In the deal signed by former President Donald Trump in January 2020, China pledged to increase purchases of U.S. farm and manufactured goods, energy and services by $200 billion above 2017 levels during 2020 and 2021. Through November, China had met only about 60% of that goal.
Several dozen North Dakotans went to the Washington, D.C., rally on Jan. 6. They felt like their rally and the mayhem in the Capitol were two separate events.
The governor described it as "fighting the fight" to move away from fossil fuels, and that's why as a member of Congress he pushed for the Renewable Fuel Standard to include more ethanol. But Walz said the Trump administration "simply hasn't followed those rules."
Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has full support of sugar, dairy, ethanol and other ag groups. He is fighting for his life in the Nov. 3 election, against former Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach, who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Government payments, ranging from longstanding crop insurance payments to new programs compensating farmers for lost sales during the U.S.-China trade war, have risen every year of Trump's presidency.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden disagree on some agricultural issues, particularly trade. Two of the presidential candidates' supporters talk about whether Trump or Biden would be better for ag.
Farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana received 30% to 40% of their gross income in 2019 from ad hoc federal programs to repair damage due to trade retaliation — in some cases more than 100% of their net income.
The wishlist includes ratcheting down the EPA's biofuel waiver program exempting refineries from adding ethanol to their gasoline; setting higher biofuel blending volume requirements for 2020; expanding the market for higher ethanol blends of gasoline called E15; exploring a national biofuels infrastructure program; and addressing ethanol and biodiesel trade issues, particularly with Brazil.
