Tuesday February 7 Ag News

No-till, cover crops, and planned grazing workshop to be held on Feb 15th

The annual no-till, cover crops, and planned grazing workshop will be held Wednesday, February 15th in the Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with coffee and rolls provided by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD).

In the morning session, Dan Leininger will be talking about soil moisture monitoring and telemetry.  Leininger has worked at the Upper Big Blue NRD for 13 years as a Water Conservationist and was instrumental in developing the Nebraska Agricultural Water Use Network which measures soil moisture and crop evapo-transpiration to schedule irrigation on crops. Leininger also manages the Upper Big Blue NRD’s demonstration farm that uses crop rotation and cover crops to improve soil health which will reduce input costs and increase profit per acre.

Keith Berns will present:  Carbonomics – The “Currency” of Biological Systems.  Berns combines 20 years of no-till farming with 10 years of teaching Agriculture and Computers.  He is no-tilling 2,500 acres of irrigated and dryland corn, soybeans, rye, triticale, peas, sunflowers, and buckwheat.  Berns speaks on cover crops and soil health more than 20 times per year to various groups and audiences.

Mary Drewnoski will talk about the impacts of cattle grazing on croplands.  Drewnoski is a Beef Systems Specialist with UNL and is researching utilization of corn residue and cover crop forages for backgrounding calves and feeding beef cows. She will talk about how corn residue and cover crop grazing impacts soil health and how grazing cover crops positively impact crop yields.

Lunch will be provided by the LENRD at noon.

The afternoon program will include:  Ray Ward - Managing Fertility with Cover Crops in No-till Soils.  Ward, founder and president of Ward Laboratories says “Soil Health” is simply a measure of the interaction of plant growth to microbial activity”.  Ward will talk about the soil fertility concepts of this “new paradigm” in nutrient management where cover crops are added to continuous no-till cash cropping systems.

Lance Gunderson will present:  Integrating Soil Health Tests with Traditional Soil Tests.  Gunderson joined Ward Laboratories in the fall of 2002 and is currently the Director of Soil Health and New Test Development.  Gunderson will talk about correlating PLFA, Solvita, and Haney tests with standard soil tests in making a “modern day” recommendation for nutrient management plans.

Dan Gillespie, State No-Till Specialist, will discuss Cover Crop Management in corn/soybean rotations, and will highlight management options:  seeding, termination, and planting cash crops.

The workshop will end at 3:00 p.m. and is sponsored by:  the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the LENRD.

Reserve your seat by Friday, February 10th for the meal count by calling your local NRCS office or the LENRD at 402.371.7313.



AG EDGE CONFERENCE IS FEB. 9-10 IN LINCOLN

The Nebraska Farm Bureau’s (NEFB) Ag Edge Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in downtown Lincoln, Neb. Feb. 9 and 10.

The conference brings both local and national experts to Lincoln to give farmers and ranchers a competitive edge today for success tomorrow. The weather, global markets, new technologies, and politics all impact agriculture and volatility in the marketplace. The focus of this conference is to give attendees information and tools to help manage these issues.

Thursday, February 9 - 9:00 a.m. - Welcome at Innovation Campus Conference Center
·         Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president
·         Dan Duncan, executive director of Innovation Campus

9:30 a.m. - Innovation Campus Tours
·         Greenhouse Innovation
·         Innovation Commons
·         Food Innovation

12:00 p.m. - Speaker – Dr. Chuck Hibberd, dean and director of Nebraska Extension
·         Dr. Chuck Hibberd, a Lexington, Neb. native and UNL graduate assumed the position of Dean of Cooperative Extension Division Oct. 1, 2012. UNL Extension, with a network of 83 offices serving Nebraska's 93 counties, is part of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

1:30 p.m. - Livestock Matrix Panel
·         Steve Martin, Department of Agriculture
·         Mark McHargue, Matrix Committee Member
·         Jen Myers, Merrick County zoning administrator

2:15 p.m. - Washington D.C. Update: Elections and Farm Bill
·         Jordan Dux, director of national affairs, NEFB

3:30 p.m. - Latest News from the Legislature
·         Bruce Rieker, vice president of governmental relations, NEFB
·         Ansley Mick, director of NFBF-PAC and state affairs, NEFB

Friday, February 10 - 8:30 a.m.  -  2017 Legislature Outlook
·         Sen. Jim Scheer, Speaker of the Legislature

10:00 a.m. - The Fight for Water: Who Regulates Water Quality?
·         Don Parrish, senior sirector, American Farm Bureau Federation
·         Jim Macy, director, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
·         Mike Sousek, general manager of Lower Elkhorn NRD

11:15 a.m. - 2017 Weather Outlook – Al Dutcher, state climatologist
·         Al Dutcher from the University of Nebraska, will talk about weather patterns during the 2017 growing season.

12:00 p.m. - Speaker – Dr. Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor
·         Dr. Ronnie Green assumed full authority as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 20th chancellor on May 8, 2016. Prior to being named chancellor, Green served for six years as the Harlan Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.



NCTA presents college dairy program Feb. 21                      

A new college program aimed at dairy production in Nebraska will be outlined Feb. 21 at the Nebraska State Dairy Association convention in Columbus.

The dairy production curriculum which is slated to be offered starting this fall at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis will be summarized for dairy producers and industry leaders during the NSDA conference.

“We are pleased to help prepare NCTA graduates for a career with the Nebraska dairy industry,” said NCTA Dean Ron Rosati. “This project began as a result of a statewide initiative to support the growth of Nebraska’s dairy industry. NCTA is delighted to be able to work with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska State Dairy Association to support this industry.”

Rosati and Doug Smith, chairman of the NCTA Animal Science and Agricultural Education Division, were invited to outline the new statewide academic program at the dairy meeting which draws dairy producers and allied industries, said Rod Johnson, NSDA executive director.

“There is a real need for people who understand the dairy industry,” Johnson said. “Our dairy farmers are constantly looking for employees who have specialized training and the ability to care for dairy animals at any stage of the production cycle.”

The college’s presentations will be at 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus. NCTA also will have an information table at the trade show throughout the day.

NCTA is actively recruiting college students now to major in dairy production, Smith said. A partnership between NCTA and South Dakota State University was developed late last year.

Classes will begin Fall, 2017, with three semesters of coursework at NCTA in Curtis, and one semester at Brookings, S.D., where the SDSU Dairy Science department includes dairy production with a commercial scale dairy herd, along with dairy science and processing programs.

New students would be joining the program annually, with semesters staggered between NCTA and SDSU.

“The program involves 76 credit hours of courses, labs, and practical hands-on experience in dairy production and herd management,” said Smith.  “Our University courses in Lincoln and Curtis do not include on-site dairy herds so the partnership with SDSU is a win-win industrywide, here for Nebraska residents as well as out-of-state students.”

The University’s Board of Regents recently approved a single tuition rate per credit hour for all NCTA students, which also begins Fall, 2017. The low NCTA tuition rate, currently $121 per credit hour, will apply to Nebraskans and non-Nebraskans, alike.



Conservation practice adoption spikes among soybean farmers

Adoption of conservation practices by Iowa soybean farmers, including the planting of cover crops, spiked in 2016. This is further proof, says the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), that momentum is building behind the state’s innovative nutrient reduction strategy.

The annual survey of 321 soybean farmers, conducted by West Des Moines-based Blue Compass on behalf of the ISA, also affirms the willingness of producers to participate in multiple conservation practices and monitor their effectiveness.

The findings were released in conjunction with ISA’s annual research conference being held today and tomorrow (Feb. 7-8) in Des Moines.

Nearly 50 percent of soybean farmers completing the online survey said they planted cover crops in 2016, a 20 percent increase from the previous year and more than triple the adoption in 2013.

Another 71 percent practice no-tillage farming, up from 61 percent the previous year and 49 percent just four years ago.

In-field studies by ISA find that tillage reduction results in less surface erosion and improved water quality, specifically related to suspended sediment and phosphorus. Research of the Raccoon River Watershed shows sediment loads peaked in the early 1970's and have decreased ever since.

Also, tile monitoring conducted last year by the ISA documented a 29 percent reduction in nitrate concentrations in fields planted to cover crops.

“Leadership is defined by positive action that truly addresses a need or challenge,” said ISA President Rolland Schnell of Newton. “On the issue of improving water quality, Iowa soybean farmers are demonstrating their commitment by greater adoption of conservation practices.”

All 321 soybean farmers surveyed say they use at least one method of conservation on their farm, with a whopping 77 percent using four or more practices. They include terraces, buffer strips, grassed waterways, strip tillage, bioreactors and saturated buffers.

When asked which conservation practices provide the greatest economic return for their operation, respondents cited rotating crops, using nutrients efficiently and effectively, no or reduced tillage, grassed waterways and terraces.

Farmers were equally split when asked if cover crops have a positive economic net return on their farming operation. Saturated buffers, wetlands and bioreactors were cited as providing the least economic return.

Schnell said this finding recognizes the fact that edge-of-field practices often come with a high price tag and no direct financial return to the farmer or landowner.

“This dilemma underscores the need for making cost-share dollars available for conservation work, particularly for practices providing the most significant benefits downstream,” Schnell said. “We’ll also continue to make the case for dedicated, long-term funding to increase the pace and number of water quality projects being implemented statewide.

 He says the survey also reaffirms ISA’s long-held belief that action rather than rhetoric, lawsuits or regulatory schemes is the most effective approach to better water.

“For more than a decade, the ISA has advocated the best approach for sustaining water quality improvements is by demonstrating how conservation practices work on the land and measuring their impact,” Schnell said. “Our survey of farmers shows this approach, funded by individual producers and cost-share programs and backed by the soybean checkoff, is effective and constructive.”

The survey also found:
-    Sixty percent of survey respondents said landowners should be directly involved in implementing basic conservation practices.
-    By a margin of nearly 2-1, farmers plan to grow more soybeans this year than last. Eighteen percent said they will increase soybean acres while 10 percent said they’ll plant fewer acres. Nearly 70 percent say the number of acres they plant to soybeans will remain unchanged while 2 percent were unsure.
-    When asked to predict the long-term profitability of their soybean farm, 45 percent of farmers foresee it remaining status quo. Twenty-five percent believe it will steadily improve while 22 percent predict it will worsen. Eight percent were unsure.
-    In terms of survey demographics, 21 percent of respondents grow fewer than 180 acres of soybeans; 46 percent 180-500 acres; 22 percent 500-1,000; 11 percent more than 1,000 acres.

The survey was completed two weeks prior to the Jan. 27 decision by the Iowa Supreme Court prohibiting Des Moines Water Works from seeking damages from drainage districts in three northwest Iowa counties.



 Sioux County Extension to Host First in Nation Farm Bill Hearing

Two program specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in northwest Iowa will host a live webinar of the first hearing on the 2018 Farm Bill reauthorization later this month. Extension beef specialist Beth Doran and extension dairy Fred Hall will host the Feb. 23 webinar in the basement meeting room of the Sioux County Extension Office, located at 400 Central Ave. NW, Suite 700 in Orange City.

There’s no preregistration and seating will be on a first-come, first-seated basis. The time of the hearing will be announced as soon as it is released.

Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas announced that the hearing will be held on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan. Roberts, who also is chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, said the hearing will feature testimony from a variety of specifically invited agricultural producers. He said lawmakers need clear direction from producers on what is working and what is not working in farm country.

For more information on the hearing webinar, contact the Sioux County Extension and Outreach office at 712-737-4230.



GIPSA Rule Comment Period Extended

The Trump administration today extended the deadline for submitting comments on a regulation related to the buying and selling of livestock, a move hailed by the National Pork Producers Council, which opposes the Obama-era rule.

The so-called Farmer Fair Practices Rules, written by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), include two proposed regulations and an interim final rule, comments on which now are due by March 24.

NPPC is most concerned with the latter, which would broaden the scope of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) of 1921 on the use of “unfair, unjustly discriminatory or deceptive practices” and “undue or unreasonable preferences or advantages.” Specifically, the regulation would deem such actions per se violations of federal law even if they didn’t harm competition or cause competitive injury, prerequisites for winning PSA cases.

“We’re very pleased that the Trump administration has extended the time we have to educate regulators about the devastating effects this rule would have on America’s pork producers,” said NPPC President John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. “The regulation likely would restrict the buying and selling of livestock, lead to consolidation of the livestock industry – putting farmers out of business – and increase consumer prices for meat.”

USDA in 2010 proposed a number of PSA provisions – collectively known as the GIPSA Rule – that Congress mandated in the 2008 Farm Bill; eliminating the need to prove a competitive injury to win a PSA lawsuit was not one of them. In fact, Congress rejected such a “no competitive injury” provision during debate on the Farm Bill. Additionally, eight federal appeals courts have held that harm to competition must be an element of a PSA case.

“Eliminating the need to prove injury to competition would prompt an explosion in PSA lawsuits by turning every contract dispute into a federal case subject to triple damages,” Weber said. “The inevitable costs associated with that and the legal uncertainty it would create could lead to further vertical integration of our industry and drive packers to own more of their own hogs.

“That would reduce competition, stifle innovation and provide no benefits to anyone other than trial lawyers and activist groups that will use the rule to attack the livestock industry. And for those reasons, we’ll be asking the administration to withdraw the rule.”

An Informa Economics study found that the GIPSA Rule, including the interim final rule, would cost the U.S. pork industry more than $420 million annually, with most of the costs related to PSA lawsuits brought under the “no competitive injury” provision.

The deadline for submitting public comments on the Farmer Fair Practices Rules was extended to March 24 from Feb. 21; the effective date of the interim final rule was pushed back to April 22 from Feb. 21.



Trump Urged To Start Trade Talks With Japan

Ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s state visit here, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council urged President Trump to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement with Japan.

In a joint letter transmitted today to the White House, NCBA and NPPC asked the president “to initiate free trade agreement negotiations with nations in the Asia-Pacific region beginning with Japan. … As you continue to lead America forward, we want to be a resource for your administration for possible strategies in improving existing and future trade agreements for the benefit of our producers.”

Abe will be in Washington Friday to meet with Trump on a number of matters, including security challenges and bilateral trade.

“A successful, comprehensive agreement with Japan would result in one of the greatest trade agreements for the U.S. pork and beef industries and for many other sectors,” said NCBA President Craig Uden, a cattle rancher from Elwood, Neb.

Said NPPC President John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa, “Securing strong market access to Japan and other Asian markets is a priority for the U.S. beef and pork industries, and we appreciate the president’s leadership and dedication to making our products the most competitive around the world.”

For U.S. beef and pork exports, Japan is the highest value international market. In fiscal 2016, Japanese consumers purchased $1.4 billion of U.S. beef products and $1.5 billion of U.S. pork products. Demand in the Asian nation for U.S. beef and pork is very strong despite Japanese tariffs and other import measures that limit market access for both products.

Under terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, Japan’s 38.5 percent tariff on fresh and frozen beef would have been cut to 9 percent over the agreement’s phase-in period and would have given the U.S. beef industry parity with Australia in the Japanese market. Japan’s tariffs on pork, which are determined through a so-called gate price system, would have been substantially reduced as part of the TPP agreement.

An analysis by the U.S. International Trade Commission found that beef exports to TPP countries, which included the United States, Japan and 10 other Asia-Pacific nations, would grow by $876 million a year by the end of the phase-in period and that most of the growth would be in trade to Japan. Likewise, it found that pork exports to TPP countries would grow by $387 million, with most of the exports going to Japan. Nearly 9,000 U.S. jobs would be generated by increased exports of livestock products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s export multiplier.



Iowa Farm Groups to Trump: Maintain, Expand NAFTA

Iowa Farm Groups sent a letter to President Trump and his adminstration Monday asking them to maintain and expand upon agriculture sector gains achieved in the North American market, specifically with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Over the past two decades since NAFTA, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico tripled and quintupled, respectively, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Iowa farmers want to continue to serve this important international customer base and further expand their export opportunities.

In a statement issued by Iowa Corn Growers Association President Kurt Hora, the Iowa groups urged Trump to expand North American trade partnerships because trade policy has a significant impact on Iowa's farmers.

"The success of our rural economies depends on expanding markets for U.S. agricultural products. We look forward to working with President Trump and his Administration in the coming years to ensure that Iowa farmers are both economically viable and globally competitive," Hora said.

For Iowa agriculture to thrive, we need trade agreements that recognize how important it is that the U.S. meat and grain industries including beef, pork, corn, soybeans, and biofuels, have market access at a competitive level in North America and across the globe. As an organization, we are committed to banding with other farm organizations in working with President Trump's administration on ways to both preserve and expand upon agriculture sector gains achieved in the North American market, Hora pledged.

Since its passage more than two decades ago, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has profoundly changed North American agriculture. NAFTA eliminated nearly all tariff and quota restrictions in agriculture resulting in an integrated system between Canada, Mexico and the United States. This has propelled these countries to the top of the U.S. list in importance for agricultural trade. For the past 20 years, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico tripled and quintupled, respectively. One in every 10 acres on American farms is planted to feed our neighbors to the north and south, he pointed out.

"Mexico is the number one market for U.S. corn and the number two market for U.S. distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Canada ranks as our ninth largest customer for U.S. corn, DDGS, and ethanol. To give an example of how NAFTA has benefitted the corn sector, prior to the agreement, Mexico maintained strict controls on grains via licensing requirements and provided guaranteed prices to their domestic producers of many field crops, including corn. Under NAFTA, Mexico transitioned to a system featuring duty-free trade with the U.S. and Canada and rising demand for feed and food has created new opportunities for intraregional trade in grains," Hora said.

The U.S. meat industry has also benefited from duty-free access to Mexico and Canada, he noted. In 2016, the value red meat exports from corn production in Iowa is valued at $315 million (USDA). These are both top five markets for beef and pork, with Mexico being the leading volume market for pork and second largest market for beef.

"Iowa farmers want to continue to serve this important international customer base and further expand our export opportunities. We look forward to working the Trump Administration to preserve and expand our competitive edge in agriculture as he improves this vital agreement," Hora added.



Food And Agriculture Groups Join Together On Letter To President Trump In Support Of Asia Trade

A total of 87 organizations and companies from the food and agriculture sector, which supports more than 15 million jobs nationally, sent President Donald J. Trump a letter this week highlighting the importance of trade with countries in the Asia-Pacific region and the industry’s interest in working with the administration to build strong trade relationships with the world’s largest market for food and agriculture.

“Reducing and eliminating tariffs and other restrictive agricultural policies in this region will help American workers in our sector compete, creating an opportunity to supply Asian markets with high-quality food and agricultural goods,” the letter says.

“We hope your Administration will create such opportunities for our sector by deepening U.S. economic engagement in this critical region while responding to the Asia-only regional trade agreements being negotiated by our foreign competitors. While many in our sector strongly supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we hope future agreements build upon the valuable aspects of that agreement to increase our market access in the Asia-Pacific.

“We welcome an opportunity to work with your Administration to ensure that America’s farmers, ranchers, processors and food companies do not fall behind our foreign peers in this vitally important economic region,” the letter adds.



ASA, Farm Groups Stress Importance of Trade in Asia-Pacific Region

In a letter to President Donald Trump Tuesday, the American Soybean Association (ASA), along with 87 other agriculture groups, called on the administration to reduce and eliminate tariffs and other restrictive agricultural policies in the Asia-Pacific region, allowing American workers to supply Asian markets with high-quality food and agricultural goods.

“We hope your Administration will create such opportunities for our sector by deepening U.S. economic engagement in this critical region while responding to the Asia-only regional trade agreements being negotiated by our foreign competitors,” wrote the groups.

The letter stressed job creation in the U.S. farm sector as a result of international trade, noting that the food and agricultural industry from farm to fork employs more than 15 million Americans, and the food and beverage industry alone represents 12 percent of all U.S. manufacturing jobs.

“America’s food and agriculture sector is poised to grow internationally, building upon its well-deserved reputation for high quality products, trusted brands and constant innovation. Our ability to continue to create jobs and support economic growth in rural America depends on maintaining and increasing access to markets outside the United States through existing and future trade agreements,” the letter continued.

ASA remains committed to engage with President Trump and his administration on the importance of international trade as it affect soy growers across the country.



NGFA, food and agriculture groups, ready to work with President Trump on expanding Asia-Pacific trade

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), with a total of 87 organizations and companies from the food and agriculture sector, sent President Donald Trump a letter this week expressing eagerness to work with his administration to expand access to markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Reducing and eliminating tariffs and other restrictive agricultural policies in this region will help American workers in our sector compete, creating an opportunity to supply Asian markets with high-quality food and agricultural goods," the letter states, adding that the food and agriculture sector supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs.  The letter also noted that the U.S. food and beverage industry alone constitutes 12 percent of all U.S. manufacturing jobs, making it the largest employer in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

The letter notes that more than 95 percent of the agricultural industry's current and potential customers live outside the United States, making increased access to international markets essential for future success. While many agricultural companies and organizations strongly supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, the letter was forward-looking and emphasized that future agreements can build upon the valuable aspects of the TPP agreement.

"America's food and agricultural sector is poised to grow internationally, building upon its well-deserved reputation for high-quality products, trusted brands and constant innovation," the letter states. "Our ability to continue to create jobs and support economic growth in rural America depends on maintaining and increasing access to markets outside the United States through existing and future trade agreements.

"We hope your Administration will create such opportunities for our sector by deepening U.S. economic engagement in this critical region while responding to the Asia-only regional trade agreements being negotiated by our foreign competitors," the letter stated. "We welcome an opportunity to work with your administration to ensure that America's farmers, ranchers, processors and food companies do not fall behind our foreign peers in this vitally important economic region."



Commodity Classic Trade Show Features 400+ Exhibitors; Wide Array of Equipment, Technology & Innovation

With a trade show featuring more than 400 exhibitors commanding more than 2,200 booth spaces, Commodity Classic attendees are strongly encouraged to wear comfortable shoes!

The 2017 Commodity Classic, the nation’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, will be held March 2-4, 2017, in San Antonio, Tex.

“Agribusiness companies know that Commodity Classic attracts the nation’s best farmers, so they bring their best equipment, technology, innovations and people,” said Kevin Ross, an Iowa farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic.   “That means you can engage in deep conversations with representatives of the companies you do business with, get answers to your questions and provide input to them on their products and services.”

While many of the world’s leading agribusiness companies are on site, so are scores of other smaller exhibitors offering a wide range of technology, equipment and innovation.   “We really encourage farmers to visit the smaller booths on the trade show floor,” Ross said.  “Many times that’s where you’ll discover the emerging technologies and out-of-the-box ideas that could be just what you’re looking for to help you address challenges in your operation.”

Admission to the trade show is included with the registration fee.

The trade show is just one of the many reasons to attend Commodity Classic.  In addition to the General Session, Commodity Classic offers a wide range of educational sessions including Learning Centers, What’s New Sessions, Mini What’s New Sessions, Early Riser Sessions and the AG CONNECT Main Stage on the trade show floor.  Commodity Classic also includes entertainment and the opportunity to network with thousands of America’s best farmers.

Detailed information on all educational sessions and the entire Commodity Classic schedule are available at www.commodityclassic.com.  Online registration and housing are also available on the website.



Whitehead Named as National Biodiesel Board Chief Operating Officer

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) today named Doug Whitehead as its Chief Operating Officer. Whitehead joins the executive team after 10 years in various roles with the organization, most recently as the Director of Operations and Membership.

“Doug has admirably served the biodiesel industry in his various roles at NBB over the years and his experience and expertise in operations, membership, strategic thinking, and management uniquely position us to continue our growth as an organization and as an industry,” said NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen. “His deep understanding of the day-to-day operations of the organization allow us to continue serving our members in a highly effective, efficient way as a member association.”

As Director of Operations and Membership, Whitehead managed the planning, implementation, administration, and reporting of all contracts for funding and subcontracting. He was also responsible for recruiting new members to the organization and served as the main point of contact for current members.

“I’m extremely excited to serve the biodiesel industry in my new executive role with NBB,” said Whitehead. “We have a tremendous team that is committed to growing the market for America’s advanced biofuel. It will be critical to continue to face our challenges head on to maintain our more than 2-billion-gallon market share.”

The announcement comes as US consumers saw record volumes of advanced biofuels in the US marketplace – almost 2.9 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel in 2016. The industry supports 64,000 US jobs and $11.42 billion in total economic impact according to independent economic analysis conducted by LMC International. Based in Jefferson City, Mo., the National Biodiesel Board is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel value chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers, and fuel distributors, as well as the U.S. renewable diesel industry. It counts more than 150 companies and organizations among its membership.

Whitehead is a graduate of the Professional School of Architecture at Kansas State University. Prior to his time with NBB, he was a business development and management consultant where he worked with a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations including “bricks and mortar” projects, technology, strategic planning, budgeting, issues management, and government affairs.

Jefferson City is Doug’s hometown, where he and his wife Alana have raised their two children and been active members of the community. He served for 15 years on the Jefferson City Public Schools board of education, served as president of the Missouri School Board’s Association in 2014/2015, and has participated in a number of charitable foundations, boards, and executive committees including the YMCA as past Chair and currently a member of the Jefferson City YMCA Board of Trustees.



Holstein Association Identifies Record Number of Cattle in '16

Holstein Association USA, Inc. officially identified an all-time record number of Holstein cattle in 2016 through their registration and Basic ID programs. In total, 690,553 Holsteins were identified in 2016, which is 108,867 more or 18 percent higher than 2015. Registrations totaled 377,305 and 313,248 head were enrolled in the Basic ID program.

The Basic ID program is a stepping stone to full registry status. Participation in Holstein Association USA identification programs has never been higher.

"These statistics speak to the value dairy producers realize from Holstein Association identification programs," said Holstein Association CEO John M. Meyer. "As we all know, the dairy economy was tough in 2016. Even so, dairymen across the country continued to increase their participation in our programs."

He adds that one of the great things about being in the Holstein business is that it has a bountiful array of diversified genetics to choose from that allows dairies to be the best in class in any dairy market they want to be in.



Tyson Foods Quarterly Profit Jumps Nearly 30-Percent

Tyson Foods Inc. reported a 28.6 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by higher exports of beef and pork and lower livestock costs.

Net income attributable to Tyson rose to $593 million, or $1.59 per share, in the first quarter ended Dec. 31, from $461 million, or $1.15 per share, a year earlier.

Sales rose marginally to $9.18 billion from $9.15 billion.



AGCO Reports Fourth Quarter Results

AGCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE:AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, reported net sales of approximately $2.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016, an increase of approximately 6.9% compared to net sales of approximately $2.0 billion for the fourth quarter of 2015. Reported net income was $0.77 per share and adjusted net income, which excludes restructuring expenses, was $0.84 per share for the fourth quarter of 2016. These results compare to reported net income of $0.73 per share and adjusted net income, which excludes restructuring expenses, of $0.80 per share for the fourth quarter of 2015. Excluding unfavorable currency translation impacts of approximately 1.8%, net sales in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased approximately 8.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net sales for the full year of 2016 were approximately $7.4 billion, a decrease of approximately 0.8% compared to 2015. Excluding the unfavorable impact of currency translation of approximately 2.6%, net sales for the full year of 2016 increased approximately 1.9% compared to 2015. For the full year of 2016, reported net income was $1.96 per share and adjusted net income, which excludes restructuring expenses and a non-cash deferred income tax adjustment, was $2.47 per share. These results compare to reported net income of $3.06 per share and adjusted net income, which excludes restructuring expenses, of $3.24 per share for the full year of 2015.

Highlights
-    Reported fourth quarter regional sales results(1): Europe/Africa/Middle East (“EAME”) (2.0)%, North America +3.0%, South America +63.6%, Asia/Pacific (“APAC”) +21.8%
-    Constant currency fourth quarter regional sales results(1)(2): EAME +1.8%, North America +4.4%, South America +53.9%, APAC +22.7%
-    Generated $370 million in cash flow from operations and $168 million in free cash flow in 2016
-    Share repurchase program resulted in reduction of 4.4 million shares during 2016
-    New $300 million share repurchase program authorized through December 2019
-    Quarterly dividend increased to $0.14 per share effective first quarter 2017
-    Full-year earnings per share forecast for 2017 remains at approximately $2.50

(1) As compared to fourth quarter 2015
(2) Excludes currency translation impact. See reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures in appendix.

“The past year was a challenging year due to continued weakening global market demand for agricultural equipment,” stated Martin Richenhagen, AGCO’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite these difficult conditions, our solid operational execution during 2016 allowed us to exceed our financial targets and be well-positioned to seek new opportunities for growth. Looking forward to 2017, industry conditions are expected to remain near the bottom of the agricultural equipment cycle in key markets. In response to the industry challenges, our focus continues to be on cost and expense reduction through globalizing processes, reducing complexity and better leveraging scale. In addition to diligent cost management, we will continue to make long-term investments to raise the efficiency of our factories, improve our service levels and strengthen our product offering.”