Thursday November 6 Ag News

Producers Invited to Attend Thurston County Farm Bill Meeting

The Thurston County Farm Service Agency (FSA) and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension Service are hosting a Farm Bill meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. at the Pender Fire Hall located at 314 Maple Street in Pender, Nebraska.  The meeting is free and open to the public.

There are a number of Farm Bill tools currently available to producers.  Discussion will cover these  tools, which allow individuals to enter information about their operation and analyze program projections under possible future scenarios.  


If you have any questions, please contact the Thurston County Farm Service Agency at 402-846-5655.



FSA Urges Farmers and Ranchers to Vote in County Committee Elections

Thurston Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director Josie Waterbury announced today that the 2014 FSA county committee elections beganon Monday, November 3, 2014, with the mailing of ballots to eligible voters. The deadline toreturn the ballots to local FSA offices is December 1, 2014. Thurston County Local Administrative Area (LAA) #1 is up for election in 2014 and consists of Thayer, Pender, and Flournoy Townships.

This year, the following candidate is running unopposed for re-election in Thurston County:
· Thomas Reppert

“The role and input of our county committee members is more vital than ever,” said Waterbury.“New county committee members provide input and make important decisions on the local administration of commodity, disaster, and conservation programs.”

Eligible voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week may obtain ballots from their local USDA Service Center.  December 1, 2014, is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must also be postmarked no later than December 1. Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office January 1, 2015.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program.  A person who is not of legal voting age but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm also may be eligible to vote. Agricultural producers in each county submitted, candidate nominations during the nomination period, which ended August 1.

While FSA county committees do not approve or deny farm operating loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs, and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,700 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers.

More information on county committees can be found on the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.



Nebraska Corn Board to Meet

The Nebraska Corn Board will hold its next meeting, Monday, November 24 and Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Board will address regular board business on Tuesday, November 25.  The meeting is open to the public.  A copy of the agenda is available by calling either 402/471-2676 or 800-NECORN1 or by emailing janet.miller@nebraska.gov.



Soil Health Partnership Field Day Comes to Nebraska

The Soil Health Partnership holds its first Nebraska field day on Wednesday, November 12.  Corn farmer Greg Whitmore will host area growers, soil health experts and neighbors at the Central Valley Ag in Shelby, Nebraska.

The morning agenda includes an update of Nebraska Corn Growers Association research and programs pertaining to soil health. Participants will also hear from Dr. Nicholas Goeser, NCGA manager for Soil Health and Sustainability, on productivity, profitability and environmental outcomes related to soil health on your farm. Quentin Cooksley of Hagie Manufacturing Company will present on seeding technologies for cover crops, followed by Mike Zwingmen, Central Valley Ag's Lead Analyst of Agronomy Research, speaking on their programming and research efforts in soil health.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT, regardless of weather conditions. Registration will occur on-site beginning at 8:30 a.m., and a continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be served to participants. The field day location is at Central Valley Ag, 340 Oak Street, in Shelby. 

For the most current listing of Soil Health Partnership field days and locations, visit soilhealthpartnership.org or email soilhealth@ncga.com.

The mission of the Soil Health Partnership is to catalyze enhanced agricultural sustainability and productivity by demonstrating and communicating the economic and environmental benefits of improved soil health. For more information, visit soilhealthpartnership.org or email soilhealth@ncga.com.



NFU Beginning Farmers Institute Experiences Cooperatives and Local Farms

National Farmers Union (NFU) Beginning Farmers Institute (BFI) participants are in Minneapolis this week to take a closer look at the cooperative business model, tour local farms and co-ops, consider legal issues and learn about bookkeeping requirements that are critical to the success of the operations.

“As harvest winds down, Americans are getting ready for Thanksgiving. We are proud of our Beginning Farmers Institute participants for wanting to excel in the field of family farm agriculture,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “As diverse as production agriculture can be, farmers and ranchers all share similar challenges.”

The agenda of activities is packed, from meeting with an attorney whose background is rich with generational farm issues, to quizzing a former USDA expert who will review bookkeeping and tax record requirements. NFU Foundation Executive Director Maria Miller led a group discussion on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL).

BFI participants will tour local farms including the family dairy operation of BFI alumni Eric Hoese. The group will also hear how Minnesota Farmers Union has turned its program "Minnesota Cooks" into a popular event that represents the best homegrown foods from around the state. Many of the group meals will be at farm-to-table restaurants.

BFI participants include Nicole Vojtech of Ohio; Tracy Zink of (Indianola) Nebraska; Courtney Krueger of North Dakota; Chris Holman and Kriss Marion of Wisconsin; Harrison Topp of Colorado; Glen Hughes of Indiana; Erin Bailey of Washington; Rick Duvall of Illinois; Chelsea Kruse of New Hampshire; Troy Hunoff of South Dakota; Nicholas Levendofsky, and Matt and Leah Ubel of Kansas.

The selected individuals from across the nation come from an array of farm operations. “The Beginning Farmers Institute is important as they all of have different experiences and points of view,” said Johnson. “The participants not only learn from experienced speakers, they learn from each other."

The institute is a 12-month program and is sponsored in part by DuPont Pioneer, Farm Credit, CHS Foundation, CoBank, FUI Foundation and the NFU Foundation. BFI participants attended their first meeting earlier this year in Washington, D.C., where they focused on financial, marketing, public speaking and planning skills.



7th Annual Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference A Big Success

The seventh annual Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference and Exhibition held last week in La Vista, Nebraska enjoyed 375 attendees for the conference, 43 sponsors and exhibitors, and 53 speakers covering issues ranging from the status of the federal Wind Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC); to the challenges and opportunities involved with upgrading the transmission infrastructure, to the role of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on regional transmission policy.

Patrick Clarey an Attorney Advisor in FERC’s Office of Energy Market Regulation - Central Division MISO/SPP reported to attendees how FERC develops policy reforms to addresses emerging issues such as Order 1000 regarding transmission and the fostering of competition.

Tom Keirnan, president of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), opened the conference Wednesday morning by addressing the Current State of Wind Development. Kiernan reported on the status and importance of the wind energy PTC and how the U.S. Congress needs to extend that key policy enabling the wind energy industry to continue to grow, enhance rural economic development and create new good paying jobs.

The Wednesday luncheon speaker, Dr. Karen Wayland, Deputy Director for State and Local Cooperation in the office of Energy Policy & Systems Analysis of the U.S. Department of Energy, addressed national energy and environmental policy and pointed out the importance of wind and solar development in addressing climate change.

Bob Dixson, mayor of Greensburg, KS provided a key example of how Greensburg is using wind and renewable energy to rebuild their community as a model for other rural towns who want to be green. The town is powered by 100% renewable power, and large commercial buildings must meet LEED platinum standards. Mayor Dixson also met privately with representatives from Pilger, NE, which was nearly destroyed by two tornadoes on June 17, 2014.

Former Nebraska State Senator Don Preister of Bellevue awarded the DIERKS-PREISTER WIND PIONEER AWARDS to Conference Co-Chairs John Hansen and Dan McGuire for their leadership in moving Nebraska’s wind energy policy and industry forward.

“The leadership, policy and stakeholder engagement work of Dan McGuire and John Hansen definitely represents the true spirit and intent of the DIERKS-PREISTER WIND PIONEER AWARD. These two leaders are carrying on the tradition of excellence that former State Senator Cap Dierks of Ewing and former State Senator Don Preister intended when this award was established,” said Adam Herink, Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference Co-Chair of Omaha.

Next year’s conference is scheduled for November 9-10 at the LaVista Conference Center. This year’s presentations can be found at http://www.neo.ne.gov/renew/wind-working-group/2014conference/2014conference.htm.



Lindsay Corporation Agrees to Acquire Elecsys Corporation

Omaha-based Lindsay Corporation, a leading provider of irrigation systems and infrastructure products, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Elecsys Corporation (NASDAQ: ESYS), a provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) technology solutions and custom electronic systems. Elecsys products and services include remote monitoring and wireless communication technologies to connect industrial equipment in harsh and remote environments, integrating field data with enterprise applications and the emerging industrial Internet of Things (IoT). Headquartered in Olathe, KS, and with 135 employees, Elecsys Corporation reported annual revenue of $30.4 million in its latest fiscal year ended April 30, 2014.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lindsay will acquire Elecsys for $17.50 per share in cash, for a total purchase price of approximately $70.5 million, which includes the cashing out of Elecsys' equity compensation awards. The agreement has been unanimously approved by both the Lindsay and Elecsys boards of directors. Upon closing of the transaction, Elecsys will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Lindsay Corporation and will continue to be operated by the company's current management team. The parties are targeting a January 2015 closing, subject to customary conditions, including receipt of Elecsys shareholder approval. While Lindsay has sufficient cash on hand to consummate this acquisition, Lindsay expects to take advantage of attractive debt market interest rates in support of this acquisition as it continues to execute on its capital allocation plan.

"Lindsay is excited to announce the acquisition of Elecsys," stated Rick Parod, Lindsay's president and chief executive officer. "This represents a key strategic addition to Lindsay Corporation's extensive competencies and is important to our long term strategy of leading the market in advanced technologies for managing water use efficiency. The Elecsys team has done an excellent job of developing proprietary M2M solutions that are field proven with a strong customer base in water, energy production, agriculture, and transportation. We expect the acquisition to be accretive in the first year."



Farmer Veteran Stakeholder Conference in Des Moines Nov 14-15

Join the Farmer Veteran Coalition at the National Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference Nov. 14-15 in Des Moines for networking, peer-to-peer learning, and to shape a strategy for long-term collaborations.

Farmer Veteran Coalition is organizing the first national forum on programs for veterans pursuing careers related to food and agriculture. The conference will bring together veteran-serving and farmer-serving organizations to share lessons learned and explore new partnerships. All stakeholders from the agricultural and veteran communities are invited: non-profits, businesses, philanthropists, government agencies, trade associations, and educators.

Speakers will represent local, state and national non-profits and trade associations, local, state and federal government programs, agricultural employers, civic leaders, farmer-veterans, entrepreneurs, and others. Sessions will address successful models, lessons learned, and difficult questions related to coordinating programs and services.

Sponsors include The Farm Credit System, American Farm Bureau Federation, CHS Inc. and the National Farmers Union.

The conference will be held at Drake University;s Olmsted Center. Cost is $150 per person.



Iowa's Northey to keep water quality on state's agenda

Republican Bill Northey will continue his efforts working with Iowa's nearly 90,000 farmers to improve the state's water quality.

Northey, 55, has said getting farmers to voluntarily embrace conservation efforts is the best way to reduce the runoff that contributes to high nitrates in drinking supplies in Des Moines and to the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone that's unable to support aquatic life.

A 50 percent turnout in the midterms had Northey win a landslide victory of 62 percent of the vote against challenger Sherrie Taha, who garnered 34 percent. New Independent Part Iowa challenger Levi Benning took 3.5 percent of the vote.  Nearly 1.076 million people voted for the Secretary of Agriculture position.

"We're not all the way there, but we're making progress," said the Spirit Lake farmer, who is co-chairman of a national hypoxia task force.

Northey also wants more young people to have access to farming opportunities.  "We need to make sure that responsible livestock production remains a viable option for young people," he said.



IOWA WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT REVIEW BOARD MAKES FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR WATER QUALITY PROJECTS

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged eligible groups to apply for grants to support projects that will improve water quality in the state.  Approximately $830,000 is available through the Watershed Improvement Review Board to support qualifying projects.

Funds are available to local watershed improvement committees, soil and water conservation districts, public water supply utilities, county conservation boards, cities and counties.

Funds are typically matched with other funds by the organizations receiving assistance and will support a variety of projects across the state focusing on protecting water quality and improving the health of the state’s waterways.

Projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, those addressing agricultural runoff and drainage, flood prevention, stream bank erosion, municipal discharge, storm water runoff, unsewered communities, industrial discharge and livestock runoff.

Each project can request up to $250,000 in funding.  The grants will be under contract to implement the projects for a maximum timeframe of April 2015 to December 2017.

Potential applicants should review the RFA in full at http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/IWIRB/iwirbRFA.asp to make sure their proposal qualifies.

All applications are due on Monday, December 29, 2014 and will be reviewed in January 2015, when grant recipients will be announced by the Watershed Improvement Review Board.  The Board is comprised of representatives from agriculture, drinking water and wastewater utilities, environmental organizations, agribusiness and the conservation community, along with two state senators and two state representatives.

Application materials can be downloaded from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website at http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/IWIRB/iwirbRFA.asp.  To receive more information or ask questions, contact Jerry Neppel at 515-281-3599.



Iowa Corn Encourages Fans to Enjoy Cy-Hawk Series

The annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series events continue, and so does the fun!

To educate sports fans about the 4,000 products made from corn, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) team up to sponsor the Cy-Hawk Series. Iowa Corn has sponsored the series, which showcases collegiate student athletes from Iowa and Iowa State competing in leading Olympic-style sports since 2011, because the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series is more than a game; it's a series that features student athletes giving it their all on the field, the court, the mat, the track and in the classroom.

Through the series, Iowa Corn promotes ethanol by encouraging Iowans age 18 or older to enter to win a Flex-Fuel Chevy Equinox wrapped with their team's favorite colors. To add to the experience, 10 finalists will be chosen to attend the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series men's basketball game in Iowa City, Dec. 12. During halftime, at the end of a reverse drawing, one lucky fan will drive home a 2015 Flex-Fuel Chevy Equinox courtesy of Iowa Corn. No purchase is necessary to enter. For complete contest rules, and to enter to win the Flex-Fuel Chevy Equinox, visit iowacorn.org/giveaway.

Iowa Corn also encourages fans to stop by the Iowa Corn booth at the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk events in Iowa City to enter to win an American Ethanol gift card to fill up their own vehicle at Kum & Go locations in Iowa. Look for the Iowa Corn team at these Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series events:

-- Wrestling -- Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. at Carver Hawkeye Arena

-- Women's Basketball -- Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at Carver Hawkeye Arena

-- Women's Swimming & Diving -- Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Campus Rec. & Wellness Center (CRWC) Pool

For more information about the series, track the score or play Pick 'N Win, visit iowacorncyhawkseries.com.



September Results Solid for U.S. Beef, Pork Exports

With September being another strong month for red meat export value, both U.S. beef and U.S. pork exports broke the $5 billion dollar mark for the first three quarters of the year, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

September beef exports increased 6 percent from a year ago in volume to 100,068 metric tons (mt), and soared 25 percent in value to $631.9 million. For January through September, exports were up 3 percent in volume (890,276 mt) and 15 percent in value ($5.18 billion).

Pork export value was up 7 percent in September to $513 million, despite a 3 percent decline in volume (162,125 mt). Exports through the first nine months of the year maintained a record pace in both volume (1.64 million mt) and value ($5.05 billion), increases of 5 percent and 14 percent, respectively, from a year ago.

“These are impressive results, especially given the headwinds we faced in September – including a very strong U.S. dollar, a significant decline in beef production and our first full month of dealing with Russia’s retaliatory import ban,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “It was just three years ago that U.S. pork and beef exports eclipsed the $5 billion mark for the first time in an entire calendar year, so it’s very gratifying to see our industry reach these mileposts by the end of the third quarter.”

Beef exports surge despite lower slaughter numbers
With herd rebuilding gaining traction in the U.S. beef industry, fed slaughter numbers have trended lower. September export value reached $313.67 per head of fed slaughter – down from the record set in August, but 26 percent higher than a year ago. For January through September, per-head export value was $283.29 – up nearly $40 from the same period last year. Exports equated to 14 percent of total beef production and 11 percent for muscle cuts only – up from 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively, last year.

Leading market Japan was the pacesetter for September beef exports, with volume climbing 36 percent from a year ago to 23,195 mt and value up 55 percent to $155.7 million. For January through September, exports to Japan were steady in volume (184,293 mt) and 7 percent higher in value ($1.17 billion).

Other January-September beef export highlights include:
-    Exports to Hong Kong were up 26 percent in volume (106,423 mt) and 45 percent in value ($768.3 million).
-    Export volume to South Korea was up 12 percent to 84,873 mt, while value soared 41 percent to $590.5 million.
-    The summer surge in exports to Taiwan moderated in September, but the market remains on a record pace in both volume (25,445 mt, +9 percent) and value ($215.1 million, +16 percent).
 -   Exports to Mexico totaled 178,812 mt (up 19 percent), valued at $860.8 million (up 34 percent). Though as USMEF has previously noted, data from early 2013 may have understated last year’s exports.

Pork exports to Mexico remain on record pace
Pork export value per head slaughtered was $58.10 in September (+10 percent from a year ago) and $64.48 for January through September (+20 percent). Exports accounted for 27 percent of total pork production and 23 percent for muscle cuts only – up from 26 percent and 22 percent, respectively, during the first nine months of 2013.

Mexico, which is the leading volume destination for U.S. pork, continued to perform very well in September – with exports totaling 58,929 mt (+17 percent) valued at $138.4 million (+35 percent). For the first nine months of the year, exports to Mexico maintained a record pace of 503,614 mt (+13 percent) valued at $1.16 billion (+36 percent).

Other January-September pork export highlights include:
-    Exports to South Korea were up 37 percent in volume (96,667 mt) and 56 percent in value ($304.5 million). Pork export value to Korea has already surpassed the 2013 year-end total by more than 10 percent.
-    The leading market for U.S. pork in the Central-South America region is Colombia, where exports were up 64 percent in volume (36,234 mt) and 80 percent in value ($101.3 million).
-    Although export value to Japan has slowed the past two months, it remains the leading value market for U.S. pork. While pork muscle cut exports to Japan were down 3 percent in volume (298,005 mt), export value was 1 percent higher at $1.39 billion.

September lamb exports maintain positive momentum
U.S. lamb exports achieved a year-over-year increase for the third consecutive month in September, up 10 percent in volume (844 mt) and 14 percent in value ($2.16 million). For January through September, exports were still 17 percent lower in volume (8,054 mt) and down 2 percent in value ($21.1 million). Exports to leading market Mexico edged higher for the year, increasing 4 percent in volume (6,726 mt) and 5 percent in value ($11.2 million) Exports also expanded to the Caribbean, Panama, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, partially offsetting lower totals for Canada.



Wheat Growers Meet in New Mexico

The 2014 Joint Fall Wheat Conference of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) concluded Saturday in Santa Ana, N.M. The four-day meeting brought together wheat growers from around the country to discuss upcoming issues and to plan for the year ahead. The following committees met at the Fall Wheat Conference:
 
Joint International Trade Policy Committee
The Joint International Trade Policy Committee, made up of representatives from both NAWG and USW, met last week in New Mexico during the wheat industry’s annual fall conference. The committee tackled a busy agenda that included a discussion on the ongoing trade agreements with the Asian-Pacific region (TPP) and the European Union (T-TIP), in addition to reiterating the need for Congress and the administration to pass Trade Promotion Authority, to ease the passage of the agreements.

The Committee also dove into the upcoming Federal Grain Inspection Services (FGIS) reauthorization, and discussed how the wheat industry could use the legislation as tool to avoid another situation similar to the one at the Port of Vancouver, WA last summer, when state and federal inspectors would not inspect grain, causing a stoppage in shipments.

Joint Biotech Committee
The NAWG and USW Joint Biotech Committee met last week to discuss a wide range of biotechnology facing the wheat industry today. Included on agenda was a brief discussion of the APHIS report on the investigation into GMO wheat in Oregon two summers ago, as well as updates from several tech providers, and staff updates on GMO labeling initiatives and the Wheat Innovation Alliance (WIA). Much of the discussion focused around currently ongoing efforts from the agriculture industry to gain a Low Level Presence (LLP) for GMO traits in shipments of grain, both domestically and internationally, and how the wheat industry can be involved going forward.

The discussion lead to a motion by the committee to “authorize the Chairman and staff to collaborate with other grain groups to recommend a threshold level at the January meeting.” The guest speaker for the meeting was Vic Knauf, Chief Scientific Officer from Arcadia Biosciences.
 
Environmental and Renewable Resources Committee
The Environment and Renewable Resources Committee met to discuss regulatory issues affecting wheat growers and farm bill implementation. The committee heard from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NAWG general counsel regarding the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. proposed regulation.  The committee discussed action on written comments, which will be submitted prior to the November 14 deadline, requesting that EPA withdraw the proposed regulation.

The committee also agreed to send a letter to Secretary Vilsack regarding National Resource Conservation Service contribution agreements, an issue raised by the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.  A copy of the letter can be found here.  With the Administration’s lack of action on the 2014 Renewable Fuels Renewable Volumetric Obligations, the committee recommended joining with several other agriculture commodity organizations in sending a letter to President Obama. A copy of the RFS RVO letter can be found here. The committee also discussed the expected timeline for farm bill conservation program regulation and a strategy for preparing NAWG comments.

Research & Technology Committee
Following the opening introductions and approval of the agenda and previous meeting minutes, Matt Erickson of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) gave an overview of current agricultural group discussions led by AFBF about farmer data. He stressed that the guiding principles of technology providers are consistency and transparency in their policies concerning agricultural data generated on farms.

Committee member and former chair Robert Blair then gave an update on current FAA rules regarding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and discussed the challenges those rules pose to famers who wish to use the technology and manage data collected using them. He emphasized the need for farmer representation on the FAA advisory committee. The Committee also heard that the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has invited NAWG to participate in their congressional briefing session on March 9, 2015. The focus of the briefings will be on the capabilities and applications of unmanned aerial systems in agriculture.
The Committee passed a resolution in support of grower representation on the Federal Aviation Administration small commercial Unmanned Air Systems rulemaking committee.

Additionally, they passed a motion to provide a letter from NAWG supporting the Triticeae Cooperative Action Program (T-CAP) and urging the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to issue a Request for Proposals that would allow TCAP to apply for future funding.
 
Domestic Trade and Policy Committee
The Domestic Trade and Policy Committee started with general discussion and staff updates and then moved right into presentations given by their invited speakers. The first presentation was given by Kevin Koffman and Loch Edwards from TTMS Group. The discussion focused on issues that the northern plains are facing, specifically the challenge of railroads not being able to move grain due to capacity issues.

Next, Tara Smith, from Michael Torrey and Associates, spoke on behalf of the Crop Insurance Reinsurance Bureau about the future of crop insurance. Smith pointed out that crop insurance was one of the farm bill items that all of agriculture stood together on and one of the only items that received increased funding. However, crop insurance is a target of many organizations from both the far left and the far right and agriculture needs to ban together in the coming years to defend crop insurance and keep it working for our growers.

The last part of the meeting focused on the decision tools made available on the USDA website. Dr. Joe Outlaw from Texas A&M University and Dr. Gary Schnitkey from the University of Illinois, the two leading universities that developed the decision tools, were both on hand to walk through their decision aides. Both professors went step-by-step through their tools and allowed for questions from all present. At this point in the farm bill implementation process, farmer education is of the upmost importance growers will have to make a five-year long decision on which programs to sign up for early next year.

Industry Partner Council
The NAWG Industry Partners Council (IPC) met on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in conjunction with the Fall Wheat Conference. The IPC is comprised of wheat value chain members who partner with NAWG to provide various levels of support to achieve wide-ranging organizational objectives. The featured presenter at this IPC meeting was political consultant Ladonna Lee of Foley & Lardner, LLC. She provided her Election Day predictions on both Senate and House races in ten of the top U.S. wheat-producing states, as well as predictions on committee leadership changes if the Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate and retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. IPC participants in attendance included representatives of BASF, Bayer CropScience, BNSF, CoBANK, John Deere, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto and Syngenta. The NAWG Executive Committee, CEO and NAWG legal counsel also participated in this meeting.



Land O’Lakes, Inc. Reports Year-to-Date and Third Quarter Financial Results

Land O'Lakes, Inc. today announced year-to-date financial results through September, reporting net earnings of $227.9 million, up 15 percent from the same period last year. Third quarter net earnings were $5.8 million compared to $49.4 million last year, with the lower results primarily attributable to cyclical market devaluations that were anticipated following an exceptionally strong first half. Year-to-date net sales were $11.4 billion, up 6 percent compared to last year, and third quarter net sales were $3.1 billion compared with $2.9 billion in 2013.

“Our solid year-to-date performance reflects the successful implementation of on-going, long-term strategies that embrace the great growth industries of agribusiness and food production,” said Chris Policinski, president and CEO of Land O'Lakes, Inc. “While third quarter results were influenced by market volatility, we continue to achieve significant enterprise growth by helping farmers produce more food in an increasingly sustainable manner to meet the nutritional needs of the world’s expanding population,” he said.

Year-to-date through September, each of the company’s three business segments achieved earnings that were ahead of last year:
-  Dairy Foods, including the company’s iconic LAND O LAKES brand, benefitted from strong markets for its butter and cheese products, improved branded butter volumes, manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies, and lower advertising expense.
-  Crop Inputs, including the WinField brand, slightly exceeded the record results of 2013 due to strong volumes and performance in soybean seed and STAMPs (seed treatments, adjuvants, micronutrients and plant nutrition), partly offset by lower volumes in other crop protection products and corn seed.
-  Animal Nutrition, including the Purina brand, benefited from lower input costs for livestock and lifestyle products plus strong volumes in both livestock and lifestyle feeds.

The Layers, or egg business operated through Moark, LLC, is no longer being reported as a separate business segment.  The company has divested substantially all of the Western and Midwestern assets of this business and is evaluating options with respect to the remaining Eastern assets.

Total Land O'Lakes debt as of September 30, 2014 was $1.83 billion, down $45 million from the same date one year ago. The decrease was primarily due to Moark asset sales, partly offset by increased working capital.



The Andersons Reports Third Quarter Results

The Andersons, Inc. announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.
-- Year-to-date earnings of $2.95 per diluted share set a new record.
-- Record third quarter operating income of $21.3 million for the Ethanol Group.

"We're pleased with our results through September, which set a record. Our earnings this year clearly have been led by the outstanding results of our Ethanol Group," said CEO Mike Anderson. "I want to mention, however, that current ethanol market indications for 2015 show margins declining from the levels we have seen this year.

"We continue to grow, both organically and by acquisition, including the purchase of Auburn Bean and Grain in October, which added grain and agronomy locations throughout north central Michigan," added Mr. Anderson. "This is an area of strategic significance to the company as it connects our existing locations to our Thompsons joint venture in Ontario. This acquisition increased our grain storage capacity by 13 percent, and our nutrient storage by four percent."

All financial and operating highlights below are quarterly data compared to the same period of the prior year, unless otherwise noted.

Third quarter net income attributable to the company was $16.8 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, on revenues of $1.0 billion. In the same three month period of 2013, the company reported results of $17.2 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, on revenues of $1.2 billion.

Revenues were down in the Grain and Ethanol groups due to lower commodity prices. The majority of the decrease was within the Grain Group where the average price per bushel sold decreased by 36 percent, which more than offset the 11 percent increase in bushels sold.

The Ethanol Group realized solid margins at all plants. These margins were primarily supported by strong export demand, lower corn prices, and solid operating metrics. The Ethanol Group had record E-85 sales.

Volume for the Plant Nutrient Group was up almost 25 percent during the third quarter; however, this was partially offset by lower gross profit per ton.

The Rail Group's income was down this quarter due in part to the group recognizing $4.3 million in income from the settlement of two non-performing leases last year, and a significant increase in freight expense to move idle cars into service.



Three Subsidiaries of the World’s Largest Fertilizer Producer to Reduce Harmful Air Emissions at Eight Production Plants
In a settlement with the United States, three subsidiaries of the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS), the world’s largest fertilizer producer, will take steps to reduce harmful air emissions at eight U.S. production plants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice announced today. The settlement resolves claims that these PCS subsidiaries violated the Clean Air Act when they modified facilities in ways that released excess sulfur dioxide into surrounding communities.

The settlement requires PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer, AA Sulfuric Inc., and White Springs Agricultural Chemicals Inc. to install, upgrade and operate state-of-the-art pollution reduction measures, as well as install emissions monitors at eight sulfuric acid plants across facilities in Geismar, La. (one plant), White Springs, Fla. (four plants), and Aurora, N.C. (three plants). The three companies will spend an estimated $50 million on these measures, and will pay a $1.3 million civil penalty.

“Large industrial facilities that break the law and pollute the air will be held accountable,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This case will bring these companies into compliance and require additional action to cut pollution to benefit communities, especially those most vulnerable to air pollution.”

“This agreement, the largest so far in our ongoing Clean Air Act enforcement efforts against sulfuric-acid producers, will ensure cleaner air for citizens across the Southeast and will send a strong signal to the industry that noncompliance has serious consequences,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Sam Hirsch for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

EPA expects the actions that the companies have agreed to take will reduce harmful emissions by over 13,090 tons per year, which includes approximately 12,600 tons per year of sulfur dioxide, 430 tons per year of ammonia and 60 tons per year of nitrogen oxide. In the future, the companies can also retire plants to comply with the settlement.

The settlement also includes a “supplemental environmental project,” estimated to cost between $2.5 and $4 million, to protect the community around a PCS Nitrogen nitric acid plant in Geismar, La., and requires PCS Nitrogen to install and operate equipment to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia. This project is part of EPA’s commitment to advancing environmental justice by reducing the disproportionate environmental impacts on communities near industrial facilities – in this instance, by reducing fine particulates that can aggravate respiratory disease.

Sulfur dioxide, the predominant pollutant emitted from sulfuric acid plants, has numerous adverse effects on human health and is a significant contributor to acid rain, smog and haze. Sulfur dioxide—along with nitrogen oxide—is converted in the air to particulate matter that can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular impacts, and premature death.

This settlement is part of EPA’s national enforcement initiative to control harmful emissions from large sources of pollution, which includes acid production plants, under the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration requirements. It is the 10th settlement reached under EPA’s National Acid Manufacturing Plant Initiative and the 7th settlement addressing pollution from sulfuric acid plants. Today’s settlement covers more sulfuric acid production capacity—roughly 24,000 tons per day or approximately 14 percent of total U.S. capacity—than all previous sulfuric acid settlements under this initiative combined.

The settlement also resolves alleged violations based on Louisiana law at the Geismar, La. Facility. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will receive $350,000 of the $1.3 million penalty.

The settlement was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.



EPA and USDA to Hold Public Listening Sessions on Pollinator Strategy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host two public listening sessions to solicit stakeholder input to assist the Pollinator Health Task Force in development of a federal strategy to protect honey bees and other pollinators.  The Task Force is asking for input on the types of activities that could be part of the strategy, including public private partnerships, research, educational opportunities, pollinator habitat improvements and pesticide risk mitigation.

On June 20, 2014, President Obama issued a directive to federal agencies to create a federal strategy to promote honey bee and other pollinator health.  The President’s directive created a Pollinator Health Task Force, co-chaired by EPA and USDA, and charged federal agencies with expanding efforts to take new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy levels.

Feedback from the listening sessions will play an important role in the Task Force’s efforts to develop a federal strategy.

Listening Session Information:
Wednesday, November 12, 2014:
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00pm (EST)
Location: 1st Floor Conference Center, 2777 South Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va.

Monday, November 17, 2014:
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EST)
Location: 4700 River Road, Riverdale, Md.

For those not able to attend the sessions, there is a webinar available.  Additional information is available online: http://www2.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/public-listening-sessions-pollinator-health-task-force

The listening sessions are being held in federal facilities, therefore, attendees must have valid identification to attend.

For those who cannot attend in person or by webinar, written comments must be submitted by November 24, 2014 online at: www.regulations.gov.  Search by using the EPA docket number:  HQ-OPP-2014-0806.