Friday December 28 Ag News

NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY DOWN 5 PERCENT

Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on  December 1, 2012, was 3.0 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.  This was down 5 percent from December 1, 2011, and down 5 percent from September 1, 2012.  Breeding hog inventory, at 380,000 head, was down 1 percent from December 1, 2011, but unchanged from last quarter.  Market hog inventory, at 2.62 million head, was down 5 percent from last year, and down 5 percent from last quarter.  

The September-November 2012 Nebraska pig crop, at 1.84 million head, was down 2 percent from 2011.  Sows farrowing during the period totaled 175,000 head, down 3 percent from last year.  

Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 170,000 sows during the December 2012-February 2013 quarter, down 3 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.  Intended farrowings for March-May 2013 are 175,000 sows, down 3 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period the previous year.  



IOWA HOG INVENTORY UNCHANGED FROM A YEAR AGO

On December  1,  2012  there were  20.6 million  hogs  and  pigs  on  Iowa  farms  according  to  the  latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Hogs and Pigs  report.   The December 1  inventory was unchanged  from September 2012 but up 3 percent  from a year ago.

The September 2012-November 2012 pig crop was 5.20 million head.  A total of 505,000 sows farrowed with an average litter size of 10.3 pigs per sow.

As  of  December  1,  producers  planned  to  farrow  500,000 head  of  sows  and  gilts  in  the  December  2012-February  2013  quarter. Farrowing intentions for the March-May 2013 period were estimated at 520,000 as of December 1, 2012. 



United States Hog Inventory Down Slightly

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2012 was 66.3 million head. This was down slightly from December 1, 2011, and down 2 percent from September 1, 2012. 

Breeding inventory, at 5.82 million head, was up slightly from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 60.5 million head, was down slightly from last year, and down 2 percent from last quarter.

The September-November 2012 pig crop, at 29.4 million head, was up slightly from 2011. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.90 million head, down 1 percent from 2011. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.15 for the September-November period, compared to 10.02 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.20 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

United States hog producers intend to have 2.86 million sows farrow during the December 2012-February 2013 quarter, up slightly from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2012, and up 1 percent from 2011. Intended farrowings for March-May 2013, at 2.93 million sows, are down 2 percent from 2012, but up slightly from 2011.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 47 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up from 45 percent last year.



Upper Big Blue NRD Board Passes Rule Changes Regarding Fertilizer Application and Nitrate Management

At the Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors Meeting held at 1:30pm on December 27, 2012, the Board approved changes to the District’s Rule 5 pertaining to groundwater quality regarding fertilizer application and nitrate management.

On March 1, 2012, the District held a public hearing for proposed changes to the District’s rules that would have required District-wide use of nitrification inhibitors.  Several members of the public testified against that proposal and suggested that the District consider alternatives such as mandatory soil sampling and training on the use for fertilizer best management practices.   Again, on November 1, 2012, a second Public Hearing was held based on new management ideas and public input derived for the March hearing.

A summary of the major parts of the new rule changes are as follows:

1). To lower the Phase II Management Area trigger from 9 parts per million (ppm) to 7 ppm.  The District is divided into twelve Management Zones.  Currently, two zones are in Phase II Management Areas.  The proposal limits would allow only one Management Zone into Phase II Management per year.  This would likely result in bringing three more Management Zones into Phase II Management over the next three to four years.  In a Phase II Management Area, producers are required to take deep (24”) soil samples for residual nitrate in a corn field where corn will be planted again.  It also requires producer training and annual reporting of management practices.

2). To lower the Phase III Management Area trigger from 12 ppm to 10 ppm.  There is currently one Management Zone (Zone 5) in York County with a median groundwater nitrate over 10 ppm.  The proposal also requires that fall-winter application of anhydrous ammonia in a Phase III Area must include a nitrification inhibitor.  Spring anhydrous application would not require the use of a nitrification inhibitor.

3). Phase II and Phase III producers would also be required to use electrical resistance blocks or capacitance probes to schedule irrigation in one field.  Scheduling irrigation using soil moisture information can reduce the risk of excess irrigation leaching nutrients from the root zone.

Increasing nitrates in groundwater have been a concern in the Upper Big Blue NRD for several years.  Several communities in the District have found it necessary to construct new wells to comply with state and federal drinking water standards.  Some communities have built, or are considering, treatment plants.  Many rural residents have also replaced wells or installed private water treatment systems.

Nitrate is found naturally in the environment, however excess nitrates that are causing groundwater contamination come primarily from the use of commercial fertilizers.  Nitrogen fertilizer is needed to produce corn, however the amount and timing of the fertilizer application can reduce the risks of groundwater contamination.  Anhydrous ammonia is the most common form of nitrogen fertilizer used throughout the District.

Since 1996, the NRD has required that farmers wait until November 1st to apply anhydrous, and to wait until March 1st to apply other formulations of nitrogen fertilizer.  In some parts of the District where groundwater nitrate is the highest, farmers are required by existing regulations to attend training classes, take soil samples, and calculate crop nitrogen needs.  Despite these efforts, groundwater nitrate levels have continued to rise.  The proposed changes to District Rule 5 are designed to encourage farmers to adopt fertilizer management practices that will reduce the opportunity time for nitrate leaching out of the crop root zone.



Ethanol Stocks Down, Production Up

Domestic ethanol inventories were drawn down last week despite an increase in production, with the latest stock draw coming after three consecutive weeks of supply builds that pushed inventory up to a six-month high, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported.

EIA detailed a 523,000 barrels (bbl) draw, or 2.5%, to 20.315 million bbl for the week-ended Dec. 21 while up 14.9% from a year-ago level. Despite the draw, total inventories remain 1.974 million bbl higher than on Nov. 30.

The stock draw came despite domestic production of ethanol increasing 13,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.6%, to 834,000 bpd last week, while down 13.3% compared to the year-ago pace.

Implied demand, as measured by refiner and blender net inputs, was up 27,000 bpd to 850,000 bpd for the week-ended Dec. 21 while 3.3% higher than a year earlier. Refiner and blender net inputs represent a major portion of implied demand for ethanol.

Elsewhere, the EIA reported implied demand for motor gasoline eased 10,000 bpd to 8.608 million bpd for the week-ended Dec. 21, while four-week average gasoline demand at 8.5 million bpd was down 2.8% from the level seen a year ago.



Mississippi River Drops, Threatening Barge Traffic

(AP) -- The Mississippi River level is dropping again and barge industry trade groups warned Thursday that river commerce could essentially come to a halt as early as next week in an area south of St. Louis.

Mike Petersen of the Army Corps of Engineers said ice on the northern Mississippi River is reducing the flow more than expected at the middle part of the river that is already at a low-water point unseen in decades, the result of months of drought.

The river level is now expected to get to 3 feet at the Thebes, Ill., gauge on Jan. 6, a juncture that could force new limitations. Worse still, the long-range forecast from the National Weather Service calls for the river to keep falling, reaching 2 feet on Jan. 23.

The Coast Guard remains confident that the nation's largest waterway will remain open. But officials with two trade groups -- the American Waterways Operators and Waterways Council Inc. -- said in a joint news release that even if the river is open, further limits on barges will bring commercial traffic to a halt.

Thebes, about 150 miles south of St. Louis, is a treacherous spot for barge operators because of hazardous rock formations and a big bend in the river. The corps is in the process of removing the rocks but work isn't expected to be finished until mid- to late-January at the earliest.

The trade groups renewed their call for presidential action requiring the Corps of Engineers to increase the flow of water from an upper Missouri River dam in South Dakota. The corps cut the flow by two-thirds in November because of drought conditions in that region, reducing the amount of Missouri River water flowing into the Mississippi.

Michael Toohey, president and CEO of Waterways Council Inc., said that without the additional flow "we will have run out of time on this national crisis."

The depth of the Mississippi is regulated by dams north of St. Louis, and the depth increases south of Cairo, Ill., where the Ohio River converges. But the roughly 180-mile stretch from St. Louis to Cairo is approaching record lows. Experts say that if barges stop moving, the potential impact on shipments of essentials such as corn, grain, coal and petroleum could reach into the billions of dollars.

Drafts, or the portion of each barge that is submerged, are already limited to 9 feet in the middle Mississippi. If the river gauge gets to 3 feet at Thebes, the Coast Guard may be forced to limit drafts even further. Restricted drafts mean less cargo per barge. Officials with the trade group say that if drafts are restricted to 8 feet or lower, many operators will halt shipping.

Lt. Colin Fogarty of the Coast Guard said the agency remains confident "we can still maintain a safe, navigable waterway despite the low-water conditions."

But he acknowledged, "I'm not trying to paint a pretty picture here. We face very real, physical limitations at certain parts of the river that may inhibit barge operators because their vessels draft too much or push too much water."

Contractors hired by the corps have been using excavators on barges to remove the rock pinnacles near Thebes, and performed the first series of explosions on the pinnacles Friday. Further decisions on when to blast will be made on a day-to-day basis, Petersen said.

The corps released water from Carlyle Lake in southern Illinois earlier this month, a move that helped the river rise about 6 inches. Petersen says another release began Thursday, which will add another 6 inches of depth by around Jan. 6, a move aimed at trying to stave off barge restrictions.

Fogarty said every effort is being made to help barges keep moving, but don't expect any magic turning point.

"There is no silver bullet," Fogarty said. "This isn't a battle against the water. This is a campaign."



Specialists: In 2013, Resolve to Improve Farming Practices

New Year's resolutions aren't just for those who are overweight, sedentary or struggling to break a bad habit. Farmers can resolve to avoid poor management practices or implement better production techniques in 2013.  Purdue University crop, livestock and agricultural economics specialists shared their top three farmer resolutions for the year ahead. Those resolutions, and specialist comments about them, are:

Bob Nielsen, Extension corn specialist
-- Resolve to improve hybrid decision-making. "Look for hybrids that not only have high yield potential but also a demonstrated ability to consistently achieve that potential across a wide range of growing conditions, because you cannot predict what 2013 will bring in terms of weather."
-- Resolve to spend more time in the fields with the crops. "This will help you better identify the yield influencing factors most important to your farming operation. Then work with your advisor(s) to develop strategies to begin managing those factors."
-- Resolve to work toward improving the overall efficiency of your nitrogen management program. "Take steps to reduce the risks of N loss, such as leaching, denitrification and volatilization."

Shaun Casteel, Extension soybean specialist
-- Resolve to read the variety tag. "Seed size varies from year to year. The drought conditions - timing and duration - have impacted seed size - small and large - germination and vigor. Your planter settings and seeding rates need to be adjusted accordingly."
-- Resolve to take stand counts. "Plant populations of 100,000 to 120,000 plants per acre optimize return in investment. Early season stand counts provide the opportunity to verify your seeding rates and emergence potential. You will also be scouting the field for pressures of weeds and pests."
-- Resolve to harvest grain above 13 percent moisture. "We are losing out on a portion of our yield when we harvest below 13 percent. Note that this might mean having to set the combine multiple times based on the toughness of the stem and ease of pod threshing. You will gain yield in water weight and reduce the losses due to dry grain and header loss."

Keith Johnson, Extension forage specialist
-- Resolve to sample soils for nutrient levels. "Follow through with the addition of limestone and fertilizer recommended by the test. The application of a blended fertilizer like 12-12-12 and calling this your fertilizer program is not a wise decision."
-- Resolve to scout fields. "Do this weekly to determine the well being of the growing forages. Evaluate grazing pressure, presence of pests - weeds, insects and disease - and possible nutrient deficiency symptoms."
-- Resolve to evaluate the possibility of grazing corn residues in the early fall. "This can reduce feed cost substantially for beef and sheep producers."

Ron Lemenager, Extension beef specialist
-- Resolve to take feed samples and have them analyzed for nutrient content. "Work with a nutritionist to formulate rations that will minimize cost and optimize performance."
-- Resolve to adjust rations for cold stress, to minimize losses in weight and body condition. "For each 10-degree drop in wind chill factor below 30 degrees, the maintenance energy requirements increase by 13 percent for cows in moderate body conditioned with a dry, winter hair coat and 30 percent for thin cows or cows with a wet or summer hair coat."
-- Resolve to create a business plan of where you want to go and how you plan to get there. "It can help not only when you go to the bank for a loan, but also when the IRS does an audit."

Brian Richert, Extension swine specialist
-- Resolve to closely monitor your feeding program, since feed is 70 percent of your swine costs. "This includes sticking to your feed budgets, being vigilant in your feeder adjustments, monitoring your feed particle size and analyzing your feed ingredients. Analyzing your feed ingredients is critical when you feed more byproducts with their increased variability, and with a bad growing season this year even our corn and soybean meal needs to be analyzed."
-- Resolve to collect and use records. "You should be culling the lowest-producing females, monitoring drug use, conducting timely euthanasia and evaluating all your costs across all phases of production."
-- Resolve to re-evaluate vaccination and medication plans. "Meet with your herd veterinarian to ensure they are meeting your herd's health needs."

Chris Hurt, Extension agricultural economist
-- Resolve to never say, "It can't happen to me." "The 2012 drought was a stark reminder that bad outcomes can come to our farms and businesses. Evaluate and use the tools to help reduce the terrible financial consequences that can come from bad outcomes. Start with a re-evaluation of crop insurance alternatives."
-- Resolve to make 2013 a learning year. "New technology is coming at us quickly. There will be a new farm bill to learn about. Tax laws will likely change. New farm products are emerging. Brand new opportunities will be presenting themselves. Be sure to commit time to increasing your knowledge and to the improvement of your decision-making skills."
-- Resolve to review your family's succession plan and update your estate plan. "Even if you have a great plan, remember the laws are changing. At the very least, learn about those changes and how they affect your plan. If you don't have a plan, the new laws will give you a great reason to get started."



Deadline Looms to Unwind WTO's COOL Clock

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has directed the United States to modify its country of origin labeling (COOL) law no later than May 23, 2013. Supported by multinational meatpackers and meatpacker associations such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), Canada and Mexico successfully convinced the WTO that COOL violates international trade rules.

"Unless the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) has already drafted a comprehensive, proposed rule to address the criticisms leveled by the WTO against COOL, there is insufficient time remaining for the public to have any meaningful input in the rulemaking process," said Mike Schultz, Chair of the R-CALF USA COOL Committee and director of Region VI.

In June, a three-judge appellant panel appointed by the WTO issued its final ruling in favor of Mexico and Canada. The WTO ruled that the U.S. COOL law discriminates against cattle from Canada and Mexico by creating an incentive in favor of processing domestic livestock and a disincentive against processing imported livestock.

One of the three deciding judges appointed by the WTO was a Mexican national.

"It is outrageous for the WTO to enlist a Mexican national to support Mexico's and Canada's efforts to undermine our COOL law that was democratically passed under our U.S. Constitution," said Schultz.

In September, Mexico and Canada filed a separate complaint with the WTO, this time complaining that the United States was being unreasonable in asking for 18 months for which to modify COOL to comply with the WTO's June ruling.

The United States explained it would take at least 12 months to bring COOL into compliance with the WTO ruling through modifications to the implementing rules, or regulations, for COOL. If a new law was needed to change the COOL statute, the U.S. said it would take "substantially more time" than 18 months.

On November 22, however, the WTO directed the U.S. to implement the WTO's ruling no later than May 23, 2013, regardless of whether the U.S. chooses to implement the ruling by regulation or by statute. Thus, the WTO has directed the U.S. to complete an agency rulemaking within six months of its decision, in half the time that U.S. law would provide.

"It is equally outrageous for the WTO to demand that our federal agencies short circuit the right of U.S. citizens to actively and meaningfully participate in agency rulemakings, which necessitates ample time for USDA to draft a proposed rule, provide adequate public notice, and provide sufficient time for the public to submit thoughtful comments," Schultz added.

Schultz explained that R-CALF USA is so determined to preserve COOL that it is aggressively fighting in all three branches of the U.S. government to defend it.

To defend the United States' sovereign right to implement and enforce COOL so U.S. consumers can know where their food is produced, Schultz said his group has engaged the judicial branch of government.

"We joined in a lawsuit with the Made in the USA Foundation and other cattle and consumer groups that was filed in federal district court in September to challenge the WTO's authority to undermine our domestic laws," he said.

Schultz said his group also is actively lobbying the legislative branch of government. "We've been encouraging members of Congress to resist any efforts by USDA, USTR (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative), multinational meatpackers or their associations like the NCBA to weaken our U.S. COOL law in any way."

Because the current battleground over COOL is in the executive branch of government, Schultz said his group has been focusing considerable resources towards the USTR and USDA agencies. During the U.S. appeal of the first adverse decision by the WTO, R-CALF USA submitted a comprehensive, 17-page memorandum to USTR and USDA that identified numerous flaws in the WTO's adverse ruling and suggested many arguments USTR could use in defense of COOL.

"Many of the arguments suggested by R-CALF USA in its memorandum were included in the United States' appeal brief," said Schultz.

"The challenge right now is to unwind the WTO COOL clock by taking some meaningful action prior to the WTO's May 23, 2013 deadline," Schultz said. For that purpose, and in response to a request from USTR for suggestions, R-CALF USA submitted comprehensive suggestions to USTR and USDA on how the U.S. can proceed with a rulemaking that would address the WTO's criticisms while actually strengthening COOL.

"The WTO complained that COOL does not always provide accurate information so we suggested that UDSA initiate a rulemaking to eliminate one of the worst inaccuracies in COOL - the loophole that allows exclusively U.S. beef to nevertheless bear an inaccurate label indicating it is a product of two or more countries," explained Schultz.

Another major WTO criticism is that record keeping requirements for distinguishing imported livestock from domestic livestock are too burdensome. "To address this problem we suggested that USDA adopt a 'presumption of domestic origin' methodology that will completely eliminate the need for any records, Schultz commented. Schultz explained that if U.S. Customs and Border Protection required all imported livestock to be permanently marked with a mark of origin, then the origin of every animal can be accurately determined without any records: Those with import markings would be ineligible for the USA COOL label but eligible for a label denoting whichever country the animal's mark identifies. Animals with no import markings would then be presumed exclusively domestic and eligible for the USA label.

"We're leaving no stone unturned in our quest to defend and protect COOL," Schultz said adding, "But, if the U.S. is going to keep its regulatory options open, USDA must act swiftly to propose rulemaking language that we hope will be similar to what we suggested. If it doesn't, U.S. citizens will be deprived of their right to actively and meaningfully participate in the democratic rulemaking process," concluded Schultz.



No Big Swings in Milk Prices Foreseen in 2013

Barring a major disruption in dairy policy from the so-called fiscal cliff, milk prices will likely be weaker during the first few months of 2013 and could see recoveries going into next summer and fall. Dr. Bob Cropp with the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension noted in his monthly Dairy Situation and Outlook report that the January Class III price could be near $18.00 with little change for the Class IV price; and that the potential for higher prices later in the year will depend upon the level of milk production.

"November milk production was somewhat surprising," he said in the December report. "U.S. milk production was unchanged from a year ago in August, 0.6-percent lower in September and just 0.1-percent lower in October. But, November's production was 1.0-percent higher, the net result of 0.2-percent fewer milk cows but milk per cow 1.2-percent higher."

But with milk prices weakening some for December and January and feed prices still high, U.S. milk production is not likely to show relatively strong increases, he said.

"Although a small increase in cow numbers did occur for November, cow numbers are still likely to average lower for 2013 versus this year," Cropp stated. "And with still high feed prices margins for dairy producers may still not be at levels that would suggest any strong increase in milk production. With world milk prices increasing some U.S. dairy exports ought to remain favorable. It now looks like milk prices will average higher for 2013 than this year. But, there exists much uncertainty where milk prices will end up, particularly by summer and fall."

He says the recent dip in milk prices can be blamed on more milk available for cheese production, as well as higher milk components in total cheese production. Also, holiday orders had already been filled as of mid-December, which usually results in lower cheese prices at the end of the year.

"However, positive for cheese prices is stocks of cheese which were still tighter than a year ago with October 31st stocks 6.2-percent lower than a year ago," he said.



NSP Announces Annual Yield and Management Contest Winners

National Sorghum Producers announced last week the winners of the 2012 NSP Yield and Management Contest. Farmers from 22 states entered to win this year’s contest. Producer yields are highlighted in 11 different categories, including the new Double Crop Irrigated and Non-Irrigated categories, with this year’s top yield at 213.33 bushels per acre.

The national winners will be further recognized at Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fla., on March 1, 2013, at an awards dinner sponsored by Pioneer.

The 2012 first place winners of the NSP Yield and Management Contest were Tom Taylor of Kansas who won the Reduced-Till Irrigated category with a yield of 213.33 bushels per acre; Bob Shearer of Pennsylvania in the No-Till Non-Irrigated category with a yield of 140.85 bushels per acre; Mike Shearer of Pennsylvania in the Mulch-Till Non-Irrigated category with a yield of 131.94 bushels per acre; Gage Porter of Iowa in the Conventional-Till Non-Irrigated category with a yield of 144.29 bushels per acre; Ki Gamble of Kansas in the Conventional-Till Irrigated category with a yield of 210.85 bushels per acre; Tim King of Tennessee in the Double Crop Non-Irrigated category with a yield of 131 bushels per acre; and Reznik and Sons Inc., of Texas in the Double Crop Irrigated category with a yield of 147.72 bushels per acre.

Ki Gamble of Kansas is the Irrigated National Food-Grade category winner with a yield of 196.48 bushels per acre, and James Vorderstrasse of Nebraska won the Non-Irrigated National Food-Grade category with a yield of 119.23 bushels per acre. Tom Taylor of Kansas won the Irrigated Bin Buster Award category with a yield of 213.33 bushels per acre, and Steve Feight of Kansas yielded 160.37 bushels to win the Non-Irrigated Bin Buster Award.

“I congratulate all of the winners on their sorghum yield success in 2012,” said NSP Chairman Terry Swanson. “This contest is a great way to showcase the achievements of producers using best management practices, while demonstrating the yield potential of grain sorghum even in years when drought has plagued much of the nation’s cropland.”

To see a complete list of the NSP Yield and Management Contest national, state and county results or to learn more about the contest, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.



FARMERS AND RANCHERS CHALLENGED TO ENGAGE IN CONSUMER DIALOGUES IN 2013

As Americans begin to make New Year’s resolutions for 2013, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA®) encourages farmers and ranchers to place engaging consumer audiences about today’s agriculture at the top of their lists.

According to survey findings by USFRA, more than one in four Americans (27 percent) admit they often are confused about the food they are purchasing. Three in five Americans would like to know more about how food is grown and raised, but don’t feel they have the time or money to make it a priority (59 percent).

USFRA was created to lead the dialogue and answer the tough questions consumers have about today’s food production through events, social media, access to farmers and ranchers, and content on its website,  www.fooddialogues.com. 

 “We want consumers to know that America’s farmers and ranchers share their values and are committed to answering Americans’ questions about how we raise and grow food. But to accomplish that goal, we all need to make a commitment to listen and respond positively to consumer concerns,” said Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “I encourage America’s farmers and ranchers to become involved by sharing their stories of continuous improvement and setting the record straight about today’s agriculture.”

According to USFRA, there are six steps to becoming involved...
1.    Commit to Learn More – Sign up for alerts and information at fooddialogues.com/user/register.

2.    Understand the Language – Since 2011, USFRA has immersed itself in a wide range of research and messages to identify ways to continue to break through to influence consumers. This research found that people are concerned with the way farmers and ranchers produce food. Although they respect farmers and ranchers, they believe most food comes from “big ag”. They distrust the industry, and as a result, aren’t sure the methods and technologies used are safe for their long-term health. For more information about these research findings, contact Lisa Cassady at cassady@usfraonline.org or 314-749-5408.

3.    Get Trained –The “Conversations with EASE” – Engage, Acknowledge, Share and Earn trust is a presentation that provides tested ways to start or continue dialogues about food production. This training is based on research about what resonates and drives trust with consumers. Farmers, ranchers and industry organizations can contact Abby Rinne at rinne@usfraonline.org or 636-449-5086 to arrange a training session.

4.    Respond to Misinformation – In addition to registering for USFRA’s alerts, join the more than 4,000 farmers and ranchers who have signed up for the Farmer and Rancher Mobilization (a.k.a. F.A.R.M) Team. There are times when we see news stories, videos or online comments about farming and ranching that are not quite accurate. Americans have questions about their food, and the information available online is not always factually correct. This program provides farmers and ranchers a way to identify and clarify these misperceptions. To sign up, go to fooddialogues.com.

5.    Tell Your Story In Your Own Words – Start a conversation about farming and ranching today. Go online to USFRA’s Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/ USFarmersandRanchers), or add #FoodD to your tweets. Start a conversation wherever you are: at the grocery store, at the airport, at a sporting event or on your personal blog or Facebook page.

6.    Join the Movement - Support USFRA’s efforts by joining our movement along with our 80 affiliates and industry partners. Organizations and companies can become a USFRA affiliate or industry partner today. To find out how, contact Abby Rinne at rinne@usfraonline.org or 636-449-5086.