Thursday January 7 Ag News

NDA’S ANNUAL POSTER CONTEST INVITES 1st-6th GRADERS TO SHOW HOW AGRICULTURE HELPS GROW NEBRASKA

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is now accepting entries for its 13th annual Agriculture Week in Nebraska poster contest. The contest, open to all Nebraska students in grades 1-6, highlights the diversity of agriculture and raises awareness of the importance of agriculture in our state. This year’s contest theme is “Agriculture: Growing Nebraska.”

“Agriculture is Nebraska’s number one industry, and we want to give students the chance to share their art, passion and knowledge of agriculture through this contest,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “It’s also a great opportunity for teachers to talk about agriculture and help students better understand where food comes from and the effort, skill and care it takes to produce it.”

The entry deadline for the contest is March 1, 2016. The winners will be announced during National Ag Week, March 13-19, 2016.

The contest is divided into three age categories:
·         First and second grade students
·         Third and fourth grade students
·         Fifth and sixth grade students

Winning entries will be featured on NDA’s website and in promotional materials and publications.

Contest rules and official entry forms are available online at www.nda.nebraska.gov/kids. For more information, contact Christin Kamm at (402) 471-6856 or by email at christin.kamm@nebraska.gov.



Iowa Forage and Grasslands Conference to be held Jan. 21-22

There is still time to register for the 2016 Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council annual conference. This year's event features many producer speakers sharing their grazing management experiences. This mix of invited grazing specialists and producer speakers makes this year's event special.

On Thursday Jeff Liston will share his experience with a SARE producer grant looking at early- season managed grazing. Thursday evening a panel on using cover crops for forage includes experiences from Bruce Carney and Tim Palmer.  Later that evening several grazing topics will be explored at "discussion tables".

On Friday the session begins with the IFGC annual meeting, featuring a presentation by this year's Livestock/Forage Producer award winner Ryan Herman, talking about the Herman operation.  The Friday morning session will close with a panel on contract grazing will include experiences of Dan Hostetler, John Schulte and Ryan Herman.

The event is set for Jan. 21-22 at the Iowa State University Alumni Center, just south of Stephens Auditorium at the Iowa State Center in Ames. Registration begins at noon with the first session at 12:30 on Jan. 21, and adjourns at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 22. The Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) conference immediately follows, starting at noon in the Scheman Center.

"Thanks to support from the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and education (SARE) program, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the Iowa Beef Center, and many forage partners of IFGC, the cost to attend is low," says Joe Sellers. "To attend both days of the IFGC conference or the PFI conference, members pay just $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Non-members pay $60 or $70 respectively."

Single day rates for members are $25 in advance or $35 at the door, with non-members paying $35 in advance or $45 at the door. The 2016 IFGC dues (year runs from Jan.1 to Dec. 31) are $35 for producers and the public, and $90 for industry, and can be paid on the registration form, he said.

The registration form is available on the IBC website http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/events/IFGCconfreg2016.pdf.

The conference also features presentations by Bruce Anderson, Jim Elizondo, Jim Russell, Joe Sellers, Brian Peterson, Dave Miller, Dan Loy, and Erika Lundy.

For more information, contact Sellers by phone at 641-774-2016 or by email at sellers@iastate.edu.



Morningside College AG Program Schedules High School Senior Day

Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa has scheduled a special day for high school seniors looking for an AG program to continue their education. The date is January 29th at the campus in Sioux City. During the visit students and their families will be able to meet with school counselors and faculty, get financial aid information, meet with fine arts or athletic coaches, sit in on a class and even spend the night if they want to, and get a tour of our beautiful campus. However long your visit, you will head home with your questions answered and a healthy dose of that Morningside feeling.

The Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies major at Morningside College is designed to prepare you for career opportunities with a wide range of companies involved in food and fiber production in the US and abroad. Or if you want to stay at home on the family farm, Morningside can prepare you for that too.

For more information on Senior Day, or the AG Studies Program contact us at 1-800-831-0806 or online at www.morningside.edu.



HHS and USDA Release New Dietary Guidelines to Encourage Healthy Eating Patterns to Prevent Chronic Diseases

Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today released updated nutritional guidelines that encourage Americans to adopt a series of science-based recommendations to improve how they eat to reduce obesity and prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the nation's trusted resource for evidence-based nutrition recommendations and serves to provide the general public, as well as policy makers and health professionals with the information they need to help the public make informed choices about their diets at home, school, work and in their communities.

"Protecting the health of the American public includes empowering them with the tools they need to make healthy choices in their daily lives," said Secretary Burwell. "By focusing on small shifts in what we eat and drink, eating healthy becomes more manageable. The Dietary Guidelines provide science-based recommendations on food and nutrition so people can make decisions that may help keep their weight under control, and prevent chronic conditions, like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease."

The newly released 8th edition of the Dietary Guidelines reflects advancements in scientific understanding about healthy eating choices and health outcomes over a lifetime. This edition recognizes the importance of focusing not on individual nutrients or foods in isolation, but on the variety of what people eat and drink—healthy eating patterns as a whole—to bring about lasting improvements in individual and population health.

"The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is one of many important tools that help to support a healthier next generation of Americans," said Secretary Vilsack. "The latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines provides individuals with the flexibility to make healthy food choices that are right for them and their families and take advantage of the diversity of products available, thanks to America's farmers and ranchers."

The specific recommendations fit into five overarching guidelines in the new edition:
-    Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan. Eating patterns are the combination of foods and drinks that a person eats over time.
-    Focus on variety, nutrient-dense foods, and amount
-    Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats, and reduce sodium intake
-    Shift to healthier food and beverage choices
-    Support healthy eating patterns for all

Healthy eating patterns include a variety of nutritious foods like vegetables, fruits, grains, low-fat and fat-free dairy, lean meats and other protein foods and oils, while limiting saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars and sodium. A healthy eating pattern is adaptable to a person's taste preferences, traditions, culture and budget.

Importantly, the guidelines suggest Americans should consume:
-    A variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy and other vegetables
-    Fruits, especially whole fruits
-    Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
-    Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages
-    A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), soy products, and nuts and seeds
-    Oils, including those from plants: canola, corn, olive, peanut, safflower, soybean, and sunflower. Oils also are naturally present in nuts, seeds, seafood, olives, and avocados.

Further, Americans should be encouraged to consume:
-    Less than 10 percent of calories per day from added sugars. ChooseMyPlate.gov provides more information about added sugars, which are sugars and syrups that are added to foods or beverages when they are processed or prepared. This does not include naturally occurring sugars such as those consumed as part of milk and fruits.
-    Less than 10 percent of calories per day from saturated fats. The Nutrition Facts label can be used to check for saturated fats. Foods that are high in saturated fat include butter, whole milk, meats that are not labeled as lean, and tropical oils such as coconut and palm oil.
-    Less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day of sodium for people over the age of 14 years and less for those younger. The Nutrition Facts label is a helpful tool to check for sodium, especially in processed foods like pizza, pasta dishes, sauces, and soups.

Based on a review of current scientific evidence on nutrition, the 2015 edition includes updated guidance on topics such as added sugars, sodium, and cholesterol and new information on caffeine. For example, the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines is the first edition to recommend a quantitative limit to consume less than 10 percent of calories from added sugars. This edition also reaffirms guidance about the core building blocks of a healthy lifestyle that have remained consistent over the past several editions, and suggests there is still work to be done to encourage more Americans to follow the recommendations outlined in the Dietary Guidelines.

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines was informed by the recommendations of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which was composed of prestigious researchers in the fields of nutrition, health, and medicine, and by consideration of public and federal agency comments.

Since 1980, HHS and USDA have shared a responsibility to the American public to ensure that advancements in scientific understanding about the role of nutrition in health are incorporated into the Dietary Guidelines, which is updated every five years. USDA has also released updates for consumers on ChooseMyPlate.gov, and new resources will soon be available on Health.gov from HHS that will help health professionals support their clients and patients in making healthy choices.

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is available at dietaryguidelines.gov.



2015 Dietary Guidelines Support Lean Beef in a Healthy Diet
 
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reaffirm the role of lean beef in a healthy diet and confirm that Americans are, on average, consuming lean meat in daily amounts that are consistent with the recommendations for protein foods. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Philip Ellis commended HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack for ensuring the final recommendations were based on the latest nutrition evidence available.

Dr. Richard Thorpe, a physician and Texas cattle producer, agreed, saying he is pleased the guidelines recognize all the strong science that supports the many Americans who are looking to build a healthful diet with lean beef. 

“As a physician, I appreciate the Secretaries making sure the dietary guidelines are based on the latest nutrition science,” said Thorpe. “Numerous studies have shown positive benefits of lean beef in the diet, and I commonly encourage my patients to include beef in their diet to help them maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrients they need to be physically active. Lean beef is a wholesome, nutrient-rich food that helps us get back to the basics of healthy eating, providing many essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, protein and B vitamins, with fewer calories than many plant-based sources of protein.”

Updated every five years, this report serves as the foundation for federal nutrition policy and shapes the recommendations found on USDA’s MyPlate. While there is no one-size-fits-all diet, Dr. Thorpe said consumers can feel confident about putting lean beef on their plate knowing the Dietary Guidelines recommend Americans choose lean meat. Thirty-eight cuts of beef now meet government guidelines for lean, including some of America’s favorite cuts like sirloin steak and 95 percent lean ground beef.

“Over the last decade or so, a significant amount of research shows that many people can lose and maintain a healthy weight, support a healthy metabolism and age more vibrantly when they consume more high-quality protein, within calorie goals,” said Thorpe. “As a physician, I see an opportunity to improve the health of Americans in all age categories by choosing nutrient rich protein foods, like lean beef, more often and by pairing them with more vegetables, fruits and whole grains.”

Ellis, a Wyoming rancher, noted the changes in today's retail meat case and said cattlemen and women provide a healthful product consumers demand.

“U.S. cattle producers work each and every day to provide safe, wholesome and nutritious beef for consumers around the world,” said Ellis. “Since the first Dietary Guidelines were released in 1980, external fat on beef has decreased 81 percent and 65 percent of the most popular beef cuts sold at retail are lean, a prime example of beef producers responding to consumers’ nutritional preferences.”



Government’s 2015 Dietary Guidelines Affirms Role of Dairy Foods in Healthy Eating Patterns

The final version of the 2015 federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) affirms the vital, unrivaled contribution made by dairy foods, and reminds Americans that they will continue to benefit from three daily servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy.

In fact, the DGA notes that current intakes of dairy foods for most Americans “are far below recommendations of the Healthy U.S.-Style Pattern,” and they call for a shift to consume more dairy products. Milk, cheese and yogurt are important answers to the question of how Americans should change their diets for the better.

As America strives to create a culture of wellness, the 2015 DGA embraces flexibility to help people build and enjoy healthy eating patterns that will nourish them physically, while also nourishing cultural and personal connections. Regardless of one’s path to a healthy diet, three daily servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods like milk, cheese or yogurt can play an important role in healthy eating and well-being, from childhood through adulthood.

While people eat foods, not nutrients, the nutrients in food do matter. Low-fat or fat-free dairy foods are fundamental to all of the patterns recommended by the DGA: Healthy US-style Pattern, Healthy Vegetarian-Style Pattern and Healthy Mediterranean-style Pattern. That’s because low-fat and fat-free dairy foods offer a unique set of nine essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and potassium, which most people do not get enough of in their diets.

In fact, because of dairy foods’ nutrient-rich package, it can be challenging for most Americans, mainly those aged nine and older, to meet nutrient recommendations without eating three servings of dairy a day.  When foods from the dairy group are removed from daily eating patterns, or replaced with sugar-sweetened beverages, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin A and riboflavin dropped below 100% of goals. What’s more, levels of vitamin D and potassium, as well as choline, dropped substantially.

The new Guidelines note “strong evidence shows that healthy eating patterns are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moderate evidence indicates that healthy eating patterns also are associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer… overweight, and obesity.” In addition, “research also has linked dairy intake to improved bone health, especially in children and adolescents.”

The good news for people across the country is that dairy foods taste great, are accessible almost anywhere, contain essential nutrients and come in a variety of options from lactose-free to low-fat, fat-free or lower sodium — all at a reasonable cost. In fact, you can get three servings of milk for less than $1 a day (with each serving at about 25 cents).  And with 8 grams of protein in every 8 ounces, milk is a natural source of high-quality protein, meaning it provides the full mix of essential amino acids our body needs.1,  The dairy community is committed to doing its part to ensure healthy products are available to enhance the health of people and communities, now and for future generations.



Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding USDA's New Dietary Guidelines

"America's farmers and ranchers are proud to produce an abundant, nutritious and affordable food supply for our fellow citizens and the world. We believe the 2015 Dietary Guidelines provide a useful framework for Americans to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.

"We are pleased that the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments listened to our concerns and remained true to their mission of helping Americans achieve a well-balanced diet. The Advisory Committee's original recommendations on sustainability were clearly outside the scope of public health and showed little understanding of the work farmers and ranchers do to protect the environment. USDA and HHS agreed in the end and published guidelines consistent with their focus on overall nutrition.

"Dairy and lean meats remain key sources of important nutrients in a healthy, balanced diet. The recommendations for both dairy and protein were unchanged but include guidance in making well-balanced choices for a healthy lifestyle. These new guidelines give helpful direction while keeping some flexibility for the foods we all enjoy."



Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Regarding the Role of Meat and Poultry in New Federal Dietary Guidelines

“We are pleased the new federal dietary guidelines released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continue to recognize the important role meat and poultry products can play as part of a healthy and nutritious diet for Americans.”

“The new guidelines place a heavy focus on individual eating patterns and continue to affirm that meat and poultry products are important in helping individuals meet their daily and weekly protein needs.”

“We are proud that Nebraska farmers and ranchers play such an integral role in producing the foods that USDA has highlighted as being important to healthy eating patterns, whether it be edible beans, whole grains, milk, cheese, soy products, meat, poultry, eggs, among numerous others.”

“Furthermore, we appreciate USDA and HHS’s decision to continue to use science-based, nutritional information as the foundation for developing food guidelines and for addressing our earlier concerns where some interests has pushed to remove meat and poultry from being considered as part of a healthy dietary pattern, not for nutritional or dietary reasons, but to advance environmental activist agendas.”



2015 Dietary Guidelines a Victory for Iowa’s Cattlemen

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), reaffirm the role of lean beef in a healthy diet and confirm that Americans are, on average, consuming lean meat in daily amounts that are consistent with the recommendations for protein foods. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association commends HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack for ensuring the final recommendations were based on the latest nutrition evidence available.

In December 2014, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee made the unprecedented move of striking “lean meat” from the pattern associated with a healthy diet. This was a major departure, not only from the past guidelines, but from more than 30 years of nutritionally-accepted science and peer-reviewed studies.

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association worked diligently to encourage the committee to consider the latest nutrition science, which shows that lean beef has positive benefits in the diet.

“We felt strongly that the initial recommendations provided by the science advisory committee disparaged the products of hardworking Iowa cattle producers who work each and every day to provide a nutritious and healthful beef product for consumers,” says Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Director of Government Relations, Justine Stevenson. “The fact that the advisory committee ignored scientific evidence which reveals that beef consumption is associated with improved overall nutrient intake, overall diet quality and positive health outcomes led us to encourage comments to the HHS and USDA urging them to re-evaluate their recommendations.”

In addition to submitting comments, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association also led advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., including the testimony of Rochelle Gilman, R.D., a corporate dietician with Hy-Vee and a cattle producer from Stuart. Gilman expressed her opinion at an advisory committee hearing. “My concern is that the way the committee defines healthy dietary patterns overgeneralizes complete food categories,” Gilman said. “Rather than encourage lean red meat in a healthy dietary pattern, as we have always done, the committee recommends reducing the category of ‘red and processed meat.’ As a retail RD, I see first-hand the real need for positive messages that help people learn how to eat healthy.”

Updated every five years, the Dietary Guidelines serves as the foundation for federal nutrition policy and shapes the recommendations found on USDA’s MyPlate. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is pleased that the committee based the final 2015 Dietary Guidelines on sound science, which includes lean beef as a part of a healthy diet.

“Iowa’s cattlemen appreciate that the final guidelines are based on the latest nutrition evidence and recognize that lean beef fits into a healthy lifestyle,” says Stevenson.

There are currently thirty-eight cuts of beef that meet government guidelines for lean, including some of America’s favorite cuts like sirloin steak and 95 percent lean ground beef. Lean beef is a wholesome, nutrient-rich food that provides many essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, protein and B vitamins, with fewer calories than many plant-based sources of protein.



South Africa Partially Lifts Ban On U.S. Pork

The Obama administration today announced that South Africa will open its market to U.S. pork, a move praised by the National Pork Producers Council, which has been working for a number of years with the governments in the United States and in Pretoria to lift a de facto ban on U.S. pork.

“NPPC applauds President Obama and our trade officials for bringing home the bacon for U.S. pork producers,” said NPPC President Dr. Ron Prestage, a veterinarian and pork producer from Camden, S.C. “We have been on the outside looking in as our competitors from Brazil, Canada and the European Union sell pork to South Africa. That country banned our pork using non-science-based restrictions that don’t pass the red face test. Now that the barriers are falling, we have gained the opportunity to sell safe, high-quality and affordable U.S. pork to over 50 million new consumers.”

NPPC has not yet seen the fine print of an agreement between the United States and South Africa but understands that some restrictions on U.S. pork may remain.

“While dropping the ban on U.S. pork is great progress,” Prestage said, “there is no scientific reason to restrict any of our pork, so we’ll continue to work with both governments to get complete access to the South African market.”

South Africa’s de facto ban on U.S. pork ostensibly was to prevent the spread of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) to South African livestock even though the risk of disease transmission from U.S. pork products was negligible. There is no documented scientific case of PRRS being transmitted to domestic livestock through imported pork. Prestage noted that New Zealand, a PRRS-free nation, imported pork for 10 years from PRRS-positive countries without getting the disease.



Vilsack on Expanded Market Access for U.S. Poultry, Pork and Beef Exports to South Africa

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement:

On Jan. 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), reached agreement with South African officials to allow most U.S. exports of poultry, pork and beef and their products to re-gain access to the South African market, pursuant to an out-of-cycle review of South Africa conducted under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The agreement was reached following intense U.S. government engagement with South African officials over the last year. Only a limited number of U.S. poultry and meat products have been exported to South Africa in recent years, due to unwarranted sanitary requirements by the South African authorities, with most poultry exports blocked for the last 15 years. With this renewed access for U.S. red meat and poultry products, U.S. exports to South Africa could generate $75 million of shipments annually.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made the following statement regarding this announcement:

"This is good news for American farmers, ranchers and poultry, pork and beef companies. We welcome this move by South Africa and will continue our efforts to break down barriers and expand access for high-quality, safe and wholesome U.S. food and agricultural products around the world. With this agreement, South Africa reaffirms the scientific soundness and integrity of the U.S. system for ensuring animal health and food safety, and this will result in high-quality U.S. meat and poultry being available for South African consumers.

The regained access for American meat and poultry exports we're announcing today is the culmination of many months of hard work by USDA and USTR staff. The past seven years have been the strongest in history for agricultural trade, with U.S. agricultural product exports totaling $911.4 billion since 2009. Strong agricultural exports contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, create jobs and boost economic growth. Those exports supported approximately 1 million U.S. jobs last year. The economy is strengthened in rural communities and throughout the entire country from the additional economic activity that flows from the expanded farm and processing business."



 CHS reports $266.5 million first quarter earnings for fiscal 2016

CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP), the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, today reported net income of $266.5 million for the first quarter of its 2016 fiscal year.

Earnings for the period Sept. 1 – Nov. 30, 2015, declined 30 percent from the same period of fiscal 2015. The decrease was primarily attributed to lower margins for much of the company's energy and agricultural businesses. Revenues for the quarter were $7.7 billion, down from $9.5 billion for the same period in fiscal 2015, largely due to lower selling prices for the energy and grain products which make up a significant portion of CHS business.

Fiscal 2016 first quarter earnings for the company's Energy segment declined 31 percent, driven primarily by decreased refining margins as well as declines in CHS lubricants and transportation businesses. These were partially offset by increased propane earnings.

First quarter fiscal 2016 earnings for the CHS Ag segment – which includes its domestic and global grain and crop nutrients businesses, renewable fuels, local retail operations and processing and food ingredients – declined 50 percent over the same period a year ago. This was primarily due to lower logistics performance and margins within CHS grain marketing business, along with decreased grain volumes and margins for the company's country elevator locations.

Earnings within CHS wholesale crop nutrients business declined in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, also due to decreased margins. Renewable fuels manufacturing, marketing and distribution were lower for the period due to lower ethanol margins which were partially offset by a manufacturing volume increase from a late fiscal 2015 ethanol plant acquisition. CHS processing and food ingredients operations reported increased year-over-year earnings for the quarter primarily due to higher soybean crushing margins.

CHS reports earnings for its business services and its food-related joint ventures under Corporate and Other. Combined earnings for CHS Hedging, CHS Capital and CHS Insurance businesses increased slightly during the first quarter of fiscal 2016 compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Earnings for the quarter also increased over the same period a year ago for the CHS share of food manufacturer and distributor Ventura Foods, LLC, but declined for its share of earnings from Ardent Mills wheat milling joint venture.



Cargill reports second-quarter fiscal 2016 earnings

Cargill today reported financial results for the fiscal 2016 second quarter and first half ended Nov. 30, 2015. Key measures include:

    Adjusted operating earnings in the second quarter were $574 million, a 13 percent decrease from $657 million in the same period a year ago.

    For the first half, adjusted operating earnings were $1.19 billion, down 7 percent from the comparable period.

    Net earnings on a U.S. GAAP basis in the second quarter and first half were $1.39 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively. That compares with $784 million and $1.21 billion in the respective periods a year ago.

    The major differences between adjusted and net earnings in the quarter included gains on the sales of the U.S. pork business and Cargill’s interest in the North Star BlueScope Steel joint venture, as well as a charge related to a change in accounting treatment for Venezuela.

    Second-quarter revenues decreased 10 percent to $27.3 billion, reflecting lower commodity prices and weaker demand in some markets. Revenues for the first half totaled $54.8 billion.

“Cargill posted a solid second quarter against a strong comparative period in the prior fiscal year,” said David MacLennan, Cargill’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Within the segments, we saw performance gains in key global businesses, including animal nutrition, grain and oilseed processing, most of our poultry operations, and several food ingredients categories.”

MacLennan noted significant progress in reshaping Cargill’s portfolio. “We already see a stronger chocolate business emerging from the integration of our first-quarter purchase of ADM’s chocolate operations. And we are delighted to welcome global salmon feed producer EWOS to Cargill, as it brings new markets and deep expertise in nutrition for cold-water species.” MacLennan also cited the sales of the U.S. pork business to JBS USA Pork and the 50 percent share in North Star BlueScope Steel to Australia’s BlueScope Steel. “Each business is well positioned for growth with an industry leader.”

In mid-November, MacLennan announced a new leadership team for Cargill, responsible for the company’s strategic direction and the performance of its business segments. “It’s fitting we take this action now, as we celebrate Cargill’s 150th anniversary and position the company for success in the generations to come.”

Second-quarter segment performance:
Adjusted operating earnings in Animal Nutrition & Protein decreased slightly in the second quarter, with higher results in animal nutrition offset by a decline in animal protein, largely in red meat. Effective market segmentation and favorable commodity costs bolstered earnings in global animal nutrition. Areas of particular strength included the U.S. and Vietnam overall, and aquaculture nutrition in Latin America. Within the segment’s animal protein businesses, poultry results in Central America, Europe, Thailand and the U.S. rose on strong operational and commercial performance. In the U.S., the Thanksgiving holiday also gave a boost to fresh whole turkey sales volume. Difficult economic conditions in North American cattle feeding and the long-anticipated decrease in Australia’s cattle supplies curbed earnings in global beef.

Adjusted operating earnings for the Origination & Processing segment were down moderately from last year’s level. Within the segment, the grain and oilseed supply chain businesses were well ahead of last year on a combined basis, boosted by improved soybean crush results in most geographies and by good risk management amid declining prices in well-supplied markets for agricultural commodities. Earnings trailed the year-ago period due to normalized grain-handling levels in Canada after two very large crop years and weaker performance in cotton, soft seed crush and sugar.

Adjusted operating earnings in Food Ingredients & Applications slipped below last year, though efforts to strengthen operational and commercial execution continued to make good progress. Profitability in global starches and sweeteners pulled ahead of last year, as did cocoa and chocolate, and edible oils. Some of the staple foods units were hurt by weakening currencies and recessionary conditions in the emerging economies they serve. With an unseasonably warm start to winter in North America, results in road salt and deicing products trailed last year.

Industrial & Financial Services’ adjusted operating earnings declined significantly from last year’s level, reflecting in part the liquidation of certain hedge funds at an asset management subsidiary. Additionally, energy results were reduced by muted volatility in petroleum markets and by mild temperatures in a period when cold weather usually drives demand for natural gas and power. Performance improved in metals trading.

As noted earlier in the release, Cargill stopped consolidating its Venezuelan operations in its financial statements, effective Nov. 30. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the action was taken due to an inability to convert Venezuelan bolivars to U.S. dollars or pay U.S. dollar dividends, combined with a decreasing ability to exercise operational decision-making authority. Going forward, Cargill’s investments in Venezuela will be accounted for using the cost method of accounting. Cargill has operated in Venezuela for 29 years, and continues to serve customers with animal feeds and branded foods such as flour, pasta, oils and sauces.



USGC Study Demonstrates New Value for Corn Distiller's Oil in Poultry

A U.S. Grains Council (USGC) research project conducted in conjunction with North Carolina State University has successfully demonstrated the added value of carotenoid pigments, a naturally occurring pigment used to enhance egg color and the skin color of broilers, from including corn distiller’s oil in poultry rations.

This is important as many poultry consumers around the world prefer a yellow-skinned chicken and a dark yellow egg yolk.

The 56-day feeding trial was performed in broilers to determine if the carotenoids in corn distiller’s oil, sometimes referred to as CDO, could be transferred to them. At the end of the study, researchers found the carotenoids in corn distiller’s oil add an additional value of $0.05 of value per kilogram of corn distiller’s oil. For a 100 million gallon ethanol plant, this new use could translate into an additional $500,000 in revenue annually.

“The conclusions from this study are particularly important in some of the export markets where we work, like Mexico, and could bring additional value to our ethanol members who can sell CDO for both energy value and its carotenoid value,” said Kurt Shultz, USGC senior director of global strategies.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the U.S. ethanol industry produced 2.5 billion pounds of corn distiller’s oil in 2014.

“What makes this study unique is that most ethanol plants sell corn distiller’s oil on an energy value basis,” Shultz said. “However, if they are able to find customers who value the carotenoids, there are new opportunities to create additional value.”

Dr. Peter Ferket from the university will present the results of the study at the upcoming Atlanta International Poultry Expo at the end of January. In the meantime, the Council is planning feeding trials in Mexico to demonstrate this added value to the Mexican poultry industry and outreach domestically to ensure the U.S. ethanol industry is aware of the market opportunity.



U.S. Farming and Ranching Foundation Launched

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, a consumer-facing organization dedicated to leading the national conversation about how food is grown and raised, announced the launch of the U.S. Farming and Ranching Foundation. The USFRF will be a philanthropic nonprofit organization with a mission of furthering agricultural education and understanding of agriculture among America's consumers including young people and millennials.

"USFRF is a result of a collaborative effort led by the agriculture and food industry to expand the dialogue with consumers regarding food production in America," said USFRF inaugural Chairman Jim Blome who is also President & CEO of Bayer CropScience LP. "This new foundation will further ag education and consumer understanding about food, by developing educational-based tools and interactive consumer programs, that serve as a unified effort to reach Americans in ways in which they want to learn about modern agriculture."

One of the foundation's initial projects is developing a curriculum guide that will be made available to high school students nationwide. The documentary film, FARMLAND, which gives viewers the opportunity to step inside the world of agriculture for a first-hand glimpse into the lives of young farmers and ranchers, will serve as the guide's core. The curriculum will supplement efforts to bring to life many of the themes covered in the film, and serve as an educational resource for high school teachers interested in content focused on food choices, agriculture, sustainability, entrepreneurship, food issues, antibiotics, GMOs and crop inputs in agriculture, and marketing.

In addition to the curriculum guide, USFRF plans to identify, and seek funding sources that will establish and support potential scholarship opportunities as well as innovative programs designed to provide consumers with timely, honest and accurate answers about their food.



Early Registration Deadline for 2016 Commodity Classic Nears

Thursday, January 14, is the last day to take advantage of early registration fees for the 2016 Commodity Classic, to be held March 3-5 in New Orleans.  Early registrations received so far indicate that this year's Commodity Classic will be another record-breaker.

"At this point, registrations are running about 20 percent ahead of last year-and 2015 broke attendance records in virtually every category," said event Co-Chair Wesley Spurlock, a corn grower from Texas.  "We're confident that the 2016 Commodity Classic will be bigger and better than ever."

Full registration includes admission to what will be the largest trade show in Commodity Classic history as well as access to all educational sessions, the Friday general session, the main stage presentations on the trade show floor, and Saturday's evening of entertainment, featuring award-winning country music group Sawyer Brown.  Full registration also includes lunch and snacks served at the trade show. And for growers and their families, as well as media and state or national commodity organization staff, full registration also includes the welcome reception on Wednesday evening.

Full registration also entitles attendees to complimentary access to video recordings of all 2016 educational sessions, which will be available online following the 2016 Commodity Classic.

The fee for full registration is $190 for dues-paying members of the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Sorghum Producers. After January 14, that cost increases to $215.

Attendees who are not members of these associations can register for $290 until January 14.  That cost increases to $315 following the deadline.

In addition, discounts are available for spouses and youth.  Children 14 and under can attend at no charge when accompanied by a registered adult.   One-day registrations are also available, with early registration discounts ending on January 14 as well.