5 years, 10 months ago by Jim Dewey
China says any tariffs implemented on the nation by the United States will dampen the ongoing trade talks between the two. The Chinese government in a statement said: “All economic and trade outcomes of the talks will not take effect if the U.S. side imposes any trade sanctions including raising tariffs,” according to Politico. China stressed that the outcome of the talks should be based on “meeting each other halfway.” The comments followed last week when the Trump administration said it was ready to move forward with tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods being imported to the United States. Meanwhile, in previous trade talks, China has agreed to buy more U.S. agricultural and energy goods. A U.S. delegation also spent two days in China last week to discuss trade issues.
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Biofuels Groups Demand EPA Accounts for Lost RFS Volumes
A coalition of biofuels and agriculture groups are demanding the Environmental Protection Agency account for lost volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The coalition says the volumes, or gallons in question, were lost to hardship waivers granted to refiners by the EPA, which is estimated at more than one billion gallons of the 15-billion-gallon target. National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Skunes says the lost volumes “are having a negative effect on the nation’s corn growers” at a time when net farm income is projected to hit its lowest point in 12 years. The petition filed by the coalition included the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, the National Biodiesel Board, the National Corn Growers Association, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, and National Farmers Union. The group also filed suit in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on the same issue. However, the petitioners at the same time requested that the court stay proceedings for a period of time.
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Bayer-Monsanto Deal to Close Wednesday
Bayer announced it will complete its acquisition of Monsanto Wednesday, June 7th. The closure of the acquisition will follow the receipt of all required approvals from regulatory authorities, according to a company news release. The closure comes two years after Bayer announced the intention to acquire Monsanto. As part of the $63 billion agreement, Bayer will remain the company name, and Monsanto will no longer be a company name, according to Bayer. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio, and Bayer will become the sole shareholder of Monsanto on June 7th. According to the conditional approval from the United States Department of Justice, the integration of Monsanto into Bayer can take place as soon as the government required divestments to BASF have been completed. Bayer expects moving its assets required to be sold to BASF, including the Liberty Link brand, to BASF in approximately two months.
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Deere Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Precision Planting, AGCO
Deere & Company announced it has taken legal action against Precision Planting LLC and AGCO Corporation, claiming that the companies have infringed on 12 John Deere patents. The Deere patents, according to a company news release, relate to several of the “unique and inventive” aspects of John Deere planting equipment, many of which are “embodied in the state-of-the-art technology” Deere has named ExactEmerge. Deere filed the complaint in the United States District Court in Delaware, asserting that it has suffered damages because of the infringement and will continue to suffer such damages if the infringement continues. The lawsuit states that products made or sold by Precision Planting, including vSet seed meters along with SpeedTube products, infringe on Deere patents. AGCO acquired Precision Planting in September 2017.
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Ag Aviation Association Asks Drone Operators to Be Cautious of Ag Aircraft
The National Agriculture Aviation Association is reminding UAV, or drone users to be aware of agricultural aircraft throughout the growing season. Agricultural aviators fly as low as ten feet off the ground, meaning they share airspace with UAVs that are limited to flying no more than 400 feet above ground level. For this reason, the National Agricultural Aviation Association is asking UAV operators to do everything they can to avoid ag aircraft. Association Executive Director Andrew Moore says "It's incredibly difficult, if not impossible, for agricultural aviators to see UAVs," adding "that's why it's so important for UAV operators to be aware of agricultural aviation operations." The Association recommends that UAV operators equip drones with tracking technology, such as ADS-B, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, as to allow other aircraft to know the location of the drone, along with equipping UAVs with strobe lights. Further, the Association says UAVs must, under law, give the right-of-way to a manned aircraft.
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Census of Agriculture Deadline Looming
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service is wrapping up data collection for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. To stay on track for data release in February 2019, the deadline for submitting the paper questionnaire is June 15, 2018. Farmers and ranchers who have not responded by June 15, 2018, still have until the end of July to complete the Census online through the secure website found on the cover of their Census form. Phone follow-up and personal interviews will also continue through July. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue encouraged producers who have not yet done so, to respond to the survey. Perdue reminds farmers and ranchers that the data is used "to make important local, state, and national decisions that will have a very real impact on farmers, ranchers, ag operations, and rural communities." For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture or to respond online, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.
