Markets & News: Signal to Noise with Jim Wiesemeyer

In an exclusive interview with Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer, House Agriculture Committee ranking member Cong. Mike Conaway (R-TX) says that rounds two and three of the Market Facilitation Program payments must flow to farmers in November and January.

In the interview featured in this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast, Conaway also says that while the Renewable Fuels Standard must protect the baseline for the ethanol industry, any growth must come from the market, not mandates.

Other highlights from this week's politics and policy podcast with Wiesemeyer, Farm Journal news director John Herath and AgWeb.com policy writer Anna-Lisa Laca include:

New signals that USMCA is on the fast track

Will a phase 1 trade deal with China still be signed before the end of the year?

The biofuels industry presents a full-court press on the RFS

House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson's (D-MN) historic vote on the impeachment resolution

A tip of the hat to the men and women of FFA

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Last week we shared details of a just-announced partial trade agreement with China. This week, some details of that agreement, including to what extent there is an agreement, were questioned on both sides of the Pacific. Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer details what we do and don't know about the phase 1 agreement in this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast. Wiesemeyer and Farm Journal News Director John Herath also reveal some puzzling questions in pork export numbers and speculate on how the latest spat between President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi might impact passage of USMCA.

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President Donald Trump late on Friday announced a "Phase 1" trade deal with China that the president said completes the negotiations on agriculture. According to the President, China has agreed to purchase $40-50 billion in U.S. agricultural products annually. 

But there is, as of yet, no written agreement. That is to be drafted by both sides over the next several weeks. 

How good is the trade deal for U.S. Agriculture? How do we verify China will make the ag purchases? Does the phase 1 agreement address intellectual property theft? Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer, AgWeb Policy Writer Anna-Lisa Laca and Farm Journal News Director John Herath have the early details in this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast.

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EPA, USDA and the White House on Friday announced the long-awaited deal to end the biofuels vs. oil dispute over the Renewable Fuels Standard and ethanol blending exemptions granted to a number of refineries. But, as Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer and Farm Journal News Director John Herath discuss, the plan is lacking a number of very key details.  What questions need to be answered before corn and soybean growers can know what the impact of the deal will be? 

In this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast, Wiesemeyer and Herath also update the latest positive moves in China trade talks and look at the rebounding Pulse Poll numbers for President Donald Trump.

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Can Congress still work to get the U.S., Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA) passed with so much energy being focused on impeachment proceedings? Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer and Farm Journal News Director John Herath say "yes" while AgWeb policy writer Anna-Lisa Laca argues "no" in this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast.

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An attempt this week by Democratic leadership to put roadblocks on tariff aid payments for farmers split open a wide rift of partisanship on the House Agriculture Committee, a body that has long touted its history of working above party disagreements.  The feud culminated with a tweet from committee member Filemon Vela (D-TX) referring to former Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) as a "racist Christian pretender." The House Ag Committee may never be the same according to Pro Farm Policy Analyst Jim Wiesmeyer.

In this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast, Wiesemeyer and Farm Journal New Director John Herath also look at the debate over Commodity Credit Corporation funding that started that feud, offer up the latest stall in China trade talks and look at the silence surrounding a possible Renewable Fuels Standard deal.

And, for the first time, DC Signal to Noise has a guest from Congress. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota covers a broad range of issues from tariff relief and China trade to options for dealing with the growing threat from Iran.

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A draft budget continuing resolution would cap funding for the Commodity Credit Corporation and put Market Facilitation Program payments as well as other Farm Service Agency payments in jeopardy. Pro Farmer Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer weighs in on the policy and the politics of the move and whether Democrats will, indeed try to hold up tariff aid payments.

Meanwhile, talks are intensifying over resolution to the Renewable Fuels Standard and waivers for small refiners, including a possible deal to reallocate all 4.2 billion gallons waived for those so-called small refiners.  Wiesemeyer has the latest details on the back and forth and the push back from oil interests in this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast.

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An agreement to sooth the anger of biofuel groups was anticipated this week, but talks are still ongoing. Jim Wiesemeyer, John Herath, Chip Flory and Anna-Lisa Laca have the latest on what it will take to calm biofuel interests in the wake of 31 refinery waivers of the Renewable Fuels Standard. Wiesemeyer also offers details of a disaster aid implementation package that is expected to be announced Monday.

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Ethanol and wheat groups talked of being betrayed by President Donald Trump this week after more refinery waivers from the Renewable Fuels Standard and a gaffe-filled speech about Japanese purchases of U.S. Wheat. Is the grumbling a sign of weakness in rural support for the President, or is it just noise. Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer looks behind the events to give us his take on the impact in the DC Signal to Noise Podcast.

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President Donald Trump on Friday signaled that scheduled trade talks with China may be cancelled, putting another wet blanket on hopes for a farm market recovery. The continued bearish China news makes a 2020 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payment very likely according to Pro Farmer policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer.

In this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast, Wiesemeyer, AgWeb policy writer Anna-Lisa Laca and Farm Journal News Director John Herath look at the economic and political impact of the China trade pessimism as well as break down USDA's troubles in processing the 2019 MFP payments.

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