In November 2016, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) released the 􀏐inal rule for biofuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2017. The total renewable fuel volume requirement for 2017 is 19.28 billion gallons, up from 18.11 billion gallons in 2016. Of the total renewable fuel volume, 15 billion gallons may be met with conventional biofuel, establishing the implied mandate for ethanol.

The population shift from rural to urban regions has decreased the population density around hospitals in small towns and rural areas. At the same time, the availability of improved road systems that lower travel times, an improved ability to deliver health services via the Internet, and larger urban-rural gaps in access to the latest medical technologies may make urban hospitals more attractive for rural patients.

In the summer of 2015, producers were allowed to elect their farms into one of the two new commodity programs introduced by the 2014 Farm Bill: Price Loss Coverage (PLC) or Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC). The coverage of the latter program is offered at the county level (ARC-CO), and at the individual farm level (ARC-IC). Less than one percent of all US base acres are enrolled in ARC-IC.

Over the past few months, crop and livestock prices have worked their way higher despite record production across the board. Those large supplies have been met by strong demand for agricultural products. International demand has increased significantly and that has allowed prices to rise.