Ag News: Refinery Exemptions

**Registered voters oppose the Trump administration’s exemption for oil refineries from renewable fuel blending obligations by a margin of nearly two to one, according to a poll by the Renewable Fuels Association.

The nationwide survey also found STRONG support for ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard, reaching its highest level since polling began in 2016.

The survey found 55 percent oppose refinery waivers, 29 percent support them, and 17 percent have no opinion.

**Nearly 400 cattlemen, opposed to low cattle prices and excessive profits by beef packers, rallied last week in Omaha where the biggest cheers came at the suggestion President Trump fire Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.

At Wednesday’s “Rally to Stop the Stealin,” speakers called on the federal government to “breakup” the Big Four packers.

But, Organization for Competitive Markets board member Fred Stokes tells agweb.com, that would be difficult since one of the first things Perdue did when reorganizing the USDA was to abolish the agency that administers the Packers & Stockyards Act.

https://www.agweb.com/article/omaha-rally-seeks-trumps-attention-perdues-firing?mkt/

**U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Travis Arp is just back from meetings in Vietnam and the Philippines where they’re dealing with African swine fever AND meat processors are looking to secure more imported pork.

Vietnam's ASF-related hog losses are estimated at 4.7 million head and its hog inventory is down 19% this year.

The Philippines, which is already a large pork importer, is just beginning to feel the impact of ASF.