Blog—April 15, 2025-10-11—It’s YOUR Agri Business

   Lots to chew over in Agriculture---and we picked up a couple of interesting segments that implications nationwide.

   Rob Larew—President National Farmers Union joined us to talk about a letter they had sent to the US House and Senate urging lawmakers to support the Trade Review Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation would reassert Congressional authority to review and approve any new tariffs imposed by the administration. 

   President Larew shared we need congressional oversight of tariffs and trade policy to ensure measures are thoughtful and positively impact the ag economy. Family farmers and ranchers are facing historic levels of uncertainty and the recent flurry of tariff announcements followed by abrupt reversals, has only deepened that volatility. These actions force our long-standing trading partners to retaliate with tariffs on US ag goods and look elsewhere for more affordable products. Larew shared that “these actions force our long-standing trading partners to retaliate with tariffs on US Ag goods and look elsewhere for more affordable products. Once we lose these markets, they’re nearly impossible to win back. 

   Among those introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025 was Iowa’s Chuck Grassley and Don Bacon from Nebraska. Grassley is a Republican—Bacon a Democrat. As President Larew said—“we appreciate these congressional leaders’ bipartisan, pragmatic approach on behalf of American Ag. We urge all lawmakers to stand with family farmers and ranchers by supporting the Trade Review Act of 2025. 

    Second up----Paul Winters—Clean Fuels.org shared letters that our Governor Larry Rhoden, Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin penned last week. The governors explicitly urge the EPA to establish a 2026 RVO of no less than 15 billion gallons for conventional ethanol and 5.25 billion gallons for biomass-based diesel-reflecting the growth in domestic production. These volumes are the same that Clean Fuels and allied farm groups asked for in March and that a unified group of stakeholders including the American Petroleum Institute presented to EPA. Clean fuels will be launching a six figure advertising and social media campaign over the next 6 to 8 weeks to ensure that EPA and other policy influencers understand the benefits of setting the biomass-based diesel RFS volume at 5.25-billion gallon for 2026—as well as the risks to jobs, farms, and economic growth if the volumes continue to underestimate the industry’s growth. 

    Geri Eide---FFA of South Dakota—talked to this morning about an event in Hartford tomorrow with 194 projects in a competition---- that grooms growth and plans for tomorrow. Geri has been working these projects and more for years—and is special to what our kids are learning in 2024-2025. We keep the microphones open for FFA---and look to follow as more and more are looking to accept the torch to the next generation. 

    Sara Heinrich provided the Growing Harvest Network from KFGO in Fargo—Matt Swenson had the morning commodities from Swenson Commodities. 

    This Ag show also included the Safety Report from Terry Ebright for Sioux Valley Energy---and a wrap from Tim Ness on Tax Day in the USA.

    Listen live to the show at 1320, 105.1, 107.9—use the KELO App—Streaming on Line or just ask Alexa. Norm Anderson will post the PODCAST after each show—and my job is to schedule and interview the guests---and to provide a Blog with insights in the show---and where to find them in the hour. Questions for me—feel free to call/text at 605-728-BILL or email me at bill.zortman@mwcradio.com