Friday March 18 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 3 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.42 million cattle on feed on March 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 3 percent from last year.

Placements during February totaled 395,000 head, down 1 percent from 2015.

Fed cattle marketings for the month of February totaled 420,000 head, up 9 percent from last year.

Other disappearance during February totaled 15,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED REPORT

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,270,000 head on March 1, 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service - Cattle on Feed report. The inventory is up 2 percent from February 1, 2016, but down 2 percent from March 1, 2015. Feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more had 630,000 head on feed, up 2 percent from last month but down 5 percent from last year. Feedlots with capacity of less than 1,000 had 640,000 head on feed, up 3 percent from last month and up 1 percent from last year.

Placements during February totaled 166,000 head, a decrease of 7 percent from last month but up 13 percent from last year.  Feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head placed 92,000 head, up 3 percent from last month and up 8 percent from last year. Feedlots with capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 74,000 head. This is down 18 percent from last month but up 19 percent from last year.

Marketings for February were 130,000 head, down 19 percent from last month but up 14 percent from last year. Feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head marketed 78,000 head, down 9 percent from last month but up 5 percent from last year.  Feedlots with capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 52,000 head, down 31 percent from last month but up 30 percentfrom last year. Other disappearance totaled 6,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent
   
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on March 1, 2016. The inventory was 1 percent above March 1, 2015.

Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.71 million head, 10 percent above 2015. Net placements were 1.65 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 335,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 300,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 445,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 630,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.59 million head, 5 percent above 2015.  Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during February, 3 percent below 2015.



IOWA MILK PRODUCTION REPORT

 Milk production in Iowa during February 2016 totaled 393 million pounds, up 5 percent from the previous February according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. However, adjusting production for the additional day due to the leap year causes February milk production to be up 1 percent on a per day basis. The average number of milk cows during February, at 210,000 head, was the same as last month but 1,000 fewer than a year ago. Monthly production per cow averaged 1,870 pounds, up 95 pounds from last February.

February Milk Production in the United States up 4.6 Percent
Milk production in the United States during February totaled 16.9 billion pounds, up 4.6 percent from February 2015.  Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,815 pounds for February, 78 pounds above February 2015.  The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.31 million head, 4,000 head more than February 2015, and 2,000 head more than January 2016.



NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL YOUTH INSTITUTE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

The Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) provides youth with an opportunity to explore the ag industry, discover potential ag-related careers and strengthen their appreciation for agriculture, the state’s leading industry. Applications for the 2016 NAYI are now available from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). Students interested in attending this summer’s program have until April 15th to apply.

“Though agriculture is Nebraska’s largest industry, there aren’t nearly enough college graduates to fill open positions,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach.  “According to the USDA, nearly 60,000 high-skilled ag and related job openings are expected annually in the U.S., yet only 35,000 graduates are available to fill them. NAYI gives students time to network with current and future ag leaders and learn about career opportunities available in the ag industry. Students don’t have to live on a farm or ranch to take advantage.”

NAYI, a five-day summer program for current high school juniors and seniors, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. The Institute will be held July 11-15, 2016, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus, and it features motivational speakers, discussion on agricultural issues and opportunities, a farm management game, a formal banquet and a dance.

NDA selects students to attend the Institute based on their leadership skills, interest and involvement in agriculture.

The Institute is coordinated by the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council (NAYC), which is comprised of 23 college students selected by NDA. The Council’s purpose is to provide young Nebraskans with a better understanding of agriculture, including agricultural opportunities available to today’s youth. 

NAYI applications are available online at http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi. Those interested in applying can also get an application by contacting the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 402-471-6859 or by emailing youth.council@nebraska.gov.



Burt Co Feeders Ladies Night
Fri Apr 1st 
Tekamah City Auditorium, Tekamah, NE
6:00 social
6:45 meal



Washington County Cattlemen Banquet
Sat Apr 2nd 6.30pm - 10.00pm
Marina, Blair, NE



Northeast Nebraska Cattlemen Steak Fry
Sun Jun 12th 
Wayne Co Fairgrounds, Wayne
5:30 Social
6:00 Meal



CONSIDER DOUBLE CROPPING FORAGES ON CROP GROUND
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

     Can’t make money on your crop ground and need more pasture?  Double cropping annual forages may be a better option.

     Successful double cropping of annual forages requires good planning and timely operations along with some timely moisture.  To use this approach this spring, small grains like oats or spring triticale, maybe mixed with field peas or some brassicas like collards or forage rape, need to be planted as soon as possible.  Grazing of these plantings can begin six to eight weeks after planting and can last until early to mid-June if stocked and managed properly.

     As portions of this spring planting get grazed out, the double crop of a summer annual grass like sudangrass or pearl millet can be planted.  With adequate moisture, the summer annual grass will be ready to graze in forty-five to fifty days and may last through September.

     This double crop forage strategy works even better if winter annual cereals like winter rye, wheat, or triticale were planted last fall for spring forage.  They will be ready to graze soon.  Just like with the spring plantings, as portions are grazed out, plant summer annual grasses to begin grazing them by mid-summer.

     Another strategy is to plant the summer annual grasses first in mid- to late May.  Graze portions of them out in August, then plant oats or turnips or both for late fall and winter grazing.

     Of course, adequate moisture or irrigation is needed for these options to produce both double crops.  Thus, it is wise to have extra hay or a nearby pasture where animals can be placed and fed temporarily if extra time is needed to grow sufficient forage for grazing.

     An extensive description of these annual forage systems, including economics, is available on-line at beef.unl.edu.  Again, that address is beef.unl.edu.



Rural Mainstreet Economy Remains Very Weak for March: Farm Equipment Sales Slump to Record Low

While the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index rose for March, it remains weak, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.  

Overall: The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI), which ranges between 0 and 100, increased to 40.2 from February’s 37.0 and January’s 34.8. 

“This is the seventh straight month the overall index has moved below growth neutral. Recent declines are the result of lower agriculture and energy commodity prices and downturns in manufacturing. Since June of last year, prices for farm products have fallen by approximately 11 percent, and fuel by roughly 25 percent," said Ernie Goss, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University's Heider College of Business.

Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland price index for March tumbled to 20.2 from February’s 29.8. This is the 28th straight month the index has moved below growth neutral.

As in previous months, there is a great deal of variation across the region in the direction and magnitude of farmland prices, with prices growing in some portions of the region. On average, bankers reported an average decline of 6.7 percent over the past year.  Only 4.4 percent of bankers reported an increase in farmland prices over the past 12 months, and approximately 4.6 percent detailed farmland price declines of more than 20 percent over the same period of time.

The March farm equipment-sales index sank to a record low of 6.7 from February’s 11.3.  “Weakness in farm income continues to constraint the sale of agriculture equipment across the region. Reductions in farm prices have negatively affected the agriculture equipment dealers and manufacturers in the region,” said Goss.

This month, bankers were asked to estimate the change in farm loan defaults for their lending areas over the past year. On average, bankers reported an increase of approximately 2 percent in loan defaults over the past 12 months.  Bank CEOs expect farm loan defaults to expand by only 5 percent over the next 12 months.

Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for March expanded to 48.9 from 37.0 in February. The state’s farmland-price index grew to 38.0 from February’s 29.8. Nebraska’s new-hiring index climbed to 56.2 from 48.6 in February.

Iowa: The March RMI for Iowa advanced to 50.2 from February’s 40.4. Iowa’s farmland-price index for March fell to 39.1 from 45.9 in February. Iowa’s new-hiring index for March rose to 56.6 from 54.5 in February.

Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included. The survey is supported by a grant from Security State Bank in Ansley, Neb.

This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.



Ethanol Videos Fuel Student Creativity

Nebraska high school students from Omaha and Hartington pocketed $2,000 in awards from Nebraska Ethanol Board’s Field to Fuel video contest.

The Field to Fuel video contest encouraged Nebraska high school students to explore the importance and value of American Ethanol. With a focus on informing the public about renewable fuels, students were asked to research, film and edit a two-minute video.

Omaha Concordia Lutheran High School students – Ross Doehling, Thomas Johnson, Zoey Keller, Noah Klemp, Carson Korell, Elise Morgan, Max Nemec, Jordan Opere, Ryan Parmenter, Ryan Salak and Grace Trembath – took first place honors with a $1,000 prize. Their video titled, “The Corn Identity,” was a parody of the 2002 action spy thriller The Bourne Identity starring Matt Damon.

“These students not only wrote an excellent script with informative information, they put a high value on production quality,” said Megan Grimes, Nebraska Ethanol Board public relations coordinator. “They took the topic, got creative and produced an engaging short video.”

Freshmen Lauren Wintz and Brianna Pfund of Hartington Cedar Catholic High School took home a second place prize of $600. Their video titled “Special Report” featured the students as news anchors reporting on the environmental benefits of ethanol.

Calvin Nieman, Hartington Cedar Catholic High School freshman, was awarded third place and $400 for his “Ethanol: The Better Choice” video. His video featured colorful animations with a voice-over narration.

“We appreciate all the creative submissions we received for our second annual video contest,” Grimes said. “Our goal is to get youth interested in renewable fuels while having fun, too.”

The winning video “The Corn Identity” will be debuted at the Ethanol 2016: Emerging Issues Forum in Omaha April 28-29.



Reminder: Fire Management on CRP Acres

Landowners who participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are responsible for fire management on their CRP acreage. Fireguard technical practices should be outlined in the Conservation Plan of Operations (CPO).

Landowners must complete the necessary management activities outside of the Primary Nesting Season. In Nebraska, the Primary Nesting Season is May 1 through July 15 for grazing benefits and for all other activities. The goal is to suppress the amount of fuel in the event of a wildfire while still promoting the diversity of the conservation cover.

FSA encourages producers to be proactive in preventing the spread of wildfire. Fire management includes installing firebreaks, which should be included in the contract support document and installed according to NRCS firebreak standards.

Barren firebreaks will only be allowed in high risk areas, such as transportation corridors, rural communities, and adjacent farmsteads. A conservationist must certify that there will not be an erosion hazard from the barren firebreak. If erosion becomes a problem, remedial action will be taken.



NeFU President Hansen Re-elected NFU Treasurer
12 Nebraskans Attend NFU 14th Anniversary Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota   

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) President John Hansen was re-elected National Farmers Union (NFU) Treasurer by the NFU Board of Directors at the 114th Annual National Farmers Union Convention held March 5-8 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Radisson Blu hotel on the Mall of America. 

12 NeFU members attended the NFU Convention.  NeFU President John Hansen said:  “The hotel was attached to the Mall of America, so in addition to the excellent local tours, attendees enjoyed their convention free times.  The speakers and program were excellent.  As always, when our conventions are in driving distance of our members, they attend.  Our grassroots driven organization is always well served when more of our members can attend.”

The NFU Convention delegates from Nebraska were:  Merlin Friesen, Filley; Gus Von Roenn, Omaha; Vern Jantzen, Plymouth; Graham Christensen, Lyons; and NeFU President John Hansen.

Other members attending were Stan Brown and Jeremiah Picard, Lincoln; Paul Poppe, Scribner; John & Mardelle Goeller, Pilger; Jeff Downing, Elkhorn, and Ben Gotschall of Raymond.

NFU Convention highlights included a keynote address from United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack; Four Star General Wesley Clark; Minnesota’s U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken; and Governor Mark Dayton.  When Minnesota Department of Agriculture Director and former NFU President Dave Frederickson was introduced, he received a standing ovation. 



Farmers can enroll in on-farm trials with the Iowa Soybean Association

Before Iowa farmers plant the first seed this spring, they have the opportunity to enroll in dozens ofstrip trials through the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) On-Farm Network®. Trials are currently available on both soybeans and corn on a variety of topics including seed treatment, crop protection, crop management, nitrogen and soil health.

“This year we have a wide array of trials for farmers to choose from,” said Rich Stessman, ISA On-Farm Network field research specialist for Northwest Iowa. “Our program is focused on what Iowa farmers want and need to know to improve their profitability.”

Trials allow farmers opportunities to test products and practices on their own operations. The data coming from the trials is an incredible resource to farmers.

ISA president Wayne Frederick has been conducting trials on his farm for years and continues to see the value in the research.

“I myself have participated in more than 75 trials to improve the profitability of my farm,” Fredericks said. “From variable rate nitrogen, to cover crops, getting data directly from my own operation is invaluable when it comes to decision making.”

Setting up a trial is easy thanks to the On-Farm Network’s efficient process developed over the last 15 years. Even farmers already planning on conducting their own trials can still submit the data and receive other benefits.

Farmers working with the On-Farm Network receive extensive statistical analysis of trial results in addition to aerial imagery of fields allowing them to make changes in-season. In-field scouting information is also provided depending on the trial type.

“The true value of what we do comes from the data the farmers generate,” Stessman said. “Our Analytics team works very hard to get farmers data that will improve their future decision making and allow them to know the multitude of circumstances that led to their yield results.”

2016 trials farmers can enroll in include:
    Seed treatment — ILeVO® (seed provided)
    Seed treatment — Gaucho® (neonicotinoid, seed provided)
    Crop protection — Priaxor™ fungicide and Fastac™ EC insecticide
    Crop management — Row spacing (15 vs. 30)

Corn
    Nitrogen — UAN vs. Broadcast urea
    Nitrogen — Nitrogen modeling prescriptions vs. Grower's N Management
    Nitrogen stabilizer — NZone Max™
    Soil health — Liquid humic acid in-furrow
    Crop protection — Insecticide post-pollination

Soybeans and corn
    Crop protection — Stratego® YLD fungicide
    Crop management — Planting depth
    Crop protection — Soybean cyst nematode scouting survey
    Soil health — Multi-year cover crop
    Soil health — Tillage (strip till, no-till, conventional tillage)

For information about how to set up a trial on your operation, contact Rich Stessman at rstessman@isoybeans.com or 515-334-1076. Additional information can also be found at isafarmnet.com.



Future Iowa Ag Leaders Discover Markets in Malaysia, Philippines

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) showcased the agricultural export markets of Malaysia and the Philippines to members of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development program, also known as I-LEAD, this week during a mission to the region.

The I-LEAD program is on its seventh class and is charged with the task of developing these young men and women into strong leaders for Iowa agriculture. This class consists of 18 participants who have a wide range of backgrounds ranging from full-time farming to genetic research to merchandising.

The Philippines and Malaysia provided a unique contrast for the class learning about the developing world. For example, the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is less than $3,000 per year, whereas the wealthier Malaysia boasts a GDP per capita of almost $12,000.

In addition, both countries also present a difference in trading environments. Malaysia is a signatory to the mega-trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), where the Philippines has high tariffs and tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on many products, including corn.

“As a region, Southeast Asia is one of the largest corn importers in the world,” said USGC Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia Kevin Roepke. “If you include its huge soybean meal, DDGS (distiller’s dried grains with solubles), ethanol and meat/milk imports, the region’s importance to the state of Iowa is second to none.

“In addition to exposure to the region, this trip provided a firsthand look for the participants at the process behind agricultural trade, giving them invaluable experience that they can’t receive anywhere else.”

The team’s itinerary highlighted some of the challenges, opportunities and successes of agriculture in Southeast Asia. Participants got the opportunity to visit the historic Subic Bay, which is an important port for the importation of ethanol, as well as large feed millers, traders, aquaculture farms, a sugar mill/refinery, an ethanol plant and government officials, among many other activities.

“Members were surprised to hear that Malaysia’s main port, Kelang, is roughly as big as the United States’ two largest ports combined,” Roepke said. “They also learned about the juxtaposition of technologies that many corn farmers in the region use. These include planting by hand corn that contains biotech traits while documenting their records of planting on iPads.”

These firsthand experiences allowed mission participants to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the global food system in which they live and work.



Informa Pegs Corn at 89.5 MA

Private analytical firm Informa Economics sees farmers planting 89.5 million acres of corn and 84 million acres of soybeans this spring.

For corn, Informa forecasts a year-over-year increase of 1.5 million acres, but that's 640,000 acres lower than Informa's previous estimate. Planting will increase in all the major states, but the Western Corn Belt is likely to plant 800,000 more acres of corn than last year while the Eastern Corn Belt is forecast to plant 350,000 more acres.

Soybean acreage would be up 1.38 ma from last year, but the estimate is down 1.2 million acres from January's estimates. Informa reduced its forecast for the Corn Belt by 1 ma with the remainder coming from the Midsouth and south Atlantic states.

Double-crop soybean acreage is expected to total 4.6 million acres, which is down 485,000 acres from last year.

Informa pegged all wheat acres at 51.2 ma, down 3.4 ma from last year. Winter wheat acreage was adjusted upward based on USDA insurance data, coming in at 36.9 million acres. Spring wheat acreage was estimated at 12.5 ma while durum was estimated at 1.8 ma.

USDA will publish its Prospective Plantings report on March 31 at 11 a.m. CDT.



USDA SEEKING INFORMATION ON FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VACCINE MAKERS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Monday published a notice seeking sources for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine as part of its FMD preparedness initiative. FMD, a foreign animal disease endemic in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East, can affect all cloven-hoofed animals, including pigs, cattle and sheep. FMD rarely infects humans and isn’t a food safety issue, but an outbreak in North America, which currently is free of it, could negatively affect meat exports and domestic meat sales.

The National Pork Producers Council in February urged lawmakers and the Obama administration to make dealing with an outbreak a priority. “Improving preparedness for an FMD outbreak through development of an adequate vaccine bank must be a priority,” testified NPPC immediate past president Dr. Howard Hill, a veterinarian and pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa, before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture.

According to USDA, the goal of the request for information is to identify vaccine manufacturers that can supply the types of FMD vaccine needed, in the amounts needed and in the appropriate timeframe. The information provided by the manufacturers will help APHIS make decisions on how to increase FMD preparedness. The agency also will use the information to determine future budget needs to enhance the vaccine stockpile.

U.S. law prohibits live FMD virus from being on the U.S. mainland, so APHIS currently contracts with foreign vaccine production companies to produce finished vaccine from the antigen stored at Plum Island Animal Disease Center, off the coast of Long Island, N.Y. But only a limited number of FMD strains are covered by the antigen stored at Plum Island, and under current production contracts, only 2.5 million doses of vaccine could be produced within three weeks of an outbreak. FMD crisis drills show an estimated 10 million doses would be need in the first three weeks, with a possible 40 million additional doses.



NCGA Agribusiness Council Cultivates Cooperation

This week, representatives from agribusiness are gathered with National Corn Growers Association leadership in Washington for NCGA's Agri-Industry Council's biannual meeting. Over the course of two days, attendees will receive updates on key NCGA programs, hear from several outside speakers and discuss topics of special importance to the entire agricultural community.

"The discussion in AIC meetings helps NCGA fulfill its mission of creating and maintaining opportunities for corn growers," said NCGA Chairman and AIC Co-Chair Martin Barbre. "Only through sharing NCGA's position throughout the industry will we make our voices loud enough to reach the best possible outcomes for growers as we face an ever-changing political landscape."

Ann Compton, a former ABC News White House correspondent, will present a look inside the White House, current events and the 2016 presidential campaign. Through Compton's talk and the discussion that will follow, participants will explore the many potential impacts an array of political situations have upon agriculture.

While there, participants will examine the new strategic plan adopted by NCGA during Corn Congress in March. The group also will receive a variety of updates on topics such as pump infrastructure, corn reputation management, the political landscape in Washington and an economic forecast for U.S. corn in the upcoming year.

On Friday, a panel discussion looking at corn from the perspective of end users in the livestock and poultry industries will feature representatives from the National Pork Producers Council, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the National Chicken Council.

The group will meet again in August.



Soy Growers Oppose Targeting of SNAP in Budget Proposal

The American Soybean Association (ASA) responded to a proposal included in this week's House Republican budget, passed by the House Budget Committee, that would cut spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, by transitioning it to a block grant-based system administered at the state level. ASA opposed the proposal based on its longstanding opposition to reopening of the farm bill and policy opposing the separation of the nutrition and agriculture components of the bill. In a statement, ASA President Richard Wilkins of Greenwood, Del., also signaled the association's desire to unify the farm and food communities moving into debate on the 2018 Farm Bill:

"When we talk about maintaining the integrity of programs authorized in the farm bill, we mean all of the programs in the farm bill, including SNAP. As a policy organization, we encourage the regular evaluation of programs to determine how they can be most effective. But as producers of the nation's food, we can't support a proposal that would weaken the ability of Americans in the most need to buy that food. As we approach discussions on the next Farm Bill, we need to stand together as a food community. This partnership is critically important for those of us in production agriculture, since only 60 or 70 members of the House identify themselves as representing rural districts. We must ensure that nutrition and farm programs stay united and the decades-old link between the people who grow the nation's food and the people in need of help to put it on their family tables is preserved.”



ASA Moves to Join Anderson, et al. v. EPA as Intervenor

The American Soybean Association (ASA), as part of an industry coalition consisting of CropLife America, the American Seed Trade Association, the Ag Retailers Association, the National Cotton Council of America, the National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Corn Growers Association, asked a federal court on Wednesday to allow them to join the lawsuit Anderson v. McCarthy, case no. 4:16-cv-00068 (N.D. Cal. filed Jan. 6, 2016). The suit, brought by a number of plaintiffs including environmental activists, requests a court order requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate seeds treated with neonicotinoids as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which provides authority to EPA to regulate pesticides. The coalition seeks to join the lawsuit to defend EPA's current regulation of neonicotinoid seed treatments and to ensure that the court and EPA understand the vital importance of treated seeds to American agriculture.

"Treated seed provides ASA's members with an economical means for managing risk and protecting seeds from early-season insects, pests, and diseases, improving plant vigor, and increasing crop yields," said ASA President Richard Wilkins in his declaration before the court. "Without the ability to plant treated seed, ASA's members would suffer reduced farm income from crop loss and incur hundreds of millions of dollars in added costs from larger and more frequent foliar applications of less effective pesticides, requiring extra passes over each field and additional time, energy, and capital. Some ASA members may also be forced to engage in costly higher-density seeding-planting more seeds per acre than they currently are planting- to offset inevitable stand loss caused by increased pest pressures."



Industry Coalition to Seeks to Join Lawsuit in Defense of EPA

On March 16, 2016, an industry coalition consisting of the National Association of Wheat Growers, CropLife America, the American Seed Trade Association, the Ag Retailers Association, the National Cotton Council of America, the American Soybean Association, and the National Corn Growers Association asked a federal court to allow them to join the lawsuit Anderson v EPA. The coalition seeks to join the lawsuit to defend EPA’s current regulation of neonicotinoid seed treatments and to ensure that the court and EPA understand the vital importance of treated seeds to American agriculture.

“NAWG is pleased to join the coalition seeking to intervene in Anderson vs EPA. Seed treatments are a vital technology in protecting planted seeds and seedlings as they emerge,” says National Association of Wheat Growers President Gordon Stoner, a grower from Montana. “We take this action on behalf of wheat growers across the country, to ensure these critical technologies are available to all growers.”



 NFU Pleased by Support for Finalizing GIPSA Rule

 A long-awaited regulation, which would offer contract farmers more protections in the marketplace, has seen a renewed commitment from the nation’s capital. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, eight champions for farmers recently reiterated their support to move forward with implementation of the Grain Inspection and Stockyards Protection Administration (GIPSA) rule - an effort that National Farmers Union was quick to applaud.

“Producers and consumers alike benefit from competitive and transparent markets… Deceptive, fraudulent, retaliatory, and anti-competitive practices have no place in a well-functioning market, and we need to have sound rules of the road to protect consumers, livestock producers and poultry growers in increasingly concentrated market environments,” the lawmakers stated in the letter. 

The GIPSA rule was included in the 2008 Farm Bill to mitigate abusive contracting and marketing practices in the highly concentrated livestock and poultry sectors. However, lawmakers repeatedly blocked the USDA from actually implementing the law through an annual appropriations rider until late last year when that rider was omitted from the congressional appropriations omnibus bill.

USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Ed Avalos agreed to take “a very well-balanced approach” to finalizing the GIPSA rule during his testimony today before the House Agriculture Committee. Secretary Vilsack delivered a similar message at the NFU annual convention last week, when he said finishing work on the GIPSA rule would be a priority during the remainder of his tenure.

“We are pleased to see the progress and commitment towards implementation of the GIPSA regulations,” NFU President Roger Johnson said. “Our family farmers and ranchers are competing in an increasingly more concentrated market. These regulations will protect growers during contract disputes and help level the playing field.”

Johnson said that NFU will continue to work closely with USDA throughout the process to finalize the rule.



COAST GUARD: U.S. EXPORTERS ALREADY MEET WEIGHT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

In a letter sent this week to the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Agricultural Transportation Coalition agreed with the service’s interpretation of a new shipping container weight rule that’s part of the international Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) Convention. The regulation, which is set to go into effect July 1 for international cargo, requires shippers to verify the weight of cargo and containers before they are loaded onto ships.

The Coast Guard has said the current practices of U.S. exporters and shippers meet the objectives and requirements of SOLAS, and U.S. exporters will not be required to provide shippers with the weight of the shippers’ containers.

The coalition previously objected to the new rule, which was promulgated by the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization, saying it would create major delays and disruption at U.S. shipping ports and would hold exporters liable for misreporting weights. It pointed out that, for example, U.S. exporters of agricultural product that could be moving hundreds of miles to port have no way of knowing whether the product is put in another container for ocean shipment and how much that container weighs.



Thorntons to Begin Offering Unleaded15™, an E15 fuel product at All Chicago Retail Locations

In response to Thorntons’ announcement that Unleaded15™, a new E15 fuel option, is going to be offered in the Chicago area, Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

“On behalf of Growth Energy and its members, I would like to commend Thorntons for their decision to offer consumers Unleaded15, providing them with the opportunity to choose a homegrown, renewable fuel at the pump. By adding this E15 offering to their fuel portfolio, Thorntons has demonstrated their commitment to consumer choice, and a cleaner burning, homegrown high-performance fuel. Now Chicagoans will have the chance to do so as well by choosing to fill up with Unleaded15.”

Founded by James Thornton in 1971, the company has been recognized as one of the top independent convenience store chains in the nation. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Thorntons currently operates 184 stores that provide fresh foods, high quality beverages and fuel in six states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio Tennessee and Florida.