Tuesday May 16 Ag News

Cow-Calf Management Field Day Set for June 17

Area beef producers will want to make plans to attend a Cow-calf Management Field Day that is scheduled for Saturday, June 17.  According to Nebraska Extension Educator in Cuming County, Larry Howard, this Field Day will be hosted by producers in Cuming and Dodge counties.

The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Dave Franzluebbers farm south of Dodge, Ne (509 Co Rd 2, Dodge, NE) where we will tour their Cow/Calf Confinement Barn.  The second stop will be at the Tom Ruskamp farm north of Dodge (441 B Road, Dodge NE) where we will also tour their Cow/Calf Confinement Barn.  The third stop will be the Bob Anderson farm just west of Aloys (621 5th Rd, Dodge, NE).  At this stop we will tour the operation and learn about their rotational grazing program, see conservation practices implemented through the Conservation Stewardship Program and do a Pasture Walk.  The final stop will be at Native Acres, LLC just north of Aloys (789 7th Road, West Point, NE) where we will see the Aronia Berry Shrubs and visit about the Winery that is in progress of being developed.

Nebraska Extension Specialists, Bruce Anderson, Forage and Rick Stowell, Animal Environmental Engineer are the invited guest to this Field Day.

The plans are for everyone to drive their won vehicles, so plan your own carpooling in advance.

This event is sponsored by the Cuming County Cow/Calf Association, Nebraska Extension in Cuming County and the USDA NRCS office in Cuming County.

This Field Day is free and there will be a light meal to follow the tour so a RSVP is appreciated for meal planning.  For more information or to pre-register contact Larry Howard at the Nebraska Extension office in Cuming County at 402-372-6006 or Tom Ruskamp, Cuming County Cow/Calf President at 402-380-2347.



Nebraska Beef Council Hosts Beef Experience Tour

Chefs, dietitians, bloggers and foodservice professionals were guest on the Beef Experience Tour hosted by the Nebraska Beef Council on May 9th and 10th. The tour attendees were visitors from states across the country including New York, Ohio, Tennessee, California, Arkansas, Utah and Pennsylvania. The tour is offered each year to help attendees better understand the various segments of the beef community and how farmers and ranchers work together to raise quality beef products.

“We specifically target individuals for this tour that work with beef products every day but don’t necessarily have the background on how beef is raised,” said Adam Wegner, director of marketing for the Nebraska Beef Council. “These guests also have the ability to share their experience and knowledge with many other people creating a much larger impact.”

The tour included a visit to Knobbe Feed Yards near West Point where the attendees experienced a large-scale feeding operation and learned about the various feed sources used to raise high quality beef. The group continued with stops at Peregrine Ranch near Fullerton and Loseke Farms outside of Columbus. Each stop explained their role in raising beef from grazing pastures and breeding to corn production and animal care.

“I feel that my line of work has provided me with some strong insight on our country’s beef supply, but seeing it firsthand was very gratifying,” said Chris Johnson, senior specialist in culinary innovation for The Wendy’s Company. “The one component that stuck out to me the most was the passionate care the farmers had for their cattle. They aren’t just looking at their livestock from a dollar standpoint, they genuinely care about the health of their animals and providing high quality beef for everyone, including their own families.”

The tour concluded with a visit to Cargill Meat Solutions, a 5,000 head per day harvesting facility in Schuyler. The group watched the harvest process and carcass breakdown resulting in boxed beef ready for shipment.

“Nebraska is ideal for telling the story of how beef is raised,” said Wegner. “We have the natural resources, the feed, the packing industry and most importantly, the people that it takes to efficiently raise quality beef.”

Nebraska is the number one red meat production state in the country with over seven billion pounds produced each year.



Ricketts, Novozymes Unveil $36 Million Investment in Blair

Today, less than five years after Novozymes opened a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility in Blair, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that the company has selected the site for its most recent expansion efforts in North America.  The company’s new $36 million investment in the facility, which produces enzymes for renewable fuels, will increase the plant’s capacity to meet growing needs within the bioscience industry and global biofuels market.  Novozymes’ expansion efforts support the company’s long-term commitment to the production of enzymes for the biofuels industry, a segment within the larger bioscience industry.

“Nebraska’s biofuels industry has been a focus for my administration on trade missions because of the international investment we’ve seen here in Nebraska,” said Governor Pete Ricketts.  “Meeting face-to-face with Novozymes’ CEO, Peder Holk Nielsen, not only allowed us to thank him for doing business in our state, but also allowed us to make the case for additional investment in Nebraska.  Novozymes’ recent investment in Blair is an example of the importance of trade missions and how this evolving industry is helping grow Nebraska.”

In 2015, Governor Ricketts visited Novozymes’ headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark to meet with senior executives, strengthen Nebraska’s relations with the company, and encourage further investment in the state.  While there, the Governor and his delegation had a unique opportunity to tour the facility that oversees the company’s production of enzymes used in the agriculture, animal nutrition, and biofuels industries.  The Governor pitched Nebraska’s unique characteristics as an ideal location for the company’s continued investment. 

Since 2012, production capacity in Nebraska’s biofuels industry increased by 7.8 percent.  Nebraska is the number two ethanol producer in the nation and produces more than 2 billion gallons annually, second only to Iowa.  Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois produce nearly half of the 15.2 billion gallons of ethanol generated each year in the United States.

“With stable, clear policies like the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that encourage competition at the gas pump, we will continue to grow the market for American ethanol,” said Novozymes Americas President Adam Monroe.  “This means expanding facilities like ours here in Blair, adding jobs, and generating more revenue for American towns and workers by increasing domestic production of liquid transportation fuels.”

The company has hired more than 100 local contractors to install additional production equipment and water cooling units at the facility, where work is currently underway.  Company officials worked with both state and local economic development partners to expand in Blair, including the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) and Gateway Development Corporation.  

“Novozymes’ investment in Nebraska continues to create wonderful opportunities for our state’s talented workforce,” said DED Director Courtney Dentlinger.  “Over the past five years, the company has hired more than 100 full-time employees in Blair and has consistently relied on local contractors to build and expand this facility.  Nebraskans’ strong work ethic and skilled labor capabilities have positioned our state as an ideal location to grow an international business.”

“Novozymes is one of Blair’s most impactful corporate citizens.  Its multi-million-dollar expansion represents another remarkable economic win for the Blair community, Washington County, and the state of Nebraska, solidifying our reputation as a major player in the bio-industry on a global level,” said Lisa Scheve, Executive Director of Gateway Development Corporation, a member of the Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership.

The company employs 6,200 team members worldwide, including 115 at the Blair facility.  Community leaders continue to capitalize on efforts to recruit skilled labor at Novozymes.

“The community of Blair appreciates Novozymes’ presence in our city, as well as efforts by corporate leaders to provide new opportunities for our diverse workforce,” said Blair Mayor Jim Realph.  “By expanding capabilities within the plant, this company is providing great incentives for skilled workers to stay in Nebraska.”

While the company’s North American presence includes its headquarters in Franklinton, NC, and 10 additional facilities in the United States and Canada, Novozymes’ Blair plant currently serves as its only American facility dedicated to the growing biofuel industry.

Novozymes is a prime example of the Trump administration’s recent Executive Order on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America.  The company supports the vision stated in the Executive Order, that, “It is in the national interest to promote American agriculture and protect rural communities where food, fiber, forestry and many of our renewable fuels are cultivated.”



Ricketts, Ag Industry Groups Highlight Importance of U.S.-Mexico Trade Relationship

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been a boon for America’s farmers and ranchers, and we must maintain a strong partnership between the U.S. and Mexico, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and national and state grain industry leaders told Mexican officials today at a press conference highlighting the importance of Mexico to U.S. agriculture.

“Bilateral trade with Mexico has helped grow agriculture in our state over the years,” said Governor Ricketts. “Mexico is Nebraska’s largest export market for corn, dairy, sugar and sweeteners, and second largest market for soybeans, wheat, sorghum and distillers grains. All of this combined accounts for thousands of Nebraska jobs. I’m encouraged by local and national discussions to expand trade, and am committed to helping grow our trade relationship with Mexico so we can continue to grow Nebraska.”

The Nebraska Corn Board, the U.S. Grains Council and the National Corn Growers Association are hosting a team of Mexican grain and industry officials in Nebraska for a town hall and industry meetings, ahead of the Trump Administration’s plans to renegotiate NAFTA, a 20-year-old trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Later this week, the Mexican delegation will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will join U.S. corn farmers for meetings with Congressional leaders to discuss the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship.

“Nebraska agriculture is at its best when we all work together, which includes our trading partners,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. “Mexico is currently Nebraska’s largest export market for corn, which provides $287 million in added value to our state’s economy. I’m looking forward to the positive dialogue over these next few days as we look for ways to maintain and even strengthen our relationship with this key partner.”

Approximately 20 percent of U.S. corn and corn co-products are exported. Mexico is the largest market for U.S. corn. In 2016, U.S. corn exports to Mexico totaled 13.3 million metric tons (523.5 million bushels) of corn, valued at $2.5 billion. The U.S. also exported 1.9 million metric tons of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of ethanol.

“Today’s farmers rely more on foreign demand for their products. Exports account for 31 percent of farmer income. When commodity prices are low, as they are now, 31 percent is an even bigger deal,” said Jon Doggett, executive vice president and head of public policy for the National Corn Growers Association. “That’s why we need strong trade agreements like NAFTA. NAFTA has been one of the most important catalysts for economic growth in our industry that I have seen.”

As a result of NAFTA, corn is exported to Mexico without tariffs or duties. Under the agreement, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have tripled and quintupled, respectively. One in every 10 acres of American farmland is planted to be exported to Mexico and Canada.

“The National Corn Growers Association is committed to fair and open global trade policies and practices. We will work closely with the Trump Administration and Congress to build on the successful trade relationship we have with our neighbors in Mexico, and make sure a modernized NAFTA is a win-win for both our countries,” said Doggett.

Tom Sleight, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council, echoed the importance of the U.S.-Mexican relationship.

“The U.S. Grains Council has worked for more than 35 years in Mexico to help local feed and livestock industries expand their production of meat, milk and eggs and to build the relationships that are the foundation for our strong, interdependent trade relationship,” said Sleight. “Having these industry leaders here in the United States this week to share how NAFTA has impacted their companies and their country is invaluable to helping us communicate how important strong trade policy with our nearest neighbors is to the continued success of U.S. grain producers and exporters.”



SELECTING SUMMER ANNUAL FORAGE GRASSES
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Will your hay and forage supply be adequate this year?  Maybe summer annual grasses can help, but which one should you plant?

               Are you planning to plant a summer annual grass, maybe to boost cattle numbers or to build hay supply?  Which one will you plant?  It can be confusing because there are six different types of major summer annual forage grasses — sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, forage sorghum (which we often call cane or sorgo), foxtail millet, pearl millet, and teff.  Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.  So base your choice primarily on how you plan to use it.

               For example, do you want pasture?  Then use sudangrass or pearl millet.  Both are leafy, they regrow rapidly, and they contain less danger from prussic acid poisoning than other annual grasses.

               What if you want hay or green chop?  Then select sorghum-sudan hybrids or pearl millet because they yield well and they have good feed value when cut two or three times.  On sandy soils, though, foxtail millet may be a better choice for summer hay.  It dries fast, doesn't regrow after cutting, and handles dry soils well.  Cane hay is grown in many areas and produces high tonnage, but it’s lower in feed value and dries more slowly after cutting than the hybrids or millets.  Or you could choose teff for a really soft, leafy, high quality horse hay.

               Maybe you plan to chop silage.  Then choose the forage sorghums, especially hybrids with high grain production.  They can't be beat for tonnage or for feed value.

               See, it's not so confusing after all, is it?  Simply select the one that is best adapted to the way you plan to use it.  And, of course, pray for rain since even these grasses won’t grow without some moisture.



Biodiesel Production Continues to Benefit Nebraska Ag Producers

May is Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska, and the benefits of cleaner-burning fuels go beyond what’s available at the pump. Soybean oil makes up more than 50 percent of the feedstock for biodiesel production, which helps Nebraska farmers, as well as livestock and poultry producers in a couple of ways.

First, a growing demand in biodiesel production has given soybean producers a greater return for every bushel harvested. According to the United Soybean Board, biodiesel helped increase soybean value by 63 cents per bushel between 2006 and 2015. During that time, farmers received $18.8 billion dollars in additional revenue for their soybean oil.

Livestock and poultry producers have also benefitted from biodiesel production through reduced costs of soybean meal used for animal feed. As the demand for soybean oil in biodiesel production increases, so does the supply of soybean meal. This lowered meal prices for livestock producers by as much as $48 per ton between 2005 and 2009.

The Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) continues to invest checkoff dollars to ensure these benefits to ag producers continue. Executive Director Victor Bohuslavsky says the organization has been at the forefront of developing new markets for biodiesel to help increase demand for soybean oil.

“Several years ago, the NSB invested checkoff dollars into research on the use of biodiesel blends in heating oil,” said Bohuslavsky. “Today that investment is paying off in New York City where more of the fuel, known as Bioheat, is now used for heating oil.”

NSB has also invested in making biodiesel more available in the state by offering grant dollars to fuel retailers interested in installing blending infrastructure. For a list of biodiesel retailers in Nebraska, please visit biodieselne.com.

Biodiesel is the first and only fuel commercially available nationwide that meets the EPA’s definition of an Advanced Biofuel, which requires greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by at least 50 percent. Biodiesel is currently available in all 50 states and more locations are offering the renewable fuel each year.



World Pork Expo Seminars Offer Ideas and Innovation for Pork Businesses
Attendees will have access to more than 15 free seminars.

Pork professionals attending the 2017 World Pork Expo will have the opportunity to hear the most up-to-date production information and ideas, as well as have access to world-class experts during a wide range of free educational seminars, scheduled throughout Wednesday, June 7, and Thursday, June 8. Attendees can participate in more than 15 presentations covering topics such as nutrition management, understanding consumers, data collection and more. The seminars are just a sampling of the many events presented at this year’s World Pork Expo, brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), June 7-9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

“The Expo seminars always present a wealth of information that producers can use to run efficient and responsible pork production businesses,” says Ken Maschhoff, NPPC president and Illinois pork producer. “I would encourage producers to bring their family and employees to Expo. It’s a great place to expose them to the latest innovations and learn about research and new developments that they can apply when they return home.”

Business seminars address pigs, consumers and technology
This year’s business seminars will outline new ways to manage swine herds from birth to market, as well as review technologies that can help producers stay competitive in today’s fast-paced world.

Kicking off the business seminars on Wednesday, June 7, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, Hamlet Protein will review the nutritional aspects of feeding challenged piglets, followed by a discussion on how fluctuating grain and protein markets influence decision-making and pig production.

From 1:00 to 4:45 p.m., Tonisity will present three seminars, each on a different topic. The first will run from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., with a panel discussion on the economic power of pig health, including best management practices and guidance on managing stressful periods. The discussion will expand into proactive pig care from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., when producers and other experts will share tips to reduce pre-weaning mortality, raise heavier pigs and increase income. Wrapping up the day, from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m., producers, pig caretakers and company personnel will share their experiences using the first isotonic protein drink for pigs.

On Thursday, June 8, the business seminars get an early start, with “Farm to Fork: Healthy Animals, Healthy Food, Healthy People,” presented from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. by Zoetis. The seminar will focus on bridging the gap between modern pork production and consumers’ confidence in the pork products they buy. It will be presented again at 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., and each session will allow time for audience questions.

From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., smart-barn controllers, electronic sow feeding, mobile-data collection and production software will dominate the afternoon as experts discuss new-world technologies for pork producers. Presented by Maximus Systems and Maximum Ag Technologies the seminar will occur in segments that will outline steps to a seamless, integrated system of hardware and software for pork operations.

PORK Academy provides answers for today and tomorrow
Rounding out Expo’s seminar lineup is PORK Academy, with 10 additional free seminars presented by the Pork Checkoff. The PORK Academy sessions run throughout Wednesday and Thursday from 9:15 a.m. to around 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s seminar topics will include pork quality research, social media ideas for pork producers, employee compensation trends, feed-grade antibiotic alternatives and third-party audits for the farm. On Thursday, the discussions will again begin with pork quality, followed by the Veterinary Feed Directive, sow housing tools, business continuity and the Secure Pork Supply Plan, as well as U.S. pork exports and global trade prospects.

Pork Checkoff also provides a weather, crop and hog market outlook session on both Wednesday and Thursday in their hospitality tent at 12:30 p.m.

Both the business seminars and PORK Academy will take place in the Varied Industries Building.

Schedule plenty of time to take in all of Expo’s events
“Expo is a great place to interact with pork experts from veterinarians to researchers to allied industry to fellow producers,” Maschhoff says. “Anyone involved with pork production needs to spend some time at World Pork Expo. In fact, the schedule is so filled with options that attendees should consider attending more than one day.”

Always a highlight, World Pork Expo features the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, with more than 320,000 square feet of exhibit space and featuring hundreds of companies from around the world. Trade show hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, and Thursday, June 8, as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 9.

Attendees will find no shortage of mouthwatering grilled pork, including free lunches served up at The Big Grill. The World Pork Expo Junior National youth hog show and educational events begin on Monday, June 5 and run through the week. An open show takes place on Friday, June 9, with breeding stock sales on Saturday, June 10, from 8 a.m. until approximately noon. Attendees can also consider signing up for the golf tournament and industry tours for additional networking and educational opportunities.

Visit the website for updates on event schedules and room availability at official World Pork Expo hotels. Through May, the website also offers convenient online registration for the discounted rate of $10 per adult (ages 12 and up), which covers all three days of Expo. Registration will be available on site for $20 per adult, with a special rate of $10 for people arriving on Friday.

For the most up-to-date details about this year’s World Pork Expo, be sure to connect with Expo on Twitter and Facebook by following our pages, tagging us in your posts and using the hashtag #WPX17!



USDA Approves Modifications to Margin Protection Insurance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) Monday announced greater crop insurance options for farmers against unexpected decreases in their operating margin. Offered through the federal crop insurance program, margin protection insurance for corn, wheat, rice and soybeans will be available in more states and have updates designed to better clarify the real input costs covered beginning in 2018.

"The federal crop insurance program is a prime example of how USDA works with producers to create products that fit their needs, making the farm safety net stronger for the economic health of our rural communities," said RMA Acting Administrator Heather Manzano.

The RMA is expanding margin protection for corn and soybeans to Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The RMA also reevaluated how the liabilities and deductibles were identified and has increased the maximum coverage level available to 95 percent. In addition, the program was updated to add a harvest price option for all margin protection crops, which will allow farmers to get the greater of the projected price or the harvest price to further result in a more effective safety net for farmers.

The expansion of the margin protection insurance pilot program for corn and soybeans to 11 more states also includes a harvest price option, which allows farmers to get the greater price so they can rebound faster.

Margin protection insurance is a privately-developed product and first became available in 2016 to provide coverage based on an expected margin, which is the expected area revenue minus the expected area operating costs, for each applicable crop, type and practice. Margin protection is area-based coverage and may not necessarily reflect individual experience. The margin protection plan can be purchased by itself, or in conjunction with a Yield Protection or Revenue Protection policy.

A producer may choose coverage from 70 percent to 95 percent of their expected margin. A higher level of coverage will have a higher premium rate. The last day to purchase a margin protection policy for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat is Sept. 30, 2017. The last day to purchase margin protection for rice is the same as the sales closing date for the underlying rice insurance policy, which varies by county. Maps of eligible counties and other resources can be found on the margin protection webpage.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.



ICUSD/DMI Launch Campaign to Grow Consumer Confidence

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, in partnership with America’s dairy farm families and importers has announced an unprecedented industry-wide campaign to re-introduce dairy products to consumers.  The goal is to build consumer confidence by helping consumers better understand dairy foods and dairy farming. 

Barb O'Brien, President of DMI and ICUSD, says the campaign is called "Undeniably Dairy".  She says, "As I think about what we're trying to do, it's to proactively provide the context for the consumer to understand that farmers are doing good work.  Because we know that consumers are increasingly looking back through that chain to understand where their food came from, how it was produced and our vision is ultimately to ensure that people trust dairy as essential to their lives." 

THE MULTI-YEAR CAMPAIGN WILL WORK TO RE-INTRODUCE DAIRY TO CONSUMERS, AND SHARE ALL THAT IS GOOD ABOUT DAIRY FOODS AND DAIRY FARMING.  NATIONAL DAIRY BOARD CHAIR AND WISCONSIN FARMER AMBER HORN LIETERMAN SAYS "UNDENIABLY DAIRY" IS AN EXCITING NEW WAY TO REACH CONSUMERS.  She says, "Now we have that means to open that barn door and really share what to us is undeniably dairy.  And it gives us a way to reconnect to those consumers and be able to reassure them that we can be trusted and they can feel good about how their food is produced and the dairy farmers that produce it." 

A VARIETY OF MULTI-MEDIA CONTENT, ON FARM EVENTS AND STORYTELLING WILL REMIND PEOPLE OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLE DAIRY FOODS PLAY, WHILE ALSO SHARING HOW THE DAIRY INDUSTRY INNOVATES AND DELIVERS BOTH EXCEPTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND A NUTRIENT RICH PRODUCT.



NOP Posts Fraudulent Organic Certificates

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP) is alerting the organic trade about the presence of fraudulent organic certificates. Fraudulent organic certificates listing the following businesses are in use and have been reported to the NOP:
-    Renagrotec SPR de Rl
-    Rand Express Purity Ltd.
-    JEM Enterprises
-    Betterbell Company Ltd.
-    Bickerton Trade Ltd
-    Saffire Blue Inc.                                               
-    Green India Herbs
-    Erin’s Faces

Review these and other fraudulent certificates online at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/enforcement/organic/fraudulent-certificates.

These certificates falsely represent agricultural products as certified organic under the USDA organic regulations, violating the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. Fraudulent certificates may have been created and used without the knowledge of the operator or the certifying agent named in the certificate.

The posting of fraudulent certificates does not necessarily mean that the named operator or certifying agent was involved in illegal activity. If an operation named on a fraudulent certificate is certified, its certifying agent, identified in the list of certified operations, can provide additional information and verification to the organic trade. Organic handlers should continue to review certificates carefully, validate with their certifying agents where needed, and send any suspicious certificates to the NOP Compliance and Enforcement Division.

Any use of these certificates or other fraudulent documents to market, label, or sell non-organic products as organic can result in a civil penalty of up to $11,000 per violation. Persons with information regarding the production or use of this or other fraudulent NOP certificates are asked to send information to the NOP Compliance and Enforcement Division.



Livestock Industry Calls for Relief from EPA’s Overly Burdensome Regulations

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council filed comments this week to the EPA calling for immediate action on several burdensome regulations the agency put forward under previous Administrations.

The groups said that the regulations, “inhibit job creation, are ineffective, are unnecessary, or impose costs that exceed the environmental benefits. Often, these regulations impose federal requirements on cattle producers that discourage innovation and impose rigid requirements that do not work on cattle operations and, moreover, defy common sense.”

NCBA and PLC called on the agency to replace the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule with a rule that will clarify the extent of federal jurisdiction without overreaching. The replacement rule, the comments state, must work for cattle producers, follow the rule of law, and replace each instance of WOTUS in the Code of Federal Regulations so that there is one single definition across the federal government.

The associations also called on the agency to repeal the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) rule for manure management.

“According to the EPA, beef cattle production was responsible for 1.9 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2014,” the comments, signed by NCBA President Craig Uden and PLC President Dave Eliason, read. “By comparison, GHG emissions from transportation and electricity accounted for 25.8 percent and 30.6 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions in the same year. The GHG Mandatory Reporting Rule places an undue burden on animal agricultural producers, significantly increasing production costs with negligible environmental benefit.”

NCBA and PLC also targeted the Spill Prevention Control and Counters rule for farms, which has been an on-going regulatory burden for producers. While EPA attempted to address the farming community’s concerns related to the SPCC rule, the program presents many unnecessary challenges for agricultural producers. NCBA and PLC asked EPA to modify the rule so that it is easier for farms to implement.

Finally, the associations called on EPA to protect the privacy of farmers and ranchers in implementing the agency’s regulations. Many farmers and ranchers maintain a personal residence on their operations and this information may be protected under privacy protections of the law.

“The U.S. cattle industry is proud of its history as stewards of our nation’s natural resources,” the comments read. “The industry takes very seriously its obligation to protect the environment while providing the nation with a safe and affordable food supply.”



Farm Bureau Urges Support for Bills Leveling the Sales Tax Playing Field

House and Senate legislation to promote fair competition between local and Main Street retailers and Internet-only sellers has the backing of the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2017 (H.R. 2193) and the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2017 ( S. 976) would allow states to apply sales tax laws uniformly. Currently, a legal loophole allows some online retailers to avoid collecting the sales tax due during a transaction. While consumers are still liable for paying what’s owed, few do, which gives online stores a strong advantage over their Main Street competitors.

"The businesses that line the streets of our nation’s small and rural towns provide essential goods and services to the farmers and ranchers who work the fields that surround them. But hometown businesses are at a disadvantage when they compete with online-only retailers who don’t have to collect sales taxes. When this disadvantage causes a ‘Main Street’ business to close or scale back, the impact is especially hurtful to already struggling small and rural towns"
—  AFBF President Zippy Duvall

When the sales tax disparity causes a Main Street business to close or scale back, Duvall noted, it’s not only small business owners and the families they serve who are harmed.

“Since local governments and schools rely heavily on property taxes for funding, when sales tax revenues decline they often turn to property taxes to make up the difference. For land-based businesses like farming and ranching, this is particularly onerous,” Duvall wrote.



National Biodiesel Board Submits Comments to Ease the Administration of the Renewable Fuel Standard for Biodiesel Producers

Today the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” which called for input on regulations that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement or modification. The executive order is largely aimed at reducing burdensome regulations. NBB’s goal in submitting these comments to EPA is to make it easier to administer the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and to support the increased use of biofuel.

NBB provided comments on five subjects: (1) funding for additional guidance and compliance assistance, (2) RFS implementing regulations, (3) the proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule, (4) Product Transfer Documents (PTD) and (5) vehicle regulations.

Specifically, NBB requests that EPA add approved feedstocks to Table 1, clearly define heating oil for biodiesel, raise the threshold for upward delegation of RIN assignments, provide funding for additional guidance and compliance assistance, reconsider the CARBIO program, and maintain or increase RFS volume requirements. In the comments, NBB also suggests changes to the proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule, Product Transfer Documents requirements and vehicle regulations.

 “NBB welcomes the opportunity to provide constructive feedback on ways to further improve the successful, working RFS program. These suggestions would lighten the load of overburdened EPA staff and streamline some burdensome processes for participants of the program. Taken together, these adjustments would continue to support the growing biodiesel industry,” said Anne Steckel, NBB’s vice president of federal affairs.



NCGA Files Comments with EPA on Ethanol, WOTUS

The National Corn Growers Association filed comments yesterday with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on ethanol and the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) regulations, following President Trump's executive order, "Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda."

NCGA urged the EPA to use its authority to give drivers year-round access to higher blends of ethanol such as E15. EPA has previously issued a Reid Vapor Pressure waiver for 10 percent ethanol blends. Providing E15 with the same waiver would lead to more choices at the pump and cleaner air.

NCGA also encouraged EPA to update its lifecycle analysis for corn-based ethanol. EPA last updated its lifecycle analysis in 2010, projecting that corn-based ethanol would produce 21 percent fewer GHG emissions when compared to gasoline by 2022. Other federal government agencies have issued updated GHG lifecycle analysis for ethanol based on actual corn and ethanol production experience. Most recently, USDA analysis released in 2017 shows corn-based ethanol results in 43 percent fewer GHG emissions when compared to gasoline.

EPA's outdated lifecycle analysis for corn-based ethanol is hindering ethanol exports, as well as expansion of domestic ethanol use. NCGA also believes EPA should review and update its emissions modeling and fuel petition procedures to help ensure sound regulatory decision-making for future high-octane fuels such as higher ethanol blends.

Finally, NCGA expressed support for Executive Order 13778, which directs EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to review the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. NCGA has serious concerns with the 2015 rule and supports Agency efforts to rescind and replace it with a rule that achieves the 1972 Clean Water Act's underlying goal of protecting the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. NCGA is committed to working with the Agency on a rule that provides clarity and certainty for farmers and is in line with the Clean Water Act.



Farmers Union Confronts the Farm Crisis

The national farm economy is deteriorating, forcing many family farmers and ranchers to make tough financial decisions that will impact their families, communities, and the entire country.

In order to provide farmers with the resources and support needed to endure these tough economic conditions, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Farmers Union state divisions have compiled resources, organized listening sessions, and initiated a national campaign to raise awareness for the current farm crisis.

“We’re in the midst of a farm crisis,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Net farm income has been cut in half over the past four years, and other indicators point to intense, ongoing stress within our rural communities. Importantly, there is no foreseeable end to these tough conditions. Farmers, ranchers, and their communities are bracing for very hard times, and Farmers Union is going to be there to help them through it.”

Johnson echoed this sentiment in a letter to NFU members, announcing the start of a campaign to raise awareness for the farm crisis and provide support to family farmers and ranchers. NFU launched a new online resource center today, the Farm Crisis Center, to help farmers find the information and services they need to get through financial and personal emergencies.

“When times get tough and farmers are under significant stress, services provided by farm groups, hotlines, and mediation programs can go a long way in making sure families keep their farms and their families. The Farm Crisis Center is a go-to resource for farmers looking for help,” noted Johnson.

Part of confronting the current farm crisis is elevating the issue to national prominence. Farmers Union state divisions are organizing listening sessions to bring together farmers to discuss the impacts of the depressed farm economy. NFU will bring these stories and information to the halls of Congress, the administration, and across multimedia platforms to raise awareness for the crisis currently confronting farming and rural communities.

“The farm crisis needs to be front and center of every major farm and rural discussion occurring amongst policymakers and the national media,” said Johnson. “We encourage all farmers to attend our listening sessions and share their stories with us on the Farm Crisis Center so that we can be your voice in Washington. The plight of rural and farming communities must be addressed for the betterment of the entire country.”

More information on the farm crisis, farmer resources, and Farmers Union listening sessions can be found at https://farmcrisis.nfu.org/.