January 26, 2026

Rural Energy Council is a “Disgrace”

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, was very unhappy after it was announced that a legislative fix for year-round E15 was dropped from the January government funding bill. It was further incensed that Congress would instead form a “rural energy council” to formulate another compromise bill with petroleum interests, and with expectations for a vote in February. “What an incredible travesty as Congress picked refiners over American farmers and drivers today,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “E15 delivers cost savings for consumers and generates long-term demand for American agriculture, facts that have been well-known for over a decade.” She also said the debate involves the simple act of allowing consumers the choice to buy a better value fuel year-round. This failure will lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in four decades. “It’s imperative we get this over the finish line in an expedited manner,” Skor added.

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USDA Launches Portal on Foreign-Owned Ag Land Transactions

The USDA launched a new online portal to streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons, which can include businesses and governments. The new online portal is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and protect American farmland as USDA continues its implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan. “We’re increasing transparency and scrutiny of one of our most valuable national assets in American farmland,” said Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins. ‘This online portal will allow us to obtain verifiable information about foreign interests in American agricultural land and protect the security of our farmers.” The new online portal is available at usda.gov. Users can access the portal with Login.gov, a sign-in service that provides secure online access to participate in certain government programs and their reporting requirements. The new digital portal will gather the same information found on the current form FSA-153.

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National Ag Day Activities Announced

The Agriculture Council of America is proud to announce the celebration of National Ag Day on March 24, 2026. The annual event recognizes and celebrates the abundance provided by agriculture, acknowledging the essential role it plays in our daily lives. This year’s theme is “Agriculture: Together we grow: Celebrating 250 Years of Progress in Agriculture.” This year’s theme emphasizes the collaborative efforts of farmers, ranchers, and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector who work tirelessly to provide safe, abundant, and affordable products, and also recognizes 250 years of progress. A series of events is scheduled in Washington, D.C., and virtually, to mark the day, including an Ag Day Virtual Event. At 9:00 am, a livestream of events from the USDA will be available. Ag Day at the USDA will run from 8:30 am to Noon at the USDA’s Whitten Patio, where attendees will hear from multiple speakers. 

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NCBA Accepting Applications for Summer Internships

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has opened applications for summer 2026 semester internships in the association’s Colorado headquarters and Washington, D.C. office. Internships are available for public policy, and meetings and events. “Since 1898, NCBA has been the trusted leader and definitive voice of the U.S. cattle and beef industry,” said NCBA President-Elect Gene Copenhaver. “NCBA interns directly support the critical work of this association and make sure that our farming and ranching legacy continues into the future, and I strongly encourage young people to get a jump start on their careers.” Public policy interns support NCBA’s Government Affairs Team and will learn more about lobbying, government relations, and advocacy on behalf of the beef industry. The Management and Events interns will learn how to manage large-scale conventions and trade shows, in addition to the logistics behind smaller meetings and conferences. 

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Ethanol Production Drops from a Record High

The Energy Information Administration said ethanol output dropped during the seven days ending on January 15. Production of the biofuel fell to an average of 1.119 million barrels a day, down from 1.196 million barrels the previous week, which was the highest level since recordkeeping began in 2010. The EIA report said the Midwest, by far the biggest-producing region, output averaged 1.066 million barrels a day, down from 1.139 million during the prior week. Gulf Coast production plunged to 21,000 barrels a day from 27,000 the previous week. EIA said the East Coast output was down by 1,000 barrels a day to 10,000. West Coast production was unchanged at 9,000 barrels a day. Rocky Mountain production was the lone gainer, rising to 11,000 barrels a day. Ethanol inventories through the week of January 16 rose to 25.739 million barrels. That’s up from the prior week, and the highest level since April 11.

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December Egg Production Rose Modestly

The USDA said egg output in December rose narrowly year-over-year. A report said last month’s production totaled 9.125 million eggs, up slightly from 9.116 million during the same month in 2024. About 7.818 million of those were table eggs, and the rest were hatching eggs. The number of egg layers averaged about 371.6 million, down from 373 million during the previous year. Production per layer in December was 2,456 eggs, up slightly year over year. About 52.7 million egg-type chicks were hatching last month, up three percent from the prior year, while eggs in incubators on January 1 rose one percent to 53.1 million. Placements of egg-type pullets were up one percent to 218,000. Hatchings of broiler types were reported at 890 million, up one percent from the same month during the prior year. Eggs in incubators at the beginning of January rose two percent to 757 million. 

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