Tuesday August 15 Ag News

Ricketts, Nebraska Trade Leaders Outline Principles for NAFTA Modernization

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska’s leaders in international trade outlined principles for North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) modernization ahead of planned negotiations on the agreement.  Negotiations between the United States, Canada, and Mexico are scheduled to begin in Washington, D.C. on August 16, 2017.

“We urge the President and his team to prioritize growing market access, especially in the areas of agriculture and manufacturing, during their discussions on NAFTA modernization,” said Governor Ricketts.  “It is crucial that these discussions at a minimum maintain the provisions that have helped make Canada and Mexico Nebraska’s top trading partners.  Both of these markets are vital to growing Nebraska.  The President has delivered before, and I’m confident he and his team can deliver during the upcoming negotiations.”

The Governor outlined three principles he is urging the Trump Administration to follow as they sit down at the negotiation table:

·       Maintain market access: Negotiations should focus on growing market access with our North American partners, especially in the areas of agriculture and manufacturing.  Any changes should protect access to these markets as well as access for international firms who do business and invest in Nebraska.

·       Reduce tariff & non-tariff barriers: While NAFTA provides tariff-free trade for a variety of Nebraska commodities, there are still opportunities to reduce or eliminate tariffs on dairy, poultry, eggs, and wine as well as other non-tariff barriers on products, such as ethanol, and regulatory issues.

·       Reflect technological advances: A modernized NAFTA should reflect technological advances made since the original agreement was put in place in 1993.  For Nebraska, many of these advances have come in the areas of biotechnology and crop science.

Members of the Governor’s trade council also issued statements ahead of NAFTA negotiations:

“Nebraska's economic growth is largely dependent on free and fair trade with foreign nations.  In 2015, Nebraska exported $8 billion of goods – a 238% increase from a decade earlier.  Of that amount, more than $6 billion of Nebraska exports were manufactured goods, and it is estimated that more than 270,000 jobs in Nebraska depend on trade.  The State Chamber supports continued elimination of export barriers and expansion of trade opportunities so Nebraska businesses can create more good jobs in our state,” said Barry Kennedy, President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

“From an agricultural perspective, it is imperative that NAFTA negotiations stand firm on the principle of maintaining and even expanding the market access our agricultural products have with both Canada and Mexico.  Those efforts must include reduction and elimination of tariffs, elimination of non-tariff trade barriers, as well as improvements in regulatory equivalency between NAFTA trade partners.  It is also important that a modernized NAFTA agreement update food safety rules, create opportunities for inclusion of new standards for both crop and livestock biotechnology, and eliminate provisions to limit restrictions on common name products produced in the U.S. Improvements in these areas will help make NAFTA a model for future U.S. trade agreements,” said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau President.

“Agriculture is Nebraska’s number one industry, and robust exports of both agricultural and manufacturing products are vital to the strength of our economy.  As the leaders of Nebraska’s public, land-grant university system, which has a rich history of driving economic growth in our state and beyond, we think it’s critical for U.S. negotiators to look for ways to expand agricultural and manufacturing trade so we can continue to build a strong economy in Nebraska and across the country,” said University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen, and University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, M.D.

“Nebraska is the top U.S. state for red meat exports and trade is integral to our business.  Nebraska producers exported $1.126 billion in beef and beef products last year, and product equivalent of 2,600 head of cattle is exported nationwide from our state every day.  There is no question that NAFTA is responsible for much of this success, as Nebraska’s beef producers depend on access to top markets like Canada and Mexico.  Any potential renegotiation of NAFTA must protect the market access and scientific standards that the agreement has provided for Nebraska’s beef industry for the past 24 years,” said Nebraska Cattlemen President Troy Stowater.

“With Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers being leaders in corn, red meat and ethanol production and Mexico and Canada being our leading trading partners, we encourage the administration to build upon access for corn in all forms,” stated David Merrell, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board.

“Open trade as provided by the NAFTA agreement with Mexico and Canada is extremely important to our Nebraska pork producers.  These family farmers depend on stable, free trade agreements with countries around the world as an important economic piece of their livestock operations,” said Al Juhnke, Executive Director, Nebraska Pork producers Association

“The US sorghum industry has long-standing trade relationships with agricultural businesses in Mexico.  We support the Governor’s efforts and the principles he is putting forward as they will help strengthen those existing relationships as well as expand partnerships into new areas of Mexico,” said Mike Baker, Chairman of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board.

“World growth in market demand for bioscience technologies in health, food, fuel and farming creates new opportunities for growth in the life sciences industry, adding high-wage jobs in Nebraska and expanding our economy.  Bio Nebraska stands with Governor Ricketts core principles and encourages President Trump to seek a mutually-beneficial NAFTA modernization process,”  Phil Kozera, Executive Director of Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association.

“Many of NBDC’s small business clients have been exporting their products to serve customers in Mexico and Canada.  It is vital to Nebraska’s small businesses – and a growing contingent of small business exporters – that these market remain, at least, as open as they have been in the past,” said Catherine Lang, State Director for the Nebraska Business Development Center.



COVER CROPS FOLLOWING CORN SILAGE
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Following corn silage harvest, your ground can lay bare for seven to nine months.  Instead, let’s plant some crops to grow and cover it until next season.

               After silage harvest, bare ground has two things working against it.  One is exposure to wind and water erosion.  And two, it isn’t growing anything.  Cover crops might help you overcome both problems.

               But what should you plant?  That depends primarily on what you want to achieve with your cover crop.  For example, hairy vetch and winter peas are good cover crops if you want to improve your soil by planting a legume that will produce 30 to 40 pounds of nitrogen per acre for next year’s crop.  Or maybe use a deep-rooted radish to breakup some hardpans.

               Are you still hoping for some feed this fall?  Then oats, spring triticale and barley, annual ryegrass, and turnips might be better choices because these plants have the greatest forage yield potential yet this fall.  Spring oats, triticale, and barleys also will die over winter so they won’t interfere with next year’s crop.  But, dead residue from these spring cereals is not very durable, so it provides less effective soil protection and for a shorter duration.

               For better soil protection, winter rye is the best choice among the cereals.  And cereal rye can provide abundant grazable growth early next spring to get cows off of hay sooner.  Wheat and triticale also can be good cover crops.  Of course, wheat then can be harvested later for grain while triticale makes very good late spring forage.

               What is becoming especially popular is planting a mixture of several types of plants to reap some of the benefits of each one.

               Cover crops can preserve or even improve your soil, and can be useful forages as well.  Consider them following your early harvests.



ACE elects board of directors at annual conference

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) announced the re-election of several board members and the election of one new representative to the organization’s board of directors during its annual meeting prior to ACE’s 30th annual conference in Omaha.

Nine incumbents were re-elected to the board of directors for three-year terms:
 ·    Todd Sneller, representing the Nebraska Ethanol Board
 ·    Ron Wetherell, representing Little Sioux Corn Processors, and
 ·    Chuck DeGrote, representing Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company
 ·    Trevor Hinz, representing ICM Inc.
 ·    David Kolsrud, representing Badger State Ethanol
 ·    Troy Knecht, representing the South Dakota Corn Growers Association
 ·    Greg Krissek, representing the Kansas Corn Growers Association
 ·    Gary Marshall, representing the Missouri Corn Growers Association
 ·    Chris Wilson, representing Mid-Missouri Energy

One new member was elected to serve on the board of directors for a three-year term:
 ·    Neal Kemmet, representing Ace Ethanol (and Fox River Valley Ethanol)

Kemmet replaces Bob Sather of Ace and Fox River Valley.  Kemmet is the president and general manager of the companies.

“The ACE board of directors is a dedicated group of active volunteers who represent the grassroots diversity of our entire membership,” said Brian Jennings, ACE executive vice president. “Our members can be rest assured they are well-represented by the resolve, expertise and experience the board members bring to the table and ACE is grateful for their support and leadership.”



FFA chapters selected for grants

Five FFA chapters were selected by the Nebraska FFA Foundation to receive grants for various programs in their local chapters. The following chapters received grants:

The Mead FFA chapter received a grant for "Blooming Smiles." This is an FFA project in which the chapter collects donated flowers from funerals, weddings, etc. and repurposes them as floral arrangements for community members, as random acts of kindness. The chapter plans to expand the operation by purchasing a floral cooler and floriculture products to make this community service project easier.

The Randolph agricultural education program will be investing the grant awarded to them for a powder coating system. The school has already invested in the computer numerical controlled plasma cutter and design software.

Johnson-Brock High School has a new agricultural education program this school year. They were awarded a grant for curriculum needs to develop a successful program. They will be purchasing textbooks, laboratory materials and rebuilding a greenhouse.

The Red Cloud agricultural education program was awarded a grant to build a greenhouse. The agricultural education program received a lot across from the school through a local business donation. The greenhouse will be built on this lot.

The Holdrege agricultural education program was also awarded a grant to purchase plant systems CASE equipment. The instructor at Holdrege will be implementing the plant systems Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education and will be purchasing sensors, probes and equipment to implement this curriculum.



Nebraska Land Values Update
JD Maxson, Western Area Sales Manager, Farmers National Company

Lower land values in Nebraska have not slowed the sales volume for Farmers National Company. Grain and livestock prices both have an impact on Nebraska land values across many regions of the state. 　

Our number of sales is up 10 to 20 percent over last year and good quality land is definitely in demand. The value of top quality land has declined a moderate amount, whereas lower quality land has taken more of a drop. 　

Land auctions continue to be a primary way of selling ag land in much of the state and Farmers National Company auctions achieve a successful sale 95 percent of the time despite buyers being more cautious. Private treaty sales are being used more in the case of lower quality land and grazing acres. Local farmers and ranchers are the predominate buyers as they seek to purchase land that may only come up for sale once in many generations. 　

We have only seen a couple stress sales where the owner/operator needs to shore up working capital. Depending on the season and commodity prices, we could see more of these types of sales this fall if the state’s farm economy stays soft. Buyers and sellers are paying close attention to the farm and ranch economy as they consider a land transaction.



Blogger Named Inaugural Beef Advocate of the Year

The beef advocacy program supported by the beef checkoff has named blogger and cattlewoman Anne Burkholder as the recipient of the first Advocate of the Year award. The award recognizes an outstanding participant in the Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program, which trains members of the beef community to engage with consumers and answer their questions about beef and beef production.

A Florida native, Burkholder moved to Nebraska with her husband in 1997 to run a family feed yard that had been in her husband’s family since the 1970s. Since then, the mother of three started a successful blog entitled “Feed Yard Foodie” and works for Progressive Beef to ensure that its supply chain is producing high-quality, sustainable beef.

While many beef advocates grow up with an agricultural background, Burkholder grew up a self-proclaimed jock in Palm Beach County, Florida, and attended Dartmouth University where she majored in psychology. This unique perspective allows her to relate to consumers who may not be familiar with beef production.

"Managing a feed yard for 20 years inspired me to learn to identify and fill meaningful gaps. With thousands of cattle relying on me each and every day, recognizing if an important gap existed between the care that I offered and what the animal needed was absolutely critical for good welfare. This same philosophy of working to 'fill the gap' extends to all of the areas of my life, including beef advocacy,” explains Burkholder. “A gap clearly exists between the truth of how beef is raised and the general consumer knowledge of the beef industry. As someone actively engaged in caring for cattle and raising beef, it is my job to help fill that gap with truthful information.”

Burkholder’s passion for communicating with consumers led her to become an early graduate of the checkoff’s Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program. She has taken that training, paired with her firsthand experience, to another level. She has participated in national media interviews and high-profile panel discussions to share beef’s positive story with consumers around the country.

“Feed Yard Foodie is a natural extension of me. It creates appropriate transparency as I try to bridge the seemingly unending chasm between urban and rural America. I truly believe that 'together we are stronger,' and my advocacy efforts focus on finding common ground with those who were not granted the blessing of living on a farm," says Burkholder.

Burkholder is no stranger to awards. Awarded the BEEF Magazine Trailblazer award in 2014, she was named to Vance Publishing’s 40 under 40 in agriculture in 2013, and in 2009, awarded the Beef Quality Assurance Producer of the Year award. 

The Advocate of the Year is selected by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor of the beef checkoff which manages the MBA program, and state checkoff staff as the standout advocate among the 12 monthly award winners in 2016.

Find out more about the Masters of Beef Advocacy program at http://www.beef.org/mastersofbeefadvocacy.aspx. To learn more about your beef checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.



Results of 2016 National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit to be Shared at Sept. 7 Web Broadcast

Findings from the beef checkoff-funded 2016 National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit will be shared with media at a web broadcast featuring the study’s principal investigators on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. CT. This exclusive first-viewing of the research presents data and their implications for beef production in the critical cow and bull market. It’s the first update of this data since 2007.

It’s estimated that cull cows and bulls represent up to 20 percent of the beef market in the United States. The data from this research, gathered in 18 packing plants across the United States that process cull cows and bulls, focuses on different aspects of cow and bull raising, transportation and marketing and how they affect traits such as lameness, muscle score, bruising, carcass defects and numerous other product attributes.

Among those presenting at the web-based event are:
-    Jeff Savell, Texas A&M University
-    Keith Belk, Colorado State University
-    Deb VanOverbeke, Oklahoma State University

The web broadcast is being hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. Expected length is 90 minutes.

To RSVP for the Sept. 7 live webcast or find out more about the research, contact Jesse Fulton at jfulton@beef.org, or 303/850-3461. Details about access to the event will be shared with those who RSVP for the event.

This research complements, but is separate from, the checkoff-funded 2016 National Beef Quality Audit of steers and heifers. For information on that recently-released research go to www.bqa.org.



Keep Pork Trade Flowing In Updated NAFTA, Says NPPC

With negotiations set to begin tomorrow, the National Pork Producers Council today repeated its request that a “modernized” North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) maintain the zero-tariff rate on pork traded in North America.

President Trump has made updating the 23-year-old trade deal between the United States, Canada and Mexico a priority since before taking office and even considered withdrawing from the agreement. The initial NAFTA renegotiation talks start here tomorrow.

NPPC has been one of the leading agricultural voices in support of the agreement, issuing a white paper and twice testifying before congressional committees on the benefits of the pact.

“Canada and Mexico are top markets for our pork, so, obviously, we don’t want any disruptions in our exports to those countries; we need to keep pork trade flowing,” said NPPC President Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill. “We want to reiterate to the Trump administration that NAFTA has been a boon to the U.S. pork industry and to all of American agriculture.”

Since NAFTA went into effect Jan. 1, 1994, U.S. trade north and south of the borders has more than tripled, growing more rapidly than U.S. trade with the rest of the world. Canada is the No. 2 market for U.S. agricultural products; Mexico is No. 3. In 2016, America’s farmers exported more than $38 billion of products to the two nations, or 28 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports. Those exports generated more than $48 billion in additional economic activity and supported nearly 287,000 U.S. agricultural jobs.

For the U.S. pork industry, Canada is the No. 4 market, and Mexico is No. 2. Last year, the industry shipped almost $799 million of pork to Canada and nearly $1.4 billion to Mexico. Those exports help support more than 16,000 U.S. jobs.

“U.S. pork trade with Canada and Mexico has been very robust, and we need to maintain and even improve that trade,” Maschhoff said. “We will continue to work with the administration to make sure that happens in a modernized NAFTA.”



Corn Farmers Grow Leadership Skills through Training Program

Corn growers gathered in Minneapolis, Minn. last week for the first session of the NCGA Leadership Academy, co-sponsored by Syngenta. This year's class includes 15 aspiring leaders from nine states. Upon completion of the program in January, the participants will join more than 500 colleagues who have graduated from this program in the past 30 years.

At the meeting, participants got an up-close look at NCGA from President Wesley Spurlock, a Leadership Academy alumnus. Spurlock also provided an insightful examination of the main issues facing the association, and the nation's corn farmers, today.

The farmers attending took part in public speaking exercises and social media advocacy training as well as association management skill building. In addition, the class enjoyed a look at the future trends that will impact the industry and a comprehensive economic forecast given by futurist Bob Treadway. Also offering presentations focused on core communications, the training provided not only tools but insight into how they can be applied most effectively.

"As a Leadership Academy graduate, I have a deep appreciation for the confidence and skills attendees develop in such a short time," Spurlock said. "The Syngenta speakers, as well as the many outside experts brought in, have an incredible ability to hone in on precisely what will be most beneficial for our participants.

"As NCGA's President, I am excited to see new leaders who want to take on an active role in the association. When these volunteers come together, you can feel their commitment to the industry. It is heartening to know that such strong farmer leaders will carry on our mission well into the future."

This year's Leadership At Its Best Class includes: Jeff Burg (S.D.); Paul Cernik (Neb.); Kelly Harsh (Ohio); Wayne Humphreys (Iowa); Matt Lambert (Mo.); Dennis McNinch (Kan.); Curt Mether (Iowa); Lenny Evans Miles, Jr. (Md.); Matt Moreland (Mo.); Erin Rios (Kan.); Allen Rowland (Mo.); Troy Schneider (Colo.); Scott Stahl (S.D); Travis Strasser (S.D.); and Mark Wilson (Ill.).

Open to all NCGA membership, Leadership At Its Best provides training to interested volunteers of all skill levels.  The second session, which will be held this January in Washington, addresses public policy issues, working with the Hill and parliamentary procedure.  Through this program, participants build the skill set needed to become a more confident public speaker with a solid background in the procedures and processes used by NCGA and many state organizations.



Johnson-Hoffman Elected as GRSB Vice President

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is proud to announce the election of Ms. Nicole Johnson-Hoffman as the new Vice President of the GRSB.

Ms. Johnson Hoffman was elected to the position by the GRSB Board of Directors following the stepping down of former Vice President Mr. Francisco Beduschi Neto.

Currently based in the greater Chicago area, Ms. Johnson-Hoffman works as the Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for OSI Group, a leading meat and food supplier to some of the world’s biggest brands. She has been a part of the meat industry for nearly 12 years and has been involved in agriculturally-based businesses for over 20 years.

Having grown up on a small farm in Minnesota, Ms. Johnson-Hoffman says agriculture is her life’s work, and is proud to be a part of helping to feed the world and provide a beneficial part of people’s diets.

“I love being able to work with producers and collaborate with people from across the supply chain,” said Ms. Johnson-Hoffman of her work with OSI. The company has over 65 locations in 17 countries, and has been a longtime member of GRSB as well as an active participant in regional efforts in the US, Europe and Australia. In her current position, Ms. Johnson-Hoffman is responsible for the continuous development of the company's global sustainability strategy, sustainability leadership and direction to the company’s global team. She explained that she finds great service and meaning in her work.

Ms. Johnson-Hoffman is excited to begin her tenure with the GRSB Executive Committee and is proud of the work the Roundtable is currently doing for the global beef industry. She believes roundtables are an optimal way to accomplish things when bringing together parties with differing opinions, and result in much more valid outcomes.

“GRSB creates a powerful space for different points of view to come together to achieve common goals,” said Ms. Johnson-Hoffman. She is proud to support the Roundtable’s inclusive values and the welcoming of all perspectives. She believes that GRSB has a unique platform to allow “mining for conflict” which can help build trust and be a unifying tool in an industry of varying opinions where agreement is not always the goal.

Her focus as the new Vice President is to grow membership, engage new people and bring new perspectives to these important discussions.

“We are accountable to our stakeholders and members for delivering outcomes,” she said, “That is ultimately the true measure of our success.”

Ms. Johnson-Hoffman believes that one of the most impactful things that the Roundtable has been able to accomplish is giving the beef industry a world definition for what beef sustainability is through the principles and criteria they have set in place which allow for flexibility.

“GRSB has recognized that there are many unique situations for beef sustainability across the supply chain and has crafted a definition that can meet those unique needs,” she said.

Ms. Johnson Hoffman received her B.A. in International Relations from St. Cloud State University before going on to receive her doctorate in law from the University of Minnesota Law School. Before joining OSI Group in the fall of 2016, Johnson Hoffman spent 20 years at Cargill. She has been a part of the GRSB Board of Directors for four years and was the founding Chair of the Board of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

GRSB would like to thank former Vice President, Mr. Francisco Beduschi Neto, for his fantastic contributions to the Roundtable during this tenure. Mr. Beduschi Neto is the former president of the Brazilian Roundtable for Sustainable Livestock and the members of GRSB wish him all the best.

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is a global, multi-stakeholder initiative developed to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain through leadership, science and multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration. The GRSB envisions a world in which all aspects of the beef value chain are environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable.