NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 2 PERCENT
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.53 million cattle on feed on April 1, according to the USDA s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2 percent from last year. Placements during March totaled 440,000 head, up 7 percent from 2014. This is the largest number of placements for March since the data series began in 1994. Fed cattle marketings for the month of March totaled 395,000 head, unchanged from last year. Other disappearance during March totaled 15,000 head, unchanged from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED UP 3 PERCENT
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,305,000 on April 1, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. The inventory is up 1 percent from March 1, 2015, and up 3 percent from April 1, 2014. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 670,000 head on feed, up 2 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 635,000 head on feed, unchanged from last month but up 7 percent from last year.
Placements during March totaled 150,000 head, an increase of 2 percent from last month and up 24 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 90,000 head, up 6 percent from last month and up 27 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 60,000 head. This is down 3 percent from last month but up 20 percent from last year.
Marketings for March were 136,000 head, up 19 percent from last month but down 4 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 79,000 head, up 7 percent from last month and up 14 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 57,000 head, up 43 percent from last month but down 21 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 4,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on April 1, 2015. The inventory was slightly above April 1, 2014. The inventory included 7.46 million steers and steer calves, up 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 69 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.34 million head, down 10 percent from 2014.
On Feed, By State (1,000 hd, % of April 1, '14)
Colorado .....: 890 - 94
Iowa ...........: 670 - 100
Kansas ........: 2,110 - 101
Nebraska ....: 2,530 - 102
Texas ..........: 2,470 - 99
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.81 million, slightly above 2014. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000, 600-699 pounds were 275,000, 700-799 pounds were 449,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 720,000.
Placements, by State (1,000 hd, % of March '14)
Colorado .....: 150 - 91
Iowa ...........: 90 - 127
Kansas ........: 410 - 105
Nebraska ....: 440 - 107
Texas ..........: 420 - 89
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million, 2 percent below 2014. March marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 69,000 during March, 6 percent above 2014.
Marketings, by State (1,000 hd, % of March '14)
Colorado .....: 140 - 108
Iowa ...........: 79 - 114
Kansas ........: 370 - 107
Nebraska ....: 395 - 100
Texas ..........: 385 - 90
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GETTING THE MOST OUT OF OAT PASTURE
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist
Oat pastures have increased in popularity in recent years. They can reduce problems from drought and provide fast, early grazing. Oat pastures can be very productive and last through early summer, but they also disappoint sometimes. While we don’t know all we need to know, here are a few grazing recommendations that will help you succeed.
Oats grows rapidly. Once it gets five or six inches tall, it quickly can shoot up to a foot tall in almost no time. As nice as this sounds, if initial oat growth gets that tall it may not stool out, tiller, and regrow after grazing very well. So it’s important to start grazing early and to graze hard enough to keep your oats vegetative and leafy, thereby stimulating it to constantly form new tillers.
So how early is early? That’s hard to say, but if your animals start to first graze when oats get six to eight inches tall and they remove just half the growth it should recover rapidly and tiller well. You probably will need to give your oats a couple weeks to regrow after this first grazing, though, before grazing again.
After this first grazing stimulates tillering, keep oat regrowth between six and sixteen inches tall using either continuous or rotational stocking. Begin with a light stocking rate, maybe about one animal every two acres. Then adjust animal number as oat growth changes. Don’t worry if a few plants head out. But if many plants get tall and approach the boot stage, either stock heavily for one last hard graze-out grazing or consider cutting for hay.
We will need to experiment a bit to perfect it, but oat grazing looks promising.
New Sulfur Fertilizer Recommendations for Iowa’s Planting Season
Sulfur Management for Iowa Crop Production, a new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication, provides a summary of research efforts and guidance on sulfur fertilization and application needs. The 2005-2013 data comes from on-farm, small-plot and field-length strip trials in fields across Iowa.
Farmers, crop advisers, agricultural businesses and suppliers know that sulfur has not historically been an issue with crop production in Iowa. However, this recent research shows improved crop yield when applying sulfur fertilizer in many areas of Iowa, specifically with alfalfa and corn production.
“Spring is a good time for sulfur application before corn and soybean planting, or before alfalfa re-growth,” said John Sawyer, professor of agronomy and extension soil fertility specialist with Iowa State University. “This allows time to get the applied sulfur into the root zone. Rapid sulfur availability is especially important if early season plant growth is exhibiting deficiency symptoms and sulfur is sidedress applied in corn or applied after an alfalfa cutting.”
“Research suggests a more consistent corn yield response to sulfur fertilizer; compared to soybean yield response,” said John Lundvall, soil fertility research team member at Iowa State University. “Given current commodity price pressure and close scrutiny of input costs for the 2015 crop, a farmer planting 2015 soybean into a field with documented sulfur deficiency might be best-served delaying sulfur fertilizer application until after the 2015 soybean harvest but prior to planting the 2016 corn crop.”
Publication authors are John Sawyer, professor of agronomy and extension soil fertility specialist with Iowa State University; Daniel Barker, assistant scientist of agronomy at Iowa State University; and Brian Lang, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
For more information on related publications on soil fertility, go to the ISU Extension and Outreach Online Store at
https://store.extension.iastate.edu.
CASE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN SAC COUNTY, IOWA
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County, Iowa. The facility has 34,000 turkeys and is within the 10 kilometer monitoring zone surrounding the initial HPAI case in Buena Vista County. This is the third case of HPAI in Iowa.
The flock has experienced increased mortality and samples have been sent to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Preliminary results showed the birds positive for an H5 strain of avian influenza. Samples were then sent to the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa to further confirm the findings.
State officials quarantined the premise and birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have ever been detected.
The United States has the strongest Avian Influenza (AI) surveillance program in the world. As part of the existing USDA avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners as well as industry are responding quickly and decisively to these outbreaks by following these five basic steps: 1) Quarantine – restricting movement of poultry and poultry-moving equipment into and out of the control area; 2) Eradicate – humanely euthanizing the affected flock(s); 3) Monitor region – testing wild and domestic birds in a broad area around the quarantine area; 4) Disinfect – kills the virus in the affected flock locations; and 5) Test – confirm that poultry farms in the area are free of the virus.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health are working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure proper precautions are being taken.
These virus strains can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick. People should avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds.
All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard flock owners, should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials, either through their state veterinarian at 515-281-5321 or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.
Some Nations Begin Banning Midwest Poultry Imports
Some international trade partners are declining to buy egg and poultry products from Midwestern states that have been affected by a deadly strain of bird flu, while others are excluding imports only from counties where the virus has surfaced.
According to the Associated Press, countries like China, Russia, South Korea and Thailand have shut off all imports of poultry products from the United States. Mexico, Japan and Canada are among 33 countries declining to accept poultry products from entire states, including Iowa, the nation's leading egg producer, and Minnesota, the top turkey grower in the U.S.
Other countries, including Hong Kong, limit the ban to counties where the virus has been confirmed. Some countries - including Honduras, Kazakhstan and Qatar - require products to be heated to a temperature that will kill the virus before they'll accept poultry products.
The H5N2 virus has cost turkey and chicken producers over 7 million birds since early March. Federal agriculture officials say the food supply is safe.
Agricultural states are fighting to contain the virus. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton declared a state of emergency on Thursday to fight the H5N2 strain, a similar action taken earlier by Wisconsin.
American Farm Bureau Appeals Flawed Privacy Decision
The Environmental Protection Agency’s public release to environmental groups of personal details about the home locations and contact information of tens of thousands of farm and ranch families was unlawful. A lower court ruling that upheld the EPA action failed to address key privacy issues and should be reversed, according to court documents filed today by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Farm Bureau, along with the National Pork Producers Council, filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to overturn an earlier district court ruling. That ruling held, in part, that because some of the information had been posted online by state agencies, EPA was free to publicly release the same information under the Freedom of Information Act.
The brief to the appeals court states that there is no “merit to the (district court’s) suggestion that citizens lack a privacy interest in information that appears on the Internet. That theory is one that might appeal to George Orwell, but it is not one that has a basis in law or common sense.”
“Personal information is ubiquitous on the Internet; if the mere appearance of information on a website destroyed any continuing privacy interest in that information, privacy would be dead. The Supreme Court’s FOIA precedents foreclose that conclusion,” the brief stated.
According to the brief, EPA’s disclosure of the requested information serves only one purpose: “to put in the hands of environmental activists information that will help them to investigate and harass family farms on their own, in their efforts to bring private lawsuits against family farmers.”
The brief states that “the disclosure of information such as names, addresses, and other personal identifying information, like the data at issue, creates a palpable threat to privacy.”
In addition, the brief states that farms and ranches are inherently different from typical businesses in that information divulged typically leads to a home residence of a farm or ranch family.
“Most businesses’ mailing addresses lead to offices or factories; their telephones are answered by receptionists and secretaries; and their GPS coordinates point to parking lots or security-guard booths,” the brief states. “But family farms are fundamentally different -- or the great majority of them, their businesses are their homes. Their driveways lead not only to their fields and their hen houses, but also to the swing sets where their children play. Their business telephone numbers are answered not by nameless receptionists in florescent-lit offices, but by their spouses in their family kitchens, and their children in their upstairs bedrooms.
“If anything, the fact that the disclosed information concerns farmers as both individuals and businesses is a greater reason to find the information protected, not the other way around.”
The EPA shocked the farming and ranching community in early 2013 when it publicly released a massive database of personal information about tens of thousands of livestock and poultry farmers, ranchers and their families in multiple states. The information was collected from state regulatory agencies and then distributed to three environmental groups that had filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act. The database included the names of farmers, ranchers and sometimes other family members, home addresses and GPS coordinates, home telephone numbers and personal emails.
“We wholeheartedly support government transparency, but we insist on protecting the privacy of farm and ranch families,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman.
Seventeen Trait Approvals Cap Wild Week for Biotech in Brussels
After expressing severe frustration with the European Commission’s proposal to allow EU member states to opt out of the import of food and feed containing biotechnology traits earlier in the week, the American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed news out of Brussels today that the EU has approved 17 biotechnology traits for import. The traits, which include the Plenish and Vistive Gold high-oleic soybean varieties, as well as dicamba-tolerant and omega-3 soybeans, have been in the EU approval process for multiple years. ASA First Vice President Richard Wilkins, a soybean farmer from Greenwood, Del., noted the association’s guarded optimism about today’s news in a statement:
“On the one hand, we’re happy to see these traits finally receive Commission approval after years of delay. The 17 products approved by the European Commission today have been pending for 69 months on average despite EU laws and regulations that foresee an 18-month time period for a decision. Whenever our technology partners bring a new trait to market, farmers in the U.S. aren’t able to fully recognize the benefits of products with those traits until they are accepted in all of our key export markets, so this is a big, big step forward. We are especially pleased with the announcement with regard to high-oleic soybeans, which will give food processors the frying and baking qualities they need in an oil without the need for partial hydrogenation which produces trans fats. Additionally, dicamba-tolerant soybeans will give soybean farmers another tool to prevent and manage weed resistance in their fields.
“On the other hand, however, this announcement means little if the EU persists in its current unscientific and delayed approval process for new varieties developed through biotechnology. Today more than 40 additional GM applications for import, submitted by various companies, remain pending in the EU system.
“Additionally, the action taken by the EU Commission earlier this week that would allow each of the EU’s 28 member states to “opt-out” of allowing imports of a fully approved, safe GM product is a giant step backwards. We believe that if that proposal is adopted, it would be in clear violation of the EU’s obligations under the World Trade Organization and would negatively impact U.S. soy exports to Europe.
“Again, any time we see the progress of modern agricultural biotechnology furthered by an approval for import in a foreign market, that’s a step forward, and our farmers benefit. But on the whole, this week has shown that we still have a long way to go in Europe.”
Farm Bureau Alarmed by Politicization of EU’s Food Approval Process
The American Farm Bureau today praised the European Commission for its careful and scientific analysis in approving seventeen different genetically modified agricultural products for food and feed. The approval came in the face of fierce opposition by anti-science and anti-trade forces on the continent. Unfortunately, the EC today also undermined its principled position by recommending that individual states be permitted to opt out of importation or use of the products within their own borders. AFBF views this decision with alarm.
In addition to undercutting its own authority, the EC now runs the risk of violating its international trade obligations, undermining the role of science, and jeopardizing the foundation of the single market in Europe.
Nationalizing the EU decision-making process would fragment the single European market. If adopted, this proposal would hinder intra-European trade, leading to higher feed prices, a weaker livestock industry and an overall decrease in consumer welfare.
This proposal would have major effects on GM crop exporters such as the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Argentina, which would lose important customers and face increasing uncertainty in European markets to which they still had access.
Farm Bureau strongly urges the European Parliament to consider the significant impact this legislative proposal would have on the European Union and its trading partners alike. This proposal represents a step backward for trade, science and freedom.
Five Nations Beef Alliance Urges Negotiators to Secure High Quality TPP Deal
Representatives from the Five Nations Beef Alliance (FNBA) are in Maryland this week pressing the need for substantial trade liberalization via the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.
With the TPP negotiations seeming to be approaching the ‘end game’, discussions over the next few days will be critical given the negotiators are aiming to narrow the outstanding issues prior to a hoped for TPP Ministerial meeting in May.
FNBA members are urging TPP negotiating teams to hold firm and deliver an agreement that will make it easier to do business, establish fair trade rules and reduce costs.
Beef producers are particularly adamant that any TPP outcome must provide new and substantial market access opportunities.
Consumers around the world have a growing appetite for high quality beef products. However, responding to this demand is often stifled by a range of tariff and non-tariff barriers. The TPP offers an opportunity to remove these trade barriers.
However, for this vision to be realized, TPP members must step up to the plate and make genuine commitments to expeditiously liberalize the trade in beef.
Maintaining the status quo is not an option. Beef producers cannot accept this outcome, and neither can the beef supply chain, or our highly valued customer base.
The desire to improve the global trade environment is what brought beef producers from five competing nations together. The TPP has the potential to join 12 nations together - and in so doing provide better access to food supplies for around 800 million people.
Now is the time to secure a game changing, trade enhancing deal.
As US President Obama said2 in relation to the TPP: “It is our chance to put in place new, high standards for trade” and to “lower barriers, open markets, export goods and create good jobs for our people”.
The FNBA concurs. The FNBA comprises the Cattle Council of Australia; Canadian Cattlemen’s Association; Confederacion Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (Mexico); Beef + Lamb New Zealand; and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (USA).
House Ways and Means Committee Passes TPA Legislation
Last night, the House Ways and Means Committee passed Trade Promotion Authority legislation (H.R. 1890) by a bi-partisan vote of 25 to 13. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President and Chugwater, Wyo. cattleman Philip Ellis issued the following statement upon passage:
“We appreciate the House Ways and Means Committee’s efforts to pass this legislation following Senate passage last evening. As we have repeatedly stated, trade is critical to the success and future profitability of our industry and TPA is critical to negotiating future free trade agreements. Cattlemen urge swift passage of this legislation by the full House and Senate.”
ASA Looks Ahead as TPA Bill Emerges from House, Senate Committees
Following the passage of a bill by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee that would grant trade promotion authority to President Barack Obama, the American Soybean Association (ASA) is calling on both chambers to pass the bill and give the administration what it needs to forge ahead with key trade agreements around the globe.
“Agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and others that expand market access are of vast importance to American soybean farmers as we look to maintain our position at the vanguard of the world’s agricultural trade, however we can’t conclude agreements without trade promotion authority. That’s always been step one,” said Wade Cowan, ASA president and a soybean farmer from Brownfield, Texas.
The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act was introduced last week by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), as well as House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The measure passed the Senate committee late Wednesday, and the House committee late Thursday, and will head to the floors of both chambers potentially as early as next month, per indications from House and Senate leadership.
“This bill is something that both sides of the aisle have come together on,” added Cowan. “It’s a bipartisan bill that hears the concerns of Right and Left, of multiple industries and of multiple constituencies, including our nation’s soybean farmers. It gives USTR the bandwidth it needs to get the best deal possible for American farmers and businesses, and it provides Congress the involvement and oversight it needs to ensure each deal works for everyone. It is a piece of legislation that both the Senate and the House should take up and pass as quickly as possible.”
Trade promotion authority is among the top policy priorities for ASA in the 114th Congress. Soybean farmers, who exported over half their crop with an export value of $30.5 billion in 2014, are the largest agricultural exporters in the U.S.
NCGA Applauds House Ways and Means for Advancing Trade Promotion Authority
The National Corn Growers Association today applauded members of the House Ways and Means Committee who voted to advance the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) out of committee Thursday evening and urged Congress to quickly pass the bill.
“Thank you to the House Ways and Means Committee members who voted to advance Trade Promotion Authority out of committee and keep this important legislation moving forward,” said NCGA president Chip Bowling, a farmer from Newburg, Maryland.
“Trade Promotion Authority will help the U.S. to reach major international trade agreements that support American farmers, businesses, and rural communities. It’s time to act. We urge the Senate and House to bring this legislation to a floor vote as soon as possible.”
Global Soybean Stakeholders Monetize Biotech-Approval Delays
A new white paper shows that a three-year postponement in global approval of biotech-enhanced soybean traits any time in the next 10 years would cost farmers and consumers a total of nearly $19 billion, compared with typical approval timelines.
This new research was released during a recent International Soybean Growers Alliance (ISGA) mission. Farmer-leaders from the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay met with Chinese governmental officials and influencers to discuss the economic implications of these delays for global producers and consumers of soy.
“It’s no secret that soy is part of a global market,” says Bob Haselwood, United Soybean Board (USB) chairman and soybean farmer from Berryton, Kansas. “We need a coordinated effort across North America, South America and China to work toward timely international approvals for new biotech traits to grow a safe, reliable and abundant food supply that is profitable for both producers and consumers.”
Farmers in large soy-exporting countries that quickly adopt new technology — the U.S., Brazil and Argentina — and consumers in large importing countries —China and the nations in the European Union — have the most to lose from delayed approvals, according to the white paper.
“The global supply chain is a powerful economic engine that benefits not only farmers and consumers, but stakeholders at each stage in between,” says Wade Cowan, American Soybean Association (ASA) president and soybean farmer from Brownfield, Texas. “It is a point of pride for U.S. soybean farmers that the beans we grow produce an entire secondary economy of jobs in the U.S. and in each of our export markets. We’re also proud that our beans play such a key role in supporting economies as their citizens demand more meat protein, as is the case in China. Those benefits, however, can’t take place if the approvals process breaks down, and that’s why we’re over here, working to ensure that we have a system that works for both the Chinese and their import partners in the U.S. and South America.”
As an example of important biotech approvals that farmers might need in the near future, the study examined herbicide-tolerance traits and analyzed the effects of approval delays through 2025.
Regulatory delays have real costs for society. For example, when new biotech herbicide-tolerant varieties are not approved in a timely manner, farmers continue to incur increased weed-control costs, potential yield losses and reductions in acreage. Some farmers may see greatly increased production costs or be forced out of farming entirely. At the same time, higher prices and reduced supplies strain consumers.
“Timely, science-based approvals are crucial in ensuring increased productivity to meet global supply demands,” says Laura Foell, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) chair. “This mission provided an opportunity for the world’s largest soy producers and consumers to learn that resolving approval delays will benefit everyone along the supply chain.”
The white paper, The Potential Economic Impacts of Delayed Biotech Innovation in Soybeans, was developed in conjunction with ISGA members, by researchers Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, Kenneth A. Zahringer and Jon Kruse at the University of Missouri.
NCGA Moves Put New Emphasis on Market Development and Sustainability
The National Corn Growers Association today announced changes to strengthen the organization’s efforts to build new corn market demand. NCGA will begin an immediate search for a Vice President of Market Development, who will be responsible for managing marketing initiatives to build demand for ethanol, livestock feed, biobased products and food uses of corn.
"Farmers constantly work to increase yields using fewer resources,” said NCGA CEO Chris Novak. “Looking to the future and continued productivity increases from our corn farmers, we need to be looking for new markets to create sustainable opportunities for today’s farm families.”
As a part of a restructure that brings greater focus on building corn demand, NCGA announced additional personnel changes:
· Fred Stemme is promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Operations as he takes over new management responsibilities;
· Paul Bertels will continue to serve the organization as Vice President of Production and Sustainability; and
· Rodger Mansfield is stepping down after 19 years of service to the organization.
“Sustainable corn production is a major priority for food chain partners and consumers,” added Novak. “NCGA’s work with Field to Market and the new Soil Health Partnership both provide an important foundation for enhancing our sustainability. Bertels’ background as a farmer, economist and conservationist makes him ideal to lead new efforts that can assist producers in meeting the expectations of our customers and consumers.”
NCGA President Chip Bowling, a Maryland corn farmer, said the organizational changes come at a critical time for corn farmers.
“As I talk to farmers across the country, they are concerned whether today’s market prices will rise to cover the cost of production, whether they will have operating capital available, and what the future holds for their sons and daughters who may want to come back to the farm,” Bowling said. “I believe that our renewed commitment to building corn demand and enhancing sustainability are the steps that are needed to help my fellow producers and me weather today’s market challenges.”
The announced changes will go into effect immediately. Details regarding the new Vice President of Market Development position will be available soon at
www.NCGA.com.
Rabobank Releases Pork Forecast Report
In its Q2 report, Rabobank says the global pork industry searched for stability during Q1 2015, with strong supply growth and relatively weak demand driving the market.
Pork prices are sharply lower, as robust global supply growth driven by the U.S., Russia and Brazil has outpaced rather subdued demand, dragging producer profitability into negative territory.
Rabobank animal protein analyst Albert Vernooij says: "The increasing competition in the global export market will result in continuous price and margin pressure in most countries around the globe. Therefore, after the buoyant-at least price-wise-last couple of years, the global pork industry is slowly moving towards the bottom of the cycle."
In the U.S., as supply recovers after PEDv, the question is as to what degree recovery will be coupled with the strengthening U.S. dollar and lower prices.
The EU could see prices will follow seasonal developments, but will remain lower than the historical average and below break-even level.
Summit to Cover Livestock Profitability, Farm Security, Animal Ag Policies
There's still time to register for the Animal Agriculture Alliance's 2015 Stakeholders Summit, themed "The Journey to Extraordinary." At the Summit, set for May 6-7 in Kansas City, Mo., expert speakers and panelists will discuss a variety of topics critical to the future of animal agriculture, including livestock profitability, farm security and state, federal and global policy trends impacting the industry.
Summit sessions will include:
-- Fueling Livestock Profitability, featuring Kaleb Little, communications manager, National Biodiesel Board and Alan Weber, economist and founding partner, MARC-IV. This session will cover the economics of livestock production and offer innovative strategies to remain profitable into the future.
-- Around the World in 90 Days -- Policies Influencing Our Journey with Brian Klippenstein, executive director, Protect the Harvest and Dr. Travis Arp, director of technical services, U.S. Meat Export Federation. Klippenstein and Arp will bring the audience up to speed on current U.S. and international policies, respectively.
-- Protecting Our Nation's Food Supply presented by Jared Miller, domestic terrorism intelligence analyst, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Agri-Terrorism Unit. In this session, attendees will learn about the FBI's steps to anticipate and prevent agri-terrorism incidents on U.S. farms and how they can strengthen security measures on their own operations.
"We're very excited about the lineup of speakers and panelists we have assembled," said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. "There is truly something for everyone who is connected to animal agriculture. If your business deals with the production of meat and poultry, this year's Summit is the one event you will not want to miss. I am confident that our attendees will walk away with a wealth of new ideas and immediately applicable tactics to take home and implement in their barn, plant or office."
The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference, ideal for networking across sectors of the food chain as it is attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislators, universities and government agencies. The 2015 event, set in Kansas City, Mo., will be the first edition of the Summit held outside of the Washington, D.C., area.
This year's event will explore animal agriculture's continuous efforts to embrace new technologies that will help feed a growing population while measuring sustainability, engage consumers in innovative ways to bridge the knowledge gap, and highlight initiatives that demonstrate agriculture's commitment to transparency.
Registration for the one-and-a-half day event is $425 for Alliance members and $475 for non-members; $375 for those in government or academia. Media and students interested in registering should contact Hannah Thompson. Registration is open through May 4. Registration materials and a full event schedule can be found on the Summit website.
This year, the Summit will be held at the beautiful Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. Our event room block at the Intercontinental is sold out. For help with hotel arrangements, call the Alliance at 703-562-1414 by April 24.
As always, the Alliance's Stakeholders Summit will be social! Be sure to follow the hashtag #AAA15 for updates about the event. For general questions about the Summit please contact summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-1411.
Current 2015 sponsors include U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, Vance Publishing, Meatingplace, the Farm Credit System, Watt Global Media, Elanco Animal Health, American Feed Industry Association, United Soybean Board, Iowa Soybean Association, National Biodiesel Board, Protect the Harvest, American Veal Association, National Turkey Federation, National Cattleman's Beef Association, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, National Chicken Council, GMO Answers, Food Industry Environmental Network, Kemin, Kansas Livestock Association, Brakke Consulting, AgriBeef, Kansas Farm Bureau, Dairy Max, GNP Company, the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, North Carolina Farm Bureau and other partners.
MONSANTO ANNOUNCES FIVE REGIONAL WINNERS IN 2015 AMERICA’S FARMERS “MOM OF THE YEAR” CONTEST
When Monsanto opened its search for the 2015 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year, the company knew it would get a lot of fantastic nominations. This year, though, the judging was particularly difficult because of all the amazing women who were entered. Today Monsanto, along with the American Agri-Women (AAW) are proud to announce its new 2015 class of regional winners. Beginning today, America can begin voting online for one of these women to be named “National Farm Mom of the Year.”
“Every year we receive such heartfelt nominations about people’s favorite Farm Mom,” says Tracy Mueller, corporate brand manager for Monsanto. “But this year, we’ve especially been overwhelmed by the number and quality of the entries we received. These women have different backgrounds and ways they contribute, but one thing was always clear – their strength, perseverance and dedication to their families, farms, communities and the industry they love.”
The 2015 regional winners of the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year contest, include:
Northwest Region: Shelly Davis (Albany, Ore.)
Southwest Region: Shelley Heinrich (Lubbock, Texas)
Midwest Region: Sara Ross (Minden, Iowa)
Northeast Region: Amy Kelsay (Franklin, Ind.)
Southeast Region: Megan Seibel (Roanoke, Va.)
Each regional winner will receive a $5,000 award. Their biographical information and original nomination is currently posted online at
AmericasFarmers.com, where visitors can click to vote for their favorite farm mom based on the judging criteria provided in the contest rules. The woman who receives the most votes between April 24 and May 5 will be named the “National Farm Mom of the Year” -- just in time for Mother’s Day. As a bonus, she will also receive an additional $5,000 prize.
“It was such an honor to read about all of the amazing farm moms and learn about all they do for their families and communities,” says Donnell Scott, of American Agri-Women. “AAW is pleased to be a part of this recognition program.”
For a list of winners, past or present winner profiles or official contest rules, visit
AmericasFarmers.com. Interested parties may also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America's Farmers Mom of the Year, Attn: Sue Dillon, 349 Marshall Ave., Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63119.
