April 9, 2025
February Pork and Beef Exports Below 2024
February exports of U.S. pork were lower than last year despite continued success in Mexico and Central America. February pork exports totaled 241,179 metric tons, down four percent from the large volume last year. Value dropped two percent to $671.5 million. Exports soared to Central America in February, and export value to Mexico exceeded $200 million for the eighth straight month. For January-February 2025, pork exports were three percent below last year’s record pace. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says February beef exports were also below last year after a higher trend in January. Beef exports totaled 98,198 metric tons in February, down 5.5 percent from 2024, while value dropped four percent to just over $800 million. February exports increased year-over-year to South Korea, Canada, Egypt, and the Philippines. January and February shipments were one percent below last year’s pace at 201,038 metric tons, but value increased one percent to $1.6 billion.
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Senators Want Integrity Restored to RFS
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are leading a bipartisan group of 16 senators in urging the Environmental Protection Agency to restore integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard. They want the agency to raise the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels to help restore stability and growth to the U.S. biofuel sector. The Biden-era EPA set RVOs at levels that failed to align with market conditions and production outlook, which has contributed to biodiesel plant closures in the Midwest. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the senators pressed the agency to implement multi-year RVO standards to provide more clarity and growth for the biofuels industry. “The biofuels market continues expanding to new frontiers, including marine shipping, aviation, and rail,” the letter says. “Biofuels provide a buffer to market fluctuations in the liquid fuel market, consistently costing consumers less than traditional liquid fuels.”
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Bill Would Increase Access to Dairy and Support Farmers
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act. It’s a bipartisan bill designed to increase access to dairy products for SNAP participants and support dairy farmers across rural America. The Act would allow SNAP participants to buy more milk, cheese, and yogurt with their benefits, expanding access to affordable and nutritious options. “Making sure more Americans have better access to food like yogurt and cheese while supporting their dairy farmers is a win-win for everyone,” Klobuchar says. “Our bipartisan legislation will help support healthy diets, make sure families can bring home more of the foods they love, and help dairy farmers feed the world. Marshall, a practicing physician for over two decades, says he can’t stress enough the importance of drinking whole milk, which serves as an excellent source of critical nutrients and contributes to a healthier cardiovascular system for all Americans.
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Soybean Industry Studies Possible Oilseed Ban
The results of a soy industry project to examine the impacts of a potential seed oil ban in the U.S. food supply are in, and the answers aren’t good. The seed oil study with funded by the United Soybean Board and conducted by the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services. WAEES maintains agricultural economic models that allow it to examine potential industry changes, and where it found forecasting a ban was this: the seed oil industry, which primarily includes soybeans, canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, rice bran, and others, would see a sizable drop in consumption for domestic products while imported palm oil would most likely flourish. ASA President and Kentucky farmer Caleb Ragland said this study simply confirms what they already know. “A ban on seed oils, including soy, is going to have costly impacts on farmers and consumers, and not just in the pocketbook either”, Ragland said.
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TX Ag Commissioner Says to End Weaponization of the ESA
The Endangered Species Act, once a vital tool for genuine conservation, was twisted into a weapon by the Biden Administration and their radical 30X30 land grab agenda. Those are thoughts from Sid Miller, the Commissioner of Agriculture in Texas. “Time and again, we’ve fought back against the reckless misuse of the law, including the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken, the expansion of a wildlife refuge, or the current listing of the Monarch Butterfly,” Miller said. “These heavy-handed decisions blatantly disregarded the successful, voluntary conservation efforts led by landowners, farmers, ranchers, and our energy producers.” Miller also said he proudly stands with those asking Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to promptly remove the Dune Sagebrush Lizard and Lesser Prairie Chicken from the Endangered Species list. “I also strongly advocate for the removal of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly from consideration under our Endangered Species Act,” he added. “Let’s restore some common sense.”
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Sorghum Foundation Accepting Scholarship Applications
The National Sorghum Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 academic scholarships for college students studying agriculture. “The future of agriculture depends on strong, passionate leaders,” says Foundation Chair Jeff Dahlberg, Ph.D. “These scholarships are one way we can invest in the next generation and support students who are committed to advancing sorghum and agricultural innovation.” Students applying for the Bruce Mander Memorial Scholarship must be sophomores through seniors and enrolled in agriculture-based degree programs. Applicants for the Darrell Rosenow Scholarship must be sophomores through seniors and enrolled in agriculture-based science programs related to agronomy, plant pathology, or plant breeding, with an emphasis on sorghum. Applicants for the Bill Kubecka Memorial Scholarship must be sophomores through seniors and enrolled in a curriculum related to ag economics, ag policy, or agricultural law. Each scholarship is valued at $1,500, and the application window is open through June 1, 2025, at sorghumgrowers.com(Link is external).
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