USDA taps Greenfield: Theresa Greenfield, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate last year, was named USDA state director for rural development in Iowa, said the White House, which also announced five other state director appointments. (White House)
Trade deals on hold: Despite hopes among farm groups, “I don’t see any major free trade agreements being negotiated by the United States in the near future,” said economist Ian Sheldon of Ohio State University during an ag policy conference. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
Deere strike ends: By a 3-to-2 margin, UAW members, on strike for a month, ratified a new contract with Deere and Co. that includes a 10 percent pay raise this year and a 20 percent increase over the life of the contract. (UAW)
Stretching RFS deadline: The EPA has proposed giving small oil refineries more time to comply with reporting requirements on how much ethanol they blended into gasoline in 2020 and 2021 because it has yet to issue the Renewable Fuel Standard for those years. (Biomass Magazine)
Corn, wheat records: Global grain production is predicted to climb to an all-time high of 2.287 billion tonnes in 2021/22, including a corn record of 1.212 billion tonnes and a wheat record of 777 million tonnes. (International Grains Council)