Wednesday May 27 Ag News

Clean Water Rule Protects Streams and Wetlands Critical to Public Health, Communities, and Economy

In an historic step for the protection of clean water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule today to clearly protect from pollution and degradation the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources.

The rule ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined and predictably determined, making permitting less costly, easier, and faster for businesses and industry. The rule is grounded in law and the latest science, and is shaped by public input. The rule does not create any new permitting requirements for agriculture and maintains all previous exemptions and exclusions.

“For the water in the rivers and lakes in our communities that flow to our drinking water to be clean, the streams and wetlands that feed them need to be clean too,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Protecting our water sources is a critical component of adapting to climate change impacts like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures – which is why EPA and the Army have finalized the Clean Water Rule to protect these important waters, so we can strengthen our economy and provide certainty to American businesses.”

“Today's rule marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the Clean Water Act,” said Assistant Secretary for the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy. “This rule responds to the public's demand for greater clarity, consistency, and predictability when making jurisdictional determinations. The result will be better public service nationwide."

People need clean water for their health: About 117 million Americans – one in three people – get drinking water from streams that lacked clear protection before the Clean Water Rule. America’s cherished way of life depends on clean water, as healthy ecosystems provide wildlife habitat and places to fish, paddle, surf, and swim. Clean and reliable water is an economic driver, including for manufacturing, farming, tourism, recreation, and energy production. The health of our rivers, lakes, bays, and coastal waters are impacted by the streams and wetlands where they begin.

Protection for many of the nation’s streams and wetlands has been confusing, complex, and time-consuming as the result of Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006. EPA and the Army are taking this action today to provide clarity on protections under the Clean Water Act after receiving requests for over a decade from members of Congress, state and local officials, industry, agriculture, environmental groups, scientists, and the public for a rulemaking.

In developing the rule, the agencies held more than 400 meetings with stakeholders across the country, reviewed over one million public comments, and listened carefully to perspectives from all sides. EPA and the Army also utilized the latest science, including a report summarizing more than 1,200 peer-reviewed, published scientific studies which showed that small streams and wetlands play an integral role in the health of larger downstream water bodies.

Climate change makes protection of water resources even more essential. Streams and wetlands provide many benefits to communities by trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, filtering pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife. Impacts from climate change like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures threaten the quantity and quality of America’s water. Protecting streams and wetlands will improve our nation’s resilience to climate change.

Specifically, the Clean Water Rule:

    Clearly defines and protects tributaries that impact the health of downstream waters. The Clean Water Act protects navigable waterways and their tributaries. The rule says that a tributary must show physical features of flowing water – a bed, bank, and ordinary high water mark – to warrant protection. The rule provides protection for headwaters that have these features and science shows can have a significant connection to downstream waters.

    Provides certainty in how far safeguards extend to nearby waters. The rule protects waters that are next to rivers and lakes and their tributaries because science shows that they impact downstream waters. The rule sets boundaries on covering nearby waters for the first time that are physical and measurable.

    Protects the nation’s regional water treasures. Science shows that specific water features can function like a system and impact the health of downstream waters. The rule protects prairie potholes, Carolina and Delmarva bays, pocosins, western vernal pools in California, and Texas coastal prairie wetlands when they impact downstream waters.

    Focuses on streams, not ditches. The rule limits protection to ditches that are constructed out of streams or function like streams and can carry pollution downstream. So ditches that are not constructed in streams and that flow only when it rains are not covered.

    Maintains the status of waters within Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. The rule does not change how those waters are treated and encourages the use of green infrastructure.

    Reduces the use of case-specific analysis of waters. Previously, almost any water could be put through a lengthy case-specific analysis, even if it would not be subject to the Clean Water Act. The rule significantly limits the use of case-specific analysis by creating clarity and certainty on protected waters and limiting the number of similarly situated water features.

A Clean Water Act permit is only needed if a water is going to be polluted or destroyed. The Clean Water Rule only protects the types of waters that have historically been covered under the Clean Water Act. It does not regulate most ditches and does not regulate groundwater, shallow subsurface flows, or tile drains. It does not make changes to current policies on irrigation or water transfers or apply to erosion in a field. The Clean Water Rule addresses the pollution and destruction of waterways – not land use or private property rights.

The rule protects clean water necessary for farming, ranching, and forestry and provides greater clarity and certainty to farmers about coverage of the Clean Water Act. Farms across America depend on clean and reliable water for livestock, crops, and irrigation. The final rule specifically recognizes the vital role that U.S. agriculture serves in providing food, fuel, and fiber at home and around the world. The rule does not create any new permitting requirements for America’s farmers. Activities like planting, harvesting, and moving livestock have long been exempt from Clean Water Act regulation, and the Clean Water Rule preserves those exemptions.

The Clean Water Rule will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

More information: www.epa.gov/cleanwaterrule. 



 Statement by the President on the Clean Water Rule

For more than 40 years, American families and businesses across the country have counted on the Clean Water Act to protect the streams and wetlands we rely on for our way of life – from recreation to public health to a growing economy. In recent years, however, court decisions have led to uncertainty and a need for clarification.  One in three Americans now gets drinking water from streams lacking clear protection, and businesses and industries that depend on clean water face uncertainty and delay, which costs our economy every day.  Too many of our waters have been left vulnerable to pollution. That’s why I called on the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clear up the confusion and uphold our basic duty to protect these vital resources.

Today, after extensive input from the American public, they’re doing just that – finalizing the Clean Water Rule to restore protection for the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of our nation’s water resources, without getting in the way of farming, ranching, or forestry. This rule will provide the clarity and certainty businesses and industry need about which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act, and it will ensure polluters who knowingly threaten our waters can be held accountable.  My Administration has made historic commitments to clean water, from restoring iconic watersheds like the Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes to preserving more than a thousand miles of rivers and other waters for future generations.  With today’s rule, we take another step towards protecting the waters that belong to all of us.



Fischer Responds to Obama Release of WOTUS Rule

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after the announcement today of final regulations by the Obama administration, which would expand federal government control over states’ water resources:

“This rule is an attack on the people of Nebraska. Through this unprecedented overreach, the federal government will now extend their control over our state’s water resources and burden our families with costly permit requirements. Make no mistake – this is a blatant attempt to expand the federal government’s control. This rule will have far-reaching consequences and hurt Nebraska families, communities, and businesses.

“Nebraskans are good stewards of our natural resources and protect our water at the state and local level. The Obama administration’s new regulation implies that Washington bureaucrats know better than the people of our state. This rule is reckless and unwarranted, and I will work tirelessly to stop this expansion of federal control.”

In April, Senator Fischer joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues to introduce a new bill that would prevent this joint rule from the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA, originally known as the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and now renamed by the administration as the “Clean Water Rule,” from taking effect. The legislation, S. 1140 – The Federal Water Quality Protection Act, would direct the administration to issue a revised proposal that would set clear limits on federal regulation of water, require consultation with states and impacted stakeholders, and ensure that a thorough economic analysis is conducted.

Senator Fischer has led a number of efforts in the Senate to enhance public input on the rule, including a March field hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee she chaired in Lincoln. She has repeatedly urged EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to scrap the rule altogether, and has also cosponsored legislation to withdraw the proposed regulation.



Smith on Obama Administration’s Launch of Waters of the U.S. Regulations

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today in response to the Obama administration’s decision to finalize and launch far-reaching water regulations under the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, now renamed by the administration as the Clean Water Rule.

“Faced with this unprecedented regulatory expansion by the Obama administration, Nebraskans are rightfully concerned the Waters of the U.S. rule will severely harm our agriculture economy by increasing costs and uncertainty for producers,” Smith said.  “Following widespread outcry from farmers, ranchers, landowners, and local officials across the country, the House has repeatedly acted to block this harmful executive overreach.  Our agriculture producers are already great stewards of the land who protect our natural resources.  Washington bureaucrats should never have control over the puddles and irrigation ditches on rural farmers’ property.

“The Clean Water Act intentionally limited the EPA’s jurisdiction to navigable waters.  Unfortunately, the Obama administration has not listened to Congress or the American people and is now trying to unilaterally expand its regulatory jurisdiction to include virtually all water flows, from ditches to prairie potholes, even on private land.  Knowing the consequences could be especially devastating to rural Americans, I will continue to vigorously oppose this federal power grab.”

Earlier this month, Smith voted in favor of H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, to prohibit the EPA from using its Waters of the U.S. rule to expand its authority beyond Congress’s intent.



RICKETTS COMMENTS ON WOTUS RULE

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts issued the following statement after hearing about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to release its Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

“Today’s decision by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to release the final WOTUS rule is bad policy,” Gov. Ricketts said. “It is clear the Administration failed to listen to the concerns of Nebraska’s agriculture and business communities. This rule has the potential to saddle our farmers, ranchers, and other businesses with a huge, unwarranted regulatory burden. It should be scrapped.”



Statement by Common Sense Nebraska Coalition on EPA and U.S. Army Corps Issuing Final “Waters of the U.S.” Rule

“Today the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced their final “Waters of the U.S.” regulatory proposal. The announcement comes despite repeated calls and active engagement from  Nebraska’s agriculture and business communities encouraging EPA to start with a fresh regulatory proposal that would focus on protecting waterways rather than simply expanding the regulatory reach of the federal government,” said Common Sense Nebraska spokesman Steve Nelson, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

“While we will review and analyze the impacts of this ‘final’ proposal over the next several days and weeks, we have little confidence that the agencies listened or have made changes to address concerns expressed by Nebraskans and others.  That lack of confidence is founded in the reality that early on the EPA and the Corps committed to using a campaign type push for public support of this proposal.”

“The idea that the agencies would campaign for regulation, rather than let the public fairly evaluate the proposal on its own merits speaks volumes to those who recognize this proposal as a plan not to regulate water, but rather initiate broad sweeping regulatory authority over private property.”

“Legislation forcing EPA to withdraw the proposal which has already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and is on its way to passage in the U.S. Senate, is a reflection of the concerns Americans have expressed with the manner in which federal bureaucrats have instigated this rule.”

“As a coalition of Nebraskans who understand the harmful and damaging implications of this proposal, we will continue to work toward a reasonable fix that focuses on protecting private property rights while maintaining economic opportunities for Nebraskans.”

Common Sense Nebraska coalition partners:
AKSARBEN Club Managers Association
Association of General Contractors - NE Chapter
Farm Credit Services of America
Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association
National Federation of Independent Businesses/Nebraska
Nebraska Agribusiness Association
Nebraska Association of County Officials
Nebraska Association of Resource Districts
Nebraska Bankers Association
Nebraska Cattlemen
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Nebraska Cooperative Council
Nebraska Corn Board
Nebraska Corn Growers Association
Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
Nebraska Golf Course Managers Association
Nebraska Grain and Feed Association
Nebraska Grain Sorghum Association
Nebraska Pork Producers Association
Nebraska Poultry Industries
Nebraska Rural Electric Association
Nebraska Soybean Association
Nebraska State Dairy Association
Nebraska State Home Builders Association
Nebraska State Irrigation Association
Nebraska Water Resources Association
Nebraska Wheat Growers Association
Nemaha Natural Resources District
Pawnee County Rural Water District #1



Revised Clean Water Rule Released

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized the Clean Water Rule to protect the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources from pollution and degradation.

“The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers did as promised, they considered the more than one million comments that they received on the rule, they addressed concerns, refined and improved the rule,” said John Crabtree of the Center for Rural Affairs. “We are encouraged by the refinements and clarifications that EPA and the Army Corps have undertaken in this process, and encouraged to see better Clean Water Act enforcement poised to move forward.”

According to Crabtree, the revised rule ensures that surface water quality is protected under the Clean Water Act through a rule that is grounded in both law and science.  Nearly one in three Americans get drinking water from streams that lacked clear protection before the Clean Water Rule. And healthy ecosystems provide more than drinking water, they provided wildlife habitat and places for fishing, swimming and paddling. Clean water is an economic driver for manufacturing, farming, ranching, tourism, recreation, and energy production.

“Perhaps most importantly, this rule was shaped, and improved, by public input,” Crabtree concluded. “EPA and the Army Corps asked Americans to weigh in on this rule, and over one million of them did so. That process will allow the rule to clear the regulatory waters, overcome the shrill hyperbole from organizations more interested in shilling for industry and industrial agriculture than in clean water, and get about the business of protecting the quality of America’s surface waters.



IOWA SEC OF AG COMMENTS ON WOTUS

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today issued the following statement on the release of the final Waters of the US rule by the EPA.

“The final rule is nearly 300 pages and will take some time to thoroughly analyze and understand its full impact.  Given the serious problems raised in the initial proposal, I do think it would have been wise for EPA to hold another comment period that would give all interested stakeholders a chance to closely review the rule and make thoughtful comments. It is very important that this be done correctly.  We want to encourage farmers to do additional conservation work on their farms, not stand in their way.  The uncertainty created by this entire rulemaking process has created unnecessary challenges and I hope this final rule doesn’t further exacerbate those issues.”



Soy Growers Will Review Clean Water Rule, Renew Call for Opportunity to Comment

The American Soybean Association will take the coming days to review the revised Clean Water Rule, formerly known as Waters of the United States, issued today by the Environmental Protection Agency, and comment after ASA leaders digest the proposals contained in the rule. In making the announcement, ASA President and Texas farmer Wade Cowan reiterated the association’s request for an opportunity to comment on revisions to the rule, something not yet provided by EPA:

“As is the case with any expansive document, we need the time to determine the potential impacts of this rule for soybean operations in our 30 growing states before we decide how we want to respond. Our farmers and staff will analyze the rule and we will make a full statement once we’ve done so.

“It bears repeating, however, that we haven’t been given an opportunity to comment on EPA’s revision of the rule. We voiced strong opposition to the original version, and while we are encouraged by the agency’s willingness to revisit the rule and potentially address farmer concerns, we are very much in a ‘trust but verify’ mode. ASA needs to establish that the rule does not affect everyday soybean farming operations, and we are now in the process of making that determination. If we find that the rule does not live up to the promises made by EPA, we must have an opportunity to submit comments to the agency to that effect.”



EPA Writes off Rural America, Finalizes Proposed “Waters of the US” Rule

“Nothing left unregulated” is the apparent motto of the Environmental Protection Agency. Today, the Agency finalized its “Waters of the United States” proposed rule, which unilaterally strips private property rights and adds hundreds of thousands of stream miles and acres of land to federal jurisdiction.

Under the guise of clarifying the Clean Water Act, the EPA and the Army Corps added ambiguous language to the law that leaves regulation up to the subjectivity of individual regulators across the country. By law, the EPA must read and consider all comments submitted on the proposed rule, but only six months after receiving over one million public comments on the proposal, EPA has finalized the rule. Philip Ellis, National Cattlemen's Beef Association president, said this is a clear indication there is no intention of considering the concerns of those most impacted by the rule.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, however, that a flawed rule would come from a flawed process. Not only did the EPA write the proposal expanding the reach of the Clean Water Act without input from agriculture, the Agency implemented their own grassroots lobbying campaign to drown out the concerns of private property owners. The tax-payer funded campaign was promoted through social media channels and called for people to share EPA’s oversimplified and misleading talking points.

“The former Obama campaign officials that received political appointments at EPA are apparently putting their activist knowledge base to use,” said Ellis. “Soliciting endorsements and support is a far cry from simply educating the public, as EPA officials claim.”

The Agency even went a step further during a press conference when Administrator McCarthy called the concerns of cattlemen “ludicrous”. This doesn’t sound like an Agency interested in rural America at all. It’s an Agency with an agenda.

In fact, the EPA used maps of waters and wetlands throughout the country that detailed the extent of their proposal, but it wasn’t until the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology was doing research in preparation for a hearing that the maps were discovered. The taxpayer funded maps, presumably kept hidden for years, painted an “astonishing picture” of what EPA intended to regulate, as Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) explained.

“The EPA has been spending taxpayer dollars employing a grassroots lobbying campaign, hiding information, dismissing concerns from stakeholders, and holding closed-door meetings with environmental activists,” said Brenda Richards, Idaho rancher and Public Lands Council president. “There is no question that this rule will infringe on private property rights and usurp state authority over land and water use. Ambiguous language included will only serve to further jam courtrooms across the country with jurisdictional challenges.”

While NCBA and PLC are reviewing the details of the final rule, the entire process has been flawed and must be set aside; the final rule poses an unnecessary threat to private property owners and cattle producers across the country. The only fix is to start over with all stakeholders’ input and direction from Congress.



NCGA: Water Rules Must be Clear and Workable for Farmers

The following is a statement from Chip Bowling, Maryland farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association, in response to today’s EPA announcement of a revised rule pertaining to the Clean Water Act.

“We cannot comment on the specifics of the revised rule until we have had a chance to fully review it. We especially want to ensure that the broad promises made in the EPA press release are carried out in the text of this comprehensive rule.

“With the earlier round of proposed rules, NCGA was concerned that the earlier proposed rule represented a significant expansion of federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction relative to anything that has ever been in rulemaking before. We especially will look closely at how on-farm ditches, ponds and puddles are treated in the rule.

“As in the past, we will work with EPA as much as possible to ensure we have rules in place that are clear and workable for farmers.”


National Farmers Union Statement on Waters of the U.S. Final Rule
President Roger Johnson

Released the following statement on today’s release of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Final Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“NFU’s policy opposes any expansion of jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA), but EPA has made genuine efforts in reaching out to agriculture stakeholders in the rule-making process and the final rule clearly demonstrates that the agency took the concerns of family agriculture under serious consideration.  While the rule is not perfect from our perspective, the final rule is an improvement over the proposed rule.

“The final rule puts bright-line limits on jurisdiction over neighboring waters, offering farmers increased regulatory certainty and mitigating the risk of enforcement or litigation. The final rule also provides more clarity on which ditches fall under the Clean Water Act jurisdiction, removing a gray area that has caused farmers and ranchers an incredible amount of concern.

“We appreciate EPA’s work on the regional water features, but remain concerned about waters that cannot impact the quality of jurisdictional waters will fall under jurisdiction, or that farmers will not have the regulatory certainty they need to address these waters appropriately.   NFU hopes EPA will clarify this process through timely guidance.”


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FOURTH CASE OF AVIAN INFLUENZA IN NEBRASKA; NEW COUNTY INVOLVED

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed preliminary testing shows the presence of a fourth case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in Nebraska. This case has been found at a farm in Knox County.

The Knox County case is a flock of 3 million hens. The farm is owned by the same operator as the three previously-announced Nebraska cases in Dixon County. Those three cases involve 3.5 million laying hens and a flock of 500,000 pullets (young hens), bringing the total impacted birds to date in Nebraska to 7 million. The location in Knox County is approximately 50 miles from the three Dixon County locations.

The Department quarantined the Knox County facility this morning following a preliminary positive test for the disease; the test is expected to be confirmed tomorrow at a federal laboratory. As with the three previous cases, a perimeter has been established around the Knox County facility, and the birds will be depopulated. Under the USDA protocol, NDA will visit all locations that have poultry within a 6.2 mile radius of the Knox County site to conduct testing.

Ibach said a response team has already been pulled together and is in Knox County to address the HPAI finding, including federal, state and local officials.

“I cannot stress enough the importance for all Nebraska poultry facility operators to ensure they maintain the strictest of biosecurity measures,” Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said. “That means strictly limiting the traffic, both humans and vehicles, into and out of facilities in an effort to avoid any cross-contamination.”

Gov. Pete Ricketts issued a state emergency declaration on May 12 to provide NDA and other state agencies with appropriate resources to address the HPAI situation.

The Centers for Disease Control considers the risk to people from HPAI H5 infections to be low. There have not been any human cases associated with the HPAI H5 virus. Proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees kills the virus. Dixon 1, Dixon 2 and the Knox County facility are egg laying facilities and therefore the chickens are not consumed, and the eggs from these facilities are processed and go through pasteurization, eliminating product consumption risk.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is working with local health departments and the producer involved to interview workers about their possible exposure and monitor them if appropriate. For more information on public health and avian influenza, go to dhhs.ne.gov/avianflu.

Ibach is asking Nebraska poultry producers, large and small, to monitor their flocks for symptoms of the virus and notify NDA immediately if they suspect any problems. All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials, either through NDA by calling 1-877-800-4080 or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.

As part of the existing USDA avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners as well as industry are 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 – confirming that the poultry farm is AI virus-free.

Additional information on HPAI can be found online at www.nda.nebraska.gov. Information is available for producers and the general public.



ONE PROBABLE CASE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WRIGHT COUNTY

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to a probable case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Wright County.  With the new announcement, Iowa now has 67 cases of the disease in the state. The Department has quarantined the premise and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

Wright 4 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 1 million birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

As the Department receives final confirmations of the disease updated information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp.



"Beef. It's What's For Dinner." Digital Advertising Efforts in Full Swing

2015 marks the second year since the beef checkoff’s “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand made the shift from traditional advertising to an all-digital approach, using an integrated digital media plan to reach consumers in a new and highly engaging way.

“The checkoff’s advertising efforts are instrumental in helping to educate millions of Americans on beef’s superior taste, nutritional package, ease-of-use and versatility by providing them with the beef-related information they need, when they need it,” says Terri Carstensen, Chair of the Domestic Consumer Preference committee, and beef producer from Odebolt, Iowa. “Through the checkoff’s digital advertising campaigns, consumers are equipped with the beef tips, techniques and recipes they need to ensure a great beef eating experience, each and every time.”

The success of the checkoff’s advertising program is the result of a three-pronged approach to digital:
-    Surface the information consumers are looking for, when they’re looking for it through a variety of online advertising tools, such as search, social and banner advertising;
-    Delight consumers with educational and entertaining content, including engaging and inspiring videos and recipes;
-    Make a positive difference in the way consumers feel about beef by showing how easy and versatile beef can be for any day of the week.

While the “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand uses advertising strategies like search and social advertising throughout the entire year, the major advertising push is centered around the critical grilling season, which runs May through September. And according to the checkoff-funded Google Consumer Survey conducted in May 2015, nearly half (46.3 percent) of consumers are excited about serving beef this summer grilling season - which is nearly double that of any other protein. Additionally, 42 percent of consumers say they are likely to grill beef burgers (61.4 percent) and steaks (45 percent) over other proteins like chicken and pork.

This summer, “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” will take advantage of its robust digital toolbox (and America’s love of beef) to reach consumers in a variety of ways, across different platforms:

    Website: BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com serves as the go-to resource for recipes and meal inspirations, cooking tips and techniques, and nutrition information. Additionally, a new landing page supporting the grilling season campaign will be launched, showcasing how beef can help families live a flavorful life. Search, banner and social media advertising will help support the website and the new landing page, directing consumers to useful content and driving traffic throughout the campaign.

    New videos: Three new “No-Recipe Recipe” advertising videos are being created to inspire new meal ideas and cooking techniques, while showing how beef can help bring a delicious and nutritious meal to life. These videos will be available on the “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” YouTube channel at the launch of the campaign.

    Social, Banners, Search Advertising: These media components will be used throughout the summer campaign and the rest of 2015 to drive traffic to BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com and various content assets throughout the year, such a recipes collections, videos and the grilling season landing page. Additionally, website partnerships with major media outlets like Meredith Digital and Scripps will give the Beef Checkoff-funded “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” brand the opportunity to integrate recipes on sites like FoodNetwork.com and AllRecipes.com.

    Protein Challenge: The Protein Challenge—launched in April 2015—has already generated more than 137,000 page visits on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com, making it the most popular page on the website. Search and Facebook advertising efforts have motivated more than 10,500 consumers to subscribe to the daily Protein Challenge emails.

Already, the digital advertising efforts are surpassing 2014 with a nearly 700% increase in the acquisition rate of new Facebook fans and 272% increase in total website visits. With results like that, the Beef Checkoff is confident that this grilling season campaign will generate even bigger results for the beef industry in 2015.

For delicious triple-tested beef recipes, nutrition information and to learn more about the "Beef. It's What's For Dinner." advertising campaign, please visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.



Dead Calm in Fertilizer Prices

According to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the third week of May 2015, prices appear steady. No fertilizers are significantly lower or higher compared to a month earlier, as has been the case in recent weeks.

Five of the eight major fertilizers were higher in price compared to a month prior but these moves were slight. Potash averaged $492 per ton, urea $459/ton, 10-34-0 $650/ton, UAN28 $332/ton and UAN32 $372/ton.

Three fertilizers were lower compared to the previous month, but again the move down was fairly insignificant. DAP averaged $570/ton, MAP $597/ton and anhydrous $710/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea averaged $0.50/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.59/lb.N and UAN32 $0.58/lb.N.

Only one of the eight major fertilizers is double-digits higher in price compared to May 2014, all while commodity prices are significantly lower from a year ago. 10-34-0 is 17% higher compared to last year.

Two other fertilizers are slightly more expensive compared to a year earlier. Potash is 3% more expensive while anhydrous 2% more expensive compared to a year earlier.

The remaining five nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. DAP is 4% less expensive, MAP is 5% lower, UAN28 is down 7%, UAN32 is 9% less expensive and urea is 17% less expensive from a year earlier.



NBAF breaks ground in Manhattan

The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) groundbreaking took place today in a ceremony attended by city, university, state and federal leaders. The NBAF facility will make Kansas the epicenter of new and progressive animal disease research. The Kansas Congressional Delegation, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey all took part in the groundbreaking event in addition to numerous federal officials.

NBAF being located in Kansas reaffirms the Kansas Department of Agriculture s commitment to protect and preserve our tremendous animal agriculture industry, said McClaskey. This state-of-the-art facility will offer great opportunities for advancements in animal agriculture. We understand the inherent value of NBAF and the challenge to protect this valuable industry. We take pride in Kansas agriculture and recognize the significant economic contribution the animal agriculture industry has in Kansas and in the United States. We look forward to the opportunities to partner with NBAF, as together we will play a role in keeping those sectors protected.

Ensuring a safe food supply, protecting natural resources, promoting public health and safety, protecting animal health, and providing consumer protection to the best of its ability, is part of the mission of the Kansas Department of Agriculture. NBAF will provide fundamental research assuring livestock, food and fiber industries in Kansas remain secure.

The agriculture industry impacts the state s economy more than any other sector, accounting for more than $63 billion to the Kansas economy each year and more than $1 trillion nationally. In an economy that relies heavily on the agriculture industry, innovative research is imperative for future progress and security.  Federal, state and local partnerships have all played fundamental roles in the construction of the NBAF. The Department of Homeland Security and the United States Department of Agriculture will continue utilizing partnerships to maximize research capabilities.


New NREL Study Confirms E15 Compatibility with Existing Service Station Equipment

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) today thanked the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) for its work in researching and publishing the E15 and Infrastructure technical report today.

ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty said “’Rumors of E15’s impossibility and high equipment cost have been greatly exaggerated.’  NREL’s analysis confirms what we have been telling station owners since E15 was approved - most underground storage tanks (USTs), piping, and other fueling equipment are already compatible with E15.”

Lamberty said the ethanol industry has been criticized and called “dangerous” and “dishonest’ for suggesting marketers could simply put E15 in tanks they previously used for premium or midgrade gasoline. “Even after highlighting real-world fuel marketers selling E15 from existing equipment, the myth of high priced E15 infrastructure remains,” said Lamberty. “This study effectively busts that myth.”

“In stations where Big Oil couldn’t contractually ban E15, they had to scare the owners out of offering the less-expensive, higher-octane fuel,” Lamberty explained. “As EPA nears its June 1st deadline for proposing new RFS blending targets, this NREL information, coupled with the number of vehicles built and warrantied for E15 growing beyond 50 million, should help them see Big Oil’s blend wall bogeyman isn’t real.”

NREL performed a review of existing literature, applicable codes and standards, equipment manufacturers’ products, and manufacturers’ statements of compatibility with ethanol blends, to compile the E15 and Infrastructure technical report. Among its key findings:
 ·    “It is often stated that tanks cannot be used to store E15, but this assumption is incorrect as the majority of installed tanks can store blends above E10.”
 ·    “For many decades, underground storage tank (UST) manufacturers certified their USTs for blends up to E100, for example, all steel tanks and underground fiberglass tanks since the year 1990.”
 ·    “All existing pipe manufacturers have Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listing for E100.” 
 ·    “Manufacturers of pipe thread sealants (pipe dope) used in UST systems have stated that their products have been compatible with ethanol blends up to E20 for many years.”
 ·    Contrary to concerns over corrosion and potential fuel releases from increased ethanol use, NREL found that EPA data shows releases decreased as ethanol use expanded nationwide. “The number of reported UST releases has been steadily declining since 2000 from occurring in about 2% of all USTs in the United States to about 1% in 2014.”

The study was funded by the Blend Your Own Ethanol campaign, a joint effort of ACE and RFA to provide information for fuel retailers considering ethanol blends beyond E10. A full copy of the report can be found here or at BYOethanol.com, and interested parties can also register on the BYO website for an NREL webinar on the report which will be offered June 11, 2015 and 1:00 PM CDT.



Agricultural Lenders See Increase in Demand for Services to Support Customers Facing Ag Efficiency Cycle

A survey of Farm Credit lenders in America’s heartland shows an increased demand for market risk management services as farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses respond to a tightening agriculture economy. AgriBank, the St. Paul, Minn.-based Farm Credit Bank, released the poll with a new report  that examines trends innet farm income and farm balance sheets, and points to the need for producers act now to position themselves for success.

When asked which service has seen the greatest increase in demand in 2015, 57.1 percent named market risk management. These same lenders reported significant growth in demand for assistance with business planning, interest rate risk management and crop/revenue insurance.

AgriBank conducted the poll May 14 among chief executive officers of its affiliated Farm Credit Associations. The 17 Associations affiliated with AgriBank are top providers of loans for agriculture and rural borrowers in a 15-state area stretching from Wyoming to Ohio and Minnesota to Arkansas.

AgriBank Poll
"Which of the following services has seen the greatest increase in demand in 2015 as customers start to prepare for the agriculture efficiency cycle?” ​

Business planning - 21.4%
Crop/revenue insurance - 7.1%
Interest rate risk management - 14.3%
Market risk management - 57.1%

AgriBank Insights Report: The Agriculture Efficiency Cycle
A new AgriBank report released with the survey finds that U.S. farmers are in a strong financial position, but crop producers need to cut costs as crop prices fall from historic highs into an agriculture efficiency cycle.

“In recent years, crop farmers across America’s heartland have generally enjoyed a period of strong financial progress. However, in the past few years, commodity prices have declined significantly, and net farm income, based on USDA forecasts, is expected to fall over the next decade,” said Jeff Swanhorst, AgriBank’s chief credit officer. “Producers who see today’s environment as an agriculture efficiency cycle—and find ways to drive down cost per unit of production—can position themselves for continued success.”

Report Highlights
-    Net farm income falling. After the record $129 billion in 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects aggregate nominal net farm income to decline in 2014 and 2015, reaching a five-year low of $73.6 billion in 2015.

-    Farm balance sheets strong but moderating. The U.S. farm sector debt-to-asset ratio, a measure of overall farm financial health, reached an all-time low of 10.6 percent in 2014 and is projected to increase only slightly to 10.9 percent for 2015—still well below the values that prevailed in the 1980s and 1990s. This compares to the high of over 22 percent during the height of the 1980s farm crisis.

-    Agriculture efficiency cycles require cost cuts. While strong balance sheets provide a window of opportunity for producers to adjust to changing market conditions, the expected decline in net farm income means producers must bring income and expenses in line. A solution in periods like this is to drive a higher level of efficiency into operations, which can reduce the cost per unit of production.

The report outlines four steps producers can take to adapt to today’s agriculture efficiency cycle:
-    Understand all of the primary factors that determine their cost per unit of production
-    Research and thoroughly evaluate those practices, techniques and technologies that have the potential to reduce the major cost of production categories. Adopt those that can have a major impact on cost per unit of production.
-    Take advantage of historically low interest rates by locking in fixed rates when appropriate
-    Use crop/revenue insurance and sound, prudent marketing strategies to protect and enhance the gross revenue side of the farm income statement



New USDA Portal Enables Farmers, Ranchers to Request Conservation Assistance Online

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners can now do business with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through a new online portal.  With today’s launch of Conservation Client Gateway, producers will have the ability to work with conservation planners online to access Farm Bill programs, request assistance and track payments for their conservation activities.

“What used to require a trip to a USDA service center can now be done from a home computer through Conservation Client Gateway,” Vilsack said. “USDA is committed to providing effective, efficient assistance to its clients, and Conservation Client Gateway is one way to improve customer service."

Conservation Client Gateway enables farmers, ranchers and private landowners to securely:

•   Request NRCS technical and financial assistance;
•   Review and sign conservation plans and practice schedules;
•   Complete and sign an application for a conservation program;
•   Review, sign and submit contracts and appendices for conservation programs;
•   Document completed practices and request certification of completed practices;
•   Request and track payments for conservation programs; and
•   Store and retrieve technical and financial files, including documents and photographs.

Conservation Client Gateway is entirely voluntary, giving producers a choice between conducting business online or traveling to a USDA service center.

“Our goal is to make it easy and convenient for farmers and ranchers to work with USDA,” Vilsack said. “Customers can log in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to electronically sign documents, apply for conservation programs, access conservation plans, report practice completion or track the status of conservation payments. Through Conservation Client Gateway, producers have their conservation information at their fingertips and they can save time and gas money by reducing the number of trips to USDA service centers.”

Conservation Client Gateway is available to individual landowners and will soon be extended to business entities, such as Limited Liability Corporations. It is part of the agency’s ongoing Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative, which will feature additional capabilities in the future.

For more information about Conservation Client Gateway, visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov/clientgateway.



EPA APPROVES NEW TOOL TO HELP SOYBEAN, COTTON GROWERS MANAGE WEEDS

Soybean and cotton growers looking for new tools to manage weeds will have a new, first-of-its-kind option in 2016 with Warrant Ultra Herbicide, a premix of acetochlor and fomesafen approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month.

Warrant® Herbicide – with its active ingredient acetochlor - was launched in 2010. It quickly became a favorite among soybean and cotton growers for its outstanding residual weed control – including control of glyphosate-resistant and tough-to-control weeds – as well as its crop safety due to its unique microencapsulated formulation. Roundup Ready PLUS® Crop Management Solutions recommendations have included products containing the active ingredient fomesafen as a key weed-management option since the launch of the platform in 2011. When fully approved, Warrant Ultra Herbicide will be the only premix on the market to formulate microencapsulated acetochlor with fomesafen, and will provide two mechanisms of action (MOA) for residual weed control. Additionally, fomesafen provides an additional postemergence MOA, which is a useful herbicide resistance management tool when used in the Roundup Ready ® system.

“Warrant Ultra Herbicide provides excellent post-emergence control of problematic weeds such as waterhemp and Palmer amaranth – as well as excellent broad-spectrum residual weed control – in a convenient premix,” said Austin Horn, Monsanto’s Marketing Manager for Selective Herbicides.  “University research shows that Warrant Ultra Herbicide provides excellent residual control of annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaf weeds when compared to competitive products. Because of its microencapsulation technology, Warrant Ultra Herbicide also offers superior crop safety when compared to competitive products.”

Warrant Ultra Herbicide received EPA approval on April 14, and state registrations are anticipated for key soybean and cotton geographies in the coming weeks.

Warrant Ultra Herbicide will be part of the Roundup Ready PLUS Crop Management Solutions recommendations and incentives in 2016, the details of which will be announced this fall. The Roundup Ready PLUS Crop Management Solutions platform focuses on providing growers with recommendations, education and incentives through the combined knowledge of scientists, academics, agronomists and industry partnerships. Through these relationships, Monsanto continually strives to provide a diverse range of crop protection solutions and help farmers get the most out of every acre.

The 2016 introduction of Warrant Ultra Herbicide follows the 2015 introduction of Rowel™ Herbicide and Rowel™ FX Herbicide, which can provide cotton and soybean growers consistent weed control on tough-to-control broadleaf weeds.

More information about Rowel Herbicide and Rowel FX Herbicide – as well as crop management recommendations and incentive information – can be found at www.RoundupReadyPLUS.com.



Kubota to Build New Plant, Expand Facilities in Georgia

Kubota Tractor Corporation and Kubota Manufacturing of America Corporation officially announced plans to increase production capacity for Kubota equipment in the U.S. by building a new manufacturing plant and expanding its existing operations in Gainesville, Ga.

The company's expansion plans come on the heels of KTC's recent announcement that it will relocate its U.S. headquarters to Grapevine, Texas, in an effort to get closer to its major markets and customers.

The new Georgia plant will be located on 180 acres at Gateway Industrial Centre, in Gainesville-Hall County, three miles from KMA's existing facilities. The new building will be an estimated 502,000 square feet.

The existing KMA facility, which has been in operation since 1988 and employs approximately 1,300 people, will also undergo enhancements to increase its production capacity to support Kubota's growing turf business.

Both KTC and KMA are U.S. subsidiaries of Kubota Corporation, based in Osaka, Japan, and have been actively pursuing an aggressive growth strategy in the U.S.