Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy 2016 class members used examples from their own lives and businesses to explain how vital the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is during a national affairs visit to Washington D.C.
“International trade remains critical to Nebraska, particularly with the recent downturn in the agricultural economy. Prices for agricultural commodities have fallen significantly over the past two years and recent USDA projections of more than 30 percent reduction in net farm income, as compared to 2013, only highlights the need to find new markets for Nebraska agricultural products. The passage of TPP is a key ingredient to help boost Nebraska’s agricultural economy,” Jordan Dux, director of national affairs said Sept. 9.
Leadership Academy members shared their concerns about the current dangerous combination of high operating costs and higher debt loads with Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation. It was important for those on the trip to mention the drastic reduction on net farm income and the substantial pressure it is putting on their family farms and ranches and how trade will increase their ability to handle such a downturn.
Passage of TPP continues to be a Farm Bureau priority. According to analysis conducted by the American Farm Bureau (AFBF), the TPP will increase annual net farm income by $4.4 billion and increase U.S. agricultural exports by $5.3 billion per year. Nebraska also stands to make significant annual gains from the TPP with a $378.5 million increase in ag cash receipts and a $229.2 million boost to ag exports.
“If the U.S. fails to enact TPP, our trade situation won’t even maintain its current level, rather, it will actually lead to declining net exports and Nebraska farmers will lose market share in important Asian export markets.,” Dux said.
Another issue front and center during the trip was the increased cost of health insurance. Soaring health insurance premiums have thwarted the ability of many small business owners to provide, and their employees to obtain, health coverage. From 2010 to 2015, premiums for small firms increased 25 percent, from an average monthly family premium of $1,104 to $1,385.
“Farmers and ranchers are trapped in a broken health insurance marketplace with few options and high insurance costs. They need market-based reform that lowers costs and increases choices for private health insurance. Health insurance reform is essential, but it must also be workable, affordable, sustainable and balanced against the overall cost of doing business,” Dux said.
Those attending the National Affairs visit are:
Bryce Doeschot – Lancaster County
Darrel Entz - Custer County
Branson Essink - Otoe County
Chelsey Girard - Polk County
Robert Hartman – Chase County
Erin Norman – Dawes County
Joe Sateren – Cuming County
Rebecca Schwarz – Phelps/Gosper County
Besides visiting with Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation, the Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy met with officials from the Embassy of Australia, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Progressive Policy Institute and USDA’s office for New and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Programs.
CHALLENGE TO PRODUCERS WHO GROW ALFALFA FOR BEEF CATTLE
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
Do you grow alfalfa for your beef cows or for feedlots? If so, maybe you should try harvesting your last cutting as a higher value cash crop this year.
Local alfalfa and grass hay prices have been declining recently, especially hay for beef cows and feedlots. With a larger than usual last cutting expected due to recent rains and an abundant supply of corn stalks about to become available, more downward pressure is likely.
Many remaining alfalfa acres belong to cattle producers growing hay for their own cows or feedlots. Since cow hay and grinding hay currently is worth at least 50 dollars per ton less than dairy hay, can you folks take advantage of this difference in price?
Quite frankly, cattle producers have a tremendous advantage over commercial hay growers. If you harvest your hay before it blooms, bale it in heavy, transportable packages with most leaves intact, store it under cover to prevent weather damage, and then market it to get its true value, you also can sell it for a premium price. And you still can feed it to your own animals if your hay does not meet premium standards.
Now maybe you're thinking "I can't sell my hay. I need it for my own animals." And you may be right. But, if you do sell some dairy hay, what you can do is buy other, less expensive hay at the grinding or stock cow hay price. But you get to pocket the extra 40, 50, maybe 60 dollars for each ton of hay you sold and still have hay for your own animals.
What do you have to lose? It costs very little to at least try to harvest premium quality hay. If you succeed, you get a bonus. And if your hay doesn't qualify for a bonus, you simply feed the hay to your own animals, just like you would have done anyway.
No risk, high returns. Indeed, what do you have to lose?
Come see NE Corn at Husker Harvest Days
Nebraska Corn is busy preparing for Husker Harvest Days! This year HHD is September 13th – 15th. Show hours are 8 AM – 5 PM Tuesday and Wednesday, and 8 AM – 4 PM on Thursday. You can find Nebraska Corn in both 8 in the commodities building (red building on Main St.). Stop by to learn more about how Nebraska Corn is adding value to the state and to sign the petition telling the EPA we want to keep Atrazine! Don’t forget to grab an ice cold Coca Cola, sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup, on your way out. Local President’s, be on the lookout for the HHD work schedule. As a reminder, all locals are asked to supply volunteers for a two-hour shift during the show. We will see you all there!
Nebraska Corn is Urging Farmers to Submit Comments on Atrazine During Husker Harvest Days
The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) are working together during Husker Harvest Days to emphasize the negative impact the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule on atrazine could have on Nebraska famers. Visitors will have the opportunity to sign a petition and submit comments online, urging the EPA to reconsider their proposal.
EPA is proposing to drastically reduce the currently allowable application levels of atrazine, despite the fact that 7,000 independent scientific studies have proven the safety of atrazine. If the EPA’s proposed level of concern becomes the standard, effective use of the herbicide would be unachievable and would ultimately represent a de facto ban on the use of atrazine. Without atrazine, farm input costs could increase by 30 to 60 dollars per acre, which is a cost most farmers cannot afford. Nebraska’s farmers will also lose a valuable strategy in weed management and an essential tool for conservation and stewardship on their farm.
“It is critically important that Nebraska farmers do everything possible to push back on this proposal. Atrazine is too important of a weed management tool for their operations to sit by silently and wait to see what happens,” said Morgan Wrich, director of grower services of NeCGA. “Our goal at Husker Harvest Days is to educate farmers on the proposed atrazine regulation and encourage them to take action. When the EPA hears directly from farmers, it makes a difference.” The deadline to submit comments to the EPA is October 4.
In addition to Nebraska Corn’s atrazine efforts, the groups will also be talking about Nebraska’s value added opportunities. Our state is well known for its “Golden Triangle” of corn, livestock and ethanol. Nebraska is the third-largest producer of corn in the country, second in ethanol production and distillers grains, and first in cattle on feed. The synergies between these industries adds significant value to corn – via renewable biofuels, distillers’ grains and meat & dairy production – all within Nebraska’s borders, providing an incredible economic engine for the state.
Nebraska Corn is encouraging Husker Harvest Days attendees to take a moment to join them in the Agriculture Commodities Building (booth #8) during Husker Harvest Days, September 13-15 to learn more about what the organizations are doing to add value and build demand for Nebraska corn. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take action on the proposed atrazine regulation by signing a petition and submitting comments to the EPA online at “FightEPA.org.”
Nebraska’s NRD's Talk Conservation, Cost-Share, and Hall of Fame at Husker Harvest Days 2016
Thousands are expected to attend Husker Harvest Days 2016 just outside of Grand Island Tuesday, Sept. 13th – Thursday, Sept. 15th. This is the year of conservation education! The Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) blue building at Lot 1106 will be packed with agencies and organizations dedicated to giving property owners ideas on how to easily conserve their water and soil. Nebraska’s NRDs and other natural resources agencies are excited to continue to protect people’s lives, property and the state’s future.
With more than 50 conservation programs to offer across Nebraska, cost-share programs will be a hot topic inside our building along with current information on the Emerald Ash Borer beetle recently discovered in eastern Nebraska. The NRDs will be handing out free Colorado Blue Spruce tree seedlings. Free water testing for nitrates will also be available if you bring a 2-ounce sample from home.
“We work hard to ensure our Natural Resources Districts can spread their valuable knowledge and conservation tips to the public,” said Jim Bendfeldt, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Board President. “I promise you will leave our building with valuable conservation knowledge that will benefit a person’s property and family life for generations to come.”
On Wednesday Sept. 14th at 11 AM, the NRDs are holding a press conference at Lot 1106. Three special Nebraskans who’ve made significant contributions to protecting Nebraska’s natural resources will be announced for induction into the NRD Hall of Fame. The winners receive the most prestigious awards offered by the NRDs.
The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts partners with several other agencies, along with the 23 Natural Resources Districts at Husker Harvest Days. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Nebraska Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, USDA Nebraska Farm Service Agency, and U.S. Forest Service - Bessey Nursery will all be ready to help Husker Harvest Days visitors with water and soil conservation programs and education throughout the three-day event.
USDA Invests $26.6 Million in Projects to Spur Agricultural Innovation and Protect Natural Resources in Rural and Urban Communities
U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $26.6 million in 45 new, national projects to spur agricultural innovation and natural resource conservation in rural and urban communities. This funding is available through USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Nearly 25 percent of the funding will be used for projects to ensure historically underserved, military veteran, and new and beginning farmers, ranchers and forest landowners have equal access to USDA programs and services.
Nebraska’s Center for Rural Affairs received a $162,000 Conservation Innovation Grant to increase soil health literacy among Nebraska farmers by teaching women, veteran, and beginning farmers about conservation practices.
Nebraska State Conservationist Craig Derickson said, “The Center is a valued partner that helps us reach new conservation program participants. This grant will help the Center for Rural Affairs ensure these new participants are educated in the benefits of implementing conservation practices, and how to access state and federal conservation programs. The Center will also provide feedback from these new program participants on ways conservation programs can be improved.”
CIG, administered by NRCS, is funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Nationwide, NRCS received 170 applications. The more than $100 million requested for proposed projects far exceeded the initial funding level. USDA selected 45 national projects to fund at $26.6 million, surpassing its initial $20 million goal to add more deserving projects.
The goal of CIGs is stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG enables USDA to work with other public and private entities to accelerate transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the nation’s most pressing natural resource concerns.
CIG has an impressive track record of fostering innovative conservation tools and strategies. With funding from this announcement, USDA has invested $173 million to fund 414 national CIG projects since 2009.
Five Nebraska Schools Receive School Greenhouse to Cafeteria Grants
The Center for Rural Affairs recently announced awards to five schools in Nebraska who will participate in the School Greenhouse to Cafeteria facilitation program for the 2016 to 2017 school year.
The selected schools will receive one-on-one support from the Center for Rural Affairs to cultivate school greenhouses and gardens that will provide food for the school cafeteria, educate students about where food comes from, and teach entrepreneurial skills. This project builds a much needed and desired network of school greenhouses and gardens and associated resources to promote school garden expansion, potentially having far reaching impacts across the state. Each of these awarded schools will receive start-up grant funds for supplementing or kickstarting the school garden project.
Participating Schools include:
Auburn Public School, Auburn, NE
Garden County Schools, Oshkosh, NE
Blue Hill Community Schools, Blue Hill, NE
Southern Valley Schools, Oxford, NE
Sutton Public Schools, Sutton, NE
“Building farm to school teams and setting goals helps to make a farm to school program more sustainable, in particular by providing ag educators who may not have extensive fruit and vegetable production expertise with one-on-one technical assistance,” added Sarah Smith, Farm to School Lead with the Center for Rural Affairs. “This is also an opportunity to provide engage students in hands-on learning, teach healthy habits, build an edible education program, and have a large impact on your community as the program grows.”
According to Smith, each school district awarded funding has at least one administrator, food service manager, and ag educator or greenhouse manager participating in the School Greenhouse to Cafeteria efforts. And individuals filling all three roles in each school enthusiastically agreed to work on the program with with Center for Rural Affairs staff.
“This level of participation and engagement by educators and food service professionals has been inspiring, and is vital to the success of this effort,” Smith added. “We’re excited to help bring a nutritious, educational and entrepreneurial experience to as many students as possible. And we’re proud of the partnership and collaborative spirit of these school districts as well as the Blooming Prairie Foundation, whose support made all this possible.
NASS - Iowa Cash Rent Summary
Non-irrigated cropland rent averaged $235.00 per acre in Iowa during 2016, down $15.00 from 2015 according to the latest report released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Ida County had the highest average cash rent for non-irrigated cropland, at $281 per acre, followed by Grundy County, at $277 per acre. Chickasaw, Sioux, and Bremer round out the top 5. Lucas County, at $150 per acre, had the lowest average cash rent for non-irrigated cropland.
Pasture rented for cash averaged $52.00 per acre, up $2.00 from the previous year. County-level cash rent estimates were not published for 2015. The highest pasture cash rents were in West Central Iowa, led by Audubon County, at $76 per acre. Harrison, Woodbury, and Monona also had pasture cash rental rates above $70 per acre.
Iowa Farm Bureau voting delegates set state and national policy direction for 2017
The voting delegates of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state’s largest general farm organization, met in West Des Moines this week to develop policy direction on issues important to farmers and all Iowans. The voting delegate body again is making conservation a top priority to secure funding for soil conservation and water quality improvement.
Members also approved policy to help with the prevention and management of devastating animal disease outbreaks.
“The culmination of the annual, two-day Summer Policy Conference provides the IFBF with clear policy direction for the upcoming year,” said IFBF President Craig Hill. “IFBF’s grassroots policy development is a year-round process with engagement and input from members in each county of the state. This process helps to ensure a strong, unified voice on behalf of our membership.”
Soil conservation and water quality improvement remains a primary focus for the organization looking ahead to the 2017 legislative session. The delegates reaffirmed their support for prioritizing long-term, dedicated funding within the state budget. The delegates also concluded that as any new future funding options are being considered by the Iowa legislature, the distribution of funds must focus on implementing the Water Quality Initiative (WQI), and the funds should not be used to fund land acquisition and other expenditures that have little impact on water quality.
“It is really important that we lead on this issue and bring all Iowans with us,” said Fayette County voting delegate Chad Ingels.
In light of recent devastating animal disease outbreaks, including avian influenza, which caused a $1.2 billion economic hit and the loss of more than 31 million birds, animal disease management was discussed. The discussion resulted in policy to support identifying additional tools that farmers can utilize for business interruption as a result of Class A animal diseases. The delegates also insisted on the need to keep information related to the premise identification confidential and only used for animal disease outbreak.
The delegates also debated policies that impact property taxes. The discussion reaffirmed Iowa Farm Bureau’s philosophy that property taxes should be utilized for property services, and that property taxpayer protections for landowners should continue.
The IFBF Summer Policy Conference is the culmination of a year-round grassroots policy process in each of the 100 county Farm Bureaus across the state. National policies are subject to debate during American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) policy discussions, which will take place at the AFBF Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, January 6-11, 2017.
Cover Crop Webinar to Focus on Soil Health, Nitrate Retention
As fall cover crops go into the ground, many farmers have questions about how to best manage cover crops and achieve benefits such as soil health and nitrate retention. Mike Castellano will share his research on how cover crops can best be managed to maximize benefits during the Iowa Learning Farms’ monthly webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 21. The webinar is free, and all that is needed to participate is a computer with internet access.
“Future gains in crop production and environmental quality will require a systems approach that integrates many disciplines,” Castellano said. To achieve this vision, Castellano uses expertise in soil science and ecosystem ecology to work with a broad range of scientists, managers and policy makers. Castellano is the William T. Frankenberger Professor of Soil Science and associate professor in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University. He has a PhD in soil science from Pennsylvania State University.
The Iowa Learning Farms webinars are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. To log in, go to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/ at 1 p.m. on the afternoon of the webinar and log in through the “guest” option. Webinar participants can ask questions during the presentation using the chat function. The webinar will be recorded and archived on the Iowa Learning Farms website for viewing at any time at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.
NCGA's Soil Health Partnership receives $1 million Conservation Innovation Grant
A $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help spur a groundbreaking effort to optimize farm enterprise profitability, reduce Greenhouse Gases and improve agronomic productivity. The National Corn Growers Association received the grant to develop a system for scalable carbon accounting in agriculture, to be developed through its Soil Health Partnership initiative.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this year's Conservation Innovation Grant recipients on September 8. The competitive grant "stimulates the development and adoption of innovative approaches and technologies for conservation on agricultural land."
Under the NCGA project, the SHP and other project partners will develop a "greenhouse gas insetting framework." The framework will serve as a model for corporations and other entities to drive conservation adoption and achieve GHG reductions, as well as economic profitability benefits.
Carbon insetting is similar to "offsetting," in which a third party is paid to plant trees or implement other practices to "offset" carbon emissions. Carbon insetting is common in the coffee and chocolate industries and is used by companies to incentivize grower adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture practices in their supply chains.
The SHP, in conjunction with the project partners (AgSolver, Applied GeoSolutions, DNDC-ART, Monsanto, Climate Smart Group and CropGrowers) plan to develop a framework that draws on existing offset standards, emerging low-cost verification technologies (remotely sensed data), and proven precision business planning methods to drive conservation adoption and achieve GHG reductions.
Farmers enrolled in the SHP program will be invited to participate in the carbon reduction incentive system, in which growers are paid by corporations to sequester carbon in their soil.
"This is a great opportunity for farmers to continue being a part of the solution to carbon sequestration, and gain financial incentives for carbon-smart ag practices like growing cover crops and using minimum tillage," said Nick Goeser, NCGA director of soil health and sustainability and director of the SHP. "We hope to provide businesses with a quantifiable method to reduce their carbon footprint by increasing these on-the-ground conservation practices."
Improved soil health on the farm is one of the best opportunities to reduce GHGs. The SHP is a recognized leader in field-scale testing and measuring of management practices that improve soil health.
Entities receiving the CIG grants are given up to three years to complete their projects.
JAPAN, VIETNAM URGE PASSAGE OF TPP
(from NPPC newsletter)
Officials from Japan and Vietnam this week stressed the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and urged the other 10 TPP countries to approve the trade deal. The TPP, negotiations on which were initiated in late 2008 and concluded last October, is a regional trade agreement that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, which account for nearly 40 percent of global GDP. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged his parliament to take up the trade deal. “Japan needs to urgently ratify the TPP agreement in the parliament. I plan to make every effort to achieve that because its prompt ratification by the Japanese parliament will be the first step towards ratification,” Abe said at the recent G20 summit. Vietnam, which is pushing a more robust economic relationship with the United States, also is ready to pass the agreement. “At this moment, we’re perhaps waiting for only one thing; that is the ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We expect and believe President Barack Obama and the Congress will soon ratify this important agreement,” Vietnamese Minister for Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said at a Washington, D.C., event hosted this week by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. NPPC, which strongly supports the TPP, is urging congressional lawmakers to bring up and approve the agreement this year. The organization next week is holding its biannual legislative fly-in and will have about 140 pork producers in Washington, D.C., lobbying Congress on the TPP. The trade agreement would significantly increase U.S. pork exports to the Asia-Pacific region, creating more than 10,000 pork industry jobs.
TTIP NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE; FRANCE AND GERMANY WEIGH IN
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations between the United States and the European Union hit rocky waters this week when French and German officials snubbed any chance of passage before President Obama leaves office. The trade deal is contentious on both sides of the Atlantic. France is expected to send a letter to the EU requesting a cessation of the TTIP talks, while German economic minister Sigmar Gabriel said the TTIP negations have “de facto failed” because the EU cannot meet U.S. demands. (Those “demands” include eliminating tariffs on U.S. exports to the EU, the hallmark of any free trade agreement.) TTIP would ease trade restrictions between the United States and the EU; however, factors ranging from globalization, weak leadership, refugees and the upcoming U.S. elections have made it difficult for the sides to reach a compromise. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will travel to Brussels, Belgium, next week to meet with EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom to assess the status of negotiations on TTIP, USTR said Thursday. On a Wisconsin radio show this week, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said: “The European Union is going around the world trying to get better deals to lock us out of their market, but they’re going into, say, … Canada. And that could have a devastating effect to our exporters like our agriculture sector.” EU tariff and non-tariff barriers have resulted in U.S. pork exports amounting to less than 0.05 percent of EU pork consumption, even though the bloc is the second largest pork consuming market in the world. NPPC’s support for a final TTIP deal is contingent on the EU eliminating all tariff and non-tariff barriers on U.S. pork, providing full access to its market.
Webinar to focus on How to cultivate lasting legacy through youth agricultural safety
American farm owners are faced with the reality that they may be the last of their line to till the soil, milk the cows or tend the vines. Successful transition of the operation to the next generation is a process that often takes years. It also takes years of safeguarding those who are most likely to step into farm leadership roles -- our children.
A webinar exploring childhood farm hazards is scheduled for noon to 1 p.m., (CDT), Wednesday, September, 21. Presenters will be Bryan Weichelt, Ph.D., Project Scientist, National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, and Mark Mews, Vice-president, Financial Strategies of Wisconsin.
AgriSafe Network is hosting the webinar as part of its National Farm Safety and Health Week series. Register for the free webinar at https://agn.memberclicks.net/live-webinars.
At the end of the webinar attendees will be able to:
1. Identify the benefits and challenges of youth on farms.
2. Explore available resources and tools needed keep youth safe on farms.
3. Understand key financial planning steps of transitioning a farm operation.
4. Understand the potential to establish and leave a positive and lasting legacy.
U.S. Ag Centers’ YouTube channel ready for National Farm Safety Week, Sept. 18-24
Short and to the point, the safety videos on the U.S. Agricultural Centers’ YouTube channel are intended to save lives and prevent injury.
The 10 U.S. Agricultural Centers, funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), are promoting the channel as their unique contribution to National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 18-26. This year’s theme: “Farm Safety: A Legacy to be Proud of.”
The YouTube channel hosts more than 90 safety and health videos related to agriculture, forestry and fishing. The videos can be used by Extension agents, agricultural science teachers, producers, first responders, families and others interested in agricultural safety best-practices.
The videos have undergone formal review and only the best are put on YouTube. Popular topics include grain bins, dairy, tractor rollovers, needlestick injuries and heat illness. The most recently-added videos feature dairy stockmanship, in English and Spanish.
Agriculture is among our most hazardous industries, with a work-related death rate of 22.2 deaths per 100,000 workers annually, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, far ahead of transportation (13.1/100,000) and mining (12.3/100,000).
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