Friday January 8 Ag News

Nebraska Farm Bureau Names 2016 Leadership Academy Members

Ten farmers and ranchers from across Nebraska have been selected for Nebraska Farm Bureau’s 2016 Leadership Academy. The selected farmers and ranchers will begin a year-long program Jan. 28-29 in Kearney.

“The goal of the academy is to cultivate the talents and strengths of the participants and connect their passion for agriculture to opportunities of service within the Farm Bureau organization. Great leaders have a clearly defined purpose; purpose fuels passion and work ethic. By developing leadership skills, academy members can develop their passions and positively impact their local communities and the state of Nebraska.” said Adam Peterson, facilitator of the 2016 Leadership Academy. Peterson also serves as the central regional director of membership for Nebraska Farm Bureau.

Academy members will participate in sessions focused on leadership skills, understanding the county, state and national structure of the Farm Bureau organization including Farm Bureau’s grassroots network and policy work on agriculture issues. Also, the group will travel to Washington, D.C. in September, for visits with Nebraska’s Congressional delegation and federal agency representatives.

“We congratulate this group of diverse individuals and thank them for their willingness to step up and out of their comfort zone to learn more about how they can influence their community, state and world for the better,” said Peterson.

The 2016 Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy members are:

Joseph Sateren of Wisner, a Cuming County Farm Bureau member. Sateran produces corn, soybeans, alfalfa, cattle and also custom farms.

Bryce Doeschot of Lincoln, a Lancaster County Farm Bureau member. Doeschot works on his family farm where they have a cow/calf operation and custom feed hogs. They also grow corn, soybeans and wheat.

Chelsey Girard of Osceola, a Polk County Farm Bureau member. Girard, her husband Tim, her father and uncle grow yellow and white corn and soybeans. They also have two barns of laying hens and are a dealer for AgriGold seed.

Brandon Essink of Syracuse, an Otoe County Farm Bureau member. Essink is a part of his family operation and raises registered Lowline Angus cattle and commercial cattle, registered Morgan horses, Boer goats and Mini Australian Shepherds. They also grow alfalfa and prairie hay for winter feed.

Caroline Weihl of Grand Island, a Hall County Farm Bureau member. Weihl is an agricultural professional and is a seed advisor manager with Syngenta.

Amy Nelson of Axtell, a Kearney/Franklin County Farm Bureau member. Nelson and her husband Scott grow irrigated corn, soybeans and seed corn.

Rebecca Schwarz of Bertrand, a Phelps County Farm Bureau member. Schwarz farms with her family and has a certified organic farming operation. They grow corn, alfalfa, wheat, soybeans, oats, sorghum, popcorn, organic vegetables and herbs. They also run a custom haying business.

Erin Norman of Crawford, a Dawes County Farm Bureau member. Norman and her husband Luke operate a cow/calf operation on the family ranch that is more than 100 years old. They also grow hay.

Darrel Entz of Mason City, a Custer County Farm Bureau member. Entz runs a background cattle operation, a cow herd and grows irrigated row crops.

Robert Hartman of Champion, a Chase County Farm Bureau member. Hartman has a cow/calf operation and backgrounds calves. He also has a greenhouse operation where he grows vine ripened tomatoes.



NE Cattlemen's Classic:  Powerful Past ... Bright Future

Twenty-Five years ago in 1991 the Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic  was started. This year the classic will celebrate its 25th year, February 13th - 21st, with some new features.

On Monday February 15th there will be a Working Dog demonstration starting at 10 am. Tuesday is filled with an entire line-up of new events. Starting at 10am there will be an Ag Innovation/Technology Workshop followed by a Classic Beef Cook-off starting at Noon, a Battle of the Breeds "Best of Beef" Recipes at 4pm an hour later it is open for the public to taste test the "Best of Beef" recipes.

This year is one that you won't want to miss. Along with all the new events the regular ranch and cow horse shows, cattle breed shows, sales, and junior show will be happening.

For full schedule click here... http://cattlemens.org/classic/schedule.html. 



GBC Welcomes Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts to the Coalition’s 2016 Leadership Team

Today, the Coalition announced that Missouri Governor Jay Nixon will become chairman and Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts will become vice chairman of Governors’ Biofuels Coalition (GBC) this year.

“For more than 20 years, the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition has worked in a bipartisan way to strengthen American energy independence and create jobs in rural communities,” Governor Nixon said. “I look forward to working with Governor Ricketts to promote the production and use of biofuels because, in addition to diversifying our energy portfolio, they also give consumers more choices at the pump, reduce harmful emissions, and increase family incomes in rural America. I thank Governor Branstad for his outstanding leadership, and I look forward to building on his success.”

Now that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued its final biofuel blending rule, the Coalition will continue to advocate for policies that grow the biofuel industry such as, proposing legislation that will encourage investment in the nation’s advanced biofuel industry; asking EPA to enforce Section 202 of the Clean Air Act to limit aromatics and open the market for ethanol as a source of clean octane; dropping the obsolete vapor pressure restrictions on higher ethanol blends; and restoring the fuel economy credits (CAFE).

“I’m honored to serve as the next vice chairman of this organization, and will continue working to strengthen the energy independence of Nebraska and our country. Nebraska was one of the founding members of the Coalition, and the Coalition continues to play a major role in our nation’s energy policies, including the renewable fuel standard,” Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said.

Governor Nixon and Governor Ricketts both thanked Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for not only his leadership of the Coalition last year but for his tireless national leadership on renewable energy policy, and making Iowa a model of renewable energy development for all our states.



Tool uses climate forecasts and crop modeling capabilities to transform data into value for farmers

The world’s changing climate creates great uncertainty when it comes to agricultural decision-making. Computer models containing a sea of high-tech data on crops and climate present challenges in transforming terabytes into real solutions on the ground. A new tool developed by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher in collaboration with the private sector has the ability to transform trillions of model realizations into a simple website platform that will help farmers reduce risk and optimize production while using water and other resources more efficiently.

CropClimate, available to the public at www.cropclimate.org, was developed by Guillermo Baigorria, assistant professor in the UNL School of Natural Resources and Department of Agronomy & Horticulture and a Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute Faculty Fellow. The interactive website uses state-of-the-art technology in climate-, soil- and crop-modeling to link the effects of environmental conditions, weather and crop yield history and field management to develop more resilient crop production systems. The platform offers insights that will enable farmers to tailor some of their pre-planting management practices, such as crop land allocation, variety selection, planting dates, insurance selection, etc., according to the upcoming seasonal climate forecast. The website is fully operational to support decision-making for corn and soybeans in Nebraska. Some tools are functional for the entire U.S., while others need to be added to certain states following the initial launch.

The Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska will host a seminar on CropClimate from 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 15 in rooms A1-A2 at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center (2021 Transformation Dr.). The seminar is free and open to the public, including media. Baigorria will give an overview of the tool’s capabilities and benefits, along with a demonstration on how to use it. The event will be live-streamed and archived on the institute’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/WaterForFood.

Baigorria has been working toward the launch of the data-intensive project, which requires 180 computer processors to run, for the past several months. He said he is confident the tool will help take some of the guesswork out of agricultural decision-making.

“Many growers make pre-planting decisions based on instinct, such as when to plant, how much land is assigned to a given crop, which cultivar to use or the insurance they buy,” said Baigorria. “CropClimate’s user-friendly format and extensive climate information can empower farmers, lenders, policymakers, seed and agrochemical companies, insurance companies and other stakeholders to make more informed decisions.”

The website allows users to plug in various scenarios that will help them analyze the probability for highest yield, he said.

“The platform gives us the ability to translate an enormous amount of sub-county-level data on climate, soil and crops into field decisions that may significantly increase production, reduce risk and bolster our ability to take advantage of climate projections.”

Roberto Lenton, founding executive director of the Water for Food Institute said this is the kind of innovation that supports the institute’s mission to ensure water and food security. “The work of our Faculty Fellows is essential to advancing our understanding of the complexities involved in water use in agriculture. To have a free, web-based program that provides farmers with factual data to improve their yields and reduce water use is truly groundbreaking.”

The project, which includes research, extension and education components, has reached an international scope. In parallel with the launch of its core model based in the U.S. in January, Baigorria expanded the platform’s capacity internationally, beginning with Peru and Brazil, through a partnership with the International Consortium for Categorical Climate Forecast Applications. Baigorria is awaiting UNL approval to begin in Indonesia. Additional countries will have an opportunity to replicate the tool in the future.



SNOW IS GOOD FOR ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               As single digit and below zero temperatures arrive, be happy if you received snow recently.  Sure, snow created some problems, but snow is good – for alfalfa.

               Alfalfa loves snow.  In fact, nothing can increase the chance of alfalfa surviving winter better than a nice, thick blanket of snow.  Let's see how this works.

               Last fall’s moderate weather allowed alfalfa plants to harden well for winter, leaving them with a high concentration of nutrients in their roots and adequate soil moisture.  This winterized condition enables alfalfa crowns and roots to withstand temperatures down as low as 5 degrees above zero.

               Now I know this doesn't sound all that cold.  After all, air temperatures have gotten or will get much colder than that.  Fortunately, the soil doesn't get as cold as the air above it.  And when soil is covered with a blanket of snow, this snow acts like a layer of insulation protecting the ground from bitter cold temperatures.  Plus, it reduces the rate that soils and alfalfa roots dry out.  This is why winters with little snow cover can cause more injury to alfalfa stands, especially if soils also are dry.

               Of course, management practices in the fall influence the affect of snow on your alfalfa.  Tall stubble provides some insulation value itself and it will catch more snow.  Also, avoiding alfalfa harvest during the so-called risk period from mid-September through mid-October helps alfalfa roots winterize well by building up nutrients and reducing water content.

               You may not like the way snow disrupts your daily routine, but remember how valuable it can be for your alfalfa.  Then, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.



2016 Iowa Pork Congress to feature eleven new seminars

Pork producers and others with employment or interest in pork production can attend eleven new seminars at the 2016 Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association will hold its 44th annual convention and tradeshow Jan. 27 and 28 at the Iowa Events Center and all of the educational opportunities are offered at no additional cost to attendees.

Leading industry experts will facilitate sessions on regulations, prices and profitability, and more. IPPA also is offering several key panel discussions on pit foaming, emerging swine health challenges, alternative energy sources and water quality. In addition to the seminars, producers can obtain or renew certification in the pork industry's PQA Plus and TQA program as well as manure application.

The following is a complete schedule of seminars, training sessions and speakers:

Wednesday, Jan. 27  Seminars
● Iowa Regulations & Nuisance Case Update
Eldon McAfee, Brick Gentry Law Firm
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, Rooms 105 & 106

● Pit Foam & Producer Safety
Dr. Dan Andersen, Iowa State University
Dr. Renée Anthony, Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health
Leon Sheets, Iowa Pork Producer
10:45 a.m. - Noon
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 107 & 108

● Controlling Emerging Swine Health Challenges
Dr. David Schmitt, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Dr. Paul Sundberg, Swine Health Information Center
Dr. Chris Rademacher, Iowa State University
12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 105 & 106
Underwritten by Pork Network

● Agriculture, Human Health & the Environment - Keynote Presentation
Dr. Patrick Moore, Ecosense
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, Rooms 107 & 108

● Prices & Profitability: Economic Outlook
Dr. Steve Meyer, Express Markets, Inc. Analytics
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 105 & 106
Underwritten by National Hog Farmer

Training Sessions
● Pork Quality Assurance® Plus certification
Colin Johnson, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, room 103

● Transport Quality Assurance® certification
Mark Storlie -Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, room 103

Thursday, Jan. 28 Seminars
● Investigating Alternative Energy Opportunities
William Haman, Iowa Energy Center
Jason Russell, Iowa Pork Producer
Joel Huber, Iowa Pork Producer
9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 107 & 108

● Farmchat: Connecting Farms with Classrooms
Cindy Hall, Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, room 104

● Agriculture Taking Action: Scaling Up Farmer-led Efforts to Improve Water Quality
Dr. Matt Helmers, Iowa State University
Sean McMahon, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance
John Weber, Iowa Pork Producer
Rob Stout, Iowa Pork Producer
10:30 a.m. - Noon
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 105 & 106

● Consumer Insights on Trust-building Transparency
J.J. Jones, Center for Food Integrity
12:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 107 & 108

● Decreasing PRRS Impacts on Your Farm
Dr. Daniel Linhares, Iowa State University
Dr. Amber Stricker, Suidae Health and Production
Dr. Bill Hollis, Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd.
Austin Baker, Hog Slat, Inc.
1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 105 & 106

●The Future for Antibiotics
Dr. Jennifer Koeman, National Pork Board
Dr. Carissa Odland, Pipestone Veterinary Services
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, rooms 107 & 108

Training Sessions
● Confinement Site Manure Applicator certification
Jeff Prier, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Dan Andersen, Iowa State University
10 a.m. - Noon
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, room 103

● Preparing for the Common Swine Industry Audit
David Stender,Iowa State University
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level room 103

All seminars and training sessions are held in the lower level of Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center. Seminars are funded by the Pork Checkoff!

The Iowa Pork Congress is open to all pork producers, allied business partners and others involved in the pork industry. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 27 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 28.

Admission at the door is $10 for those not preregistered.

For more information, contact the Iowa Pork Producers Association at (515) 225-7675, (800) 372-7675 or visit www.iowaporkcongress.org.  



NEW WEBSITE BEELAWS.ORG NOW AVAILABLE TO EDUCATE IOWANS ON WHERE TO KEEP BEES LEGALLY

The Iowa Honey Producers Association (IHPA) proudly announces the immediate availability of www.BeeLaws.org. This website helps Iowa residents learn their city’s ordinances related to beekeeping.  BeeLaws.org is believed to be the first searchable bee law website in the nation.

Anyone curious about placing a bee hive can open the website, choose a city listed on the front page, read pertinent excerpts from that city’s ordinances, and see contact information for city staff. Digital code citations are given where possible.

“Iowa continues to see significant growth in beekeeping.  The number of beekeepers in Iowa has increased roughly three-fold in about a decade.  We’ve grown from approximately 1500 beekeepers in the early 2000s to an estimated 4500 beekeepers today.  Much of this new small-scale beekeeping effort is taking place within more urban areas.  This typically works very well for the bees, beekeepers, and surrounding landscape.  But beekeepers within city limits should be conscious of their municipal codes,” said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

“I am very excited for this new website,” said Roy Kraft, President of the IHPA. “One of the most common questions we get as beekeepers is if it’s legal to keep bees where someone lives, and no one really knew until now.”

Andy Joseph, State Apiarist for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), chose 77 cities from around the state for inclusion on BeeLaws.org, with the hope of growth in the number of apiaries in and around those cities. Cities where beginning beekeeping classes were held in 2015 were also included on the website. No additional cities will be added in 2016 while Julia McGuire, Project Investigator, conducts analysis of the bee law website and its impact.

With growing interest in pollinator presence and pollinator habitat, www.BeeLaws.org aims to responsibly fill a knowledge gap of Iowans interested in bee keeping.

“With increased interest in beekeeping over the last year and a half, I want to help people keep bees and I want to help them do it legally,” said McGuire, coordinator of the Des Moines Backyard Beekeepers club and beekeeper since 2011. “BeeLaws.org aims to remove the burden of taking time to find the appropriate staff member at city hall, and then potentially facing negative impacts. If you cannot find a place in town to legally keep bees, you can hopefully use the website to find legal, nearby areas without having to spend a lot of time on the phone and free of risk.”



Momentum Continued for U.S. Pork Exports in November; Beef Exports also Rebound

U.S. pork exports continued to gain momentum in November while beef exports also showed signs of a rebound, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

November exports of U.S. pork were up 8 percent from a year ago to 181,678 metric tons (mt), the largest volume since May. Pork export value was $452.6 million, down 13 percent from a year ago but up slightly from October. As has been the case in recent months, pork muscle cut export volume was up significantly year-over-year (148,740 mt, up 19 percent) while variety meat exports declined 23 percent to 32,938 mt. (As USMEF has previously noted, year-over-year comparisons for pork variety meat may not be entirely accurate due to issues with 2014 data for Japan.*)

For the first 11 months of 2015, pork exports were down 3 percent from a year ago in volume to 1.94 million mt and 17 percent lower in value at $5.11 billion. January-November exports accounted for 24 percent of total production and 21 percent for muscle cuts only – down from 27 percent and 22 percent, respectively, in 2014. Export value per head slaughtered averaged $48.61, down 23 percent year-over-year.

November beef exports totaled 95,799 mt, down 1 percent from a year ago but the largest volume since June, while export value fell 17 percent to $519.7 million. For January through November, beef exports were down 11 percent from a year ago in both volume (973,028 mt) and value ($5.8 billion). January-November exports accounted for 13 percent of total production and 10 percent for muscle cuts only – each down one percentage point from a year ago. Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $279.12, down 6 percent year-over-year.

Demand for U.S. pork remains strong in Mexico; exports to China continue to rebound
November pork exports to Mexico reached 61,275 mt, up 15 percent year-over-year and the third time in 2015 that monthly export volume topped 60,000 mt. With January-November exports up 5 percent to 650,839 mt, export volume to Mexico is on pace to set a new record for the fourth consecutive year. Export value was down 20 percent to $1.15 billion, reflecting lower U.S. prices, but the Mexican peso was down an average of 16 percent in 2015, largely offsetting any break in pork prices for Mexican customers.

With several U.S. pork plants regaining eligibility for China near the beginning of November, exports to the China/Hong Kong region were the largest of 2015 at 33,462 mt, valued at $65.6 million. While trailing the performance of 2011-2013, these results were up 41 percent in volume and 9 percent in value from November 2014. For January through November, exports to China/Hong Kong remained 2 percent lower in volume (305,365 mt) than a year ago and were down 11 percent in value ($632.9 million). With strong growth from the European Union, China/Hong Kong’s total imports through November reached 1.7 million mt, up 7 percent from a year ago and on pace for a new record.

After cooling to some degree in the previous two months, November pork exports to South Korea reached 13,172 mt – the largest volume since May and up 5 percent year-over-year. For the first 11 months of 2015, exports to Korea were up 27 percent in volume (153,421 mt) and 11 percent in value ($433.8 million). Korea’s imports from all suppliers were up 28 percent to nearly 450,000 mt, with U.S. market share holding fairly steady at 32 percent.

Exports to leading value market Japan continued to struggle in November, pushing the 11-month total down 13 percent year-over-year in volume (374,720 mt) and 18 percent lower in value ($1.46 billion). While demand for U.S. chilled pork has rebounded in Japan, these gains have been offset by lower volumes of frozen pork and ground seasoned pork. With increased competition from the European Union, U.S. market share dipped to 39 percent in 2015, down from 44 percent in 2013. However, Japan’s frozen inventories of imported pork recently fell 26 percent below the previous year’s large volume, indicating potential for import growth in 2016.

Beef exports gain momentum in most Asian markets, but decline continues in Japan
November beef export volume increased year-over-year to several key Asian markets, including:

    Exports to Korea increased 8 percent in volume (11,950 mt), while value fell 21 percent to $69.4 million. For January through November, exports were up 7 percent in volume (114,869 mt) but down 3 percent in value ($741.1 million). Korea’s imports of chilled U.S. beef were up 40 percent through November, with U.S. market share gaining 6 percentage points to 30.6 percent.

    Export volume to Hong Kong was the largest of 2015 at 14,478 mt, up 2 percent, but value fell 30 percent to $79.6 million. For January through November, exports to Hong Kong were down 22 percent in volume (106,867 mt) and 29 percent in value ($720.7 million).

    Taiwan was up 16 percent in volume (2,685 mt) and 13 percent in value ($25 million). January-November exports were up 4 percent in volume (32,175 mt) and 10 percent in value ($290.3 million). U.S. beef dominates Taiwan’s chilled imports, with 66 percent market share.

    Export volume to the Philippines surged 192 percent to 1,401 mt, and increased 35 percent in value ($5.4 million). January-November exports were up 5 percent in volume (11,868 mt) and 11 percent in value ($60.3 million).

Japan was the notable exception to the positive November trend, with exports declining 21 percent in volume to 14,515 mt and 31 percent in value to $94.4 million. Through the first 11 months of the year, export volume to Japan fell 15 percent to 190,751 mt. Although Japan is still the leading value market for U.S. beef, export value declined 19 percent to $1.19 billion. Japan imported less beef from all suppliers in 2015, and still has large frozen inventories of imported beef weighing on the market. But the U.S. lost market share to Australia in 2015, with U.S. share dropping from 38 percent to 35 percent. This was due in part to Australia’s 10 percentage point tariff advantage following implementation of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement in January 2015.

November beef exports to leading volume market Mexico increased 3 percent year-over-year to 19,582 mt, while value dipped slightly to $86.9 million. For January through November, exports to Mexico were down 8 percent in volume (201,046 mt) and 5 percent in value ($994.5 million). Exports to Egypt, a key market for beef livers and other variety meat, increased by 33 percent in volume (10,700 mt) and 25 percent in value ($14.4 million) in November. Through the first 11 months of 2015, exports to Egypt were down 14 percent in volume (96,867 mt) but increased 5 percent in value to $143.1 million.

“November offered some encouraging signs for U.S. meat exports, though the results were certainly not at the levels we would like to see,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “Despite the weak peso, Mexico continues to be a very strong performer for U.S. pork, and our beef exports to Mexico have also held up fairly well. Exports to most Asian markets are showing upward momentum, but clearly the need to defend and expand our market share in Japan has never been greater.”

Looking ahead to 2016, USMEF sees opportunities for U.S. beef and pork to regain market share, with larger U.S. production and improved market access in some key regions, but the competitive landscape remains very intense.

Lamb export volume improves, but value still struggling
November exports of U.S. lamb jumped 12 percent year-over-year to 800 mt, though value was still down 31 percent to $1.44 million. January-November exports were down 13 percent in volume (8,385 mt) and 33 percent in value ($17.21 million) as gains in emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and Costa Rica were offset by lower exports to Mexico and Canada.



Campbell Soup’s GMO Labeling Move Applauded by CFI

Campbell Soup’s move to begin disclosing the presence of genetically modified ingredients in its products demonstrates leadership when it comes to transparency, which new research from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) proves builds trust with consumers.

“We applaud Campbell Soup’s decision,” said Charlie Arnot, CEO of CFI, which comes on the heels of the research that reveals consumers expect companies to be transparent in specific areas including food safety, impact of food on health and the environment.

“Consumer trust in products, people and brands depends on it,” said Arnot. “And the research shows that consumers hold food companies most responsible for transparency.”

The GMO issue is a high-profile and particularly polarizing issue that’s on a growing list of issues consumers are interested in knowing more about, he said.

“Our consumer research indicates that ‘GMO’ has become an icon for what is perceived as an industrialized food system,” said Arnot. “The concerns expressed are often less about GM technology and more about other issues tied to today’s food system.”

Technology, including biotechnology, brings immeasurable benefits to consumers and society, but broad public support for technology will increasingly depend on the level of transparency and consumer engagement by those in the food system, he said.

“We not only support Campbell Soup’s decision to label but also to participate in the new SmartLabel™ program, which addresses a broader list of issues,” he said, “because the link between transparency and trust is real, direct and powerful. Consumers have a right to know where their food comes from and how it’s produced so they can make informed decisions.” 

The new CFI consumer trust research report, “A Clear View of Transparency and How it Builds Consumer Trust,” is available at www.foodintegrity.org.  



Global Food Prices Fell in 2015

Global food prices plunged 19 percent in 2015 following a fresh decline in December on the back of plentiful supplies and a slowing global economy, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday. It was the fourth consecutive annual fall in food prices, reports Reuters.

The FAO's food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 154.1 points in December versus a revised 155.6 points the month before, a fall of some one percent.

"Abundant supplies in the face of a timid world demand and an appreciating dollar are the main reason for the general weakness that dominated food prices in 2015," said FAO senior economist Abdolreza Abbassian.

December's reading was dragged down by falling prices for meat, dairy and cereals, which counterbalanced gains in quotations for sugar and vegetable oils.

Expectations of high supply of cereal following the removal of export taxes in Argentina weighed on wheat prices, and maize prices fell as export competition intensified and international demand remained sluggish.

The dedicated cereal price index shed 15.4 percent in the course of the year, vegetable oils dropped to a nine-year low and dairy prices registered their lowest annual average since 2009.



CWT members capture 20 million pounds of export sales contracts in December

Cooperatives Working Together assisted member cooperatives in winning 36 contracts to sell 9.072 million pounds of cheese, 175,370 pounds of butter, and 11.155 million pounds of whole milk powder in December. The product will be shipped from December 2015 through June 2016 to customers in Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and South America.

These sales bring the 2015 CWT contract totals to 57.1 million pounds of cheese, 25.8 million pounds of butter, and 49.9 million pounds of whole milk powder. CWT-assisted transactions will move the equivalent of nearly 1.5 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis to customers in 36 countries on five continents.

Developed by NMPF, CWT’s export assistance program is supported on a voluntary basis by dairy farmers across the nation. By helping to move U.S. dairy products into world markets, CWT helps maintain and grow U.S. dairy farmers’ share of these expanding markets which, in turn, works to improve dairy farmer milk prices.

Renewal of the CWT program for the period 2016 through 2018 is underway. All cooperatives and dairy farmers are encouraged to add their support to this important program.



HOUSE MAY VOTE TO DISAPPROVE WOTUS RULE

The House next week may take up a resolution of disapproval of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, disapproves of the WOTUS rule under the Congressional Review Act. It passed the Senate in November by a vote of 53-44.

The WOTUS regulation was proposed in April 2014 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clarify the agencies’ authority under the Clean Water Act over various waters. That jurisdiction – based on several U.S. Supreme Court decisions – included “navigable” waters and waters with a significant hydrologic connection to navigable waters. The rule broadened that to include, among other water bodies, upstream waters and intermittent and ephemeral streams such as the kind farmers use for drainage and irrigation. It also encompassed lands adjacent to such waters.

A federal appeals court temporarily halted implementation of the rule, which took effect Aug. 28, 2015. Many agricultural organizations in a lawsuit against the WOTUS rule filed in July alleged that EPA engaged in an advocacy campaign during the comment period, a violation of the federal Administrative Procedures Act. The House has voted multiple times to block the regulation.



EIA Publishes State-Level Ethanol Consumption Data

On Dec. 18, the U.S. Energy Information Administration published 2014 state-level estimates for fuel ethanol consumption. The data shows the U.S. consumed nearly 320.1 million barrels (13.44 billion gallons) of ethanol in 2014.

California was the top ethanol consuming state, with 35.82 million barrels consumed in 2014. Texas consumed 30.7 million barrels, followed by Florida with 18.75 million barrels. New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania were also top ethanol consumers.

The District of Columbia consumed the least amount of ethanol in 2014, at 256,000 barrels, followed by Alaska and Wyoming.

Michigan consumed the most ethanol in the commercial sector, with 331,000 barrels. California was also the top consumer of fuel ethanol for industrial purposes, at 482,000 barrels.

The full data set can be downloaded from the EIA's website.



Culver's, FFA 'Thank You, Farmers' Campaign Enters Fourth Year

The Wisconsin-based Culver's restaurant chain announced it will continue its promotional campaign called 'Thank You, Farmers' which aims to educate its customers about where their food comes from while raising money for the National FFA Foundation.

Participating Culver's restaurants across the nation have been pledging their support to farm families through 'percent of sales nights,' a Scoopie Token and guest donation program and event sponsorships to benefit local FFA chapters.

"We are excited to see the enthusiasm with which guests have welcomed Thank You Farmers," said David Stidham, vice president for marketing at Culver's and newly appointed member of the National FFA Foundation Sponsors' board of directors. "We're deeply grounded in the farms that produce the dairy and grow the food that has made Culver's what it is today."

The Thank You, Farmers' campaign began in 2013. Since that time, the company has raised over a million dollars for the National FFA Organization, Foundation, local chapters and a verity of other local agricultural organizations.