Wednesday September 8 Ag News

 State Corn Checkoffs Commit $1.25 Million toward Pearson Fuels E85 Retail Infrastructure in California

The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB), along with the corn checkoff programs from Kansas and Missouri, will provide California fuel retailers $1.25 million over the next year to increase availability of E85 (an 85% ethanol blend). Fuel will be supplied by Pearson Fuels, the largest E85 distributor in California with nearly 250 retail stations located throughout the state.

Growers from the three corn checkoff organizations met with representatives from Pearson Fuels in San Diego in July to discuss potential opportunities to grow E85 demand. California is by far the largest E85 market in the country, accounting for over 40 million gallons in 2020 and is on track to reach 50 million gallons in 2021.

Prior to the group’s meeting in San Diego, growers toured retail sites in Los Angeles, including two locations previously funded by NCB. “These stations are moving a tremendous volume of E85,” said John Greer, NCB District 2 Director. “One station alone would use about 50,000 bushels of corn in the form of ethanol in just a year. The investment is already proving worthwhile for our corn growers.”

Greg Jones, director of business development with Pearson Fuels, says California remains underdeveloped for E85. The state has 39.5 million people but trails both Iowa and Minnesota in total E85 stations.

Jay Schutte, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council Chairman, took part in discussions in San Diego and was impressed with the potential expanded partnership. “Our infrastructure grant dollars, teamed with Pearson Fuels’ marketing and local expertise, will allow us to increase ethanol sales faster in California compared to anywhere else in the country.”

While California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard incentivizes so-called “zero-emission vehicles” powered by electricity or hydrogen, ethanol has reduced more greenhouse gas emissions than any other fuel, according to data from the California Air Resources Board. “Our ethanol will continue to be a low-carbon, high-octane fuel that offers Californians immediate benefits,” said Kent Moore, Kansas Corn Commission President. “Flex fuel vehicles using cleaner burning and more affordable E85 can be widely deployed there to meet the state’s goals quicker than any other technology.”

California’s battery electric vehicle tally at the end of 2020 was close to 370,000 – only 1.3% of all light-duty vehicles on the road. For comparison, more than 1.1 million drivers own flex fuel vehicles. The state still has more than 25 million other cars on the road using non-flex fuel, internal combustion engines. “The ceiling is high for E85,” Greer said, “but FFVs and E85 need to be more widely available.”

Pearson Fuels’ E85 will continue to become a cleaner fuel for California drivers. “Our goal is a completely renewable E85 gallon by replacing gasoline with renewable naphtha,” said Jones. “This is a fuel all Californians could use, especially those who can’t afford substantially higher-priced electric vehicles.”



2021 John Deere Gator Auctioned to Benefit Nebraska FFA Foundation

A 2021 John Deere Gator will be the highlight of the 2021 Nebraska FFA Foundation Auction. The auction, held on BigIron.com, supports the Nebraska FFA Foundation, whose mission is to support over 10,000 FFA members and their advisors in Nebraska.
 
In its ninth year, the John Deere Gator was donated by AKRS Equipment, Grossenburg Implement, Platte Valley Equipment, Landmark Implement and 21st Century Equipment. A Toy BigBud Tractor and Titan Tire and Goodyear Farm Tires bar stools are also available.
 
“We are so grateful for the support of many John Deere dealers to be able to support the Nebraska FFA Foundation in this way. They, along with the bidders understand the value that this contribution makes for Nebraska FFA members,” says Stacey Agnew, Nebraska FFA Foundation Executive Director. “These funds mean sustainability for the growing number of FFA chapters, members and advisors across the state.”
 
To participate in the online auction for the John Deere Gator, go to neffafoundation.org. Bidding ends Wednesday, September 15.



Making Soybeans as Hay or Silage
Steve Niemeyer - Nebraska Extension Educator

Some parts of the state are not getting the moisture for their soybean crop so the decision to salvage them for hay or silage may have to be made. Soybean hay or silage can have feed values very similar to alfalfa; but it is very important to put it up properly.

The first thing is not to get in a big hurry because August rains could make a crop. Harvest soybean forage when leaves start to turn yellow; just before they drop off. It’s especially important to harvest before a freeze to prevent rapid leaf loss.

Soybean hay is challenging to make. The leaves dry quickly and then become crumbly if raked. The stems are quite woody and dry slowly. Be sure to condition or crimp the hay to hasten stem dry down. Also, avoid raking if at all possible. Soybean leaves crumble easy when dry, which will cause some yield loss and much lower feed value. If you must rake to merge windrows together for baling, do it within one day of cutting. Do not rake just to hasten drying or leaf loss will be severe.

Making good soy silage is less risky if you have silage equipment and do it right. Obviously, you would rather harvest a good bean crop than make hay or silage out of your soybeans. But when drought and heat prevent a good bean crop, it's nice to know that they can be salvaged as hay or silage.

It is recommended to check the feed value by getting a sample for analysis to help make a decision on the class of livestock to feed and the nutrient make up of your soybean hay or silage.



FORAGE OPTIONS WITH RETURN OF RAIN
– Todd Whitney, NE Extension

When there is rain; there is opportunity. Although welcome rains have finally reached most of Nebraska, it may have been too late to rescue some severely stressed row crops. Still, these rains have created opportunities for new crop seeding plans to take full advantage of the moisture. When drought limits row crop yields, many producers seek dual purpose forages which can provide both forage and cash grain income. Wheat is one of those dual purpose crops providing forage grazing as well as a potential early Summer cash grain income. To get full benefits, grazing animals will need to be removed in the Spring from the fields prior to the wheat reaching the jointing growth stage.

This fall, the recommended winter wheat seeding dates for grain optimum production vary across Nebraska based on elevation (from Sep. 1 in the extreme northwest to Oct. 1 in the southeastern tip). For central Nebraska, the normal wheat drilling season is Sep. 20 to Sep. 25. This target date might be delayed to the last week of Sep. if producers select wheat varieties susceptible to the Hessian Fly insects.

If forage production is the main goal, then earlier fall drilling is highly encouraged. Oats, barley, turnips and radishes especially benefit from early fall planting. Whereas, rye, triticale and wheat can be drilled later into the fall with success. Nebraska Extension research reveals, though, that total forage production doubles for each month earlier in the fall the forage crops can be planted.



Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium

The annual Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Science Complex on November 19 - 21, 2021. The symposium is designed to introduce youth to careers opportunities and current issues in the beef industry, as well as offer education and practice in the use of leadership skills.

Showcasing Beef:  A Culinary Challenge
    eligible if you are a 10th, 11th or 12th grader (regardless of whether you've attended NYBLS before)
        get more in-depth information about the beef industry
        interact with faculty and learn about genetic markers, reproduction, environment/manuare management, and antibiotic resistance
        develop and market a beef product and work with a professional chef from Omaha Steaks
        learn more about career opportunities in the beef industry

At the Sunday luncheon we will conclude with this group and they will present their new products and marketing plan to a panel of judges. Parents and guests will also get a chance to taste their products!

Application Deadline:
If you're selected to participate, a $75 registration fee will be needed.  This covers the cost of hotel, meals, and materials.

CASNR Scholarships will be awarded to six participants!

Registrations are due by October 1, 2021.

For more information, contact:
Ashley Benes
105 Mussehl Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68582-0725
402-472-9184
ashley.benes@unl.edu

Or click here: https://animalscience.unl.edu/nebraska-youth-beef-leadership-symposium.



Returning to the Farm workshop set for Dec. 10, 11

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension will present Returning to the Farm, a workshop series for families who are in the transition process of bringing members back to the farm. It will begin with a two-day workshop for multi-generational families on Dec. 10 and 11 in Columbus.

“Bringing a young person into a farm or ranch operation can present challenges,” said Allan Vyhnalek, an extension educator for farm succession. “This workshop will offer strategies for these businesses to help young people get a solid start in the organization while keeping the farm or ranch in the family and ensuring a comfortable retirement for older family members.”  

The workshop will assist families and operations in developing financial plans and successful working arrangements to meet their unique needs. It will guide participants to identify estate planning issues and develop transition plans, set personal and professional goals and improve the communication process between family members.  

Presenters will include Nebraska Extension experts, agribusiness and legal professionals.  

The workshop will be held at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center, 265 33rd Ave., in Columbus. Registration is $50 per person, which includes two meals, all class materials and two virtual follow-up meetings to be held in January and February.

To register, visit the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, at https://cap.unl.edu/rtf21.



National Farm Safety and Health Week - September 20 - September 25

AgriSafe will be hosting a variety of webinars during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Click on the event title for more information and to register here... https://www.agrisafe.org/event/national-farm-safety-and-health-week/.

Monday, September 20th :
    What’s New in Tractor and Agricultural Vehicle Safety (12:00 pm CDT)
    Rural Road Safety: A Shared Responsibility (2:00 pm CDT)

Tuesday, September 21st:
    A Look at Stress and Mental Health During COVID-19 and the Impacts on Farmers and Other Sectors (12:00 pm CDT) – Continuing Education in multiple disciplines available!
    Food in the Field (2:00 pm CDT)

Wednesday, September 22nd:
    Developing and Implementing a Pilot Agricultural Community Suicide Prevention Program for Farmers and Farm Families (12:00 pm CDT)
    Pediatric Farm-Related Injuries: Safeguarding Children Who Visit or Live on Farms (2:00 pm CDT)

Thursday, September 23rd:
    Anhydrous Ammonia Safety for Farmworkers (12:00 pm CDT)
    Best Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Protect Your Lungs (2:00 pm CDT)

Friday, September 24th:
    Stepping Boldly into Tough Conversations (12:00 pm CDT) – Continuing Education in multiple disciplines available!
    Zoonotic Disease and Pregnancy: A Deeper Dive (2:00 pm CDT)



USDA Expands Assistance to Cover Feed Transportation Costs for Drought-Impacted Ranchers

In response to the severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today its plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA is updating the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to immediately cover feed transportation costs for drought impacted ranchers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide more details and tools to help ranchers get ready to apply at their local USDA Service Center later this month at fsa.usda.gov/elap.

“USDA is currently determining how our disaster assistance programs can best help alleviate the significant economic, physical and emotional strain agriculture producers are experiencing due to drought conditions,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The duration and intensity of current drought conditions are merciless, and the impacts of this summer’s drought will be felt by producers for months to come. Today’s announcement is to provide relief as ranchers make fall and winter herd management decisions.”

ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

ELAP already covers the cost of hauling water during drought, and this change will expand the program beginning in 2021 to cover feed transportation costs where grazing and hay resources have been depleted. This includes places where:
    Drought intensity is D2 for eight consecutive weeks as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor;
    Drought intensity is D3 or greater; or
    USDA has determined a shortage of local or regional feed availability.

Cost share assistance will also be made available to cover eligible cost of treating hay or feed to prevent the spread of invasive pests like fire ants.

Under the revised policy for feed transportation cost assistance, eligible ranchers will be reimbursed 60% of feed transportation costs above what would have been incurred in a normal year. Producers qualifying as underserved (socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning or military veteran) will be reimbursed for 90% of the feed transportation cost above what would have been incurred in a normal year.

A national cost formula, as established by USDA, will be used to determine reimbursement costs which will not include the first 25 miles and distances exceeding 1,000 transportation miles. The calculation will also exclude the normal cost to transport hay or feed if the producer normally purchases some feed. For 2021, the initial cost formula of $6.60 per mile will be used (before the percentage is applied), but may be adjusted on a state or regional basis.

To be eligible for ELAP assistance, livestock must be intended for grazing and producers must have incurred feed transportation costs on or after Jan. 1, 2021. Although producers will self-certify losses and expenses to FSA, producers are encouraged to maintain good records and retain receipts and related documentation in the event these documents are requested for review by the local FSA County Committee. The deadline to file an application for payment for the 2021 program year is Jan. 31, 2022.

Additional USDA Drought Assistance
USDA has authorized other flexibilities to help producers impacted by drought. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) extended deadlines for premium and administrative fee payments and deferred and waived the resulting interest accrual to help farmers and ranchers through widespread drought conditions in many parts of the nation. Additionally, 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 and updated policy 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 improves soil health can help producers build resilience to drought.

Meanwhile, 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.

USDA offers a comprehensive portfolio of disaster assistance programs. On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet (PDF, 4.7 MB), and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine all program or loan options available for disaster recovery assistance.

More Information
More information on this expansion to ELAP is forthcoming. In the meantime, more information is available at fsa.usda.gov/elap or by contacting a local USDA Service Center.



Biofuel and Ag Leaders Oppose EPA Motion to Remand 2018 SREs Without Vacatur

Last night, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, and National Farmers Union opposed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) motion to remand but not vacate the 31 small refinery exemptions (SREs) the Trump Administration granted in August 2019. The coalition of biofuel and ag leaders is currently challenging the 31 SREs in the D.C. Circuit, arguing that EPA’s issuance of the exemptions was arbitrary and capricious and exceeded the Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act.

Together, these leaders provided the following statement in opposition to this motion:  

“While it is encouraging that EPA intends to reconsider the 31 SREs granted for the 2018 compliance year, we must oppose EPA’s motion to remand without a deadline and without addressing the SREs’ ongoing damage to the biofuel industry. In addition to seeking a remand of the SREs, the Biden Administration EPA should ask that they be vacated; or at the very least, EPA should ask the court to set a deadline by which the reconsideration of these petitions must be completed. This would allow the Biden Administration EPA to hit the reset button and conduct a new evaluation of each 2018 SRE request in light of the 10th Circuit Court decision in Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. EPA and the recent Supreme Court decision overturning one piece of the 10th Circuit decision. We are looking to the Biden Administration to renew the bond with farmers and rural economies by restoring certainty and integrity to the RFS.”  

Background:  
In August 2019, the Trump Administration’s EPA approved an unprecedented 31 SREs for the 2018 RVO compliance year with only a cursory, two-page decision. This coalition of biofuels and ag leaders filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit Court challenging EPA’s decision. The coalition asked the court to stay the 2018 SRE case in November 2019 pending the outcome of related litigation in both the 10th Circuit and D.C. Circuit Courts. In January 2020, the 10th Circuit ruled in Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. EPA that EPA has no power to ‘extend’ an exemption that had lapsed. The Court also held that EPA lacks the authority to grant an exemption based on hardships not caused by RFS compliance, and also found that it was arbitrary and capricious for EPA to ignore its own prior studies showing that refiners recoup RFS compliance costs.

On June 25, 2021, in HollyFrontier v. Renewable Fuels Association, the Supreme Court vacated the 10th Circuit’s holding that EPA may only ‘extend’ continuously pre-existing exemptions. EPA nevertheless has had the opportunity to apply the other two 10th Circuit precedents not challenged in the HollyFrontier case and vacate the 31 SREs at issue in the D.C. Circuit. However, on August 25, 2021, EPA instead filed a motion to remand the SREs without vacatur, meaning that, if the motion is granted, the 31 SREs will stay in effect with no deadline or timeline for review or for resumption of the biofuel and ag leaders’ judicial challenge.  



NCBA Puts Pressure on Congress to Protect Family-Owned Businesses

As Co-Chair of the Tax Aggie Coalition, NCBA spearheaded a letter to House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committee leadership urging them to consider the implications that changes to federal tax policy will have on family-owned agricultural businesses. Nearly 330 trade associations representing family-owned food, agriculture and related businesses agree that, when drafting legislation to implement President Biden's "Build Back Better" agenda, it is critical that the “American Families Plan” must also support family farms and ranches.

“Congress must consider the complex structure of family-owned agricultural businesses that serve as the backbone of rural economies; therefore, understand how changes to long-standing provisions in the tax code could be detrimental to the financial viability of these businesses as they transfer to the next generation,” said Senior Executive Director of Government Affairs Danielle Beck.

“This is not a partisan issue; in fact, it’s an issue that affects every single American. With more than 370 million acres expected to change hands in the next two decades, preserving long-standing provisions in the federal tax code is a win-win situation for producers and consumers alike. Whether their family has preserved the land for generations, or they are a beginning, veteran or minority farmer getting their start in the industry – without federal tax policy that supports a viable business climate for the next generation of producers, building on the environmental and economic contributions of today’s producers is impossible and risks compromising our nation’s ability to produce a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. The consequences of taxing family farms and ranches out of business completely undermines the 'Build Back Better' agenda.”

Some federal tax policy proposals have been accompanied by the promise of purported protections to family-owned businesses. However, signatories on the letter stress that those accommodations may not necessarily apply to the diverse complexity of ownership structures across family-owned agricultural entities. The only way to ensure the future viability of family-owned business, specifically farms and ranches, is to fully preserve critical provisions such as stepped-up basis, like-kind exchanges, the Section 199A small business deduction and maintain the current estate tax code provisions.  



Tax Proposals Put Future of American Farms at Risk

The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with 46 state Farm Bureaus and 280 organizations representing family-owned agribusinesses, sent a letter today to congressional leaders urging them to leave important tax policies in place as they draft legislation implementing President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda. The letter addresses four key tax provisions that make it possible for farmers and ranchers to survive and pass their businesses on to the next generation: estate taxes, stepped-up basis, 199A small business deduction and like-kind exchanges.

“The policies Congress enacts now will determine agricultural producers’ ability to secure affordable land to start or expand their operations,” the letter states. “Regardless of whether a business has already been passed down through multiple generations or is just starting out, the key to their longevity is a continued ability to transition when a family member or business partner dies. For this reason, we firmly believe the current federal estate tax code provisions must be maintained.”

These tools are as crucial as ever as the number of farmers and ranchers 65 and older outnumber those 35 and under by a four-to-one margin. More than 370 million acres are expected to change hands in the next two decades.

“As the economic backbone of nearly every county and rural community across the U.S., the importance of American agriculture and related industries cannot be overlooked,” the letter continues. “Farmers, ranchers, and family-owned agribusiness operators are responsible for producing the safe, affordable, and abundant food, fiber, and fuel supplies Americans enjoy every day. As the stewards of nearly 900 million acres of crop and rangeland, farmers and ranchers play an important role in terms of natural resource and land conservation. For agricultural producers, carrying on the legacy of our predecessors and setting the next generation up for success is critically important.”



Cattle Group Applauds Sens. Thune, Tester, Rounds, and Booker Who Will Introduce Mandatory COOL Bill for Beef

Today, Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds, (R-S.D.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) jointly announced they are introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate to reestablish mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. The legislation will reinsert “beef” and “ground beef” into the current MCOOL law that requires country-of-origin labels on many food commodities, including meat from chickens, sheep, goats, and deer.   

The legislation, however, delays implementation of MCOOL for beef for up to 12 months after enactment to provide the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) 6 months to develop the means of reinstating MCOOL for beef in a manner that complies with applicable rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The initial 6-month period is then followed by a second 6-month period during which the USTR and Secretary may implement MCOOL in accordance with the means they had developed.

If MCOOL for beef has not already been implemented by the USTR and the Secretary one-year after enactment of the legislation, the legislation shall take effect on that one-year anniversary.

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said Senators Thune, Tester, Rounds, and Booker’s introduction of the bipartisan MCOOL bill for beef demonstrates their responsiveness to U.S. cattle producers and consumers alike who have urged Congress to reinstate labels on beef that inform consumers as to where the animal from which the beef was derived was born, raised, and harvested.

“This Thune/Tester/Rounds/Booker MCOOL bill is critically needed to restore competition to the nation’s broken cattle and beef markets marked by inflated beef prices paid by consumers and depressed cattle prices paid to U.S. cattle producers.

“Only with MCOOL for beef can cattle producers compete in their own domestic market where packers and importers – and not cattle producers and consumers – currently decide how much foreign beef they will import into the U.S. market to displace domestic beef production and reduce demand for cattle exclusively born and raised in the United States.

“We are profoundly appreciative of Senators Thune, Tester, Rounds, and Booker for taking the lead in representing the interests of their respective cattle producing and beef consuming constituents by introducing this critically important MCOOL bill,” Bullard said.



Study Validates US Pork Industry Biosecurity Measures and Pathway Awareness

A new year-long study to identify U.S. pork industry gaps in biosecurity defenses against foreign animal diseases, funded by the Pork Checkoff and the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), found no major areas have been overlooked in efforts to prevent the introduction of African swine fever (ASF) to the United States. With ASF confirmed in the Dominican Republic, the first time it has been in the western hemisphere in 40 years, this work provides reassurance the U.S. pork industry and government agencies have identified the major routes of potential domestic introduction. The study, conducted by EpiX Analytics, LLC, reinforced the importance of continued on-farm biosecurity diligence for known pathways and identified feed and feed ingredient imports risks as a critical opportunity to bolster defenses against ASF.

"This EpiX review provided a third-party evaluation of potential gaps in national biosecurity that could put the U.S. swine industry at risk of a viral introduction. It is reassuring that the review did not find any gaps that we were not already aware of and working to address,” says Harry Snelson, DVM, executive director, American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV).

In total, EpiX considered eight FAD entry pathways: legal import of live animals, illegal import of live animals, import of pork products, import of feed and feed ingredients, fomites associated with international movements, international movement of people, transboundary movements of wildlife and vectors, and intentional and accidental release. Gaps were prioritized using a defined set of criteria. Extensive literature review along with input from an advisory group made up of representatives of academia, industry, and government were considered in EpiX process.

"EpiX’s results help direct further actions to protect the U.S. swine herd. Now we continue to collaboratively build on the efforts made to date and remain vigilant," says Paul Sundberg, DVM, PhD, DACVPM, executive director, Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). “The study identified and looked into the vulnerabilities of bringing FADs into the U.S. Closing those pathways as best as possible along with the partnership of the producers’ on-farm biosecurity implementation to ensure FADs don’t get to pigs, if they are able to slip through, will ensure the continued safety of the U.S. swine herd.”

Pork Industry Committed to Continuous Improvement
“While we are encouraged by the report’s overall assessment of the industry’s progress in reducing the risk of ASF introduction into the country, we know that there’s always more work to be done,” says Patrick Webb, DVM, acting chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board. “We must continue to work together to find real-world solutions for producers and their suppliers to implement that can help keep our national herd free of this costly virus.”

It is reassuring to confirm the U.S. pork industry, along with government agencies, has done a good job to date to identify potential pathways for introduction and biosecurity protocols to prevent introduction. For example, the vulnerability of illegal import of meat is being addressed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection along with USDA programs to decrease the risk. The EpiX work also validated the industry’s assumption that there is still vulnerability from imported feed and feed ingredients, thus encouraging continued scrutiny. Other vulnerabilities, such as feral swine and illegal or out-of-regulatory-compliance garbage feeding, were also identified by the study as areas for the pork industry to continue working to address.

“Knowing we have accurately identified the potential ASF pathways allows us to sharpen our focus on further strengthening biosecurity defenses in the right places,” said Dr. Liz Wagstrom, the National Pork Producer Council’s (NPPC) chief veterinarian. “These efforts include ongoing work by the Cooperative Feed Risk Task Force – with representation from the USDA, FDA, industry and academia – to inform feed purchasing, holding time and treatment practices.”

The study’s findings were presented to the AASV, NPB, NPPC and SHIC. These pork organizations continue to work collaboratively to prevent ASF, and other foreign animal diseases, from reaching domestic swine herds. This joint project reflects the commitment these groups have to serve and inform U.S. pork producers and protect the health of the domestic swine herd.



Potash Price Increases Slow as Farmers Look at 2022 Fertilizer Needs

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be slightly higher, according to a DTN survey of more than 300 fertilizer retailers for the last week of August 2021. This marks the third straight week no fertilizer saw significantly higher prices, which DTN designates as 5% or greater.

As has been the case in recent weeks, all eight of the major fertilizers were slightly higher compared to last month.

Potash once again had the largest increase, about 3%, to $571/ton.  Anhydrous followed, up 2%, with an average price of $749/ton.  At $371/ton, UAN28 prices increased 1%.  The rest were higher, but by less than 1%. DAP had an average price of $697/ton, MAP $756/ton, urea $557/ton, 10-34-0 $632/ton, and UAN32 $420/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.61/lb.N, anhydrous $0.46/lb.N, UAN28 $0.66/lb.N and UAN32 $0.66/lb.N.

Retail fertilizer prices compared to a year ago show all have increased significantly.  10-34-0 is now 38% more expensive, urea is 55% higher, DAP is 62% more expensive, potash 64% higher, UAN32 is 65% more expensive, MAP 71% higher and both UAN28 and anhydrous are 72% more expensive compared to last year.



Short-Term Energy Outlook Forecast Highlights
US Energy Information Administration

Global liquid fuels
    The September Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) remains subject to heightened levels of uncertainty related to the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. economic activity continues to rise after reaching multiyear lows in the second quarter of 2020 (2Q20). U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 3.4% in 2020 from 2019 levels. This STEO assumes U.S. GDP will grow by 6.0% in 2021 and by 4.4% in 2022. The U.S. macroeconomic assumptions in this outlook are based on forecasts by IHS Markit. Our forecast assumes continuing economic growth and increasing mobility. Any developments that would cause deviations from these assumptions would likely cause energy consumption and prices to deviate from our forecast.

    Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $71 per barrel (b) in August, down $4/b from July but up $26/b from August 2020. Brent prices have risen over the past year as result of steady draws on global oil inventories, which averaged 1.8 million barrels per day (b/d) during the first half of 2021 (1H21). We expect Brent prices will remain near current levels for the remainder of 2021, averaging $71/b during the fourth quarter of 2021 (4Q21). In 2022, we expect that growth in production from OPEC+, U.S. tight oil, and other non-OPEC countries will outpace slowing growth in global oil consumption and contribute to Brent prices declining to an annual average of $66/b.

    More than 90% of crude oil production in the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico (GOM) was offline in late August following Hurricane Ida. As a result of the outage, GOM production averaged 1.5 million b/d in August, down 0.3 million b/d from July. We expect that crude oil production in the GOM will gradually come back online during September and average 1.2 million b/d for the month before returning to an average of 1.7 million b/d in 4Q21.

    Total U.S. crude oil production averaged 11.3 million b/d in June—the most recent monthly historical data point. We forecast it will remain near that level through the end of 2021 before increasing to an average of 11.7 million b/d in 2022, driven by growth in onshore tight oil production. We expect growth will result from operators beginning to increase rig additions, offsetting production decline rates.

    We estimate that 98.4 million b/d of petroleum and liquid fuels was consumed globally in August, an increase of 5.7 million b/d from August 2020 but still 4.0 million b/d less than in August 2019. We forecast that global consumption of petroleum and liquid fuels will average 97.4 million b/d for all of 2021, which is a 5.0 million b/d increase from 2020, and by an additional 3.6 million b/d in 2022 to average 101.0 million b/d, almost even with 2019 levels.

    U.S. regular gasoline retail prices averaged $3.16 per gallon (gal) in August, the highest monthly average price since October 2014. Recent gasoline price increases reflect rising wholesale gasoline margins amid relatively low gasoline inventories. In addition, recent impacts from Hurricane Ida on several U.S. Gulf Coast refineries are adding upward price pressures in the near term. Estimated gasoline margins surpassed 70 cents/gal in late August. We expect margins will remain elevated in the coming weeks as refining operations as U.S. Gulf Coast remain disrupted. We forecast that retail gasoline prices will average $3.14/gal in September before falling to $2.91/gal, on average, in 4Q21. The expected drop in retail gasoline prices reflects our forecast that gasoline margins will decline from currently elevated levels, both as a result of rising refinery runs as operations return in the first half of September following Hurricane Ida and because of typical seasonality.

    Propane net exports in our forecast average close to 1.2 million b/d for the remainder of 2021, reflecting elevated global demand for U.S. propane and reduced supply from other sources related to ongoing OPEC+ production cuts. In 1H22, we assume global production of propane and butanes will rise as OPEC+ countries increase crude oil production. We expect this increase will limit additional demand for U.S. propane exports, despite growing global propane demand, and keep U.S. net propane exports close to 1.2 million b/d in 2022.

Natural Gas
    In August, the natural gas spot price at Henry Hub averaged $4.07 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), which is up from the July average of $3.84/MMBtu. The August increase reflects hotter temperatures in August on average across the United States compared with July, which caused demand for natural gas in the electric power sector to be higher than expected. Prices rose further in late August when Hurricane Ida caused a decline in natural gas production in the GOM.

    Henry Hub spot prices in August were $1.77/MMBtu higher than in August 2020. Steadily rising natural gas prices over the past year primarily reflects: growth in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, rising domestic natural gas consumption for sectors other than electric power, and relatively flat natural gas production. We expect the Henry Hub spot price will average $4.00/MMBtu in 4Q21, as the factors that drove prices higher during August lessen. Forecast Henry Hub prices this winter reach a monthly average peak of $4.25/MMBtu in January and generally decline through 2022, averaging $3.47/MMBtu for the year amid rising U.S. natural gas production and slowing growth in LNG exports.

    More than 90% of natural gas production in the GOM was offline in late August following Hurricane Ida. GOM production of marketed natural gas averaged 1.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in August, down 0.4 Bcf/d from July. We expect that natural gas production in the GOM will gradually come back online during the first half of September and average 1.5 Bcf/d for the month before returning to an average of 2.1 Bcf/d in 4Q21.

    We expect dry natural gas production will average 92.7 Bcf/d in the United States during 2H21—up from 91.7 Bcf/d in 1H21—and then rise to 95.4 Bcf/d in 2022, driven by natural gas and crude oil prices, which we expect to remain at levels that will support enough drilling to sustain production growth.

    We expect that U.S. consumption of natural gas will average 82.5 (Bcf/d) in 2021, down 0.9% from 2020. U.S. natural gas consumption declines in 2021, in part, because electric power generators switch to coal from natural gas as a result of higher natural gas prices. In 2021, we expect residential and commercial natural gas consumption combined will rise by 1.2 Bcf/d from 2020 and industrial consumption will rise by 0.6 Bcf/d from 2020. Rising natural gas consumption in sectors other than the electric power sector results from expanding economic activity and colder winter temperatures in 2021 compared with 2020. We expect U.S. natural gas consumption will average 82.6 Bcf/d in 2022, mostly unchanged from 2021.

    We estimate that U.S. natural gas inventories ended August 2021 at about 2.9 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), which is 7% lower than the five-year (2016–20) average for this time of year. Injections into storage this summer have been below the previous five-year average, largely as a result of hot weather and high exports occurring amid relatively flat natural gas production. We forecast that inventories will end the 2021 injection season (end of October) at almost 3.6 Tcf, which would be 5% below the five-year average.



Field study shows unique corn trait is effective in limiting impact of corn rootworm

Syngenta Seeds announced today results from a recent field study on the effects of corn rootworm (CRW), highlighting that hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade trait have proven effective in limiting the impact of CRW. Growers in the Midwest are seeing heavy CRW pressure this year, a likely result of large beetle populations in past seasons, good overwintering of CRW eggs and favorable spring conditions for larval survival.

CRW has a highly-adaptative life cycle, and populations can build year after year in fields when left uncontrolled, costing growers around $1 billion in lost yield and control measures each year. It is critical to utilize long-term management strategies to get ahead of pressure and manage this pest year over year.

In addition to using sticky traps to monitor adult CRW populations, one strategy to monitor CRW pressure and analyze the performance of management options is a root dig, which is performed to inspect the integrity of field corn’s root systems.

“When the larvae feed on the roots, it can reduce water and nutrient uptake. In extreme cases, root lodging occurs where the roots become so damaged that they cannot properly anchor the plant to ground, making them susceptible to strong winds,” said Bruce Battles, technical agronomy manager for Syngenta. “Root digs are valuable because they assess that threat, so we can make the proper adjustments to future CRW management programs.”

In July, the Syngenta Seeds agronomy team conducted a series of root digs1 across Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois to inspect traited hybrids that were planted in the spring. Roots from seven trial locations were washed and scored with the data compiled at the Syngenta Seeds research facility in Slater, Iowa. The goal of the digs was to see how hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade trait compared to non-treated and other rootworm-traited hybrids.

Key results from these root digs include:
·         Using the 0 to 3 Node-Injury Scale from Iowa State University, the average root injury score of the untreated check was 1.5 nodes damaged (higher root scores indicate more corn rootworm damage).
·         Using that same scale, the Agrisure Duracade-traited plants had 0.35 node damaged.
·         Qrome®, SmartStax® and Agrisure Duracade trait stacks rated similarly across locations.

“The dig’s results confirm what growers have been seeing in their fields: hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade trait demonstrate more effective control of CRW to protect field health and yield potential than those left untreated,” said Battles. “We’re thrilled with these results, because it means growers are well-equipped in their defense against CRW, and we are looking forward to seeing more success this season and in the coming years.”

The Agrisure Duracade trait is a unique rotational option with novel, alternate modes of action to preserve trait durability, long-term field health and yield potential.

Effective, long-term CRW management requires a multi-year, whole-farm approach that includes the integration of multiple control measures, not a singular technology. Growers with heavy CRW pressure should consider incorporating the following control measures into their CRW management approach:
·         Rotate to a non-host crop such as soybeans, which provides the best opportunity to break the reproductive cycle of CRW.
·         Plant hybrids with multiple CRW traits, including Agrisure Duracade trait stacks and Agrisure® 3122 E-Z Refuge.
·         Scout and evaluate the need for adult beetle control with a foliar insecticide like Warrior II with Zeon Technology®.
·         If past history indicates high CRW pressure may occur, consider the use of a multiple CRW-traited hybrid and a soil-applied insecticide like Force® 6.5G.

“Although there is not one guaranteed solution, there are tactics that can be used in a multi-year CRW management plan like crop rotation, soil-applied insecticides, adult beetle control and traited hybrids that farmers can use to get ahead of corn rootworm pressure,” said Tim O’Brien, PhD, Agrisure® traits manager for Syngenta. “The results of this dig suggest growers should strongly consider adding hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade trait to their whole-farm corn rootworm management approach to show corn rootworm something different and delay insect adaptation.”

For more information on Agrisure Duracade trait stacks and to find additional resources about proactive CRW management, visit www.agrisureduracade.com.