Tuesday July 27 Ag News

 GRASSHOPPERS IN ALFALFA
– Melissa Bartels, NE Extension Educator

We are starting to see populations of immature grasshoppers across the state. Stay tuned as I discuss how to evaluate your alfalfa fields and potential control options.

Grasshoppers can be damaging in high numbers to our alfalfa and hay fields. And they will only get worse as the summer continues. You may need control in your field.

Control begins with scouting to determine if insecticides are economically useful. Exact economic thresholds can’t be determined because of variables like value of the alfalfa and growth stage of both alfalfa and grasshopper. Still, if the grasshopper population in an established field is higher than 5 grasshoppers per square yard or 15 grasshoppers per square yard in field margins, insecticides probably can be worthwhile. New fields planted in late August are very susceptible to grasshopper feeding and treatment is probably needed if the grasshopper population is just half this level.

Around many fields, grasshoppers have just started moving in from the field margins. Treating just the outside 150 feet, probably is sufficient in these situations. However, if the entire field is already infested, it usually is best to first harvest the alfalfa and then apply insecticide to protect the regrowth. There are several insecticides labeled for use on alfalfa.

To reduce the cost and amount of insecticide used when treating an entire field, harvest the alfalfa but leave several small, uncut strips across the field. The remaining grasshoppers will quickly congregate in these strips, enabling you to treat just these smaller areas.

Please be especially careful to avoid injuring bee and other important pollinating insects when using insecticides and carefully read and follow all label directions. Some precautions you can take to protect bees include time of day when spraying, using less toxic insecticides, and avoiding areas with blooming plants.

If you have many grasshoppers in your alfalfa, control them soon. As they grow larger, they’ll only get worse.



Nebraska Producers Featured in National Advertising Campaign
(NE Beef Council newsletter)

The Beef Checkoff has continually worked to share the beef production story in an effort to strengthen trust between consumers and producers. One way to accomplish this objective is by having real farmers and ranchers tell their stories through video. As more and more consumers express interest in knowing how their food is raised, it becomes increasingly important to provide transparency into beef production practices.

Recently, the Nebraska Beef Council partnered with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to film two short-form videos featuring Switzer Ranch near Burwell, NE and Weber Feedyards near Dorchester, NE. The videos focus on sustainability practices implemented at each of the locations with highlights including the use of solar energy, grazing programs and sun shades to improve animal welfare.

"We were proud to work with the Beef Checkoff to showcase the beef industry here in Nebraska," said Sarah Sortum, co-owner of Switzer Ranch. "We have a great story to tell and these videos will help consumers understand that we work hard to provide a safe and wholesome product using sustainable practices."

The videos will be used as part of a national beef sustainability campaign starting in the fall of 2021 and will be extended to consumers at a state and national level. The full-length videos will be available on the Beef. It's What's For Dinner website and YouTube channels. Shorter forms of the videos will be used as video ads on social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram as well as a variety of streaming television and digital radio platforms.




RFA Pledge to President: Ethanol to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050 or Sooner

In a letter sent today to President Joe Biden, Renewable Fuels Association members from across the country memorialized their commitment to ensuring ethanol achieves a net-zero carbon footprint, on average, by 2050 or sooner. Ethanol is already cutting greenhouse gas emissions by half compared to gasoline, the letter says, but “we can—and must—do more” to decarbonize transportation fuels and combat climate change in the decades ahead. The letter comes after RFA’s board of directors met last week in St. Louis and adopted a resolution outlining their carbon performance goals for 2030 and 2050.

“Today’s grain-based ethanol is already a low-carbon fuel that is helping to clean up our nation’s transportation fuels,” RFA members wrote, highlighting a recent analysis from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory that shows today’s typical corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 52 percent when directly compared to gasoline. “But with smart policy measures, ethanol can do even more. It can serve as an affordable zero-emissions fuel for light-duty cars and trucks, while also helping to decarbonize medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, aviation, marine, and stationary power generation.”

Specifically, RFA’s board of directors—which is exclusively composed of renewable fuel producers—committed to the following goals during their meeting last week:
    By 2030, ensure that ethanol reduces GHG emissions by at least 70 percent, on average, when compared directly to gasoline.
    By 2050, ensure that ethanol achieves net-zero lifecycle GHG emissions, on average.

“Complex challenges call for leadership and innovative solutions,” said RFA Chairperson Jeanne McCaherty, Chief Executive Officer of Guardian Energy Management LLC. “The carbon reduction goals announced by RFA today mark a bold commitment to innovation, investment, and continuous improvement in the renewable fuels sector. Ethanol producers are already producing America’s top low-carbon fuel and are eager to do their part to decarbonize our transportation sector and move our nation toward net-zero emissions. I look forward to working with RFA’s membership, policymakers, and the entire renewable fuels industry to make this vision a reality.”

Commenting on the letter, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said, “Ethanol is a low-cost solution for reducing GHG emissions that is available here and now, but our industry is on the cusp of providing even bigger and better GHG reductions in the years ahead. Our member companies firmly believe that ethanol can achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by mid-century, if not well before, as the supply chain adopts carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) technologies; uses more renewable electricity and biogas to power biorefineries; and expands carbon-efficient agricultural feedstock production practices. I applaud RFA’s members for stepping up to the plate and putting their decarbonization commitments on paper for the whole world to see, and I have no doubt that zero-carbon corn ethanol is just around the bend.”

To support the achievement of its goals, RFA encouraged the administration to move forward with several key policy initiatives: development of a national Clean Fuel Standard, support for CCUS, and deployment of more flex-fuel vehicles.

The letter was signed by ethanol producers from California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.



RMA Extends Deadlines, Waives Interest Deferral for Emergency Drought Relief

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its Risk Management Agency (RMA) will authorize Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to extend deadlines for premium and administrative fee payments, defer and waive the resulting interest accrual and allow other flexibilities to help farmers and ranchers through widespread drought conditions in many parts of the nation.

Producers now have additional time to pay premium and administrative fees, and interest will be waived for 60 days or the termination date on the policy, whichever comes first. RMA also authorized AIPs to waive interest for an additional 60 days for Written Payment Agreements due between August 1 and September 30, 2021.

“Farmers and ranchers are weathering tough drought conditions this year, and we want to help ease the burden by extending payment deadlines and deferring interest accrual,” RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy said. “USDA is using all of the tools in the toolbox to help producers amid the drought, including these crop insurance flexibilities.”

These new crop insurance flexibilities are part of USDA’s broader response to help producers impacted by drought. On July 13, 2021, RMA authorized emergency procedures to help streamline and accelerate the adjustment of losses and issuance of indemnity payments to crop insurance policyholders in impacted areas. Additionally, RMA updated policy on July 6, 2021, to allow producers with crop insurance to hay, graze or chop cover crops at any time and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. This policy change supports use of cover crops, which can help producers build resilience to drought.

Additional Drought Assistance
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to improve irrigation efficiency and water storage in soil, helping producers build resilience to drought. In response to drought this year, NRCS targeted $41.8 million in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon through Conservation Incentive Contracts, a new option available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, focused on drought practices.

FSA and NRCS also offer a broad suite of programs available to producers to help recover losses from drought. Disaster assistance programs and loans are available to help producers offset losses and get financing to help with recovery. Producers should visit farmers.gov, where they can use the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool or Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet to learn more about program or loan options.

More Information
RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to support crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

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 rma.usda.gov.



Idaho Dairy Producer Testifies Before Congress on USMCA Enforcement Importance

National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Executive Committee member Allan Huttema said USMCA enforcement is essential for the agreement to reach its potential for U.S. dairy farmers in testimony today at a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing on the impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on U.S. dairy. Huttema operates an 800-cow dairy in Parma, Idaho and serves as chair of the Darigold and Northwest Dairy Association boards, both of which are NMPF and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) members.

“I thank Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo, my own senator, for extending me the opportunity to discuss the impact the USMCA has had on my farm and the thousands of other dairy farms throughout the country,” said Huttema. “Enforcement of trade agreements like USMCA is important to ensure we retain the ability to supply high-quality cheeses, milk powders and a variety of other dairy products to customers around the world.”  

“NMPF and the dairy producers it represents are grateful to the Senate Finance Committee for inviting Allan to discuss the benefits that the USMCA has brought U.S. dairy producers and cooperatives,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF. “But as Huttema said so well, adequate enforcement is necessary to ensure American dairy producers are provided the access promised in the agreement. We are grateful to the Senate Finance Committee members for their advocacy in support of the recently initiated dispute settlement proceedings over Canada’s dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs) – a critical step in enforcement of this agreement.”

The $6.5 billion worth of U.S. dairy products exported each year underpins the economic health of dairy producers, processors, and manufacturers across the United States. American dairy exports create more than 85,000 direct jobs and have a nearly $12 billion economic impact. Whether it is Canada’s TRQ administration or Mexico’s array of new regulations intended to limit imports, NMPF and USDEC have urged the U.S. government to ensure the USMCA is fully enforced. Enforcement secures the access extended to U.S. dairy producers in the USMCA and sends a strong message to other U.S. trading partners that attempts to subvert trade obligations will not be tolerated.

“The U.S. Dairy Export Council appreciates the Senate Finance Committee and its members for hearing Allan’s testimony and answers regarding the importance of the USMCA and new trade opportunities to the U.S. dairy industry,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of USDEC. “USDEC agrees with Allan regarding the need to pursue greater market access opportunities for high-quality American dairy products that our international consumers demand. USMCA was an important step forward, but it’s not enough. We need new trade agreements to expand on Congress’ hard work in passing USMCA. The EU is filling the vacuum that American trade policy is leaving – an issue that Congress needs to address with additional market opportunities for U.S. exports. We appreciate Allan sharing his insight and concerns with the agreement’s implementation and its impact on dairy farmers, processors and manufacturers throughout the United States.”



Cattle Producers Submit Sharp Rebuke of USMCA to Senate Finance Committee

Today, R-CALF USA submitted a Statement for the Record regarding the hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 27, 2021 by the United States Senate Committee on Finance titled Implementation and Enforcement of the United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement: One Year After Entry into Force.

In its introduction, the cattle group states that while several sectors of the U.S. economy report benefits arising from the renegotiated U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the agreement has failed the United States cattle industry.  

Contained in the statement are charts depicting a significant beef and cattle trade imbalance the United States has with Canada and Mexico and it points out that the U.S. imports from Canada and Mexico about two and one-half times the value and about three and one-half times the quantity of beef and cattle that it exports to those two countries.

“The trade in cattle and beef under the USMCA is so out of balance that the United States cattle industry cannot benefit from beef exports to Asia or other parts of the world. This is because the United States’ world beef and cattle exports are insufficient in both value and volume to overcome the horrendous USMCA trade deficit,” the cattle group wrote.

Using 2020 trade data, the statement explains that the United States’ world trade balance in cattle and beef has only worked to reduce, but not overcome, the trade deficit it has with Canada and Mexico. For example, the group asserts the United States had a 2.2-billion-pound deficit under the USMCA that was only reduced to a 1.5-billion-pound world trade volume deficit, and the USMCA value-based trade deficit of $3.3 billion was only reduced to a $1.1 billion world trade deficit by trading with the rest of the world.

According to the group’s statement, “This means, at best, the United States engages in beef and cattle trade with the rest of the world to help mitigate its USMCA trade deficit.”

The group further asserts that undifferentiated beef and cattle imports from Canada and Mexico function as direct substitutes for U.S. cattle and beef and are causing the exodus of U.S. beef cattle operations, shrinkage of the U.S. cattle herd, and elimination of opportunities for aspiring cattle farmers and ranchers.

U.S. cattle producers “cannot be expected to prosper when multinational beef packers, processors and importers continually source greater quantities of undifferentiated beef and cattle from Mexico and Canada,” the group states.

The group urged Congress to move quickly and decisively to allow U.S. cattle producers to compete with the rising imports of beef and cattle from Canada and Mexico by passing new mandatory country-of-origin labeling (mCOOL) legislation to require all beef in U.S. commerce to be conspicuously labeled as to where the animal from which the beef was derived was born, raised, and harvested.



House Ag Committee passes H.R. 267 to extend WHIP+ for 2020 and 2021 Disasters

House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and Representative Mike Thompson applaud the passage of today's 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act and Associated Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Bill:

“I’m glad that we were able to come together in a bipartisan way to pass this bill that, once enacted, will provide the framework for getting much needed disaster assistance to our agricultural producers. As we can see right now, today, through the ravaging fires through so many of our western agriculture states in our country, our unanimous, bipartisan bill is most timely and very much needed. I am very proud of the bipartisan work on this disaster bill today by both Democrats and Republicans, working together for our great nation. As we know, severe and unforeseen weather events wreaked havoc on crops and livestock throughout 2020 and continue now during the 2021 growing season. It is my hope and expectation that as a Committee, we continue to focus on disaster relief and engage every opportunity available to strengthen the farm safety net and find a way to get immediate disaster aid out to our farmers, ranchers, and foresters more quickly without delays,” said Chairman David Scott.

“From extreme fires to historic drought, our district and our nation have seen devastating disasters this year and last year. The Federal government must provide every tool and resource possible as we rebuild. That includes supporting family farmers and producers who had their crops ruined by smoke damage in the 2020 fires in our district,” said Thompson, whose district continues to recover from the LNU Lightning Complex and Glass Fires of 2020. “Earlier this year, I introduced the WHIP+ Reauthorization Act to ensure we reactivate the critical Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus to help agricultural producers in our district. Today I’m glad to see my bipartisan bill approved by the Agriculture Committee and I’ll work to ensure it’s considered on the House floor as soon as possible.”

Stakeholder groups that have expressed their support for the bill include the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Milk Producers Federation, National Sorghum Producers, and the National Cotton Council.

H.R. 267, the 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act passed out of the House Agriculture Committee on July 27th, 2021 with unanimous, bipartisan support.



House Ag Committee Advances Disaster Aid Bill for 2020 and 2021

Today, the House Agriculture Committee advanced the 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act (H.R. 267), which would provide authorization for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) in 2020 and 2021. This legislation would broaden the assistance available via WHIP+ and authorize $8.5 billion in disaster aid for eligible causes of loss.

“NAWG is pleased to see the House Agriculture Committee working in a bipartisan fashion to deliver much-needed assistance to growers impacted by natural disasters,” said NAWG CEO Chandler Goule. “Currently, wheat growers in the upper plains and across the western United States are experiencing an unprecedented drought. This legislation makes meaningful improvements to WHIP+, particularly in the trigger for drought assistance, excessive heat, and freeze. As Congress continues to work to get needed support to growers, NAWG will continue to work with our states, legislators, and USDA to enhance WHIP+ and challenges associated with the Quality Loss Adjustment program.”



NFU Welcomes Effort to Broaden Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers

The House Agriculture Committee today approved a disaster bill that would broaden the assistance available to farmers and ranchers affected by extreme weather events. In addition to extending the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+), the WHIP+ Milk Loss Program, and the On-Farm Storage Loss Program for 2020 and 2021, the legislation would also expand the causes of loss covered by WHIP+ and streamline its administration.

As farmers across the West endure severe drought, wildfires, and unusually high temperatures, it is critical that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance programs can effectively respond – particularly because these and other environmental challenges are expected to become more frequent and extreme with climate change. In a statement, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew welcomed the committee’s action and urged passage of the bill.

“We sincerely appreciate the House Agriculture Committee’s commitment to addressing the losses farmers and ranchers are suffering due to natural disasters.

“This year, a severe drought blanketing the Western half of the country is forcing some to make financially and emotionally painful decisions like fallowing their land or selling off their herds. Unfortunately, these kinds of extreme weather events are only expected to worsen in the years to come – making it harder and harder for farmers to stay in business.

“Our disaster assistance programs will need to keep up with the growing pressures our members are facing. Today, the House Agriculture Committee made the right move by advancing this bill to help ensure that we have access to the support we need in a timely manner. Given the urgency of the matter, the House and Senate should act quickly to pass this measure.”



Wheat Crops in North Dakota Impacted by Drought

Most of the country has been significantly impacted by the drought, and spring wheat growers are seriously affected. To gain a better understanding of the drought’s effect, National Association of Wheat Grower’s CEO, Chandler Goule, and National Wheat Foundation project manager, Anne Osborne, are attending the Wheat Quality Council’s 2021 Hard Spring and Durum Wheat Tour.

By gaining this firsthand experience, Goule will be able to better represent the NAWG state members and create a more unified voice for the industry as NAWG advocates for wheat farmers in Washington, D.C.  Crop insurance, disaster assistance, and additional funding for breeding programs for more resilient crops are among the many programs NAWG continues to promote on Capitol Hill and with the Administration.

“We are looking forward to learning more from wheat producers on the ground this week and understand the ways NAWG can better advocate for the common good of the industry,” said CEO, Chandler Goule. “We always want to listen and understand how policies or current situations are impacting wheat growers, and being able to attend these tours provides that instrumental opportunity.”

Anne Osborne, project manager for the National Wheat Foundation, benefits from the networking on the tour. “The people on the tour are interested in promoting high-quality, profitable wheat just like The Foundation is doing,” Osborne said. “They may be interested in participating in our National Wheat Yield contest or helping with some of our other projects about high quality, high profit, or nutrition through wheat.”

Engaging with breeders, food scientists, millers, bakers, producers, input providers, nutritionists, and consumers allows NAWG and NWF to develop meaningful research projects and education programs that will increase the value of wheat for all segments.  



MyPlate Launches USDA’s First Alexa Skill

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the launch of its first ever Alexa skill, a digital tool for parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers between four and 24 months old. Families who use the MyPlate Alexa skill receive nutrition information on what and how to feed their child based on their age.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to building back better by developing a more resilient federal nutrition safety net that not only ensures all Americans have food to eat but also access to nutritious diet that meets their individual needs,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "USDA’s MyPlate Alexa skill leverages technology to meet American families where they are and foster healthy eating habits from an early age.”

The MyPlate Alexa skill is the latest addition to MyPlate’s extensive suite of resources aimed at helping Americans achieve a healthy, attainable diet that fits their individual lifestyle and budget. The new Alexa skill helps parents and caregivers introduce simple, tasty, and nutritious foods while helping to establish healthy eating habits starting at a young age. It is accessible to all Alexa device owners and iOS and Android users who download the free Alexa app.

One-fifth of American children currently suffer from obesity, which research shows is directly linked to adult obesity and adverse health impacts. With nearly three in four adults currently experiencing some form of a diet-related illness, it is crucial that we take steps to promote good nutrition.

“USDA recognizes that nutrition is vital to combating the onset of diet-related illness,” said Stacy Dean, USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services. “Through this new resource, families receive science-based food and nutrition advice to set their child up for life-long healthy eating habits.”

USDA plans to expand the MyPlate Alexa skill to include additional life stages, starting with children two years and older and eventually covering older adults. More information on the MyPlate Alexa skill can be found at www.myplate.gov/myplateassistant.

MyPlate – originally launched in 2011 – is the consumer-friendly translation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provides a general guide on what and how much to eat from the five food groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy or soy alternatives. MyPlate.gov offers a wide variety of resources to make healthy eating guidance easily accessible to all Americans. Additionally, USDA’s Start Simple with MyPlate app helps users set and complete easy-to-obtain goals, based on the MyPlate food groups, that encourage healthy eating habits in a fun and motivating way.



Nobell Foods Raises $75M Series B To Introduce Cheese Made From Plants
(Press Release)

Nobell Foods raises $75M to introduce delicious cheeses made from plant-derived dairy proteins, supporting its larger mission of creating a radically more humane and sustainable food system. Founded and led by Magi Richani, Nobell creates key dairy proteins, including casein, from high-quality soybeans, enabling the brand to make cheeses that taste, smell, melt, stretch, and even age like those made from animals, and challenging the way we talk about, think about, and eat cheese.

With its Series B closing of $75 million, Nobell emerges with over $100M in funding backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and notable support from Robert Downey Jr.'s FootPrint Coalition Ventures. Others joining this round include: Unovis, Germin8 Ventures, Fifty Years, AgFunder, Pear VC, GL Ventures, the venture capital arm of Hillhouse Group, and Mission Bay Capital. Prior to this Series B round, Nobell raised over $25M since launching from seed money startup accelerator Y Combinator in 2017. Nobell plans to launch its cheeses to the public by the end of next year.

Nobell's patented approach to making dairy from plants is the result of more than four years of research and development, and the unrelenting desire of Magi Richani to transform the food system and make cheeses that stretch, melt and taste as great as the ones from cows and goats. An engineer by training, Richani understood the crucial role that essential dairy proteins - caseins - play in giving cheese the qualities we love. Like all proteins, caseins have a unique genetic code.

Richani and her team at Nobell discovered how to recreate this genetic code in soybean seeds and grow plants that have the same dairy caseins found in animal milks. Today, Nobell can produce more caseins per acre more efficiently, sustainably, and cost effectively than cows. Using proprietary processes, Nobell extracts the caseins and uses them to make delicious cheese. Nobell will use funds from its Series B round to expand its team and farming partnerships, scale production and bring its product to market.