Biofuel and Ag Groups Call on EPA to Issue E15 Emergency Waiver

Today, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, and National Sorghum Producers sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling on Administrator Michael Regan to act swiftly on an emergency waiver for E15 sales:

“New and ongoing conflicts across the globe continue to pose risks to the United States’ transportation energy supply. In addition to the conflict in Ukraine, now extending into its third year, the recent unrest and volatility in the Middle East present additional challenges...

Shrinking Supply of Dairy Heifers May Limit Growth of U.S. Milk Production

A sharp decline in the number of dairy heifers available to replace older cows exiting the U.S. dairy herd could limit any meaningful growth in domestic milk production over the next few years. The number of dairy replacement heifers has fallen almost 15% over the last six years to reach a 20-year low, according to data from the USDA’s most recent Cattle report. While the global demand outlook for U.S. dairy products remains murky due to export market uncertainties, any potential growth opportunities may be...

China to Encourage Hog Farmers to Reduce Capacity After Price Slump

China will "guide" farmers to reduce hog production capacity as it steps up regulation of the industry, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday, after an aggressive expansion drive led to an oversupply of pigs and heavy losses.

Big agribusinesses in the world's top pork producer have modernised farms and expanded pig herds so rapidly in recent years that a downturn in demand led to plummeting hog prices, mounting losses, and rising debt last year.

Farmers lost an average of 76 yuan ($10.60) per hog in 2023...

Grain Oversupply and Lower Feed Prices Bolster Ukrainian Livestock Industry

As Ukraine keeps experiencing difficulties exporting grain, domestic feed prices have been following a downward trajectory for several months.

During the past three months, domestic feed prices in Ukraine have plummeted, commented Maxym Gopka, an analyst with Ukrainian Agribusiness Club UCAB. As a result, in the pig industry, feed now accounts for a 19% lower share in production costs than in June, while in the chicken industry, this figure has dropped by 17%. Cheap feed helps the Ukrainian livestock industry.

"Prices are quite low, and this helps the industry to...

U.S. Consumers Spent More on Food in 2022 Than Ever Before, Even After Adjusting for Inflation

The USDA, Economic Research Service’s (ERS) Food Expenditure Series (FES) provides a comprehensive measure of the total value of all food purchases in the United States. The series tracks spending on food intended to be prepared at home, such as from grocery stores, and food that is prepared away from home, such as at restaurants. The FES allows Government agencies, academic researchers, and industry stakeholders to assess and track developments in consumer food-buying behaviors and the U.S. food supply...