Tuesday October 19 Ag News

 Fischer Urges Biden Admin. to Stop Delaying Biofuels Assistance
        
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, recently joined a group of her Republican colleagues in calling for the Biden administration to explain why there are still significant delays in getting financial assistance for farmers and ethanol producers out the door.

In June 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $700 million in aid to biofuel producers. Senator Fischer fought to ensure farmers and ethanol producers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic would be eligible for assistance in the consolidated appropriations bill, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2020. It has been over 60 days since Biden’s USDA indicated that this critical assistance would be released.

In the letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, the group writes, “We are concerned about the delay in financial assistance for our nation’s biofuel sector during the unprecedented economic circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

They continue, “As you know, we have been advocating for targeted relief for the biofuel industry since the onset of the pandemic and the demand collapse for ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuels. On June 15, 2021, we welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of $700 million in aid to biofuel producers as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. In your press release, you indicated that this assistance would be implemented within 60 days. It is simply unacceptable that it has been over 120 days since your announcement and biofuel producers are still waiting…It is past time our hardworking biofuel producers receive the critical aid that you promised.”

Senator Fischer’s actions to support biofuel producers:
·       Introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act to ensure blends higher than E10 can be sold year-round
·       Introduced the RFS Integrity Act to create transparency and predictability to EPA’s small refinery exemption process and require any exempted gallons to be accounted for in annual RVOs
·       Joined letter to USDA urging them to use the Commodity Credit Corporation/December 2020 COVID relief bill to provide assistance to biofuels industry
·       Led bipartisan letter to EPA urging them to reject requests to waive RFS requirements and support robust RVO
·       Joined letter to President Biden urging him to reject calls to undercut RFS by reducing blending requirements and uphold his campaign promises
·       Joined letter requesting meeting with President Biden about the lack of prioritization of biofuels in the administration’s policies

The letter was also signed by Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Rounds (R-S.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), John Thune (R-S.D.).



NIGHTSHADE IN CORN RESIDUE
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension
 
Have you noticed any black nightshade in your corn stalks that you are grazing or plan to graze? If these fields have too much black nightshade, be careful, it might be toxic.
 
Black nightshade is common in many corn fields in the fall, especially those that had hail damage in the summer or any situation where the corn canopy became thin or open.  It usually isn’t a problem, but if the density of nightshade is very high, there is the potential that it could poison livestock.  Almost all livestock, including cattle, sheep, swine, horses, and poultry are susceptible.      
                                
Black nightshade plants average about 2 feet in height and have simple alternating leaves.  In the fall, berries are green and become black as the plant matures.  All plant parts contain some of the toxin and the concentration increases as plants mature, except in the berries. Freezing temperatures will not reduce the toxicity.
 
It is very difficult to determine exactly how much black nightshade is risky.  Guidelines say that a cow would need to consume 3 to 4 pounds of fresh black nightshade to be at risk of being poisoned.  These guidelines, though, are considered conservative since there is little data on the actual toxicity of nightshade plants.  Also encouraging is that reports of nightshade poisoning have been very scarce in the past.
 
Fortunately, even though nightshade plants remain green fairly late into the fall, cattle usually don’t appear to seek out nightshade plants to graze.  However, green plants of nightshade might become tempting toward the end of a field’s grazing period, when there is less grain, husks, or leaves to consume.
 
So common sense and good observation must be your guide.  Scouting fields to estimate the general density of nightshade plants will help you determine any potential risk.  Secondly, and particularly near the end of a field’s grazing period, closely observe what the cattle are eating to see if animals might be selecting nightshade plants.



Nebraska Corn is seeking six college students for annual internship program

The Nebraska Corn Board is excited to announce its annual internship program for the 2022-2023 season. Through the last several years, the board has provided real-world experiences and opportunities for college interns. These students work directly with our partners with the U.S. Grains Council, the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the National Corn Growers Association.

It’s only October, but it’s not too early for college students to begin thinking about summer internship experiences. The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) is seeking applicants to take part in six internship experiences beginning in May 2022. The internships vary in location and scope but are designed to provide students with an overview of Nebraska’s corn industry through real-world professional examples and experiences.

Four of the six internships are summer-long experiences that are based outside of Nebraska. These four experiences are with cooperating partners of NCB. The remaining two positions are yearlong internships where students work in a Nebraska Corn office in Lincoln.

Internship opportunities for 2022-2023:

    Communications and Market Development Internship
    Host: Nebraska Corn Board
    Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
    Duration: May 2022 – May 2023

    Communications and Outreach Internship
    Host: National Corn Growers Association
    Location: St. Louis, Missouri
    Duration: Summer 2022

    Public Policy Internship
    Host: National Corn Growers Association
    Location: Washington, D.C.
    Duration: Summer 2022

    Promotion and International Relations Internship
    Host: U.S. Meat Export Federation
    Location: Denver, Colorado
    Duration: Summer 2022

    International Relations Internship
    Host: U.S. Grains Council
    Location: Washington, D.C.
    Duration: Summer 2022

    Communications and Outreach Internship
    Host: Nebraska Corn Growers Association
    Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
    Duration: May 2022 – May 2023

“Our mission with the Nebraska Corn Board is to promote the value of corn by creating opportunities to ensure a vibrant industry for many years to come,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of NCB and the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. “One way to accomplish this mission is through the development of young leaders. By providing young people with the experiences needed to succeed, we can ensure our industry is well served now and into the future.”

Nebraska Corn internships are open to all college students, with a preference given to students enrolled in colleges or universities located in Nebraska. The application process can be found online at https://nebraskacorn.gov/internships/. The submission deadline is Friday, November 5, 2021.



UNMC $1.7 million NIOSH grant to study ways to negate lung injury from biohazards

Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have received a $1.7 million grant to study ways to repair lung disease caused by exposure to biohazards, particularly agricultural dust.

The four-year grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) aims to define the lung repair, recovery and remodeling processes following acute and repetitive exposure to biohazards – such as endotoxins – particularly in food processing and meat packing plants. The funding is a continuation of work supported by the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the UNMC College of Public Health.

When inhaled, dust containing endotoxins – parts of bacteria found in occupational settings – often triggers inflammatory responses in the lungs, resulting in cough, sputum and shortness of breath with activity.

There’s no approved therapy for this type of lung injury, said Jill Poole, MD, chief of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine's Division of Allergy and Immunology and principal investigator of the grant. Todd Wyatt, PhD, and Debra Romberger, MD, are co-investigators of the grant.

The team hopes to change that moving forward.  

“We’re looking for new therapies as well as biomarkers indicative of disease,” Dr. Poole said. “Currently, we try to use medications for asthma and allergy and chronic bronchitis, which helps some, but doesn’t reverse the disease. A lot of times the occupational exposure-induced lung damage is permanent, and people aren’t quite the same.”  

“The inability to adequately treat workers following occupational inflammatory exposure leads to chronic disease, and workers with respiratory disease have a higher incidence of filing for disability compared to those without respiratory disease.”

Not only are exposures to endotoxin high in agricultural production, but also emerging sectors, she said, such as waste treatment, recycling, biotech food production and processing industries.

“It’s important to find effective treatments because workers don’t always wear their masks to protect themselves while working in agricultural environments,” Dr. Poole said. “We’re looking at how we might reverse lung inflammation. We usually see the workers in clinic once they’ve suffered lung injuries.”

The team has been studying the impact of complex dust exposure in agricultural workers for more than a decade and will continue its NIOSH-funded work using mouse models.  

Results of these studies play an important role, Dr. Poole said, because they lay the pre-clinical groundwork for understanding key cellular and mediator responses, and ultimately will help develop new strategies to treat occupational exposure-induced lung inflammation prior to the development of irreversible lung disease.

“Occupational lung diseases are the primary cause of occupation-associated illness in the U.S. based on frequency, severity and preventability of the illnesses,” Dr. Poole said. “Most occupational lung diseases are caused by repeated, long-term exposure to hazardous agents, but even a severe single exposure can damage the lungs.”

Debra J. Romberger, MD, grant co-investigator and Henry J. Lehnhoff Professor and chair, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, said the team hopes their proposed strategies will bring new ways to reverse disease in those workers as well as many other dusty environments. “As agricultural practices have changed over the years, animal production occurs in confinement facilities with thousands of animals (poultry, hogs, cattle) and workers in those spaces are increasingly exposed to dust that can cause disease,” she said.



 REpowering Schools Special Recognition Award to Dan McGuire and ACGF            

“The American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF) is pleased to announce that ACGF Director Dan McGuire just received a REpowering Schools Special Recognition Award at their Annual Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2021,” said Gale Lush, ACGF Chairman, a corn, soybean and wheat farmer from Wilcox, Nebraska. “The Special Recognition Award acknowledges McGuire’s decades of work in articulating the role that renewable energy can play in support of farming communities and their students nation-wide. Dan McGuire and the ACGF have been national leaders on renewable energy for decades, beginning with ethanol, especially advocating for a strong federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) policy. We led the way bringing utility-scale wind energy specifically to Nebraska, and across the Midwest and around the nation as well with our Wealth From The Wind rural education and economic development outreach program in the 21st century. McGuire also led the Wind for Schools program as its facilitator in Nebraska, working with Professor Jerry Hudgins at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The focus now includes solar power which is gaining new supporters and organizations across the energy and educational sectors. Renewable energy is essential to future rural economic prosperity,” said Lush.

Mark Lounsbery, ACGF Vice President from Revillo, South Dakota said, “Dan McGuire’s receipt of this award is well-deserved. His leadership and vision on important issues from the ethanol RFS to utility-scale wind energy and solar development, and now the REpowering Schools program to help provide an educated STEM-related workforce for the future of our economy and energy is no surprise. He has spent his entire career helping rural America on farm policy and renewable energy.”

In accepting the award Dan McGuire praised leaders at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the members of the Nebraska Wind for Schools Consortium, including wind and solar developers and the Nebraska Public Power District. McGuire said, “Professor Jerry Hudgins and the University of Nebraska Wind Applications Center provide the highest level of electrical and computer engineering expertise, training and coursework to the K-12 partner schools. The same goes for the other partner universities and their Wind Application Centers. We need REpowering Schools now more than ever given the climate and environmental challenges facing our country. We need STEM-related career development to meet future needs. It is estimated that 350,000 new jobs will be created from wind energy alone if we get 20% of electricity from wind by 2030.”

Today, the WfS program is operating in 12 states and, through REpowering Schools, is broadening to include solar energy and expanding its successful program through efforts in additional states. Currently, universities across the country host classroom studies, conduct field assessments, support renewable energy focused teacher and student training, and support the consideration of small wind and solar installations at educational institutions. REpowering Schools works with educators and the renewable energy industry in coordination with national and state government projects to support programming and opportunities to engage and train a diverse and sustained renewable energy workforce.



Nominate a Farmer or Ag Leader for an Iowa Soybean Association Leadership Award

Do you know a student passionate about supporting agriculture? How about a farmer dedicated to protecting natural resources? If so, now is the time to nominate deserving individuals for one of eight Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Leadership Awards.

Nominations can be submitted on the ISA website and will be accepted until Tuesday, Nov. 9. A committee comprised of ISA farmer leaders and staff will review all nominees. Recipients will be recognized at the annual ISA Leadership Awards & Industry Celebration Banquet.

“Many people are driven to deliver for Iowa soybean farmers,” says ISA President Robb Ewoldt of Davenport. “It remains critical to recognize these meaningful contributions and celebrate an industry that continues to be a positive force for our state and country.”

Nominations are sought for:

LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP: ISA farmer member advancing the goals of the association and demonstrating a passion and longstanding commitment for growing the soybean industry in Iowa, nationally and internationally.

RISING STAR: High school senior or college student taking an active role to promote Iowa agriculture and intends to remain involved in the industry through future personal or professional activities. The award includes a $1,000 stipend to apply to educational expenses. This award requires an application; it can be found under the “Programs” tab at iasoybeans.com.

NEW LEADER: ISA farmer member who has deepened their involvement in ISA programming and while enhancing their commitment and service to the industry and their community.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER: ISA farmer member improving on-farm environmental performance and leadership in the use of precision agriculture tools and technology. Must be a current or past participant in ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation activities.

INNOVATOR IN PRODUCTION RESEARCH: Individual, organization or company that has shown outstanding leadership in the use of precision agriculture and has worked to validate and effectively manage practices to improve profitability. Active involvement in the ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation is a plus for this award.

FRIEND OF THE IOWA SOYBEAN FARMER: Elected leader or ISA partner who has shown a deep understanding of issues facing Iowa soybean farmers and has supported them through their actions and efforts.

POLICY CHAMPION: Recognizes an ISA farmer and Advocate member who works to advance policy and regulatory issues benefiting the soybean industry. Nominees have a proven track record of engaging with elected leaders as a knowledgeable and trusted resource on soybean industry policy.

ADVOCATE FOR IOWA AGRICULTURE: ISA member, individual, organization or company who effectively and accurately shares the story of modern agriculture and actively builds bridges between Iowa farmers and consumers.

To complete a nomination form and see past award recipients, visit iasoybeans.com/programs/awards.



NASS conducts its first hemp acreage and production survey
 
On Oct. 18, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be sending its first Hemp Acreage and Production Survey to 117 Iowa producers. The hemp survey will collect information on the total planted and harvested area, yield, production, and value of hemp in the United States.  

“The Hemp Acreage and Production Survey will provide critical data about the hemp industry to assist producers, regulatory agencies, state governments, processors, and other key industry entities,” said Greg Thessen, director of the NASS Upper Midwest Region.

Survey recipients are asked to respond securely online at agcounts.usda.gov, using the 12-digit survey code mailed with the survey, or to mail completed questionnaires back in the prepaid envelope provided, by Oct. 25.  

As defined in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), the term “hemp” means the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant such as the seeds, all derivatives, and extracts, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. The Domestic Hemp Production Program established in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) allows for the cultivation of hemp under certain conditions.

All information reported by individuals will be kept confidential, as required by federal law. NASS will publish the survey results Feb. 17, 2022 on the NASS website and in the NASS Quick Stats searchable database. For more information about the 2021 Hemp Acreage and Production Survey, visit the hemp survey web page. For assistance with the survey, producers are encouraged to call the NASS Iowa field office at (515) 776-3400.



Ag Groups Formally Object to EPA Chlorpyrifos Rule, Citing Harm to Growers and Lack of Scientific Basis

This week, more than 80 agricultural groups filed formal objections to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Aug. 30 rule to revoke all tolerances of chlorpyrifos. Stakeholders, by law, can object to pesticide tolerance changes or cancellations, and the EPA Administrator must then respond.

In the coalition letter, objectors from across the agriculture sector cited numerous concerns with EPA’s revocation decision, including the processes EPA used and lack of scientific basis. EPA’s own scientific record on chlorpyrifos shows there are many safe, high-benefit uses of the chemistry that do not pose a dietary or environmental risk. Regardless, the agency is opting to revoke tolerances for these safe, low-risk uses.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall called the EPA action shortsighted, saying, “Taking care of the land and our natural resources is a top priority for farmers, and this revocation rule actually makes it harder for us to do that. EPA veered from its own scientific evidence in a decision that could be damaging to the land, to farmers and to our efforts to fight food insecurity.”

Additionally, EPA’s rule revokes tolerances on crop uses where many growers have few or no pest management alternatives, leaving them exposed to hundreds of millions of dollars in irreparable crop damage. The revocation rule would also require food holders to provide retroactively-required application documents, which could result in the destruction of millions of dollars of safe food over a paperwork issue.

“It is upsetting that EPA has revoked such an important chemistry without input from USDA or other stakeholders. Chlorpyrifos is critical to the Michigan and Wisconsin cherry industries, as there are no other products that effectively control trunk borers. With more than 4 million cherry trees, Michigan grows 75% of the total U.S. production of tart cherries and roughly 20% of the total U.S. production of sweet cherries. Without this product, our growers risk losing a lot of trees, potentially jeopardizing their family farms,” said Mike VanAgtmael, a west Michigan cherry grower and chairman of the Cherry Marketing Institute.

Kevin Scott, soy grower from Valley Springs, South Dakota, and American Soybean Association president said, “Chlorpyrifos is a vital tool in the soybean grower’s toolbox, one which EPA has itself said poses no food or environmental risk of concern. Without it, many farmers may have to increase the amount of alternative pesticides they apply, as there are no one-to-one replacements for several pests chlorpyrifos helps control. EPA’s action—counterproductive to the agency’s intended mission—is undermining the ability of growers to be good environmental stewards.”

Dan Younggren, a fifth-generation farmer from Hallock, Minnesota and president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association also expressed that concern and said, “The use of chlorpyrifos is essential in our ability to control the sugar beet root maggot (SBRM), thereby maximizing yields and ensuring stability of the U.S. food supply. Alternative chemistries, which are not as effective, will require more frequent applications and will increase GHG emissions. And, having one less chemistry in our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy could increase the likelihood of insecticide resistance. Without chlorpyrifos, we could experience significant yield losses of up to 45%, which would be economically devastating to our growers.”

EPA also has failed to conduct required interagency reviews pertaining to its decision on the rule, which are required in this case because the rule could realistically lead to well over $100 million in additional costs to the food and agriculture economy; EPA is required to conduct interagency reviews if harm could be found to total more than this threshold.

The groups ask EPA to postpone implementation of the rule until these objections can be formally considered and addressed by the agency.



Slaughter, Inventories, and Placements
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Ag and Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Talk about cattle markets these past few weeks has focused on the cow and fed heifer slaughter. Beef cow slaughter has been strong since this time last year and has been impact by the western and North Plains drought through this year. Fed heifer slaughter has also been elevated for the past two years. Clearly, the implication is herd liquidation and the discussion is then of the extent of the smaller size of the beef cow herd in the January report. The story for some time is that tighter numbers and better markets are coming. But when? Sometime in the remainder of 2021 or how far into 2022?

A number of other reports and information pieces are useful in this context. The combined fed steer and heifer slaughter are revealing. The total packing capacity for the domestic industry is reasonably in the neighborhood of 525 thousand head per week. Weekly totals through 2018, 2019, and 2020 were routinely above this amount implying a strong Saturday slaughter. However, while Saturday kills have remained strong through 2021, weekly totals were less likely to be above 525 thousand and below the prior three-year levels. This is evidence that some plants with the total mix are operating a above full capacity and others have struggled through the recent year. Examining placements from the Cattle on Feed report, with the actual and potential fed animal slaughter, suggests the large volume of animals on-feed more 150 days will not be depleted until well into December. Further, placements as revealed by the COF report this Friday will reveal if this problem persists well into next week. Given the anticipated high drought-driven placements through the month of September then the answer is likely, “yes.” Long time cattle market watchers know that the cattle feeding industry does not market its way out of problems but rather places its way out. Here the marketing opportunities are certainly befouled by the pandemic and its impact on plant capacities. Numerous industries are struggling with labor and packing is but one. The point is not to find blame but rather focus the search on the source of relief. Friday will be informative. It could be well into 2022.



USDA Launches New Effort to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Linked to Poultry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced that it is mobilizing a stronger, and more comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. The agency is initiating several key activities to gather the data and information necessary to support future action and move closer to the national target of a 25% reduction in Salmonella illnesses.

“Far too many consumers become ill every year from poultry contaminated by Salmonella,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We need to be constantly evolving in our efforts to prevent foodborne illness to stay one step ahead of the bad bugs. Today we’re taking action to help prevent Salmonella contamination throughout the poultry supply chain and production system to protect public health.”

Despite consistent reductions in the occurrence of Salmonella in poultry products, more than 1 million consumer illnesses due to Salmonella occur annually, and it is estimated (PDF, 1.4 MB) that over 23% of those illnesses are due to consumption of chicken and turkey.

“Reducing Salmonella infections attributable to poultry is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary Sandra Eskin, who is leading the initiative. “Time has shown that our current policies are not moving us closer to our public health goal. It’s time to rethink our approach.”

USDA intends to seek stakeholder feedback on specific Salmonella control and measurement strategies, including pilot projects, in poultry slaughter and processing establishments. A key component of this approach is encouraging preharvest controls to reduce Salmonella contamination coming into the slaughterhouse. The data generated from these pilots will be used to determine if a different approach could result in a reduction of Salmonella illness in consumers.

The effort will leverage USDA’s strong research capabilities and strengthen FSIS’ partnership with the Research, Education and Economics (REE) mission area to address data gaps and develop new laboratory methods to guide future Salmonella policy. Meanwhile, the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria in Foods, an independent federal advisory committee, will be asked to advise on how FSIS can build on the latest science to improve its approach to Salmonella control. Since it is not just the presence or absence of Salmonella, but the quantity of bacteria that can impact the likelihood of illness, FSIS will examine how quantification can be incorporated into this approach. Moreover, with emerging science suggesting that not all Salmonella are equally likely to cause human illness, FSIS will focus on the Salmonella serotypes and the virulence factors that pose the greatest public health risk.

Moving forward, this initiative will require collaboration and ongoing dialogue with stakeholders — industry, consumer groups, and researchers alike. USDA looks forward to working closely with stakeholders on informing and implementing key activities of this framework in the very near future.



North American Meat Institute: Meat and Poultry Industry to Assist USDA in Reducing Salmonella Infections

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new national goal of reducing Salmonella illnesses by 25 percent and committed to continue working with USDA and other groups to achieve the shared goal of reducing Salmonella infections.

“As an industry, our goal is to produce safe products without exception,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. “The industry has significantly improved efforts to reduce incidence of Salmonella, and we will continue to work with USDA to do all we can to detect and deter incidents of Salmonellosis, especially by coordinating with partners in the supply chain on best practices and research.”

USDA today announced a national goal of reducing Salmonella illnesses by 25 percent.

Earlier this year, the Meat Institute launched the Protein PACT for the People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow, an industry-wide effort to accelerate achievement of global development goals. Food safety is one of the Protein PACT’s five key focus areas, along with health and wellness. Through the Protein PACT, NAMI will report on progress across 100 metrics toward ambitious goals for health people, healthy animals, and a healthy environment.



USDA Appoints New Members to Food Safety Advisory Committee

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the appointment of 13 new members and 17 returning members to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).

Members of the committee are chosen based on their expertise in microbiology, risk assessment, epidemiology, public health, food science, and other relevant disciplines. One individual affiliated with a consumer group is included in the membership of the committee to serve in a representational capacity.

“As we invest in strengthening our food systems by supporting improved production and processing, NACMCF members offer expert advice on scientific and technical food safety issues,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These individuals will play a significant role in helping to ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply.”

The activities of NACMCF are carried out, in part, by subcommittees that are focused on specific areas being considered by the full committee. NACMCF has made important contributions to a broad range of critical food safety issues. The committee reports provide current information and scientific advice to federal food safety agencies and serve as a foundation for regulations and programs aimed at reducing foodborne disease and enhancing public health. Federal food safety agencies involved with NACMCF are FSIS, FDA, CDC, Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service, and Department of Defense Veterinary Services.

The newly appointed NACMCF members to serve a two-year term are:
    Dr. Teshome Yehualaeshet, Tuskegee University
    Dr. Yaohua (Betty) Feng, Purdue University
    Dr. Bing Wang, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Dr. Randy W. Worobo, Cornell University
    Dr. Mahipal Kunduru, Topco Associates LLC
    Dr. Elisabetta Lambertini, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
    Ms. Joelle Mosso, Eurofins
    Dr. Max Teplitski, Produce Marketing Association
    Dr. Joseph (Stan) Bailey, bioMérieux
    Dr. Tanya Roberts, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention
    Ms. Janell Kause, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service
    Dr. Andreas Keller, HHS, Food and Drug Administration
    Lt. Col. Audrey McMillan-Cole, DVM, DoD, Defense Logistics Agency

NACMCF will hold a public meeting of the full Committee and Subcommittees from November 17, 2021 to November 19, 2021. The Committee will discuss the following two new charges: Enhancing Salmonella Control in Poultry Products and Cyclospora cayetanensis Contamination. For more details about NACMCF charges or to register to attend this meeting, go to FSIS’ website at www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/federal-register-rulemaking/federal-register-notices.



China Posts Highest Pork Output in Three Years as Herd Recovers

China's third-quarter pork production surged to its highest in three years, official data showed on Monday, after producers built thousands of large breeding farms last year to rebuild a hog herd decimated by African swine fever.

Pork output for July-September was 12.02 million metric tons, up 43% compared with a year earlier, according to Reuters' calculations based on official data, and the highest since the third quarter of 2018, before China began feeling the fallout of the swine fever epidemic.

China's pork output jumped 38% in the first three quarters of 2021 versus a year earlier to 39.17 million metric tons, the statistics bureau said.

The third quarter was, however, lower than the 13.46 million metric tons in the second quarter, defying expectations by some analysts.

"I thought it would be larger than the Q2 because there were a lot of liquidations in Q3," said Pan Chenjun, senior analyst at Rabobank.

The surge in pork production was led by the largest producers who invested billions of yuan in new farms during 2020 in a bid to grab market share in the aftermath of the swine fever epidemic, Reuters reports.

But prices have plunged 65% so far this year, prompting some farmers to sell their herds and exit, while others took the opportunity to get rid of less productive sows.

China's sow herd contracted by 0.5% in July compared with June, and by another 0.9% in August versus the month prior, according to data previously published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.



The Value of Corn in the Pet Food Industry

There are many benefits to including corn in your pet’s diet, but have you ever wondered about the benefits that your cat or dog brings to the corn industry? A comprehensive study unpacked the $30 billion U.S. retail pet food industry, thanks to the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), the Pet Food Institute and the North American Renderers Association.

The study found that corn and corn gluten meal are the top two most used plant-based ingredients in pet food products. Corn is the dominant plant-based carbohydrate at 1,283,674 tons, and corn gluten meal is the dominant plant-based protein ingredient at 476,649 tons used on an annual basis. Thanks to Fido and Fluffy, the corn industry moved 1,958,061 tons of product, valued at a total of $438 million.

“Farmers and farm-product processors sell $6.9 billion worth of products to pet food manufacturers every year that are used as ingredients. Sales made by farmers and processors of farm products to pet food manufacturers stimulates further upstream economic activity, leading to the purchase of $5.3 billion of materials and services from farm suppliers providing necessary inputs such as seed, fertilizer, fuel, labor, machinery and repairs to produce high-quality products that are used as pet food ingredients,” cites the report.

Founded in 2009 by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), IFEEDER supports critical education and research initiatives that assure consumers a safe, healthy and sustainable food supply. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) partners with IFEEDER and the AFIA on research projects as well as feed and food industry efforts, such as the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ petition on Corn Gluten Meal and the current partnership on the U.S. Roundtable on Sustainable Beef Feed Task Force.

“This first-of-its-kind research shows that there are nearly 550 diverse ingredients used in U.S. pets’ diets to provide complete and balanced nutrition at price points that fit shoppers’ budgets,” said Robert Cooper, IFEEDER’s executive director. “Collaborations on research like the pet food study allow us to leverage our resources and share information that helps allied organizations, like the National Corn Growers Association, amplify its outreach with decision-makers and consumer influencers, so they are more informed about how important commodities, such as corn, are in producing safe and nutritious food for both humans and their four-legged companions.”



USDA and EPA Announce Winners of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge, the second of a two-part, joint USDA-EPA Partnership and Competition on Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs) to Advance Agricultural Sustainability in the United States. The goal of the competition is to improve the efficiency of fertilizers to increase crop yields while reducing the impacts of fertilizers on the environment.

Winners of the challenge submitted concepts for novel technologies that can reduce the environmental effects of nitrogen and phosphorus from modern agriculture while maintaining or increasing crop yields. The winning solutions use nanoparticles that require less fertilizer and release nutrients on demand to growing plants, and then biodegrade into harmless substances or even nutrients; support greater plant growth from the same or less fertilizer application; and other approaches.

“Farmers, ranchers, and foresters are well-positioned to be leaders in tackling climate change through technological innovation,” said Acting USDA Chief Scientist Hubert Hamer. “Through programs like the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge, USDA is partnering with the private sector to find new climate-smart solutions that are good for farmers and good for the environment.”

“The goal of the challenge is to develop and use innovative and affordable technologies to reduce environmental impacts of modern agriculture on our air, land, and water, while maintaining agricultural productivity and profitability,” said Wayne Cascio, acting principal deputy assistant administrator for science for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “We are excited about the possibilities and continued new work in this area.”

The winning concepts include a range of solutions that can improve environmental outcomes, including reduced nitrous oxide emissions—the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture— while maintaining or increasing crop yields.

Winners include:

Tier 1 solutions ($17,500 prize):
    Dr. Christopher Hendrickson, Aqua-Yield Operations LLC, Draper, Utah, for a nano-smart fertilizer.
    Taylor Pursell, Pursell Agri-Tech, Sylacauga, Ala., for “Urea 2.0,” which replaces the conventional urea core with a customizable mixture of materials to provide fertilizers tailored to local needs.

Tier 2 solutions ($10,000 prize):
    Dr. Kuide Qin, Verdesian Life Sciences, Cary, N.C., for using innovative mixture technologies to improve performance of industry-standard nitrapyrin for longer effectiveness, less nitrate leaching, and prevention of farm equipment corrosion.
    Dr. Catherine Roue, Fertinagro Biotech International, Portage, Mich., for “Phosphate Liberation Booster” technology, which uses secretions from phosphate-starved plants to boost plant uptake so less fertilizer may be added and legacy phosphorus can be accessed.
    Chandrika Varadachari, Agtec Innovations Inc., Los Altos, Calif., for “Smart-N,” which is a smart-fertilizer that releases nutrients on-demand by the crop and which creates a chemical “cage” for urea that dissolves into plant nutrients.

Tier 3 solutions (Honorable mention):
    Dr. Jaroslav Nisler, the Institute of Experimental Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, for using derivatives of the plant growth hormone MTU, which helps create longer growth periods, protection from stress, larger plants, and potentially less nutrient loss per unit of fertilizer applied.
    Dr. Leanne Gilbertson, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Pittsburgh, Penn., for creating a “protected fertilizer package,” which can carry nutrients through soil pores to the area around the plant roots.
    Dr. Robert Neidermyer, Holganix LLC, Aston, Penn., for “Bio 800+,” a microbial inoculant that harnesses the power of over 800 species of soil microbes, kelp, and other soil amending ingredients to promote greater crop production and plant health.
    Paul Mullins, Brandon Products Ltd., Ireland, for “BBS-1,” a biostimulant derived from seaweed extract that is applied as a fertilizer coating to improve nitrogen-uptake in root cells.

USDA and EPA are coordinating the EEF challenges with The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

The competition launched on August 26, 2020. Part two of the first challenge, “EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge,” is ongoing. More information can be found at: www.epa.gov/innovation/next-gen-fertilizer-challenges.



Bayer fuels leading market positions in Crop Science through delivery of unmatched innovation

Bayer today announced continued progress in delivering customer-focused, sustainable agricultural innovation in an update with investors. The company’s success in translating research and development (R&D) leadership into differentiated and advanced products for farmers is driving operational performance, while shaping the future of agriculture. Progress is being powered by strong commercial execution in a positive market environment, particularly in fungicides and herbicides.

“As the leader in agricultural input sales, profitability and R&D investment, we have delivered on commercial milestones that will advance our leadership, further increasing confidence in our ability to achieve our goals,” said Liam Condon, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division. “Our leading commercial portfolio, digital platform and unmatched innovation are driving significant value for our grower customers. We are confident that the convergence of our technology platforms to drive more customer-centric solutions will deliver above market sales growth and leading profitability as we look out to 2024.”

Innovation leadership fueling strong market position
Bayer is further strengthening its market position through recently commercialized innovations. For example, in the key North American market, Bayer has defended its position as the number one soybean weed control system provider with its Roundup Ready Xtend® Crop System.

Bayer is successfully upgrading its Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® footprint with XtendFlex® soybeans, which have already reached approximately 15 million acres this year. This latest offering adds glufosinate tolerance to provide additional weed-control flexibility. Farmers chose to plant these two trait offerings on more than 55% of the U.S. soybean acres this year. Bayer expects to continue to upgrade soybean acres to XtendFlex® in the U.S. in the years ahead, thanks to the proven yield benefits and exceptional weed control. In Brazil, the launch of its new Intacta 2 Xtend® soy on approximately 600,000 acres is currently underway, as the company upgrades its leading soybean trait platform in South America. Built on the performance of first-generation Intacta, Intacta 2 Xtend® adds two proteins for insect control, which is important for insect resistance management, as well as tolerance to dicamba. The demonstrated performance advantage of the technology is significant for farmers, delivering approximately three bushels per acre more compared to similar varieties that are in the market.

Bayer is supplementing this continued sales momentum in Brazil with fungicides by upgrading its Fox Franchise with Fox® Xpro Fungicide. To date, Fox® Xpro has been a key driver of its global sales in fungicides, which rose 22% on a currency- and portfolio-adjusted basis in the first half of the fiscal year. With 25% market share in soybean fungicides in Brazil, Bayer plans to upgrade this product in 2022 with the launch of Fox Supra, further expanding its leading position in this highly important market, with a peak sales potential of more than €500 million.

In corn, the company is introducing its corn rootworm 3 (CRW3) technology as part of SmartStax® PRO, and the sales rollout for the 2022 launch in the U.S. is underway. This year’s field trials brought to light the upgraded product’s better stands and stronger roots. In fact, hybrids with the SmartStax® PRO technology demonstrated a 97%-win rate in the field.

“This is a particularly timely introduction and we expect it to be well-received by growers following increased rootworm pressure this summer in the U.S.,” added Condon. “Not only did SmartStax and SmartStax® PRO perform well, but we were particularly pleased with how these products performed compared to competitive alternatives.”

The company anticipates transitioning its 15-million-acre trait SmartStax footprint in the U.S. over the next few years to this new CRW3 technology. Innovations like this protect corn yield, which is made possible by top-performing germplasm. This helps sustain the company’s leading market positions in the top corn markets around the world.

Leading the digital transformation of agriculture and setting new standards in sustainability
Bayer is also expanding its industry-leading Climate FieldView™ digital agriculture platform – now being used on more than 180 million subscribed acres across 23 countries. The company is also seeing increased sales of its own products among FieldView™ users.

The connectivity from these acres, including logging information from planters, sprayers and combines, is helping farmers make data-driven decisions and optimize yield while lowering the environmental footprint of their farming operations.

FieldView™ is also expected to enable a simple, robust, scalable process to measure, verify and report on practices that sequester carbon. In the first year of its Carbon Initiative, Bayer enrolled more than 2,500 FieldView™ users in carbon farming trials in the U.S. and Brazil alone.

“With carbon markets worth more than $200 billion annually, we are leading the way in helping make carbon farming a reality through our global Carbon Initiative,” added Condon. “By incentivizing farmers to adopt climate smart practices, as well as future products that yield more and sequester more carbon, we are creating new value opportunities for the farmer and our company.”