Podcasts about renewable fuels standard

On Thursday's AOA, we start the show discussing some of this week's market rally in the grains, the demand picture and more with Tyler Schau from AgMarket.net. In Segment Two, we discuss a new Beef-on-Dairy Industry Report from Purina Animal Nutrition with Laurence Wiliiams, dairy beef cross development for Purina Animal Nutrition. (View that report here: https://www.purinamills.com/dairy-beef)   Next up in Segment Three, we discuss the wide array of current court cases involving the Renewable Fuels Standard and more with Joe Kakesh, General Counsel for Growth Energy. Then we wrap the show in Segment Four with a preview of the Farm Progress Show as Matt Jungmann, National Events Manager for Farm Progress, joins the show.  

On Thursday's AOA, we start the show with a look at market action and potential of a wheat led bounce with Mike Zuzolo from Global Commodity Analytics. In Segment Two, we cover a multitude of news headlines regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard, last week's contentious EPA hearing and more with DTN Environmental Editor Todd Neeley. In Segment Three, we take a look at ag land values and the latest report from Farmers National Company with Paul Schadegg, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Operations & FARM with Farmers National. Jesse Allen then has a look at some ag news headlines to wrap the show in Segment Four.

Chris Bliley, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for Growth Energy says RFS has hit a record high.

The soy complex is the upside leader in grains at midday Tuesday as strength in vegetable oils, worsening crop conditions nationwide plus some breaking news with the Renewable Fuels Standard, all combining to give strength on the day. Corn is higher as well on weather and wheat benefiting from another breaking news story involving Russia today. We get the latest with Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX.

Ohio Farm Bureau members celebrated “Our Legacy, Our Future” as the organization held its 104th annual meeting earlier this month in Columbus. Nearly 370 delegates from all 88 Ohio counties established the organization's policy goals for the coming year, recognized county Farm Bureau and individual achievements and honored industry leaders. On this Our Ohio Weekly, we will recap this year's annual meeting of Ohio's largest farm organization. 00:00 - Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau's executive vice president, addressed the organization's members and partners at the 104th annual meeting in December. 23:50 - The Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience is coming up next month in Sandusky. YAP State Committee member Bailey Elchinger shares some details in this To the Beat of Agriculture. 32:20 - Ohio Farm Bureau's senior director of state and national policy, Brandon Kern, talks about some of the main policies that come from Ohio Farm Bureau's 104th Annual Meeting. He also covers the latest Renewable Fuels Standard numbers from EPA and the effort to allow for sales of E15 year round. 42:20 - A request by the State of Ohio to transfer certain regulatory responsibilities covering Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to the Ohio Department of Agriculture was recently denied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Anti-animal agriculture groups claimed this as a win but, in reality as Ohio Farm Bureau policy counsel Leah Curtis explains, it didn't change a thing about the livestock permitting process in Ohio.

From Waters of the U.S., to the Enlist herbicide ban, to the Renewable Fuels Standard, EPA has ruffled quite a few feathers in agriculture lately. As those challenges come, organizations like Farm Bureau jump in and join in the conversation to make sure the agency has all of the information needed when new ideas that may have an impact on farmers across the country are introduced. On this Our Ohio Weekly, find out about new policies being put forth by the EPA and what Farm Bureau is doing to help them make sure their rules make sense for everyone involved. 00:00 - Ryan Yates, Managing Director of Public Policy with American Farm Bureau and Brandon Kern, Senior Director of State and National Policy with Ohio Farm Bureau talk about the latest developments from the EPA in regards to Waters of the U.S. 16:50 - Yates and Kern discuss the diverse challenges that have come from the EPA over the past year. 23:50 - On this edition of “To the Beat of Agriculture'', we'll hear from the winner of the Ohio Farm Bureau's Young Ag Professionals 2022 Discussion Meet. Learn how Mike Hannewald uses his agronomy degree to better the farming community around him. 32:20 - Erin Stickle, chairman of The Ohio Beef Council, shares some of the efforts being made with the Beef Checkoff to keep the cattle industry thriving. 42:20 - This year's Ohio Beef Expo co-chair, Bill Tom, gives a preview of this weekend's event in Columbus.

The climate, public health, and jobs benefits of electric vehicles are clear, but how do we get to a highly electrified transportation future when internal combustion engines still dominate the market today? To reap these benefits, we need a smart combination of federal and state actions to pave the way. In this final episode of our 3-part transportation series, host Sara Baldwin speaks with Margo Oge, former Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to learn more about the critical role of the EPA in setting tailpipe emission standards nationally. And, we hear from Anjali Bains, Senior Transportation Manager at Fresh Energy, who shares the full story of how Minnesota became the 15th state (and first Midwest state) to adopt a clean cars standard. Tune in to learn more about viable pathways and strategies to avoid blockades on the road to a clean, electrified transportation future. Guest Bios:Margo Oge, Chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation Board of Directors and the former Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Margo had a 32-year career with the EPA, and during her 18-year tenure as Director, she was the chief architect of numerous programs that reduced emissions from gasoline and diesel-fueled automobiles, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles by up to 99 percent. She led the EPA's development of the first-ever national greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and heavy-duty trucks and helped establish the Renewable Fuels Standard, among other accomplishments. She is a Distinguished Fellow with the ClimateWorks Foundation, a member of the Volkswagen Group's International Sustainability Council, member of the board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the US Global Change Research Program.Anjali Bains, Senior Clean Transportation Manager at Fresh Energy, a Saint-Paul based clean energy & climate nonprofit advocating for policies to accelerate Minnesota's transition to a zero-emissions economy by 2050. At Fresh Energy, Anjali leads the electric transportation program, advocating in the state legislature, regulatory arenas, and other decision-making bodies as a technical expert in issues ranging from clean car standards and to utility EV programs.  To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:·      Fresh Energy, Transportation Program·      Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Rulemaking: Clean Cars Minnesota·      State judge Oks ‘clean cars' plan, MPR News·      Minnesota Advances to Become First Midwest Clean Cars State, NRDC·      Emissions Standards Reference Guide for On-road and Nonroad Vehicles and Engines·      U.S. EPA Transportation: Mobile Sources, website

At first glance, Donald Trump would not have appeared to be the type of politician rural Americans would identify with; a lifelong New York real estate developer, born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, and with essentially zero experience dealing with agriculture or other issues of importance to those of us who live in “flyover country.”And yet, for the past four years the former President captivated the majority of voters across farm country and earned the overwhelming support of those involved in farming and agribusiness. Despite a crippling trade war with China, incremental gains from converting NAFTA to USMCA, and some not-insignificant slip-ups with small oil refineries weaseling out of the Renewable Fuels Standard, Trump made the connection with farm voters through his brash talk, push for deregulation and tax relief.So how do rural Americans feel about his successor, President Joe Biden?In this episode we talk with Mike Wilson, the executive editor of Farm Futures, about the magazine’s latest survey of farmers on their thoughts and fears about President Biden’s policies related to farming and agribusiness.

A federal court granted preliminary approval of a settlement with Tyson and Pilgrim’s Pride in the ongoing broiler chicken civil antitrust litigation and Pilgrim’s pled guilty to price-fixing in the ongoing parallel criminal suit.  Meanwhile, EPA formally reversed its position on its Renewable Fuels Standard small refinery exemption eligibility in accordance with the Tenth Circuit’s opinion and a federal judge granted summary judgment against Keystone Protein for years of violating nitrogen discharge permit levels.  Also, DOL published the 2021 Adverse Effect Wage Rate in the Federal Register while USDA extended the deadline to file CFAP applications indefinitely.  Hosted by Audry Thompson, Research Assistant—With Brook Duer, Staff Attorney—Produced & Written by Audry Thompson Material from the Agricultural Law Weekly Review—week ending February 26, 2021 Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law https://aglaw.psu.edu/  Follow us on Twitter @AgShaleLaw  Like us on Facebook Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law This material is based upon work supported by the National Agricultural Library, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Music is “Caazapá (Aire Popular Paraguayo)” by Edson Lopes is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Meat producers agree to settle in cases alleging conspiracy to fix prices from pork and broiler chickens.  Biofuel producers allege "one last sucker punch" to the Renewable Fuels Standard by outgoing EPA officials.  Rusty Halvorson reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of the Week in Review, Rusty and Sabrina Halvorson discuss recent developments regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard, and visit with Mary Soucie, State Librarian for the North Dakota State Library about the importance of the 2020 Census, and talk with the good folks at Agri-Cover at this past week's Big Iron Farm Show event in West Fargo, North Dakota.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue last week promised details this week on a second round of Coronavirus Food Aid Program (CFAP) payments, but that news never came. But might there be big changes in how the second round program is structured? Pro Farmer's Jim Wiesemyer says in this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast that CFAP2 will likely be a revenue-based program. In this week's podcast, Wiesemeyer and Farm Journal news director John Herath also look at the state of the presidential race, an update on Renewable Fuels Standard waivers, a big push on Chinese corn purchases that wasn't reflected in USDA reports and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the Democrat and Republican national conventions change any minds? Pro Farmer's Jim Wiesemeyer and Farm Journal's John Herath debate where the race stands in the final stretch and look at a surprising early call that the presidential race is over. In this week's episode, Wiesemeyer says he is hearing strong hints that an announcement on the Renewable Fuels Standard will come soon with a presidential return to Iowa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Week in Review, Kirsten Rall visits with an expert about grain bin safety, Rusty Halvorson reviews the impact of the novel coronavirus for agriculture and the continuing saga of small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuels Standard.

Volatility has returned to America’s RIN market, with court decisions adding some unexpected shorts to a constrained marketplace. Argus VP of North America Refined Products, John Demopoulos, and Argus Senior Reporter Elliott Blackburn take a deep dive on the US renewable fuels standard (RFS): what it is, where we are and what’s to come?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week unveiled its final rule on the Renewable Fuels Standard, and it drew immediate ire from biofuels groups and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer says those groups are missing some of the details of the plan and that the administration plans to follow it up with significant funding for E15 infrastructure. In this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast, AgriTalk's Chip Flory and Farm Journal news director John Herath push back on the notion that the EPA announcement settles anything for biofuels interests going into an election year. Wiesemeyer also offers up key details on the Phase One trade deal with China and the group, including AgWeb.com policy writer Anna-Lisa Laca, breaks down a big policy week that surrounded a presidential impeachment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Story 1: Moody's says RenovaBio will boost EtOH demand in Brazil. Story 2: White House economic advisor tapped to find Renewable Fuels Standard solution. Story 3: Yale researchers convert carbon dioxide and water into methanol with electricity. Story 4: Senators express concerns to EPA administrator about 2020 RFS proposal

As Congress looks to wrap up work before Christmas, there are a number of huge issues looming in addition to impeachment. In this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast, Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer breaks down the odds for movement on China trade talks; the U.S., Mexico, Canada Agreement, a deal on the Renewable Fuels Standard, a budget deal and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this week said a vote on the U.S., Canada, Mexico agreement will likely slide into 2020. Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesmeyer said the delay is a sign that impeachment hearings are taking a toll on progress in Washington. There is a glimmer of hope, however, for the biodiesel tax credit. This week's DC Signal to Noise podcast looks at a narrow window at the end of the year that could provide an opening for renewal of the tax incentive that lapsed two years ago. Also on tap for this week's podcast: analysis of the latest Democratic debate, a push for assistance for sugar beet growers, Senator Charles Grassley's (R-Iowa) continued fight for the Renewable Fuels Standard and more. Participants this week include AgriTalk Radio host Chip Flory, editor of Farm Journal's MILK Anna-Lisa Laca, Farm Journal news director John Herath and Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest on Open Mic is Donnell Rehagen CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. For months, the Trump administration has attempted to bring resolution to the controversy surrounding waivers to the Renewable Fuels Standard. Rehagen says Small Refinery Exemptions granted by the Environmental Protection Agency have wreaked havoc on biodiesel refineries and the agency's recently announced reallocation plan will only make matters worse.

This week's guest on Open Mic is Congressman Rodney Davis. The fourth term Republican reports tariffs and renewable fuel are the top two concerns among his constituents in the thirteenth district. Davis supports President Trump's efforts to open markets and level the playing field for U.S. farmers and ranchers, but hopes for a quick conclusion in the trade war. Davis is outspoken in his call to bring the USMCA trade agreement to the House floor and says his proposed legislation on implementing the Renewable Fuels Standard and granting small refinery exemptions will work hand in hand with recent objectives announced by the White House.

This week's guest on Open Mic is Kevin Ross, president of the National Corn Growers Association. In a season of challenges from weather, global market access, and low prices, Ross says there is a certain anxiety being felt by corn farmers nationwide. Ross says NCGA is encouraged by the Trump administration's commitment to a new set of rules to administer the Renewable Fuels Standard that guarantees minimum blending targets will be met. Ross says corn growers desperately want to see USMCA approved, a Japanese trade deal signed and an end to the trade war with China.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PRG Co-Head Scott Segal joins us to discuss the Renewable Fuels Standard and the latest announcement on the RFS from EPA and the Department of Agriculture.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Policy analysts, market watchers and especially farmers were caught off guard by President Donald Trump's tweet this week that he will impose new 10% tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods. The announcement was a strong signal that farmers need to be prepared for the long haul in the China trade war, according to Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer.   This week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast looks at the financial and political implications of the new China tariffs, the changing of the ag guard in Congress, and a renewed push against waivers from the Renewable Fuels Standard for refiners. Wiesemeyer is joined by Farm Journal news director John Herath and AgWeb policy writer Anna-Lisa Laca. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What did Ted Cruz get right that the 2020 field of Democratic Presidential candidates are getting wrong? The answer is his view that the Renewable Fuels Standard is failed policy in need of reform. Environmental journalist and author Michael Grunwald joins host Jenna Liut to unpack what the Renewable Fuels Standard entails, why it has arguably caused more environmental harm than good since its inception, and where we need to go from here. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Don Scott, Director of Sustainability at the National Biodiesel Board, joins host, Denny Hall, to talk about a substitute for diesel fuel, the Renewable Fuels Standard, and the food vs fuel debate. In this episode, Denny talks to Don about what biodiesel made from vegetable oil and animal fats, the biodiesel process, and what kind of biodiesel blend is available at retailers around the country. Most retailers already sell diesel fuel that is up to 5% biobased. 5% is an achievement in itself, but there’s a long way to go to reducing emissions and promoting sustainability. A key debate in the production of biodiesel is food vs fuel. Should we devoting time and resources to producing biofuels that can be spent producing food? Don helps us break down key points and demonstrates why this argument isn’t as contemptuous as it seems. Music is Beyond The Line from Bensound.com

Teri Edeal with NRCS talks about being the original fire starter and bringing prescribed burns to the central Nebraska producers tool box. Former Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack shares his thoughts on the tariff's & the industry EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt was in Nebraska last week. We hear his comments on the Renewable Fuels Standard and his opinion on expanding E15 sales year-round.

Teri Edeal with NRCS talks about being the original fire starter and bringing prescribed burns to the central Nebraska producers tool box. Former Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack shares his thoughts on the tariff's & the industry EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt was in Nebraska last week. We hear his comments on the Renewable Fuels Standard and his opinion on expanding E15 sales year-round.

This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Pat Roberts from Kansas. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Roberts acknowledges the “rough patch” farmers and ranchers are in and the need for a timely approval of a bipartisan new farm bill. The Kansas Republican discusses the Trump administration trade agenda and possible government reaction to lost export sales. Roberts is paying close attention to administrative action on the Renewable Fuels Standard and does support efforts to protect the nation's livestock herd from infectious diseases.

The girls talk about the current developments in the renewable fuels industry. With some politicians work to dismantle the Renewable Fuels Standard the girls talk definitions and what ethanol demand has meant for agriculture in general and what it may mean as we look ahead.

This week's guest on Open Mic is House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte. The Virginia Republican announced earlier this year that he will not seek another term. In his time remaining, Goodlatte is intent on amending the nation's guest worker program. He supports tax reform and sees a need to amend the nation's nutrition programs. Goodlatte does not support the Renewable Fuels Standard blending mandates and agrees efforts are needed to end or amend the program.

Biofuels Tradeoffs (start time: 8:27): In this week's show David DeGennaro, an agriculture policy specialist with the National Wildlife Federation and author of a report called "Fueling Destruction,"  talks with host Susan Moran about the environmental consequences of biofuels, and about possible solutions. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed maintaining record support for biofuels, namely corn. Last week the EPA ended an open public comment period leading up to a decision to maintain, increase or scale back its current support of biofuels as part of the Renewable Fuels Standard, a federal mandate to blend corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels into conventional gasoline. NWF and some other environmental organizations, along with former California Congressman Henry Waxman, have been urging the EPA and Congress to reduce biofuels mandates. Increased demand for corn has led to the conversion of millions of acres of habitat-rich grasslands and into croplands -- all without significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hosts: Susan Moran, Joel Parker Producer: Susan Moran Engineer: Joel Parker Executive Producer: Alejandro Soto Additional contributions: Alejandro Soto Listen to the show here:

Recently, I spoke with Dr. Jason Hill of the University of Minnesota about a recent The post #8. Jason Hill on the Climate Consequences of the Renewable Fuels Standard appeared first on Transport Energy Strategies.

At 22, Jeff Broin managed a small South Dakota ethanol plant. Today POET is the world's largest producer of renewable fuels. In this interview, Jeff Broin shares the direct and indirect benefits of the Renewable Fuels Standard and warns of the domestic and global implications if Washington steps back from its commitment to renewable fuels. Broin says the future of the domestic renewable fuels industry hinges on the EPA's volume standard announcement later this year.Jeff NalleyJeff Broin

As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in the 114th Congress, Mike Conaway has revised the subcommittee structure to allow for closer policy oversight and careful attention to reauthorization of nutrition programs and futures trading. In his first audio interview on ag issues this year, Conaway covers a wide variety of topics. He expects congressional action on immigration policy but isn't sure tax reform will be a part of the early congressional agenda. The Texas Republican says the budget process will dominate the early days of the new congress and expects budget reconciliation to play a major role in policy reform and debate. Conaway says the government must respect industry investments made within the Renewable Fuels Standard but questions overall volumes.Jeff NalleyHouse Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway

With prices trending downward, many commodity growers are paying close attention to the Renewable Fuels Standard and whether the EPA will eventually stick with their proposal to lower the amounts of renewables required to be blended. At the same time, livestock producers and the oil industry are stepping up their attacks to have the RFS removed altogether. In this week's Open Mic, broadcaster Cindy Zimmerman asks Bob Dinneen, the president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, to offer his prognosis on what the EPA will do on the RFS and whether there are other avenues to expand biofuel consumption. Dinneen credits USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack with being a strong biofuels supporter, even though he can't say the same about some other members of the White House team.Bob Dinneendinneen.jpeg

Representative Jim Costa, D-Calif., is a third generation farmer who is serving his ninth year in Congress. As he and his fellow members of the House Agriculture Committee start work on a new farm bill in May, he expresses optimism that compromises can be reached on contentious issues like SNAP and dairy reform and that there will be enough Democrats voting for the bill to ensure passage in 2013. He also discusses reform of our nation's immigration laws and the Renewable Fuels Standard.Jim Costa

Rick Tolman, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Corn Growers for the last 12 years, is our guest on Agri-Pulse Open Mic. As a member of the "Farm Bill Now" coalition, Tolman talks about his group's disapointment that members of Congress can't get the job done. He also talks about how ethanol has allowed agriculture to be a bright light in the national economy and explains how, from a technical standpoint, NCGA needs to be supportive of those who want to petition the EPA for a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard. We also asked him to grade the Obama Administration's approach to agriculture.Rick Tolman

Joe Jobe, the Chief Executive Officer for the National Biodiesel Board joins us on Agri-Pulse Open Mic to discuss the current state of his industry and the important roles that the biodiesel tax credit and the Renewable Fuels Standard play in supporting biodiesel production in the U.S. Jobe, who grew up on a farm in central Missouri, also explains how biodiesel, which is the only advanced biofuel in commercial production, is very diverse in terms of technology and feedstock sources and represents an important path forward for anyone interested in energy independence.Joe Jobe