Friday September 10 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on September 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2021 corn crop is record forecast at 1.80 billion bushels, up 1% from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area harvested for grain, at 9.60 million acres, is down 3% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 188 bushels per acre, up 7 bushels from last year.

Soybean production is record forecast at 327 million bushels, up 11% from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.55 million acres, is up 8% from 2020. Yield is forecast at 59 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from a year ago.

Sorghum for grain production of 22.3 million bushels is up 63% from a year ago. Area for harvest, at 265,000 acres, is up 77% from 2020. Yield is forecast at 84 bushels per acre, down 7 bushels from last year.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.30 million tons, down 9% from 2020. Area for harvest, at 43,600 acres, is down 5% from last year. Yield is forecast at 29.7 tons per acre, down 1.3 tons from a year ago.

Dry edible pea production is forecast at 437 thousand cwt, down 5% from a year ago. Area for harvest, at 27,000 acres, is down 18% from 2020. Yield is forecast at 1,620 pounds per acre, up 220 pounds from last year.



IOWA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.47 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 198.0 bushels per acre, up 5.0 bushels per acre from the August 1 forecast and 20.0 bushels per acre above last year. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 12.9 million acres. An estimated 12.45 million of the acres planted will be harvested for grain, down 200,000 acres from the previous forecast. Acreage updates were made based on a thorough review of all available data.

Soybean production is forecast at 591 million bushels. The yield is forecast at 59.0 bushels per acre, up 1.0 bushel per acre from the August 1 forecast and 6.0 bushels per acre higher than 2020. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 10.1 million acres with 10.0 million acres to be harvested. Acreage updates were made based on a thorough review of all available data.

The forecasts in this report are based on September 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next crop production forecasts, based on conditions as of October 1, will be released on October 12.



USDA: Corn Production Up 2 Percent from August Forecast; Soybean Production Up 1 Percent

Corn production for grain is forecast at 15.0 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the previous forecast and up 6 percent from 2020. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 176.3 bushels per harvested acre, up 1.7 bushels from the previous forecast and up 4.3 bushels from last year. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data. Total planted area, at 93.3 million acres, is up 1 percent from the previous estimate, and up 3 percent from the previous year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 85.1 million acres, up 1 percent from the previous forecast and up 3 percent from the previous year.

Soybean production for beans is forecast at 4.37 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the previous forecast and up 6 percent from 2020. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 50.6 bushels per harvested acre, up 0.6 bushel from the previous forecast and up 0.4 bushel from 2020. Total planted area, at 87.2 million acres, is down less than 1 percent from the previous estimate but up 5 percent from the previous year. Area harvested for beans in the United States is forecast at 86.4 million acres, down less than 1 percent from the previous forecast but up 5 percent from 2020. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data.



Northeast Nebraska Students Learn About Corn and Careers at Ag Festival

More than 200 fifth graders from eight classrooms in Northeast Nebraska gained firsthand experience with where their food, fiber, and fuel come from by attending the fourth annual Growing Potential Agriculture Festival that was held in Hartington, Neb. on Sept. 9.

The annual festival is presented by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation and the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers Association, with volunteers from Northeast Nebraska coming together to help put on the successful event.

“Through this event, our organizations connect partners and build community to offer students a hands-on experience to understand and appreciate local agriculture and its vital importance to Nebraska,” said Courtney Shreve, director of outreach education at the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation.

Students made their way around learning stations that covered different facets of agriculture. At one station, students discovered how livestock, such as beef cattle and chickens, rely on corn to grow and produce meat. Other activities included exploring machinery farmers use to plant and harvest corn, learning how farmers care for the land, and hearing about importance of ethanol to Nebraska’s economy.

“This is our fourth year coming to this festival and each year it gets better and better,” said Nancy Hochstein, fifth grade teacher at Holy Trinity Elementary Hartington. “The kids get to learn about their community and learn how important agriculture is for our economy and learn all of the different careers that they can pursue in agriculture.”

Schools participated from towns across Northeast Nebraska including Wayne, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, Hartington, and South Sioux City.

“We want to take a proactive approach to helping kids in our area understand all of the opportunities and benefits associated with crop and crop production in our communities,” said Taylor Nelson, member of the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers Association. “Being able to partner with other agriculture businesses in Northeast Nebraska helps with the narrative for the students to have a positive experience that they can draw on when they think about their futures and what they could be in agriculture.”

Sponsors and volunteers include Grossenburg Implement – Wayne (planter, combine, sprayer), Keiser Ag and Irrigation (water conservation), Michael Foods – Bloomfield (chickens and corn), Nebraska Corn Board (corn products), Nebraska Farm Bureau (cow/calf), Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers, Siouxland Ethanol (ethanol), and Top Crop – Hartington (corn stalks and soil health).



LENRD manages a conservative budget while protecting the future of northeast Nebraska

Do you know who to turn to when you’re ready to update your windbreak?  Who do you call when the quantity of your groundwater is limited?  When your soil is unhealthy and you’re looking for ways to improve your land’s profitability, who can you trust to help?  Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) were created almost 50 years ago to conserve, develop, and manage our natural resources.

Each of the 23 NRDs manage a conservative budget with 12 main areas of responsibility to protect our future.  The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) covers all or parts of 15-counties in northeast Nebraska, with its headquarters office located in Norfolk.

LENRD General Manger, Mike Sousek, said, “Our board and staff work diligently to leverage local tax dollars as efficiently as possible.  By bringing in grants and other funding for our projects, we continue to save taxpayers millions of dollars all while managing and improving the quality of the resources we use every day.”

The LENRD’s total operating budget for fiscal year 2022 is estimated at $11.5 million, with only $4.3 million in revenue from the property tax levy.

Sousek continued, “We’re using less than ½ of our taxing authority.  That means the citizens of this district receive almost a 70% return on their investment.  We’re working hard to keep the levy low, year after year, for our local taxpayers.”  Sousek added, “We’re here to protect you and your resources, but keeping your taxes low is another part of our job.”

The operating budget was approved by the LENRD Board of Directors at their September 9th meeting with a tax request of $4,382,016.  The estimated levy, based on the property tax request, is 2.3236 cents per $100 of valuation, which is a decrease of 5% from the fiscal year 2021 levy of 2.4367 cents per $100 of valuation.  For example, if a person owns a $300,000 house, the taxes owed to the LENRD would have been $73.10 in 2021 and will be approximately $69.70 in 2022.

Some of the major expenditures for FY 2022 are:  Levee and Flood Protection Projects - which include the City of West Point’s Flood Control Levee, the City of Randolph’s Flood Risk Management Project, the City of Pender’s Flood Control Project, and the Elkhorn River Jetty Project near Scribner - $1,620,500;  the North Fork River Restoration Project - $1,032,000; Water Resources Programs - $514,700; Project Construction, including flood related repairs and the Willow Creek Artesian Pressure Mitigation Project - $847,500; and Conservation Cost-Share programs, including the Bazile Groundwater Management Area Project and Willow Creek Best Management Practices - $425,000.

The LENRD is also moving ahead with the Watershed Flood Prevention and Operations (WFPO) funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the Maple Creek Watershed Plan to evaluate potential flood prevention, watershed protection, and agricultural water management projects.  Four communities are located within the watershed:  Leigh, Clarkson, Howells, and Nickerson.

The LENRD received a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) to expand groundwater monitoring in Pierce County.  Maintaining a safe drinking water source is one of the most important priorities of the LENRD.  The Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) also received a grant from NET for year 3 of their demonstration sites for the groundwater nitrate reduction project.  This project is a vital step forward in stabilizing, and eventually reducing, nitrate levels within the BGMA.

Through a grant from the Nebraska Association of Conservation Districts, the LENRD was able to hire a Conservation Planner to operate out of the Pierce NRCS office and assist in working with landowners to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs). The LENRD also has received a Section 319 grant from the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy to provide supplemental cost share for select BMPs within the Willow Creek Watershed.

Sousek added, “We’re proud to give the funds back to the local taxpayers through our projects and programs.  We’re working responsibly within our budget as we continue to meet the challenges of protecting our natural resources for the future.”

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails.  The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, September 23rd at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.



White House Briefing Mirrors Nebraska Cattlemen Action

Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) has long prioritized and taken aggressive action on items highlighted during a September 8th White House press briefing.

During the briefing, the National Economic Council (NEC), in cooperation with USDA, released a study examining the increase in concentration of the meat and poultry processing sectors. Secretary Vilsack and NEC Director Brian Deese further elaborated on the study, reemphasizing the attention to the lack of competition in the meat and poultry processing sectors that the Administration highlighted in Council Bluffs, IA on July 9th. Action items discussed in the press briefing focused on strengthening enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards act, improving price discovery and transparency in the fed cattle market, completing a top-to-bottom review of “Product of the USA” labels, and expand beef processing capacity.

“Nebraska Cattlemen has led the way and taken action to achieve the goals of lowering the risk position of our members”, William Rhea III, Nebraska Cattlemen, President “Expanding processing capacity and bringing more price transparency to the live cattle market will continue to be a key priority to achieve this goal.”

Nebraska Cattlemen continues to actively work with Nebraska’s congressional delegation on price discovery and market transparency through Senator Fischer’s Cattle Market Transparency Act. Nebraska Cattlemen also led in asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to begin an investigation of alleged antitrust activity in the beef packing industry, and NC continues to bring state and federal agencies to the table to provide funding, low-cost capital, and technical assistance to small, medium, and independent processing plants.



USDA Accepts More than 2.5 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup, Double Last Year’s Signup

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has accepted offers for more than 2.5 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup. This is double last year’s enrollment and brings the total acres enrolled across all CRP signups in 2021 to more than 5.3 million acres, surpassing USDA’s 4-million-acre goal. Producers and landowners submitted offers for nearly 4 million acres in Grassland CRP, the highest in the signup’s history.

“We were pleased to see this level of interest from conservation-minded producers here in Nebraska and across the country,” said Tim Divis, acting state executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Nebraska. “This is a powerful program, and we want to continue to grow interest in Grassland CRP, as well as other CRP signups, in the coming years.”

Nebraska producers enrolled 350,981 acres through this year’s Grassland CRP signup. Through Grassland CRP, producers and landowners can conserve grasslands, rangelands, and pastures, while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices, such as haying, mowing, or harvesting seed from the enrolled land, pursuant to approved conservation plans designed to promote thoughtful use while creating and maintaining vital habitat.  

Updates to Grassland CRP  
FSA rolled out a number of updates to its CRP signups earlier this year. This included setting a minimum payment rate for Grassland CRP as well as establishing new national priority zones.  

Producers enrolled 1.1 million acres in the two priority zones, which include the Greater Yellowstone Elk Migratory Corridor, which is focused on wildlife and includes counties in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and the Historical Dust Bowl Region, which still is at great risk of high wind erosion and includes counties in Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

CRP and Climate Change Mitigation                             
Additionally, lands enrolled in CRP – including grasslands – play an important role in addressing climate change. For example, this enrollment of more than 2.5 million acres of grazing land into Grassland CRP will mitigate an additional estimated 22,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.  

By the Numbers
Nebraska ranked third in acres enrolled, behind only Colorado and South Dakota. Montana and New Mexico round out the top five enrollment states.

In addition to the more than 2.5 million acres enrolled in Grassland CRP, almost 1.9 million acres in offers were accepted nationally through the General CRP signup and 902,000 acres were accepted so far through the Continuous Signup. In Nebraska, 77,682 acres were accepted during the General CRP signup this year. Additional enrollment information on the General and Continuous signups is available in the Aug. 23, 2021 news release.

The 2018 Farm Bill established a nationwide acreage limit for CRP, with the total number of acres that may be enrolled capped at 25 million acres in fiscal year (FY) 2021 and growing to 27 million by FY 2023. Currently, 20.6 million acres are enrolled. With more than 5.3 million acres accepted for enrollment, the USDA will start 2022 off with about 22.9 million acres, leaving room for further enrollment and program expansion up to the FY 2022 cap of 25.5 million.



Online master’s of applied science designed to help ag and natural resources professionals reach their goals

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Resources and Natural Resources offers a fully online master’s of applied science program designed for professionals looking to expand their skills and advance their careers.

The master’s of applied science is designed to be flexible and customizable, so students can tailor their degree to suit their interests and professional goals in the areas of agriculture, food, community development and natural resources management.

“CASNR is committed to preparing change-makers, innovators and educators who want to address the challenges our world faces related to food, water, energy and landscape systems,” said CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss.

Graduate students who enroll in the online master’s of applied science program can also add a specialization in:
    Beef Cattle Production: Expand your knowledge of nutrition, meat science, genetics and growth topics.
    Science for Educators: Improve your science content knowledge, demonstrate pedagogy that drives learning experiences and create applicable, standards-based curriculum.
    Community Development Specialization: Learn to address challenges and find solutions within your community.

“I took a lot of classes that prepared me for the work I’m doing now,” said Melissa Nordboe, a Nebraska 4-H Extension Assistant enrolled in the program. “With this program I could choose courses in animal science, entomology, horticulture, leadership and beyond. It was a great program because I had the opportunity to pick and choose my interests.”

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a national leader in agricultural and natural resources education and has a long history of offering competitive, affordable, fully online master’s degree programs. UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources consistently ranks among the top ag schools in the country.

“In Nebraska, one in four jobs is related to agriculture and natural resources,” Heng-Moss said. “Nebraska offers many opportunities for innovators in agriculture, and the master’s of applied science can give them the skills and tools they need to make a huge impact.”

For more information on CASNR’s online masters of applied science degree program, visit https://casnr.unl.edu/master-applied-science.



Western Iowa Experimental Association to Hold 75th Anniversary Field Day

The 75th anniversary of the Western Iowa Experimental Association field day will be held Sept. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The farm is located 3.5 miles east of Castana along Highway E-34. The field day will highlight current and historic agricultural research important to western Iowa agricultural interests.

A steak lunch provided by Tyson Fresh Meats and the Monona County Cattlemen will be served at noon. A brief keynote address will be provided by Jay Harmon, associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University and director for agriculture and natural resources with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.  

Following lunch, Joel DeJong and Mike Witt, field agronomists with ISU Extension and Outreach, will give an overview of the corn and soybean genetic demonstration plots, technology in agriculture (including drones and GIS tools), livestock production, understanding and using soil information including a soil demonstration pit with Lee Burras, Morrill professor of agronomy at Iowa State, weather and climate data, and a look at equipment through the decades.

High school students from Monona, Harrison, Woodbury and Crawford Counties, with interest in agriculture will be attending the one-day youth educational event on Sept. 14.

The experimental association was founded in 1946 by local farmers from the four-county area to collaborate with Iowa State University (then Iowa State College) on locally relevant research for west-central Iowa. An elected board of directors manages the association, with Iowa State staff coordinating research and demonstrations on the farm.

Memberships in the association are available for a one-time $25 fee; members receive notice of meetings and events. In addition, members contribute to continuing support of agricultural research in Western Iowa.

For more information about the Iowa State University Research Farm network, visit www.farms.ag.iastate.edu. For more information about this field day, call Chris Beedle at 712-420-2460.



RFA, Growth Energy, NCGA Statement on RVP Rehearing Petition Denial

Thursday, the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association released the following statement after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied their petition for rehearing regarding the recent American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, et al. vs. EPA decision, in which the court vacated a 2019 regulation allowing year-round sales of a fifteen percent ethanol fuel blend (E15).
 
“Our petition for rehearing was an opportunity for the D.C. Circuit to remedy a decision that runs counter to legal precedent and which, if maintained, threatens our nation’s rural economy and progress on moving toward a clean energy future.
 
“Today’s petition denial is another hurdle to ensuring year-round access to low-carbon E15, however, due to timing, American drivers and retailers will be able to finish out the E15 summer driving season without disruption to their access to cleaner fuel choices at the pump. Moving forward, we continue to push for a permanent remedy long before the start of next year’s summer driving season.”
 
Background:
In June 2019, EPA issued its final rule extending the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to E15, and it also found that E15 is substantially similar to E10 certification fuel, allowing the fuel to be sold year-round in conventional gasoline markets. Oil refiners soon challenged the rulemaking in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to undermine the expansion of biofuels in our nation’s fuel supply.
 
On August 21, 2020, RFA, Growth Energy, and NCGA filed a brief as intervenors in the oil industry’s lawsuit. The brief provided strong support for EPA’s position that parity in RVP waiver regulations for E10 and E15 is consistent with the provisions of the Clean Air Act and the congressional intent behind those provisions. The organizations further pointed out that extending the RVP waiver from E10 to E15 is appropriate because the volatility of the fuel decreases as more ethanol is added into gasoline beyond E10. RFA, Growth Energy, and NCGA also participated in oral arguments for the case.
 
On July 2, 2021, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the 2019 rule.
 
On August 16, 2021, the three organizations filed a petition for rehearing, asking the three-judge panel and the full court to rehear the case because the decision conflicted with binding precedent and had exceptionally significant consequences for the biofuels industry and others.



National Farmers Union Reiterates Opposition to Elimination of Stepped-up Basis

In a letter sent today to House and Senate leadership, NFU commended Congress for its work to secure historic investments through the budget reconciliation process.

The letter highlighted the importance of these investments for strengthening the American economy. However, it also reiterated NFU’s ongoing concerns with negotiations that could lead to the alteration or elimination of tax provisions that are essential to the economic well-being of family farmers, ranchers, and small businesses in rural communities.

“Burdensome new tax liabilities may lead to the premature sale of family farms and ranches and contribute to a worrying trend toward greater farmland consolidation and corporate control of our food system,” said Rob Larew, President, National Farmers Union.

Larew added, “NFU opposes elimination of the ‘stepped-up basis’ at death on the appreciation of assets, such as land, that family farmers and ranchers rely on to produce the food, feed, fiber, and fuel all Americans depend on.”



Corn Growers, Farm Organizations, and Small Businesses Tell Congress Tax Proposals Would Hurt the Economy

The National Corn Growers Association continued this week to fight to protect tax priorities for farmers ahead of the release of Congress’ $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package. As part of these efforts, NCGA joined hundreds of state and federal agricultural organizations in sending three coalition letters urging Congress to preserve important tax provisions.  

Letters that were sent to Congress this week with corn growers support:
    NCGA and state corn growers were part of a letter with 327 national, regional and state trade associations highlighting agricultural tax priorities including stepped-up basis, like-kind exchanges, the Sec. 199A small business deduction and current estate tax provisions.
    NCGA and state corn grower associations were part of over 160 signatories in the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition letter, focusing on the importance of preserving stepped-up basis and potential issues that could come with setting exemptions on inherited property.
    NCGA joined 39 other organizations in a letter supporting the current law for like-kind exchanges of real estate under section 1031. Farmers, ranchers and forest owners use like-kind exchanges to combine acreage, acquire higher-grade land, mitigate environmental impacts and otherwise improve the quality of their operations.

These letters build on previous coalition efforts and come on the heels of an aggressive campaign by NCGA to deliver the message to Members of Congress to preserve stepped-up basis. Corn growers have responded to a national call-to-action resulting in over 6,000 messages being sent to over 160 offices in the U.S. House of Representatives and 86 offices in the U.S. Senate. NCGA also conducted a coordinated phone campaign that strategically reached various key congressional Member offices.

The overwhelming response from growers reinforced concerns from our members that the proposals to repeal the stepped-up basis on capital gains taxes would have devastating effects on family farms, small businesses and rural communities across the nation.

The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to markup legislation next week, which will include provisions on how it will fund the budget reconciliation package through tax increases.



Growth Energy Applauds Funding for Biofuels Infrastructure in Budget Package

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor applauded the inclusion of $1 billion in biofuels infrastructure funding in the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture’s section of the budget reconciliation package. Specifically, she thanked Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) on their extensive work to make this funding possible.

“$1 billion for expanded biofuels infrastructure across the nation is wonderful news not only for our biofuels industry and our partners in agriculture, but for our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize the transportation sector. Filling up with higher blends of low-carbon, clean biofuels like plant-based ethanol reduces our dependence on fossil fuel and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 46% compared to gasoline. This funding will ultimately make higher blends more accessible to all Americans.  

“Over the course of this year as biofuels faced repeated setbacks, our champions in Congress have truly been tireless in their efforts to ensure success for rural America. We’re grateful to Rep. Axne, Sen. Klobuchar, Rep. Craig, Rep. Bustos, and Sen. Stabenow for securing this funding in the budget reconciliation package and continuing to fight for our priorities in Congress.”

The $1 billion in funding would be available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide grants over the next 8 years to expand biofuel pump infrastructure, upgrade existing tanks and pumps, and increase usage of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.



NBB Applauds Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension in Build Back Better Bill

Today, the National Biodiesel Board welcomed the proposed extension through 2031 of the biodiesel and renewable diesel blenders tax credit in the House Ways & Means portion of the Build Back Better Act.

NBB thanked House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) as well as House and Senate co-sponsors of legislation to extend the credit, including Reps. Cindy Axne (D-IA) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

"Biodiesel and renewable diesel are clean, low-carbon fuels that are widely available today to achieve the carbon reductions Congress is seeking. These fuels are 74% less carbon intensive than petroleum diesel on average and have prevented more than 140 million tons of carbon emissions since 2010. Moreover, they substantially cut emissions of particulate matter that impact cancer rates, asthma and other respiratory diseases, which can lower associated healthcare costs," said Kurt Kovarik, NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs.

"The biodiesel tax credit continues to be extremely successful in expanding consumer access to these clean, low-carbon fuels while driving economic growth and job creation. NBB and its members sincerely thank Representative Axne and Senator Cantwell along with other champions for ensuring the credit is included in this legislation."

The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year. Every 100 million gallons of production supports 3,200 jobs and $780 million in economic opportunity. Biodiesel production supports approximately 13 percent of the value of each U.S. bushel of soybeans.



19 new hybrids join broadly adapted corn portfolio to maximize farmer profit potential

Golden Harvest announced today the addition of 19 new corn hybrids to its broadly adapted, game-changing corn portfolio. With corn harvest preparations just around the corner, farmers already have their eyes on the 2022 growing season and what’s needed for maximum yield potential in their fields.

New corn hybrids feature Agrisure and Enogen traits
Backed by the speed, power and precision of Syngenta Seeds research and development, the 19 new Golden Harvest corn hybrids range in relative maturity from 90 to 117 days and include:
    Four hybrids with Agrisure Artesian® technology, built for top-end yield potential and season-long water optimization.
    Six hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera® trait, the most comprehensive above-ground insect control and the only effective western bean cutworm control trait.
    12 hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade® trait for above- and below-ground insect protection and the best-in-class corn rootworm control.
    18 hybrids available as E-Z Refuge® seed blend products, providing a convenient, in-bag seed blend.

In select geographies, Golden Harvest will offer five new Enogen® corn hybrids for 2022. In the ethanol market, Enogen corn for fuel enhances the ethanol production process by improving process efficiency, while Enogen corn for feed hybrids help deliver more available energy when incorporated into dairy or beef cattle rations.

“By listening to farmers first and prioritizing research and development, we’re able to offer corn hybrids that surpass the status quo and make maximum yield potential a reality,” said Andy Ackley, Golden Harvest corn product manager. “With exclusive technology, superior traits, strong genetics and unmatched service, we are changing the game of corn production.”

Proven performers in national corn hybrid trials
The 19 new corn hybrids join a broadly adapted Golden Harvest corn portfolio with proven performers based on 2020 national trial data1. For example:
    Golden Harvest corn G80Q01-3220 E-Z Refuge brand outyielded all Pioneer® products tested in multiple national trials by 6.5 bu/A.
    Golden Harvest corn G91V51 brand outyielded all Pioneer products tested in multiple national trials by 4.6 bu/A.
    Golden Harvest corn G02K39-5122 E-Z Refuge brand outyielded all Channel® products tested in multiple national trials by 3.1 bu/A.

“By offering a mix of proven performers and new hybrids, we’re empowering farmers with a broad choice of solutions to maximize yield potential on their operations,” Ackley said. “Because these hybrids are products of Syngenta Seeds research and development, farmers can trust that the 2022 corn portfolio will deliver outstanding agronomics and strong genetics in addition to fitting a wide variety of acres.”

The Golden Harvest portfolio is available from Golden Harvest Seed Advisors, who combine high-yielding seed options with local agronomic knowledge and deliver a year-round, 365-day service commitment to doing whatever it takes to yield results for farmers.



Luke Bryan, Bayer Team Up for 'Here's to the Farmer' Campaign

After donating close to 5 million meals across the United States, Bayer will continue its partnership with five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan in 2021 to celebrate America's farmers and help fight hunger by encouraging use of the hashtag #HerestotheFarmer on social media to help families in need.

'Here's to the Farmer' supports Bayer's vision of Health for All, Hunger for None and asks fans across the United States to share the hashtag #HerestotheFarmer on their social media channels to show their gratitude to America's farmers. For every share, Bayer will provide one meal* to a person in need through Feeding America with the goal of helping to provide 1 million meals.

Bryan, the son of a peanut farmer from Georgia, has a long-time commitment to the American farmer, launched his annual Farm Tour in 2009 as a way to highlight and celebrate the contributions of America's farmers. In 2015, Bayer partnered with Luke Bryan and launched its campaign to help fight hunger throughout the country.

"I know the important role farmers play in our everyday lives and understand the hard work it takes for them to help feed America and the world," said Bryan. "That's why I'm excited to have this partnership with my friends at Bayer and be able to thank the American farmers for all the hard work they do."

Food banks have been hit particularly hard over the last year by the pandemic, and Luke Bryan and Bayer feel this year is as important as ever to continue to raise awareness of the growing need and to support food banks across America.