Agri-Pulse DriveTime

Residents of Iowa were hopeful President Trump would show support for renewable fuels in his speech in Iowa today. Brazilian farmers are making early progress in harvesting what appears to be another record crop providing greater competition for U.S. supplies.

Yet another ICE incident in Minnesota is increasing odds of a partial government shutdown. Senate Minority Leaders are demanding greater control on the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump may face a chilly reception in Iowa tomorrow following a lack of action on E15 last week in Congress.

Congressional ag leaders continue to discuss additional financial aid for farmers to augment the Bridge Assistance forthcoming from the Trump Administration. The USDA's Cattle on Feed Report today gave no indication that beef producers are making an active effort to hold back heifers to and grow the cattle herd.

A new study suggests a majority of the nation's corn farmers see a weakening farm economy. Study results suggest delayed machinery purchases and reduced investment in inputs for 2026 crops. Farmers and renewable fuel supporters express dismay at a new spending bill free of E15 legislation.

Agriculture interests continue work to see financial assistance and E-15 legislation included funding bill under consideration in Congress. New economic analysis by the American Farm Bureau Federation suggests the nation's ag economic crisis warrants immediate legislative action.

A proposed spending bill introduced today does not include legislation that would allow sales of 15% ethanol blended gasoline. The National Corn Growers Association says every percent increase in ethanol blends equals 490 million bushels in demand for corn.

Following a framework plan announced by Democrat legislators yesterday, Senate Republican leaders today discussed their own framework plan to bring additional assistance for farmers and specialty crop farmers. The Supreme Court today agreed to hear Bayer's challenge to Roundup litigation.

House Ag Democrats today introduced the Farm and Family Relief Act. The framework plan would provide $28 billion dollars for relief to families and $29 billion dollars for farmers. The proposal would delay cost changes in food aid for low-income Americans and end President Trump's across-the-board tariffs.

The Energy Information Administration reports record daily ethanol production and increased stocks. Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association says Congress is feeling pressure to act on E-15 legislation to help increase corn demand.

Stories of financial challenges echoed from farmers across the country this week at the American Farm Bureau Federation 107th meeting in California. Losses threaten a younger generation of farmers and rural communities if the imbalance of costs and returns continues across the nation.