Wednesday April 26 Ag News

POSTEMERGENCE WEED CONTROL IN ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Are weeds showing up in your new alfalfa?  If they get thick, your alfalfa will suffer.  Check your fields today after listening to some options to control those weeds.

               Alfalfa seedlings compete poorly with weeds.  Control decisions can be difficult.  Vigorous weed growth this spring might be making it extra tough for your seedlings to compete with these weeds.

               When weeds, especially broadleaf weeds, threaten seedling alfalfa, a common method to control them is mowing.  Adjust mowing height so several leaves remain on alfalfa seedlings after clipping to help your alfalfa seedlings regrow rapidly.  Also, do not smother small seedlings with clippings.  So mow weeds before they get so tall that they produce a large quantity of clippings.

               If you would rather spray broadleaf weeds than mow them, use either Buctril, Butyrac, Pursuit, or Raptor.  Buctril controls most small broadleaf weeds fairly inexpensively, but alfalfa injury can occur when temperatures exceed 80 degrees.  If you expect those high temperatures when you spray, it might be better to use Butyrac, Pursuit, or Raptor.  These herbicides also control most small broadleaf weeds, but weeds must be less than three inches tall or results will be inconsistent.  Pursuit and Raptor are more expensive but their soil activity will continue to control weeds throughout much of the season.

               Mowing is not very effective with grassy weeds, so use Poast Plus or Select to kill grassy weeds.  Make sure you spray before grasses get 4 inches tall or control will be spotty.

               Weeds reduce growth of new alfalfa by shading and competing for moisture.  You can prevent these problems by acting quickly.  Exam your fields soon and control weeds as needed.



Green Plains to Acquire Cattle Feed Yards from Cargill

Omaha-based Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced that its subsidiary, Green Plains Cattle Company, has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire two cattle-feeding operations from Cargill for $36.7 million, excluding working capital. The transaction includes feed yards located in Leoti, Kan. and Yuma, Colo. and will add capacity of 155,000 head to the company's operations. Upon completion of the acquisition, Green Plains Cattle Company will become the fourth largest cattle-feeding operation in the United States with total capacity of more than 255,000 head.

As part of the transaction, Green Plains Cattle will also enter into a long-term supply agreement with Cargill Meat Solutions to provide a reliable supply of cattle from the Leoti and Yuma locations, as well as Green Plains' existing feedlot in Kismet, Kan., with appropriate flexibility and economic opportunities for both parties.

"The growth of Green Plains Cattle achieves one of our strategic initiatives of further diversifying our income streams and investing in adjacent businesses. This purchase also aligns with our overall strategy to meet growing global protein demand in downstream markets that take advantage of our supply chain, production platform and commodity management expertise," commented Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer of Green Plains. "A key component of the acquisition is the long-term agreement with Cargill under which Green Plains Cattle will be a strategic supplier of their beef-packing demand.”

Green Plains Cattle Company currently owns a 70,000 head cattle-feeding operation near Kismet, Kan. and a 30,000 head operation near Hereford, Texas.

"One of the inherent benefits of this transaction is the scale of internal demand for our co-products produced at company-owned ethanol plants. Our cattle business will now consume more than 300 thousand tons of dried distillers grains and 40 million pounds of corn oil annually," Becker added. "The ability to effectively control our feed supply cost provides our cattle business with a strategic operating advantage resulting in more predictable and stable cattle-feeding margins while enhancing Green Plains' knowledge of ration dynamics. Since our entry into cattle feeding a few years ago, the meat and protein market fundamentals have remained favorable and the business has been accretive to Green Plains' earnings.”

The Leoti and Yuma cattle-feeding operations consist of approximately 1,900 acres of land, supporting infrastructure and feed storage assets, which are strategically located near major meat packers. The transaction is anticipated to be accretive to 2017 earnings with completion expected in the next 30 days, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.



NEBRASKA EXTENSION FIELD CROP SCOUT TRAINING IS MAY 10

Growers and industry representatives who want to learn how to better manage corn and soybean pests are encouraged to register for Nebraska Extension's field crop scout training course May 10 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (formerly the Agricultural Research and Development Center) near Mead.

The training is designed for entry-level scouts who are working for crop consultants, industry agronomists or farm service centers in Nebraska and neighboring states, said Keith Glewen, Nebraska Extension educator. It is also ideal for growers who scout their own fields or who are interested in improving productivity, as well as for students employed by agribusinesses.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the course running from 8:25 a.m. to 5 p.m. Course topics include how corn and soybean plants grow and develop; soybean and corn insect management; using knowledge of plant morphology and a seedling identification key to identify weeds; and crop diseases and quiz nutrient deficiencies.

"Some of the benefits registrants stated the training provided included practical/working knowledge and better accuracy in field scouting," Glewen said. "Other participants appreciated the hands-on, practical format."

Cost for the program is $165, which includes lunch, refreshments, workshop materials and the instruction manual. Attendees should pre-register to reserve their seat and to ensure workshop materials are available the day of the training session. Updated reference materials are included in this year's take-home instruction manual.

Certified Crop Adviser continuing education credits are available with six in pest management, one in crop management and 0.5 in fertility/nutrient management.

For more information or to register, contact Nebraska Extension at 402-624-8030 or 800-529-8030, e-mail Keith Glewen at kglewen1@unl.edu or visit http://ardc.unl.edu/crop.shtml.



Casey’s General Stores to Offer E15 and E85; Expand Availability to Rural America

Today, Casey’s General Stores, Inc., a Midwest convenience store chain, announced it will expand consumer choice by offering higher ethanol blends of E15 and E85 at 17 sites in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas. E15 is a fuel that contains 15 percent ethanol and works well for any car 2001 and newer. E85 contains up to 83 percent ethanol and is a choice for flex-fuel vehicle owners.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, and Kansas Corn Commission along with Growth Energy are assisting Casey’s with their new program. The retail chain boasts over 1,950 convenience stores across 15 states making it the nation’s 4th largest and its adoption of higher biofuel blends marks a major milestone for renewable fuel availability, especially across rural America where demand for higher ethanol blends is at an all-time high.

“We like the potential that E15 and E85 could bring to Casey’s and are excited to provide our customers with a wide variety of fueling options” said Terry Handley, President and CEO of Casey’s. “We appreciate the assistance Growth Energy, and the farmers funding the corn checkoff in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas have invested in our E15 and E85 program.”

“We commend Casey’s initiative in expanding their fuel offering to include clean-burning, high-octane, and more affordable biofuel choices,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, “Each day more and more retailers are embracing higher ethanol blends because today’s 21st century drivers demand 21st century fuel. E15, in particular, offers drivers an exceptional value in addition to tested higher performance and reduced emissions.”

Casey’s joins Family Express, Kum & Go, MAPCO, Minnoco, Murphy USA, Protec Fuels, QuikTrip, RaceTrac, Sheetz, and Thorntons in offering their customers expanded fuel choices at the pump. E15 is the most tested fuel in history. The United States Department of Energy, NASCAR, and consumers have put it to the test over millions of miles with great results.

To find their nearest E15 station, Casey’s customers should go to GetEthanol.com.



Survey Shows Iowa Farmers Increasing Nutrient Loss Reduction Practices

The 2016 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll examined trends in farming practices and strategies since 2013, the year that the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was started. The Farm Poll survey listed a number of nutrient loss reduction practices as well as some practices that are not recommended, and asked farmers if they had changed their use of the practices since 2013.

“For the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy to meet its goals, most of Iowa’s farmers will have to continuously improve their nutrient management practices,” said J. Gordon Arbuckle, associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University and director of the Farm Poll. “These survey questions give us an idea of which practices are being adopted more or less quickly.”

The results indicate that farmers are increasing their use of recommended practices and decreasing use of some practices that are not recommended. For example, about 26 percent of farmers reported they had increased their use of conservation tillage methods and 19 percent increased their use of continuous no-till. About 21 percent reported a reduction in fall tillage and 19 percent had reduced spring tillage. Only five and seven percent of respondents reported an increase in their fall and spring tillage, respectively.

“Reductions in tillage decrease soil loss, which means less phosphorus in waterways,” said Arbuckle. “Of course, there’s also the added benefit of keeping the soil where you want it – in the field growing crops.”

The poll also found farmers had increased their use of several nutrient management practices since 2013. The greatest change was reported in the use of precision agriculture practices such as variable rate fertilizer application, with 34 percent of farmers reporting either moderate or major increases in the practice. Soil testing and similar methods of determining fertilizer rates saw 31 percent of respondents reporting an increase in the practice while 27 percent reported increasing their use of nitrogen stabilizers.

Twenty-two and 20 percent of farmers reported an increase in spring or growing season applications of nitrogen, respectively. A decrease in fall application of nitrogen fertilizer was reported by 17 percent.

“Research shows that applying nitrogen during the growing season instead of the fall can reduce nutrient loss and potentially increase profits,” Arbuckle said.

A significant number of farmers reported increases in the use of other important conservation practices. Thirty-five percent reported having increased use of structural practices such as terraces, buffer strips or grassed waterways. Twenty percent reported an increase in cover crop use, and 14 percent indicated they had shifted at least some marginal cropland into other uses such as pasture or hay.

About 36 percent reported increasing their use of tile or other drainage practices, which can lead to nutrient loss.

“These results show positive trends in the use of practices that can reduce nutrient loss into waterways,” Arbuckle said. “Although the results indicate that many farmers are headed in the right direction, many more will need to adopt or increase their use of a diversity of nutrient loss reduction practices to meet strategy goals.”

The Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll has been in existence since 1982, surveying Iowa farmers on issues of importance to agricultural stakeholders. It is the longest-running survey of its kind in the nation.



FieldNET® by Lindsay Introduces Revolutionary Irrigation Management Tool

Officials today announced the launch of FieldNET Advisor, a groundbreaking new tool from FieldNET by Lindsay that takes irrigation management to a new level. FieldNET Advisor uses patented technology to deliver growers the information they need to make faster, better-informed irrigation decisions – improving yields while reducing water usage and other input costs – delivering the smartest solution in irrigation.

“FieldNET Advisor is a game-changer for growers and the irrigation industry,” said Brian Magnusson, vice president of technology products at Lindsay Corporation. “This innovative solution uses FieldNET’s industry-leading remote irrigation management platform to drastically simplify and automate the use of proven irrigation scheduling methods, which are backed by more than 40 years of research, to help growers decide precisely when, where and how much to irrigate.”

Magnusson said FieldNET Advisor provides growers with continuously updated, science-based irrigation recommendations that are customized for each field. After entering the field’s crop type, hybrids and planting dates, FieldNET Advisor will:
-            Track the available soil water throughout the field by combining a soil map of the field, proprietary dynamic crop canopy and root growth models, the most accurate hyper-local weather data available powered by DTN/The Progressive Farmer, and the applied irrigation history.
-             Create a high-resolution map showing the amount of water available to the crop across the entire field.
-             Forecast the crop’s future water needs and predict when and where, without additional irrigation, the yield will begin to decline due to water stress. It also calculates the amount of yield that would be lost due to the stress, which varies based on the crop’s development stage and the severity of the stress.
-            Automatically generate variable rate irrigation (VRI) prescriptions, which are continuously updated to account for actual and forecasted weather, changing crop water requirements, and as-applied irrigation.
-             Integrate into FieldNET’s powerful remote monitoring and control platform, giving growers the ability to immediately put their irrigation decisions into action and monitor their progress.

“This incredibly powerful new tool takes the hassle out of irrigation and helps growers better optimize their irrigation management” Magnusson said. “FieldNET Advisor gives growers information that’s based on years of proven crop research to help them make better-informed decisions about when to run their irrigation systems and how much water to apply – helping improve yields while reducing overwatering and the related input costs and nutrient losses.”

Magnusson added that for growers who already have FieldNET remote monitoring and control equipment installed on their pivots, FieldNET Advisor requires no additional hardware or sensors.

For more information about FieldNET Advisor, talk to your local Zimmatic dealer or visit www.fieldnetadvisor.com.



EIA: Ethanol Stocks Up; Production Down

The U.S. Energy Information Administration issued a report midmorning on Wednesday, showing domestic ethanol inventories and blending demand increased last week while plant production fell.

The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ended April 21 showed fuel ethanol inventories rose by roughly 200,000 bbl or 1.3% to about 23.3 million bbl, a three-week high, while up 1.6 million bbl or 7.9% year-over-year.

Domestic plant production declined by 6,000 bpd or 0.6% to 987,000 bpd last week, but remained 60,000 bpd or 6.5% higher year-over-year. For the four weeks ended last week, ethanol production averaged 996,000 bpd, up 51,000 bpd or 5.4%.

Net refiner and blender inputs, a gauge for ethanol demand, increased by 20,000 bpd or 2.2% to 932,000 bpd during the week-ended April 21, and were up 14,000 bpd or 1.5% over a year ago level. For the four-week period ended April 21, blending demand was up 14,000 bpd or 1.5%.



Little Movement in Retail Fertilizer Prices

Average retail fertilizer prices continued to be fairly steady with no significant moves either higher or lower the third week of April 2017, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Of the eight major fertilizers, five are slightly higher in price compared to a month earlier. Those are DAP, MAP, potash, anhydrous and UAN32. DAP had an average price of $438 per ton, MAP $466/ton, potash $339/ton, anhydrous $509/ton and UAN32 $280/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were slightly lower in price from last month. Urea had an average price of $352/ton, 10-34-0 $437/ton and UAN28 $247/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. Half of the eight major fertilizers are still double digits lower.

10-34-0 is 22% lower from a year ago, both anhydrous and UAN32 are 13% less expensive and UAN28 is 10% lower. Urea is 9% less expensive. Both DAP and potash are 8% lower, and MAP is 7% less expensive compared to a year earlier.



138 food, ag groups urge Senate to expedite Lighthizer confirmation

A total of 138 food and agriculture trade associations and companies working collectively through the diverse and broad-based U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialogue for Trade today urged the U.S. Senate to expeditiously vote to confirm Robert Lighthizer as U.S. trade representative (USTR).

The groups took the action following a 26-0 vote on April 25 by the Senate Finance Committee to recommend Lighthizer's confirmation to the full Senate.

In their letter to the Senate, the organizations cited the central role that the USTR plays under U.S. law in developing and coordinating U.S. international trade policy and leading trade negotiations with other countries. They noted that action on Lighthizer's confirmation is "particularly urgent" given the administration's plans to notify Congress soon of its intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The letter, organized as part of the ongoing work of the U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialogue for Trade, emphasized that delays in scheduling a vote on Lighthizer's confirmation risk "imperiling U.S. national interests" by creating a vacuum during which "foreign competitors are ramping up efforts to supplant U.S. leadership and take away U.S. market share while nervous U.S. foreign customers seek out non-U.S. suppliers to meet their import requirements to ensure basic food security for their people."

Confirmation of the USTR is an "essential step" in enabling the U.S. government to put its teams in place to engage in trade negotiations on NAFTA and with Asia-Pacific nations "to further enhance U.S. economic growth and job creation," the groups wrote.

"To enable the United States to reengage on trade to benefit all Americans, including U.S. food and agriculture producers, manufacturers and agribusinesses, it is of utmost importance to confirm (Lighthizer) as USTR immediately," the organizations concluded.

Once confirmed, the groups reiterated their desire to work with Lighthizer and other administration officials and Congress to "develop and implement a coherent and effective U.S. trade policy that continues to promote America's food and agriculture producers and exporters."



ASA Applauds Introduction of Biodiesel Tax Credit Reform, Extension Act

The American Soybean Association (ASA) supports the work of Sen. Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Cantwell (D-Wash.) and the other 14 senators who today introduced bipartisan legislation to reform the biodiesel tax credit to a domestic production credit and extend the new policy for three years.

“This bill allows producers the security they need to grow their operations and will help to continue biodiesel’s success in diversifying the fuel market,” said ASA president and Illinois soybean farmer Ron Moore. “This tax credit and extension is vital to the industry’s continued growth, and will maximize the added value of domestic production of biofuels.”
Biodiesel production, in addition to providing a clean fuel alternative, benefits soybean farmers and the livestock industry. Approximately half of U.S. biodiesel is produced from soybean oil that is a by-product of soybean production, which is driven by demand for protein meal.

Joining Grassley and Cantwell to co-sponsor the American Renewable Fuel and Job Creation Act of 2017 are Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).



National Biodiesel Board Applauds New Biodiesel Tax Credit Bill

Today the National Biodiesel Board applauded the introduction of a bipartisan biodiesel tax credit bill that would convert the blender’s credit for biodiesel to a $1-per-gallon production credit for fuels produced in the United States for three years. The bill provides an additional 10-cent-per-gallon credit for small U.S. biodiesel producers.

“Well-crafted and efficient tax incentives can be powerful policy mechanisms to achieve the nation’s energy objectives and to create jobs. But subsidizing foreign manufacturing and hurting U.S. workers were not Congress’ intent. We applaud the senators’ bill to close this loophole by reforming the credit as a domestic production credit,” said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at the National Biodiesel Board. “Updating this tax credit is necessary to create a level playing field for U.S. biodiesel producers—and it has the added benefit of saving millions of taxpayer dollars.”

This bipartisan bill seeks to reinstate the biodiesel and small producers tax credits that expired at the end of 2016, but with a change to who is eligible for the credit. Previously, the tax credit was open to blenders of biodiesel, but this legislation would provide tax credits to U.S. producers instead of blenders. Doing so prevents subsidization of foreign manufacturers.

Taxpayer dollars and U.S. energy policy should be—and typically are—aimed at incentivizing domestic production, not foreign production. The current structure of the biodiesel tax incentive as a blender’s credit increasingly allows foreign producers to access the credit if their fuel is blended in the United States. Importantly, this reform would not block imported biodiesel from entering the U.S. market; in fact, significant imports would likely continue coming to the U.S. and receiving incentives under the Renewable Fuel Standard and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

U.S. biodiesel producers just need a level playing field to compete with foreign production. For example, since 2009, the European Union has levied duties on U.S. biodiesel that effectively block U.S. biodiesel from entering the European market. Additionally, Argentinian biodiesel that receives significant incentives under that country’s Differential Export Tax regime is increasingly being shipped to the U.S. market where it also can qualify for the U.S. tax incentive. Without this reform, U.S. tax policy is increasingly creating competitive disparities in which U.S. companies are losing U.S. jobs and market share to subsidized foreign production in Europe, Argentina and other nations. Because of this flood of imports, the National Biodiesel Board also had to file an antidumping and countervailing duty petition against Argentina and Indonesia for violating trade laws and for harming U.S. workers and manufacturers.

Changing the structure of the tax credit also would save taxpayers millions of dollars. Biodiesel imports to the U.S. have grown sharply in recent years, largely as a result of the tax credit. In 2015 alone, the U.S. Treasury spent more than $600 million on tax credits for imported biodiesel and renewable diesel. Importantly, this fuel often had already received subsidies in its country of origin (Argentina, Indonesia and the European Union, for example). According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, reforming the tax incentive would save U.S. taxpayers $90 million as imports are reduced and domestic production grows.

Since being implemented in 2005, the biodiesel tax incentive has played a key role in stimulating growth in the U.S. biodiesel industry, helping it become the first EPA-designated advanced biofuel to reach commercial-scale production nationwide. By helping biodiesel compete on a more level playing field with petroleum, the $1-per-gallon tax credit creates jobs, strengthens U.S. energy security, reduces harmful and costly emissions, diversifies the fuels market and ultimately lowers costs to the consumer. There is a clear correlation between the tax incentive and increased U.S. biodiesel production, which has grown from nearly 100 million gallons in 2005 when the tax incentive was first implemented to almost 1.8 billion gallons in 2016.

The American Renewable Fuel and Job Creation Act of 2017 was introduced by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), with 14 other original sponsors, including Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).



Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Regarding the U.S. Withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

“Today we learned President Trump’s administration is considering an executive order to have the U.S. withdraw from NAFTA. This dangerous move could cost Nebraska farmers and ranchers more than $2.6 billion per year in agricultural exports. Such a loss couldn’t come at a worse time as farm and ranch families already face significantly lower prices for virtually every agricultural commodity produced. We also remain very concerned that the proposed action could threaten Nebraska’s broader economy as we have already witnessed significant state revenue shortfalls as a direct result of a weakened agricultural sector.”

“Canada and Mexico are two of Nebraska’s largest export markets with billions of dollars’ worth of beef, hogs, corn, soybeans, and other agricultural products being exported each year. Rather than entirely throwing out an agreement which has clearly boosted Nebraska agricultural exports and farm and ranch family income, the president should work to update and improve it. The families who have dedicated their lives to producing the food that too often gets taken for granted should not be used as a geopolitical football to help gain leverage over our trading partners. This proposed move would be nothing short of a slap in the face to the farmers and ranchers who played a significant role in his election. President Trump should reconsider this decision.”



Sasse:  Scrapping NAFTA would be a disastrously bad idea

U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement regarding reports that the Trump Administration is preparing to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"Scrapping NAFTA would be a disastrously bad idea.  It would hurt American families at the checkout, and it would cripple American producers in the field and the office.  Yes, there are places where our agreements could be modernized but here's the bottom line: trade lowers prices for American consumers and it expands markets for American goods.  Risking trade wars is reckless, not wise."



Smith Statement on Reports of NAFTA Withdrawal Proposal

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today in response to reports the Trump administration is considering an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

“I strongly oppose withdrawing from NAFTA,” Smith said.  “Canada and Mexico are two of our largest trading partners, both representing billion-dollar export markets for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers.  While there is nothing wrong with taking a look at a 25-year-old agreement to see what has been working and what hasn’t, the current market access granted to U.S. exporters must be the baseline for any renegotiation.  I have and will continue to express this position to the Trump administration and look forward to working with the White House to strengthen NAFTA.”

Smith is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and founder and co-chairman of the Modern Agriculture Caucus.



Soybean Growers Strongly Discourage NAFTA Withdrawal Order

Following reports Wednesday that an executive order is being prepared that would withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), American Soybean Association (ASA) President Ron Moore, a soybean farmer from Roseville, Ill., warned in a statement that such a move could have disastrous consequences for the nation’s leading agricultural export in light of the still-struggling U.S. agricultural economy.

“Without mincing words, initiating a process to withdraw from NAFTA is a terrible idea, and it will only mean a longer and more difficult struggle for farmers to recover in this economy. With surplus production and domestic prices lagging, we need more opportunities and easier avenues to sell our products abroad, and signaling the U.S. intent to withdraw from NAFTA runs absolutely counter to that goal. Soybean farmers sent more than $2.5 billion in soybeans, meal and oil to Mexico last year, making it our number two market overall and the leading purchaser of U.S. meal and oil. Canada is number three in meal sales and number 10 in oil. Add to that the sales of the meat, dairy and eggs that require soy meal as animal feed, our North American partners are unquestionably among the most vital and vibrant markets for American soybeans.

“If any actions to announce the intent to withdraw from NAFTA are underway, the administration should immediately abandon such plans and focus instead on ways to work with Canada and Mexico to modernize and optimize the agreement during a renegotiation. ASA has been supportive of the administration’s efforts to improve NAFTA. That’s where the action should be; beginning withdrawal procedures before modernization negotiations even take place are counterproductive and send the wrong signal. Further, a U.S. Trade Representative is still waiting to be confirmed, and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue just was sworn in yesterday. We need to give both time to have input on NAFTA modernization.”



NCGA Urges White House: Don't Withdraw from NAFTA

The National Corn Growers Association today denounced reports that the White House has drafted plans to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The following is a statement from NCGA President Wesley Spurlock.

"Mr. President, America's corn farmers helped elect you. We are strong supporters of your administration and continue to stand ready to work with you to build a better farm economy. That begins with strong trade policy.

"Withdrawing from NAFTA would be disastrous for American agriculture. We cannot disrupt trade with two of our top trade partners and allies. This decision will cost America's farmers and ranchers markets that we will never recover.

"NAFTA has been a huge win for American agriculture. Corn and corn product exports today account for 31 percent of farmer income. Mexico is the top export market for corn. Canada is also a top market for corn and ethanol. With a farm economy that is already weak, losing access to these markets will be a huge blow that will be felt throughout the ag value chain.

“Mr. President, agriculture and rural America are counting on you. We urge you not to withdraw from NAFTA."



U.S. Grains Council Statement On Potential NAFTA Withdrawal

A statement from U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Tom Sleight:

"We are shocked and distressed to see news reports that the Trump Administration is considering an executive order to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"Mexico and Canada are among our largest and most loyal grain export markets, and our organization has worked closely with partners in both countries for more than 30 years.

"An executive order as reported will have an immediate effect on sales to Mexico, market prices and the profitability of U.S. farmers, who are already facing below cost of production prices. Our top grain market is not a negotiating tactic.

"There is strong support and rationale to update and modernize NAFTA. Before today, we believed we were on track to have a reasonable discussion about how to update the agreement in ways that make sense for all parties. We hope we can get back to that position soon."



Statement of NPPC President Ken Maschhoff On NAFTA

“The North American Free Trade Agreement has been a tremendous success for the U.S. pork industry, which has seen an explosion in exports to Canada and Mexico since the deal was implemented in 1994.

“In fact, Mexico and Canada are now our No. 2 and No. 4 markets, so we absolutely must not have any disruptions to U.S. pork exports there. Even a short-term interruption in our exports would have a significant negative economic impact on U.S. pork producers.

“Abandoning NAFTA and going back to pre-NAFTA tariffs would be financially devastating to U.S. pork producers. Tens of thousands of U.S. jobs dependent on those exports would be lost.

“The bottom line is U.S. pork trade with Canada and Mexico has been very robust, and we need to maintain and even improve that trade. We’re all for modernizing NAFTA, but we cannot support efforts that would undermine the livelihoods of America’s 60,000 pork producers.”



U.S. Food & Ag Dialogue for Trade issues statement on possible U.S. withdrawal from NAFTA

The U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialogue for Trade (Trade Dialogue) issued the following statement regarding press reports of possible U.S. withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement.  Over 130 food and agriculture trade associations and companies participate in the Trade Dialogue.

"The U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialogue for Trade is pleased to work with the Trump Administration to expand jobs and exports through modernization of NAFTA.  U.S. engagement in constructive, substantive negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as possible should be the singular priority and focus regarding NAFTA. Our North American trading partners are our largest food and agriculture export markets. Food and agriculture support over 15 million American jobs and is the largest U.S. manufacturing jobs sector.  Building on our food and agriculture exports to Canada and Mexico is essential to meeting the Trump Administration's economic growth targets." 



Wheat Grower Organizations Alarmed About Possible NAFTA Withdrawal

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are alarmed over media reports today that the Trump Administration is considering a withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico is our largest U.S. wheat buyer, importing more than 10 percent of all U.S. wheat exports this year. NAFTA truly opened the door to the strong and growing market opportunity in Mexico. Closing that door would be a terrible blow to the U.S. wheat industry and its Mexican customers.

USW and NAWG understand that there are several elements of the trade agreement that could be re-examined and modernized. However, we believe withdrawing from NAFTA would be a serious mistake. It could lead to new tariffs on U.S. wheat and threaten to undermine the long-standing, loyal relationship U.S. wheat farmers have built with Mexico’s wheat buyers and food industry. That would be devastating to U.S. wheat farmers already facing unprofitable prices and increasingly aggressive wheat exporting competitors.

USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.  



Administration Proposes Comprehensive Tax Reform Plan, Includes Repeal of Death Tax

This afternoon, top officials in the Trump Administration released their proposal for comprehensive tax reform, calling it the “biggest tax cut in U.S. history.” The plan is designed to serve as the starting point as Congress and the Administration work to pass a comprehensive tax reform package this year.

Danielle Beck, National Cattlemen's Beef Association director of government affairs, said the Administration included in the proposal immediate repeal of the Death Tax – a priority for NCBA.

“Permanent repeal of the death tax has been a priority for cattlemen and women for decades,” said Beck. “Since the Death Tax was implemented nearly a century ago it has not only failed to meet the misguided goals set by Congress, but has threatened the existence of many multi-generational farms and ranches.”

The tax reform proposal comes on the heels of an executive order signed by President Trump yesterday on Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America. The EO establishes an Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Policy and contains specific policy goals aimed at supporting rural agriculture, economic development, job growth, and infrastructure improvement, including:

Promoting the preservation of farms and agribusinesses as they are passed from one generation to the next, including changes to the estate tax and the tax valuation of family or cooperatively held businesses.

“The Death Tax is clearly on the Administration’s radar and for that we are appreciative,” said Beck. “NCBA will assist the Administration however we can as they work to put together a comprehensive tax reform package.”



Farm Bureau Applauds Regulatory Accountability Act
AFBF President Zippy Duvall

“American Farm Bureau Federation strongly supports the bi-partisan Regulatory Accountability Act introduced today by Senators Portman and Heitkamp. This bipartisan effort is one that should be welcomed by all stakeholders – farmers, ranchers, policymakers, state officials, environmentalists, scientists – anyone who wants a system that is open, transparent, and fair and who recognizes the current system fails to live up to our expectations.

“Reasonable people may disagree about regulatory policies, but we shouldn’t argue about how they are developed. When agencies use economic or scientific data, those facts and figures should be available for everyone to evaluate. When agencies decide on regulatory requirements, they should not make demands or impose costs that go beyond the will of Congress. When the government proposes rules, we should all have ample opportunity to evaluate and comment on the proposals. All too often, this doesn’t happen. Agencies must engage in greater outreach and do so sooner in the process. Increased transparency and disclosure can only help to instill greater confidence in the system. That confidence is too often lacking today.

“We applaud Senators Portman and Heitkamp for their leadership in assuring that agencies cannot ‘tip the scales’ in favor of their own proposals by using social media to advocate for them. This amendment is an important improvement to the Regulatory Accountability Act and we strongly support it.

“Over the past 40 years, presidents of both parties have enunciated principles found in this bill.  The RAA builds on those bipartisan principles. We support this legislative reform and will be working with senators on both sides of the aisle in pressing for its early consideration.”



NAWG Praises Introduction of The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) applauds Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) for introducing The Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) of 2017.

The RAA amends the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to increase accountability and transparency in the federal regulatory process and codifies the bipartisan regulatory process established under Executive Order 12,866. This bill will also make sure federal agencies balance regulatory costs and benefits when developing new rules or changing existing regulations, and it provides stakeholders more opportunity to get involved earlier in the regulatory process.

NAWG President David Schemm made the following statement:
“Wheat producers continue to face an ever-tightening maze of regulations which can be taxing and difficult to navigate. Overzealous regulations can place unnecessary burdens on farmers and hinder their ability to carry out the day-to-day operations, which can marginalize their profits and become costly for taxpayers. 

“NAWG welcomes The RAA which creates a better regulatory framework and process from the get go, so we won’t have to keep facing increased regulatory burdens that don’t show substantial benefits. Wheat growers want to ensure a safe, affordable and abundant food supply for all our customers and a safe working environment for ourselves, families and employees, but if we are faced with complicated regulations that add to our cost of production, it becomes more difficult to maintain a viable farming operation, especially with low commodity prices. We thank Congress for continuing to address regulatory issues impacting agriculture and Senators Portman and Heitkamp for introducing this bi-partisan bill.”



President Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Rural America
 
President Trump is sending a clear signal this week that he is interested and engaged in helping boost rural America. With the executive order signed on Tuesday, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue will chair a newly established Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, charged “to ensure the informed exercise of regulatory authority that impacts agriculture and rural communities.”

Craig Uden, National Cattlemen's Beef Association president, said he is glad to see President Trump’s engagement this week.

“We are appreciative for President Trump making agriculture a high priority right out of the gate,” said Uden. “With Secretary Perdue in office and the establishment of this task force, we are in a strong position moving forward to develop policy that will bolster our rural economy rather than the continuous over-regulation we have recently faced.”

President Trump has specifically asked the task force to look at issues that have been high priority for NCBA – such as needed changes to the death tax and the protection of private property rights.

“The rural farm economy has suffered with a drop in net farm income and increasing regulatory environment. This is a great step forward to putting rural America back into focus and addressing the issues that have negatively impacted our industry over the years.”

In addition to the executive order establishing the task force, President Trump signed another executive order this week calling for the review of previous designations under the Antiquities Act. The Act, while intended to preserve Native American artifacts and areas of historical importance, instead has been used to place heavy restrictions on the land, bypassing Congress and local communities.

“The end result is a crippling effect to local economies – ranchers forced off the land, conservation efforts halted, and jobs lost,” said Uden. “We are pleased to see that the Administration recognizes the hardships these designations have caused and is willing to re-evaluate previous action. Trump’s action this week is a positive sign for rural America.”



White House Takes Important First Step to Reining in the Antiquities Act

The Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applaud the executive order signed today that calls for a review of designations made under the Antiquities Act by previous presidents.

Dave Eliason, PLC president, said while the Act was intended to preserve Native American artifacts and areas of historical importance, Presidents have instead used the Act to bypass Congress and local communities to place heavy restrictions on massive swaths of land. Most recently, President Obama boasted of using the Antiquities Act more than any previous president—locking up 256 million acres of land and water in 30 separate designations.

“Western communities have been calling on Congress for years to address the continued abuse of the Antiquities Act. Elevating millions of acres to monument status without local input or economic analysis results in unrecoverable losses to the local communities.”

 In 1996, southern Utah faced a devastating reality when President Clinton designated 1.9 million acres as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Livestock grazing was drastically reduced from 106,000 AUMs. Now there are only 35,000 AUMs in use.

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon was initially created in 2000 by President Clinton and comprised 53,000 acres of public land. In the final days of his tenure in the White House, President Obama went on to expand the monument by another 48,000 acres. This expansion will effectively prohibit logging on approximately 35,000 acres, adding to the risk of wildfire as fuel loads increase, and negatively affecting the economy of multiple counties within the monument.

“The Executive Order is an important first step to reining in past designations that were pushed through without local input,” said NCBA President Craig Uden. “However, in order to bring the Act back to its original intent, Congress must act. Sen. Murkowski’s bill S. 33 Improved National Monument Designation Process Act would require Congressional approval of new designations, taking the power away from the Administration and placing back into the hands of those most impacted.”

The livestock industry, which supports many of the western communities, stands ready to work with the administration and assist in their review of designations and calls on Congress to pass Sen. Murkowski’s legislation without delay.



DuPont Reports Quarter Sales, Net Earnings

First-quarter sales at DuPont were $7.7 billion, up 5 percent versus prior year on a 4-percent benefit from volume and a 1-percent benefit from local price. Volume grew in almost all segments, led by Performance Materials, Electronics & Communications and Agriculture. Agriculture sales were positively impacted by the change in timing of seed deliveries which benefitted first quarter sales by approximately $140 million. This timing change benefitted total company net sales by 2 percent in the quarter.

"Our team delivered strong operational performance in the first quarter, growing operating EPS by 30 percent," said Ed Breen, Chairman and CEO. "The strength of our new product introductions and increased demand in key markets together resulted in top-line increases in almost every business.

In its agriculture dividion, DuPont's operating earnings were of $1.22 billion increased $135 million, or 12 percent, on local price and volume growth. Pricing growth was realized by double-digit increases in Brazil driven by the company's newest corn hybrids and increased sunflower seed sales in Europe. Volume growth was driven by an approximately $140 million benefit from the change in timing of seed deliveries, increased insecticides and sunflower seed sales partially offset by a decrease in expected corn acreage in North America. Operating margins expanded by about 240 basis points.