Monday December 12 Ag News

NEBRASKA EXTENSION TO HOST CROP PRODUCTION CLINICS IN JANUARY

University of Nebraska-Lincoln crop production and pest management specialists have scheduled a series of crop production clinics across the state in January to provide the latest research-based information and recommendations for 2017.

Topics will include soil fertility; soil water and irrigation; insect, disease and weed management; cropping systems; and agribusiness management and marketing. The complete agendas are available at http://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc.

The clinics will be the primary venue for commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators to renew their licenses in the following categories: ag plant and demonstration/research. The crop production clinics also will allow private pesticide applicators to renew their licenses. Representatives from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture will be present to verify attendance.

A maximum of six Certified Crop Adviser credits will be available per day in these areas: crop production (two), nutrient management (one), integrated pest management (six), water management (one) and professional development (two).

Pesticide applicator recertification training will be available in these categories: commercial/noncommercial in ag plant and demonstration/research; and private applicator.

Registration, available at http://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc, is required for the clinics to provide meals and materials. The cost is $65 for pre-registration by 3 p.m. the day before the clinic; on-site registration is $80. Online pre-registration includes the 2017 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska, the 2017 crop production clinic proceedings with further information on the topics being discussed, a meal and refreshments.

Check-in each day is from 8 to 8:30 a.m., with sessions from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The clinic dates and locations are:
> Jan. 4, Gering: Gering Civic Center, 1050 M St.
> Jan. 5, North Platte: Sandhills Convention Center, 2102 S. Jeffers St.
> Jan. 6, York: Holthus Convention Center, 3130 Holen Ave.

> Jan. 10, Beatrice: Beatrice Country Club, 1301 Oak St.
> Jan. 11, Hastings: Adams County Fairgrounds, 947 S. Baltimore Ave.
> Jan. 12, Ithaca: Saunders County Extension Office, 1071 County Road G

> Jan. 17, Atkinson: Atkinson Community Center, 206 W. Fifth St.
> Jan. 18, Norfolk: Lifelong Learning Center, Northeast Community College, 601 E. Benjamin Ave.
> Jan. 19-20, Kearney: Younes Conference Center, 416 W. Talmadge Road

For more information about the clinics, contact Amit Jhala, Nebraska Extension weed management specialist, at 402-472-1534 or amit.jhala@unl.edu.



New Nebraska Crop Management Conference Jan. 19-20

Nebraska Extension has a new offering in its winter line-up of programs for farmers and agribusiness seeking research updates and recommendations for Nebraska crop production. The Nebraska Crop Management Conference will be held Jan. 19-20 at the Younes Conference Center, 416 W. Talmadge Rd., in Kearney.

With two half-day workshops, 23 program sessions, and recertification options, attendees will be able to customize their learning experience by registering for those sessions most pertinent to their farming operation.

“This compact format will allow attendees to access a lot of information in a short time at a single site. Some may want to come just for the pesticide license recertification training the first day while many may want to attend the full conference and a pre-conference workshop,” said Chris Proctor, weed management extension educator and conference coordinator.

“With four program tracts there are a lot of opportunities for attendees to focus on what’s most important to them. It’s also a great way for attendees to hear what researchers at UNL have been up to over the past year.”

In addition to the Nebraska Extension experts discussing recent research findings for Nebraska, guest speakers will include:
-    Chuck Schroeder, founding executive director of the Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska
-    Bob Nielsen, professor of agronomy at Purdue University and host expert for two national corn information websites: Chat ‘n Chew Café and the Corn Growers’ Guidebook
-    Seth Naeve, associate professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics focusing on soybean issues
-    Andrew Kniss, associate professor in weed biology and ecology at the University of Wyoming

Workshops include Pesticide Application Technology and Soil Nutrient Management. Individual sessions cover a range of topics from bacterial leaf streak and corn rootworm resistance to precision ag technologies, crop resistance and climate variability, manure management, dicamba drift and resistance gene transfer, and Nebraska cover crops research. For more detail, see the conference agenda and workshop and session descriptions.

The conference also includes commercial and private pesticide applicator recertification, chemigation recertification, and nutrient management recertification for the Central Platte Natural Resource District. Industry representatives will be available at a commercial expo Thursday evening.

Registration
The conference has three registration options, each of which has an early registration discounts through Jan. 15. Individuals can register for:
-    The full conference (Thursday noon through Friday); cost is $150 (early) or $175 (late).
-    The full conference (Thursday afternoon through Friday) and one pre-conference workshop (Thursday morning); cost is $200 (early) and $225 (late).
-    Pesticide applicator recertification (Thursday); cost is $65 early and $85 (late). (Individuals who had been planning to get their Nebraska Pesticide Applicator Recertification at a Crop Production Clinic in Kearney can register for recertification sessions on the first day of the conference.)

CCA credits are pending approval and updates will be available on the conference website.

For more information see the conference website, http://agronomy.unl.edu/NCMC, or contact: Chris Proctor, weed management extension educator, at caproctor@unl.edu or 402-472-5411. If you have questions about registering, contact Wendy Morrissey at wmorrissey2@unl.edu or 402-472-5636.



Precision Ag Data Management Workshops: Extract Value from your Data 
Joe Luck - Extension Precision Agriculture Engineer

Learn how to extract more information from your precision agriculture data at the 2017 Nebraska Extension Precision Ag Data Management Workshops next January and February. The workshops will consist of presentations and hands-on exercises using Ag Leader SMS software, Microsoft Excel, and USDA Management Zone Analyst. Producers, crop consultants, retailers, and other agricultural professionals may attend. (Six hours of CCA CEUs are expected for each day).

On-line preregistration is required at least one week in advance of the class and class size is limited to 20 to facilitate the hands-on training. To register online, visit the program website.
Data Management Topics and Information

Day One topics will include:
    Creating field-based profitability with yield data and partial budgets
    Soil sampling and development of grid and zone based maps
    On-Farm Research 1: Setting up variable rate field trials
    On-Farm Research 2: Analyzing yield versus as-applied data

Day Two topics will include:
    Aerial imagery, available datasets and utilization
    Profitability with multiple operations (as-applied data plus yield maps)
    Management Zones Part 1: Development using Ag Leader SMS Software
    Management Zones Part 2: USDA Management Zone Analyst exercise

Program Sites
Workshops begin with check-in at 8:30 a.m. and sessions from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
  - Lincoln ― Site to be announced - January 10-11
  - York ― 4-H Building, York County Fairgrounds, January 12-13
  - North Platte ― UNL West Central Research and Ext. Center Auditorium, January 26-27
  - Norfolk ― Northeast Community College Learning Center - February 7-8

Individuals can register for one or both days. Cost is $65 for one day or $110 for both days. Registration includes a booklet of printed learning guides, a jump drive with workshop tutorials attendees can reference at home, and available datasets. Please contact us for spousal registration rates. Cancellations must be made at least one week prior to your registered session.  For cancellations made prior to your registered session, the total fee, less a $10 processing fee will be refunded.

For more information about these programs, contact: Joe Luck at 402-472-1488 or jluck2@unl.edu or Nathan Mueller at 402-727-2775 or nathan.mueller@unl.edu



RESISTANCE, SAFETY ARE KEY FACTORS IN PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING

Private pesticide applicators holding licenses that expire in 2017, as well as anyone seeking first-time private applicator certification, can contact their local Nebraska Extension office for pesticide safety education training sessions. Around 200 statewide sessions will be held January-April.

After completing the Pesticide Safety Education Program training, licensed private pesticide applicators can buy and use restricted use pesticides in their farming operations. More than 10,400 private applicators statewide are eligible for recertification in 2017.

As farming and farming tools continue to become increasingly sophisticated, producers need new information, as well as refresher information, to help them make the best decisions for safety and economics, said Clyde Ogg, Nebraska Extension pesticide safety educator.

Nebraska producers are extremely knowledgeable and conscientious about safety and pesticides, Ogg said.

“The training serves as a reinforcement for all the techniques our producers are doing right, and boosts their understanding of some of the more technical aspects of pesticide safety,” Ogg said.

“Special emphasis this year will be to better understand herbicide resistance and the newly revised federal Worker Protection Standards,” Ogg added. Participants also benefit from many other training topics, including pesticide drift, Nebraska pesticide laws and regulations, the pesticide label, personal safety, environmental protection, integrated pest management, pesticides and application, application equipment and equipment calibration.

“One key objective this year is to better understand how weeds become resistant to pesticides, to manage resistant weeds and prevent that from occurring in the future,” Ogg said. Participants will use the updated EC 130 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management, to learn how to use label information such as chemical group numbers as well as nonchemical techniques, to reduce development of pest populations resistant to pesticides. The comprehensive guide is included with registration.

Another new development for 2017 will be an overview of the newly revised federal Worker Protection Standards. Part of the revision goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017, and part goes into effect Jan. 1, 2018. One example is that aside from immediate family members, people under age 18 will no longer be able to handle (mix, load and apply) pesticides.

“The revised federal law is designed to minimize contact and exposure to pesticides,” Ogg said. “Extension is helping our producers to be aware of these new regulations and how they can keep their employees even safer.”

Those needing recertification in 2017 will be notified in two ways. One is through the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the other is through Nebraska Extension.

By mid-December, private applicators needing recertification in 2017 may expect a notification letter from NDA. The letter includes a bar code that eliminates the need to complete the standard NDA application form.

"Those eligible for recertification will also be notified by their local Nebraska Extension office of recertification training sessions in their area," Ogg added.

Applicators should check their licenses for the expiration date. If it expires in 2017 and they have not yet received a letter from NDA, contact the agency at 402-471-2351 or 877-800-4080.

Extension provides the educational training for recertification, while NDA is responsible for licensing. The cost of Extension training is $30 per person; NDA licensing is a separate fee.

For a list of training sessions, sites and dates, contact the nearest Nebraska Extension office or go online to http://pested.unl.edu, where applicators will find a link to the 2017 private pesticide training dates. That link shows education sites for private applicators listed by county.

Yet another option of becoming certified or recertified is by completing a self-study course. The self-study is available in either a hard copy manual or online. This manual is available at Extension offices. The online course can be purchased at http://marketplace.unl.edu at the pesticide education section. The cost for both self-study courses is $60.

"After completing private applicator training, certification applications will be sent to NDA, which will then bill the applicator for the state license fee," Ogg said.

For inclement weather and possible cancellations, listen to a local radio or television station, or call the training site.

For more information, visit http://pested.unl.edu.



45th annual Iowa Pork Congress to be held

The Iowa Pork Producers Association will host its 45th annual Iowa Pork Congress on Jan. 25 and 26 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Pork Congress is North America's largest winter swine tradeshow and conference and it will feature 10 seminars, 300 exhibitors, training sessions, fun social events and exciting youth activities.

"We're happy to offer Pork Congress each year and are excited about the 2017 version," said IPPA President Al Wulfekuhle, a pig farmer from Quasqueton.

The business seminars are offered at no additional cost to attendees and cover some of the most important issues facing pig farmers. Seminar topics include managing margins in a market downturn, current swine health trends and the Veterinary Feed Directive. Several of the pork industry's top experts will lead the discussions, including Dr. Chris Rademacher, Pat Von Tersch and Dr. Rodger Main. Several producers also will provide personal perspective in some of the seminars.

Dr. Lowell Catlett of New Mexico State University is the keynote presenter. The retired college dean and regent's professor in agriculture economics and business will present "Best time ever to be in agriculture and the five trends that will make it even better" on Jan. 25 at 2:15 p.m. Catlett is an enthralling and spellbinding presenter who offers positive and upbeat predictions.

Hog farmers also will be able to obtain or renew their PQA Plus and TQA certifications, and a certification session for confinement site manure applicators is being offered.

Nearly 300 different swine-specific companies will fill the Hy-Vee Hall tradeshow floor marketing such things as flooring and feed efficiency products to weight monitoring equipment and feed supplements.

IPPA has relocated its Pork Information Plaza this year from the north tradeshow floor to Hall "A" to allow more commercial exhibitors into the tradeshow. Iowa producer leaders and representatives from the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers, Iowa State University and other affiliated organizations will join IPPA in the new plaza space.

Many other activities and events will be held in association with Pork Congress during the week. Events begin on Jan. 23 with IPPA's annual Taste of Elegance contest and reception at the Iowa Events Center. The association's annual meeting will be held on Jan. 24, followed by the Kickoff Reception and Auction. The Pork Congress Banquet is on Wednesday evening.

The 9th annual Youth Swine Judging contest will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. 4-H and FFA members from around the state can learn more about the industry and compete for valuable scholarships.

"I invite producers to take advantage of as many of the activities and seminars as possible. Pork Congress is a great place to learn and share ideas," Wulfekuhle said.

Pork Congress will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 25 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 26.

Pre-registration to attend Pork Congress is available through Jan. 9, 2017. IPPA members can attend the tradeshow and conference at no cost by registering by the deadline at www.iowaporkcongress.org or by using the form in the November issue of the Iowa Pork Producer magazine.

Non-IPPA members can save $5 off of the normal $10 admission cost by registering online by the deadline. Registrations will be accepted after the deadline through each day of the show, but the cost will be $10.

For more information, contact IPPA at (800) 372-7675 or visit www.iowaporkcongress.org.



2017 ASA DuPont Young Leaders Hone Communication, Management Skills at First Phase of Training

The 33rd class of American Soybean Association (ASA) DuPont Young Leaders recently began their leadership journey at DuPont Pioneer headquarters in Johnston, Iowa.

The Johnston training session was the first phase of a program designed to identify new and aspiring leaders and provide them with opportunities to enhance their skills and network with other growers. Representatives from 23 states and Canada participated in the training.

“The Young Leaders program provides training in key areas, including communication and leadership, while growing their peer network. This strengthens our industry and allows us to work collaboratively in our local, state and national organizations,” said ASA Chairman Richard Wilkins (DE). “The Young Leaders program continues to have an enormous impact on not only the soybean industry but all of agriculture. The class of 2017 is exceptional; they are engaged, talented and passionate about agriculture. We are grateful to DuPont Pioneer and DuPont Crop Protection for making this program possible.”

The 2017 Class of Young Leaders are: Cade Grace, AL; Layne and Ryane Miles, AR; Brock Willard, IL; Jonathan and Derika Lynam-Spaetti, IN; Alex Brownlee, IA; Casey Schlichting, IA; Brandon and Blair Geiger, KS; Brett Neibling, KS; Kyle Bugg, KY; Mike and Lindsey Gaspard, LA; Angela and June Provost, LA; Andrew Crawford, MI; Matt and Jessica Swoish, MI; Trevore Brekken, MN; Chad and Monica McCollough, MO; Blake Hokamp, NE; Leslie Hamilton and Dan Stein, NY; Greg Manning and Jessica Harris, NC; Kasey Bitz, ND; Trish Levering, OH; Jean Lam, OK; Jeff and Janie Harrison, Canada; Justin and Jessica Rivers, SC.; Nick and Shelly Lorang, SD.; Rob Holman, TN; Doug Singleteary, TN; Grayson Kirby and Cindy Dykes, VA; Wes and Amanda Marshall, VA; and Tony and Katie Mellenthin, WI.

“It was a privilege to meet this year’s enthusiastic class of DuPont Young Leaders, who will take on the challenges and opportunities that face American agriculture,” said Steve Reno, vice president, regional business director - U.S. & Canada. “We look forward to watching them develop their leadership skills throughout the program.”



Fischer Applauds Passage of Final Water Infrastructure Bill

The U.S. Senate has passed final legislation that will help ensure safe and reliable water infrastructure for communities in Nebraska and across the country. The bill is known as the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. It includes a bipartisan provision, negotiated by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), which would modify exemptions for costly EPA regulations that could negatively affect agriculture producers with on-farm fuel storage. The bill now heads to the president’s desk.

Senator Fischer, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement:

“The Senate closed an incredibly productive 114th Congress by successfully passing a bipartisan water infrastructure bill. The bill includes language I promoted that would alleviate regulatory burdens for Nebraska producers who have on-farm fuel storage. These important exemptions provide relief for Nebraskans as they continue their tireless efforts to feed a hungry world.”

The WIIN Act included language Senator Fischer crafted with her colleagues on the EPW committee that provides agriculture producers with a limited exemption from the EPA’s Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule. These EPA regulations, which were originally designed for major oil refineries, would have required farmers and ranchers who have on-farm fuel storage to make costly structural upgrades to their fuel tanks.

The WIIN Act rolls back these regulations by:
·       Fully exempting animal feed storage tanks from the SPCC rule, both in terms of aggregate storage and single-tank storage.
·       Providing greater flexibility by exempting up to 2,500 gallons of capacity on remote or separate parcels of land (as long as these tanks are not larger than 1,000 gallons each).

Other important provisions for Nebraska in the legislation include:
·       Providing greater flexibility for local, non-federal stakeholders. For example, Natural Resource Districts will be allowed to receive reimbursement during project construction, instead of waiting until a project is completed.
·       Authorizing the EPA to review and approve state permitting programs for coal ash disposal units within 180 days of a state’s submitting a program for approval. This addresses the harmful effects of the EPA’s coal ash rule and will help protect Nebraska utilities from citizen suits.
·       Providing relief for Nebraska producers in the Northport Irrigation District near Bridgeport, Nebraska. The bill will allow irrigation district land owners to make payments on their portion of construction contract loans to the Bureau of Reclamation. This releases producers from current acre limitations that prevent producers from expanding farms and growing their businesses. 



Congress Provides Necessary Relief from EPA’s SPCC Regulations
 
Statement by Scott Yager, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association environmental counsel on the Congressional passage of The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which includes a provision to provide regulatory relief for farms from the EPA’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule for farms.

“Cattle producers applaud Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Rep. Rick Crawford’s (R-Ark.) leadership championing this issue and getting the regulatory relief farmers and ranchers need from yet another unnecessary EPA overregulation. The SPCC regulations were originally designed for major oil refineries but were expanded to include agricultural producers by regulating on-farm oil storage. The provision included in the WIIN Act provides additional flexibility for storing oil containers on individual parcels of land and a complete exemption for animal feed additives, including tallow and grease. These commonsense exemptions will protect many cattle producers from the undue burden and cost of developing, and complying with, an SPCC plan. This relief is a well-deserved victory for agriculture at the end of the 115th Congress.”



Checkoff Logs Record 3,300 BQA Certifications!

Producers work cattle using BQA methodsThis fall, more than 3,300 producers from across the country became Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-certified, the largest number in the history of free-certifications supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI). And, of those who signed up during the free certification window, 68 percent completed their certification, also the highest percentage in the program’s seven-year history. Through the sponsorship of the BQA certification program, BIVI provides financial support for the Beef Cattle Institute, which developed the certification module.

The checkoff-funded BQA program is important to the cattle industry as it provides producers with a set of best practices for producing quality beef. It also gives consumers the assurance that the beef they eat is both safe and wholesome.

“BQA has benefited every aspect of what we do from accurate record-keeping, to calm gentle handling practices, and everything in between. We are teaching these fundamentals to our kids to carry on for generations to come,” says Mary Huff, beef producer from Murphy, Idaho. “We have seen time and time again, that cattle sold from BQA-certified producers bring higher prices at market. BQA practices have reduced animal issues, increased beef safety, and increased profit margins. Getting BQA-certified is not only the ethical and right thing to do, it is a value-added, best practice that every producer should be fully engaged in.”

The BQA certification modules are customized to fit the specific needs of each segment of the cattle industry – cow-calf, stocker, feedyard and dairy operations. The program covers best-management practices, such as proper handling and administration of vaccinations and other products; using low-stress cattle-handling principles; and eliminating injection-site blemishes. Although the free certification period has passed, it’s never too late to demonstrate your commitment to quality by becoming BQA-certified through your state trainings or online at www.bqa.org.



National 4-H Council, American Farm Bureau Federation Establish Partnership to Promote Agriculture Education and Connect Young People to Careers of Tomorrow
 
Leaders of National 4-H Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation today announced a newly established partnership during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two groups.

Recognizing the need to support agricultural education and highlight the impact ag plays in our daily lives, National 4-H Council and AFBF aim to ignite the desire of young people to embrace agriculture, cultivate innovation and empower them with opportunities to improve the world around them. Through collaboration on thought leadership and ag literacy initiatives, both organizations are committed to better link young people to agriculture of today and tomorrow.

“For more than a century, 4-H has provided young people with opportunities to spark and grow their interests in agriculture, giving them the courage, confidence and resilience to lead,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council. “National 4-H Council is proud and excited to join forces with the American Farm Bureau Federation to help empower and develop young people with the workforce skills necessary to pursue careers in the agriculture industry.”

The Council-AFBF partnership will formally kick off in 2017.

“Farm Bureau has a long history of investing in young people with a demonstrated interest in not only farming and ranching but also agri-business and food-related careers,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’re pleased to build on our tradition of supporting youth in agriculture through this formal collaboration with National 4-H Council.”



AFBF Surpasses Membership Quota Goal for 2016
 
AFBF has surpassed its membership quota goal for 2016, posting growth of 14,835 member families. According to Robin Kinney, director of membership & program development for the American Farm Bureau Federation, total membership for the year is 5,999,327 member families.

State Farm Bureaus that reached Quota and Navigator status are identified on the map. Quota is a membership goal for a state calculated by taking the final membership number reported to AFBF for the previous year and adding one member.

Charting a course for membership growth, Navigator reflects a state achieving an accelerated pace and surpassing the established quota goal. The Navigator Award is a calculated percentage of growth by state-size based on the previous year’s final reported membership.



Rabobank: Supply-driven Global Meat Markets to Put Pressure on Prices

Consumers are set to benefit from downward pressure on global meat prices during 2017, according to a new report from the Rabobank Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group. The report, Prices Under Pressure in a Supply-Driven Market: Global Outlook for Animal Protein in 2017, also finds:
•            High supply and competitive market expected to push down current prices
•            China forecast to maintain record levels of pork imports into 2017
•            More complex production market forecast, with pressure to mitigate threats including concerns over antibiotic use and greenhouse gases

While global meat consumption continues to rise, a supply-driven and more competitive market will create challenges for producers, putting pressure on prices and margins, Rabobank forecasts. The predictions are included in its report Prices Under Pressure in a Supply-Driven Market: Global Outlook for Animal Protein in 2017.

Rabobank predicts that China will continue to exert a huge influence on global meat markets. The world’s most populous country increased pork imports to record levels in 2016 and Rabobank forecasts these import levels will remain constant next year. China’s beef and poultry imports are also expected to rise.

In the U.S., production is expected to continue growing, but consumers’ appetites are being tested as record levels are reached. The strong dollar and uncertainty over future trading relationships with China and Mexico create potential headwinds for American producers. The US is currently the world’s largest exporter of pork to China, excluding the EU.

Justin Sherrard, Rabobank’s global strategist – animal protein, said: “In a market driven by supply, we expect prices to come under pressure next year – a boon to consumers but a clear challenge for producers and processors. With rising demand, we forecast that China will maintain its 2016 record levels of pork imports next year and could increasingly seek something akin to ‘imports-plus’, locking in supply as it targets food safety and security for its growing population. Meanwhile, U.S. producers head into 2017 grappling with the potential of changes to the country’s trade policy and further currency movements. Indeed, with worldwide currency fluctuations depending on political machinations as well as central bank decisions, we are becoming accustomed to expecting the unexpected.”

Elsewhere, Rabobank predicts an increasingly complex production market, making it more challenging for producers to exploit opportunities. They may come under additional pressure to adapt their systems to mitigate threats including the focus on antibiotics use, the attention on livestock as a source of greenhouse gases and growing retailer competition. Rabobank highlights that this complexity is creating new growth opportunities for the producers and processors that read the market well and respond swiftly.

They are likely to respond by strengthening supply chains, coordinating inputs and increasing transparency to improve traceability in supply chains, Rabobank says.

Justin Sherrard added: “The onus is very much on producers to mitigate the concerns of consumers, particularly around animal health and welfare issues, by adapting their production models and supply chains. This is a challenge which will continue to be a major theme in 2017.”

Rabobank’s Global Outlook for Animal Protein is produced annually, providing one of the most closely-watched forecasts for the coming year’s market prospects.



 Government Shutdown Clock Resets, Clock Still Ticking for Family Agriculture, NFU Says

In response to the U.S. Senate’s vote to pass the $1.1 trillion stopgap spending package, sending the bill to the President’s desk to fund the government through April 28, 2017, National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement:

“While we reset the government shutdown clock, the clock is still ticking for family farmers and ranchers, particularly for dairy producers, who were hopeful this spending package might include some immediate relief from persistently low milk prices and an unsuccessful dairy safety net program.

“We would have also liked to see a greater investment in renewable energy by funding expiring tax credits that incentivize the use of renewable energy and biofuels.

“We are, however, appreciative of the efforts of Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chairman Jerry Moran, Ranking Member Jeff Merkley and other agricultural champions to provide funding for the USDA Farm Service Agency. As farmers and ranchers are burdened by the declining farm economy, access to low-interest operating credit is necessary to keep struggling producers in business.”



NFU Applauds Inclusion of FSA Funding in Congressional Spending Package

As the 114th Congress works to pass a spending bill that would fund the government through April 2017, National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased that the package considers the plight of the farm economy. The continuing resolution includes a provision to ensure that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) can keep up with the mounting demand for farm operating loans given the state of the farm economy.

“We applaud Congress for listening to the requests of family farmers and ranchers and providing funds in the continuing resolution for FSA to meet the record-demand for operating loans. Providing additional funding to FSA before the next fiscal year will help alleviate those producers waiting on direct operating loans and allow more applicants to access capital,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

Earlier this year, FSA reached the funding cap for direct operating loans. NFU supported the agency’s decision to reprogram funds to assist more than 1,900 approved applicants awaiting FSA direct operating loans, but asked for additional solutions to aid struggling producers.  

“Agriculture bankers have raised interest rates on farm loans and indicated continued decreases in loan repayment rates, and we’ve been concerned about the mounting financial stress for farm borrowers. As farmers and ranchers are burdened by the declining farm economy, access to low-interest operating credit is necessary to keep struggling producers in the business of feeding Americans,” Johnson explained.

A recently published study from the Kansas City Federal Reserve reported that more than 90 percent of bankers experienced deterioration in the level of working capital among borrowers in the crop sector, while nearly 30 percent reported a significant deterioration in working capital from a year ago.

“Declines in income are having a negative impact in the health of our nations farm and ranch families. We’re appreciative of the work of Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chairman Jerry Moran and other Congressional champions of agriculture that understand the urgency of providing assistance to rural America funding the FSA,” he concluded.



NFU Opens Registration for 115th Anniversary Convention

National Farmers Union announced that registration is open for its 115th Anniversary Convention. The conference, which gathers family farmers and ranchers from across the country, industry professionals and notable speakers, will be held March 5-8th, 2017 at the Catamaran Resort Hotel in San Diego, Calif.

The state of the farm economy and the upcoming Farm Bill will be a primary focus for the convention’s keynote speakers and panel discussions, while an agricultural tour day will focus on local agriculture and cooperative learning.

“Our convention provides our members and attendees the opportunity to learn, collaborate and grow through thoughtful discussions, breakout sessions and farm tours. We are pleased to offer attendees new learning opportunities this year while maintaining a focus on the issues that matter most to our family farmers and ranchers, such as the economy and defending the farm safety net,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We look forward to hosting our members and the industry in San Diego!”

Attendees can also register for the NFU Women’s Conference, which will be held prior to this year’s anniversary convention on March 4th and 5th. The Women’s Conference will host many inspired and diverse speakers touching on the topics of leadership development, finances, generational transitions and more.

To register or learn more about the 115th Anniversary Convention, visit the NFU convention website at www.nfu.org/convention.

More information on the 2017 NFU Women’s Conference is available at: www.nfu.org/education/womens-conference.