Monday March 14 Ag News

Nebraska Ag Land Values Down 4%; Rental Rates Down 2-10%

The average for Nebraska agricultural land values has declined by about 4% in the last year according to preliminary findings from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Farm Real Estate Market Survey. This decline marks the second consecutive year of lower weighted average farmland values in Nebraska.

The statewide all-land average value for the year ending Feb. 1 was $3,135 per acre, down $115 per acre from 2015. Average farmland values for the eight districts and the percentage decrease from 2015 were: northwest, $820 (-5%); north, $1,270 (-5%); northeast, $6,095 (-1%); central, $3,780 (-4%); east, $7,025 (-1%); southeast, $5,685 (-5%); south, $4,140 (-10%); and southwest, $2,010 (-3%).

The largest price decline by land class occurred in the hayland category which declined 17%. The reverberating effects of the 2012 drought and resulting increase in demand for forages to feed cattle led producers to increase their willingness to bid up the price of hayland through 2015. Some of the highest rates of decline for hayland were noted in the major cow-calf producing regions of the state including the northwest and north districts.

Gravity-irrigated and center pivot-irrigated cropland reported the next highest rates of decline, about 6% and 4% respectively across Nebraska. Dryland cropland with irrigation potential followed a similar trend.

The decline comes as producers across Nebraska faced lower prices for crops and livestock. Lower values have resulted in tighter margins for servicing rent or debt payments. Survey participants indicated that financially sound market participants still have the ability to secure long-term financing at favorable fixed interest rates, but meeting annual debt payments on newly purchased property with lower commodity prices remains a challenge.

Dryland cropland without irrigation potential or tillable grazing land noted small price increases across Nebraska in 2016, but these may be noted as a relatively unchanged market for this land class.

Rental rates for dryland and irrigated cropland declined from 2% to 10% across Nebraska. Districts in western Nebraska reported higher rates of decline than the eastern districts. Grazing land and cow-calf pair rental rates followed suit as cattle prices and future cattle price expectations have retreated from the record highs of 2014. Rates of decline were higher for regions that had record rent levels in 2015.

The average monthly rental rate for a five-month grazing season averaged about $55 per month or $275 for the grazing season. Survey respondents noted the differences in the rental rate ranges reported across the state may be attributed to the level of service that the landlord provides to the tenant as part of the lease.

Rental rates for agricultural ground in Nebraska peaked in 2014 and 2015 for cropland and grazing land, respectively. As the value of commodities declines, tenants face tighter financial margins. Landlords in Nebraska have faced higher landownership expenses as property taxes have continued to rise. Survey participants noted the dynamics involved in negotiations on rental rates typically have centered on these concerns.

The preliminary report can be found at agecon.unl.edu/cornhuskereconomics.

Land values and rental rates presented in the report are averages of survey participants' responses by district. Actual land values and rental rates may vary depending upon the quality of the parcel and local market for an area. Preliminary land values and rental rates are subject to change as additional surveys are returned. Final results from the survey will be published in early June 2016 and will be available online at agecon.unl.edu/realestate.html.



Richardson County is Newest Livestock Friendly County

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced Richardson County as the newest county in the state to become designated a Livestock Friendly County (LFC) through a program administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).  The announcement was made as part of a series of activities for Nebraska’s celebration of National Ag Week, March 13-19, 2016.

“By taking this step to be designated a Livestock Friendly County, Richardson County is letting the agribusiness community know that they are open for business,” said Gov. Ricketts.  “Richardson County has abundant natural resources and a deep history in agriculture.  The responsible growth of livestock operations in this area will support the future of their family farms and local economy.”

The Governor was joined by several agriculture leaders for the designation event, including Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, State Senator Jerry Johnson, Nebraska Cattlemen President Barb Cooksley and Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson, all of whom were traveling with him across the state for National Ag Week activities.  A number of Richardson County dignitaries, including Dave Sickel, chairman of the Richardson County Board of Commissioners, also spoke at the event.

“The responsible growth of livestock operations adds value to area corn and soybean farms through increasing feed grain demand,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach at the designation ceremony.  “Richardson County joins a growing list of counties that are promoting livestock production as a key to rural economic development.”

Created in 2003 by the Nebraska Legislature, the LFC program is designed to recognize counties in the state that support the expansion of the livestock industry.  In 2014, livestock receipts in the state comprised over half of the $24 billion of Nebraska’s total on-farm receipts.  The LFC designation gives counties an extra promotional tool to encourage expansion of current livestock operations and attract new businesses that spur local economies.

With the addition of Richardson County, there are now 36 counties designated as Livestock Friendly through the state program.

Counties wishing to apply for the LFC designation must hold a public hearing and the county board must pass a resolution to apply for the designation.  Then a completed application must be submitted to NDA.  Local producers or groups can encourage county officials to apply.

Additional information about the Livestock Friendly County program is available on the NDA website at www.nda.nebraska.gov or by calling 800-422-6692.



UNL STUDENT MACI LIENEMANN CHOSEN AS NEXT GENERATION DELEGATE

    Maci Lienemann, a senior animal science major from Princeton, has been named a Next Generation Delegate by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Lienemann was one of 19 undergraduate and graduate students from across the world selected to participate in the delegation.

    As a Next Generation Delegate, Lienemann will attend The Global Food Security Symposium in Washington, D.C., on April 26. The symposium will bring together key multi-disciplinary stakeholders to discuss transformations to the global food system necessary to feed growing cities. Participants will explore ideas to facilitate business investments and economic opportunities that can benefit small-scale farmers and urban consumers alike.

    As a longtime beef producer, Lienemann said she believes she can add to the conversation of food security by exploring the use of biotechnology in livestock and specifically the potential for genetically engineered animals.

    "Selective genetic breeding has long been used to produce more desirable traits in plants and animals," Lienemann said. "However, the use of genetic engineering has a much greater potential impact, as it is a much more targeted, accurate, predictable and efficient method of introducing these desirable traits."

    While genetic engineering has improved yields in crops, current regulations prohibit genetically engineered animal products from being made readily available to the public. Lienemann, who is pursuing a minor in political science and spent her summer working for the U.S. Senate, looks forward to discussing this policy with her peers and global leaders in agriculture.

    "In order to make these products more readily available, but still ensure the safety of our food supply, I believe we need to make the regulatory process consistent across all products and based on scientific data," she said. 

    In the fall, Lienemann will begin a master's program in animal genetics at the University of California-Davis with research interests in genetic improvements of livestock through biotechnology and related public policy. She will study under Alison Van Eenennaam, an animal genomics and biotechnology extension specialist. Van Eenennaam was a featured speaker during the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Heuermann Lecture Series in January 2015.

    The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is a nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue and public learning.




National Agriculture Week - March 13th-19th  - “Agriculture: Nebraska’s United Front”
Greg Ibach, Director, Nebraska Department of Agriculture

National Ag Week is a time of celebration and reflection, as we recognize and pay tribute to all those who contribute to Nebraska’s number one industry.

This celebration generally has us all thinking about farmers and ranchers, as it should, but I am asking you during this National Ag Week to broaden your viewpoint. It is estimated that one in four jobs and a quarter of the economic activity in Nebraska is related to agriculture. Of course our farmers and ranchers provide the foundation for these figures, but to get to “one in four jobs” we must include all other business entities that are somehow tied to agriculture. From Gering to Omaha and Cody to Falls City, main streets are impacted by the prosperity or challenges of the agriculture economy. This makes National Ag Week important to all Nebraskans.

As a farmer and rancher myself, I have been pleased to see the ties between urban and rural Nebraska strengthen as the agricultural industry continues to expand into several areas. This connection is cultural as well as economic, as most urban Nebraskans are only one or two generations removed from a family farm.

From the economic standpoint, new businesses are starting up in Omaha and Lincoln and other cities across Nebraska that provide innovative technology, marketing, processing and infrastructure to support our ever-evolving family farms and ranches. Both public and private entities are offering careers in these areas, careers that pay well and provide incentive for our best students and employees to remain in the state. I am constantly amazed by the number of companies that are either looking to locate in a Nebraska city or town or expand existing facilities. The Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership in our state’s largest city has actually developed a detailed strategy to take advantage of this trend and provide a path for companies to become a part of our state’s thriving agribusiness sector.

From a cultural standpoint, the connection between our urban and rural citizens is growing stronger, as agriculturalists are opening their farms and ranches to tell the story of the methods they employ to produce the crops and livestock that become food for our neighbors, here and around the world. Consumers want to know more about how their food arrives at their table, and farmers and ranchers are eager to share the story.

One example of this is the dramatic growth of farmers markets across state, with more than 100 markets providing venues for direct communication between consumers and farmers. On a broader scale, farmers and ranchers are widely using social media, broadcasting snippets of real life on the farm, often highlighting livestock care and environmental stewardship practices. They are even taking their message to international audiences, sharing their stories through personal visits to overseas markets, through videos and by hosting foreign consumers and food processors right here in Nebraska.

This interconnectedness means we all should care about the fact that currently our farmers and ranchers are facing a significant downturn in the prices they receive for their products. This reduction in profitability has resulted, and will continue to result, in economic impacts across our state. It is part of the reason our state is facing a budget shortfall over the next two years.

Under Governor Pete Ricketts’ leadership, we are working to further diversify, and add value to, our agriculture sector, a move that we hope will smooth out income peaks and valleys in the overall market. The state Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development, along with industry partners, are working to add more livestock production to enhance our row crop farms and searching for ways to add value to commodity production through recruiting additional food processing and bioscience companies to Nebraska. I am optimistic about the opportunity to Grow Nebraska through these types of development efforts.

I also am optimistic about the future for our farmers and ranchers. We will bounce back from the current downturn, and traditional production agriculture will continue to be a main staple in Nebraska, as it has been since the frontier days of the mid-1800s.

Agriculture truly is the lifestyle that unites us all. I hope you will join me in celebrating National Ag Week in Nebraska.



Growing Distrust in Animal Ag?  USFRA, Animal Scientist and HSUS to Discuss

The most recent consumer trust research from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) shows consumers have growing concern over the treatment of animals raised for food. Addressing this concern will be the goal of the CFI 2016 North American Strategy Conference on Animal Agriculture, May 18-19, at McDonald’s Hamburger University in Chicago.

CFI research reveals that a near-record 60 percent strongly agree with the following statement: “If animals are treated decently and humanely I have no problem eating meat, milk and eggs.” Yet, a much smaller percentage of consumers, 25 percent strongly agree that U.S. meat comes from humanely treated animals.

Asking “How Do We Close the Animal Ag Gap?”, the conference will highlight three areas of consumer interest; animal housing, antibiotic use and emerging genetic advancements.

“Strategy Conference will explore why the divide exists and what those in animal agriculture can do to close it, ” said Charlie Arnot, CEO of CFI. “It’s important that we embrace that skepticism and discuss strategies to earn consumer trust.”

Gestation stalls, cage-free egg production and other animal housing topics will be discussed by expert speakers and panelists. Paul Shapiro, vice president of farm animal protection, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), will join Janeen Salak-Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor, stress physiology and animal well-being, University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences, and Randy Krotz, chief executive officer, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), on a panel to address topics related to animal housing.

The annual CFI North American Strategy Conference on Animal Agriculture, sponsored by the United Soybean Board, hosts leaders from local, state, national and international producer organizations and livestock coalitions, along with allied industry, branded food companies and government organizations. Free to attend, the Strategy Conference begins Wednesday, May 18 at 1 p.m., and adjourns Thursday, May 19 at noon. Learn more and register to attend at www.foodintegrity.org.



NFU Celebrates Ag Week, Recognizes the Importance of Stewardship

As agriculture is celebrated this week, one farm organization is focused on the policies that embody this year’s National Ag Week theme: “Stewards of a Healthy Planet.” National Farmers Union (NFU), representing nearly 200,000 family farmers and ranchers, has long supported agriculture stewardship as the foundation to meeting global sustainability and food security challenges.

“At NFU, we advocate every day for the policies that support family farmers and ranchers. Ag Week provides a special opportunity to celebrate our diverse membership that represents all aspects of American agriculture,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Regardless of what and how they produce, our members all understand that family farmers must take the lead on stewardship.”

Starting with National Ag Day on Tuesday, events and activities will take place across the country to “recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by American agriculture,” according to the official National Ag Day website.

NFU will build on the momentum of their 114th Anniversary Convention last week to work on the policies that embrace the spirit of National Ag Day. Climate change and the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) continue to be “priority issues for NFU,” Johnson explained.

“Climate change affects all of agriculture – from farm to fork, everyone has a reason to care about this issue. As an industry, we must work to mitigate climate change by advocating for policies that help reduce our impact on the environment, such as the USDA’s Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and the RFS,” he said.

“If we want to ensure there is a future for the next generation of family farmers and ranchers, promoting stewardship and sustainability is the first step,” Johnson concluded.



Soy Growers Focus on GMO Labeling, TPP this Week in Washington

Legislation that sets a national standard for the labeling of bioengineered food, as well as the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership and its impact on soybean producers across the country are among the top issues that the Board of Directors of the American Soybean Association (ASA) will address with lawmakers during its annual spring meeting in Washington. ASA's meeting coincides with the introduction of the Senate floor of S.2609, a bill from Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts that would avoid a potential patchwork of state-level GMO labeling statues by establishing a nationwide framework, and farmers will met with senators and leadership from both parties this week to urge its passage.

"The Roberts bill is the top priority of soybean farmers this spring and the closer we get to the July 1 implementation of the Vermont labeling law, the more important it becomes for Congress to step up and pass a national standard to avoid the convoluted and expensive patchwork that state-by-state solutions present," said ASA President Richard Wilkins, a farmer from Greenwood, Del. "The message we're taking to the Hill this week is one of urgency. Research shows that the Vermont law alone will add an additional $1,050 to the average American family's grocery bill, which is reason enough to take action, but add to that the unwarranted stigmatization of safe and sustainable modern agricultural practices, and it's clear that the time for the Senate to act is now."

Wilkins also pointed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and its benefits to soybean producers in a down farm economy as key points ASA will take to the Hill.

"We recognize that with an election in November, we're facing a difficult political climate in Washington, but that doesn't subtract from the critical importance of moving the TPP forward in 2016." he said. "The TPP means jobs, it means increased exports and it means growing demand in 11 extremely important developed and emerging economies for the meat proteins that demand our soybean meal to produce. It's too important to let Congress get to it when it's convenient; we have to press now."

The Board will also relay in its meetings the urgency to act this year on other issues, including funding in the FY17 Energy & Water Appropriations bill for operations, maintenance, and upgrades to inland waterways infrastructure as well as harbors and ports; and co-sponsorship of House and Senate bills that will be re-introduced to extend and reform the biodiesel tax credit; and normalization of relations with Cuba.

This week's meeting is the first of three annual meetings of the ASA board, and runs today through Wednesday.



Additional Wheat Research Funding Top Priority for NWIC

A lack of appropriate funding for U.S. wheat research programs restrains the economic viability of U.S. wheat and barley in domestic and world marketplaces. To counter this, the National Wheat Improvement Committee (NWIC) is hosting a fly-in for wheat breeders and stakeholders this week in Washington, DC with the objective of raising awareness for continued public funding of programs which prioritize advanced research of wheat and barley.

In order to sustain the research that is necessary to improve the U.S. wheat industry’s position in foreign markets, the NWIC has determined that Congress needs to provide $3.4 million in research funding increases, in order to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies and make U.S. wheat more competitive.  The NWIC members will meet with key contacts in USDA and Congress to educate them on the need for increased research funding and provide awareness of issues impacting further innovation in wheat.

“NWF is partnering with our public university researchers to meet our goal of advancing the wheat industry and increasing productivity,” said Phil McClain, Chairman of the National Wheat Foundation (NWF), a wheat farmer from Statesville, NC.  “No industry can advance without investing in research and development, which is a crucial component of wheat’s future.”

Collaborating with researchers and stakeholders, the NWIC will target its efforts at increased support for several research center locations across the U.S. These locations will require additional funding and staff support in order to sustain functionality. Dr. Paul Murphy, NWIC Chairman from North Carolina State University, and Vice Chair Dr.  Robert Zemetra, a wheat breeder from Oregon State University, will lead the committee’s educational efforts on the Hill.  Priority issues include the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative and next-generation genotyping which will facilitate the application of genomic information and DNA marker technologies for improvement and breeding of wheat, barley, and oat varieties.

The NWIC is also educating Congressional delegations and staff on the need for funding additional bioinformatics scientists to analyze the vast amounts of genotypic data which are already being generated. Taking advantage of this data and making its uses accessible to U.S. wheat farmers will help farmers maintain their crop quality against threats from environmental challenges, while increasing yields and equipping them with the tools to produce higher-quality wheat and compete in foreign markets.

“It is crucial that Congress is aware of the necessity for continued, stable investment in wheat research,” says Chairman Murphy. “The next decade holds tremendous promise based on emerging technologies that were not possible even five or ten years ago. This is a wonderful time to be a wheat researcher because we are developing technology to improve efficiency, address vulnerabilities such as disease, insect and abiotic stresses, and maintaining the quality of wheat we need to help feed the world.”

The NWIC’s efforts in raising Congressional awareness of the need for these funding increases will benefit U.S. wheat farmers, consumers, brewers, millers, and bakers. NWIC believes it is imperative that research is continued for wheat and barley, in order to reinforce their substantial contributions to the agricultural economy. With this new funding, wheat farmers and researchers will be able to develop new technologies and methods for improving wheat quality, while further enhancing the genetic viability and survivability of wheat.



Soil Health Partnership Expands to 65 Farm Test Sites for 2016
   
Twenty-five more farms have joined a groundbreaking research effort that could change the way farmers take care of their land. The Soil Health Partnership announced the addition of the new test sites at the 2016 Commodity Classic, March 3 - 5 in New Orleans.

This spring, the organization begins in its third year identifying, testing and measuring farm management practices that improve soil health. These include growing cover crops, practicing conservation tillage like no-till or strip-till, and using sophisticated nutrient management techniques.

The program's goal is to quantify the benefits of these practices from an economic standpoint, showing farmers how healthy soil benefits their bottom line. They also have positive environmental benefits, like protecting water from nutrient runoff.

The new farm sites are located in eight Midwestern states.

"It's exciting that so many farmers want to test and share the impact soil health can have on the environment and farm economics with their peers," said Nick Goeser, SHP director. "As a data-driven program, the success of our research depends upon these test sites, and we are indebted to them for their participation and enthusiasm."

A farmer-led initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, the partnership receives funding from Monsanto and the Walton Family Foundation, as well as technical support from The Nature Conservancy and Environmental Defense Fund. Once enrolled, field managers from the partnership work with farmers to determine what practices might work best on their farms. They help the farmer gather soil, planting and tillage data from test plots.

Starting in the 2014 growing season with 20 farms, the partnership plans to gradually increase the number of demonstration farms in the program to 100. Once a grower enrolls, the test site is included in research for five years.



CHS Hedging Fined by CFTC for Inaccurately Reporting

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued an Order filing and simultaneously settling charges against CHS, Inc. over the inaccurate reporting of positions in corn and soybean purchases and sales, in violation of the reporting requirements in CFTC Regulation 19.01. CHS is based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

The CFTC's Order also filed and simultaneously settled charges against CHS Hedging, LLC, formerly CHS Hedging, Inc., a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant. CHS Hedging wilfully aided and abetted CHS's violations and is liable for CHS's violations, the CFTC Order finds. CHS Hedging is headquartered in St Paul, Minnesota.

The CFTC Order requires CHS and CHS Hedging jointly to pay a $1 million civil monetary penalty and to cease and desist from committing further violations of CFTC Regulation 19.01.

As the CFTC Order states, under CFTC Regulations all persons holding or controlling reportable futures and options positions in certain agricultural commodities (including wheat, corn, oats, soybeans, soybean oil, and soybean meal) and any part of which constitute bona fide hedging positions.

The Order finds that during the period from at least January 2000 until May 2013, CHS held reportable positions in Form 204 commodities and was required to file Form 204 reports showing the quantities of the fixed price purchase and sale open cash positions of such commodities it hedged. The Order further finds that during this same period, CHS Hedging, on behalf of CHS, filed consistently incorrect Form 204 reports on a monthly basis with the CFTC that did not accurately state the quantities of CHS's fixed price cash positions of each such commodity it hedged.



USDA Launches Online MyPlate, MyWins Challenge, Available Throughout National Nutrition Month

In honor of National Nutrition Month, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today launched the MyPlate, MyWins Challenge which encourages people to make small, easy changes – MyWins – to their eating and activity habits, and to build on their wins over time to achieve a healthier lifestyle. With the MyPlate, MyWins Challenge, people can join or form a team online, then challenge team mates – friends, family, co-workers – to consume two foods from each of the MyPlate food groups a day and be active two times a day for two days. The challenge days are chosen by the team.

"The MyPlate, MyWins Challenge as a fun and social way to encourage better health, with support from people around us and a little friendly competition," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We hope people will take the two-day challenge and realize how easy it is to make small, healthy changes, and then keep the momentum going beyond just those two days."

The challenge is part of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion's (CNPP) new MyPlate, MyWins consumer education initiative, grounded in the most recent edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Concurrent with the challenge, CNPP is launching a MyPlate, MyWins video series combining information with inspirational stories from American families, as part of the overall effort to help people find healthy eating solutions and develop a personalized healthy eating style that fits within their overall lifestyle. Throughout the year, CNPP will continue to add more videos to the series.

"With MyPlate, MyWins, our goal is to help Americans achieve healthy eating styles that they can maintain for a lifetime of good health – small victories along the way are key and can add up to big successes," said Angie Tagtow, CNPP executive director. "We know that everything we eat and drink over time matters. The two-day challenge this month is a great way to jumpstart things. It's quick, it's easy, and it fits in at home, in classrooms, as part of workplace wellness programs, in faith-based settings, and more, helping to create a sense of community around healthy living."

How the MyPlate, MyWins Challenge Works
The MyPlate, MyWins Challenge is available to the public through CNPP's SuperTracker, a free, interactive food and physical activity tracking tool. There, anyone can create a group and invite others to join. Participants earn points for eating healthy foods and being physically active, and can compare their progress to others in the group. Group leaders can send messages of encouragement, cheer on members to earn more points, and compare progress amongst the participants. They can also choose from other ready-made challenges or design their own custom challenge specifically for their group. Later this month, CNPP nutritionists will host two-day MyPlate, MyWins Challenges for the public.

Find more information about MyPlate, MyWins challenges and videos at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/take-challenge.



Chick-Fil-A to Source Cage-Free Eggs in 10 Years

Chick-fil-A, Inc. announced it plans to source 100 percent cage-free eggs over the next 10 years, with the eggs to be served in all restaurants nationwide by year-end 2026. In line with the company's industry-leading commitment to serve chicken raised with "No Antibiotics Ever" by 2019, this move marks the company's latest step in advancing transparent and responsible sourcing.

"Ever since we first opened our doors more than 50 years ago, our customers have trusted us to serve them simple, delicious food made with the highest quality ingredients," said Rob Dugas, chief procurement officer and vice president of supply chain for Chick-fil-A. "Today, our customers' lives are busier than ever, and we appreciate that they trust us to provide an on-the-go experience they can feel good about. Our transition to cage-free eggs reinforces our commitment to provide wholesome menu options that continue to meet the needs of our customers."

Chick-fil-A has already begun collaborating with its egg suppliers nationwide to begin the transition. Dugas added, "With the majority of the egg industry currently relying on conventional hen houses, the transition to a new, cage-free system that can reliably and safely supply nationwide brands will take time. However, Chick-fil-A takes the transition seriously and has put in place a process to see the transition through."

The move follows the company's commitment in 2014 to serve chicken raised without antibiotics in all Chick-fil-A restaurants by 2019--making it the first and only quick-service restaurant chain to commit to a 100 percent "chicken raised with no antibiotics ever" standard for poultry.