Agribusiness Update for Wednesday 11/20/13

EPA's proposed biofuels targets for 2014 would set volumes at under 10-percent of projected gasoline consumption. The so-called blend wall EPA referenced in its announcement is just a crisis manufactured by the oil industry - according to Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow - who says the oil industry wants to eliminate the competition so they can continue reaping even greater windfall profits.

House Speaker John Boehner says he doesn't believe the deficit savings in a 2013 farm bill should be used to reach a budget deal to replace sequester at the end of the year. Boehner has told Representative Paul Ryan not to look to the farm bill for savings - as he believes it's a separate issue. Farm bill discussions seem to be making more progress than budget talks.

USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen has announced she is leaving USDA to embark on a new challenge in the private sector. Hagen called it an ambitious three years - noting USDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service have successfully made preventing foodborne illness a priority.

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