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American Soybean Association Issues Commentary: A Look at Potential Soybean Farmer Premiums With 45Z
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The American Soybean Association issued the following commentary on Aug. 27, 2026, by chief economist Scott Gerlt and senior economist Omid Karami:
* * *
A Look at Potential Soybean Farmer Premiums with 45Z
Since 2004, the U.S. government has put its money where the fuel tank is, and it has implemented policies such as the Biodiesel Blenders' Tax Credit (BTC) to reward the production biofuels. The rationale is straightforward: biofuels can displace petroleum and trim greenhouse gas emissions, so the production of biofuels deserves a policy nudge. The ... Show Full Article ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The American Soybean Association issued the following commentary on Aug. 27, 2026, by chief economist Scott Gerlt and senior economist Omid Karami: * * * A Look at Potential Soybean Farmer Premiums with 45Z Since 2004, the U.S. government has put its money where the fuel tank is, and it has implemented policies such as the Biodiesel Blenders' Tax Credit (BTC) to reward the production biofuels. The rationale is straightforward: biofuels can displace petroleum and trim greenhouse gas emissions, so the production of biofuels deserves a policy nudge. TheBTC provided $1.00 per gallon to blenders of biofuels for almost 20 years, but the climate benefit of a biofuel is not guaranteed. It depends on how the crop was grown and how its low-carbon story survives the trip from farm to fuel pump. To ensure the environmental benefits of biofuel production, the Clean Fuel Production Credit was signed into law on Aug.16, 2022, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The law replaced the flat $1.00-per-gallon in BTC policy with a value tied to the Carbon Intensity[1] (CI) of the fuel beginning in 2025. To translate that policy into actual CI scores, Treasury adapted the 45ZCF-GREET model (hereafter 45Z model) developed by Argonne National Laboratory. Because that model does not account for farm-level practices, USDA partnered with Argonne National Laboratory to build a companion tool, the Feedstock CI Calculator (FD-CIC). It estimates the on-farm emissions of producing given feedstock and credits growers for practices that fall below the national average. Together, the two models determine how much credit a gallon of biofuel, and potentially the crop behind it, can earn. The background for the first iteration of 45Z in the Inflation Reduction Act can be found here.
The tax credit enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act was modified in two important ways in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut Act (WFTC), on July 4, 2025. Besides the removal of a $1.00 flat rate credit and considering CI as a criteria, WFTC had two more changes. First, feedstock eligibility was changed to more closely match biofuel eligibility. The 45Z tax credit is only available for domestically produced biofuels, but originally, feedstock from anywhere could be used. The WFTC revised that provision so only feedstocks sourced from the U.S., Mexico, or Canada could be used to claim the credit. Second, indirect land use change (ILUC) penalties were removed from the CI calculations for agricultural feedstocks. ILUC attempts to account for economically induced environmental effects. It is difficult to measure and has little consensus around the actual levels. In practice, ILUC has induced imports of feedstocks with very questionable environmental benefits. The new 45Z model is the first look at how much removing emissions due to ILUC improves the crediting for biofuel crops.
There are still two steps remaining for 45Z to be finalized: the Department of Energy (DOE) needs to incorporate USDA's FD-CIC into 45Z, and then the Treasury Department should finalize the rules. While the Treasury Department has not issued final guidance, 45Z and FD-CIC models which are critical to determining the CI score of biofuels have been updated. In this article, we examine the CI scores and potential credits produced by the latest models. Our results should be read as a current best estimate rather than a settled figure because both models remain subject to finalization.
Comparing the Original and Updated 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit
Both the original and updated 45Z credit prohibits CI values below zero for most fuels and is based upon $1.00 minus $0.02 for every CI point. Feedstocks with CI scores above 50 kg CO2e/mmBTU are ineligible for the credit. The value scales linearly and inversely with the CI score produced by the 45Z model. Therefore, any CI reductions translate mechanically into higher credits. The credits should be adjusted for inflation compared to the base year of 2022[2]. They should also be rounded to the nearest $0.10 before the inflation factor is applied. As a result, the incremental value of reducing the CI score is either a multiple of $0.10 before adjusting for inflation or nothing.
As mentioned before, the decisive methodological change embedded in the updated model is the removal of the ILUC penalty, since the update incorporates provisions from the WFTC. Table 1 and Table 2 provide the CI score and potential credits for different types of biofuels by feedstock. Note that the 45Z credit is biofuel plant specific and the values reported below are based upon default and industry average numbers. Specific biofuel plants will differ from our results. The CI of soybean-based RD declined markedly from 42.60 to 26.36 kg CO2e/MMBtu, a reduction of approximately 38%, and the associated credit rose fivefold from $0.11 to $0.55 per gallon. The biodiesel pathway follows the same trajectory with comparable force: the CI fell from 33.70 to 20.23, an improvement of roughly 40%, while the credit doubled from $0.33 to $0.66 per gallon. This paired movement - a large CI reduction accompanied by a substantial credit increase - is the signature effect of ILUC removal.
The updated model elevates soybean oil from a marginally credit-positive feedstock into one of the best crop biofuels in terms of CI scores. With ILUC removed, U.S. soybean oil for RD now carries a CI score of 26.36, with a corresponding 45Z credit of 55 cents per gallon, compressing the distance between soybean oil and tallow, used cooking oil (UCO), and distillers corn oil (DCO).
Similar results are obtained for canola. Canola emerges from a non-qualified baseline into positive territory, though its elevated absolute CI keeps it a tier below soybeans. One main reason that soybeans have a higher environmental benefit compared to canola is the lower demand for nitrogen from the former. On average, 50-60% of soybean nitrogen demand comes from biological nitrogen fixation[3].
* * *
TABLE: Carbon Intensity for Renewable Diesel (RD) and Biodiesel (BD) by feedstock under GREET 2025 and 2026 (kg CO2e/mmBTU)
TABLE: Potential 45Z Renewable Diesel (RD) and Biodiesel (BD) Credits by Feedstock ($/Gallon) with 2026 Inflation Adjustment
* * *
The two cover-crop feedstocks (winter camelina and winter pennycress) permit a direct, fully scored comparison across both model years in both pathways. In the RD pathway, the two crops diverge from the outset: winter camelina carried a 2025 model CI of 51.30 kg CO2e/MMBtu, while winter pennycress began substantially lower at 36.40. Under the 2026 model, winter camelina falls modestly to 45.19 (a reduction of roughly 12%), whereas winter pennycress declines only marginally to 35.18 (a reduction of roughly three percent), reflecting the fact that pennycress already sat near its revised level. The corresponding RD credits behave consistently with these starting positions: winter camelina, whose elevated CI left it below the crediting threshold in original model, moves from $0.00 to $0.11 per gallon of renewable diesel, while winter pennycress holds steady at $0.33 per gallon across both models. Similar outcomes occur for BD from the winter crops. Off-season crops were deemed to have no ILUC penalty at the outset. The removal of that penalty therefore confers no benefit for them. While soybean's BD credit doubled and its RD credit rose fivefold, camelina and pennycress advanced only marginally or held steady. It puts them in the lowest crop-feedstock credit tier among the pathways considered.
The waste-derived feedstocks exhibit near-complete stability in both CI and credit terms. UCO and tallow hold CI values near 20 kg CO2e/MMBtu in both models, declining only slightly to approximately 19 kg CO2e/MMBtu in updated model, and their credits remain fixed at $0.66 per gallon across both pathways and both model years. Distillers corn oil (DCO) is similarly invariant, retaining credits of $0.76 per gallon in RD and $0.87 per gallon in BD. Because these feedstocks never bore an ILUC penalty, their stability under the 2026 model isolates ILUC removal as the operative driver of change among the crop pathways. The gap between oilseed crops and waste-based feedstocks narrows under the revised framework.
Regenerative Ag Incentives
The 45Z model does not specifically include the ability to reduce the biofuel CI through regenerative agricultural practices. Instead, USDA worked with Argonne National Labs (the research lab behind the GREET model) to create a version of its FD-CIC for 45Z. The resulting model calculates the emission reductions from the feedstocks produced on a farm and compares it to the national average emission rate for the feedstock. Current crops in the model are soybeans, corn, canola, and sorghum.
Multiple practices can be utilized in the FD-CIC to lower the CI score of crops. These include cover crops, reduced till, no-till, nitrification inhibitors, and manure applications. Synthetic nitrogen application is a required input into the model, and the level affects the score of the crop with lower rates reducing CI.
The results are dependent on the county selected as local soil conditions and weather are taken into account. The county-specific results are compared to the national average CI for the crop. This means that a crop in a specific county will likely have a CI different than the national average even if using assumptions consistent with the national average. It also translates into different effects from adopting regenerative ag practices across locations.
The FD-CIC and 45Z models were used to determine potential premiums to farmers from using regenerative ag practices. Quite a few assumptions and caveats were required for these estimates:
* Guidance on how FD-CIC results will be incorporated into GREET has not been provided. Our analysis reduced the 45Z primary feedstock emissions by the reduction rate in FD-CIC for the farm CI score compared to the national average.
* The 45Z formula rounds the credit value to the nearest $0.10 before the inflation factor is applied. As a result, the marginal credit value is often nothing but could be about $0.11 per gallon. Our analysis below ignores the rounding.
* Traceability rules for regenerative agriculture crediting require that everyone in the supply chain for the crop participate in the program. Our analysis assumes that all farmers will be able to participate. However, the reality is this option will only be available to farmers whose soybean oil supplies a biofuel plant and if the crush plant also participates in the recordkeeping.
* The rules for claiming CI reductions through regenerative agriculture practices require the crop to be in the supply chain of the biofuel facility. As such, certain regions are unlikely to be able to participate even if they can achieve CI reductions. The maps below show where the biomass-based diesel facilities are for context.
* Our analysis assumes the average nitrogen use efficiency for soybeans and no inhibitors. It also does not consider CI reductions through manure applications.
* The 45Z tax credit goes to the biofuel producer, not the farmer. As such, it is unlikely 100% of credit will work on its way back to the farm gate. Our results below assume that it does in the form of a premium for soybeans. This should be treated as the maximum potential, not the likely outcome.
* * *
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from Reduced Tillage
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from No-Till
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from Cover Crops
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from Cover Crops Plus No-Till
* * *
Figure 1 through Figure 4 show the results in terms of premium per bushel of soy under the assumptions outlined above. The blue dots on the charts are biomass-based diesel plants. Reduced tillage provides little premium for soybeans, with almost the entire country earning less than $0.10 per bushel. No-till provides quite a bit more in tax credits with much of the country receiving a per bushel equivalent of at least $0.10 per bushel of additional credit. Much of Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as the Delta region achieve at least $0.20 per bushel. Parts of the Northeast top at over $0.40 per bushel with no-till.
Cover crops generate credits of at least $0.10 per bushel equivalent in the southern half of the soybean growing region as well as the Northeast portion of the country. Portions of the Southeast top $0.20 per bushel. However, this portion of the country tends to produce less soy and has few BBD plants. As a result, it is unlikely that cover crops as a standalone practice will generate many 45Z credits for soybeans.
The FD-CIC allows practices to be stacked, though. Combining cover crops with no-till provides substantially more benefits. Nearly the entire portion of the country that grows soybeans generates at least $0.10 per bushel equivalent to the combination of the practices with some counties topping $0.50 per bushel. Much of the primary soybean growing region generates with equivalent of $0.30 to $0.40 per bushel equivalent of 45Z credits.
Narrowing the credit-cost squeeze
In practice, the crediting is at the field level. The FD-CIC tool allows a custom CI reduction score for each field. Farmers must maintain all sales records for the crop to demonstrate that the sales of low CI crops do not exceed the production of the crops.
USDA has published rules for qualification, recordkeeping, and reporting of the practices. Interested readers are encouraged to consult the documentation. Farmers considering participation should weigh not only the cost of the regenerative ag practice but also the time spent on demonstrating compliance.
Even so, the 45Z credit allows farmers an extra option for monetizing regenerative practices on their farm, including practices already adopted. The update in the GREET model helped level the playing field for the biofuel tax credit between soybeans and competing feedstocks. All these changes are positive for soybean demand and help support the value.
Conclusion
The updated 45Z GREET 2026 model marks a turning point for soybean growers navigating the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. By removing the ILUC penalty, the revised framework transforms soybean oil from a marginal feedstock into a robustly credit-positive one, quintupling its renewable diesel credit and doubling its biodiesel credit. Soybean oil now sits just behind the waste-derived feedstocks that have long dominated the crediting hierarchy, and canola similarly moves from a non-qualified baseline into positive territory. The changes have narrowed the gap between soybeans on one side and winter crops and waste feedstocks on another side. These figures precede integration of the finalized USDA farm-level practice adjustments into 45Z, which can lower crop-feedstock CI further.
Layered on top of these baseline gains, regenerative agricultural practices offer farmers an additional path to monetize lower CI. The most substantial premiums come not from any single practice but from stacking them: combining no-till with cover crops can generate the equivalent of $0.30 to $0.40 per bushel across much of the primary growing region and more in select counties. Standalone practices like reduced tillage deliver little, and geographic realities - proximity to biomass-based diesel plants and the traceability requirements running through the entire supply chain - mean these opportunities will not be uniformly available.
The GREET update levels the playing field between soybeans and competing feedstocks, while the regenerative ag provisions give farmers an added tool for capturing value from practices they may already employ. Farmers will need to weigh the cost of adopting and documenting these practices against the potential premiums at the field level. But taken together, these changes strengthen soybean demand and support the crop's value - a welcome development for U.S. growers who have waited months for this clarity.
Several assumptions have been made, and the results are subject to changes if there are any updates to the policies. Department of Energy (DOE) should include FD-CIC into 45Z model and final Treasury Department guidance remains outstanding, which makes the inflation adjustment factor and other parameters pending. Notably, the credits are provided to the biofuel producer rather than the farmer directly, so the extent to which it reaches the farm gate depends on market dynamics. The premium estimates presented here should be read as a ceiling rather than a likely outcome. Even with these qualifications, it is a clear and favorable direction for the soybean industry.
[1] Carbon Intensity is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released per unit of economic output, activity, or energy consumed/produced.
[2] The 45Z inflation factor for 2025 is 1.0611 obtained from here: IRB 2025-30 (Rev. 7-21-2025). For 2026, it has not been published yet. We estimate the 2026 inflation adjustment factor to be 1.0928 and use that rate for this analysis.
[3] F. Salvagiotti, K.G. Cassman, J.E. Specht, D.T. Walters, A. Weiss, A. Dobermann, Nitrogen uptake, fixation and response to fertilizer N in soybeans: A review, Field Crops Research, Volume 108, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 1-13, ISSN 0378-4290, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2008.03.001
* * *
Original text here: https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/a-look-at-potential-soybean-farmer-premiums-with-45z/
[Category: Agriculture]
* * *
A Look at Potential Soybean Farmer Premiums with 45Z
Since 2004, the U.S. government has put its money where the fuel tank is, and it has implemented policies such as the Biodiesel Blenders' Tax Credit (BTC) to reward the production biofuels. The rationale is straightforward: biofuels can displace petroleum and trim greenhouse gas emissions, so the production of biofuels deserves a policy nudge. The ... Show Full Article ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The American Soybean Association issued the following commentary on Aug. 27, 2026, by chief economist Scott Gerlt and senior economist Omid Karami: * * * A Look at Potential Soybean Farmer Premiums with 45Z Since 2004, the U.S. government has put its money where the fuel tank is, and it has implemented policies such as the Biodiesel Blenders' Tax Credit (BTC) to reward the production biofuels. The rationale is straightforward: biofuels can displace petroleum and trim greenhouse gas emissions, so the production of biofuels deserves a policy nudge. TheBTC provided $1.00 per gallon to blenders of biofuels for almost 20 years, but the climate benefit of a biofuel is not guaranteed. It depends on how the crop was grown and how its low-carbon story survives the trip from farm to fuel pump. To ensure the environmental benefits of biofuel production, the Clean Fuel Production Credit was signed into law on Aug.16, 2022, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The law replaced the flat $1.00-per-gallon in BTC policy with a value tied to the Carbon Intensity[1] (CI) of the fuel beginning in 2025. To translate that policy into actual CI scores, Treasury adapted the 45ZCF-GREET model (hereafter 45Z model) developed by Argonne National Laboratory. Because that model does not account for farm-level practices, USDA partnered with Argonne National Laboratory to build a companion tool, the Feedstock CI Calculator (FD-CIC). It estimates the on-farm emissions of producing given feedstock and credits growers for practices that fall below the national average. Together, the two models determine how much credit a gallon of biofuel, and potentially the crop behind it, can earn. The background for the first iteration of 45Z in the Inflation Reduction Act can be found here.
The tax credit enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act was modified in two important ways in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut Act (WFTC), on July 4, 2025. Besides the removal of a $1.00 flat rate credit and considering CI as a criteria, WFTC had two more changes. First, feedstock eligibility was changed to more closely match biofuel eligibility. The 45Z tax credit is only available for domestically produced biofuels, but originally, feedstock from anywhere could be used. The WFTC revised that provision so only feedstocks sourced from the U.S., Mexico, or Canada could be used to claim the credit. Second, indirect land use change (ILUC) penalties were removed from the CI calculations for agricultural feedstocks. ILUC attempts to account for economically induced environmental effects. It is difficult to measure and has little consensus around the actual levels. In practice, ILUC has induced imports of feedstocks with very questionable environmental benefits. The new 45Z model is the first look at how much removing emissions due to ILUC improves the crediting for biofuel crops.
There are still two steps remaining for 45Z to be finalized: the Department of Energy (DOE) needs to incorporate USDA's FD-CIC into 45Z, and then the Treasury Department should finalize the rules. While the Treasury Department has not issued final guidance, 45Z and FD-CIC models which are critical to determining the CI score of biofuels have been updated. In this article, we examine the CI scores and potential credits produced by the latest models. Our results should be read as a current best estimate rather than a settled figure because both models remain subject to finalization.
Comparing the Original and Updated 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit
Both the original and updated 45Z credit prohibits CI values below zero for most fuels and is based upon $1.00 minus $0.02 for every CI point. Feedstocks with CI scores above 50 kg CO2e/mmBTU are ineligible for the credit. The value scales linearly and inversely with the CI score produced by the 45Z model. Therefore, any CI reductions translate mechanically into higher credits. The credits should be adjusted for inflation compared to the base year of 2022[2]. They should also be rounded to the nearest $0.10 before the inflation factor is applied. As a result, the incremental value of reducing the CI score is either a multiple of $0.10 before adjusting for inflation or nothing.
As mentioned before, the decisive methodological change embedded in the updated model is the removal of the ILUC penalty, since the update incorporates provisions from the WFTC. Table 1 and Table 2 provide the CI score and potential credits for different types of biofuels by feedstock. Note that the 45Z credit is biofuel plant specific and the values reported below are based upon default and industry average numbers. Specific biofuel plants will differ from our results. The CI of soybean-based RD declined markedly from 42.60 to 26.36 kg CO2e/MMBtu, a reduction of approximately 38%, and the associated credit rose fivefold from $0.11 to $0.55 per gallon. The biodiesel pathway follows the same trajectory with comparable force: the CI fell from 33.70 to 20.23, an improvement of roughly 40%, while the credit doubled from $0.33 to $0.66 per gallon. This paired movement - a large CI reduction accompanied by a substantial credit increase - is the signature effect of ILUC removal.
The updated model elevates soybean oil from a marginally credit-positive feedstock into one of the best crop biofuels in terms of CI scores. With ILUC removed, U.S. soybean oil for RD now carries a CI score of 26.36, with a corresponding 45Z credit of 55 cents per gallon, compressing the distance between soybean oil and tallow, used cooking oil (UCO), and distillers corn oil (DCO).
Similar results are obtained for canola. Canola emerges from a non-qualified baseline into positive territory, though its elevated absolute CI keeps it a tier below soybeans. One main reason that soybeans have a higher environmental benefit compared to canola is the lower demand for nitrogen from the former. On average, 50-60% of soybean nitrogen demand comes from biological nitrogen fixation[3].
* * *
TABLE: Carbon Intensity for Renewable Diesel (RD) and Biodiesel (BD) by feedstock under GREET 2025 and 2026 (kg CO2e/mmBTU)
TABLE: Potential 45Z Renewable Diesel (RD) and Biodiesel (BD) Credits by Feedstock ($/Gallon) with 2026 Inflation Adjustment
* * *
The two cover-crop feedstocks (winter camelina and winter pennycress) permit a direct, fully scored comparison across both model years in both pathways. In the RD pathway, the two crops diverge from the outset: winter camelina carried a 2025 model CI of 51.30 kg CO2e/MMBtu, while winter pennycress began substantially lower at 36.40. Under the 2026 model, winter camelina falls modestly to 45.19 (a reduction of roughly 12%), whereas winter pennycress declines only marginally to 35.18 (a reduction of roughly three percent), reflecting the fact that pennycress already sat near its revised level. The corresponding RD credits behave consistently with these starting positions: winter camelina, whose elevated CI left it below the crediting threshold in original model, moves from $0.00 to $0.11 per gallon of renewable diesel, while winter pennycress holds steady at $0.33 per gallon across both models. Similar outcomes occur for BD from the winter crops. Off-season crops were deemed to have no ILUC penalty at the outset. The removal of that penalty therefore confers no benefit for them. While soybean's BD credit doubled and its RD credit rose fivefold, camelina and pennycress advanced only marginally or held steady. It puts them in the lowest crop-feedstock credit tier among the pathways considered.
The waste-derived feedstocks exhibit near-complete stability in both CI and credit terms. UCO and tallow hold CI values near 20 kg CO2e/MMBtu in both models, declining only slightly to approximately 19 kg CO2e/MMBtu in updated model, and their credits remain fixed at $0.66 per gallon across both pathways and both model years. Distillers corn oil (DCO) is similarly invariant, retaining credits of $0.76 per gallon in RD and $0.87 per gallon in BD. Because these feedstocks never bore an ILUC penalty, their stability under the 2026 model isolates ILUC removal as the operative driver of change among the crop pathways. The gap between oilseed crops and waste-based feedstocks narrows under the revised framework.
Regenerative Ag Incentives
The 45Z model does not specifically include the ability to reduce the biofuel CI through regenerative agricultural practices. Instead, USDA worked with Argonne National Labs (the research lab behind the GREET model) to create a version of its FD-CIC for 45Z. The resulting model calculates the emission reductions from the feedstocks produced on a farm and compares it to the national average emission rate for the feedstock. Current crops in the model are soybeans, corn, canola, and sorghum.
Multiple practices can be utilized in the FD-CIC to lower the CI score of crops. These include cover crops, reduced till, no-till, nitrification inhibitors, and manure applications. Synthetic nitrogen application is a required input into the model, and the level affects the score of the crop with lower rates reducing CI.
The results are dependent on the county selected as local soil conditions and weather are taken into account. The county-specific results are compared to the national average CI for the crop. This means that a crop in a specific county will likely have a CI different than the national average even if using assumptions consistent with the national average. It also translates into different effects from adopting regenerative ag practices across locations.
The FD-CIC and 45Z models were used to determine potential premiums to farmers from using regenerative ag practices. Quite a few assumptions and caveats were required for these estimates:
* Guidance on how FD-CIC results will be incorporated into GREET has not been provided. Our analysis reduced the 45Z primary feedstock emissions by the reduction rate in FD-CIC for the farm CI score compared to the national average.
* The 45Z formula rounds the credit value to the nearest $0.10 before the inflation factor is applied. As a result, the marginal credit value is often nothing but could be about $0.11 per gallon. Our analysis below ignores the rounding.
* Traceability rules for regenerative agriculture crediting require that everyone in the supply chain for the crop participate in the program. Our analysis assumes that all farmers will be able to participate. However, the reality is this option will only be available to farmers whose soybean oil supplies a biofuel plant and if the crush plant also participates in the recordkeeping.
* The rules for claiming CI reductions through regenerative agriculture practices require the crop to be in the supply chain of the biofuel facility. As such, certain regions are unlikely to be able to participate even if they can achieve CI reductions. The maps below show where the biomass-based diesel facilities are for context.
* Our analysis assumes the average nitrogen use efficiency for soybeans and no inhibitors. It also does not consider CI reductions through manure applications.
* The 45Z tax credit goes to the biofuel producer, not the farmer. As such, it is unlikely 100% of credit will work on its way back to the farm gate. Our results below assume that it does in the form of a premium for soybeans. This should be treated as the maximum potential, not the likely outcome.
* * *
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from Reduced Tillage
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from No-Till
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from Cover Crops
CHART: Potential 45Z Regenerative Agricultural Premium for Soybeans from Cover Crops Plus No-Till
* * *
Figure 1 through Figure 4 show the results in terms of premium per bushel of soy under the assumptions outlined above. The blue dots on the charts are biomass-based diesel plants. Reduced tillage provides little premium for soybeans, with almost the entire country earning less than $0.10 per bushel. No-till provides quite a bit more in tax credits with much of the country receiving a per bushel equivalent of at least $0.10 per bushel of additional credit. Much of Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as the Delta region achieve at least $0.20 per bushel. Parts of the Northeast top at over $0.40 per bushel with no-till.
Cover crops generate credits of at least $0.10 per bushel equivalent in the southern half of the soybean growing region as well as the Northeast portion of the country. Portions of the Southeast top $0.20 per bushel. However, this portion of the country tends to produce less soy and has few BBD plants. As a result, it is unlikely that cover crops as a standalone practice will generate many 45Z credits for soybeans.
The FD-CIC allows practices to be stacked, though. Combining cover crops with no-till provides substantially more benefits. Nearly the entire portion of the country that grows soybeans generates at least $0.10 per bushel equivalent to the combination of the practices with some counties topping $0.50 per bushel. Much of the primary soybean growing region generates with equivalent of $0.30 to $0.40 per bushel equivalent of 45Z credits.
Narrowing the credit-cost squeeze
In practice, the crediting is at the field level. The FD-CIC tool allows a custom CI reduction score for each field. Farmers must maintain all sales records for the crop to demonstrate that the sales of low CI crops do not exceed the production of the crops.
USDA has published rules for qualification, recordkeeping, and reporting of the practices. Interested readers are encouraged to consult the documentation. Farmers considering participation should weigh not only the cost of the regenerative ag practice but also the time spent on demonstrating compliance.
Even so, the 45Z credit allows farmers an extra option for monetizing regenerative practices on their farm, including practices already adopted. The update in the GREET model helped level the playing field for the biofuel tax credit between soybeans and competing feedstocks. All these changes are positive for soybean demand and help support the value.
Conclusion
The updated 45Z GREET 2026 model marks a turning point for soybean growers navigating the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. By removing the ILUC penalty, the revised framework transforms soybean oil from a marginal feedstock into a robustly credit-positive one, quintupling its renewable diesel credit and doubling its biodiesel credit. Soybean oil now sits just behind the waste-derived feedstocks that have long dominated the crediting hierarchy, and canola similarly moves from a non-qualified baseline into positive territory. The changes have narrowed the gap between soybeans on one side and winter crops and waste feedstocks on another side. These figures precede integration of the finalized USDA farm-level practice adjustments into 45Z, which can lower crop-feedstock CI further.
Layered on top of these baseline gains, regenerative agricultural practices offer farmers an additional path to monetize lower CI. The most substantial premiums come not from any single practice but from stacking them: combining no-till with cover crops can generate the equivalent of $0.30 to $0.40 per bushel across much of the primary growing region and more in select counties. Standalone practices like reduced tillage deliver little, and geographic realities - proximity to biomass-based diesel plants and the traceability requirements running through the entire supply chain - mean these opportunities will not be uniformly available.
The GREET update levels the playing field between soybeans and competing feedstocks, while the regenerative ag provisions give farmers an added tool for capturing value from practices they may already employ. Farmers will need to weigh the cost of adopting and documenting these practices against the potential premiums at the field level. But taken together, these changes strengthen soybean demand and support the crop's value - a welcome development for U.S. growers who have waited months for this clarity.
Several assumptions have been made, and the results are subject to changes if there are any updates to the policies. Department of Energy (DOE) should include FD-CIC into 45Z model and final Treasury Department guidance remains outstanding, which makes the inflation adjustment factor and other parameters pending. Notably, the credits are provided to the biofuel producer rather than the farmer directly, so the extent to which it reaches the farm gate depends on market dynamics. The premium estimates presented here should be read as a ceiling rather than a likely outcome. Even with these qualifications, it is a clear and favorable direction for the soybean industry.
[1] Carbon Intensity is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released per unit of economic output, activity, or energy consumed/produced.
[2] The 45Z inflation factor for 2025 is 1.0611 obtained from here: IRB 2025-30 (Rev. 7-21-2025). For 2026, it has not been published yet. We estimate the 2026 inflation adjustment factor to be 1.0928 and use that rate for this analysis.
[3] F. Salvagiotti, K.G. Cassman, J.E. Specht, D.T. Walters, A. Weiss, A. Dobermann, Nitrogen uptake, fixation and response to fertilizer N in soybeans: A review, Field Crops Research, Volume 108, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 1-13, ISSN 0378-4290, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2008.03.001
* * *
Original text here: https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/a-look-at-potential-soybean-farmer-premiums-with-45z/
[Category: Agriculture]
What's on the Minds of Travel Buyers Today? | Buyer Buzz Insights from GBTA Convention 2026
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Aug. 28 [Category: Travel] -- The Global Business Travel Association posted the following news release:
* * *
What's on the Minds of Travel Buyers Today? | Buyer Buzz Insights from GBTA Convention 2026
*
Travel buyers are embracing change, but they want to be the ones driving it. That was the overarching takeaway from 470+ travel buyers who participated in the interactive Buyer Buzz session at GBTA Convention 2026.
Results from live polling during the session paints a picture of a profession that is optimistic about technology, committed to partnership and increasingly ... Show Full Article ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Aug. 28 [Category: Travel] -- The Global Business Travel Association posted the following news release: * * * What's on the Minds of Travel Buyers Today? | Buyer Buzz Insights from GBTA Convention 2026 * Travel buyers are embracing change, but they want to be the ones driving it. That was the overarching takeaway from 470+ travel buyers who participated in the interactive Buyer Buzz session at GBTA Convention 2026. Results from live polling during the session paints a picture of a profession that is optimistic about technology, committed to partnership and increasinglyfocused on influencing change within organizations.
AI Is Here to Stay, But Buyers Are Keeping a Watchful Eye
More than 78% at the Buyer Buzz session said they're already "hooked" on generative AI, and an overwhelming 92% believe AI will make their jobs "more strategic" rather than replace them. Sixty four percent cite "hallucinations and incorrect information" as a bigger concern than AI's environmental impact, while 60% associate AI's future more closely with Terminator than Star Trek.
Buyers are split on whether AI should enforce travel policy automatically. While 51% say it should, 49% prefer AI to simply recommend the best travel choices. Buyers see AI as a strategic advantage, but they're still working through how much authority they're willing to give it.
The Real Challenge Is Internal Influence
When asked about their biggest challenge, 57% said "influencing internal stakeholders," compared with 43% who cited "influencing traveler behavior." Nearly four out of five buyers (78%) identified "change management" as the most important skill for travel professionals, ahead of "commercial thinking (22%)."
When it comes to innovation, 64% said their biggest source comes from "internal business needs" rather than "external market trends." Success increasingly depends on building consensus, leading change, and aligning travel programs with broader business objectives.
Buyers Want Strong Partnerships, Not Transactions
An overwhelming 92% of participants said the best supplier relationships are built on "long-term partnerships," while just 8% favored "competitive tension." At the same time, buyers don't want suppliers to do all the driving. More than three-quarters (77%) believe innovation happens fastest when "buyers push suppliers," rather than when "suppliers challenge buyers."
Technology Helps But People Matter Most
Nearly six in ten buyers (58%) identified "seamless human response and support" as the most important element of traveler safety, ahead of "trust and consistency" alone. In the modern travel program, technology may improve efficiency, but human support remains essential during moments of disruption, uncertainty or risk.
Looking for Solutions to Growing Complexity
Nearly two-thirds (64%) said groups and meetings are harder to manage than transient travel, underscoring the increasing complexity of managing meetings and events. Buyers want new approaches to managing change, leveraging AI, improving traveler experiences, and tackling an increasingly complex landscape. Travel buyers are not resisting the future. They are actively preparing for it.
***
Original text here: https://gbta.org/whats-on-the-minds-of-travel-buyers-today-buyer-buzz-insights-from-gbta-convention-2026/
* * *
What's on the Minds of Travel Buyers Today? | Buyer Buzz Insights from GBTA Convention 2026
*
Travel buyers are embracing change, but they want to be the ones driving it. That was the overarching takeaway from 470+ travel buyers who participated in the interactive Buyer Buzz session at GBTA Convention 2026.
Results from live polling during the session paints a picture of a profession that is optimistic about technology, committed to partnership and increasingly ... Show Full Article ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Aug. 28 [Category: Travel] -- The Global Business Travel Association posted the following news release: * * * What's on the Minds of Travel Buyers Today? | Buyer Buzz Insights from GBTA Convention 2026 * Travel buyers are embracing change, but they want to be the ones driving it. That was the overarching takeaway from 470+ travel buyers who participated in the interactive Buyer Buzz session at GBTA Convention 2026. Results from live polling during the session paints a picture of a profession that is optimistic about technology, committed to partnership and increasinglyfocused on influencing change within organizations.
AI Is Here to Stay, But Buyers Are Keeping a Watchful Eye
More than 78% at the Buyer Buzz session said they're already "hooked" on generative AI, and an overwhelming 92% believe AI will make their jobs "more strategic" rather than replace them. Sixty four percent cite "hallucinations and incorrect information" as a bigger concern than AI's environmental impact, while 60% associate AI's future more closely with Terminator than Star Trek.
Buyers are split on whether AI should enforce travel policy automatically. While 51% say it should, 49% prefer AI to simply recommend the best travel choices. Buyers see AI as a strategic advantage, but they're still working through how much authority they're willing to give it.
The Real Challenge Is Internal Influence
When asked about their biggest challenge, 57% said "influencing internal stakeholders," compared with 43% who cited "influencing traveler behavior." Nearly four out of five buyers (78%) identified "change management" as the most important skill for travel professionals, ahead of "commercial thinking (22%)."
When it comes to innovation, 64% said their biggest source comes from "internal business needs" rather than "external market trends." Success increasingly depends on building consensus, leading change, and aligning travel programs with broader business objectives.
Buyers Want Strong Partnerships, Not Transactions
An overwhelming 92% of participants said the best supplier relationships are built on "long-term partnerships," while just 8% favored "competitive tension." At the same time, buyers don't want suppliers to do all the driving. More than three-quarters (77%) believe innovation happens fastest when "buyers push suppliers," rather than when "suppliers challenge buyers."
Technology Helps But People Matter Most
Nearly six in ten buyers (58%) identified "seamless human response and support" as the most important element of traveler safety, ahead of "trust and consistency" alone. In the modern travel program, technology may improve efficiency, but human support remains essential during moments of disruption, uncertainty or risk.
Looking for Solutions to Growing Complexity
Nearly two-thirds (64%) said groups and meetings are harder to manage than transient travel, underscoring the increasing complexity of managing meetings and events. Buyers want new approaches to managing change, leveraging AI, improving traveler experiences, and tackling an increasingly complex landscape. Travel buyers are not resisting the future. They are actively preparing for it.
***
Original text here: https://gbta.org/whats-on-the-minds-of-travel-buyers-today-buyer-buzz-insights-from-gbta-convention-2026/
National Wild Turkey Federation: Planting for the Poults
EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, Aug. 28 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release:
* * *
Planting for the Poults
As part of a Bass Pro and Cabela's Outdoor Fund grant awarded to the National Wild Turkey Federation earlier this year, the NWTF and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have partnered to convert an old agricultural field to a wildlife meadow on the Waldo Tract within the Mohegan State Forest, in Sprague, Connecticut.
The project entailed planting conservation seed, including warm-season grasses and a pollinator mix, across 16 ... Show Full Article EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, Aug. 28 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release: * * * Planting for the Poults As part of a Bass Pro and Cabela's Outdoor Fund grant awarded to the National Wild Turkey Federation earlier this year, the NWTF and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have partnered to convert an old agricultural field to a wildlife meadow on the Waldo Tract within the Mohegan State Forest, in Sprague, Connecticut. The project entailed planting conservation seed, including warm-season grasses and a pollinator mix, across 16acres. These habitat enhancements will support nesting brooding hens and poults and create better quality hunting opportunities throughout the year, contributing to the NWTF's Forests and Flocks Initiative. The Mohegan State Forest offers a variety of hunting opportunities, including small game, waterfowl, turkey and deer.
After seeding, the NWTF conducted herbicide treatments along the edge of the tract, targeting invasive species, such as mile-a-minute vine that outcompete native species. The site will be monitored, and follow-up treatments will be completed as needed.
"This project directly supports the Forests and Flocks Initiative by restoring and enhancing high-quality early successional habitat within a largely forested landscape," said Kaylee Szymanski, NWTF district biologist. "Converting a former agricultural field into a diverse native warm-season grass and pollinator-friendly alluvial grassland will create critical brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys by providing abundant insects, overhead cover and open travel corridors essential for poult survival during the first few weeks of life."
The Waldo Tract runs along the Shetucket River and is situated within a migratory bird corridor. The enhanced habitat will not just benefit the wild turkey and other species that live their annual cycle in the forest, but also migratory birds.
"NWTF members in the state of Connecticut are very pleased to use funds to improve wild turkey habitat and sportsmen's access," said Dave Shepack, NWTF Connecticut State Chapter president. "Our chapter is glad to see these funds used in our state."
This work complements additional accomplishments in the northeast that were made possible through the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund.
Like the Waldo Tract project, the NWTF and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources bolstered habitat for the wild turkey by planting a pollinator mix and targeting invasive species on 100 acres. These kinds of habitat projects wouldn't be possible without the support of NWTF volunteers and dedicated partners like Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's.
Learn more about the NWTF's Forests and Flocks Initiative (https://www.nwtf.org/programs/forests-and-flocks).
* * *
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to create healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/planting-for-the-poults
[Category: Animals]
* * *
Planting for the Poults
As part of a Bass Pro and Cabela's Outdoor Fund grant awarded to the National Wild Turkey Federation earlier this year, the NWTF and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have partnered to convert an old agricultural field to a wildlife meadow on the Waldo Tract within the Mohegan State Forest, in Sprague, Connecticut.
The project entailed planting conservation seed, including warm-season grasses and a pollinator mix, across 16 ... Show Full Article EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, Aug. 28 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release: * * * Planting for the Poults As part of a Bass Pro and Cabela's Outdoor Fund grant awarded to the National Wild Turkey Federation earlier this year, the NWTF and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have partnered to convert an old agricultural field to a wildlife meadow on the Waldo Tract within the Mohegan State Forest, in Sprague, Connecticut. The project entailed planting conservation seed, including warm-season grasses and a pollinator mix, across 16acres. These habitat enhancements will support nesting brooding hens and poults and create better quality hunting opportunities throughout the year, contributing to the NWTF's Forests and Flocks Initiative. The Mohegan State Forest offers a variety of hunting opportunities, including small game, waterfowl, turkey and deer.
After seeding, the NWTF conducted herbicide treatments along the edge of the tract, targeting invasive species, such as mile-a-minute vine that outcompete native species. The site will be monitored, and follow-up treatments will be completed as needed.
"This project directly supports the Forests and Flocks Initiative by restoring and enhancing high-quality early successional habitat within a largely forested landscape," said Kaylee Szymanski, NWTF district biologist. "Converting a former agricultural field into a diverse native warm-season grass and pollinator-friendly alluvial grassland will create critical brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys by providing abundant insects, overhead cover and open travel corridors essential for poult survival during the first few weeks of life."
The Waldo Tract runs along the Shetucket River and is situated within a migratory bird corridor. The enhanced habitat will not just benefit the wild turkey and other species that live their annual cycle in the forest, but also migratory birds.
"NWTF members in the state of Connecticut are very pleased to use funds to improve wild turkey habitat and sportsmen's access," said Dave Shepack, NWTF Connecticut State Chapter president. "Our chapter is glad to see these funds used in our state."
This work complements additional accomplishments in the northeast that were made possible through the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund.
Like the Waldo Tract project, the NWTF and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources bolstered habitat for the wild turkey by planting a pollinator mix and targeting invasive species on 100 acres. These kinds of habitat projects wouldn't be possible without the support of NWTF volunteers and dedicated partners like Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's.
Learn more about the NWTF's Forests and Flocks Initiative (https://www.nwtf.org/programs/forests-and-flocks).
* * *
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to create healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/planting-for-the-poults
[Category: Animals]
Military Officers Association: August Recess Ends - What's Next for Congress Before the Election
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news:
* * *
August Recess Ends: What's Next for Congress Before the Election
By: Terry Waters
Lawmakers will have only 16 legislative days between their impending return to Washington, D.C., and their departure for the midterm elections. This leaves a limited window to avert a government shutdown and accomplish other unfinished business.
The House of Representatives will be back in session Aug. 31, and the Senate will join them Sept. 14. With the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, passing appropriations ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news: * * * August Recess Ends: What's Next for Congress Before the Election By: Terry Waters Lawmakers will have only 16 legislative days between their impending return to Washington, D.C., and their departure for the midterm elections. This leaves a limited window to avert a government shutdown and accomplish other unfinished business. The House of Representatives will be back in session Aug. 31, and the Senate will join them Sept. 14. With the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, passing appropriationslegislation to keep the government open is the dominant issue - everything else competes for scraps of time. At this point on the calendar, bills unrelated to funding regularly stall or are attached to must-pass appropriations packages.
Both chambers will go on recess in early October for the 2026 midterm elections. Thirty-five seats in the Senate and all 435 seats in the House are up for grabs. The outcome, and the future of the many bills being considered by Congress, is uncertain.
Here is a look at some of the key pieces of legislation MOAA will be pressing lawmakers to pass before time is up.
Will There Be Another Shutdown?
The federal government shut down from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12 last year, with the funding lapse lasting a record 43 days before a continuing resolution reopened most agencies.
A second shutdown began Jan. 31 for several agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, which affected the Coast Guard. Funding was not restored for a record-breaking 76 days.
While the specter of another shutdown remains, Congress failing to agree to pass a continuing resolution by Sept. 30 is unlikely. There is little appetite for a shutdown before the election, and both the House and Senate have passed competing stopgap spending bills that would keep the government open until December. MOAA expects passage of one of these bills will be the top priority for lawmakers once they return to Washington.
MOAA has long held that lapses in funding financially harm servicemembers and hurt readiness. We have called on Congress to work together to reverse this trend of increasingly common shutdowns. Passing legislation to protect those in uniform from the harmful effects of a shutdown would bring a measure of certainty and enable servicemembers to better focus on their mission.
National Defense Authorization Act
Among the legislative packages for floor consideration in September is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Both the House and Senate have proposed versions of the must-pass annual NDAA, and Congress is expected to take up the bill shortly after returning.
The House passed its version (H.R. 8800) in late July. It authorizes a $1.15 trillion budget, includes a tiered pay raise of 5% to 7%, reverses cuts to more than 40 military treatment facilities (MTFs), mandates additional oversight for the TRICARE pharmacy benefit, and more.
The Senate version (S. 4784), with a topline budget of $1.14 trillion, was advanced by the Senate Armed Services Committee in June but has not been brought to the floor. It shares provisions aimed at reversing MTF cuts and enhancing pharmacy oversight, but authorizes only a 3.6% pay raise across the board. It also contains a provision that would establish a digital system to improve TRICARE beneficiary access to care, a priority of MOAA's.
Once S. 4784 passes the Senate, negotiations will begin between the chambers on a final bill. MOAA will continue monitoring the NDAA as it develops this fall and will engage with lawmakers and their staffs to keep key provisions supporting servicemembers and their families in the final bill.
Take Care of America's Veterans Act
The Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) is a sweeping omnibus bill including more than 60 pieces of legislation supporting veterans, survivors, and caregivers. Provisions such as the Major Richard Star Act, the Love Lives On Act, and the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement (3R) Act address high-level MOAA priorities.
Leaders in the House postponed a scheduled vote on TCAVA shortly before leaving Washington in July. While general support among veterans is high, there remains an active debate concerning the source of TCAVA's funding and codifying the VA's upcoming changes to disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus.
The provisions in TCAVA will greatly help many veterans, survivors, and caregivers - past, present and future. This bill is a pivotal opportunity to achieve long-awaited wins for veterans across the country. Taking no action is likely to result in the funds earmarked by this legislation being removed from the wider veteran community entirely and returned to the Treasury.
TCAVA may be brought back to the floor for action in September, and MOAA will continue to work with lawmakers, their staffs, coalition partners, and other stakeholders to make sure this opportunity is not wasted.
Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard
With only 16 legislative days before recess, lawmakers will be weighing many priorities. Advocacy leaders and volunteers around the country are engaged in MOAA's Summer Advocacy in Action campaign in support of three priorities: the Major Richard Star Act, military spouse employment, and pharmacy parity for TRICARE For Life beneficiaries.
Before recess, Congress needs to keep hearing from the people affected by these decisions. With competing priorities and a looming election, it will be up to uniformed servicemembers, families, veterans, and survivors to ensure those who serve and have served aren't lost in a crowded docket. Please register as an advocate, get involved in your community, and take action today.
* * *
Waters started at MOAA in 2020 with the Member Service Center. He earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Arizona State University. Before joining the MOAA team, he worked as a congressional intern for Rep. Don Young.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.moaa.org/content/publications-and-media/news-articles/2026-news-articles/advocacy/august-recess-ends-whats-next-for-congress-before-the-election/
[Category: National Defense]
* * *
August Recess Ends: What's Next for Congress Before the Election
By: Terry Waters
Lawmakers will have only 16 legislative days between their impending return to Washington, D.C., and their departure for the midterm elections. This leaves a limited window to avert a government shutdown and accomplish other unfinished business.
The House of Representatives will be back in session Aug. 31, and the Senate will join them Sept. 14. With the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, passing appropriations ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news: * * * August Recess Ends: What's Next for Congress Before the Election By: Terry Waters Lawmakers will have only 16 legislative days between their impending return to Washington, D.C., and their departure for the midterm elections. This leaves a limited window to avert a government shutdown and accomplish other unfinished business. The House of Representatives will be back in session Aug. 31, and the Senate will join them Sept. 14. With the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, passing appropriationslegislation to keep the government open is the dominant issue - everything else competes for scraps of time. At this point on the calendar, bills unrelated to funding regularly stall or are attached to must-pass appropriations packages.
Both chambers will go on recess in early October for the 2026 midterm elections. Thirty-five seats in the Senate and all 435 seats in the House are up for grabs. The outcome, and the future of the many bills being considered by Congress, is uncertain.
Here is a look at some of the key pieces of legislation MOAA will be pressing lawmakers to pass before time is up.
Will There Be Another Shutdown?
The federal government shut down from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12 last year, with the funding lapse lasting a record 43 days before a continuing resolution reopened most agencies.
A second shutdown began Jan. 31 for several agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, which affected the Coast Guard. Funding was not restored for a record-breaking 76 days.
While the specter of another shutdown remains, Congress failing to agree to pass a continuing resolution by Sept. 30 is unlikely. There is little appetite for a shutdown before the election, and both the House and Senate have passed competing stopgap spending bills that would keep the government open until December. MOAA expects passage of one of these bills will be the top priority for lawmakers once they return to Washington.
MOAA has long held that lapses in funding financially harm servicemembers and hurt readiness. We have called on Congress to work together to reverse this trend of increasingly common shutdowns. Passing legislation to protect those in uniform from the harmful effects of a shutdown would bring a measure of certainty and enable servicemembers to better focus on their mission.
National Defense Authorization Act
Among the legislative packages for floor consideration in September is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Both the House and Senate have proposed versions of the must-pass annual NDAA, and Congress is expected to take up the bill shortly after returning.
The House passed its version (H.R. 8800) in late July. It authorizes a $1.15 trillion budget, includes a tiered pay raise of 5% to 7%, reverses cuts to more than 40 military treatment facilities (MTFs), mandates additional oversight for the TRICARE pharmacy benefit, and more.
The Senate version (S. 4784), with a topline budget of $1.14 trillion, was advanced by the Senate Armed Services Committee in June but has not been brought to the floor. It shares provisions aimed at reversing MTF cuts and enhancing pharmacy oversight, but authorizes only a 3.6% pay raise across the board. It also contains a provision that would establish a digital system to improve TRICARE beneficiary access to care, a priority of MOAA's.
Once S. 4784 passes the Senate, negotiations will begin between the chambers on a final bill. MOAA will continue monitoring the NDAA as it develops this fall and will engage with lawmakers and their staffs to keep key provisions supporting servicemembers and their families in the final bill.
Take Care of America's Veterans Act
The Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) is a sweeping omnibus bill including more than 60 pieces of legislation supporting veterans, survivors, and caregivers. Provisions such as the Major Richard Star Act, the Love Lives On Act, and the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement (3R) Act address high-level MOAA priorities.
Leaders in the House postponed a scheduled vote on TCAVA shortly before leaving Washington in July. While general support among veterans is high, there remains an active debate concerning the source of TCAVA's funding and codifying the VA's upcoming changes to disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus.
The provisions in TCAVA will greatly help many veterans, survivors, and caregivers - past, present and future. This bill is a pivotal opportunity to achieve long-awaited wins for veterans across the country. Taking no action is likely to result in the funds earmarked by this legislation being removed from the wider veteran community entirely and returned to the Treasury.
TCAVA may be brought back to the floor for action in September, and MOAA will continue to work with lawmakers, their staffs, coalition partners, and other stakeholders to make sure this opportunity is not wasted.
Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard
With only 16 legislative days before recess, lawmakers will be weighing many priorities. Advocacy leaders and volunteers around the country are engaged in MOAA's Summer Advocacy in Action campaign in support of three priorities: the Major Richard Star Act, military spouse employment, and pharmacy parity for TRICARE For Life beneficiaries.
Before recess, Congress needs to keep hearing from the people affected by these decisions. With competing priorities and a looming election, it will be up to uniformed servicemembers, families, veterans, and survivors to ensure those who serve and have served aren't lost in a crowded docket. Please register as an advocate, get involved in your community, and take action today.
* * *
Waters started at MOAA in 2020 with the Member Service Center. He earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Arizona State University. Before joining the MOAA team, he worked as a congressional intern for Rep. Don Young.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.moaa.org/content/publications-and-media/news-articles/2026-news-articles/advocacy/august-recess-ends-whats-next-for-congress-before-the-election/
[Category: National Defense]
IBEX Expands Networking Opportunities for 2026
CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 28 [Category: Business] -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association posted the following news release:
* * *
IBEX Expands Networking Opportunities for 2026
*
IBEX is expanding networking opportunities for 2026, giving attendees more ways to build relationships, exchange ideas and connect with the people shaping the future of the recreational marine industry when the annual show returns to the Tampa Convention Center, October 6-8.
Many of this year's experiences are organized around shared interests, career stages and technical disciplines, helping attendees find ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 28 [Category: Business] -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association posted the following news release: * * * IBEX Expands Networking Opportunities for 2026 * IBEX is expanding networking opportunities for 2026, giving attendees more ways to build relationships, exchange ideas and connect with the people shaping the future of the recreational marine industry when the annual show returns to the Tampa Convention Center, October 6-8. Many of this year's experiences are organized around shared interests, career stages and technical disciplines, helping attendees findtheir community while taking advantage of the education, innovation and business opportunities that make IBEX the industry's leading trade event.
Networking opportunities throughout IBEX 2026 include:
* Signature IBEX Gatherings: The week begins with the return of the Pre-Show Happy Hour, sponsored by SeaPower, on Monday, October 5, followed by the annual Industry Breakfast Tuesday morning. Attendees can continue conversations after the exhibit halls close during the Opening Night Gathering, sponsored by Wet Sounds, and Wednesday's Mid-Show Mixer, sponsored by Roswell Marine, both at the waterfront Sail Pavilion.
* Career and Community Connections: The expanded Emerging Marine Leaders (EML) program will feature a dedicated EML Lounge in the Education Hall, networking and education opportunities, a reception celebrating Boating Industry's 40 Under 40 and Women Making Waves honorees, and a Coffee & Connections VIP Mentorship Hour. IBEX will also host a Women in Marine Gathering, sponsored by Akzo Nobel, following the Main Stage program Setting the Table for Career Success: Women At The Helm.
* Technical and Innovation Communities: New for 2026, the Professional BoatBuilder Journal Release Party will connect readers, contributors, editors and technical professionals through an Editor & Writers Meet & Greet, Design Gallery tour and reception. Attendees can also connect with innovators through the Yachting Ventures Pitch Competition, Innovation Meet & Greet and Pitch the Press, sponsored by Supersede.
* Business and Leadership Networking: The Marine Ideas Exchange (MIX), presented by IBEX and Soundings Trade Only Group, returns Wednesday morning with industry conversations, forum sessions and curated networking breaks. New international business-building opportunities include the U.S. Market Accelerator: Sales & Marketing Connections, developed with the National Marine Representatives Association and Marine Marketers of America to connect international exhibitors with U.S. sales and marketing professionals.
* Building the Industry's Future: Career Day on Thursday will introduce students and future marine professionals to career opportunities across recreational boating through dedicated programming, exhibit hall experiences and a networking luncheon with industry leaders.
Visit IBEXShow.com for registration, education and special event information.
***
Original text here: https://www.nmma.org/press/article/25609
* * *
IBEX Expands Networking Opportunities for 2026
*
IBEX is expanding networking opportunities for 2026, giving attendees more ways to build relationships, exchange ideas and connect with the people shaping the future of the recreational marine industry when the annual show returns to the Tampa Convention Center, October 6-8.
Many of this year's experiences are organized around shared interests, career stages and technical disciplines, helping attendees find ... Show Full Article CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 28 [Category: Business] -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association posted the following news release: * * * IBEX Expands Networking Opportunities for 2026 * IBEX is expanding networking opportunities for 2026, giving attendees more ways to build relationships, exchange ideas and connect with the people shaping the future of the recreational marine industry when the annual show returns to the Tampa Convention Center, October 6-8. Many of this year's experiences are organized around shared interests, career stages and technical disciplines, helping attendees findtheir community while taking advantage of the education, innovation and business opportunities that make IBEX the industry's leading trade event.
Networking opportunities throughout IBEX 2026 include:
* Signature IBEX Gatherings: The week begins with the return of the Pre-Show Happy Hour, sponsored by SeaPower, on Monday, October 5, followed by the annual Industry Breakfast Tuesday morning. Attendees can continue conversations after the exhibit halls close during the Opening Night Gathering, sponsored by Wet Sounds, and Wednesday's Mid-Show Mixer, sponsored by Roswell Marine, both at the waterfront Sail Pavilion.
* Career and Community Connections: The expanded Emerging Marine Leaders (EML) program will feature a dedicated EML Lounge in the Education Hall, networking and education opportunities, a reception celebrating Boating Industry's 40 Under 40 and Women Making Waves honorees, and a Coffee & Connections VIP Mentorship Hour. IBEX will also host a Women in Marine Gathering, sponsored by Akzo Nobel, following the Main Stage program Setting the Table for Career Success: Women At The Helm.
* Technical and Innovation Communities: New for 2026, the Professional BoatBuilder Journal Release Party will connect readers, contributors, editors and technical professionals through an Editor & Writers Meet & Greet, Design Gallery tour and reception. Attendees can also connect with innovators through the Yachting Ventures Pitch Competition, Innovation Meet & Greet and Pitch the Press, sponsored by Supersede.
* Business and Leadership Networking: The Marine Ideas Exchange (MIX), presented by IBEX and Soundings Trade Only Group, returns Wednesday morning with industry conversations, forum sessions and curated networking breaks. New international business-building opportunities include the U.S. Market Accelerator: Sales & Marketing Connections, developed with the National Marine Representatives Association and Marine Marketers of America to connect international exhibitors with U.S. sales and marketing professionals.
* Building the Industry's Future: Career Day on Thursday will introduce students and future marine professionals to career opportunities across recreational boating through dedicated programming, exhibit hall experiences and a networking luncheon with industry leaders.
Visit IBEXShow.com for registration, education and special event information.
***
Original text here: https://www.nmma.org/press/article/25609
DMS Provider Enhances Partnership, Supporting Shared Educational Efforts Focused on Dealer Growth
BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota, Aug. 28 -- The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas issued the following news:
* * *
DMS Provider Enhances Partnership, Supporting Shared Educational Efforts Focused on Dealer Growth
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announces BiT DMS has elevated its partnership to the Platinum Partner level.
MRAA's Platinum Partner program recognizes organizations that make a substantial commitment to supporting the association's mission and the long-term success of marine retailers. Through the partnership, BiT DMS will have additional opportunities ... Show Full Article BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota, Aug. 28 -- The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas issued the following news: * * * DMS Provider Enhances Partnership, Supporting Shared Educational Efforts Focused on Dealer Growth The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announces BiT DMS has elevated its partnership to the Platinum Partner level. MRAA's Platinum Partner program recognizes organizations that make a substantial commitment to supporting the association's mission and the long-term success of marine retailers. Through the partnership, BiT DMS will have additional opportunitiesto contribute expertise and educational content that helps dealers strengthen their operations and make informed business decisions.
"We moved to the Platinum Partnership level because we believe supporting dealers requires more than providing software; it means investing in the continued strength of the marine industry," said Edward MacFawn, President, BiT DMS. "As customer expectations, technology and business conditions continue to evolve, dealerships need software that can evolve with them. MRAA gives dealers the education, resources and community they need to keep improving. That closely aligns with BiT's mission to help dealerships operate more efficiently, adapt with confidence and build stronger businesses for the future."
A Shared Commitment to Dealer Success
BiT DMS, a dealer management software (DMS) provider based in Knoxville, Tenn., works with marine dealerships, marinas, boatyards and service centers to help them operate more efficiently and better understand business performance. Its fully web-based platform brings together sales, service, parts, slips and storage, and customer relationship management (CRM) functions, providing marine businesses with the information needed to manage costs, improve workflows and make informed decisions.
"The BiT DMS team is committed to helping marine dealers understand and address their daily challenges, making them a valuable resource for the industry," said Nichole Wishart, MRAA Account Executive. "Their continued investment as a Platinum Partner, focused on dealer advancement through shared thought leadership, will provide retailers with valuable insights and resources, supporting MRAA's mission to fuel dealer success."
The MRAA Partner Membership Program brings together marine manufacturers, solution providers, service companies and industry leaders who share a commitment to supporting the dealer community. Platinum Partners make an elevated investment in MRAA's mission and play a key role in expanding resources available to marine retailers. View the complete Platinum Partner lineup.
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About BiT DMS
Since 1985, BiT DMS has helped marine dealerships, boatyards, marinas and service centers manage their day-to-day operations more efficiently. BiT understands the challenges of running a dealership and cares about helping each business get the best from its people, processes and opportunities. Its fully web-based dealer management system connects sales, service, parts, slips and storage, and customer relationships to help businesses control costs, understand profitability, prioritize work and make informed decisions. BiT serves hundreds of businesses and thousands of users across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Learn more at https://bitdms.com/marine.
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About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA)
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the trusted catalyst for success in the marine retail industry. Dedicated to fueling dealer growth and strengthening the boating experience, MRAA delivers industry-leading insights, expert guidance and proven solutions that assist marine retailers in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. Through education, advocacy and innovative resources, MRAA empowers dealers to thrive, and help drive a stronger more sustainable marine industry. Learn more at MRAA.com.
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URL: BiT DMS
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Original text here: https://mraa.com/mraa-platinum-partner-bit-dms/
[Category: Business]
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DMS Provider Enhances Partnership, Supporting Shared Educational Efforts Focused on Dealer Growth
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announces BiT DMS has elevated its partnership to the Platinum Partner level.
MRAA's Platinum Partner program recognizes organizations that make a substantial commitment to supporting the association's mission and the long-term success of marine retailers. Through the partnership, BiT DMS will have additional opportunities ... Show Full Article BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota, Aug. 28 -- The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas issued the following news: * * * DMS Provider Enhances Partnership, Supporting Shared Educational Efforts Focused on Dealer Growth The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announces BiT DMS has elevated its partnership to the Platinum Partner level. MRAA's Platinum Partner program recognizes organizations that make a substantial commitment to supporting the association's mission and the long-term success of marine retailers. Through the partnership, BiT DMS will have additional opportunitiesto contribute expertise and educational content that helps dealers strengthen their operations and make informed business decisions.
"We moved to the Platinum Partnership level because we believe supporting dealers requires more than providing software; it means investing in the continued strength of the marine industry," said Edward MacFawn, President, BiT DMS. "As customer expectations, technology and business conditions continue to evolve, dealerships need software that can evolve with them. MRAA gives dealers the education, resources and community they need to keep improving. That closely aligns with BiT's mission to help dealerships operate more efficiently, adapt with confidence and build stronger businesses for the future."
A Shared Commitment to Dealer Success
BiT DMS, a dealer management software (DMS) provider based in Knoxville, Tenn., works with marine dealerships, marinas, boatyards and service centers to help them operate more efficiently and better understand business performance. Its fully web-based platform brings together sales, service, parts, slips and storage, and customer relationship management (CRM) functions, providing marine businesses with the information needed to manage costs, improve workflows and make informed decisions.
"The BiT DMS team is committed to helping marine dealers understand and address their daily challenges, making them a valuable resource for the industry," said Nichole Wishart, MRAA Account Executive. "Their continued investment as a Platinum Partner, focused on dealer advancement through shared thought leadership, will provide retailers with valuable insights and resources, supporting MRAA's mission to fuel dealer success."
The MRAA Partner Membership Program brings together marine manufacturers, solution providers, service companies and industry leaders who share a commitment to supporting the dealer community. Platinum Partners make an elevated investment in MRAA's mission and play a key role in expanding resources available to marine retailers. View the complete Platinum Partner lineup.
* * *
About BiT DMS
Since 1985, BiT DMS has helped marine dealerships, boatyards, marinas and service centers manage their day-to-day operations more efficiently. BiT understands the challenges of running a dealership and cares about helping each business get the best from its people, processes and opportunities. Its fully web-based dealer management system connects sales, service, parts, slips and storage, and customer relationships to help businesses control costs, understand profitability, prioritize work and make informed decisions. BiT serves hundreds of businesses and thousands of users across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Learn more at https://bitdms.com/marine.
* * *
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA)
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the trusted catalyst for success in the marine retail industry. Dedicated to fueling dealer growth and strengthening the boating experience, MRAA delivers industry-leading insights, expert guidance and proven solutions that assist marine retailers in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. Through education, advocacy and innovative resources, MRAA empowers dealers to thrive, and help drive a stronger more sustainable marine industry. Learn more at MRAA.com.
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URL: BiT DMS
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Original text here: https://mraa.com/mraa-platinum-partner-bit-dms/
[Category: Business]
American Farm Bureau Federation Issues Letter to President Trump on Impact of 90-Day Beef Import Quota Suspension on U.S. Ranchers
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 28 (TNSletter) -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following letter to President Trump on the impact of the 90-day beef import quota suspension on U.S. ranchers:
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Here is the text of the letter:
August 26, 2026
Donald J. Trump
President
The United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Trump:
Thank you for your commitment to America's farmer and ranchers. Over the course of your two presidencies, you have been a champion for American farmers and ranchers, who make up the fabric of rural America, and ... Show Full Article NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 28 (TNSletter) -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following letter to President Trump on the impact of the 90-day beef import quota suspension on U.S. ranchers: * * * Here is the text of the letter: August 26, 2026 Donald J. Trump President The United States of America 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump: Thank you for your commitment to America's farmer and ranchers. Over the course of your two presidencies, you have been a champion for American farmers and ranchers, who make up the fabric of rural America, andhave prioritized issues critical to the rural economy. The unintended consequences of your recent beef import announcement, however, would have very different impacts and would damage U.S. agriculture in the long term.
A 90-day suspension of the tariff rate quota on imported ground beef has created apprehension and chaos in the cattle market. In fact, 70% of the spring-born calves are sold during the 90-day window that overlaps with the plan to increase beef imports. This weakens cattle prices and erodes the confidence U.S. ranchers need to make the long-term investments required to rebuild our cattle herd.
As you know, the U.S. cattle herd is at a historic low after years of drought, loss of grazing lands, reduced regional packing capacity, and other challenges. One factor ranchers consider when deciding to invest in rebuilding the cattle herd is market stability. A rancher making the decision to invest in rebuilding today may wait two years or more to see a return. A stable market with unwavering domestic and international demand for American beef would give ranchers the signal that their investment is worth the risk.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Cattle markets remain volatile as farmers and ranchers navigate a rapidly evolving set of challenges, including regulatory pressures, disease threats, and trade barriers that limit reliable access to export markets. The closure of the southern border with Mexico, to protect the U.S. herd from New World screwworm, has further constrained feeder cattle supplies.
Record retail beef prices are not due to one single issue, as we have communicated to your team over the last year. Rather, they reflect a combination of strong consumer demand, fluid global trade relationships, and record production costs across the supply chain. Cattle markets are experiencing strong demand for beef, but at the same time, they are facing record production costs, which have increased by 30% since 2020.
Mr. President, a key tenant of your reelection campaign was affordability, including the costs of essentials like groceries and gas. Bringing down the price of cattle will not bring the price of beef down for American families. Instead, it will discourage American farmers and ranchers from making long-term investments in herd rebuilding, extending the cycle of tight cattle supplies, high production costs and elevated beef prices for consumers.
To put it simply, allowing 300,000 metric tons--equivalent to more than 660 million pounds--of foreign beef into the United States at a 25% discount "below market prices" will undermine America's ranchers who work tirelessly to grow food for American families. America's farmers and ranchers are proud of the beef they raise, and they do not want to be one of the last generations working the land and raising cattle. Please prioritize their family businesses and the stability of our American-grown food supply.
I strongly urge you to reconsider the long-term implications that this short-term effort to lower beef prices may have on American cattle producers, the broader farm economy, and our country's ability to feed families with U.S. grown food.
Sincerely,
Zippy Duvall, President
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Original text and footnotes here: https://www.fb.org/files/PZD-Letter-to-White-House-Beef-Imports-8.26.pdf
News Release here: https://www.fb.org/news-release/afbf-analyzes-potential-beef-import-impacts-urges-president-trump-to-reconsider
[Category: Agriculture]
* * *
Here is the text of the letter:
August 26, 2026
Donald J. Trump
President
The United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Trump:
Thank you for your commitment to America's farmer and ranchers. Over the course of your two presidencies, you have been a champion for American farmers and ranchers, who make up the fabric of rural America, and ... Show Full Article NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 28 (TNSletter) -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following letter to President Trump on the impact of the 90-day beef import quota suspension on U.S. ranchers: * * * Here is the text of the letter: August 26, 2026 Donald J. Trump President The United States of America 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump: Thank you for your commitment to America's farmer and ranchers. Over the course of your two presidencies, you have been a champion for American farmers and ranchers, who make up the fabric of rural America, andhave prioritized issues critical to the rural economy. The unintended consequences of your recent beef import announcement, however, would have very different impacts and would damage U.S. agriculture in the long term.
A 90-day suspension of the tariff rate quota on imported ground beef has created apprehension and chaos in the cattle market. In fact, 70% of the spring-born calves are sold during the 90-day window that overlaps with the plan to increase beef imports. This weakens cattle prices and erodes the confidence U.S. ranchers need to make the long-term investments required to rebuild our cattle herd.
As you know, the U.S. cattle herd is at a historic low after years of drought, loss of grazing lands, reduced regional packing capacity, and other challenges. One factor ranchers consider when deciding to invest in rebuilding the cattle herd is market stability. A rancher making the decision to invest in rebuilding today may wait two years or more to see a return. A stable market with unwavering domestic and international demand for American beef would give ranchers the signal that their investment is worth the risk.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Cattle markets remain volatile as farmers and ranchers navigate a rapidly evolving set of challenges, including regulatory pressures, disease threats, and trade barriers that limit reliable access to export markets. The closure of the southern border with Mexico, to protect the U.S. herd from New World screwworm, has further constrained feeder cattle supplies.
Record retail beef prices are not due to one single issue, as we have communicated to your team over the last year. Rather, they reflect a combination of strong consumer demand, fluid global trade relationships, and record production costs across the supply chain. Cattle markets are experiencing strong demand for beef, but at the same time, they are facing record production costs, which have increased by 30% since 2020.
Mr. President, a key tenant of your reelection campaign was affordability, including the costs of essentials like groceries and gas. Bringing down the price of cattle will not bring the price of beef down for American families. Instead, it will discourage American farmers and ranchers from making long-term investments in herd rebuilding, extending the cycle of tight cattle supplies, high production costs and elevated beef prices for consumers.
To put it simply, allowing 300,000 metric tons--equivalent to more than 660 million pounds--of foreign beef into the United States at a 25% discount "below market prices" will undermine America's ranchers who work tirelessly to grow food for American families. America's farmers and ranchers are proud of the beef they raise, and they do not want to be one of the last generations working the land and raising cattle. Please prioritize their family businesses and the stability of our American-grown food supply.
I strongly urge you to reconsider the long-term implications that this short-term effort to lower beef prices may have on American cattle producers, the broader farm economy, and our country's ability to feed families with U.S. grown food.
Sincerely,
Zippy Duvall, President
* * *
Original text and footnotes here: https://www.fb.org/files/PZD-Letter-to-White-House-Beef-Imports-8.26.pdf
News Release here: https://www.fb.org/news-release/afbf-analyzes-potential-beef-import-impacts-urges-president-trump-to-reconsider
[Category: Agriculture]