture than they were earlier in the year.

Midwest convenience store chain Casey’s General Stores and Growth Energy Monday announced the retailer will expand E15 offerings to more than 60 new sites this summer. E15, known by consumers as Unleaded 88, is a fuel with 15 percent ethanol and is approved for all cars 2001 and newer.

The two say the move follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule to allow for year-round sales of E15 announced Friday in Iowa. A Casey’s spokesperson says, “we are expanding E15 at a faster pace to stay ahead of our competition,” due to the rule change. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor welcomed the move from Casey’s, adding that conversations with other retailers show “they will soon be joined by others who’ve been waiting for this day.”

Founded in 1952 in Des Moines, Iowa, Casey’s General Stores has grown to include more than 2,100 convenience stores in 16 states in the Midwest and the South. E15 is currently sold at more than 1,800 stations in 31 states across the nation.

The weekly Crop Progress report shows little progress in planting the nation’s corn and soybean crops as unrelenting rains continue to inundate much of the corn belt. Corn plantings across the nation increased to 67 percent, compared to 58 percent a week ago and the five-year average of 96 percent. Just 39 percent of estimated soybean acres have been planted, compared to 29 percent last week, and the five-year average of 79 percent.

Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota have yet to plant 20 percent of estimated soybean acres. The National Weather Service says another three inches of rain could fall over parts of the Western corn belt this week, adding more moisture to saturated and flooded fields.

Meanwhile, a Farm Journal poll shows nearly one-third of corn farmers will file for prevent plant payments on some of their farmland in 2019. The poll found less than half, 45 percent, do not plan to file for prevent plant payment. However, 21 percent remain undecided. The poll asked 1,017 growers regarding their prevent plant intentions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he expects to begin hitting Mexico with tariffs next week in a long-running dispute over illegal immigration, while Mexican officials predicted an agreement to avoid the penalties would be reached during upcoming negotiations.

Trump said Tuesday that the parties would try to work something out, but continued to dangle the threat of tariffs to force Mexico’s hand.

“We’re going to see if we can do something. But I think it’s more likely that the tariffs go on,” he said from London, where Trump is on the second day of a state visit to Britain. The president commented during a news conference with outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

But Mexico said earlier Tuesday that an agreement was likely to avoid the threatened 5% tariff on Mexican imports , effective Monday.

“By what we have seen so far, we will be able to reach an agreement,” Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said during a news conference at Mexico’s Embassy in Washington. “That is why I think the imposition of tariffs can be avoided.”

Ebrard said his team will be prepared for a non-agreement scenario despite his optimism that a deal will be reached.

Ebrard arrived in Washington over the weekend to meet Wednesday with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Mexico calls the potential tariff hurtful to the economies of both countries and useless to slow the northbound flow of Central American migrants.

Trump claimed that “millions of people” are entering the U.S. through Mexico and criticized congressional Democrats for not passing new laws.

“But even beyond the laws, Mexico should not allow millions of people to try and enter our country. They could stop it very quickly. And I think they will. And if they won’t, we’re going to put tariffs on,” Trump said.

He added that “I think that Mexico will step up and do what should have been done.”

It is unclear what more Mexico can do — and what will be enough — to satisfy Trump because the United States has not presented concrete benchmarks to assess whether the U.S. ally is sufficiently stemming the migrant flow from Central America.

“As a sign of good faith, Mexico should immediately stop the flow of people and drugs through their country and to our Southern Border. They can do it if they want!” Trump tweeted Monday from London.

Trump’s Republican allies also warn that tariffs on Mexican imports will hit U.S. consumers, harm the economy and jeopardize the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact that the White House wants Congress to approve this year.

“We need to put our heads together and try to come up with a solution,” Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn warned Monday.

A diplomatic counteroffensive launched by Mexico this week includes a Tuesday meeting of trade negotiator Jesus Seade with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

The tariff threat comes just as the administration has been pushing for passage of the USMCA, which would update the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexico and Canada already started the process of ratifying the deal through their own legislatures.

On Monday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross met with Mexican Economy Minister Graciela Marquez and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue hosted his Mexican counterpart Victor Villalobos.

___