Biodiesel
Industry Pleased with Supreme Court Decision on Renewable Fuels Standard
Monday,
the National Biodiesel Board
released a statement in support of the Supreme Court’s unanimous
decision to strike down a case challenging the Renewable Fuel Standard
(RFS). The organization maintains that RFS is accomplishing its
intended purpose of creating jobs, breaking our addiction to foreign
oil, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Oklahoma Farm Report (11/7)
Unusual Bedfellows
Join to Fight Corn Subsidies
On
Nov. 8, a group of various
environmental, agricultural and business groups sent a letter to
leaders from both parties in the House and Senate urging them to allow
the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) to expire and stop
expansion on the Alternative Fuels Tax Credit. The group sending the
letter includes Friends of the Earth, Taxpayers for Common Sense,
Greenpeace, and the National Restaurant Association.
E&E News
(Subscription Required 11/9)
Canadian Business
Group Finds Ethanol Doesn't Hinder Food, Reduces Emissions
A
recent review of ethanol production
processes performed by an economic research group based in Canada found
that ethanol production does not have a significant impact on food
prices or land use. It also concluded that the use of ethanol yields a
net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with the use of 100 percent
ethanol leading to a 62 percent overall reduction.
E&E News
(Subscription Required 11/8)
R-CALF USA Files
Formal Complaint Regarding Multi-Agency Investigations
R-CALF
United Stockgrowers of America
(R-CALF USA) have filed an official complaint to the Department of
Justice (DOJ), seeking an investigation into allegedly anticompetitive
practices on the part of major meat packers following a decision by the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to rescind rules regarding cattle
purchasing procedures and record keeping requirements. The rules were
viewed by the group as a means of stabilizing prices and protecting
ranchers and feed producers from unfair market influence.
Oklahoma Farm Report (11/8)
NFU: GIPSA Rule Still
Missing Critical Elements
On
Nov. 4, National Farmers Union (NFU)
President Roger Johnson issued a statement about the USDA changes to
the GIPSA rule. Johnson said that he is encouraged to see parts of the
rule being advanced, however the USDA has not addressed issues facing
beef producers in securing a safe marketplace.
News Release (11/4)
The Secret Farm Bill
New
York Times opinions
columnist Mark Bittman discusses what he sees as a perpetuation of
highly faulted federal agricultural programs as lawmakers attempt to
pass reforms to subsidy programs through the supercommittee that favor
certain sectors while depriving the measures of the public debate and
exposure they deserve. He says the proposed changes would fail to
promote “real food,” as fruits and vegetables would still be classified
as “specialty crops” thus limiting eligibility for subsidies to
producers of crops that cause a variety of domestic problems including
obesity and rising health care costs.
New York Times (11/8)
Miller Making
His Mark
Jim
Miller, Senior Adviser to Senate
Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D, and former Undersecretary
for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services gave an exclusive
interview with Agweek on his experience working
at USDA and
on Capitol Hill. Miller stated in the interview his views on the Farm
Bill and crop insurance.
Agweek (11/7)
