Ag Day and RFS

March 22, 2018

Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.

And now for today’s commentary -

This week, Tuesday March 20, we celebrated National Ag Day. The event was held at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, featuring Vice President Mike Pence as speaker. My focus today will be on his speech and our great ag industry.

But to open, I want to remind everyone that we have a rule called Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and it has been under brutal assault for weeks by Big Oil. Understandably, the oil industry is not a big fan of ethanol. But ethanol has a big fan club.

Midwest Members of Congress have stood up against the oil industry because they want to weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard. Our Members are fighting to protect the ag industry. Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dineen had this to say: “There is no justification for a RIN price cap. Refiners are doing quite well. The EPA needs to be thinking about how to allow year round use of E-15 and higher ethanol blends.” And I say – he is right.

Now, turn to Ag Day. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue welcomed everyone and introduced the Vice President. Vice President Pence, who is from a small town in south Indiana, said that agriculture is the “essence of America. Farmers lead the way.” He complimented 4-H, FFA, and the American Farm Bureau. He thanked the Department of Agriculture and all of the loyal, hardworking employees who are fighting for prosperity and the future of American agriculture.

He reviewed the President’s success in cutting regulations and taxes. He wants to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, and provide high-speed internet to rural America. It was a big crowd, including many Members of Congress. The whole event was a well-deserved and resounding success. If you had any doubts about how your American agriculture is, just compare our corn yield – 200 bushels per acre with Africa’s 20 bushels per acre.

If you would like to review my radio shows going back more than 20 years, just go online to www.johnblockreports.com. Have a great weekend.

Until next week, I am John Block from Washington.