Monday October 3 Ag News + Crop Progress

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 2, 2016, ideal fall harvest conditions occurred with minimal precipitation and near normal temperatures, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The dry conditions allowed grain moisture levels in standing crops to be drawn down and permitted easy access to fields. Soybean harvest was widespread. Winter wheat was being planted in southern counties. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 28 short, 61 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 26 short, 65 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 20 fair, 56 good, and 17 excellent. Corn mature was 85 percent, ahead of 77 both last year and the five-year average. Harvested was 15 percent, near 14 last year, but behind 21 average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 14 fair, 61 good, and 24 excellent. Sorghum mature was 89 percent, ahead of 72 last year, and well ahead of 66 average. Harvested was 23 percent, ahead of 5 last year and 8 average.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 18 fair, 60 good, and 18 excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 89 percent, near 86 last year and 85 average. Harvested was 27 percent, near 26 last year, and equal to average.

Winter wheat planted was 85 percent, ahead of 80 last year and 77 average. Emerged was 60 percent, ahead of 41 both last year and average.

Alfalfa fourth cutting was 79 percent, behind 92 last year and 85 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 9 poor, 26 fair, 54 good, and 8 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 10 short, 88 adequate, and 1 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Warmer and drier weather allowed Iowa farmers 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending October 2, 2016, according the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. While harvest was starting to gain momentum there were many reports of muddy conditions and standing water in some fields. Fieldwork activities for the week included cutting hay, harvesting corn and soybeans, and fall tillage.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus.

Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop was mature or beyond, 2 days ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of the five-year average. Ten percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, 1 day behind last year and 9 days behind average. Corn condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-six percent of soybeans were turning color or beyond, equal to both last year and the average. Eighty-five percent of soybeans were dropping leaves or beyond, 4 days ahead of average. Twenty-one percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 1 day behind last year’s pace. Soybean condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay is almost complete at 98 percent. Pasture condition rated 64 percent good to excellent.

Livestock were reported to be in good condition except for areas with flooded pastures.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn and soybean harvest progress continued to lag an average pace as of Oct. 1, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released Monday, but the gap is narrowing. Corn harvest is 3 percentage points behind the five-year average and soybean harvest is 1 percentage points behind. Last week those numbers were 4 and 3, respectively.

The nation's corn crop is 86% mature and 24% harvested, compared to 73% and 15% last week, 82% and 24% last year, and the averages of 79% and 27%. Corn condition worsened slightly to 73% good to excellent, compared to 74% last week.

Eighty-three percent of the nation's soybeans were dropping leaves and 26% was harvested, compared to 68% and 10% last week, 82% and 36% last year and averages of 79% and 27%.  Soybean condition improved slightly to 74% good to excellent compared to 73% last week.

Winter wheat planting is 43% complete, compared to 30% last week, 44% last year and a 45% average. Winter wheat is 20% emerged, compared to 8% last week, 16% last year and a 17% average.

Seventy-one percent of cotton had bolls opening, compared to 63% last week, 75% last year and a 74% average. Cotton harvested was reported at 16%, compared to 10% last week, 15% last year and a 14% average. Cotton condition improved slightly to 49% good to excellent compared to 48% last week.

Eighty-two percent of the rice crop was harvested, compared to 73% last week, 75% last year and a 69% average.

Sorghum was 96% coloring, compared to 94% last week, 98% last year and a 92% average. Sorghum harvest was 41% complete, compared to 34% last week, 41% last year and a 36% average. Sorghum condition held steady at 66% good to excellent.



In-Field Tips for Collecting Accurate Yield Monitor Data for Harvest 2016 
Joe Luck - NE Extension Precision Agriculture Engineer

It’s that time of the year again, and many folks are already hitting the field for harvest 2016. For those who collect yield monitor data, the first few days of the harvest season are a good time to ensure that you’re collecting accurate information. The first item on the yearly checklist should be verifying that firmware is up to date on the in-cab monitor and your GPS system. This may require a check with your dealership or a visit to the company website. System software needs to be checked every year to make sure you’re running a current version.

Perhaps the most critical need is to calibrate the yield monitor as it affects yield estimates across all of your fields. While some operators use calibrations stored in the display from previous years (always double check to see how well previous calibrations are performing), most will need to perform new calibrations. For each calibration, try to conduct separate loads that span the variability (high to low) that you may expect to see when harvesting fields. Generally you can change combine speed or header cut width to vary crop flow through the machine to create this variation while calibrating. Figure 1 shows an example of how different calibration load points (in red) could be created by changing speed or cut-width to vary the flow rate through the machine.

In general only 3,000 lb to 6,000 lb of grain are needed for each of these calibration loads. Harvesting a full semi-load of grain per calibration load point won’t necessarily improve calibration accuracy. Some yield monitors may only allow a two-point calibration, so it’s best to try and calibrate for a point of high flow, then one for a lower flow rate through the machine.

Remember that separate calibrations are needed for different crops (e.g., corn or soybeans) and accuracy will generally improve when calibrating for significant moisture variability for a crop (e.g., high and low moisture corn). If you’ve adopted a more recently commercialized optical yield monitor system (such as available from CLAAS, Trimble, and Raven, for example), test weight measurements become even more crucial when you change between different hybrids and crops.

In the end, remember that most well calibrated yield monitors should be able to estimate yields within 1% to 3% on a full-field basis. When looking at the sub-field scale, you’re likely to see errors exceeding 3%.



Farm Finance and Ag Law Clinics Set for October

Openings are available for one-on-one, confidential farm finance and ag law consultations being conducted across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters. They offer an opportunity to seek an experienced outside opinion on issues affecting your farm or ranch.

Clinic Sites and Dates
    Grand Island — Thursday, October 6
    Norfolk — Wednesday, October 12
    North Platte — Thursday, October 13
    Lexington — Thursday, October 20
    Fairbury — Tuesday, October 25
    Norfolk — Monday October 31

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics.  To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.



Who is on your Farm and Ranch Management (FARM) team? 
Jessica Groskopf - NE Extension Educator for Agricultural Economics

When owning or working on a farm or a ranch, you wear many hats. You are an agronomist, a mechanic, a truck driver, a marketer, and a family mediator. But what about when you need professional advice and guidance?

Do you have the right team of professionals assembled to tackle the challenges of farming or ranching? As a farmer or rancher you should develop a Farm and Ranch Management (FARM) Team. This team should be comprised of industry professionals who can help you make critical business decisions.

Who is on your FARM team?
During Annie’s Project, I ask the participants to write down who is on their FARM team. Here are some of their answers:
    key family members,
    banker,
    accountant,
    elevator,
    agronomist/crop scout,
    insurance agent,
    lawyer,
    landlords,
    veterinarians, and
    Extension educator/agent.

Although these individuals may not sit at the dinner table with you, they are an integral part of your business. Being able to delegate tasks or get sound advice from them can have a positive impact on your bottom line.  Building a strong team can make tough times a lot easier.

Are you using your FARM team effectively?
Dropping off your receipts at the tax accountant’s office on April 10 may not provide him or her a clear picture of the goals you have for your operation. Having scheduled meetings with each of your FARM team members can improve their ability to serve you. During these meetings you will want to discuss your current situation, your future direction, and your plan of attack. With this information, they can advise you on services they provide and where they can help you improve your operation.
Image of hands working together

Who is the weak link on your FARM team?
Having a weak link on your FARM team could be detrimental. An agronomist who recommends an application that does not have a positive return on investment can mean wasted dollars. Why are these people on your team? Are they the most cost effective choice? What other resources do you have at your disposal?

Sometimes it is hard to “fire” members of your FARM team, but consider the expense of keeping these weak links. Time, money, and trust are not resources that are easily regained.

Sometimes it may not be possible to replace a member of your team. For example, “firing” a landlord or tenant may not be possible, especially if they are family. In these situations, consider ways to improve your working relationship with them. Are you communicating with them effectively? What can you do to engage them more in the decision-making process? How can you approach this situation to make it more mutually beneficial?

As a farmer or rancher you cannot do it all, but with the help of a strong FARM team you can make the best decisions possible for your operation.



Cattle Production Risk Management Workshop Scheduled for November 1, 2016

Nebraska Extension will be hosting a risk management workshop for cattle producers on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, from 10:30AM-2:30PM, in O’Neill at the Annex in Holt County. 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 topics covered during the workshop include discussion of new and existing marketing options, insurance options for forage and pasture production, and disaster programs available to cattle producers.

The workshop is free of charge and a meal will be provided, but registration is required to ensure an accurate meal count. For more information and to pre-register, please call the Nebraska Extension Office in Holt County at 402-336-2760.



Tyson Foods to Expand Iowa Meat Plant

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is investing $27 million to expand the production capacity of its case-ready beef and pork plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The project will include a 55,000 square foot addition for new production lines and warehouse space and increase the plant's capacity to produce fresh ground beef, beef and pork cuts, and meal kits that are ready for distribution to retail grocers.

The expansion is under way and scheduled to be completed in July 2017. It is expected to add 350 jobs, bringing total employment at the plant to more than 1,400.

Tyson Foods operates three local plants. In addition to the case-ready facility, the company has a pepperoni plant in Council Bluffs and a bacon plant in Omaha.

The company employs approximately 2,000 residents in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area.



New survey shows Iowans trust farmers when it comes to food safety, caring for environment, livestock

Fewer Iowans are paying attention to food labels when they buy their groceries this year (76%) than last year (82%), according to the latest Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index®.  While Iowans’ interest in labels like “raised organically” (29% in 2015, 19% in 2016) and “raised locally” (40% in 2015, 28% in 2016) yo-yos, taste and price remain the dominant and consistent factors driving both meat and dairy product selections of Iowa grocery shoppers.

The survey also finds that 94% of Iowa grocery shoppers place trust in Iowa farmers, with 66% placing a great deal of trust in them.  Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) say they are confident Iowa farmers care for their animals responsibly, and a strong majority of Iowa grocery shoppers, 84%, say they are confident that Iowa farmers care for the environment.

Learning more about farmers only boosts Iowans’ trust.  According to the 2014 ‘Iowa Ag Contribution Analysis,’ Iowa is home to 88,637 farms and knowing that nearly 98% of those farms are family owned, makes 75% of grocery shopping Iowans even more trusting of farmers.  A strong majority of Iowa grocery shoppers (84%) also say it is important that farmers have the flexibility to use a variety of farming practices to provide the choices and price options they want at the grocery store.

“This is good news, especially in a downturned ag economy, that Iowans are supportive of the many methods and practices Iowa farmers use to grow food and protect the land and livestock.  This survey also shows us that despite what some headlines may indicate, Iowans are open to more information about food production so they can make up their own minds about innovation in farming practices.  It means we have to continue to share our story, not just explain what we do on the farm, but why; Iowans are common-sense people, and like to learn about today’s agriculture,” says IFBF President Craig Hill.

The scientific survey, which reached 505 Iowa residents age 20-60 who have primary or shared responsibility for grocery shopping for their households, is the fifth installment of the Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index®, conducted online by Harris Poll.  The survey is designed to study the factors driving Iowa grocery shoppers’ food purchases.

Antibiotic Use
The new Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index® also shows that farmers are also a trusted source when it comes to information about food safety and antibiotic use in livestock.  Iowa grocery shoppers ranked regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Association (FDA) most trusted for food safety information (26%), and farmers (19%) ranked second, ahead of medical professionals (12%), friends/family (10%), dietitians/nutritionists (10%) and others.

When it comes to antibiotic use in livestock (as it pertains to the safety of meat), Iowa grocery shoppers trust regulatory agencies most (29%), with farmers ranking second (25%). The survey also found that 81% of Iowa grocery shoppers who expressed concerns about the use of antibiotics in livestock felt relief knowing information such as meat processed in the U.S. and sold to grocery stores and restaurants is routinely tested by USDA and FDA to ensure no antibiotic residue is present; farmers must follow strict FDA rules and regulations when administering antibiotics to livestock, including adhering to specific withdrawal times to ensure that there is no antibiotic residue in meat that enters the food supply; FDA must approve antibiotics for livestock before they can be utilized; and farmers work with their veterinarians to administer antibiotics to treat and prevent sickness.

Methodology
The Fall 2016 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of the Iowa Farm Bureau between July 24-August 5, 2016 among 505 U.S. adults age 20-60, residing in Iowa who have primary or shared responsibility for household grocery shopping. The 2015 survey was conducted between November 17-25, 2015, with a similar audience of 507. 



USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 511 million bushels in August 2016. Total corn consumption was up slightly from July 2016 and up 3 percent from August 2015. August 2016 usage included 91.4 percent for alcohol and 8.6 percent for other purposes. Corn for beverage alcohol totaled 3.13 million bushels, up 20 percent from July 2016 and up slightly from August 2015. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 458 million bushels, was up slightly from July 2016 and up 3 percent from August 2015. Corn consumed in August 2016 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 89.8 percent and 10.2 percent respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 2.07 million tons during August 2016, up 1 percent from July 2016 and up 7 percent from August 2015. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.23 million tons in August 2016, up slightly from July 2016 but down 4 percent from August 2015.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 337 thousand tons during August 2016, down 1 percent from July 2016 and down 2 percent from August 2015. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 309 thousand tons in August 2016, down 7 percent from July 2016 but up 6 percent from August 2015.



USDA Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 4.22 million tons (141 million bushels) in August 2016, compared to 4.60 million tons (153 million bushels) in July 2016 and 4.34 million tons (145 million bushels) in August 2015. Crude oil produced was 1.64 billion pounds down 8 percent from July 2016 but up 1 percent from August 2015. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.43 billion pounds during August 2016 decreased 1 percent from July 2016 but increased 1 percent from August 2015.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 174 thousand tons in August 2016, compared to 202 thousand tons in July 2016 and 148 thousand tons in August 2015. Canola crude oil produced was 146 million pounds down 10 percent from July 2016 but up 22 percent from August 2015. Canola once refined oil production at 114 million pounds during August 2016 was down 17 percent from July 2016 and down 11 percent from August 2015. Cottonseed once refined oil production at 38.4 million pounds during August 2016 was up 47 percent from July 2016 but down 12 percent from August 2015.

Edible tallow production was 79.7 million pounds during August 2016, up 18 percent from July 2016 and up 39 percent from August 2015. Inedible tallow production was 304 million pounds during August 2016, up 14 percent from July 2016 and up 14 percent from August 2015. Technical tallow production was 118 million pounds during August 2016, up 37 percent from July 2016 and up
17 percent from August 2015. Choice white grease production at 115 million pounds during August 2016 increased 20 percent from July 2016 and increased 7 percent from August 2015.



EPA Releases Ethanol Flex Fuel Rule/(REGS) Rule

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their proposed rule for Ethanol Flex Fuel and Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Rule. This proposal intends to provide regulatory clarification for ethanol blends from 16 percent to 50 percent ethanol allowing blends such as E30 and E25 to be sold through blender pumps to flex fuel vehicles. The proposal would also limit the amount of sulfur in ethanol flex fuel blendstocks such as natural gasoline used to make ethanol blends to 10 Parts Per Million (PPM). Furthermore, it also makes a number of changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to allow bio intermediates to facilitate the production of renewable fuel.

In response to today’s proposed rule, Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

“While we are reviewing the details of the rule, we are concerned about the impact of this proposal on the hundreds of retailers who are successfully selling E15 in the marketplace today. If this proposed rule is finalized, this regulation would leave E15 as the only ethanol-blended fuel that does not have Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) relief. RVP is the measure of a fuel’s volatility and EPA regulates vapor pressure/RVP to prevent increased ozone or smog from vehicle emissions.

“It is imperative that E15 be given the same volatility treatment as regular E10 gasoline. The current RVP waiver for E10 was granted in 1990, and it is time we update our fuel regulations to match the market realities of the 21st century. E15 burns cleaner, has reduced tailpipe emissions and particulate matter, and reduces smog and other harmful emissions. Growth Energy continues to take the lead on a legislative fix to the RVP issue and will provide significant comments to EPA to ensure that consumers continue to have access to higher blends of ethanol fuels.”

Once the proposal is published in the Federal Register, parties will have 60 days to comment. Growth Energy plans to provide substantive comments on this proposed rule to ensure the availability of ethanol blended fuels to the consumer.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for October 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for October 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for October is 0.625 percent, up from 0.500 percent in September.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during October is 1.625 percent, up from 1.500 percent in September.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for October are as follows, .875 percent with three-year loan terms, unchanged from .875 percent in September; 1.125 percent with five-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.250 percent in September; 1.500 percent with seven-year loan terms, up from 1.375 percent in September; 1.625 percent with 10-year loan terms, up from 1.500 percent in September and; 1.750 percent with 12-year loan terms, up from 1.625 percent in September.



OCM Responds to NCBA’s Attempt to Cover Up Abuses of Beef Checkoff Funds

On Friday, September 30, 2016, attorneys for the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) filed their response in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to the National Cattleman Beef Association’s (NCBA) late attempt to intervene in a case filed by OCM to obtain records from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) related to Beef Checkoff Program activities.

In October of 2014, OCM filed the original complaint for injunctive relief, demanding the OIG for the U.S. Department of Agriculture make a final determination and release all required records related to a 2013 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request regarding beef checkoff audit reports.  The original 2014 complaint followed 18 months of attempts to get to the truth about an OIG beef checkoff audit that began in 2011. 

OCM President Mike Weaver stated, “Just as NCBA is trying to hide the truth by attempting to intervene, recent press statements by NCBA are just baseless distortions of the truth.”

First, NCBA claims that two audits found them to be in full compliance with the laws that protect checkoff funds. There were never two audits of NCBA, as it has claimed. There were two audits, but AMS was the target of one, and NCBA was the target of the other. 

OIG initially conducted an audit of the Beef Checkoff Program in 2013. When OCM filed a FOIA request, OIG withdrew the audit for further consideration, re-releasing it in 2014.  The initial audit, which was withdrawn, contained a statement that NCBA was in full compliance; however, when it was subsequently re-released in 2014, that statement was specifically removed. Claims by NCBA that it was exonerated by the OIG audit are false.

NCBA makes no mention of a prior independent audit revealing its abuse of checkoff funds to the tune of over $200,000 after reviewing only a mere handful of transactions out of a total of thousands. That failure to trigger and pursue a full audit in the face of such obvious smoking-gun mismanagement of checkoff funds resulted in the FOIA request by OCM. 

NCBA also claims there has been a return to “producers” of anywhere from $5.50 to $11.00, depending on a number of “studies” commissioned by NCBA. Clearly, in today's concentrated-market environment, it is packers and retailers, not financially stressed family farmers and ranchers, who have benefited most from NCBA's agenda. NCBA-financed studies are biased.

Current US cattle-producer numbers are nearly half what they were 20 years ago. The price of calves is less than half what it was just one year ago, and losses are the worst in 40 years. Even at the market highs of 2015, producers’ share of the retail price was $170 to $200 less than the retail market price in 1970.  Today, following the cattle market crash, the retail share for producers is $716 less than the producers’ 1970 retail share. With heavy concentration in the retail market and few buyers, producers are the ones being squeezed right out of business.  It is beef prices that have stayed relatively high--not cattle prices.

Through the advancement of their policies, NCBA has almost single handedly destroyed the cattle price.  NCBA lobbied to abolish COOL on behalf of packers so cheap imported South American beef could be co-mingled with U.S. beef.  NCBA appears to have supported USDA’s recent ruling to allow possible foot-and-mouth disease infected South American beef to be brought into our domestic markets. Unbiased observers need only look at what has happened to cattle prices here at home since those two events.

We have not seen evidence of NCBAs justification for statements that an audit of its activities will weaken the checkoff.  If anything, bringing the checkoff into the light should make it more stable and trustworthy. If NCBA believes an audit poses risk to the beef checkoff, then there must be many revelations to come.

These issues are unrelated to HSUS, other than the assistance it offered OCM to expose any mishandling of US beef checkoff dollars.

If it has nothing to hide, NCBA should finally, fully, and immediately withdraw its desperate efforts to conceal records and keep checkoff-paying producers in the dark.



CWT Assists with 1.6 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

 Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 10 requests for export assistance from members who have contracts to sell 1.601 million pounds (726 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheeses to customers in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from October through December 2016.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 39.749 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 7.491 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 21.301 million pounds of whole milk powder to 21 countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 699.939 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

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



USDA Report Shows Growing Biobased Products Industry Contributes $393 Billion and 4.2 Million Jobs to American Economy

A new report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that in 2014, the biobased products industry contributed $393 billion and 4.2 million jobs to America's recovering economy. The report also indicates that the sector grew from 2013 to 2014, creating or supporting an additional 220,000 jobs and $24 billion over that period. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, who has identified the biobased economy as one of the four pillars that support our country's rural economy, released the report at a luncheon today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

"When USDA released the first-ever Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry last year, we were thrilled to see what a positive impact this sector was having on our economy, and this updated analysis shows that the sector is not just holding strong, but growing," Vilsack said. "America has an appetite for everyday products-including plastic bottles, textiles, cleanings supplies and more-made from renewable sources, and that demand is fueling millions of jobs, bringing manufacturing back to our rural communities, and reducing our nation's carbon footprint. As this sector is strengthening, so is the economy in rural America, where this year the unemployment rate dropped below six percent for the first time since 2007. USDA is proud to see such strong returns on our investment into the biobased products industry."

This report is the second Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry released by USDA, and it analyzes revenue and jobs created by the biobased products industry at the national and state level in 2014. USDA released the first report of this kind last year, which analyzed the same information based on 2013 data. The new report shows that the industry directly supported 1.53 million jobs in 2014, with each job in the industry responsible for generating 1.76 jobs in other sectors. In 2013, the industry was found to contribute $369 billion and four million jobs to the U.S. economy.

In addition to their contribution to the rural economy, innovative biobased materials also have key environmental benefits including the reduction of the use of fossil fuels and reduced associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The production and use of biobased products replacing petroleum-based products had the potential to reduce GHG emissions up to 10 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents in 2014. These materials are increasingly being used as substitutes for petroleum-based materials, which have been used extensively for many years. An example of this petroleum displacement by a biobased material is the use of natural fibers in packing and insulating materials as an alternative to synthetic foams, such as Styrofoam. The increased use of biobased products currently displaces about 300 million gallons of petroleum per year - the equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road.

Today, USDA's BioPreferred Program, which was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized and expanded as part of the 2014 Farm Bill, has an online catalog of more than 15,000 products, of which 2,700 have been certified to carry the USDA Biobased Product label. The USDA BioPreferred Program's purpose is to spur economic development, create new jobs and provide new markets for farm commodities.

Vilsack has also helped lead an effort to promote the domestic production and use of advanced biofuels to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in rural communities. USDA support has helped 21 states build nearly 5,000 pumps at over 1,400 fueling stations to strengthen the rural economy and increase the demand for agricultural commodities used in the production of biofuels, giving American consumers more options at the pump, while at the same time creating jobs and driving down fueling costs.



Growers Look for Consistent Soybean Performance, Agronomic Protection

Soybean growers look to Mycogen® brand soybeans for continued agronomic and yield success, even in the toughest growing conditions. For the fifth year in a row, more growers planted Mycogen brand soybeans due to increased yield and strong agronomic packages. For 2017, Mycogen Seeds adds 21 new varieties for the 2017 planting season, giving growers more than 50 varieties to choose from in groups 0 through 5.

“We have options with Mycogen soybeans. We can choose from excellent early soybeans to full-season soybeans,” says Albert Martin, a grower from Iowa. “There’s a variety that fits all our soil types and needs.”

Agronomic packages lead to yield protection
Similar to corn, soybeans can be susceptible to several disease and insect pressures. Careful seed selection and management for overall plant health is important when raising soybeans. Choosing the right seed for local pressures can protect yield.

Mycogen brand varieties offer some of the strongest agronomic packages on the market today with strong tolerances to yield-robbing pests and diseases, like sudden death syndrome (SDS), soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and Phytophthora.

“We specifically look to Mycogen brand soybeans for the disease package,” says Collin Shultz, a grower from Missouri. “We’ve dealt with some disease pressures in the past. Once we transitioned to Mycogen soybeans, the impact of those pressures has been reduced.”

Mycogen Seeds has doubled its number of soybean breeders since 2009, testing varieties in a number of locations to ensure products are proven locally.

“Not only do we see an increase in yield, we also see healthier plants with less stress from disease,” says Tim Wood, a grower from Indiana. “We plant some competitor products side by side for comparison, and last year, Mycogen soybeans had a 10-bushel-per-acre yield advantage. We anticipate the same this year.”

Leading 2017 soybean varieties
As growers look to make their seed purchases for 2017, they should work with their local sales representative to find out what products work best in their area. Varieties to watch for this year include:
    5N078R2: This Group 0 variety is resistant to SCN and Phytophthora race Rps3a. It’s a strong performer where iron deficiency chlorosis is a concern.
    5N224R2: With resistance to SCN and tolerance to SDS, this variety is a strong option for growers looking for a Group 2 product.
    5N332R2: With excellent tolerance to SDS, this Group 3 variety works well in western and eastern growing regions. It’s also resistant to SCN and works well in stress environments.
    5N306R2: With strong tolerances to brown stem rot, Phytophthora and SDS, this Group 3 variety is a solid pick for soybean growers. It has strong agronomics and standability and shows great yield performance east to west.
    5N406R2: A Group 4 soybean variety with good tolerance to stem canker. This soybean variety is a salt excluder that works well from Kansas to Indiana.
    5N523R2: For growers looking for a strong, full-season Group 5 option, this variety has good SDS tolerance and metribuzin resistance. It’s also a Sulfonylurea Tolerant Soybean (STS®).