Ag-Powered Fuels: 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made several important changes to the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z). Most notably, it extended the credit through 2029, providing biofuels producers with an additional two years of investment beyond the original 2027 expiration date. While the credit still has no requirements to pass through any of the credit to farmers and feedstock producers, the OBBBA clarified key provisions related to feedstock eligibility, emissions measurement and credit calculation, which are especially relevant for U.S. farmers. This Market Intel analyzes what the changes to 45Z mean for farmers.
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Senate Agriculture Committee Reviews Key USDA Nominees This Week
On Wednesday, July 23, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing for Richard Fordyce, the nominee to serve as Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area.
Fordyce, a Missouri farmer and former Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), is widely respected across the agriculture community for his leadership and hands-on experience in farm policy and conservation.
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USDA Water and Climate Update: July 24, 2025
Hazardous heat has impacted millions of residents in the Plains, Southeast, and Midwest regions this week after a heat dome formed from the Gulf Coast to the Plains on July 22. The sweltering conditions pushed into the Midwest between July 23-24, and are expected to impact the Northeast by July 25. High humidity from the weather pattern is raising overnight temperatures in the area, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses for residents. The oppressive heat is expected to linger in the Plains and Southeast through next week.
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Secretary Rollins Announces USDA Reorganization, Restoring the Department’s Core Mission of Supporting American Agriculture
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), refocusing its core operations to better align with its founding mission of supporting American farming, ranching, and forestry.
Over the last four years, USDA’s workforce grew by 8%, and employees’ salaries increased by 14.5% - including hiring thousands of employees with no sustainable way to pay them.
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President Trump Opens Australian Market To U.S. Beef In Win For American Cattlemen
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced that for the first time in 20 years, Australia will accept shipments of fresh and frozen U.S. beef, ending decades of bureaucratic red tape and prolonged negotiations that have prevented American cattle producers from accessing the Australian market. NCBA thanks President Donald J. Trump for delivering yet another trade win for America’s cattle farmers and ranchers.
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The Farmer's Forecast: More Rain Thursday through Saturday
The National Hurricane Center has highlighted an area of potential tropical development near the northern Gulf Coast. I don’t think it will develop, but I do expect elevated rain chances from Thursday through Saturday across Louisiana. The highest rain chances and amounts will be in the southern half of the state, but I think everyone will see at least some rain by the time the weekend is over.
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Lainey Wilson Went from Louisiana Farm Kid to a Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit
It is roughly 500 miles from the farm fields of north Louisiana to Nashville, Tennessee.
Country star Lainey Wilson has made the trek not only as a fan, but as an artist with her own exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Lafourche Parish Emergency Crews Respond to Deadly Helicopter Crash
A pilot is dead after a helicopter crash near Thibodaux Wednesday morning.
According to Lafourche Parish officials, the crash happened about a mile from LA-308 near Laurel Valley Road.
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Farmerville Prepares for 62nd Annual Louisiana Watermelon Festival
Downtown Farmerville is gearing up for the 62nd Annual Louisiana Watermelon festival, which is set to take place on July 25 and 26.
The event will feature more than 150 vendors this year, making this the largest vendor turnout in festival history.
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Paper Company Announces $118.9M Modernization Project at Historic Louisiana Mill
Packaging and paper company Hood Container Corporation announced it will invest $118.9 million to modernize its paper mill in St. Francisville, Louisiana. The company said the project would boost production capacity and quality.
Hood Container expects the development to retain 295 positions and add 819 indirect jobs.
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EPA Announces Proposed Decision To Approve Registration For New Uses Of Dicamba
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing for public comment its proposed registration for three end-use dicamba products for broadleaf weed control in dicamba-tolerant cotton and dicamba-tolerant soybean. EPA has conducted a robust human health risk assessment for these proposed products and has not identified any human health or dietary risks of concern.
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Trump Trade Deal With Japan Promises Market Access For U.S. Rice
Yesterday evening, President Donald Trump announced the freshly inked trade agreement with Japan that would allow for additional duty-free sales of U.S. rice. USA Rice supports Trump’s major milestone in U.S.-Japan agricultural trade relations and creating new opportunities for U.S. rice exports. The agreement follows just a few short months of negotiation stemming from the Liberation Day announcement on April 2, 2025.
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Seeds to Success Program hosts 2025–2026 Louisiana Farm to School Institute retreat
From July 15 to 18, Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program brought together four dedicated school teams for a multi-day educational retreat at the Wesley Center in Woodworth, LA.
This year’s teams represent the Diocese of Lafayette, Breaux Bridge Elementary School, Central Community School System and Einstein Charter Network.
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Congressman Carter, Flood Introduce the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act
Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Mike Flood (R-NE) introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act.This bill directs the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) to include Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on its weekly and monthly reports, consistent with other fuel types that the agency regularly tracks.
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Rice Analyzer Helping Growers Ensure Quality
“It’s at work every day; it doesn’t get tired; and it’s consistent,” says Mark Pousson, manager of the South Louisiana Rail Facility in Lake Charles, La. “And it does it quickly – it gives you the measurements you need in about 60 seconds.”
Pousson, who also grows rice on his farm near Lake Charles, was referring to the MachVision Rice Analyzer technology that he’s been working with at the Rail Facility and at the Port of Lake Charles for two years.
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