The top USDA trade official, Ted McKinney, says he anticipates a trade deal with Japan will likely take place if the United States doesn’t re-enter into the Trans-Pacific Partnership. McKinney…
McKinney Leads Trade Mission to Central America
Ag Department Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney will lead a trade mission to Central America. The mission will be in Guatemala from February 26 to…
Trump to Meet with Cabinet, Senators of Biofuels
…is scheduled for next Tuesday. It will include several officials, such as oil-patch senator Ted Cruz of Texas, as well as corn-state senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa….
USDA Opens New Office in Vietnam to Help Facilitate Increasing Agricultural Trade
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently celebrated the opening of its new office in Hanoi, Vietnam. The office will play a…
Efforts to Move Northey Block Continues
Iowa Republicans took a strike at Senator Ted Cruz of Texas this week, saying his hold on the nomination of Iowa’s Bill Northey to the Department of Agriculture will harm…
UCCE to be a Leader in Climate Change Awareness and Education
…Myriad climate change resources were presented. UC Davis professor Arnold Bloom shared a free online college course posted at http://climatechangecourse.org. The course examines the factors responsible for climate change, the…
McKinney Updates U.S. Grains Council on Trade Negotiations
McKinney USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs, Ted McKinney, addressed the delegates and members of the U.S. Grains Council early this week. He gave them updates on ongoing…
Cruz Hold on Northey Continues
…Senator Ted Cruz. Grassley sought unanimous consent from his Senate colleagues on the chamber floor Wednesday. However, Cruz objected, further delaying Northey’s confirmation. Cruz has blocked the vote to confirm…
Trump Falling Behind on USDA Nominees
…Secretary Steve Censky and Undersecretaries Ted McKinney and Greg Ibach. The undersecretary nomination of Bill Northey remains on hold by Senator Ted Cruz, and one Trump nomination, Sam Clovis, withdrew…
Cruz Proposal Could Harm Renewable Fuels
…educate them on how RINs work. RINs are generated when a qualifying renewable fuel is produced domestically or imported. A refinery then buys RINs when it’s not producing or buying…
Cruz Proposes Renewable Fuel Credit Cap
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is proposing to cap the price of renewable fuel credits purchased by refiners at 10 cents, a mere fraction of the current market value. Prices…
Northey Nomination Still on Hold
Northery The nomination of Bill Northey to a top Department of Agriculture post remains on hold following a White House meeting on the Renewable Fuels Standard. The meeting, requested by…
Oil and Ethanol Supporters Get Together to Talk RFS
…Joni Ernst, and Deb Fischer were there to represent corn states. Staffers for Senators Ted Cruz and Pat Toomey were there to make a case for refiners. Oklahoma Senator Jim…
McKinney: Farmers Need NAFTA Backup Plan
Farmers need a backup plan if the U.S. exits the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), according to a top Department of Agriculture official. Ted McKinney, USDA undersecretary for trade…