By Todd Hubbs and Scott Irwin The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a trilogy of decisions for the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in recent months that represents some of the most significant regulatory developments for biomass-based diesel in the program’s history. The vast majority of biomass-based diesel produced in…

By Julie Ingwersen CHICAGO, Nov. 5 (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is collecting survey-based data for its upcoming crop production report scheduled for release on November 14, an official with the agency’s statistical arm said on Wednesday, despite the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The report will include the government’s first…

By Naveen Thukral and Ella Cao SINGAPORE/BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Reuters) – China has booked two cargoes of U.S. wheat following last week’s meeting between the countries’ leaders, traders said on Thursday, the first such purchases since October last year, signalling easing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Investors welcomed the meeting between…

Reports say that China has begun purchases of U.S. farm products in the wake of last week’s meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Under the deal the leaders made, China pledged to purchase at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans before the end…

By Casey Hall SHANGHAI, Nov. 6 (Reuters) – A shipment of sorghum has been sent from the United States to China since last week, Mark Wilson, chairman of the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council, said on Thursday, the first known cargo following the recent meeting between the two countries’ leaders. “I know…

For growers and researchers, keeping pace with crop maintenance during the growing and harvest seasons is a massive, time-consuming effort. But the future of crop production could require less hands-on operation with new agricultural technology. Frank Bai, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) at…