Tuesday October 11 Ag News + Crop Progress

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND HARVEST REPORT

For the week ending October 9, 2016, precipitation in the form of rain and snow in some western counties slowed fall harvest activities, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Accumulations of an inch or more of rain were common across the eastern third of the State. Temperatures averaged near normal with a season ending freeze reported in some western areas. There were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 23 short, 65 adequate, and 5 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 23 short, 67 adequate, and 3 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 21 fair, 55 good, and 17 excellent. Corn mature was 92 percent, near 89 last year, and ahead of the five-year average of 87. Harvested was 23 percent, equal to last year, but behind 30 average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 14 fair, 61 good, and 24 excellent. Sorghum mature was 95 percent, ahead of 86 last year and 82 average. Harvested was 34 percent, well ahead of 14 last year, and ahead of 18 average.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 18 fair, 59 good, and 19 excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 95 percent, near 93 last year and 94 average. Harvested was 44 percent, behind 50 last year and 53 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 4 percent very poor, 6 poor, 25 fair, 49 good, and 16 excellent. Winter wheat planted was 95 percent, ahead of 90 last year and 88 average. Emerged was 77 percent, ahead of 64 last year and 59 average.

Alfalfa fourth cutting was 84 percent, behind 94 last year and 89 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 9 poor, 27 fair, 53 good, and 8 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 10 short, 88 adequate, and 1 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & HARVEST REPORT

Rainfall events throughout the week slowed down harvest allowing Iowa farmers just 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending October 9, 2016, according the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although hampered by soft and muddy fields, activities for the week included soybean and corn for grain harvest and hauling manure.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus.

Ninety-four percent of the corn crop was mature or beyond, equal to last year’s pace, but 3 days ahead of the five-year average. Nineteen percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, 3 days behind last year and one week behind average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested was at 20 percent. Corn condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-two percent of soybeans were dropping leaves or beyond, 2 days ahead of average. Despite scattered showers, over one-fifth of the State’s soybean crop was harvested in the past week, reaching 43 percent harvested, 3 days behind last year’s pace. Soybean condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition was rated 62 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were described as good despite some flooded low-lying pastures and muddy feedlots.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn harvest increased by 9 percentage points and soybean harvest increased by 18 percentage points in the week ended Oct. 9, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released Tuesday due to the Columbus Day holiday.

The nation's corn crop is 93% mature and 35% harvested, compared to 86% and 24% last week, 92% and 38% last year, and the averages of 88% and 38%. Corn condition held steady at 73% good to excellent.

Ninety-one percent of the nation's soybeans were dropping leaves and 44% was harvested, compared to 83% and 26% last week, 90% and 56% last year and averages of 88% and 47%. Soybean condition held steady at 74% good to excellent.

Winter wheat planting is 59% complete, compared to 43% last week, 60% last year and a 60% average. Winter wheat is 34% emerged, compared to 20% last week, 29% last year and a 30% average.

Eighty percent of cotton had bolls opening, compared to 71% last week, 86% last year and an 81% average. Cotton harvested was reported at 22%, compared to 16% last week, 20% last year and a 20% average. Cotton condition worsened slightly to 16% poor to very poor, compared to 15% last week.

Eighty-nine percent of the rice crop was harvested, compared to 82% last week, 85% last year and a 78% average.

Sorghum harvest was 48% complete, compared to 41% last week, 49% last year and a 42% average. Sorghum condition fell slightly to 65% good to excellent, compared to 66% last week.



Effects of a Freeze on Forages
Bruce Anderson, Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist

If you haven’t experienced a freeze yet this fall, you soon will. And remember, a freeze can cause hazards for using some forages.

When plants freeze, changes occur in their metabolism and composition that can poison livestock. But you can prevent problems.

Sorghum-related plants, like cane, sudangrass, shattercane, and milo can be highly toxic for a few days after frost. Freezing breaks plant cell membranes. This breakage allows the chemicals that form prussic acid, which is also called cyanide, to mix together and release this poisonous compound rapidly. Livestock eating recently frozen sorghums can get a sudden, high dose of prussic acid and potentially die. Fortunately, prussic acid soon turns into a gas and disappears into the air. So wait 3 to 5 days after a freeze before grazing sorghums; the chance of poisoning then becomes much lower.

Freezing also slows down metabolism in all plants. This stress sometimes permits nitrates to accumulate in plants that are still growing, especially grasses like oats, millet, and sudangrass. This build-up usually isn't hazardous to grazing animals, but green chop or hay cut right after a freeze can be more dangerous.

Alfalfa reacts two ways to a hard freeze, down close to twenty degrees, cold enough to cause plants to wilt. Nitrate levels can increase, but rarely to hazardous levels. Freezing also makes alfalfa more likely to cause bloat for a few days after the frost. Then, several days later, after plants begin to wilt or grow again, alfalfa becomes less likely to cause bloat. So waiting to graze alfalfa until well after a hard freeze is a good, safer management practice.

Frost causes important changes in forages so manage them carefully for safe feed.



2016 Iowa Water Year Much Wetter Than Normal

The 2016 Water Year (ending September 30, 2016) brought a statewide average precipitation of almost 45 inches, 9.6 inches more than normal in the state of Iowa. This ranks as the third wettest water year among 144 years of record.

Excessive rains in September over north-central and northeast Iowa resulted in flooding and a record crest along the shell Rock River and the second highest crest on record along the Cedar River.

September rain totals varied from 0.90 inches at Fairfield to 17.25 inches near Nora Springs. The statewide average was 6.29 inches or 2.91 inches above normal to rank as the wettest September since 1986.

Streamflow conditions remain high for nearly the entire state, and other than a small area of dryness in Southeast Iowa, conditions are fairly wet heading into the usually dry fall and winter months.

Precipitation was below normal in southeastern Iowa and Charles City had the highest water year precipitation total with more than 60 inches. This was easily a record high water year total at that location.

For a thorough review of Iowa's water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.



Iowa soybean farmers tout quality, sustainability during World Food Prize week

The Iowa soybean farmer’s commitment to be a reliable provider of high-quality protein grown sustainably will take center stage during World Food Prize activities this week in Des Moines.

“When global leaders gather to talk about food, they come to Iowa,” said Iowa Soybean Association President Rolland Schnell. “As the nation’s top producer of soybeans, we welcome them. We also look forward to reaffirming our commitment to growing soybeans our global customers want and need while increasing adoption of conservation practices that improve water quality and soil health here at home.”

Schnell said ISA is dedicated to advancing land stewardship and soil conservation programs statewide, recognizing that improved environmental performance is directly tied to increased farm productivity.

Soybean farmers from Baxter, Newton, Carlisle and Pella will share this story Friday, Oct. 14 when they host World Food Prize attendees for farm tours. Conversations will include yield estimates and the evolution of technology, including better genetics, to help farmers grow crops more sustainably.

“Climate-smart agriculture,” a topic of great interest to soybean farmers like Ray Gaesser of Corning, will also be part of the discussion.

He says increasingly variable weather poses unprecedented risks to agriculture’s sustainability. Iowa soybean farmers, working in cooperation with cities, municipalities, landowners and conservation-focused organizations, are mitigating them by identifying practices that can have a positive impact. They include improved fertilizer management, reducing or eliminating tillage, planting cover crops and installing wetlands and saturated buffers.

“It’s about doing everything we can to adapt to more extreme weather events while growing abundant and reliable supplies of food and food ingredients,” Gaesser said. “Flooding and drought can lead to lost productivity and costly expenses, to the detriment of consumers and farmers. So it’s in our shared, best interest to continually improve our production and environmental systems.”

Sustainable production will also be referenced when ISA leaders participate in a U.S.-China Agricultural Trade Cooperation Forum and contract signing ceremony Friday, Oct. 14. The signing reaffirms China’s preference for U.S.-grown soybeans. The country of 1.4 billion people purchases nearly 60 percent of global soybean production, with Iowa a trusted supplier.

“Global incomes are rising so more people are seeking to add protein to their diets,” says ISA Market Development Director Grant Kimberley. “This is a positive trend for global relations and human health.

“It’s also the catalyst for jobs and household incomes in Iowa where nearly one of every five jobs is tied to food production,” Kimberley added. “Iowa farmers have demonstrated time and time again the ability to deliver strong yields in conjunction with sustainable production. Iowa is helping lead the way in improving global food safety, sustainability and security, issues of great interest here at home and around the world.”

Iowa’s 38,000 soybean farmers have harvested an average of nearly 460 million bushels of soybeans annually since 2011. The U.S. Department of Agriculture pegs this year’s crop at 560 million bushels. The value of Iowa’s soybean crop routinely exceeds $5 billion. Iowa farmers account for nearly 14 percent of the nation’s annual soybean production and 4.6 percent of global soybean production.   



South Dakota Farmer Named America's Pig Farmer of the Year

The National Pork Board announced today that Brad Greenway, a pig farmer from Mitchell, South Dakota, has been named the 2016 America's Pig Farmer of the Year by achieving the highest score from a third-party judging panel and online voting. The award recognizes a pig farmer who excels at raising pigs using the We Care ethical principles and who connects with today's consumers about how pork is produced.

"We are pleased to have Brad represent America's pig farmers. He embodies the very best in pig farming," said Jan Archer, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer from Goldsboro, North Carolina. "It's important that we share with today's consumers how we raise their food in an ethical and transparent way. Brad's interest in sharing his farm's story – and putting a face on today's pig farming – will help us reach this goal."

Greenway has focused on doing what's right for people, pigs and the planet on his family farm for the last 40 years. He and his wife, Peggy, own two wean-to-finish pig barns. They also raise beef cattle and grow corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa.

"I look forward to sharing my personal farm story with consumers to help them understand the care that goes into raising pigs today," said Greenway. "I am proud of my industry and the hard work my fellow farmers put into producing safe, high-quality food, and in caring for animals and the environment every day."

Greenway was named America's Pig Farmer of the Year following a third-party audit of on-farm practices and conducting a series of written and oral interviews by subject-matter experts. He has achieved excellence in all aspects of pig farming, including animal care, environmental stewardship, employee work environment and outstanding community service.

The panel of expert judges met in early September with the four finalists. Members of the panel were Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane; Kari Underly, a third-generation butcher, author and principal of Range®, Inc., a meat marketing and education firm; Justin Ransom, senior director, supply chain management at McDonald's USA; Jodi Sterle, an associate professor of animal science at Iowa State University; and Keith Schoettmer, the 2015 America's Pig Farmer of the Year.

As a judging panel member, Ganzert said, "As an animal lover and the leader of the country's first national humane organization, I am honored to be a judge for America's Pig Farmer of the Year. American Humane celebrates all those, including our nation's farmers, who care for animals and work hard to ensure they are treated humanely. Today, more than ever, it is important not only to point out where progress is needed, but to recognize when we get it right."

To learn more about Greenway's farm and the America's Pig Farmer of the Year Award, visit www.americaspigfarmer.com.



Certified Angus Beef  brand sales hit 1.015 billion pounds
         
Angus producers knew they could create a brand of beef that would sell millions of pounds in a year. But more than a billion? Let’s not get carried away, the organizers would have said. Yet upon reflection, some might have wondered.

That year has come and gone now.

The Certified Angus Beef  (CAB) brand’s 38th fiscal year (FY) ending Sept. 30 carved a spot in history as the first time global sales surpassed 1 billion lb.

For the 18,000 partners joined by a common mission, CAB President John Stika said the milestone brings a reason to celebrate. More than that, it brings appreciation for thousands of individual successes that led to that historic mark.

“This number is significant, not because of what it is, but for what it represents,” Stika said of the actual 1.015 billion lb. sold, up 119 million lb. and 13.3% more than last year.

The average growth over the previous five years has been 3%, but it’s nearly 75% in the last decade of sequential annual records and 12 straight years of sales growth.
   
The market moves
After several years of record-high beef prices brought on by tight supplies, the last fiscal year began with the pendulum swinging back to favor beef marketers. Retailers made it through six years of relatively flat to declining sales to arrive at a year of explosive growth, setting an all-time record with sales of 435 million lb., an 18.5% jump. Of the top 100 retail chains carrying CAB, 70% saw a rise in beef sales.

Not to get lost in the that boom, foodservice continued its consistent growth, up 21 million lb. from last year. More than 75% of the brand’s 143 domestic distributors saw their businesses grow in FY 16, selling 10% more beef to licensed restaurants than last year.

Seasons bring tradition and drive sales of particular cuts consumers want. The chuck and round owned holiday sales in every category, buoyed by a new smart phone “roasting app” to net an increase of 87 million lb. Summer’s middle meats and ground beef sales carried on, up 11.4% and 7.9%, respectively. Value-added products, including smoked brisket, fresh corned beef and marinated fajita meat, were up 8.9%. Showcasing a taste for exceptional quality, sales of CAB brand Prime soared 26.4% higher for the year.

Capitalizing on its larger reach, the International Division set a record of 138 million lb. sold, a growth of 15%. Leading the charge was Japan, historically important and up by 111% after opening CAB’s Tokyo office in August of FY 2015. Canada continued near the top, as did Mexico with 16% more sales for the year.

As sales grew in the United states and 49 other countries, for the first time since 2000, CAB expanded production to another country. Four years of close dialogue with people in Russia’s Miratorg company culminated in February with licensing its packing facility southwest of Moscow. The company, which had invested heavily in U.S. Angus genetics, now breeds, grows, feeds and harvests the cattle as a member of the American Angus Association, all geared toward the CAB endpoint.

“The first pound of Certified Angus Beef there was produced under stringent brand-assurance protocols involving the same objective camera grading technology used in North America, along with a live video feed to our office,” Stika said.

Herd expansion here featured the use of more high-quality Angus genetics. After years of a declining supply, the brand’s 32 licensed packing plants saw an increase in Angus-type cattle identified to 13.6 million, up 6.9%, though short of the 15 million head eligible in 2010.

Higher acceptance rates allowed graders to certify a record of more than 75,000 carcasses per week, totaling 12.6% higher, or 3.92 million for the year to set an annual CAB acceptance rate of 28.9%. That record is more than double the rate of 10 years ago when it was barely above 14%.

The best to offer
As the impact of drought subsided and replacement heifers entered herds, “Cattlemen didn’t just add more numbers,” Stika said. “They assembled the highest-quality, most Angus-influenced cow herd North America has ever seen.”

Consumers benefited from the greater supply of high-quality beef at a lower price, but herd growth helps producers as well.

Despite four straight years with fewer brand-eligible cattle prior to FY16, the number of those accepted kept trending higher. Fine-tuned genetics and management tactics through those years set the stage to ensure that outcome and launched the drive past the billion-pound CAB sales mark once expansion began.

This is perhaps the most purpose-driven expansion ever for the North American beef community.
“A lot is said about herd rebuilding,” said CAB Vice President of Production Mark McCully, “but I think record acceptance rates are a reflection of cattlemen rebuilding with a purpose and quality in mind.”

That intentionality will position the brand for continued growth – even in a market that’s undergone a dramatic shift, he said.

“The consumer isn’t going to go backwards,” McCully said. “No doubt, some leverage has moved away from the cattle producer, but we are still operating in a market that rewards value and quality.”
Those who produce top quality and market in a way that captures that value will stay economically viable.

“As we meet global consumer demand and expose even more people to great-tasting beef, the future for quality-minded cattlemen gets exciting,” he said.

The beef market is a seesaw of sorts: for cattlemen today, for retailers then who struggled to sell high-priced beef. Stika said the key for all is to stay the course through their lows and prepare for the future in the highs of the cycle. The long-term outlook reveals a high-quality cowherd that puts producers in position to the meet the demands of a global beef market.

“From start to finish in this process, it’s important for everyone to stay connected with each other's realities,” Stika said. “Doing so allows us to make sure we never lose sight of the fact that we are all in this together. The model for Certified Angus Beef is not just about short-term gain; rather it’s about creating an overall pull-through demand for the product that allows everyone to benefit over the long haul.”

While all may not be simultaneously successful at a given moment in time, Stika said the system will work as end users base future business decisions on demand growth.

“Cattle prices may be down currently, but quality is still the road for future sustainability of our individual businesses, because consumers demand it.”



#AsktheFarmer with ASA Wednesday on Twitter

Three farmers are teaming up to answer questions about modern agriculture this week, as the American Soybean Association (ASA) presents #AsktheFarmer on Wednesday, Oct. 12, live on Twitter.

You can tweet questions to ASA (@ASA_Soybeans) beginning at 8 a.m. CT and Kyle Bridgeforth (@Kylebridge), Brad Kremer (@kremer_brad) and Jenny Rohrich (@PrairieCA) will chime in with answers throughout the day.

Please spread the word, invite your friends and feel free to join in the conversation!

    Kyle Bridgeforth, Bridgeforth Farms, Tanner, Ala.—Kyle Bridgeforth is a fifth generation farmer from Tanner, Ala. He farms with his dad, uncle, brother and cousin on Bridgeforth Farms, where they grow double-crop wheat and soybeans, but also corn, canola, cotton and grain sorghum. Kyle graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in international studies: business and economics. He’s participated in the ASA DuPont Young Leaders Program and the United Soybean Board (USB) See For Yourself Program. With ASA, he’s lobbied on behalf on the soybean industry and in 2014 gave a speech on his experience during the USB See For Yourself Program. Every other year, his operation hosts a Field Day, in conjunction with the National Black Growers Council, where they invite members of the community to learn about the latest agricultural programs and technology. Kyle is most passionate about minority and underrepresented farmers, global food security, young farmers and community awareness.

    Brad Kremer, Hillcrest Family Farms, Pittsville, Wis.—Brad and his wife Nicole operate a family farm consisting of 1,200 acres of soybeans and 1,800 acres of corn, wheat and alfalfa. They also own a 400 animal dairy and a facility where they dry and store grain. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin River Falls, Brad was recently elected president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association. Brad actively looks for opportunities to tell the story of agriculture, whether on a plane or Facebook. He’s also especially fond of youth outreach.

    Jenny Rohrich, Rohrich Farms & Prairie Californian, Ashley, N.D.—Jenny Rohrich’s family farm consists of 1,000 acres of soybeans and 3,000 acres of other crops including corn, sunflowers and wheat. The Rohrichs farm with Jenny’s father-in-law, brother- in-law and occasionally their 88 year old grandfather. Jenny holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and was a speaker at the AgChat Foundation. She is extremely active on social media, operating both her farm page, Rohrich Farms, and a personal page, Prairie Californian. Her primary method of advocating for agriculture is through her blog Prairie Californian, which has 12K average monthly page views. Jenny is passionate about connecting with people outside of agriculture, helping them to feel comfortable and confident about what farmers do.



USDA Announces Plans to Purchase Surplus Cheese, Releases New Report Showing Trans-Pacific Partnership Would Create Growth for Dairy Industry

Following a roundtable discussion with dairy producers near La Crosse, Wisc. today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering to purchase $20 million of cheddar cheese to reduce a private cheese surplus that has reached record levels, while assisting food banks and other food assistance recipients.

While USDA projects dairy prices to increase throughout the rest of the year, many factors including low world market prices, increased milk supplies and inventories, and slower demand have contributed to a sluggish marketplace for dairy producers and caused dairy revenues to drop 35 percent over the past two years. Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 authorizes USDA to purchase surplus food to benefit food banks and families in need through its nutrition assistance programs.

"America's farming families are being called on to demonstrate their world-famous resourcefulness and resilience in the face of this current market downturn, and USDA is making use of every tool that we have to help them," said Vilsack. "For dairy farmers, this has included $11.2 million in payments in August through the Dairy Margin Protection Program, in addition to the surplus purchase offers. While our analysis predicts the market will improve for these hardworking men and women, reducing the surplus can give them extra reassurance while also filling demand at food banks and other organizations that help our nation's families in need. Farmers at other points in the supply chain are also receiving a boost with over $7 billion in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage payments for the 2015 crop year, which by design kick in when times are tough. As always, we continue to watch market conditions and will explore opportunities for further assistance in the coming months. For producers challenged by weather, disease and falling revenue, we will continue to ensure the availability of a strong safety net to keep them farming or ranching."

A solicitation will be issued shortly, and cheese deliveries to food banks and other food assistance recipients are expected to occur beginning in March 2017.

Also at the roundtable, Vilsack shared details of a new report by the USDA's Office of the Chief Economist, which shows continued growth of the U.S. dairy sector is largely contingent on trade and that the Trans-Pacific Partnership could create an additional $150 to $300 million in annual U.S. dairy exports. Free trade agreements have contributed to the growth in U.S. dairy exports and helped to address tariff and nontariff barriers that disadvantage U.S. products in overseas markets. U.S. dairy exports to free trade agreement partners grew from $690 million in the year prior to each agreement's entry into force to $2.8 billion in 2015, driven by lower trade barriers and increased U.S. competitiveness. For more information on TPP, visit www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trans-pacific-partnership-tpp.



NMPF Statement on USDA Decision to Purchase Cheese to Help Dairy Farmers
Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF:

“Today’s announcement by USDA offering to purchase up to $20 million of cheese will provide assistance to America’s dairy farmers through increased demand for milk, while also serving the needs of Americans who patronize food banks and other charitable assistance organizations.

“We continue to look at ways to address the challenging economic situation facing dairy farmers, and are appreciative of USDA’s efforts to improve the effectiveness of the dairy Margin Protection Program established in the 2014 farm bill. Further changes are needed to improve the program as an effective safety net, but such changes go beyond the authority granted to USDA by Congress. We will continue working with Congressional leaders to seek improvements to MPP.”



 CWT Assists with 1.2 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted six requests for export assistance from members who have contracts to sell 1.195 million pounds (542 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheeses to customers in Asia, the Middle East and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from October 2016 through December 2017.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 40.393 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 7.491 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 19.096 million pounds of whole milk powder to 21 countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 680.787 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. Totals have been adjusted for cancellations.

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 impact their milk price.



Study Shows Billions of Dollars in Losses to U.S. Dairy Industry under Abusive EU Geographical Indications Policies

Surrendering to a European Union (EU) seizure of common food names would cost the U.S. dairy industry billions of dollars, slash domestic cheese consumption and increase prices for consumers, according to an analysis released today by Informa Economics IEG.

The European farm policy agenda, which is focused on using geographical indications (GIs) to unfairly grant European food producers a huge commercial advantage, would force farmers and food producers outside of Europe to rebrand familiar foods with unfamiliar names. The resulting confusion in the U.S. domestic marketplace could shutter family farms, eliminate thousands of rural jobs and hurt the overall U.S. economy, the analysis said. The European Union advocates extending GI protections beyond a small number of specialty foods to cover many food names that have little to no geographic identity and have long been commonly used by food producers around the world.

At today's prices, the decline in U.S. cheese consumption due to the loss of common food names could amount to $2.3 billion in lost sales in three years, and $5.2 billion in 10 years. It could push dairy farm balance sheets below the break-even point for six out of 10 future years, costing farmers a cumulative $59 billion in revenue and forcing several thousand family dairy farms out of business, the analysis added.

The 60-page analysis was commissioned by the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), an international alliance of companies and organizations dedicated to preserving the right to use common food terms. It was conducted by Informa Economics IEG and unveiled jointly by CCFN and the three major U.S. dairy trade associations: the National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the International Dairy Foods Association.

Released along with the analysis were statements from members of Congress and CCFN allies.

"The statements show the common food names issue is incredibly important to both Congress and the executive branch," CCFN Executive Director Jaime Castaneda said. "We appreciate the continuing efforts of the vast majority of members of Congress as well as Ambassador Michael Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to combat the illegitimate appropriation of common food names."

"Europe's continued expansion of geographical indications in ways that protect terms long considered generic upends the entire concept of GIs," said Tom Suber, president of USDEC, which represents the interests of dairy producers and processors in global trade and is the founding organization of CCFN. "Instead of protecting the names of a few specialty foods linked to specific areas, the EU uses GIs to eliminate competition for its producers."

"The damage Europe's GI agenda could do to the U.S. dairy industry is severe," added Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, which represents dairy producers and cooperatives. "By 2025, our dairy farmers would lose up to 15 percent of their income and the U.S. dairy herd would shrink by up to 9 percent, or 850,000 cows. Thousands of dairy farmers would be forced out of business."

"Under Europe's GI policies, U.S. manufacturers would face a choice of abandoning markets for cheeses like feta and parmesan or selling them under names like 'crumbly white cheese' or 'hard grated cheese,'" said Connie Tipton, president and CEO of IDFA, which represents dairy processors domestically and internationally. "It's not hard to imagine the problems those name changes would create and this report finally quantifies those impacts."

According to the study, consumers will choose imported cheeses with names they recognize over domestic products with names they don't recognize. As a result, plummeting demand for domestic cheese would put numerous U.S. cheese manufacturers-particularly specialty cheese manufacturers-out of business.

This harm would not be limited to just the dairy sector. As the impacts on dairy ripple through industries like transportation and veterinary services, the study said, the U.S. economy could lose up to 175,000 jobs. Also, consumers would face higher prices, fewer choices and confusion in the supermarket as familiar cheese names are replaced by unfamiliar ones.

"To avoid such severe consequences," said Castaneda, "the United States must aggressively oppose the carving up of markets and refuse to bestow monopolies on a few privileged European suppliers. The use of common names by the U.S. dairy industry-and indeed all other sectors relying on typical food terms-should be aggressively preserved, both for domestic and international use."



Sage Grouse Management Plans Based on Inaccurate Science

One year after the announcement by the Department of Interior that a listing under the Endangered Species Act was not warranted for the greater sage grouse and the implementation of restrictive resource management plans for the species, the Public Lands Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association submitted a report to the agencies citing concerns with the methodology used.

Ethan Lane, PLC executive director and NCBA executive director of federal lands, notes that recent studies have shown little or no correlation between sage grouse nest success and the requirements set out by the agencies.

“The threats to sage grouse habitat remain wildfire and land development, both of which are mitigated by proper livestock grazing,” said Lane. “One of the most restrictive and burdensome requirements set out by the agencies through the sage grouse Resource Management Plans is the arbitrary stubble height requirement. To say that grass height alone can predict whether or not a sage grouse nest will be successful is not accurate and based on flawed methodology.”

The report points to recent studies showing that the assessments of stubble height required by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are incorrect. These studies show that the timing of grass height measurements in relation to nest predation are fundamentally flawed and not indicative of nesting success.

“Grass height measurements for successful nests are usually conducted in late spring when the eggs have successfully hatched and the grass is taller,” said Lane. “Contrarily, predation of nests often happens closer to the time the eggs are laid in early spring when the grasses are still growing. Grass height alone has little impact on the success or failure of sage grouse nesting, yet these requirements put intense pressure on grazing rotation and the long term health of the range.”

Repeated studies clearly show that grasses respond best to intensively-managed grazing that focuses heavily on timing and recovery. A managed grazing rotation means that a pasture will be grazed early in the season in some years and later in others to ensure optimal recovery and rangeland health.

“The Resource Management Plans make stubble height the driving factor in grazing decisions and impede improving rangeland conditions,” said Lane. “This is counter-productive to sage grouse habitat, as we know healthy rangelands are the largest factor in the success of the species. Moreover, by prioritizing individual data points like grass height over long-term range health, these plans also detract from the conservation of public lands and result in deteriorated rangelands.”

The Public Lands Council is calling on BLM, USFS and USFWS to provide clear instruction at the field level that livestock grazing is not a significant threat, livestock grazing should not be held to a standard that is not ecologically possible in some sites, and that reducing numbers and utilization of public lands will only increase the fuel load.