Wednesday June 19 Ag News

IBACH URGES USE OF NDA HAY HOTLINE

Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach today encouraged farmers with hay or other forage for sale or pasture for lease to call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) to list those resources on the Department’s Hay Hotline.  The hotline is designed to connect those who have hay and forage available with those in need of such resources for their livestock.

“The hotline is available year-round, but with 90 percent of Nebraska facing a second season of drought, the need for hay and other forage for our livestock producers is great even now,” Ibach said. “Some areas have received welcome rain, so hay production is picking up. Other areas have not been so fortunate. The hotline provides an easy way to connect those who have hay with those who are in need of hay.”

Individuals looking to list hay, pasture or other forage on the hotline database, can call toll-free to NDA at 800-422-6692.  NDA staff will request name, contact information and inventory details for the sellers list. NDA then makes the sellers list available to buyers on its website at www.nda.nebraska.gov, or via traditional mail if requested.  Once buyers obtain the listing information, they are responsible for contacting sellers and arranging their own transactions.

The United States Department of Agriculture crop progress report for this week rates pasture and range condition in Nebraska at 39 percent poor to very poor, and hay and forage supplies at 62 percent short to very short. Ibach said both in-state and out-of-state hay, pasture and other forage listings are accepted on the hotline.
        
“Other parts of the United States have come out of the drought and producers in those areas may have available forage,” Ibach said.

The listing is updated regularly, and once sellers no longer have hay for sale, they are encouraged to call NDA so the listing can be removed. Once a listing is a year old, it is automatically removed. 



UPDATE ON EIA IN NEBRASKA HORSES

State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes announced today that the equine infectious anemia (EIA) found earlier this month in one horse herd in northwestern Cherry County has not been found in other horses that had contact with the initial herd.  The herd remains under quarantine and will receive additional testing in the next few months to ensure the disease issue has been fully addressed, Hughes said.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture began an epidemiological investigation earlier this month after 12 cases of EIA were found in the herd.  Additional quarantines were issued on horses that were associated with the initial herd, but Hughes said test results on these animals have come back negative, and he believes the risk of additional horses contracting EIA is minimal.

Because there are no treatment options, 10 of the 12 horses confirmed to have the disease were humanely euthanized.  The other two horses were taken to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, for work related to EIA testing.

Dr. Hughes said horse, mule and donkey owners should remain vigilant this summer by following biosecurity precautions to reduce the risk of infection in their herds, including: implement control measures, including husbandry practices, that reduce biting insects, such as horseflies and deerflies; follow the rule of one horse-one needle; and additions to herds should have a negative Coggins test before being allowed to intermingle with other equine.  For more information related to actions to further protect horses visit: www.nda.nebraska.gov.

EIA symptoms include: fever, depression, weight loss, swelling and anemia.  Producers with horses, donkeys or mules that exhibit these symptoms are urged to contact their veterinarian immediately.

Dr. Hughes said those who are importing horses into Nebraska for show/exhibition or other reasons must follow Nebraska’s horse import regulations, which include the requirement of a negative Coggins test – the test utilized to determine the presence of EIA. Producers with questions about import regulations should contact NDA at (402) 471-2351.



Farm Credit Services of America Gives $100,000 Toward New Vet Diagnostic Center

            To help ensure livestock producers and others have access to the best available laboratory diagnostics, research, education and outreach services, Farm Credit Services of America has given $100,000 to support a new Veterinary Diagnostic Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

            The gift made to the University of Nebraska Foundation supports plans to replace an aging facility that no longer meets modern laboratory standards. The new facility planned to replace it will enable the university to better serve veterinarians, livestock producers, public health officials and others in Nebraska and around the country who depend on its services.

            Recognizing the state's need for a new center, the Nebraska Legislature committed to provide $41.5 million in funding through the Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative once $4.15 million is first raised from private sources. To date more than $1 million has been raised, and the university hopes to complete fundraising this summer.

            Bob Campbell, senior vice president of Farm Credit Services of America, said the company is pleased to help support this effort, which stands to benefit generations of livestock producers and agriculture research programs.

            "Livestock producers need access to cutting-edge diagnostics," Campbell said. "Considering the economic impact of the livestock industry in Nebraska, we want to help producers keep their animals as healthy as possible."

            Alan Doster, professor and director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Center, said the university appreciates the gift and efforts by Farm Credit Services of America to bring attention to the need for a new center.

            "We are very thankful for the company's generous support," Doster said. "Its investment will be well used and will help ensure we're able to provide a high level of service to livestock producers and veterinarians in Nebraska and across the country."

            Built in 1975, the Veterinary Diagnostic Center on UNL's East Campus has become outdated. According to an accreditation review last year by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, there is a need for facility upgrades and additional space to continue its responsiveness in the development and implementation of new technologies and to address biosafety and biosecurity concerns, or the center may face loss of accreditation.

            The center provides testing services to professionals and organizations across the nation and is considered a national center of excellence for testing of certain diseases in livestock, which is important for keeping them healthy.

            In addition to serving livestock producers, the Veterinary Diagnostic Center provides training for large animal veterinarians, a profession currently in demand in Nebraska. The center provides these future doctors with hands-on experience by studying specimens from current, real life animal cases. University faculty instructors and researchers conduct tests and perform research in the center that impacts agriculture across the country.

            The center is also a diagnostic resource for most small animal veterinarians in Nebraska who use the laboratory's services for quick turnaround and accurate testing of diseases specific to family pets.

            Public health officials in Nebraska even rely on the Veterinary Diagnostic Center to help protect the health of humans through diagnostic testing of certain diseases that can transfer from animals to humans, such as rabies, West Nile, H1N1 and others. The center provides disease surveillance, develops new diagnostic testing methods, conducts infectious disease research and supports continuing education programs.

            "The Veterinary Diagnostic Center touches the local community, the livestock industry, the university and the state of Nebraska in various ways," said Campbell. "We're excited to make an impact at so many levels and would encourage others to support this important effort as well."

            The gift from Farm Credit Services of America also provides support to the University of Nebraska's current fundraising initiative, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, and a top priority to increase support for agriculture and life sciences.

            Farm Credit Services of America has enjoyed a longtime philanthropic partnership with the University of Nebraska as an opportunity to help improve agriculture practice and research in the state and region. Past gifts have supported the High Plains Agriculture Laboratory north of Sidney, a new education center building at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, the Feedlot Management Specialization program, the Nebraska Beef Industry Scholarship and more.

            The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization raising private gifts to support the University of Nebraska for more than 75 years. In 2012, donors provided the university with $165 million for scholarships, medical and other research, academic programs, faculty and buildings. All foundation funds are donor designated. The foundation's comprehensive fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Nebraska, has raised more than $1.2 billion for the university and concludes in 2014. For more information, visit campaignfornebraska.org.



Johanns Sponsors Bill Permanently Repealing Death Tax

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today sponsored legislation to finally put an end to the punitive federal estate tax, better known as the death tax. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) in the Senate and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) in the House of Representatives. The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013 (S. 1183, H.R. 2429), is nearly identical to legislation introduced in the 112th Congress that garnered the bipartisan support of 223 Representatives and 38 Senators.

“As I’ve said before, death should never be a taxable event,” Johanns said. “The death of a loved one should not put the hard work of generations at risk in order to pay a punitive tax to the federal government. Nebraskans know that many of these estates are not in the form of liquid assets, but rather the very land and equipment needed to continue operations.”

The bill is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Associated Builders and Contractors, National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business, 60 Plus Association, Americans for Tax Reform, Club for Growth, National Black Chamber of Commerce, International Franchise Association, National Taxpayers Union, American Conservative Union, Family Business Coalition, and many others.



Legislation to Repeal Death Tax Introduced in Congress
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) supports the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013, introduced in Congress today by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas). The legislation seeks to abolish the estate tax, which is one of the leading causes of the breakup of multi-generation family farms and ranches.

During a press conference today on Capitol Hill, both Thune and Brady stated it was time for the estate tax to be repealed. As it currently stands, the estate tax exemption level remains at $5 million ($10 million per couple). Unfortunately, the top tax rate on the value of the estate over the exemption level increased from 35 to 40 percent as part of the “fiscal cliff” negotiations which took place at the beginning of 2013.

Thune and Brady were joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), along with Reps. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) and Kristi Noem (R-S.D.).

Steve Foglesong, owner of Black Gold Ranch in Astoria, Ill., and past president of NCBA, said during remarks at the conference today that the estate tax is a prime example of bad tax policy and is essentially a death warrant for small-to-medium sized family businesses.

“NCBA continues to fight for full and permanent repeal of the estate tax, and we strongly support the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013,” Foglesong said. “America’s farm and ranch families should not be forced to sell off land, farm equipment, parts of the operation or the entire ranch to pay off tax liabilities and attorney fees.”

Foglesong added that many farm and ranch families are asset-rich and cash-poor, with most of the value of their estate attributed to the value of the land they use to grow food and fiber for consumers around the world. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average price per acre of farmland in Illinois is $6,700, a 17.5 percent increase from 2011-2012. Increased demand for farmland has driven up the value per acre in many states, causing many farmers and ranchers to be caught up in the costly estate tax web.

“The death tax continues to harm rural America’s legacy of family farming and ranching,” said Foglesong. “Congress and the American people need to know that businesses and jobs are suffering from the death tax and it must be repealed.”



ISU Farm Energy Webinar to Air June 25

The Iowa State University Farm Energy project will air its annual Farm Energy Webinar on June 25, from 10-11 a.m.

The project’s webinars are presented annually, highlighting the team’s work and research. The first years of the webinar focused on raising public awareness about the project, said Mark Hanna, an agricultural engineer with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. However, “this year, we are turning it more to directly impact the farmer or grower,” he said.

The webinar will present case studies on ventilation management and tractors on the farm, as well as specific costs of energy for farmers and ways to keep their energy expenses low. Free online registration is open to the public through Sunday, June 23 at www.aep.iastate.edu/energy.

The Farm Energy project is a collaboration between ISU Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Energy Center. Hanna manages the project along with ISU professor Jay Harmon and program coordinator Dana Petersen. The project is in its fifth year of communicating ways to embrace energy efficiency and tips for Iowa farmers.

“The Iowa State University Farm Energy project was born partially because of the increases in energy prices,” said Petersen. “Fluctuating costs make it all the more important for businesses to examine, measure and make changes in the way they use energy on the farm.”

Hanna explained that the state of Iowa typically spends around $1 billion on energy in the agriculture business. “State wide, if we were even able to cut back by 1 percent, we are talking a lot of money saved for farmers,” he said.

The project began by focusing on informing farmers about ways to cut down on energy costs. “We tried to identify things that would be the easiest for farmers to apply energy management to, as well as giving them safe, significant energy options,” said Hanna. “Now, we are actually putting these things into practice on the farm.” The Farm Energy project is working with Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms, compiling research data in various areas of farm energy management, such as ways to reduce fuel consumption. “About 40 percent of the dollar cost for energy is caused by the use of diesel and gas fuel,” said Hanna. Cutting down on fuel will cut down on energy costs. “We are also trying to get folks thinking about upgrading to energy efficient machinery that can reduce energy costs in the long run,” said Petersen.       

In addition to the webinars, the Farm Energy project offers fact sheets that cover a wide array of topics, including livestock, fuel efficiency and soil conservation. The project annually collaborates with the Crop Advantage Series, educational meetings offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The Crop Advantage Series brings to light the latest information on crop production; the Farm Energy project adds information on energy efficiency to the mix.

Programs such as the Farm Energy project help give Iowans the knowledge to save money and manage their farms with energy efficiency. As Hanna explained, “We are trying to give people ideas on ways they can save energy dollars.”

For all of the ISU Farm Energy publications, visit the ISU Farm Energy website, http://farmenergy.exnet.iastate.edu/, or the Extension Online Store, https://store.extension.iastate.edu/.



Midwest Agriculture Leaders Meeting in North Dakota

The top state agriculture officials from 12 midwestern states will get a close look at North Dakota's two leading industries during their annual meeting, which starts Thursday, in Medora.

"The schedule includes panel discussions on agriculture and water and on North Dakota's oil and gas industry," said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, president of the Midwestern Association of State Departments of Agriculture and host of the event. "The field trips will include grain and livestock production facilities and an oil production field."

Goehring said Michael Scuse, the newly-appointed U.S. acting deputy secretary of agriculture, will address the group.

Other speakers include the current president and vice-president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture: North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Ross, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart.

MASDA is comprised of the agriculture commissioners, secretaries and directors of 12 states: North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.



Informa Drops Bean and Corn Acres

U.S. farmers will plant 95.262 million acres of corn and 77.756 million acres of soybeans in 2013, according to projections by private analytical firm Informa Economics.  Informa's corn-acreage estimate is down 1.9 million from last year, and 2.02 million below the U.S. Department of Agriculture's estimate in March of 97.282 million.  Unfavorable spring weather not only resulted in delayed plantings, it also caused a shift in planting intentions, or in some cases, resulted in prevented plantings, Informa said, according to trade sources.

The firm's soy-acreage forecast is up 558,000 acres from last year, 630,000 acres above the USDA's March estimate, but down 530,000 from Informa's May estimate.

Informa's survey indicated 11.791 million acres of spring wheat and 1.751 million acres will be seeded to durum. Compared with last year, Informa's other spring wheat estimate is down 4% and durum area is down 17.5%, traders said. The other spring wheat estimate is down 610,000 acres from Informa's May acreage report and durum estimates are down 150,000 acres, traders said.  All wheat acreage is estimated at 55.5 million acres, which is down 206,000 acres from 2012.

Last year, U.S. farmers planted 97.2 million acres of corn, 77.2 million acres of soybeans, 12.3 million acres of spring wheat, 2.1 million acres of durum wheat and 12.3 million acres of cotton.



Total Farm Safety Net Spending Drops By Two-Thirds as More Farmers Purchase Crop Insurance
(from National Crop Insurance Services)

Total government spending on farm safety net programs – including all commodity programs and crop insurance – dropped by two-thirds from fiscal years 2000 to 2012, according to data provided by USDA and the Congressional Budget Office. The reduction took place as spending on commodity programs – including direct, counter-cyclical, loan deficiency and other payments which once represented the lion’s share of safety net spending – has been slowly phased down in favor of crop insurance, which is partially self-funded through farmer premiums and farmer deductibles.

Inflation-Adjusted Expenditures on Commodity Programs DisasterIn 2000, nearly $28 billion was spent on commodity programs and less than $3 billion on crop insurance. Over the course of 12 years, the overall amount of spending slowly but consistently fell and commodity spending and crop insurance spending equalized. In 2012, total farm safety net spending was $10 billion, and was split equally between the two.

During the same period, while spending on farm safety net programs dropped precipitously, the value of crop sales more than doubled, from roughly $93 billion in 2000 to nearly $220 billion in 2012. This exponential growth in crop values was cited by the Federal Reserve as one of the bright spots that brought the country out of the long recession, by bolstering rural America as well as giving a strong shot in the arm to U.S. exports.

Moving forward over the next two years, crop insurance spending will be up in 2013, due to the 2012 drought. Beyond that, USDA projections show spending on commodity programs will remain flat at $5 billion, while crop insurance spending will decline from the 2013 level. After that crop insurance spending slowly trends up, reflecting the increasing value of U.S. crops and continued expansion of crop insurance products that farmers can purchase. Also, Farm Bills proposed by both the House and the Senate will cut the overall farm safety net even more moving forward.



Soy, Corn, Sunflower and Canola Growers Comment on Withdrawal of Gibbs Amendment on Market-Oriented Farm Policy
As part of its debate on the 103 amendments to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, the House of Representatives concluded consideration of an amendment offered by Representative Bob Gibbs of Ohio that would set target prices for all crops at 55 percent of the five year rolling Olympic average. After the amendment was offered, House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas of Oklahoma requested that Rep. Gibbs withdraw his amendment with the promise that he will work with Rep. Gibbs in the conference committee to see enacted an “equitable and market-oriented farm bill”. Leaders from the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Sunflower Association and U.S. Canola Association released the following statement on the withdrawal of the Gibbs Amendment:

“Our collective groups believe the Gibbs amendment would have received strong support on the House floor, and would have made the 2013 farm bill a better piece of legislation overall. As proponents of market-oriented farm policy, we are disappointed to see the amendment withdrawn and we thank Rep. Gibbs for his continued advocacy. We expect Chairman Lucas to respond to the farm policy concerns raised by the amendment during Conference on the farm bill, as he committed to do during his colloquy today with Rep. Gibbs. The final farm bill must be more equitable and market-oriented than the current Price Loss Coverage program in the House bill.”



Motorcycle lobby misfires with E15 attacks

Ron Lamberty, the Senior Vice President for the American Coalition for Ethanol today called the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) “E15 Fuel for Thought” rally “another sham press event that will do absolutely nothing to help motorcyclists or consumers.” 

Lamberty said “If the purpose for this side-show was actually to urge the Federal government to test a fuel that has already been tested or to ban a fuel that is already banned for use in motorcycles, it would just be ridiculous. But the fact that AFPM and Congressmen Sensenbrenner are taking part should alert everyone that Big Oil and its supporters will say and do anything to protect the oil industry from further competition.”

Lamberty also pointed out that claims made by the motorcycle lobby are contrary to the real world actions of motorcyclists that he has seen at his gas stations over the past several decades.

“I’ve operated stations for 30 years, and every August during the nation’s largest motorcycle rally in South Dakota, most of the bikers pull into our stations and have never had trouble finding the fuel they want. And in most cases, it’s the most expensive fuel the station sells,” said Lamberty.

Lamberty said AFPM’s motives are obvious, but called AMA to task for not challenging the oil lobby group for its decades-long policy of selling sub-standard 85 octane gas in the Black Hills, home of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. “AMA claims it is looking out for its members who might mistakenly buy E15 because of its lower price, yet they’ve never said a word about low grade 85 octane gas in the Black Hills, which has been the lowest price fuel out there for decades,” according to Lamberty. “(AMA) whines about the labels not being enough, yet the E15 label is blaze orange and 150% as large as an octane label, which is what motorcyclists have relied on for years to help them purchase the fuel they want.”

“Ironically, all of these people who claim to speak for small engine owners are doing the exact opposite of what they should do if they want to see E0 remain available at the pump. If they supported greater availability of E15 rather than fighting it, more refiners could use those extra gallons of ethanol from E15 sales to offset gallons of gas without any ethanol in them. If refiners would allow station owners to offer E0, E10 and E15, consumers could buy the fuel of their choice (a recent NACS survey said 59% of consumers would use E15 if it were priced the same as gasoline) those refiners could meet their RFS obligations without having to buy a single RIN.”

“Congressman Sensenbrenner talks on his website about “fiscal responsibility” and then urges the Federal Government to spend more money to test the most tested fuel in the nation’s history,” said Lamberty. “Sensenbrenner also talks about reigning in government regulations on businesses and individuals, and sings the praises of free markets, yet has been the leading advocate for government regulations to prevent station owners from selling anything but fossil fuels, and believes car owners should be banned from choosing what kind of fuel they put in their own vehicles. One has to wonder what incentive he might have in seeing oil companies control even more of the marketplace than it already controls.”



Weekly Ethanol Production for 6/14/2013

According to EIA data, ethanol production averaged 873,000 barrels per day (b/d) — or 36.67 million gallons daily. That is down 11,000 b/d from the week before. The four-week average for ethanol production stood at 876,000 b/d for an annualized rate of 13.43 billion gallons.

Stocks of ethanol stood at 16.5 million barrels. That is a 2.9% increase from last week.

Imports of ethanol were 65,000 b/d, up from last week.

Gasoline demand for the week averaged 371.3 million gallons daily.

Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production was 9.88%.

On the co-products side, ethanol producers were using 13.237 million bushels of corn to produce ethanol and 97,429 metric tons of livestock feed, 86,859 metric tons of which were distillers grains. The rest is comprised of corn gluten feed and corn gluten meal. Additionally, ethanol producers were providing 4.55 million pounds of corn oil daily.



May Milk Production up 0.9 Percent                       
Milk production in the 23 major States during May totaled 16.5 billion pounds, up 0.9 percent from May 2012.  May milk production across the entire U.S. was pegged at 17.7 million poinds, up 0.8% from May 2012. Milk  production  in  Iowa  during May  2013  totaled 393  million  pounds,  up  3  percent  from  May  2012. 

April revised production, at 16.1 billion pounds in the 23 major states, was up 0.2 percent from April 2012. The April revision represented a decrease of 20 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. 



NMPF Says Trans-Pacific Partnership Must Open Canadian Dairy Market to U.S. Exports

The National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Board of Directors last week approved a resolution in opposition to any Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that does not provide for significantly increased access to the Canadian dairy market. As part of that resolution, NMPF’s Board also urged the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to negotiate an agreement with Canada that eliminates barriers to trade and provides for mutually open dairy markets.

“From the outset, NMPF has applauded the inclusion of Canada in the TPP dialogue, given the significant export opportunities that Canada offers to our industry,” said Jim Mulhern, Chief Operating Officer of NMPF. “As the U.S. prepares to intensify market access discussions with TPP partners in its effort to bring the talks to a close, NMPF believes it is important to underscore the necessity of opening the Canadian dairy market as part of this agreement.”

Dairy trade was essentially excluded from the 1988 U.S.-Canada trade agreement (later folded into the North American Free Trade Agreement). Even though Canada is the second-largest export market for U.S. dairy products (mostly imported under a re-export program), the potential for additional sales there is far greater than what is currently allowed under the restrictive tariff system that Canada uses to protect its market.

“TPP presents a critical opportunity for us to finally liberalize U.S.-Canada dairy trade – an issue that has taken on increasing importance in light of the robust efforts by Canada to impede even the limited access currently available to U.S. dairy exporters,” said Mulhern.

NMPF supports the TPP negotiations, and “hopes that the final agreement will result in one that provides net benefits to U.S. dairy producers. Opening the Canadian dairy market is a linchpin to achieving that result,” Mulhern said.



Argentina Trims Soybean Forecast, Ups Corn Estimate

Argentina's agriculture ministry raised its 2012-13 corn forecast and trimmed its soybean estimate, confirming bumper crops despite some damage from drought early in the season.

With the harvest all but complete, the ministry pegged the soy crop at 50.2 million metric tons, down slightly from the 50.6 million tons estimated last month. That's up 25% on the year and marks the second-largest crop on record for Argentina.

Argentina is the world's no. 3 soybean exporter and leads global soymeal and soyoil exports.

The Buenos Aires Cereals exchange, Argentina's leading private forecaster, says this season's soy crop came in at 48.5 million tons. Farmers wrapped up the harvest this week, the exchange said in its weekly crop report.

The ministry also raised its corn forecast to a record 26.1 million metric tons, up from the 25.7 million tons it estimated last month. That's up 23% on the year.

According to the exchange, commercial corn production this season is set to reach 24.8 million tons, with 72% of the harvest complete.



NCGA Hosts Department of State Sponsored Team for Discussions about Ag
This week, the National Corn Growers Association hosted a team organized by the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program for discussions on sustainable agriculture, efforts towards conservation, agricultural productivity, marketing and policy advocacy. With participants from Fiji, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan who work in academia, agriculture and for non-governmental organizations, these dignitaries brought insightful questions and a deep appreciation for the opportunity to the discussion.

NCGA Director of Biotechnology and Economic Analysis Nathan Fields walked the group through subject matter while fielding questions on many related topics. Team members expressed particular interest in the effectiveness of biotechnology, the science behind the products and the approval methods in place for biotech traits in the United States.

"Interacting with teams such as this one benefits America's farmers in many ways," explained Fields. "By having open, honest dialogue about important issues, like biotechnology, we can share real information and also learn more about international perspectives. As we interact with an increasingly global marketplace, it is imperative that we openly share information if we hope to open markets and minds."

This stop was only one of several that the team will make as they explore the broader agricultural industry.



Grange happy with Army Corps of Engineers' scope of review response
The National Grange issued a statement saying it was enthusiastic about the testimony from  Jennifer A. Moyer, Acting Chief of the Regulatory Program for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in which she reaffirmed the Corps' position that no regulatory basis exists for area-wide or programmatic review of export terminals in the Pacific Northwest.

Grace Boatright, Legislative Director at The National Grange, responding to testimony from Moyer said, "The National Grange stands in strong support of the Corps' decision to maintain appropriate focus in its review of the export projects under consideration in the Pacific Northwest. This decision, which provides a procedural boost to the long-running review of these projects, serves to further open the door to infrastructure improvements in the Northwest that would greatly benefit the region's vital agricultural sector."

Boatright said the Grange was particularly supportive because of the positive economic impact the purpose-built port may bring to farmers.

"Efficiency is vital to cost-effective export - whether the commodity to be exported is coal, corn, or cattle. The approval of a purpose-built port in the Pacific Northwest would be of significant value to farmers as they seek to move their crops and livestock from the fields and pastures to their intended export markets in Asia," Boatright said. "Construction of these ports would vastly expand the region's capacity to handle agricultural products, opening new doors and spurring new investment that will benefit all industries using the ports."

Boatright said the Grange now looks forward to the next phases of the process.
"We are pleased that the Corps of Engineers has made clear the intended scope of their review, and eagerly await the approval and ultimate construction of this vital infrastructure expansion."



Meatless Mondays Being Dropped From U.S. House Cafeterias

Mondays will no longer be meatless anymore in House cafeterias in Washington, D.C.  The company that runs the various cafeterias in House office buildings is halting a campaign to promote "Meatless Mondays" after running into opposition from trade groups representing livestock producers. While there will still be vegetarian options available, any signage promoting the tradition will be removed from House dining areas, according to the coalition of livestock groups.

"'Meatless Mondays' is an acknowledged tool of animal rights and environmental organizations who seek to publicly denigrate U.S. livestock and poultry production, alleging we provide unhealthy foods, while contributing disproportionately to climate change and environmental damage," the groups wrote in opposition to the promotions. "Both claims are offensive to us and wrong."