Agribusiness Update for Tuesday 8/20/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I’m Greg Martin...

Newly-appointed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy has pledged to build trust with farmers. Speaking to Iowa farmers - McCarthy made a commitment that at the end of her term there will be a stronger, more productive, more trusting relationship between EPA and the agriculture community. She said that would benefit her, benefit farmers and make the country stronger.

Heritage Action CEO Michael Needham has called for a one-year extension of the existing farm bill. Needham’s organization played an influential role in the farm bill’s defeat in the House earlier this summer and in getting House leaders to strip nutrition title funding from the bill that eventually did pass in July. Needham says an extension would give his group the chance to meet with the Ag Committee Chair to redesign farm subsidies and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Wildfires in the northwest continue to burn and threaten homes. Near the Dalles, OR nearly 100 people have been put on alert to prepare for possible evacuation. In Idaho over 1600 homes have already been evacuated as firefighters do their best to contain a massive blaze near Sun Valley.

That’s today’s Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.