Wednesday January 24 Ag News

Trump Urged to Find Markets for Agriculture Commodities on Anniversary of TPP Withdraw

On the one-year anniversary of President Trump signing an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Nebraska Farm Bureau urged President Trump to find new markets for Nebraska agricultural commodities.

“While the outlook of international demand for U.S. agricultural products remains strong, it is clear the U.S. missed a massive opportunity to expand exports to a growing region of the world,” wrote Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson in a Jan. 23 letter to President Trump. “Today we ask you and your administration to renew and strengthen your efforts to find new markets for our state and nation’s agricultural products.”

The missed opportunities for expanded Nebraska agricultural trade through the TPP agreement were further highlighted by the recent announcement that the 10 remaining partner countries intend to finalize the TPP agreement by early March, without U.S. involvement.

“With today’s announcement from the remaining TPP member nations, countries such as Australia, Japan’s largest beef trading partner, continue to have competitive advantage over U.S. farmers and ranchers. Your action to pull the U.S. out of the TPP reset the clock and put our trade negotiators and our nation’s farmers and ranchers back at square one with some of our largest potential trading partners,” Nelson wrote.

Nebraska ranks in the top five among all states in the value of its agricultural exports in USDA’s most recent calculations. Nebraska agricultural exports reached an estimated $6.4 billion in 2015, up from $4.8 billion in 2009. International trade not only impacts farmers and ranchers, but it also plays a major role in the success or failure of Nebraska’s broader economy. As Nebraska’s largest industry, agriculture accounts for more than 40 percent of the state’s economic output and nearly 24 percent of the state’s workforce. Lower prices for virtually every agriculture commodity produced in Nebraska has lowered farm income, leading to significant state revenue shortfalls as a direct result of the weakened agriculture sector.

“The TPP agreement would have provided Nebraska with a $378.5 million yearly boost in agricultural cash receipts and increased net agricultural exports by $229.2 million per year. Along with the monetary increases, the TPP agreement was projected to create 1,730 new Nebraska jobs,” wrote Nelson. “Nations around the world are actively working to expand their agricultural markets. Our farm and ranch families cannot be left behind.”



DEVELOPING RELIABLE LIVESTOCK WATER
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

Ponds and creeks often dry up.  If you use them to water your cattle, maybe it is time to develop a more reliable water source.

Many ponds and creeks dry up during dry weather.  Maybe rain will replenish them this spring, but shouldn’t you ask yourself “is this the best way to water my cattle during summer?”  This might be a good time to develop more wells or pipelines to reliably put water into tanks.

Tank water can be cooler and offer easier access than ponds or creeks.   It often is healthier for cattle, and they usually prefer it to ponds or creeks.  When cows walk into ponds and creeks, they stir mud and sediments into the water and often deposit animal wastes.  No wonder calves consistently choose tank water over ponds when given a choice!

Investing in tanks probably will actually pay for itself.  Reports from South Dakota, Montana, Oregon, Canada, and elsewhere show that the higher water quality found in tanks can increase cattle gains.  Calves can weigh an extra 50 pounds at weaning when tank water is available instead of dirty ponds.  Yearling steers can gain an extra three to four tenths of a pound per day.  With this much added performance, pumping water out of ponds, creeks, or wells and into tanks, or laying down pipelines, can pay off in just a few years.  And if it’s a question of having water or not having water, the payoff is even more immediate.

In addition, pumping water into tanks usually improves grazing distribution by attracting cattle to graze areas near the tanks instead of spending time standing in or around the ponds or creek.  This can increase your pasture’s carrying capacity or grazing season.

Think of it — better grazing, higher gains, and reliable water.  So much to gain and so little to lose.



REINKE'S PARTNERSHIP WITH NCTA CURTIS CONTINUES TO FLOURISH

Difficulty filling manufacturing and irrigation jobs are a major problem that faces the manufacturing and irrigation industry.  Reinke is on the move to solve the problems of these shortages and create solutions with job training.

A skilled labor shortage is being addressed by providing student scholarships for workforce training for the manufacturing industry. It's crucial to bridge the skills gap, and that's where Reinke Manufacturing's partnership comes into play with the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis.

Reinke Manufacturing has teamed with NCTA to offer an Irrigation Technician Area of Concentration. This 34-credit, hands-on program helps students obtain knowledge in electricity and mechanized irrigation systems. Reinke Manufacturing's partnership offers access to the Reinke PLUS Certification program.

"If you learn hands on, this is an awesome program for you," said Collin Overmann, NCTA student in Curtis. "There's always different companies calling our program expressing their need for technicians, so [job] placement is pretty good."

Since 2012, Reinke Manufacturing has donated thousands in scholarship funds to students enrolled in NCTA classes focusing on the Irrigation Technician concentration. Reinke Irrigation dealers including Holdrege Irrigation are a key component in the success of this program by providing students the opportunity to set forth a career plan in irrigation.

"Reinke is honored to support students focused on technical skills especially with the shortage of skilled labor," said Reinke President Chris Roth.

For details, see https://ncta.unl.edu/irrigation-technician-certificate.



NEBRASKA Q4 2017 MILK PRODUCTION

Milk production in Nebraska during the October- December 2017 quarter totaled 364 million pounds, up 4 percent from the October-December quarter last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of milk cows was 60,000 head, unchanged from the same period last year.

October-December Milk Production up 1.1 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the October - December quarter totaled 53.1 billion pounds, up 1.1 percent from the October - December quarter last year.  The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.40 million head, 3,000 head less than the July - September quarter, but 55,000 head more than the same period last year.

December Milk Production up 1.2 Percent
Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 17.0 billion pounds, up 1.2 percent from December 2016. November revised production at 16.2 billion pounds, was up 1.0 percent from November 2016. The November revision represented a decrease of 24 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,943 pounds for December, 11 pounds above December 2016. This is the highest production per cow for the month of December since the 23 State series began in 2003.

The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.74 million head, 54,000 head more than December 2016, and 3,000 head more than November 2017.Iowa Milk Production

Iowa:  Milk production in Iowa during December 2017 totaled 442 million pounds, up 4 percent from the previous December according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during December, at 220,000 head, was 1,000 more than last month and 5,000 more than last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,010 pounds, up 30 pounds from last December.



ISU sophomore is 2018 Iowa Pork Queen

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has selected a young woman from Altoona to serve as the 2018 Iowa Pork Queen and lead the Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team during the coming year.

Jordan Travis bested nine other young women at tonight's 46th annual Iowa Pork Congress banquet in Des Moines. She is a sophomore at Iowa State University and is majoring in animal science. The daughter of Sean and Darcy Travis of Altoona has an immense passion for swine and hopes to have a career in human resource management for a large swine company after graduation. She will represent Story County during her year-long reign.

The only two young men among the 12 total contestants competing to serve on the 2018 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team were both selected as youth pork ambassadors. Spencer Cook of Winthrop in Buchanan County and Cole Spain of Castalia in Fayette County will both join Travis on the new team.

Cook is the son of Aaron and Trish Cook of Winthrop. He is a senior at East Buchanan High School and plans to study agricultural business at ISU in the fall. Spencer looks forward to advocating for farmers and being a voice for the agricultural industry.

Spain is the son of Vince and Stephanie Spain of Castalia. He is a freshman at ISU and is pursuing a degree in agricultural education. Cole is minoring in animal science. He hopes to one day return to northeast Iowa and become an agricultural education teacher, while expanding his show pig herd.

All 12 contestants participated in interviewing and communications exercises at the Iowa Pork Congress this week and were judged on their skills, poise, presentation and overall knowledge of the pork industry and Iowa agriculture.

The top female contestant is crowned pork queen and the top remaining contestants, male or female, are named youth ambassadors. Each receives a $4,000 scholarship from IPPA.

The new youth leadership team members will represent IPPA at various pork promotional and educational events throughout the year.

The 2017 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team of Queen Clare Conley of Cherokee in Cherokee County and ambassadors McKenna Brinning of Keota in Washington County and Dylan Riedemann of Calumet in O'Brien County concluded their terms with farewell speeches at tonight's banquet.



Perdue Announces USDA’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018 during a town hall at Reinford Farms in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.

“Since my first day as the Secretary of Agriculture, I’ve traveled to 30 states, listening to the people of American agriculture about what is working and what is not. The conversations we had and the people we came across helped us craft USDA’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018,” said Secretary Perdue. “These principles will be used as a road map – they are our way of letting Congress know what we’ve heard from the hard-working men and women of American agriculture. While we understand it’s the legislature’s job to write the Farm Bill, USDA will be right there providing whatever counsel Congress may request or require.”

USDA’s 2018 Farm Bill and Legislative Principles:

FARM PRODUCTION & CONSERVATION
-    Provide a farm safety net that helps American farmers weather times of economic stress without distorting markets or increasing shallow loss payments.
-    Promote a variety of innovative crop insurance products and changes, enabling farmers to make sound production decisions and to manage operational risk.
-    Encourage entry into farming through increased access to land and capital for young, beginning, veteran and underrepresented farmers.
-    Ensure that voluntary conservation programs balance farm productivity with conservation benefits so the most fertile and productive lands remain in production while land retired for conservation purposes favors more environmentally sensitive acres.
-    Support conservation programs that ensure cost-effective financial assistance for improved soil health, water and air quality and other natural resource benefits.

TRADE & FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS
-    Improve U.S. market competitiveness by expanding investments, strengthening accountability of export promotion programs, and incentivizing stronger financial partnerships.
-    Ensure the Farm Bill is consistent with U.S. international trade laws and obligations.
-    Open foreign markets by increasing USDA expertise in scientific and technical areas to more effectively monitor foreign practices that impede U.S. agricultural exports and engage with foreign partners to address them.

FOOD, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMER SERVICES
-    Harness America’s agricultural abundance to support nutrition assistance for those truly in need.
-    Support work as the pathway to self-sufficiency, well-being, and economic mobility for individuals and families receiving supplemental nutrition assistance.
-    Strengthen the integrity and efficiency of food and nutrition programs to better serve our participants and protect American taxpayers by reducing waste, fraud and abuse through shared data, innovation, and technology modernization.
-    Encourage state and local innovations in training, case management, and program design that promote self-sufficiency and achieve long-term, stability in employment. 
-    Assure the scientific integrity of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans process through greater transparency and reliance on the most robust body of scientific evidence.
-    Support nutrition policies and programs that are science based and data driven with clear and measurable outcomes for policies and programs.

MARKETING & REGULATORY PROGRAMS
-    Enhance our partnerships and the scientific tools necessary to prevent, mitigate, and where appropriate, eradicate harmful plant and animal pests and diseases impacting agriculture.
-    Safeguard our domestic food supply and protect animal health through modernization of the tools necessary to bolster biosecurity, prevention, surveillance, emergency response, and border security.
-    Protect the integrity of the USDA organic certified seal and deliver efficient, effective oversight of organic production practices to ensure organic products meet consistent standards for all producers, domestic and foreign.
-    Ensure USDA is positioned appropriately to review production technologies if scientifically required to ensure safety, while reducing regulatory burdens.
-    Foster market and growth opportunities for specialty crop growers while reducing regulatory burdens that limit their ability to be successful.

FOOD SAFETY & INSPECTION SERVICES
-    Protect public health and prevent foodborne illness by committing the necessary resources to ensure the highest standards of inspection, with the most modern tools and scientific methods available.
-    Support and enhance FSIS programs to ensure efficient regulation and the safety of meat, poultry and processed egg products, including improved coordination and clarity on execution of food safety responsibilities.
-    Continue to focus USDA resources on products and processes that pose the greatest public health risk.

RESEARCH, EDUCATION & ECONOMICS
-    Commit to a public research agenda that places the United States at the forefront of food and agriculture scientific development.
-    Develop an impact evaluation approach, including the use of industry panels, to align research priorities to invest in high priority innovation, technology, and education networks.
-    Empower public-private partnerships to leverage federal dollars, increase capacity, and investments in infrastructure for modern food and agricultural science.
-    Prioritize investments in education, training and the development of human capital to ensure a workforce capable of meeting the growing demands of food and agriculture science. 
-    Develop and apply integrated advancement in technology needed to feed a growing and hungry world.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT              
-    Create consistency and flexibility in programs that will foster collaboration and assist communities in creating a quality of life that attracts and retains the next generation.
-    Expand and enhance the effectiveness of tools available to further connect rural American communities, homes, farms, businesses, first responders, educational facilities, and healthcare facilities to reliable and affordable high-speed internet services.
-    Partner with states and local communities to invest in infrastructure to support rural prosperity, innovation and entrepreneurial activity.
-    Provide the resources and tools that foster greater integration among programs, partners and the rural development customer.

NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
-    Make America’s forests work again through proactive cost-effective management based on data and sound science.
-    Expand Good Neighbor Authority and increase coordination with states to promote job creation and improve forest health through shared stewardship and stakeholder input.
-    Reduce litigative risk and regulatory impediments to timely environmental review, sound harvesting, fire management and habitat protection to improve forest health while providing jobs and prosperity to rural communities.
-    Offer the tools and resources that incentivize private stewardship and retention of forest land.

MANAGEMENT
-    Provide a fiscally responsible Farm Bill that reflects the Administration’s budget goals.
-    Enhance customer service and compliance by reducing regulatory burdens on USDA customers.
-    Modernize internal and external IT solutions to support the delivery of efficient, effective service to USDA customers.
-    Provide USDA full authority to responsibly manage properties and facilities under its jurisdiction.
-    Increase the effectiveness of tools and resources necessary to attract and retain a strong USDA workforce that reflects the citizens we serve.
-    Recognize the unique labor needs of agriculture and leverage USDA’s expertise to allow the Department to play an integral role in developing workforce policy to ensure farmers have access to a legal and stable workforce.
-    Grow and intensify program availability to increase opportunities for new, beginning, veteran, and underrepresented producers.



NMPF Statement on USDA’s 2018 Farm Bill & Legislative Principles
Jim Mulhern, President and CEO, NMPF:

“We are encouraged that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) principles for the next farm bill, released by Secretary Sonny Perdue on Wednesday, start with improving the farm safety net. The current farm bill’s dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) has proven to be inadequate in providing help to America’s dairy farmers, and fixing it must be a priority in 2018.

“The USDA has taken significant steps at NMPF’s request in the past three years to improve the MPP, but more is needed. NMPF continues to work with USDA and lawmakers in the House and Senate to strengthen the MPP to ensure meaningful assistance for those relying on it, and to find ways to expand risk management options for farmers. Making the MPP a reliable program for dairy farmers is vital to encouraging future farmer participation in the program. Additional risk management tools are also critical for the future of our dairy farmer community. Raising the current expenditure cap on programs available under USDA’s Risk Management Agency is vital to increasing the toolbox of options for farmers.

“As we begin 2018, milk prices and on-farm dairy margins are poor. It’s time to expand access to risk management tools and rectify the flaws in the MPP to create a workable safety net for dairy farmers.”



USDA Cold Storage December 2017 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on December 31, 2017 were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 6 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 14 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 2 percent from the previous month but up 3 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 13 percent from last month and up 121 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on December 31, 2017 were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 10 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 10 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 8 percent from last month and up 12 percent from December 31, 2016.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on December 31, 2017 were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 7 percent from December 31, 2016.  Butter stocks were up 6 percent from last month and up 2 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks were down 6 percent from last month and down 13 percent from a year ago.  Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 6 percent from last month but up 2 percent from a year ago.



Things to Consider as Beef Production Sales Ramp Up
Brian R. Williams, Assistant Extension Professor
Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University

The holidays are behind us, the spring calving season is just a few weeks away, and in just a few short months the grass will begin to green up across much of the country. It's the perfect time to attend a beef production sale. But there is much more to it than simply browsing through a sale catalog and picking out a bull or bred heifer that looks good. For most beef producers, decisions that are made this time of year will impact their operation for years to come. That is why it is important to very carefully consider all of the variables when making a purchasing decision regarding breeding stock. Here are a few things to consider:

What do I expect the markets to do over the next several years?
The expected direction of the markets should play a major role in the budgeted price for new breeding stock purchases. Pay too much and that new animal will lose money over the course of its productive lifespan. Set the budget too low and you could go home empty handed.

What characteristics are most important to me and how much am I willing to pay for them?
It is important to identify the most important things you are looking for in bull or a replacement heifer. Each characteristic often has its own tradeoffs. Purchasing breeding stock with low birth weights or better calving ease EPD's can reduce the chances of losing calves at birth, but low birth weights could also mean a smaller frame size or reduced weaning weights. A large frame size will often be associated with larger weaning weights, but can also mean higher feed costs and worse calving ease EPD's. Each of these are tradeoffs that an individual must weigh. Once the most important characteristics are identified, one must decide how much you are willing to pay for that characteristic. The better the EPD's are, the higher the price will be. What is the happy medium for your own operation? There really are no right or wrong answers to this question, and everyone at the sale will likely have a slightly different answer in terms of their preferences and willingness to pay for those preferences.

How will my breeding stock purchases impact the prices I receive for my calves?
Outside of show animal purchases, this is the question that everything should boil down to. Most producers are constantly trying to improve their herd genetics, but often those changes can be years in the making. Breeding stock purchases are an investment in the herd's future, and those decisions will impact the marketability of future calves. Cattle buyers have certain characteristics that they are willing to pay more (or less) for, so ultimately a herd's genetics will not only drive production aspects of a herd but also the price received for feeder calves.



Retail Fertilizer Prices Continue to Push Higher

For the third week in a row, average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers were higher the third week of January 2018, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.  Though prices for all fertilizers were higher, the price of only one fertilizer was up by a noteworthy amount. Anhydrous was up 5% compared to a month prior and had an average price of $485 per ton.

Prices for the remaining seven fertilizers were up just slightly. DAP had an average price of $456 per ton, MAP $491/ton, potash $345/ton, urea $355/ton, 10-34-0 $407/ton, UAN28 $226/ton and UAN32 $260/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.40/lb.N and UAN32 $0.41/lb.N.

All but three fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices pushing higher in recent months. Anhydrous is 2% higher, urea is 3% more expensive, both DAP and potash are 6% higher and MAP is 11% more expensive.

Three fertilizers are still lower in price compared to a year prior. UAN32 is 3% lower while UAN28 is 4%, and 10-34-0 is 7% less expensive looking back a year.



Ethanol Stocks Soared to 23.8M Bbl

The Energy Information Administration showed in supply data released midmorning a buildup in U.S. ethanol stocks continued last week, reporting a 1.1 million bbl or 4.8% spike in domestic inventory for the week ended Jan. 19 to a record high of 23.8 million bbl. The increase was the fourth straight weekly stock build, with inventory 2.1 million bbl or 9.7% higher than year ago.

Domestic plant production was little changed, up 1,000 bpd to 1.062 million bpd last week. Compared with a year ago, plant output was up 11,000 bpd or 1.0%. For the four weeks ended Jan. 19, production averaged 1.038 million bpd, down 11,000 bpd or 1.1% versus year ago.

Net refiner and blender inputs, a measure for ethanol demand, dropped 30,000 bpd or 3.5% last week to 826,000 bpd. Compared to a year ago, blending demand was down 7,000 bpd or 0.8%. For the four-week period ended Jan. 19, blending demand averaged 833,000 bpd, up 2,000 bpd versus a year ago.



Industry honors biodiesel champions, reflects on history

As the U.S. biodiesel industry celebrates 25 years, the National Biodiesel Board’s annual awards recognize a diverse group of individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to biodiesel. From long-time champions to present-day breakthroughs, the commercial biodiesel industry wouldn’t be where it is today without these individuals.

“The biodiesel industry has been built from visionary leaders all throughout our history,” said Donnell Rehagen, NBB CEO. “Reflecting on our relatively brief time as an industry reveals some truly remarkable achievements that serve as building blocks for where we are and where we intend to go. I’m proud to recognize this group of award winners as integral pieces of the biodiesel story.”

NBB recognizes the 2018 “Eye on Biodiesel” award winners throughout the week at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo. The honorees are:

Stephen Censky – Pioneer Award. Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture
As the long-time CEO of the American Soybean Association, Censky was instrumental in the growth and advancement of biodiesel over the years. ASA’s primary focus as an organization is policy development and implementation of soybean farmer issues, including biodiesel. The organization, under Censky’s guidance as CEO from 1996 to 2017, played a critical role in passing the biodiesel tax incentive in 2005, and the inclusion of biodiesel in the revised Renewable Fuel Standard through their national network of farmer leaders and extensive grassroots advocacy power. As USDA Deputy Secretary, Censky continues to provide critical leadership on agricultural policies as he has done throughout his career. He has also served at USDA in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, including as administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service.

City of Seattle – Climate Leader Award
The City of Seattle is one of the leading biodiesel fleet users in America. Looking for ways to power their operations in a cleaner, more environmentally friendly way, city fleet directors turned to biodiesel for its carbon reduction benefits and ease of use. In 2014, the city enacted the Green Action Fleet Plan with a goal of reducing their carbon emissions by more than 40 percent by 2020. This began their use of B20 biodiesel blends. Seattle now uses nearly 200,000 gallons of biodiesel per year, significantly lowering their carbon emissions. Along with being an avid user of the fuel, the city also works proactively to educate other fleets who are interested in transitioning to biodiesel by attending and hosting workshops, speaking at national fleet and transportation events, and even partnering with NBB as a featured fleet in the 2015 national biodiesel advertising campaign. This role as a third-party validator is a critical piece of the puzzle to ensuring continued confidence in biodiesel.

Samuel P. “Pat” Black, III – Initiative Award. Founder & CEO, HERO BX.
With a vision to help revitalize Erie, Pennsylvania with a return to a booming manufacturing sector, Samuel P. “Pat” Black, III, founded Lake Erie Biofuels dba HERO BX in 2005. HERO BX bears witness to the commitment of Black to investing, creating, and managing companies with innovative products to capitalize on economic opportunities in the Lake Erie region and beyond with a focus on the creation of manufacturing jobs. He envisioned a company that would create meaningful jobs, spur technological innovation and produce eco-friendly products. HERO BX is the largest biodiesel plant in the Northeastern United States, and they operate a production facility in Moundville, Alabama, and a blending and distribution terminal in North Hampton, New Hampshire. November of 2017 marked the ten-year anniversary of the first production batch at the Erie plant and was celebrated across the HERO BX family. This year, Black combined his philanthropic mindset with his passion for biodiesel and commissioned a book, “The Biodiesel Solution,” to help bring the biodiesel story to a mainstream audience and to capture the early history and numerous achievements of the industry as a collective.

Mike Youngerberg – Impact Award. Director of Product Development & Commercialization, Minnesota Soybean
Since 1986, Mike Youngerberg has worked to advance soybean industry priorities as a member of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association staff. He has a passion for biodiesel and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Biodiesel Council which represents the biodiesel producers and feedstock providers in the State. Youngerberg has served in a critical role in one of the most proactive biodiesel states in the country. In 2002, Minnesota passed landmark legislation requiring that diesel fuel sold in the state contain at least two percent biodiesel. The law was implemented on September 29, 2005, becoming the first state to require biodiesel blends. The program increased to B5 in May 2009, to B10 for the summer months in July 2014, and is scheduled to move to B20 on May 1, 2018. This tremendous growth faced challenges every step of the way and wouldn’t have been possible without strong leadership like Youngerberg’s.

Earl Christensen – Innovation Award. Senior Chemist, National Renewable Energy Lab
Confidence in biodiesel blends in the marketplace rely on sound scientific data. Christensen has been instrumental in conducting work related to biodiesel stability that has bolstered confidence in B20 by both Original Equipment Manufacturers and end-users alike. In his role at NREL, he has led critical efforts to analyze the positive benefits of stability enhancing additives in pure biodiesel, as well as the positive impacts of re-additizing B100 whose oxidative reserve has gone down over time. His recent work showed all samples of current market B20 biodiesel blends meeting today’s ASTM specifications had a minimum simulated shelf life of at least one year, with many samples having simulated shelf life of over three years. With re-additization, values were extended to over four years. This work shows that with biodiesel meeting industry specifications, using the proper handling and storage practices, it is possible for B20 to be stored as long or longer than petroleum diesel currently in the marketplace, potentially opening the door to new biodiesel markets where storage longer than one year is needed.