Wednesday September 7 Ag News

NEBRASKA EXTENSION TO HOLD CATTLE PRODUCTION RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS

Specialists and educators from Nebraska Extension will present vital information concerning cattle management strategies during cattle production risk management workshops this fall at five locations across the state. Cattle producers will learn how to reduce risk exposure associated with cattle marketing and forage production to achieve a profitable outcome in uncertain times.

Topics covered during the workshop will include determining your cost production, marketing tools to protect against price declines and programs for protecting against weather related forage losses. Specific marketing tools covered during the workshop include futures and options as well as Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance. Programs covered to guard against weather related losses for grazing land and annual forages include Pasture, Range, and Forage (PRF), and Annual Forage Insurance. Additionally, FSA disaster programs reviewed as part of the workshop will include the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and Livestock Indemnity Program.

There is no cost to attend the workshop. A complementary meal will be provided. Registration is required prior to the day of the workshop to ensure meal count. For more information, or to register call the number listed with each location below.

Workshop dates, locations and contacts:
SEPT. 20, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1071 Co. Rd. G, Mead. Contact Steve Tonn at 402-426-9455.

OCT. 3, 5 – 9 p.m.: Peppermill Restaurant, 502 East Hwy 20, Valentine. Contact Jay Jenkins at 402-376-1850.

OCT.4, 5 – 9 p.m.: Prairie Winds Community Center, 428 N. Main St., Bridgeport. Contact Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122.

NOV. 1, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Nebraska Extension in Holt County Office, 128 N. 6th St., Suite 100, O’Neill. Contact Gary Stauffer at 402-336-2760.

NOV. 2, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Nebraska Extension in Madison County Office, 601 E. Benjamin Ave., Suite 105, Norfolk. Contact Madison County Extension at 402-370-4040.



Grow: An Event for Young Women in Ag by FarmHer

Grow by FarmHer will inspire and empower young women in agriculture to take an active role in leading an industry that has provided them with valuable learning and growth opportunities.

Who: 180 young women, ages 15-23, living in Nebraska
When: Wednesday November 9th, 2016 | 7:30a-4:00p
Where: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Event Fee: Tickets Complimentary of Frontier Cooperative

Benefits for Student Attendees
    Meet and network with professionals who are involved in successful agribusinesses
    Get a limited edition FarmHer Grow T-shirt and a professional head shot photo for your use
    Introduction to the free FarmHer online community and connect with women across the country
    Listen to inspiring and experienced speakers and gain tips and tricks for your future

Event Agenda
7:30 - Registration
8:00 - 8:30 - Breakfast and Welcome to GROW 8:30 - 8:40 - Welcome from State Leader
8:45 - 9:45 - Keynote Address- Amberley Snyder
9:45 -10:00 - Break
10:10 - 11:00 - Breakout Session #1
1) How to Share Your Story
2) STEM
3) Do What You Love- Farmer Panel
4) Creating a Legacy- Family Planning
5) The Importance of Personal Branding
11:00 - 11:50 - Women Leading the Way Luncheon
12:30 - 1:20 - Breakout Session#2
1:30 - 2:20 - Breakout Session #3
2:20 - 3:00 - Remarks from FarmHer Founder- Marji Guyler-Alaniz
3:10 - 3:30 - Closing Remarks and Scholarship Presentation

Registration opens September 1 on www.farmher.com.  Questions? Email: grow@farmher.com or phone: (515) 918-9540. 



NDA CONGRATULATES WINNERS OF ELITE SHOWMAN COMPETITION

“Grand Champions. Made in Nebraska.” This year’s Nebraska State Fair theme shined a spotlight on all those involved in agricultural and livestock events. The grandest champions of all took center stage at the State Fair over Labor Day weekend to compete in the annual Nebraska Elite Showman Competition. This was the 11th year for the event which is coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the Nebraska Rural Radio Association in cooperation with the Nebraska State Fair.

“The Nebraska Elite Showman Competition brings in the best of the best, 4-H and FFA showman from all over Nebraska,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “These young men and women give it their all at the county level for a chance to compete at the State Fair. I’m pleased that the Department and our partners are able to coordinate and sponsor events like these to recognize the hard work, dedication and passion that these young people have for agriculture.”

To compete, Elite Showman must be between 14-18 years of age and enrolled in a 4-H or FFA livestock project at the county level. Counties are able to select only one 4-H or FFA member to compete at the State Fair. Agricultural organizations contribute to the contest in order for the winners to receive monetary prizes along with their statewide recognition.

“Programs such as the Elite Showman Competition encourage youth in our state to stay active in agriculture,” Ibach said. “That’s important, especially in Nebraska where one in every four jobs is related to agriculture.”

In this year’s Nebraska Elite Showman Competition, 36 counties were represented.

Competitors are scored on beef, swine and sheep showmanship, as well as interview skills and knowledge via a written test. Along with first, second and third place overall winners, winners are selected for each division. The top overall Elite Showman receives $2,000, the second place finisher receives $1,000 and the third place overall winner receives $500.  Division winners are awarded $300 each. All other competitors receive a $50 prize.

The 2016 overall winners were:
            1st place overall: Hannah Williams from Buffalo County
            2nd place overall: Malina Lindstrom from Phelps County
            3rd place overall: Jaclyn Heinrich from Lancaster County

The 2016 Elite Showman division winners were:
            Swine Showmanship: Savannah Gerlach from Gage County
            Sheep Showmanship: Jaclyn Heinrich from Lancaster County
            Beef Showmanship:  Malina Lindstrom from Phelps County
            Written Test: Fina Choat from Boone County
            Interview:  Hannah Williams from Buffalo County

Other participants included: Wynn Cannon (Polk); Garret Dearmont (Sherman); Chase DeVries (Adams); Riley Eisenhauer (Frontier); Taylor Falkenstine (Franklin); Bryar Gerlach (Lincoln); Hannah Groth (Platte); Cody Hambleton (Nance); Katharyn Hartley (Wheeler); Kathlyn Hauxwell (Red Willow); Taylor Heim (Cass); Taralee Hudson (Thayer); Grace Jacobson (Fillmore); Kylie Kempf (Wayne); Stephanie Kersten (Sarpy); Felicia Knoerzer (Gosper); Dakota Lovett (Webster); Cindy Mansfield (Dawes); Kendra Marxsen (Colfax); Peyton McCord (Howard); Brent Miller (Burt); Tigh Renken (Dawson); Hannah Robertson (Perkins); Payton Schaneman (Saline); Kelsay Schlichtman (Jefferson); Tristan Snover (Seward); Brinn Space (Kearney); Jency Starr (McPherson); Sydnee Strain (Scotts Bluff); Emily Tenski (Greeley); and Shelby Wachter (Washington).



NDA ANNOUNCES WINNERS IN POULTRY CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST

When the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) invited 4-H and FFA members to participate in a poultry calendar photo contest, youth from around the state answered the call. The resulting 2017 calendar highlights Nebraska’s diverse poultry population and celebrates the talents of youth with photography skills and a passion for the poultry industry. The calendar also includes information on biosecurity measures owners can take to keep their flocks healthy and prevent the spread of diseases like avian influenza.

“Poultry are an important part of Nebraska’s agriculture economy,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “The calendar is a great way to showcase the talents of our 4-H and FFA youth.”

A total of 26 participants representing 15 counties across Nebraska entered this year’s poultry calendar photo contest. The following winners were announced at the Nebraska State Fair during Labor Day weekend: Alyssa Boese, Dixon; Linara Carlson, Eagle; Angie Davis, Bingham; Colton Fritz, Plainview; Korvin Fritz, Plainview; Abby Gorecki, Ravenna; Taylor Harms, Dodge; Kimberly Hines, O’Neill; Christopher Mercer, Gibbon; Samantha Mercer, Gibbon; Olivia Michael, Bassett; Ryan Nielsen, Broken Bow; Braidy Parrill, Louisville; Samuel Roth, Omaha; Caitlin Roundy, Maxwell; and Onyx Smith, Kearney.

NDA staff members judged the entries, looking at originality and composition.

Printing of the 2017 NDA calendar was funded through a grant from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Service, Western Region. Calendars can be requested at local University of Nebraska Extension offices.



Governor proclaims October Farm to School Month in Nebraska

Today, Gov. Pete Ricketts proclaimed October as Nebraska Farm to School Month in recognition of  the growing importance and role of Farm to School programs in the state as a means to improve child nutrition, support local farming and ranching economies, spur job growth and educate children about agriculture and the origins of their food.

“We applaud Gov. Ricketts for proclaiming October Farm to School Month in Nebraska,” said Sarah Smith with the Center for Rural Affairs. “His support, and the support from state agencies like the Nebraska Department of Education, is vital to ensuring the continued success of Farm to School programs across Nebraska.”

According to Smith, Farm to School programs enrich the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and preschools. Students gain access to healthy, local foods as well as educational opportunities such as school gardens, cooking lessons and farm field trips. Farm to School empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy and contributing to vibrant communities.

“Farm to School programs in Nebraska are a win-win. They provide our kids with fresh, healthy food and benefit our Nebraska farmers and small towns as well,” added Smith. “These programs are widely recognized as boosting school lunch participation and the local economy, as well as assisting schools in meeting school lunch nutrition requirements.”

The Center for Rural Affairs, a long-time leader for Farm to School activities in Nebraska and across the country, initiated the request for the October Farm to School Month proclamation and will be joined by stakeholder representatives including school administrators, school food service representatives, farmers and farm organizations, and the Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services.

The Center will host myriad Farm to School activities throughout October, including the Midwest Great Apple Crunch. Participants of all ages are invited to join others around the Midwest in eating apples at exactly noon on Thursday, Oct. 13, from the comfort of their own homes and schools. Find out more and sign up to participate at http://www.cfra.org/f2smonth. Participants can post their Crunch or follow along on social media using #F2SMonth, #F2SMidwest or #MidwestAppleCrunch.



Consumers of Iowa soybeans are indeed ‘real pigs,’ analysis finds

When it comes to providing a market for Iowa-grown soybeans, the primary customers are indeed “real pigs.”

An analysis of how Iowa’s soybean production is utilized, reported to directors of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) today in Ankeny, finds that nearly one of every four rows is fed to the more than 38 million pigs raised annually in Iowa. This equates to roughly 116 million bushels of the state’s soybean crop.

Put another way, every pig raised in Iowa consumes three bushels of soybeans.

The utilization study, conducted by Mark Imerman of Regional Strategic, Ltd., is based on a five-year rolling average of 462 million bushels of soybeans produced annually in Iowa.

As the leading producer of soybeans nationally, Iowa accounts for 14 percent of total U.S. output and 4.6 percent of global production. What’s unique and critically important about these statistics, Imerman said, is that Iowa is also a significant consumer of this production due to its prominence in raising livestock and poultry.

Local livestock and industrial production magnifies the intensity of the Iowa soybean production industry, Imerman said.

“If you think of soybean production as an industry foundation, processing 82 percent of soybeans in-state generates a solid second level to the industry. Feeding 38 percent of that processed meal to Iowa livestock adds a third level. And livestock packing and further processing adds levels four and five.

“Assuming that between 30-50 percent of the production machinery is built in Iowa, there’s a subfloor below the whole structure — generating level six,” he added. “Soybean production integrates a substantial portion of six industrial sectors in Iowa. That adds intensity to the industry’s size.”

The state’s role in growing feed for livestock, said ISA President Wayne Fredericks of Osage, is one reason why the association backed Prestage Foods’ recent efforts to locate a new pork processing facility in Iowa. The Wright County Board of Supervisors last month approved the new business to be located near Eagle Grove that will employ nearly 1,000 people once operational.

“Producing soybeans and livestock go hand in hand,” Fredericks said. “Synergies between the two will continue to positively impact the competitiveness of all farmers and give a boost to our rural communities.”

Additional findings from the analysis include:

    Nearly 82 percent of Iowa’s soybean crop — or 376.7 million bushels — is processed (or crushed) into meal (8.98 million tons) and oil (4.3 billion pounds). Another 15 percent is transported to other locations, both domestic and international. Roughly 3 percent is allocated to on-farm usage and inventory changes.

    Pig production in Iowa creates a market for 2.7 million tons of soybean meal per year, or 31 percent of all soybeans processed. Poultry — including laying hens, broilers and turkeys – accounts for 576,000 tons per year, or 6.4 percent. Domestic shipments of soybean meal total 3 million tons per year (34 percent) while 2.5 million tons (28 percent) is destined for international markets.

    Roughly 36 percent of Iowa’s soybean crop — a combination of whole soybeans, meal and oil – is exported annually.

    China remains by far the largest importer of soybeans grown in Iowa. Of all soybeans exported, nearly 75 percent are destined for the country of nearly 1.37 billion people. Japan and Mexico place a distant second and third at 3.8 and 2.9 percent respectively.

    More than 858 million pounds of soybean oil (75 million bushels) is used annually for biodiesel production. The great majority of soybean oil (roughly 3 of every 4 pounds) is distributed to other domestic production sources.

Soybean production information used in the analysis was allocated to export, processing, and final processed product utilization by blending data from more than a dozen sources including Informa Economics, Iowa State University Department of Economics, National Pork Producers Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Foreign Agricultural Service. The full report can be accessed at iasoybeans.com by clicking on “About ISA,” then “Soybean Facts.”

The USDA estimates Iowa soybean production this year to total 550 million bushels, averaging 57 bushels per acre. That’s roughly unchanged from a year ago. Nationally, soybean production is estimated at slightly more than 4 billion bushels, an increase from 3.93 billion last year. Per-acre yields are pegged at 48.9 bushels per acre.



Atrazine an Important Tool for Conservation Farming

In a case of supreme irony, a recent report from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is highly critical of atrazine, an herbicide that helps reduce soil erosion and runoff, keeping our soil healthy and our water clean.

EPA released its draft ecological risk assessment for atrazine in June 2016, as part of the re-registration process for the herbicide. If the recommendation in the assessment stands, it will effectively ban atrazine, which plays an important role in conservation cropping systems that reduce soil erosion.

Tillage, or turning up the soil, is an effective means to control weeds, but it disturbs the top layer of the soil, leading to a loss of as much as 90 percent of the crop residue from the top soil. The practice damages soil and leaves it exposed to erosion, particularly by wind and water. Soil erosion leads to more runoff of fertilizer and pesticides.

The introduction of atrazine and other herbicides significantly changed conservation tillage practices, said Bob Hartzler, professor of weed science at Iowa State University.

"Atrazine was one of the first products used on a large acreage because it is broad spectrum and has a wide margin of safety. Prior to that tillage was the primary means of weed control. Atrazine makes it possible to reduce trips across the field," said Hartzler. "The extra two or three trips farmers were making across the field to control weeds loosened the soil and made it prone to erosion."

Farmers have made significant progress adopting reduced tillage and no-till methods of growing a crop, and atrazine plays a key role in making these more sustainable practices possible, Hartzler said.

"Atrazine isn't the only tool used today, but it has a unique chemistry that makes other chemicals work better. That synergy is documented, and the benefit is it allows farmers to manage weeds effectively, especially problem weeds, and it allows reduced use of these other chemicals," Hartzler said.

Atrazine is one of the best tools on the market today for combatting resistant weeds that waste water and nutrients. It has also been shown to improve wildlife habitats.

NCGA President Chip Bowling called on EPA to consider the whole picture when evaluating the environmental impacts of atrazine and other crop inputs.

"The EPA's mission is to protect the environment. Atrazine plays an important role in sustainable agriculture, and banning it will hurt the environment, not help it," said Bowling.

"Farmers care deeply about keeping America's land and water safe for our families, our neighbors and our communities. The safe, responsible use of herbicides such as atrazine are an important part of modern, sustainable farming. Farmers need access to tools that ensure a safe, abundant, and affordable supply of food and fuel for consumers around the world," said Bowling.

NCGA urges farmers to voice their concerns about EPA's atrazine proposal at www.ncga.com/atz. The deadline to submit comments is October 4.



EIA Projects Ethanol Consumption

The Energy Information Administration expects ethanol consumption in the United States to average 930,000 barrels per day this year and in 2017, 20,000 bpd higher than in 2015, with the forecasted consumption rate resulting in a 10% ethanol share in the gasoline pool for 2016 and 2017.

The 10% rate represents the blend wall, the maximum concentration of ethanol allowed in all vehicles on U.S. roadways. Newer vehicles can use an ethanol concentration up to 15%, and flex-fuel vehicles as high as an 85% ethanol concentration.

EIA also projects in its Short-term Energy Outlook released this afternoon that ethanol production would average 990,000 bpd this year and in 2017, up 20,000 bpd from 2015.

The Beltway analysts note their forecast is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's finalized rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard reached Nov. 30, 2015 that set RFS volumes for 2014 and 2016 and its May 18 proposed volumes for 2017 that included finalized biomass-based diesel volumes for next year.

Biodiesel production is expected to average 99,000 bpd this year, up 17,000 bpd from 2015, and to increase to 102,000 bpd in 2017. EIA also sees higher foreign supply in U.S. markets, with net imports of biomass-based diesel expected to increase to 43,000 bpd this year from 29,000 bpd in 2015 and to edge higher by 4,000 bpd to 47,000 bpd in 2017.

"EIA assumes about 10,000 b/d of domestic renewable diesel consumption will be used to help meet the biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuel RFS targets in 2016 and 2017," according to the outlook.



NFU Supports Bipartisan Effort to Encourage Participation in USDA Conservation Programs

Recognizing the importance of fostering conservation and sustainability practices, National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased by yesterday’s introduction of bipartisan legislation that would ease burdensome requirements for landowners participating in voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs.

The “Improving Access to Farm Conservation Act of 2016” (S.3288) was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.).

“Improving conservation practices in agriculture production benefits family farmers, ranchers and rural communities. USDA conservation programs encourage producers to implement sustainable practices in their operations, and we applaud any effort to incentivize taking part in these programs by removing restrictive regulatory barriers that might discourage participation,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

Similar to the bill’s counterpart introduced earlier this year in the U.S. House of Representatives, S.3288 would exempt recipients of USDA conservation assistance from needing to register with the System for Award Management (SAM) and obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number – a requirement in order to receive financial assistance from federal agencies.

The legislation will help “remove government red tape that is standing between small and beginning farmers and the conservation programs that will help protect their farmland and the environments within their communities,” Sen. Klobuchar explained in a statement yesterday.

“NFU looks forward to working with both the Senate and House to move this legislation forward,” Johnson concluded.



 NMPF Working on Model Dairy Export Certificate to Enhance Trade Predictability

A continual challenge for U.S. dairy exporters in recent years has been shifting sets of import requirements on dairy certificates that accompany U.S. products shipped around the world. Numerous countries require government assurances and documentation of the safety of the dairy foods they are importing. As these requirements have proliferated in recent years, though, some countries’ requirements have ground trade to a halt or needlessly put export access at risk through overly burdensome requirements.

To address this persistent concern, NMPF & USDEC are spearheading an effort to build support in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region for a model dairy certificate. The project is aimed at creating a viable go-to dairy documentation template for countries considering putting in place new certification requirements for dairy imports. NMPF believes that encouraging countries to agree on a model certificate could help to alleviate the risk of sudden shifts in import requirements in key U.S. export destinations.

Jaime Castaneda, NMPF SVP for Strategic Initiatives & Trade Policy, participated in recent APEC committee meetings last month to lay out the concept to APEC governments and begin to build support for it, as well as to help foster a wider discussion about the importance of trade-friendly measures. As part of that work, Castaneda moderated a panel on the importance stakeholder consultations in government rulemaking and participated as a speaker in a panel focused on finding trade-facilitating solutions to a variety of supply chain constraints.

Under the APEC procedures, the U.S. dairy industry will work closely with the United States and other governments to establish a technical group that would review the current Codex certificate guidance and other certificates, including the U.S. AMS certificate, to discuss options for establishing a more formal regional certificate. The project is anticipated to enter into a more technical stage of discussions early next year at meetings in Vietnam.



 CWT-assisted member export sales contracts total 6.4 million pounds in August

Cooperatives Working Together member cooperatives captured 36 contracts to sell 5.392 million pounds of American-type cheese, 440,925 pounds of butter, and 573,202 pounds of whole milk powder in August. These products will go to customers in Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, North Africa, and Oceania. The product will be shipped from August 2016 through February 2017.

Through August of 2016, CWT assisted members in getting exports sales contracts totaling 34.778 million pounds of American-type cheese, 8.814 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 21.301 million pounds of whole milk powder going to customers in 21 countries on 5 continents. The sales are the equivalent of 674.815 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.

Assisting CWT member cooperatives gain and maintain world market share through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term expands the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



Many Voices Bring Better Solutions at 6th Annual NIAA Antibiotics Symposium

“We all have the same end goal, to combat antibiotic resistant bacteria,” says Dr. Eric Moore, Norbrook, Inc., co-chair of the 6th annual Antibiotic Symposium hosted by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture. “The Symposium is a conduit for the industry and others to find collaborative solutions through continued dialogue about antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance.” The Symposium takes place November 1-3, just two months before the new VFD regulations go into effect.

“All of us who are committed to maintaining a safe and affordable food supply are interested and concerned about this issue and we all continue to learn,” agrees co-chair Dr. Steve Solomon, Global Public Health Consulting. “The Symposium continues to evolve every year. This is a rapidly developing topic and the more we expand perspectives, the more we are confronted by its complexity. From better information, we get better solutions.”  Solomon says there is progress being made collaboratively and an open and candid dialog from many different perspectives is what makes the NIAA Symposium unique.

“The guiding principle behind NIAA’s approach is that this Symposium is designed to be a non-judgmental forum,” says Solomon.  “There is respect for each point of view and an understanding that all concerns and objectives need to be heard in order to make progress. The idea is for attendees to come, listen, and see where we can find common ground.” Also, understanding how our perspectives differ is as important as recognizing where we all agree.   Participants and presenters will be from across animal agriculture, public health and governmental regulatory agencies.

This year’s theme, Antibiotic Use – Working Together for Better Solutions emphasizes exchanging information, and giving the broadest spectrum of stakeholders a place to be heard and participate in the on-going discussion. In addition to industry leaders, retailers, processors, and producers, and multiple regulatory agencies, including FDA, USDA, and CDC will be attending the Symposium and participating in discussions.  Both participants and agency reps will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and to listen to a diversity of voices giving valuable feedback.

As scientists, media and consumers have expressed increasing concern about antimicrobial resistance, solutions including voluntary withdrawal of growth promotion-uses of antibiotics and the veterinary feed directive have been implemented, surveys and educational programs have been conducted and various metrics have been proposed.

"There are more issues than solutions,” says Moore. Both Moore and Solomon say there is no simple solution, though some existing approaches are encouraging.  “Each approach has some merit, but none of them are the whole answer,” says Solomon. “This is not something that can be solved overnight.”

Another piece of the puzzle is the on-going discussion on metrics, or measurements, which may be a tool for assessing how to use antibiotics appropriately. “In our continued work on the subject, trying to understand metrics just shows how complex the issue is,” says Moore. “Some progress has been made with metrics, but there is a lot more we need to understand as we proceed. Just as there are not perfect solutions, there are no ideal metrics.” The Symposium’s focus will be on stewardship, collaboration among disciplines and sectors and reflecting on discussions and lessons from previous roundtables and symposia. Solomon says presenters will concentrate on “what we know and what we still need to learn, how to act on what we know and what type of additional information we’ll all need to help us do a better job of addressing this problem.”

The key to this year’s Symposium is to bring together as many voices and perspectives as possible. “The more stakeholders at the table finding common ground, the more diverse voices speaking together saying the same things, the more powerful the message will be to decision makers,” says Moore. Those decision makers will also be sitting at the same table.

The 2016 NIAA Antibiotics Symposium will be held in Herndon, Virginia. NIAA’s website, www.animalagriculture.org, has information on presenters, agenda and registration.



Smaller-Than-Expected Brazil Corn Crop Puts Focus on US

Data from Brazil's crop agency Conab Tuesday confirmed the country's 2015-16 corn harvest will be the smallest in five years at 66.9 million metric tons, a 25% decrease year-on-year. The estimate was 1.6 mmt smaller than Conab's previous monthly forecast, making it even clearer that the U.S. harvest will be the key driver for global supply and demand. Analysts at U.K. research institute AHDB note that estimates for the impending U.S. harvest vary widely from about 370 mmt tons to nearly 390 mmt. "U.S. harvest progress and yields will be a key watch point over the coming weeks."



Hormel Names James Snee CEO

Hormel Foods Corp., maker of Spam canned pork and Skippy peanut butter, named James Snee its next chief executive as Jeffrey Ettinger retires and retains his role as the company's chairman.

Mr. Snee's elevation, effective Oct. 31, has been widely expected since Hormel promoted him to president and chief operating officer a year ago. He is expected to continue pushing the Austin, Minn., company to diversify into more protein-focused grocery products.



Vilsack on the Significant Decrease in Household Food Insecurity in the United States

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today issued the following statement on the release of the USDA Economic Research Service analysis, Household Food Security in the United States in 2015, which points to the lowest figures on record for food insecurity among children:

"Today's report marks a significant benchmark in our battle against hunger and food insecurity, underscoring in clear terms that our nation's families and children are better off today than they were when the President took office in 2009. In fact, today's report points to the lowest figures on record for food insecurity among children--a major achievement in our country's efforts to ensure every child has a safer, healthier future filled with unlimited opportunity. In 2015, household food insecurity fell 1.3 percentage points from 2014 and 2.2 points from 2011--the peak of the recession. At the same time, very low food security has dropped to 5 percent from a peak of 5.7 percent. Today's data mean that 7.9 million fewer people were struggling to provide adequate food for themselves or household members than when President Obama took office in the midst of the worst economic downtown since the Great Depression. The figures released today also remind us that our work to fight for access to healthy food for our nation's most vulnerable families and individuals is far from over. We must work to preserve the critical Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which prevented millions of Americans from falling into poverty or becoming food insecure during the most difficult stretches of the recession. And we must continue to encourage the public and private sectors alike to invest in our rebounding rural communities--the place that produces our food, fiber and fuel. As our economy continues to gain strength with millions of new jobs, falling unemployment and growing wages, today's report just underscores that America is greatest when everyone gets a fair shot."