Wednesday October 20 Ag News

Hoegemeyer celebrates 85 years in the Western Corn Belt
Nebraska-based seed company brings advanced genetics and cutting-edge agronomy to growers

Hoegemeyer, the leader of seed solutions and farmer success, is celebrating 85 years of combining local expertise with personalized service to give growers the right products that thrive in the Western Corn Belt.

“The Hoegemeyer way of doing business is built on trust and reliability,” says Jeremy Thompson, general manager for Hoegemeyer. “It has stood the test of time and will continuing to thrive into the future. We’re committed to evolving as a company to build upon on 85-year legacy of providing solutions to the challenges our growers face here in the Western Corn Belt.”

Hoegemeyer’s product portfolio includes corn, soybeans, alfalfa, sorghum and seed treatments proven to perform in the Western Corn Belt. The company’s team of dedicated agronomist brings  the latest research, local yield data plot data and growing tips directly to growers.

Hoegemeyer history
Founded in 1937, the Hoegemeyer family started producing hybrid seeds in Hooper, Neb. Farmer H. Chris Hoegemeyer and his son, Leonard, developed a rugged, stress-tolerant corn hybrid after studying agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kansas State University and the University of Missouri. Leonard’s son, Tom, followed in his father’s footsteps in 1974, building Hoegemeyer into a well-respected seed company in the region. In 2018, Hoegemeyer joined Corteva Agriscience as part of their multi-channel, multi-brand seed strategy for the U.S.

Part of Hoegemeyer’s success the past 85 years is due in large part to its people and their dedication to helping the region’s growers.

“Our most valuable asset remains our people and their continued commitment to serve and support our customers,” says Thompson.

For the past 40 years, Steve Casper has been a Hoegemeyer farmer dealer. Casper plants Hoegemeyer on his farm in Nebraska and also advises his friends and neighbors on the best hybrids for their fields.

“Selling Hoegemeyer is very rewarding,” said Casper. “It’s extremely satisfying to know I’m ensuring long-term success for my customers by selling the best product for our area. At the end of the day, their high yields are my reward too.”

Grower satisfaction
Rob Hinrichs is a fourth-generation farmer in Hildreth, Neb. He grows corn, soybean and wheat on 4,800 acres and has bought Hoegemeyer from Casper since he began farming. Rob’s father planted Hoegemeyer and his grandfather before him.

“Having longevity in a company is important and the products perform well for our farm, but the service we get from Steve sets Hoegemeyer apart,” said Henrich’s. “Steve’s farm is right down the road from ours, so he knows what works in our area. If weather hits, Steve and his wife Jody are the first ones to call and check in on us to see how we are. As much as I like the performance I get with Hoegemeyer, I’ve always appreciated that caring neighbor even more than the hybrids themselves.”

Fueled by one of the world’s largest, U.S.-based research and development engines, Hoegemeyer has access to genetics, germplasm and innovative trait technology, while still maintaining their local roots and agronomic expertise.

Visit TheRightSeed.com today to learn about Hoegemeyer’s history and discover more about the right seed that thrives in the Western Corn Belt.



PLANNING FOR FORAGE
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator
 
No matter what forage you use, establishing and managing a forage system takes time and planning to ensure a return.  With shortages and high costs for fertilizer and seed on the horizon, planning out your next steps for a forage crop has never been more important.
 
Drought conditions across the western U.S. have taken their toll on seed production for a number of forage crop species.  From rye to bromegrass, getting your hands on seed you need may be more difficult and costly.  Not only will planning ahead and securing your seed early save some headaches down the road, but will provide a more accurate budget to work from.  For some projects this year, scaling down the size or waiting on a reseeding may be a prudent option.
 
Many forage crops benefit from some additional fertility to boost yield and quality.  With fertilizer prices on the rise and availability in question, we need to look at this portion of our forage systems earlier than ever before.  Are other fertilizer options like livestock manure available?  Can a lower rate still provide worthwhile yield improvements? Should a different forage crop be considered? In annual systems, how will the forage crop used affect fertilizer needs for subsequent row or forage crops?  These questions need to be considered and taken into account ahead of next year’s growing season.
 
Finally, we need to consider the value of a forage crop in our system.  We saw firsthand this year how dry conditions can raise the price of hay and limit availability, even when the hardest hit areas are a state or two away.  Despite supply chain issues raising inputs like fertilizer and seed, the silage, hay or grazing produced at the end of the day may very well be worth the increased cost of production.  Who knows what Mother Nature has planned for 2022?
 
No matter what your operation, planning for forage production next year has never been more critical.  With shortages and high costs in seed and fertilizer, figuring out how to manage and fit a forage crop into the rest of an operation may take some extra effort.  Start planning now to ensure you have the time to work it all out.



Midwest Dairy Seeks Applicants for Enhanced Nebraska Ambassador Program

The Dairy Ambassador Programs are educational and leadership opportunities for those who are passionate about dairy. Dairy Ambassadors will have the opportunity to connect with consumers and share dairy’s story while networking with their peers and industry professionals.  The Dairy Ambassador Program for college students (enrolled full-time in a Nebraska post-secondary school) remains a strong part of the program. Additionally, Nebraska is excited to announce the addition of the Junior Dairy Ambassadors as a new opportunity for high school junior (11th grade) and senior (12th grade) students.

Dairy Ambassadors will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including interacting with consumers at regional events, state fair, youth educational presentations and attend dairy industry meetings. Junior Dairy Ambassadors will also connect with consumers and peers to share dairy's story with their focus will be more on their local communities. The program is designed to shape future dairy champions who will promote the dairy community and support Midwest Dairy’s mission to give consumers an excellent dairy experience.

“Education is a cornerstone of our industry and is an important piece of mission to enrich the education of our future leaders and ultimately, our entire dairy industry,” says Tracy J. Behnken, Farmer Relations and Communications Manager. “Our Dairy Ambassador program has been very effective in encouraging growth, innovation and excellence in our industry and we’re looking forward to reviewing the applications of the many bright, young college, and now high school, students across our state.”

To be considered for the Dairy Ambassador Program, applicants must be enrolled in a Nebraska post-secondary school yet do not have to be majoring in agriculture or raised on a dairy farm. Applicants for the Junior Ambassador Program must be enrolled in a Nebraska High School as a Junior (11th grade) or Senior (12th grade). All applicants must be able to communicate effectively through writing and speaking and possess a passion for dairy. Ambassadors of both programs are expected to serve an 11-month term, starting January 10, 2022 and ending November 30, 2022. During their service, ambassadors will receive per diems and have approved expenses covered upon participation. After successful completion of the one-year program, Dairy Ambassadors are eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship while the Junior Dairy Ambassadors are eligible to apply for a $500 scholarship.

Students can apply at www.MidwestDairy.com, in the For Young Dairy Leaders tab/section, under Ambassador Programs then select Nebraska. More details can be found on the webpage plus the online application will be at the bottom of each program page. Be sure to select state as Nebraska for the Dairy Ambassadors and Nebraska-JUNIOR for the Junior Dairy Ambassador applications. Online applications are due DECEMBER 1, 2021. Selected ambassadors will be notified by JANUARY 10, 2022.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy J. Behnken at tbehnken@midwestdairy.com or 531-207-4291.



NEBRASKA MILK PRODUCTION
 
Milk production in Nebraska during the July-September 2021 quarter totaled 352 million pounds, down 2% from the July-September quarter last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of milk cows was 58,000 head, 1,000 head less than the same period last year.

U.S. July-September Milk Production up 0.9 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the July - September quarter totaled 55.9 billion pounds, up 0.9 percent from the July - September quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.45 million head, 48,000 head less than the April - June quarter, but 74,000 head more than the same period last year.

IOWA: Milk production in Iowa during September 2021 totaled 450 million pounds, up 3 percent from the previous September according to the latest USDA,  National Agricultural Statistics Service  - Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during September, at 225,000 head, was unchanged from last month but up 6,000 from September 2020.  Monthly production per cow averaged 2,000 pounds, down 5 pounds from last September.

September U.S. Milk Production up 0.4 Percent
Milk production in the 24 major States during September totaled 17.3 billion pounds, up 0.4 percent from September 2020. August revised production, at 17.9 billion pounds, was up 0.7 percent from August 2020. The August revision represented a decrease of 75 million pounds or 0.4 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,937 pounds for September, 4 pounds below September 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.93 million head, 48,000 head more than September 2020, but 22,000 head less than August 2021.



Iowa Farm Bureau Health Plan announces no rate increase for 2022

As Iowans begin to consider health care options, the Iowa Farm Bureau Health Plan (FBHP) has announced its rates will remain flat for 2022. This will be the second straight year rates have not risen and, in fact, declined over time.

Steve Kammeyer, vice president of FBHP, says the health plan is a great fit for those who may not qualify for ACA subsidies or don’t have access to affordable group coverage.

“This plan continues to work well for thousands of Iowans. It’s providing quality care and saving Iowans as much as 50% on their health coverage costs,” said Kammeyer. “Coming on the heels of last year’s rate reductions, this is tremendous news for our members, and we are pleased to be able to help pass along the good experience of the plan to our members by leaving rates steady for 2022.”

The Iowa Farm Bureau launched its health benefit plan in 2018, at a time when nearly 30,000 Iowans were uninsured due to unaffordable healthcare costs, and families saw premiums and deductibles grow by up to 300%.

The plan, administered by Wellmark Administrators, Inc., offers comprehensive benefits and a broad provider network. Iowans taking advantage of the plan have ranged from self-employed Iowans and young couples growing their families to older Iowans needing coverage before they reach Medicare eligibility.

The Farm Bureau Health Plan allowed Drew and Shannon Dietz of Nashua to start planning a family while both working on their Chickasaw County farm. “My passion has really been working here on the farm, and this coverage helped us do that,” Shannon said. Until they enrolled in FBHP, Shannon worked a job off the farm, in large part, to maintain health coverage for their family. The young couple, who recently had their first child, is very happy with the Farm Bureau plan. “It’s really working out well for us,” Shannon said.

Unlike many other health plans in the market with a short enrollment window, FBHP offers year-round enrollment. The three different plan options all provide comprehensive coverage, including maternity, mental health and chemical dependency, prescription drugs and no-cost preventive benefits to members. The plans all have a lifetime maximum benefit of $3 million per individual.

For more information, contact a Farm Bureau agent or authorized independent agent, or go to www.IowaFBhealthplan.com. To be eligible, applicants must be an Iowa Farm Bureau member living in the state and not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid.



NCBA Welcomes Cattle Contract Library Bill Amid Ongoing Push for Transparency

Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the introduction of the Cattle Contract Library Act, led by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX).

The bipartisan bill would establish a cattle contract library within USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS), equipping cattle producers with the market data they need to make informed business decisions and exert greater leverage in negotiations with major meatpackers.

The cattle contract library is widely supported by industry groups and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and the introduction of this legislation comes after more than a year of NCBA pushing for the creation of the library.

"After more than a year of upheaval, facing everything from extreme drought to supply chain disruptions, many cattle producers have been backed against a wall. We need to act urgently to provide them with relief," said NCBA President Jerry Bohn. "There is no single, silver bullet solution to the wide variety of needs among our diverse membership, but lawmakers can start by focusing on viable solutions that have broad-base support across the industry. The cattle contract library is one such solution, and it will help our producers command more leverage in negotiations with the packers. We appreciate the work of Congressman Johnson and Congressman Cuellar to move the ball forward on this urgent issue."

Earlier this month, NCBA Vice President and South Dakota rancher Todd Wilkinson testified before the House Agriculture Committee and underscored the need for greater transparency in cattle markets. One of the solutions he advocated for was the creation of the cattle contract library, as well as full reauthorization of Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR).

Background
NCBA has long advocated for increased transparency in the cattle and beef supply chain.

In August 2021, NCBA succeeded in pushing USDA to make more market data publicly available. The agency began publishing a new daily report on the foundational prices used in cattle market formulas, grids, and contracts, and a new weekly report on the volume of cattle purchased at each different level of pricing.

In June 2021, NCBA led a letter with the support of more than 36 state affiliate groups urging Congress to act on the reauthorization of LMR. LMR is the legislative mandate that requires large meat processors to regularly report information on their transactions, such as the price they pay for livestock and the volume of purchases.

In May 2021, NCBA met with American Farm Bureau Federation, Livestock Marketing Association, National Farmers Union, R-CALF and U.S. Cattlemen's Association to discuss urgent concerns and the need for a cattle contract library was one of three priorities agreed upon by these disparate groups.

The introduction of the Cattle Contract Library Act follows months of NCBA engagement to ensure Members of Congress understand the most urgent needs facing cattle producers, the complex cattle market conditions influencing these outcomes, and the risks of adopting one-size-fits-all policy solutions that may hurt producers' bottom line.



Ranch Group Withholds Endorsement of Contract Library Bill

R-CALF USA, the largest cattle producer-only trade association representing the U.S. cattle industry, is reportedly the only national cattle group that has not yet endorsed the ‘‘Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021” (H.R.5609) introduced yesterday in Congress by Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), and 16 other House members.

The contract library bill requires beef packers to provide details of the types of forward contracts they use for purchasing fed cattle (cattle produced specifically for beef production) that are not purchased in the negotiated cash market, which is the price discovery market for the cattle industry.  The bill also requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to publicly report the total number of cattle that beef packers have committed to them six months and 12 months into the future.

The bill is a response for calls by cattle producers to increase transparency in a market that for several years has produced low prices for cattle producers and high prices for beef consumers. The bill is on a fast-track and is scheduled for mark-up in the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture tomorrow.

R-CALF USA’s board of directors reviewed the bill and determined it does not address the competition-disrupting leverage the highly concentrated beef packers now hold over the cattle market and that new methods of cattle procurement in use today by the largest beef packers may fall outside the scope of the bill.

“The problem with our broken market is not that we don’t know the details of the contracts that confer market leverage to the packers, the problem is there are too many contracts and because of that, our price discovery market is being destroyed,” said Iowa cattle feeder and R-CALF USA Director Eric Nelson.

Nelson said the 50/14 bill, S.949, introduced by Senators Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tester (D-Mont.) addresses this serious problem by increasing the volume in the price discovery market and decreasing the volume of contracted cattle.

“I want to continue selling cattle in the price discovery market, but only if Congress preserves it will I have that chance. Putting a contract library ahead of taking action to preserve our price discovery market sends a signal that more contracts are good and more producers should try to access them. This is not what is needed,” Nelson said.  

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said his group is also concerned with the new cattle procurement methods now in use that do not specifically fit within the categories established in the contract library bill.  He cited the recently disclosed Cattle Feeding Agreement between Tyson Fresh Meats and Easterday Ranches, Inc. (Easterday), which is one of the nation’s largest cattle feeding companies.

“We’ve always considered Easterday as among the nation’s largest contract cattle feeders, but the Cattle Feeding Agreement between Tyson and Easterday appears to be a hybrid agreement that blurs the line between contracted cattle and packer-owned cattle, and the contract library bill does not expressly include any packer-owned cattle.   

“We have to presume there are more of these hybrid-type agreements out there between the largest packers and largest feedlots and if they aren’t expressly captured in reports generated under a contract library bill, then the information available to the industry will remain incomplete and skewed,” he said.

Bullard said his group is focusing its resources toward restoring competition in the broken cattle market by urging swift passage of the 50/14 bill, S.949, and the recently introduced mandatory country-of-origin labeling bill for beef, S.2716.

“We’ll continue our assessment of the contract library bill, but we first have to restore genuine competition to the cattle market that is not returning the cost of production to our cattle-producing member,” Bullard concluded.



Urea Price Climbs 26% Since Mid-September, a $147-Per-Ton Jump

The average retail price of three fertilizers increased by more than $100 per ton in the past month, according to prices tracked by DTN for the second week of October. Seven of the eight major fertilizers tracked by DTN took staggering jumps higher in that timeframe, and four now cost twice as much as last year.

Leading the pack this week is urea, which saw its price increase 26%. For reference, DTN considers any price change of 5% or more to be significant. With an average price of $719/ton, urea is $147 per ton more expensive than it was in mid-September. The last time urea cost more than $700 per ton was from April to June 2012.

The average retail price of potash was $710/ton, up 19% or $112 from last month. The last time it was this expensive was the first week of August 2009, according to DTN data.

At 16% higher, the average price of UAN 28 is $442/ton. That's a $61/ton increase from last month. The only time it's been more expensive was the first week of November 2008, which was the first week DTN began reporting on prices.

Anhydrous now costs an average of $873/ton, up $111 or 15% from last month. The last time the nitrogen fertilizer's price tag was this high was the third week of December 2012.

DAP and UAN32 prices increased by 14% this week. At $798/ton, DAP is the most expensive it's been since the first week of December 2008. UAN32 cost $488/ton on average, the highest since late May 2012.

Up 11%, MAP cost an average of $860/ton. That's $84 more expensive than mid-September, and the last time the phosphate fertilizer was this expensive was also the first week of December 2008.

The tortoise in this race is 10-34-0. It saw a 4% price increase to $654/ton. Its price was close to this level in spring 2015, but the last time it was higher was early August 2012.

A farmer trying to buy potash today would pay 113% more than last year. UAN28 costs 112% more. Anhydrous and urea prices are roughly double what they were last year at 106% and 100%, respectively. UAN32 is 96% more expensive. MAP is 81% higher; DAP, 80%. 10-34-0 is 43% more expensive.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 10/15/2021

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending October 15, ethanol production expanded by 64,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 6.2%, to 1.096 million b/d, equivalent to 46.03 million gallons daily. This is the third-highest volume on record and just 12,000 b/d below the all-time record. Production was 20.0% above the same week last year, which was affected by the pandemic, and 10.0% above the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production volume increased 4.5% to 1.005 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.41 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks rose 1.2% to 20.1 million barrels. Stocks were 1.8% above the year-ago level but 6.0% below the same week in 2019. Inventories increased across all regions except the West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, climbed 4.9% to 9.63 million b/d (147.69 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 16.2% above a year ago and 0.5% more than the same week in 2019.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol decreased 0.3% to 901,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.81 bg annualized. Net inputs were 7.5% above a year ago but 2.9% less than the same week in 2019.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the fourth consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of August 2021.)



Registration Opens for RFA’s 27th Annual National Ethanol Conference
    
Registration is now open for the Renewable Fuels Association’s 27th annual National Ethanol Conference, to be held in New Orleans Feb. 21-23, 2022. With the theme “Zeroing In on New Opportunities,” attendees will have the opportunity to look ahead to the bright future of the U.S. low-carbon ethanol industry, said RFA Board Chairperson Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy.
“As much as the U.S. ethanol industry has been challenged the past few years, it’s easy to be optimistic about our future—and the 2022 theme puts these coming opportunities in the spotlight,” McCaherty said. “RFA’s member companies are focused on decarbonization, innovation, and developing new markets for ethanol and other co-products. These opportunities and many others will be on full display in New Orleans. We have much to share and much to learn from each other, and the National Ethanol Conference remains the top opportunity for networking and moving our industry forward.”

The NEC is the nation’s most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry, regularly reaching about 1,000 industry leaders and professionals. From emerging technologies and new uses to opportunities in global carbon reduction policies—and featuring fresh market insights and international and domestic marketplace developments—there is much to learn and experience at the NEC, where comprehensive learning sessions are interspersed with numerous networking opportunities to help the industry stay connected and collaborative.

Early bird registration provides substantial discounts until Nov. 30. For more information and to register, visit www.NationalEthanolConference.com. Make sure to also follow NEC on Twitter, at @EthanolConf, for updates.



U.S. Farm & Biofuel Leaders Urge White House to Embrace Homegrown Solutions

America’s top biofuel and farm advocates called on President Biden to swiftly expand access to lower-carbon, lower-cost biofuels as the administration seeks to address the rising cost of fuel. In a letter to the White House, rural leaders noted that biofuels hold the power to “insulate consumers from volatile oil markets by extending the fuel supply, much like releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but with sustainable results.”

“Simply extracting more oil – or importing it from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – won’t deliver the results you are seeking for consumers or the climate,” warned the Advanced Biofuels Business Council, American Soybean Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Growth Energy, National Biodiesel Board, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, National Sorghum Producers, Renewable Fuels Association, and Fuels America.

To promote competitive prices while reducing emissions, biofuel and farm advocates also urged regulators to act swiftly on long-awaited biofuel blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“You can put American motorists first by aggressively pursuing your stated goal of ‘doubling down on the liquid fuels of the future which make agriculture a key part of the solution to climate change.’ On the cusp of COP-26, this is an opportunity to show that the United States is serious about embracing new, cleaner solutions to age-old challenges,” they added.

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to encourage your administration to look more closely at solutions offered by the U.S. biofuel industry to protect the economy from rising gas prices while reducing carbon emissions. Simply extracting more oil – or importing it from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – won’t deliver the results you are seeking for consumers or the climate.

U.S. oil prices hit a seven-year high of nearly $84 per barrel on October 18, driven by recovering global demand and tightening supplies. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), “Retail gasoline prices are mainly affected by crude oil prices and the level of gasoline supply relative to gasoline demand.” Biofuels insulate consumers from volatile oil markets by extending the fuel supply, much like releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but with sustainable results.

Biofuels are a renewable and homegrown solution that drives rural economies, significantly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and supports the middle class. For example, the biofuel industry has a higher share of union jobs than the U.S. private sector average and is more union dense than most other renewable energy sectors. In recent weeks, ethanol has sold for 25-30 cents per gallon less than gasoline at the wholesale level. And the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, as well as a wide range of independent and academic research, has confirmed that biofuels deliver a 44-126% greenhouse gas emissions reduction relative to petroleum.

The U.S. biofuel industry is already one of the largest renewable energy sectors in the world. But we are being held back by inconsistent and delayed administration of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Trump Administration failed to set blending targets for 2021, and as of today, we still do not have a proposal, much less a final rule, for either 2021 or 2022. In a fuel market that remains dominated by entrenched interests, inaction on the RFS keeps biofuels on the sidelines, undermining efforts to promote competitive prices at the fuel pump.

While every industry wants to be viewed as part of the climate solution, it is undeniable that our over-reliance on fossil fuels is at the heart of the problem. You can put American motorists first by aggressively pursuing your stated goal of “doubling down on the liquid fuels of the future which make agriculture a key part of the solution to climate change.” On the cusp of COP-26, this is an opportunity to show that the United States is serious about embracing new, cleaner solutions to age-old challenges.

We look forward to meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss our recommendations in detail.

Sincerely,
Advanced Biofuels Business Council
American Soybean Association
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Growth Energy
National Biodiesel Board
National Corn Growers Association
National Farmers Union
National Sorghum Producers
Renewable Fuels Association
Fuels America



Joint Statement from U.S. and Mexican Agriculture Secretaries

Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the following statement at the conclusion of their bilateral meeting in Ames, Iowa.

“We reaffirm the importance of our two nations’ exceptional agricultural trading relationship and its role in supporting rural prosperity, creating good jobs and providing nutritious, safe and affordable food to consumers in both countries. Thanks to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and our hard-working farmers and ranchers, our nations enjoy the world’s largest two-way trade in food and agricultural goods.

“The integrated nature of our two agricultural sectors serves as a driving force for this enduring trading partnership, linking farmers, ranchers and consumers on both sides of the border. Our discussions in Iowa highlighted the importance of continuing to work together to advance rural prosperity and to fulfill our shared responsibility to protect our agricultural systems and producers. This includes collaborative efforts to prevent the spread of African swine fever and other animal and plant diseases and pests.

“From excessive drought to more extreme fires, our farmers, ranchers and producers are on the front lines dealing with the increasingly urgent challenges of climate change. Agriculture faces the daunting task of producing more food to meet the nutritional needs of a growing world population while at the same time coping with climate change and ever-tightening natural resource constraints. We are confident that our agricultural sectors will be a key part of the solution, with a focus on a more inclusive rural development and continuing to provide good incomes to rural workers and plentiful supplies of high-quality agricultural products to consumers worldwide.

“We share a commitment to keeping our markets open and transparent so that trade can continue to grow. That mutual commitment was reaffirmed in our discussions today. We remain proud of our shared successes and equally steadfast in meeting common challenges together.”