Wednesday December 7 Ag News

Nebraska Farm Bureau Delegates Set Agriculture Policy Positions, Elect New Leaders
Delegates representing farm and ranch families from all 93 Nebraska counties outlined key agriculture policy priorities and elected new leaders for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation as part of the organization’s 99th Annual Meeting and Convention held Dec. 4-6 in Kearney. In addition to reiterating state tax reform as the top priority for the organization heading into the 2017 legislative session, delegates identified several other key priorities, said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.

“Tax reform to address our overreliance on property taxes is still the top concern for our members. With that said, delegates also adopted a resolution pointing to other important issues that must be addressed for the well-being of Nebraska farm and ranch families, our rural communities, and our state,” said Nelson.

Among those priorities is the need to tackle the growing burden of federal regulations, including EPA’s Waters of the U.S. Rule which would significantly expand the agency’s ability to control what happens on private land.

Delegates also support efforts to expand market opportunities for Nebraska agricultural commodities, specifically growth into foreign markets through trade opportunities.

“The vast majority of the world’s consumers reside outside of America’s borders. Many of those are people who are looking to improve their standards of living and their diets by incorporating meat protein. We must continue to look for opportunities to build those relationships. Growing our markets is good for Nebraska agriculture and our state’s economy,” said Nelson.

Delegates also called on Farm Bureau to continue efforts to work on reform for both health care and the federal tax code.

“We need tax policies that allow farmers and ranchers the opportunity to pass their operations down from one generation to the next and that includes doing away with the federal estate tax. And we must also address the growing costs of health care on farm and ranch families and other self-employed individuals who purchase health insurance through the individual market place,” said Nelson.

Delegates also discussed priorities to be included in the development of the next farm bill, pointing to federal crop insurance as being the top priority.

In addition to taking policy positions, delegates also conducted elections for positions on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

Hilary Maricle of Boone County Farm Bureau was elected to the position of at-large ag promotion director. Maricle and her husband Brian grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa, and raise cattle, hogs, and sheep near Albion.

John Temme of Wayne County Farm Bureau was elected to the position of youth-at-large director. Temme and his wife Molly operate a row crop and dairy operation near Wayne.

Martey Stewart of Dixon County Farm Bureau was elected to represent Dist. 3, which includes Antelope, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Thurston, and Wayne counties. Stewart and his wife Linda raise livestock near Dixon.

Leslie Boswell of Clay County Farm Bureau was elected to represent Dist. 4, which includes Butler, Clay, Fillmore, Hamilton, Jefferson, Nuckolls, Polk, Saline, Seward, Thayer, and York counties. Boswell and her husband Ken operate a row crop farm near Shickley.

Katie Olson of Holt County Farm Bureau was elected to represent Dist. 6, which includes Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Grant, Holt, Hooker, Keya Paha, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Rock, Thomas, and Wheeler counties. Olson and her husband James grow corn and soybeans and raise cow/calf pairs near Atkinson.

Dustin Ladenburger of Hitchcock County Farm Bureau was elected to represent Dist. 7, which includes Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Lincoln, and Red Willow counties. Ladenburger grows dryland wheat, corn, milo, and has a cow/calf operation near Stratton.




98th Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting celebrates innovation, accomplishments of agriculture

Members of Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization gathered in Des Moines, 1,000 strong, to celebrate the many ways agriculture helps Iowans “Believe, Lead and Achieve” a path of success in rural Iowa. The 98th Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, held December 6-7, not only showcases the many accomplishments of farmers through the generations, but highlights young leaders who lead a bold, new path of innovation.

Craig Hill, IFBF president and longtime Milo, Iowa, grain and livestock farmer, says, “IFBF members know achieving sustained excellence in agriculture does not happen by chance. It is purposeful, thoughtful and strategic, which is why nationally we will seek to identify our needs in the next comprehensive farm bill, always striving to achieve your policy objectives. Members have many achievements, those won by the present and past generations of agriculturalists. The challenges facing humanity are significant. The world population is expected to grow to 9.6 billion by 2050, which means we must grow 70 percent more food, and do so on less land, with less water, less fertilizer and less energy. As innovators, we can do that,” says Hill.

Helping Iowa farmers invest in conservation innovations is one of the highlights brought out by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, during his keynote address. “Iowa farmers have invested more than $2.6 billion in conservation during my tenure with the USDA. We are committed to water quality, so we’ve added an additional $33 million to our national water quality effort, and this is going to help about 600,000 acres of land that we are investing in to improve the quality of our small tributaries and those small rivers that lead into larger rivers and streams and major waterways. We’re also announcing additional acres in our Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) of about 700,000 acres for wildlife habitat, and 100,000 acres for pollinators,” says Vilsack. The U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Governor also chose the IFBF meeting to announce a new program which brings into focus the measurable progress of collaborative efforts between urban and rural watersheds; the launch of the Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) program. “This program will assist landowners with the cost of building bioreactors and saturated buffers and under this program, we’ll provide a 90 percent Cost Share and the only qualification is that the land be adjacent to water,” says Vilsack.

As in previous years, educational seminars which focused on furthering conservation knowledge, brought big crowds. Doug Adams, a farmer from Humboldt County who has 510 acres out of his total 660 acres seeded to cover crops, told fellow Farm Bureau farmers that success in improving water quality is not an option, but a necessity. “Managing nutrients on our farms is a complicated issue and I’ve learned it’s important to begin with good measurement to know where you’re starting, so you can plan your approach with multiple conservation options; look at your nutrient timing and rates; look at different cover crop seedlings and methods; do some soil leaf, stalk and tissue testing and consider that sometimes, weather will trump your plan. But, it doesn’t mean you can stop; we all must keep trying because we all need to work to make our Nutrient Reduction Strategy work. The time is now,” says Adams.

Other popular education seminars helped Farm Bureau farmers assess market risk. Dale Durchholz, senior commodity analyst at AgriVisor, brought a sense of hope to farmers who have been struggling through three consecutive years of volatile prices for corn, soybean, hogs and cattle. “We are one significant weather problem away from a big move, because we’ve had three years of really good crops, the odds are saying there is going to be a big hiccup somewhere in the world. Then, we can be in for a really big change as strong demand begins to chip away at large supplies.”



Iowa Farmers Union Welcomes New President
Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) members gathered at the Iowa Arboretum near Madrid, Iowa for the 2016 IFU Annual Convention, Taking Root for a New Century.

The convention included elections for IFU president, vice president, and board of directors. IFU members elected Aaron Heley Lehman, a fifth-generation family farmer from rural Polk County, to serve as the next IFU president.

Lehman and his family raise corn, soybeans, oats, and hay in both organic and conventional rotations on their family farm. He served as the IFU vice president immediately prior to his election as president. Lehman also has served previously as the executive director and legislative director for IFU and on the National Farmers Union Policy Committee. His father, Phil Lehman, is a past IFU vice president and board member, and Aaron was active in Farmers Union youth programs growing up.

"I am honored to serve the family farmers of this organization for the next two years," Lehman stated following his election. "I am extremely proud of the Farmers Union, and I am very optimistic about our future and our role in shaping a positive path for agriculture in Iowa."

Lehman is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and Treasurer of the North Polk School Foundation. He is a graduate of North Polk High School in Alleman, Iowa and St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He and his wife, Nicole Heley Lehman, have two children, Jordan and Benjamin.

Out-going IFU president, Jana Linderman of Linn County, was elected to serve a two-year term as IFU vice president.

"I have been so privileged to have the opportunity to lead this organization as president for the past 3 years during a time of growth and transition," said Linderman. "I look forward to working with our new president to continue to build a strong grassroots organization that represents Iowa's family farmers."

IFU members also elected John Gilbert of Hardin County, Sally Gran of Story County, Julia McGuire of Polk County, Matt Russell of Marion County, and Ron Tigner of Webster County to serve on the IFU board of directors. D'Quinton Robertson of Des Moines, a participant in the 2016 National Farmers Union Beginning Farmer Institute, was elected to serve as a student representative on the IFU board.

The 2016 IFU Convention featured workshops on water quality, pesticide drift, a proposed statewide CAFO moratorium, and proposals for the next federal farm bill. IFU members also debated and approved new IFU legislative policy for 2017, and adopted two special orders of business on water quality and market competition.



Branstad as China Ambassador
Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey issued the following statement regarding Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad accepting the role of U.S. Ambassador to China:

“Governor Branstad is uniquely qualified to serve in this critically important position.  Iowa and the entire nation will benefit from his leadership of our diplomatic efforts in China.  For the Governor, public service has always been about responding to the call and putting his state and nation before his own interests and this is just another example.

“As Iowans, we will miss his steady leadership and passionate service here at home, but his leadership in China will be felt here in Iowa. His influence in this new position will not only be good for agriculture and trade, but good for America.

“The Governor leaves the state in a tremendous position thanks to his leadership over the past 6 years.  With Lt. Governor Reynolds as our next Governor, Iowans can be assured that we will continue to advance the Branstad/Reynolds agenda of addressing water quality, improving education, reducing the size and scope of government, increasing family incomes and creating new jobs.

“I was beginning to explore a run for a potentially open seat for Governor in 2018.  If I made the decision to run, it would not have been a decision to run against a fellow Republican, but because I feel I have more to give by serving in a different role.  I encourage Iowa republicans to unite behind Lt. Governor Reynolds, help ensure her election in 2018 and join me in working to keep Iowa red for the next generation.”



Iowa Soybean Association heralds Gov. Branstad as U.S. ambassador to China
Karey Claghorn, Chief Operating Officer, Iowa Soybean Association

“Iowa and U.S. agriculture will be among the many beneficiaries of Gov. Terry Branstad’s selection as U.S. ambassador to China.

“His enduring relationship with the leaders and people of China, forged over many years of conversation and joint participation in activities here at home and abroad, will advance strong China-U.S. relations at a critical time for both countries.

“The governor and Iowa soybean farmers have long recognized the strategic and significant role China plays for U.S. agriculture. The country of nearly 1.4 billion people purchases nearly 60 percent of global soybean production. About one of every three rows of soybeans grown in Iowa are destined for China. Food is essential for life and trade relations forged with the people of China by Branstad and soybean farmers will serve both countries well.

“Branstad has and continues to be a champion of Iowa’s farm families. Having been raised on a farm and served Iowans as the state’s chief executive officer during the depths of the farm crisis, he has a unique understanding of what makes rural America tick. He will draw from these experiences to serve all Americans as ambassador.

“While we acknowledge the opportunities that abound for our state and country as a result of Branstad’s selection as U.S. ambassador to China, we recognize his long and distinguished service as Iowa governor. We look forward to presenting Gov. Branstad with our Friend of the Iowa Soybean Farmer Award next week during a meeting of the ISA board of directors in Ankeny.

“We also welcome the opportunity to work with Iowa’s new chief executive to advance the competitiveness of soybean farmers to the benefit of all Iowans.”



ASA Welcomes Branstad as Incoming Ambassador to China

Following news this morning that President-elect Donald Trump will name Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad the next U.S. Ambassador to China, American Soybean Association (ASA) President Richard Wilkins expressed the association's support for the pick, citing the governor's extensive experience working with China and the importance of the marketplace for U.S. soybean farmers:

"ASA enthusiastically supports Gov. Branstad as the next U.S. Ambassador to China. As we have said in the weeks that followed the presidential election, it is extremely important to have voices within the incoming administration that understand and value the huge impact that global trade has on U.S. agriculture and specifically American soybean producers. Nowhere is that relationship more significant than in China, a market that demands nearly 60 percent of our soy exports, and over 25 percent of our production overall.

"Governor Branstad has proven himself to be a valuable ally on this issue. He clearly understands the global nature of the agricultural economy, and knows what American farmers and Chinese buyers mean to one another. We look forward to working with him and his staff in the years to come. We also look forward to continuing our outreach to President-elect Trump to help underscore the priorities of American soybean farmers, including the importance of trade and exports to our industry and all of agriculture. "



Growth Energy Congratulates Scott Pruitt on EPA Administrator Nomination

Today, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Oklahoma Attorney General, Scott Pruitt, to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In response to the nomination, Growth Energy CEO, Emily Skor, issued the following statement:

“We congratulate Mr. Pruitt on his nomination and look forward to working with him to carry out President-elect Trump’s strong commitments to protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard and ending restrictions to getting more ethanol into our fuel supply.

“America’s ethanol industry worked hard to help bring President-elect Trump to the White House and continues to support his dedication to ensuring home-gown domestic energy security.”



Fischer Statement on Nomination of Scott Pruitt to Lead EPA

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released the following statement on the nomination of Scott Pruitt to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“I am eager to meet with Mr. Pruitt to discuss his plans for rolling back the harmful rules and regulations put forth by the EPA over the past eight years. Undoing this extreme overreach that has hurt Nebraska families and stunted economic growth is long overdue. If confirmed as EPA administrator, Mr. Pruitt will be charged with returning the EPA to its intended mission: implementing the nation’s laws, not creating new ones.”



October Pork Exports Largest Since 2014; Beef Exports Remain Strong

U.S. pork and beef exports continued to build momentum in October, with both achieving double-digit increases from a year ago, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

October pork exports totaled 201,936 metric tons (mt), up 14 percent year-over-year and the largest monthly volume since March 2014. Export value was $521.1 million, up 16 percent. For January through October, export volume was 6 percent above last year’s pace at 1.86 million mt, while export value was up 3 percent to $4.79 billion.

Exports accounted for 25.5 percent of total pork production in October and 21 percent for muscle cuts only. For January-October, exports accounted for 25 percent of total production – up a full percentage point from a year ago – and 21 percent for muscle cuts, up slightly. Export value per head slaughtered averaged $47 in October, up 8 percent year-over-year, while January-October export value averaged $49, steady with the same period last year.

October beef export volume was 105,938 mt, up 12 percent from a year ago, while export value climbed 10 percent to $559.5 million. For January through October, export volume was up 9 percent from a year ago at 954,868 mt, while value was down 3 percent to $5.1 billion. Beef muscle cut exports were especially strong in October at 75,903 mt – the largest volume in two years.

Beef exports accounted for 14 percent of total production in October and 11 percent for muscle cuts only. January-October ratios were just over 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively – up slightly from the same period last year. Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $269.35 in October, up 5 percent year-over-year. Through the first 10 months of 2016, export value averaged $254.71 per head, down 8 percent.

“With pork production at a record level and beef production also on the rise, it is imperative that we work to expand global demand and accelerate the volume of product entering the international markets,” said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “With strong support from USDA, our U.S. industry partners and our international contacts, USMEF has intensified its marketing efforts in key destinations and capitalized on opportunities to regain market share – not only in mainstay markets such as Japan, Mexico and South Korea, but in a wide range of countries. This has laid the groundwork for a strong finish to this year and further growth in 2017.”

Led by Mexico, pork exports strengthen in Western Hemisphere markets
Pork exports to Mexico remained strong in October, increasing 9 percent from a year ago in volume (65,271 mt) and 6 percent in value ($115.2 million). For January through October, exports to Mexico pulled within 2 percent of last year’s record pace in volume (576,008 mt) and remained 1 percent higher in value ($1.05 billion). This strong performance has been especially supportive of prices for U.S. hams, the highest-volume export item to Mexico. Through October, in pesos, U.S. ham prices were 21 percent higher than a year ago while demand in Mexico remained strong. Ham prices strengthened further in November, and weekly export data showed even larger shipments to Mexico. To overcome the difficult exchange rate situation, USMEF has emphasized the quality and consistency of U.S hams with Mexico’s meat processors and worked with these companies on new product development.

Pork exports to leading value market Japan were also strong in October, increasing 4 percent from a year ago in volume (30,987 mt) and 9 percent in value ($127.9 million). Through the first 10 months of the year, exports to Japan were 7 percent below last year’s pace in volume (320,491 mt) and 4 percent lower in value ($1.29 billion). Chilled pork exports to Japan remained on a record pace through October, totaling 180,793 mt, up 9 percent year-over-year.

Pork muscle cut exports to China/Hong Kong continued to moderate in October, reflecting a rebound in China’s domestic pork production, but variety meat exports to the region remained strong. For January through October, total pork/pork variety meat exports to China/Hong Kong were up 66 percent from a year ago in volume (450,257 mt) and 55 percent higher in value ($878.8 million).

Other January-October highlights for U.S. pork exports include:
-    After a slow first half of 2016, exports to Colombia continue to rebound. Though January-October exports were still down 13 percent year-over-year in volume (30,713 mt) and 20 percent in value ($70.6 million), October exports climbed 68 percent in volume (5,862 mt) and 77 percent in value ($14.6 million). October muscle cut exports to Colombia were the largest on record at 5,428 mt, up 58 percent from a year ago.
-    Following a slowdown in September, pork exports to Central America rebounded strongly in October, especially in Honduras, Guatemala and Panama. January-October exports to Central America were up 18 percent from a year ago in volume (53,259 mt) and 12 percent in value ($126.9 million).
-    Exports to the Dominican Republic were 9 percent above last year’s pace in volume (20,945 mt) and 4 percent higher in value ($45.8 million), including a 32 percent increase in October export value ($4.8 million).
-    Although January-October exports to Korea remain well below last year’s large totals, demand has strengthened in recent months. Pork muscle cut exports to Korea reached 11,469 mt in October, the largest since March. Combined pork/pork variety meat exports were 12,121, up 11 percent from a year ago. October export value climbed 26 percent to $33.8 million.

Beef exports set new monthly record in Taiwan; chilled exports continue to shine
October beef exports were highlighted by a record performance in Taiwan, where volume was up 90 percent from a year ago to 5,177 mt. This pushed January-October exports to Taiwan to 35,241 mt (up 20 percent year-over-year) valued at $284.9 million, up 7 percent and on track for a new record.

October exports were also outstanding to Japan, where volume soared 40 percent to 20,089 mt valued at $119.8 million (up 34 percent). January-October exports to Japan were up 21 percent in volume (213,636 mt) and 13 percent in value ($1.24 billion). Japan’s October imports of chilled U.S. beef exceeded chilled imports from Australia for the second consecutive month.

In Korea, October exports were 16,897 mt (up 63 percent year-over-year) valued at $98.8 million (up 68 percent). January-October exports to Korea were 139,592 mt valued at $814.2 million, up 36 percent and 21 percent, respectively, from a year ago. Export value to Korea is on pace to exceed the 2014 record of $847.4 million, and with a strong finish could approach the $1 billion mark in 2016.

Chilled beef exports to both Japan and Korea have excelled in 2016, with shipments to both markets up nearly 40 percent year-over-year. Through October, chilled exports were the largest on record to Korea and the largest to Japan since 2003.

Other January-October highlights for U.S. beef exports include:
-    Despite the persistent weakness of the peso, beef exports to Mexico were up 8 percent from a year ago to 195,799 mt, though export value to Mexico has trended lower this year ($812.1 million, down 11 percent).
-    While January-October exports to Hong Kong were lower year-over-year (86,943 mt, down 6 percent, valued at $525.2 million, down 18 percent), October exports were easily the largest of the year in both volume (11,998 mt) and value ($72.8 million).
-    Fueled by strong growth in Indonesia and Vietnam, exports to the ASEAN region increased 27 percent in volume (22,206 mt) and 3 percent in value ($119 million).
-    Despite a decline to leading destination Egypt, beef liver exports increased 9 percent to 67,394. Larger volumes to Mexico and the addition of South Africa, a promising liver market that reopened earlier this year, offset lower shipments to Egypt, which takes about 75 percent of U.S. liver exports.

Lamb exports trend lower, but muscle cuts improve
October exports of U.S. lamb fell 31 percent from a year ago to 600 mt, but this was due to a steep decline in variety meat exports. Lamb muscle cut exports were 224 mt, up 19 percent. Lamb export value in October was $1.41 million, down 4 percent. January-October exports were down 6 percent from a year ago in both volume (7,120 mt) and value ($14.8 million), as gains in Bermuda, Hong Kong, the ASEAN region and the United Arab Emirates were offset by lower exports to leading market Mexico.



USDA Announces New Conservation Opportunities to Improve Water Quality and Restore Wildlife Habitat

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer farmers and ranchers more opportunities to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The announcement includes new CRP practices to protect water quality and adds an additional 1.1 million acres targeted to benefit wildlife, pollinators and wetlands.

"The Conservation Reserve Program is an extremely popular voluntary program that offers producers and landowners a wide variety of opportunities to prevent erosion, protect wildlife habitat and reduce nutrient runoff," said Vilsack. "With the program close to the legal enrollment limit of 24 million acres, USDA has been working to use all of the tools at our disposal to maximize benefits by combining multiple soil, water and wildlife objectives in the areas where it is needed most."

Vilsack unveiled a new conservation initiative known as Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR), which will add new tools to CRP that can help to improve water quality. CLEAR will assist landowners with the cost of building bioreactors and saturated buffers that filter nitrates and other nutrients from tile-drained cropland. Early estimates indicate that CLEAR could help to reduce nitrate runoff by as much as 40 percent over traditional conservation methods. CLEAR may cover up to 90 percent of the cost to install these new practices through incentives and cost-share. These new methods are especially important in areas where traditional buffers have not been enough to prevent nutrients from reaching bodies of water.

USDA will also add an additional 1.1 million acres to a number of key CRP practices that are critically important to wildlife and conservation. These include 700,000 acres for State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) efforts, which restore high-priority wildlife habitat tailored to a specific state's needs. In addition to SAFE, 300,000 acres will be added to target wetlands restoration that are nature's water filters and 100,000 acres for pollinator habitat that support 30 percent of agricultural production.

The continued strong demand for CRP combined with the limited acreage available for enrollment and lower land rental rates, allows USDA to modify certain program components without affecting the integrity of the program. Signing incentives are being reduced by $25 per acre on certain practices for fiscal year 2018 enrollments (incentives are currently between $100 and $150 per acre) and a cap on the maximum soil rental rate is being instituted for Continuous CRP at $300 per acre. The savings from these changes are being reinvested back in CRP, including the additional acres for SAFE, pollinator habitat and wetlands restoration.



Webinar Looks at Expectations for Cow-Calf Producers in 2017

Have the lows been established for the cattle industry? With the magnitude of the break that we have experienced across the entire cattle industry thus far that question is on everyone’s mind. An upcoming free CattleFax webinar will address that question as well as provide an outlook for the cow-calf and entire beef industry for 2017.

The CattleFax Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar will be Jan. 25, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. MT. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at https://www.cattlefax.com/#!/about 

CattleFax analysts will discuss a variety of topics in the one-hour session, including:
-    Cattle and feedstuff market projections for the next 12 to 18 months
-    Supply expectations for the cattle and beef industry as well as competing meats
-    Margin expectations and profit/risk management strategies for the cow-calf producer                                                                                   

The Trends+ webinar series informs cattle producers about current market conditions and provides decision-friendly advice regarding management decisions. The analysis and strategies shared through the series has reached more than 3,500 producers, and sponsorship from Elanco Animal Health is making the seminar free for all attendees.



 NMPF Urges Participation in Upcoming USDA Dairy Cost of Production Survey

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is in the process of conducting its Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) for dairy farms, also known as the Dairy Cost of Production Survey. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) makes extensive use of this information and strongly encourages dairy producers to participate if called upon to do so. Specifically, NMPF will be using USDA cost of production data as it works with the new Congress to make improvements in the Margin Protection Program.

The ARMS survey provides updated information about the financial well-being, costs of production and production practices of the U.S. dairy sector. In addition to providing solid data for USDA research on dairy production, the ARMS survey information is used to build accurate baseline information for the USDA monthly and annual reports on the cost of milk production. The ARMS surveys examine selected commodities on a rotating basis. This year, it is collecting data for corn and milk production, including the organic dairy sector. Dairy production is surveyed every five years.

Last summer, USDA screened and selected a sample of 3,269 dairy producers in 28 states for the survey. The survey will be administered by trained field enumerators who will schedule appointments from December 2016 through April 2017 with the individual dairy operators in the sample. The higher the participation in this year’s dairy ARMS survey, the better the quality of the information available to the industry.



 Roberts: No Child Nutrition Reauthorization

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Tuesday released the following statement on the status of efforts to complete reauthorization of child nutrition programs.

"Today is a day I hoped would not come," Roberts said. "I'm very disappointed that the bipartisan, bicameral Child Nutrition Reauthorization negotiations have come to an end for the 114th Congress.

"I'm proud of the commonsense reforms and the bipartisan strides we have made in the majority of the programs. However, we are nearing the end of this legislative calendar, and we have not been able to overcome minority objections and additionally those in the House.

"Though our Committee passed a good, bipartisan bill -- something no one said we could do -- it wasn't enough for some. I'm proud to say the Agriculture Committee conducted this reauthorization process in an open and transparent manner that listened to all stakeholders, including schoolchildren. We wrote a well-balanced bill that increased program integrity, flexibility, efficiency, and effectiveness.

"Since that bill was passed by our Committee, we have been working to find an agreement with our colleagues in the House and the minority members of the Senate who halted the bill's progress. In the end, we were not able to reach a bipartisan, bicameral compromise. It is unfortunate that certain parochial interests and the desire for issues rather than solutions were put ahead of the wellbeing of vulnerable and at-risk populations and the need for reform.

"This is a lost opportunity to help hungry children and struggling schools. In addition, these programs will be vulnerable to attack without a reduction in the current error rates.

"As chairman of the Committee, I remain committed to continuing to look for ways to increase integrity within the program and to provide flexibility to local school and summer meal program operators."

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing in May 2015 and unanimously approved the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016 in January.



Effort to Update School Milk Program Fades at End of 2016

Efforts to update child nutrition programs – and to enhance the milk options available in school lunch programs – faded this month as negotiations between the Senate and House failed to arrive at new school nutrition legislation.

The authorization for federal child nutrition programs formally expired at the end of September 2015, but existing programs continue to operate pending approval of a bill to reauthorize federal feeding programs, including school lunch regulations. The National Milk Producers Federation worked on a bipartisan basis with both the House and Senate during the past two years to include language in the reauthorization bill that would prompt the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to review milk consumption in school meals and WIC programs, as well as take steps to increase the intake of milk and the nutrients it provides.

NMPF held out hope that the December congressional lame-duck session would offer the opportunity to pass the nutrition legislation, but Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) said this week that negotiations have reached an impasse.

"I'm very disappointed that the bipartisan, bicameral Child Nutrition Reauthorization negotiations have come to an end for the 114th Congress,” Roberts said. “I remain committed to continuing to look for ways to increase integrity within the program and to provide flexibility to local school and summer meal program operators.”

Both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees had approved legislation in the past year, supported by NMPF, to reverse the decline of milk consumption in schools. NMPF’s goal was to prompt a reassessment of the current USDA policy that only allows fat-free flavored milk – and not 1% flavored milk – in the school lunch line, even though federal dietary guidelines support the inclusion of low-fat flavored milk.

After USDA removed low-fat flavored milk from lunch programs, schools served 187 million fewer half-pints of milk during the years 2012-2014, although total public school enrollment grew during that period.

“We will continue to work on this issue in the coming year to bolster the important role of milk in the nation’s schools,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. “Ignoring the decline in school milk consumption could have serious consequences for children’s health today and throughout their adult lives.”



UAN28 Price Moves Lower, Other Fertilizer Prices Mixed

Average retail prices for the majority of fertilizers moved lower the last week of November 2016. However, prices for a couple of fertilizers were slightly higher compared to the previous month, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

As has been the case for the last few weeks, prices of six of the eight major fertilizers were lower compared to a month earlier, with only one having a significant change. UAN28 was down 10% from last month with an average price of $217 per ton.

Other fertilizers with lower prices include DAP, which had an average price of $435/ton, MAP $445/ton, 10-34-0 $447/ton, anhydrous $465/ton and UAN32 $256/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers were slightly higher in price compared to a month prior. Neither fertilizer was up by any substantial amount, which has been the trend in recent weeks. Potash had an average price of $318/ton and urea was at $331/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.36/lb.N, anhydrous $0.28/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.40/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double digits lower.

Urea is now down 17%, both DAP and MAP are 20% less expensive and both 10-34-0 and UAN32 are 23% lower. UAN28 is 24% less expensive, potash is 25% lower and anhydrous is 26% less expensive compared to a year prior.