Late last month, Reuters writer Jarret Renshaw reported that, “A U.S. biofuels trade group asked a federal court on Wednesday to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from giving refiners new waivers from the country’s biofuels law until the agency reverts to the tougher criteria it used to assess applications before Donald Trump’s presidency, according to court papers.

“The waivers can exempt small refineries — those with a production capacity of 75,000 barrels per day or less – from the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates U.S. refiners blend biofuels into the fuel pool or buy compliance credits from those who do.

“Trump’s EPA has vastly expanded the biofuel waiver program to save the oil industry money, angering Midwest farmers who say the policy destroys demand for corn-based ethanol and other biofuels at a time they are already struggling – putting the administration in the center of a fight between two key constituencies.”

The article stated that, “‘We want to return to normalcy,’ Michael McAdams, head of the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), which filed the injunction in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, said in an interview on Wednesday. ‘My members will continue to suffer irreparable harm unless the EPA changes its ways.'”

Mr. Renshaw added that, “For 2017, the Trump administration’s EPA granted 35 exemptions to small refineries without denying any applications, up from seven exemptions issued in the last year of the Obama administration, according to EPA data.”

Bloomberg writers Shruti Singh and Michael Hirtzer reported this week that, “With crop prices stuck in a multi-year rout, more farmers are chasing price premiums by turning to organic crops.

“Higher-value farm products such as organic allow farmers to boost returns over conventionally grown crops. While the number of farms overall in the U.S. from 2012 has shrunk, the number of organic growers has surged, according to the latest census from the U.S. Department of Agriculture published this month. The value of organic farm products more than doubled in 2017 from 2012.”

The Bloomberg article pointed out that, “Indiana farmer Joe Mills said food-grade organic corn that can be made into products like tortilla chips was fetching about $10.50 a bushel, compared with conventional corn of about $3.50 a bushel.

“Mills, who farms with his father Don, started to transition land to organic in 2015 and now has 230 certified organic acres. Another 290 acres are going through the three-year transition. While the financial returns are better, Mills said organic farming can be more labor intensive. Weeds, for example, are removed manually at many organic farms, compared with conventional operations where herbicides can be sprayed on fields by tractors or even airplanes.

“‘A lot of people get dollar signs in their eyes,’ Mills said by telephone. ‘Yes, it’s economical, but there is a huge learning curve and a mindset change.'”

A news release today from USDA stated that, “Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of a new web-based tool – developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various scenarios using different coverage levels through the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.

“The 2018 Farm Bill authorized DMC, a voluntary risk management program that offers financial protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. It replaces the program previously known as the Margin Protection Program for Dairy. Sign up for this USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) program opens on June 17.

“‘With sign-up for the DMC program just weeks away, we encourage producers to use this new support tool to help make decisions on participation in the program,’ Secretary Perdue said. ‘Dairy producers have faced tough challenges over the years, but the DMC program should help producers better weather the ups and downs in the industry.'”

Today’s update added that, “For more information, access the tool at fsa.usda.gov/dmc-tool. For DMC sign up, eligibility and related program information, visit fsa.usda.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.

A news release today from USDA stated that, “USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline because heavy rainfall and snowfall have delayed harvests in many parts of the country, preventing producers from certifying acres.

“Payments will be issued only if eligible producers certify before the updated May 17 deadline.

“The MFP provides payments to producers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, dairy, hogs, fresh sweet cherries and shelled almonds. FSA will issue payments based on the producer’s certified total production of the MFP commodity multiplied by the MFP rate for that specific commodity.”

Today’s update added that, “Producers can certify production by contacting their local FSA office or through farmers.gov.”

Earlier this week, Des Moines Register writer Donnelle Eller reported that, “Iowa’s second attempt to make it a crime for animal welfare activists, journalists and others to go undercover at meatpacking plants and livestock facilities will face a legal challenge.

“The ACLU of Iowa filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the state’s new ag-gag law, saying it’s unconstitutional, chills free speech and criminalizes a free press.”

The Register article explained that, “Iowa lawmakers and ag groups say the law is necessary to protect producers from groups that would use false pretense to harm farm operations.

“The new law is similar to legislation passed in 2012, which a federal judge ruled in January was unconstitutional. The state is appealing that decision.

“Both legal challenges will move through the courts separately, [Rita Bettis Austen, legal director of the ACLU of Iowa] said.”

Ms. Eller added that, “Iowa lawmakers say the new law has been more narrowly crafted to avoid legal challenges that befell the existing law.

“The new ‘agricultural production facility trespass’ law makes it illegal for someone to use deception to gain access to a private facility with the intent to cause physical or economic harm or ‘other injury’ to a facility’s operations, property or persons.”

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported earlier this week that, “The big fight in the Nebraska Legislature this year is over plans to reduce property taxes, which has the state’s farm lobbies pushing lawmakers hard for some relief.

“Numbers taken from the 2017 Ag Census show Nebraska farmers have more reason to complain about property taxes than farmers in nearby states.

“Farm income nationally fell between 2012 and 2017, and land values fell in some states during that time. Property taxes nationally for farmers went up $2 billion over that five-year stretch, jumping from $7.4 billion to $9.4 billion. The average property-tax increase nationally was $21.3%. Just one state, Rhode Island, collected less in property tax from farmers and ranchers over that five-year stretch, according to the Census figures.”

Mr. Clayton noted that, “California remains the highest state for taxing farmers’ property. In 2017, the 65,129 ranch and farm operations in California paid $1.126 billion, an average of $17,299 per farm. And California farm property taxes rose $300 million over that five-year span despite losing 6,297 farms. California property taxes paid rose 26.5% from 2012-2017.

“Nationally, 1.92 million farmers paid $9.4 billion worth of property taxes in 2017, up $2 billion from five years earlier, a 21.3% increase. The average property tax paid by farmers nationally was $4,902 in 2017, compared to $3,752 per farm in 2012.”

The DTN article added that, “Illinois farmers also saw a 25.5% hike in their property taxes from 2012-2017 to an average of $6,379 per farm.”

A news release last week from House Ag Committee member Antonio Delgado (D., N.Y.) stated that, “On Thursday, [Rep. Delgado] led House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and Reps. TJ Cox (D-Calif.), Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), in introducing the bipartisan Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019, legislation that would ease the process of reorganizing debt through Chapter 12 bankruptcy rules. The restructuring of the rules to make more farms eligible comes amid a continued downturn in the farm economy.

“‘For folks in Upstate New York, farming is more than a job—it’s a way of life. And in this extremely challenging farm economy, we must come together to help our family farmers overcome years of low prices and increased market consolidation. The Family Farmer Relief Act will provide the critical restructuring and repayment flexibility these folks need to get through these hard times without permanently closing their operations,’ Delgado said.

“The bill, which is the House companion to legislation introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), expands the debt cap that can be covered under Chapter 12 bankruptcy from $3,237,000 to $10,000,000. The changes reflect the increase in land values, as well as the growth over time in the average size of U.S. farming operations and are meant to provide farmers additional options to manage the downturn in the farm economy. The legislation is endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union.”

The release added that, “The bill will now be referred to the Judiciary Committee for consideration.”