Thursday August 5 Ag News

Fischer Urges Nebraskans to Make Their Voices Heard on WOTUS

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers published a Federal Register notice requesting comments on issues relating to the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule:

“President Obama’s 2015 WOTUS rule represented significant federal overreach over our water resources which would have burdened all Nebraskans with higher costs and regulations. Since its repeal, the clearer Trump administration rule put Nebraskans back in charge of our state’s precious resources. During this comment seeking period, I encourage all Nebraskans to submit comments to the federal register on how these regulations affect our families, communities, and businesses.”

Written recommendations must be received on or before September 3, 2021. The agencies will hold public web-based meetings on the following dates: August 18, August 23, August 25, August 26, and August 31.

In 2015, the Obama Administration finalized a rule that greatly expanded the definition of federally regulated Waters of the United States for Nebraska’s agriculture and business communities. President Biden signed an executive order that would roll back the Trump Administration’s executive order which began the process of rescinding Obama’s WOTUS rule and could lead to the elimination of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule released in April of 2020.

Senator Fischer has been a leader in efforts to stop the 2015 WOTUS rule and applauded the Trump Administration’s rescinding of the rule. On July 29, Senator Fischer joined 31 of her colleagues in cosponsoring legislation that would codify the Navigable Water Protection Rule into law. Last month, she signed a letter to EPA Administrator Regan and the Army Corps of Engineers Acting Assistant Secretary expressing opposition to altering the Navigable Water Protection Rule, the Trump administration’s replacement of the 2015 WOTUS Rule. Earlier this year, Senator Fischer joined 25 of her Senate colleagues in a resolution calling for the Senate not to eliminate the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

After the Obama administration announced WOTUS, Senator Fischer chaired a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee field hearing in Lincoln regarding the rule. She also helped introduce the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would have required the Obama administration to consult states and stakeholders before imposing federal regulations on state-owned water resources, as well as the Defending Rivers from Overreaching Policies (DROP) Act. This bill targeted the flawed science used by the EPA to expand the definition of water.



No-Till on the Plains to Host 25th Anniversary Celebration and Field Day

The Rogers Memorial Farm is typical of many small dryland farms in southeast Nebraska. It is a half section farm (about 300 acres) and is located approximately 10 miles east of Lincoln, Nebraska. Several university classes use the farm as an outdoor laboratory for real-life situations and experiences. The terrain consists of two-thirds of sloping, terraced hills, while the other third is flat. The silty clay loam soils have slow infiltration rates and show evidence of past erosion.

The Department of Biological Systems Engineering has dedicated this farm to soil and water conservation activities, evaluating and demonstrating both cultural and structural practices. No-till on the Plains Board member and Nebraska Extension Engineer Paul Jasa conducts research on cover crops, fertilizer application rates and tillage practices at the farm.

“Paul Jasa has been providing high quality soil health information and great technical advice for Nebraska producers for many years. I consider Paul one of my mentors,” said Michael Thompson, No-till on the Plains president.

Following lunch, attendees will hear Clay Center, Kansas producer Josh Lloyd share his experience earning higher profits utilizing soil health principles on his farm.

Registration and information for the event are available now. Cost is $25, and the optional lunch is an additional $15.

No-till on the Plains Annual Sponsors: Green Cover Seed, Exapta Solutions, General Mills, Upfield North America, Noble Research Institute, #NoRegrets Initiative, Kansas Soybean Commission, Advancing EcoAgriculture, Kansas Department of Agriculture-Division of Conservation

Visit notill.org or call (785) 210-4549 for registration information. Pre-registration online is required.



The Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference Renewable Energy Series
Consumer Webinar for Residential/Small Business Solar

The Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference is pleased to present the next session of its Renewable Energy Series featuring speakers from the three largest Nebraska public power districts and the Unversity of Nebraska on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at 10:00 am CST.

This in-depth discussion will cover a variety of areas for consumers who are considering making an investment in solar renewable energy for residential, business, and agriculture systems. Topics that will be covered include an overview of the investment cost, benefits and limitations of net metering, the value of energy storage in Nebraska, the utility interconnection process, website resources available to consumers, and potential financing and tax credits.
 
What:  The Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference Renewable Energy Series
Date:  Thursday, August 26, 2021
Time:  10:00 am CT - 11:15 am CT
Location:  Register here

Speakers:   
David Rich, Sustainable Energy Manager, Nebraska Public Power District
John Hay, Extension Educator - Energy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Ron Rose, Renewable Energy Consultant, Nebraska Public Power District
Kirk Estee, Customer Alternative Energy Solutions Manager, Omaha Public Power District
Marc Shkolnick, Manager, Energy Services, Lincoln Electric System
 
The Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference is shaped by volunteers from state agencies, farmer and rancher organizations, public power utilities, the renewable energy industry, and academia.

Any questions regarding this session can be directed to John Hansen, Conference Chair, at john@nebraskafarmersunion.org, 402-580-8815 or Anita Scheuler, Conference Administrator, at admin@nebraskawsc.com, 402-304-2790.



Free Farm and Ag Law Clinics Set for August, September

Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state in August and September 2021. The clinics are one-on-one in-person meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. These are not group sessions, and they are confidential.

The attorney and financial advisor specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial and business planning, transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, debt structure and cash flow, agricultural disaster programs, and other relevant matters. Here is an opportunity to obtain an independent, outside perspective on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.

Clinic Dates
    Wednesday, Aug. 4 — Fairbury
    Monday, Aug. 16 — Chadron
    Tuesday, Aug. 17 — Norfolk

    Tuesday, Sept. 14 — Lexington
    Wednesday, Sept. 22 — Norfolk
    Thursday, Sept. 23 — Valentine
    Wednesday, Sept. 29 — Fairbury

To sign up for a free clinic or to get more information, call the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.  Funding for this work is provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska.



Gov. Reynolds Signs Proclamation Recognizing Soybean Industry’s Positive Impact in Iowa

     The multitude of uses and benefits of soybeans and the industry’s importance to the economic, social and environmental well-being of Iowa are touted via a proclamation signed this week by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

     Soybean Month in Iowa, celebrated in August, brings attention to the versatile and valuable oilseed. From clean-burning biodiesel and feed for livestock, poultry and dairy to a popular ingredient in many foods and industrial products, uses derived from soybeans are nearly limitless.

     “It’s a truly remarkable industry that continues to scale up, improve productivity, enhance its environmental footprint and bring new products to market,” says Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) President Jeff Jorgenson. “There has never been a more exciting time for the soybean industry than right now.”

     Iowa farmers produced 494 million bushels of soybeans in 2020. That production is valued at more than $5.4 billion.  

The variety of soy-based products provided by grocery retailers has also increased exponentially. Unlike most plants, soy contains all essential amino acids making it a complete protein and preferred by a growing number of health-minded shoppers.  

     “Protein plays an essential role in global nutrition, regardless if it’s animal- or protein-based consumption,” says Jorgenson who farms with his family near Sidney in southwest Iowa. “It’s rewarding to be part of an industry that provides a powerful source of nutrition to fuel our population and economic growth.”

     Soybean meal constitutes a primary ingredient in livestock, poultry and fish feed. The product is utilized domestically and demanded by customers around the world including China, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Mexico and Thailand. The oilseed is so popular globally that nearly 60% of U.S. soybean production is exported.

     Iowa is among the nation’s leaders in soybean production. This output coincides with scaling up practices improving soil and water quality. ISA has played a critical role in progress toward achieving Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy. It works directly with hundreds of farmers and cooperatively with numerous local, state and national partners to deploy more conservation practices on more acres. These practices include the use of cover crops, manure management, controlled drainage, reduced tillage, buffer and saturated buffers and prescriptive planting, fertilization and pest management.

ISA will celebrate Soybean Month by:
-    Promoting the many products and uses derived from soybeans through special events and promotions including renewing ISA's sponsorship of the biodiesel-powered trams at the Iowa State Fair and team buses for the University of Iowa and Iowa State University;
-    Celebrating significant events and discoveries involving soybeans and ISA courtesy of the association’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter @iowasoybeans and Instagram);
-    Sponsoring the soybean stop at Little Hands on the Farm at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 12-22;
-    Featuring trivia posted on the association’s Facebook page, along with the chance to win a variety of prizes; and
-    Meeting with soybean farmers at district meetings held throughout Iowa;



 ISA invites farmer members to share feedback

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) will be inviting farmer members to share their perspectives on critical issues impacting the soybean industry.

Starting the week of Aug. 9, farmer members should be on the lookout for an invitation from ISA to share feedback in a brief online survey.

“I encourage farmers to participate and share their opinions,” says ISA President Jeff Jorgenson. “The feedback will help ISA track key issues affecting the soybean industry and deliver quality programming that boosts soybean production and sales.”

The survey will take less than 15 minutes to complete. Fifty survey participants will be randomly selected among all who participate and receive a $10 gift card.



New USDA Market News Reports to Enhance Price Transparency in Cattle Markets

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning Monday, August 9, 2021, it will issue two new USDA Market News reports based on Livestock Mandatory Reporting data that will provide additional insight into formula cattle trades and help promote fair and competitive markets. This action is one piece of USDA’s efforts to deliver on President Biden’s Executive Order 14036 on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, which directed USDA to, among other things, “enhance price discovery, increase transparency, and improve the functioning of the cattle and other livestock markets.” The Executive Order on Competition launched a whole-of-government effort to promote competition, including 72 specific agency initiatives. USDA has already undertaken several other initiatives under the Executive Order, including announcing investments of at least $500 million in meat processing capacity, new rulemakings under the Packers & Stockyards Act, and a top-to-bottom review of the “Product of USA” label.

The first new report, the National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle, which will be issued on Monday, August 9, will provide greater information into the foundational prices used in cattle market formulas, grids and contracts. The second report, the National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution, which will be issued Tuesday, August 10, will show the volume of cattle purchased at each different level of pricing within those formulas, grids, and contracts.

“During the past five years, stresses and disruptions caused by concentration in livestock markets have hurt producers, workers, and consumers, and highlighted vulnerabilities in America’s food system supply chain resiliency. Current negotiated cash cattle trade is approximately 30% less than it was in 2005, while formula transactions have increased at the same rate. Our new reports on formula transactions will bring needed clarity to the marketplace.” said Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Also, in the coming months, we plan to conduct several producer-focused outreach sessions to help producers and others understand how these data can inform real-world marketing decisions at farm, ranch, feedlot, and other points in the supply chain.”

These new reports will be issued by USDA Market News, overseen by the Department’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

    The National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle reports will enable stakeholders to see the correlation between the negotiated trade and reported formula base prices, as well as the aggregated values being paid as premiums and discounts. Daily formula base price reports will be national in scope and released in morning, summary and afternoon versions. The weekly and monthly formula base reports will be both national and regional in scope and include forward contract base purchase information.

    The National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution report will show at what levels (price and volume) trade occurred across the weekly weighted average price for each purchase type – negotiated, negotiated grid, formula and forward contract. Currently, the market speculates whether large or small volumes of cattle trade on both sides of the price spread. And in fact, with premiums and discounts applied to the prices, the spreads shown on reports can be wide. Publishing a price distribution for all cattle net prices will offer more transparency to each of the purchase type categories. This report is a window into what producers are paid for cattle (net) and retains confidentiality by segregating volumes purchased in $2.00 increments +/- the daily weighted average price depending upon premiums and discounts. AMS has published a similar net price distribution report for direct hogs since January 2010.

This announcement also furthers the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to promote the resilience of critical supply chains as directed by Executive Order 14017 on America's Supply Chains. By providing greater insight into the nearly 80 percent of the cattle market traded outside of the cash negotiated spot market, the new reports shine more light on the prices paid to cattlemen and women and the overall market dynamics undergirding the prices consumers pay at the grocery store.  USDA’s efforts to strengthen the food system is a vital component of the Administration’s whole-of-government response to address near-term supply chain challenges to the economic recovery. Through the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, of which Secretary Vilsack is a member, the Administration is convening stakeholders to diagnose problems and surface solutions—large and small, public or private—that could help alleviate bottlenecks and supply constraints related to the economy’s reopening after the Administration’s historic vaccination and economic relief efforts.



 Fischer Welcomes USDA Steps to Enhance Price Transparency in Cattle Markets

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its intent two publish two new Market News reports to enhance price transparency in cattle markets:

“I’ve led the push to enhance transparency in cattle markets, and I’m pleased USDA is taking these steps. These reports will ensure that cattle producers will have access to additional pricing information enabling them to make more informed marketing decisions. However, more must be done. I’ll continue to work to advance policies that ensure a robust cash market so all segments of the cattle market can thrive,” said Senator Fischer.

Beginning August 9, USDA will issue two new Market News reports based on Livestock Mandatory Reporting data to provide insight into cattle markets and promote fair competition. The first report, the National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle, will provide greater information into the foundational prices used in cattle market formulas, grids and contracts. The second report, the National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution, will show the volume of cattle purchased at each different level of pricing within those formulas, grids, and contracts.

In March, Senator Fischer and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced the Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021. The legislation would restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market information. The bill also requires USDA to create and maintain a publicly available library of marketing contracts between packers and producers in a manner that ensures confidentiality, and a pilot program of this library was included in the recent agriculture appropriations bill passed by the full Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Fischer continues to work toward advancing these priorities ahead of a reauthorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act.  

Senator Fischer, an advocate for robust cash sales and more transparency in the cattle market, urged Senate Agriculture Chairman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) to hold a hearing on this issue, which occurred last month. Click here for video and transcript of Senator Fischer’s questions at that hearing.



Naig Applauds Federal Legislation Sponsored by Grassley and Ernst to Support Iowa Livestock Producers

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement today in response to the introduction of the Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, co-sponsored by Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, that would prohibit states from interfering with food production in other states.

“California politicians and activists have no business trying to write laws that apply to people outside of their borders, let alone Iowa farmers. Iowa farmers take great pride in caring for their animals and that’s why we’re able to consistently produce high-quality protein that feeds much of the world. Activist groups claim that California’s Proposition 12 is about protecting animal welfare but, in reality, it’s about limiting animal agriculture.

“Not only will these unnecessary and heavy-handed regulations severely restrict access to affordable food for consumers, especially those who are food insecure, they will also significantly increase costs and red tape for producers and small businesses.

“Our founders were clear when they wrote the Constitution; the federal government holds the power to regulate interstate commerce and trade, not individual states like California or New York.

“I want to thank Senators Grassley and Ernst for offering this legislation and having the backs of Iowa farmers by ensuring they continue to have unobstructed access to markets. I urge Congress to take this legislation up as soon as possible."



USDA Adopts Market Transparency Policies Backed by NCBA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) announced today that it will begin publishing a National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle report, which will provide greater information into the foundational prices used in cattle market formulas, grids, and contracts, and a National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution report, which will show the volume of cattle purchased at each different level of pricing within those formulas, grids, and contracts. NCBA has long urged USDA to adopt policies that increase transparency in the cattle markets and applauds this effort to provide producers greater insight into cattle transactions.
 
“USDA’s announcement is a significant step toward increasing transparency in the cattle markets,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “As Livestock Mandatory Reporting awaits congressional reauthorization, it is encouraging to see the Administration taking proactive steps to broaden the scope of this critical information tool. NCBA remains committed to maximizing market transparency and looks forward to building on this momentum to shed more light on the fed cattle trade.”
 
The formula bucket is a catch-all for transactions which do not fit the definition of either a negotiated cash, negotiated grid, or contract trade. Most formula pricing agreements utilize a base price from which premiums are added and discounts subtracted. However, the base prices for these transactions are determined through means other than direct, buyer-seller negotiation. The National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle report will share national base price information of formula agreements. The National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution will report what levels (price and volume) trade occurred across the weekly weighted average price for each purchase type – negotiated, negotiated grid, formula, and forward contract. The addition of these new publications will allow producers to better compare their marketing arrangement to others and allow them to make more informed business decisions on their operations.
 
NCBA is the leading voice in Washington on the need for greater cattle market transparency, including the establishment of a cattle contract library and eliminating cumbersome rules of confidentiality. USDA intends to begin publication of the National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle report on Aug. 9 and the National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution report on Aug. 10.



Cattle Producers Appreciate USDA’s Transparency Efforts but Say the Underlying Law Is Inadequate

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced improvements to its reporting of cattle prices under the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act, which is set to expire September 30, 2021. The improvements include the addition of two new reports that focus on cattle prices:  one will report the formula base prices and forward contract base prices and the other will publish a price distribution for all cattle net prices.

“While the new reports will assist cattle producers in analyzing prices being paid in the marketplace, they will not correct the lack of competition plaguing the entire live cattle industry,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard, who added, “For that, Congress must take decisive action.”

Bullard explained the most serious problem Congress can and must address for the cattle industry is independent cattle feeders’ inability to timely access a competitive market for their slaughter-ready cattle.

He said historically the major packers purchased most of their cattle in the competitive cash market, which allowed competitive selling opportunities for independent cattle feeders whenever their cattle were ready to market. But in recent years, the major packers shifted away from the competitive cash market and now purchase most of their cattle through forward-type marketing arrangements, which both reduce the major packers’ exposure to the competitive market and reduce the number of cattle that contribute to the industry’s price discovery.     

“Since this occurred, we’ve increasingly heard from independent cattle feeders who say they offered their cattle for sale to a packer only to be told the packer was already full for weeks on out, meaning that independent cattle feeders increasingly find themselves unable to access a competitive market when their cattle are ready to sell,” Bullard said.

The problem, according to Bullard, is twofold:  First, because most of the major packers’ cattle needs are now obtained through forward-type marketing arrangements, they can and do deny independent cattle feeders timely access to a competitive market. Second, because only the major packers know when their forward-type marketing arrangement cattle will be delivered for slaughter, independent cattle feeders are unable to determine even a potential window in the future when the major packers would likely be participating in the competitive cash market.

“In today’s non-competitive marketplace, the major packers can cause slaughter-ready cattle owned by independent feeders to back up, forcing those feeders to sell their cattle for less, and doing so reduces the price for all the packers’ marketing arrangement cattle because the base price in those arrangements is typically tied to the now ultra-thin cash market.

“The solution is to force the packers to once again compete in the marketplace and the bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress by Senators Chuck Grassley and Jon Tester, S.949, is the quickest and most effective way of doing that,” Bullard commented.

Senate Bill 949 amends the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act and requires the major packers to purchase at least 50% of their weekly cattle needs in the competitive cash market, which Bullard says will put an immediate halt to the packers’ practice of denying independent cattle feeders timely access to the market.

Though S.949 was introduced in March and referred to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the leadership of the committee has not yet scheduled the bill for a vote.

“If the Senate agriculture committee leaders don’t act quickly, our cattle industry will soon look like the poultry and hog industries, neither of which lifted a finger when their competitive cash markets disappeared,” Bullard concluded.



Land O'Lakes, Inc. delivers strong 2021 mid-year earnings

Land O’Lakes, Inc. today reported year-to-date net sales totaling $8.0 billion with net earnings of $236 million, a year-over-year increase of 9% in net sales and 99% in net earnings. During the same period of last year, the company reported net sales of $7.3 billion and net earnings of $118 million. For second quarter ending June 30, 2021, the company reported net sales of $4.0 billion and net earnings of $100 million, a 14% year-over-year net sales increase and 22% increase in net earnings.

Net Sales growth reflects strength in Crop Inputs and Animal Nutrition and higher pricing across the portfolio to offset rising input and supply chain costs. Net Sales accelerated in the second quarter as farmers invested in their crops and animals. The company continued to leverage its differentiated brands and reported stronger performance across all business units on a year-to-date basis.

“We are pleased we’ve been able to maintain the strength and accelerate the momentum of last year’s performance. Despite increasing costs, the fundamentals of our industry remain favorable and our differentiated approach has delivered sustained performance in all business segments through the first half of the year,” said Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc. “We also recognize third quarter could be our toughest year-over-year comparison in our historically smallest quarter, as during 2020, COVID-19 drove above normal retail purchasing. I’m proud of the team that continues to lead strong performance, both in sales and in voice, as we advocate for and deliver for our member owners.”

Earnings for the quarter were driven by strong performance in Crop Inputs with higher volumes and favorable product mix in Crop Protection and improved margins in Crop Nutrients. Dairy Foods earnings were below the elevated levels experienced in the second quarter of 2020, as consumers increased retail purchases at the start of the pandemic, but overall performance in retail dairy remained solid. Dairy also benefitted from strong performance in Foodservice as restaurants and other institutions continued to reopen across the country. Animal Nutrition earnings were lower for the quarter due to higher input costs, which offset higher formula feed volumes and a favorable mix shift toward the Lifestyle segment.



Iconic Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Brand Stands the Test of Time
Celebrating 35 Years of Beef Checkoff Successes

As the Beef Checkoff celebrates its 35th anniversary, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, is shining a light on the successful promotion and research programs that drive the demand for beef. Nothing epitomizes the Beef Checkoff more than the iconic Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® brand.

From celebrity voices and images of sizzling steaks on the grill, to the familiar “Rodeo” music composed by Aaron Copland, the sights and sounds of the brand are recognized by generations of consumers. As a proud contractor to the Beef Checkoff, NCBA has managed the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. consumer marketing program for more than 27 years, inspiring people to purchase and enjoy beef.

“What has made the brand so successful over the years is the ability to adapt based on changing consumer demographics,” said Becca McMillan, Oklahoma producer and co-chair of the Domestic Marketing Checkoff Committee. “It truly has provided producers, like me, a voice and an opportunity to connect with consumers.”

When Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. was born in the early ‘90s, the brand frequently appeared in television ads which featured familiar voices of well-known actors. At a time when there was a handful of consolidated networks, television advertising was an effective and logical choice. In today’s ultra-fragmented media landscape there is an endless number of media outlets and advertising opportunities.

Over the years marketing efforts transitioned to digital and social media, reaching consumers where they find information and make purchasing decisions. Today, the vast majority of consumers use smart phones and computers, accessing popular platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Google, where Checkoff advertising runs year-round. Digital advertising is cost-effective, and ads can be strategically targeted to specific consumers. For example, digital beef ads can be fed to consumers looking for alternative meats, reminding them that beef is the protein of choice.

Use of influencers such as chefs, food bloggers, dietitians and producers themselves also extends the social reach of the positive beef message. These third-party endorsers actively engage with their followers making an emotional connection with consumers, helping combat misinformation about the industry.

The media world was not immune to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fewer advertisers resulted in lower advertising costs, which opened the door for Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. to return to broadcast television. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. advertised on the Hallmark Channel in December 2020 to promote beef for the holidays, appeared on Fox Sports during the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race in February 2021 and is currently showcasing beef as the summer grilling choice on the Food Network.

No matter how beef’s story has been shared over the last three decades, one thing remains the same and that is the need for consumer education. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. remains a trusted resource for shoppers to learn about beef’s nutritional benefits, find tips for selecting and preparing beef and discover new recipes. In the last year alone, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. garnered more than 1 billion impressions, and the brand is recognized by 70% of the U.S. population.

The combination of digital and social media and cable television advertising has increased awareness of beef as the protein of choice and has provided the opportunity to directly engage with consumers, ultimately building relationships and inviting them to be part of the conversation. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. continues to be the platform for promoting beef’s nutrition, taste and quality as well as for sharing the stories about the producers behind the product.

At the end of the day the question on everyone’s mind is “what’s for dinner?” and luckily there is an easy answer: Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. For more information, visit www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com.



Global Sales of U.S. Ethanol Moderately Recovered in June
U.S. DDGS Exports Eased from Prior Gains
Ann Lewis, RFA Senior Analyst
    
American exports of ethanol bounced back by 16% in June to 81.9 million gallons. Nearly three-fourths of all U.S. ethanol exports were shipped to just three countries, with Brazil and China markedly absent from the list. Exports to Canada—our largest customer—jumped 23% to 33.5 mg. South Korea imported 15.9 mg (up 76%) and Peru imported a record 9.4 mg (a seven-fold increase from May). Other substantial markets included Mexico (5.4 mg, up 68% to a ten-month high), the Netherlands (3.8 mg), Jamaica (3.3 mg), India (3.2 mg), and Sweden (2.0 mg). U.S. ethanol exports for the first half of 2021 totaled 664.2 mg, or 7% less than last year at this time.
 
The U.S. logged the first significant imports of foreign ethanol in June. Brazil exported 12.6 mg of undenatured ethanol while a minimal volume of denatured ethanol arrived from France and Canada.
 
U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS)—the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants—eased 10% to 939,177 metric tons (mt). Mexico imported 232,786 mt (slipping 9%), representing a quarter of all U.S. DDGS exports in June, and remained our top customer for the ninth consecutive month. Sales to Vietnam were robust at 119,463 mt (up 11%) and New Zealand imported a record 66,612 mt. However, DDGS exports to South Korea dropped 28% to 72,857 mt for the lowest volume in a year. Other larger trade partners included Indonesia (61,148 mt, down 6%), Turkey (55,727 mt, down 29%), Canada (55,388 mt, up 45% to the largest volume in nearly two years), Japan (34,744 mt, down 35%), Israel (32,658 mt, up 19%), and Thailand (25,209 mt, down 52%). Total DDGS exports for the first half of the year totaled 5.42 million mt, or 10% ahead of last year.



RFA to Biden: Renewable Fuels Provide a Clean, Low-Carbon Fuel Option Available Today

President Biden today announced a plan to greatly expand the production of clean cars and trucks, including a goal for electric vehicles to comprise 50% of new vehicle sales by 2030. The following is a statement from Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper:

“We agree with the Biden administration that action needs to be taken now to begin aggressively reducing GHG emissions from transportation. But decarbonizing our nation’s fuels and vehicles is going to take an all-of-the-above approach that stimulates growth in all available low-carbon technologies. The overarching goal should be to reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible without dictating the pathway to get there or putting all of our eggs into one technology basket. We believe any plan to decarbonize the transportation sector should recognize the massive opportunity for low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol to reduce GHG emissions from internal combustion engines in the near term.

“Even if half of new vehicles sold in 2030 are electric, four out of every five cars on the road that year will still have internal combustion engines that require liquid fuels. Renewable fuels like ethanol offer a solution that is available right here, right now at a low cost to jump-start decarbonization efforts. In fact, a recent analysis from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory shows that today’s ethanol reduces GHG emissions by more than half compared to gasoline. And last month, RFA’s ethanol producer members pledged to President Biden that we would ensure ethanol achieves a net-zero carbon footprint, on average, by 2050 or sooner. We are already well on the way to net-zero with ethanol and we encourage the Biden administration to embrace and promote renewable fuels as an important component of the nation’s decarbonization strategy.”



Growth Energy: To Reduce Emissions, CAFE Standards Must Include Biofuels

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed greenhouse gas standards to decarbonize light-duty vehicles, including passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Today’s proposed rule would require auto makers to meet more stringent fuel efficiency standards. In response, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement:

“In order for the proposed CAFE standards to effectively address climate change, this rule needs to include a pathway to increase the use of low-carbon, sustainable biofuels like ethanol in our nation’s fuel supply. We will be providing the Biden Administration a pathway forward that allows biofuels like ethanol to help us meet our climate goals.

“Liquid fuels will continue to play an important role in the transportation sector, even as alternative technologies continue to flourish. Recent independent analysis from the Rhodium Group (2021) found that in order for the U.S. to fully decarbonize the transportation sector, biofuels will have a crucial role in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions when coupled with EVs.

“Growth Energy calls on the Biden Administration to continue the momentum on transportation decarbonization by creating long-term market and policy certainty in the biofuels space by fully implementing the RFS, accelerating the transition to E15, and helping harness the power of rural America to drive down emissions from the transportation sector by investing in renewable biofuels. We look forward to outlining the environmental and economic benefits of biofuels in our comments to the agency on this proposed rule and continuing to champion biofuels as a solution to decarbonizing transportation today.”

Previous Action
In 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) developed more stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for vehicles. Growth Energy, recognizing the need for a high-octane solution for automakers to meet these more stringent standards, submitted an E30 fuel for vehicle certification as well as for consumer use, as the agencies went through the process of setting standards.

Again, in 2013, as EPA was putting together its proposal for Tier 3 fuel regulation, Growth Energy pushed to have midlevel ethanol blends be used for vehicle certification and were successful in getting the ability for automakers to use alternative fuels for certification in the final rule.  
  
Finally, as the Obama administration undertook their mid-term evaluation of the vehicle standards and, subsequently, when the Trump administration moved to reconsider future vehicles standards, Growth Energy participated by echoing our call for high octane, midlevel ethanol blends as a necessary solution to meet the future vehicle standards.



NMPF, NCFC Lead Coalition Call for Climate-Smart Ag Investments

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today led a coalition of 12 agricultural and conservation organizations on a letter advocating for significant new funding for climate-smart agricultural practices that can help farmers to build on their environmental stewardship leadership.

Congressional efforts toward infrastructure legislation provide opportunities for substantial new investments in conservation support, with more emphasis on climate-smart agricultural practices. USDA conservation financial incentives provide farmers with voluntary technical assistance to carry out numerous stewardship practices. But more can be done to enhance practices that can yield meaningful environmental benefits, such as climate-smart manure and feed management on dairy farms.

“Dairy farmers are proactive stewards of their land and water resources, but they are always seeking to innovate further. Dairy farmers in 2020 committed to become carbon-neutral or better by 2050 and maximize water quality around the country. Bolstering conservation investment and focusing on climate-smart practices better positions dairy farmers to fulfill the dairy sector’s 2050 environmental stewardship goals as envisioned in the Net Zero Initiative,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF.

“America’s farmer co-ops and their producer-owners stand ready to help address the global challenge posed by climate change. Increasing conservation funding for climate-friendly farming practices is essential to giving them the tools they need to do that and to continue their stewardship of our shared natural resources,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC.

NMPF, NCFC, and their colleagues call in the letter for increased spending on conservation incentives, including strong technical and financial assistance, with a greater focus on climate-smart practices. The organizations also support new rural broadband resources in pending infrastructure legislation. The letter also reiterates the major concerns that many of its signers have already voiced regarding several proposed changes to tax policy that would undermine the transfer of family farms from one generation to the next.

Organizations joining NMPF and NCFC on the letter include the Agricultural Retailers Association, American Seed Trade Association, CropLife America, National Association of Conservation Districts, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Farmers Union, National Potato Council, Produce Marketing Association, and U.S. Apple Association.



Study Finds Market Potential For Industrial And Fuel Ethanol In India

Conclusions of a recently released study show growing ethanol use in India has been linked to increased demand for sanitation products during the COVID-19 pandemic, more ambitious blending targets - now 20 percent by 2023 - and interest from Indian companies in sustainability through bio-based products from ethanol's chemical derivatives. The study, commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), underscores the industrial and fuel market opportunities in the country.

In the 2020 marketing year, the United States continued to be the largest supplier of industrial ethanol to India, exporting nearly 183 million gallons as domestic producers focused on supplying the fuel and potable markets. During the COVID-19 pandemic, industrial ethanol consumption in India also increased for purposes including sanitizers and disinfectants. As vaccination rates rise, the domestic use of fuel ethanol is expected to return to pre-pandemic level growth rates.

However, fuel is the primary end-use of ethanol in India, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the ethanol market in 2020, with industrial use making up 21 percent. The country recently accelerated its efforts to reach E20 blending by 2023. In 2020, the Government of India (GOI) expanded the scope of its ethanol blending program to include sugarcane juice and spent grains as feedstocks for ethanol production to meet these goals. Lower carbon intensity biofuels such as corn-based ethanol will be preferred in the transportation sector. India's 2021 average blending rate is estimated at 7.5 percent.

“We are looking to expand ethanol use globally for fuel and industrial applications," said Brian Healy, USGC director of global ethanol market development. “This is another example of our efforts around the world to better understand how industrial applications can be expanded in what is already an important market.”

The study also found that companies are beginning to capitalize on India's existing bio-ethanol chemical derivatives business. While its existing chemical business is small, some companies have launched the country's first plant-based consumer goods. Other organizations have also collaborated with companies to develop bio-based textiles. Ethanol can also be found in personal care product formulations.

The industrial market accounted for nearly 50 percent of the total U.S. ethanol export market share during the height of the pandemic. Still, fuel demand continues to recover and accounts for the lion's share of ethanol exports today. As part of its global ethanol market development efforts, the Council seeks to analyze ways to diversify the industrial ethanol market and determine the global market potential for other applications of ethanol-based products.

“Organic growth will continue to drive demand in Indian and other markets for industrial applications. We are trying to determine what additional demand can be unlocked for new uses," said Healy.



FFAR Grant Supports Climate Smart Beef and Dairy Production

Methane is a potent climate pollutant that has more than 40 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide when released into the atmosphere. Ruminants, such as sheep, goats and cattle, release enteric methane from normal digestive processes primarily through “burps.” Previous research has shown that feeding a red seaweed, Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT), to cattle can dramatically reduce enteric methane emissions; however, AT is not readily available in large quantities for livestock. To address this challenge, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) recently awarded a $200,000 grant to Greener Grazing, LLC, a subsidiary of Australis Aquaculture, LLC, to develop the world’s first seed bank and ocean cultivation techniques for AT. Australis Aquaculture, together with several other philanthropic funders are providing matching funds for a total $603,500 project investment.

Reducing enteric methane emissions will play an important role in offsetting carbon emissions from agriculture and other sectors, and potentially offer cattle producers additional sources of income through voluntary carbon markets. Prior research indicates that feeding cattle AT reduces enteric methane emissions and may improve feed efficiency – an additional benefit for livestock producers. However, AT’s complex life cycle has made it very challenging to farm, so it is currently not widely accessible to researchers, feed companies or livestock producers.

“Producing enough Asparagopsis taxiformis for commercial purposes, affordably, can have a substantial impact on methane emissions,” said FFAR Advanced Animal Systems Scientific Program Director Dr. Tim Kurt “Addressing methane emission will drastically reduce agriculture’s climate change emissions and this project could move the needle on further positioning agriculture as a climate change solution.”

Led by Josh Goldman, Greener Grazing’s research team is establishing the techniques required to initiate scalable, ocean-based AT cultivation. Dr. Leonardo Mata, the project’s lead scientist, is one of the few researchers who have successfully induced AT spore formation and further propagation. Greener Grazing team will build on this achievement by propagating multiple cultures of AT to create the world’s first AT seed bank and developing onshore hatchery and nursery cultivation systems located near Ninh Hòa in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam to facilitate mass production of the seaweed.

“We are deeply appreciative of FFAR’s support of our work which sits at the nexus of marine aquaculture and terrestrial livestock production,” said Goldman. “Asparagopsis seaweed has a unique chemistry which make its highly promising functional feed additive to reduce methane emissions from livestock production.”  

The research team is working closely with key sector participants from FFAR’s Red Seaweed Phase II grant to support animal trials by providing red seaweed biomass produced from test farms in a cost-effective manner. By establishing an AT farming system, Greener Grazing researchers are creating affordable access to larger quantities of AT, which can bolster environmental and economic impacts for the beef and dairy industries.