CVA Hosts Annual Meeting
Central Valley Ag Cooperative (CVA) recently hosted its Annual Meeting at the Holthus Center in York, Neb., on November 22, 2021, to review the fiscal year for member-owners. CVA reported $29.7 million in total profit from $2.2 billion in total sales for their fiscal year 2021, ending on August 31, 2021.
“This year, we exceeded expectations on all fronts. We delivered more value, we provided more services, we reinvested, we produced a local profit,” said Carl Dickinson, CEO/President of Central Valley Ag. “And on top of that, we will deliver a record amount of cash back to the member-owners this year.”
CVA's Chief Financial Officer, Fran Swain, is proud of the value CVA brings to its patrons and credits the cooperative's strong balance sheet. "CVA continues to prove the value of the local co-op by delivering over $26 million back to member-owners in 2021. Plus, an additional $8 million in section 199 DPAD pass-through tax deductions."
At the meeting, CVA also announced the newly elected and re-elected members of their Board of Directors. CVA member-owners elected the following individuals to represent their voice on the board:
Alex Brookhouser (Brunswick, NE) – Region 1
Duane Schumacher (Bloomfield, NE) – Region 2
Jay Uehling (Oakland, NE) – Region 4
Larry Naber (Utica, NE) – Region 6
Mark Koss (Haddam, KS) – Region 7
Derek Appley (Akron, IA) – Region 8
“Our Board of Directors play a visionary role in helping CVA succeed,” said Dave Beckman, CVA Board Chairman. “I want to thank our departing board member, Adam Schroeder from Le Mars, Iowa, for his service and dedication to CVA.”
CVA relies on its Board of Directors to position CVA for future success and profitability for member-owners. CVA’s Board of Directors is made up of local, agricultural producers who are recognized for their industry expertise, economic, and community development skills.
Overall, it was a record-breaking year for CVA, and Dickinson credited much of the success of the cooperative to CVA employees. “Our people continue to answer the call. They’re engaged in the business, they’re engaged in their communities, they love what they do and the growers they do it for.”
DECIPHERING A HAY TEST: MOISTURE
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator
Having hay tested for nutrient quality is critical in getting the most out of the feedstuffs you have. Once the results come back, the next step is understanding the report you’ve received.
The first thing we notice on most feed or hay tests are the results are given in two different groups or columns. One is labeled along the lines of “as received” or “as fed” and another “dry basis.” Understanding the difference in these two columns is key to properly using the information provided when feeding your livestock.
“As received” represents the analysis of the sample as it was provided. This is what we will use to figure out rations or how much hay animals need to be provided. The “dry basis” is the sample after all moisture has been removed and doesn’t accurately represent the sample as it sits in the yard.
So why bother with “dry basis” if we don’t use it to figure feed amounts? Because when it comes to comparing feeds and finding the correct ratios in a ration, we need to compare things on an equal playing field.
For example, we could have a forage test on hay and silage come back as equal on a dry basis for energy, meaning that both feeds would provide the same amount of energy if dried out and fed. For the hay, this is pretty close to reality, but the silage contains much more water as is. Because of this, we would have to feed quite a bit more silage than hay to reach the same amount of energy in the ration, simply due to the extra weight from water.
“As received” and “dry basis” columns, may make a feed report look daunting, but understanding and using both is critical to getting the most out of your feed.
Cow-Calf Management with Limited Perennial Acres – Workshop Series
Managing cow-calf pairs with limited perennial acres will be the topic of discussion in Alma, Nebraska on December 6 and Wayne, Nebraska on December 8, 2021. Drought is a reoccurring plight that frequently reduces perennial forages available for grazing while conversion of pasture ground to crop ground continues to reduce available pasturelands. Increasing costs of production and high taxes make diversifying income and increasing the use of land necessary to get the most out of every acre.
This workshop series will be held from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. CT and will cover topics related to managing production cows in confinement such as:
1) Managing cows with limited distillers
2) Lessons learned on mineral needs of the confined cow
3) Management strategies for the nursing calf raised in confinement
4) Health observations in the confined production cow herd
In addition to presentations on these topics, producers will have the opportunity to ask questions followed by open discussions in a bullpen session at the end of the evening.
Pre-registration by December 1 is requested for an accurate meal count.
Alma, NE - Contact the Harlan County Extension office at 308-928-2119 or email Erin Laborie at erin.laborie@unl.edu to register for the Alma workshop. The program will be held at the Alma Country Club.
Wayne, NE – Contact the Cedar County Extension office at 402-254-6821 to register for the Wayne workshop. The program will be held at the Wayne Fire Hall.
Sponsors making this program possible include SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education), the Furnas County Livestock Association, Harlan County Cattlemen, and Northeast Nebraska Cattlemen.
UNL CAP Upcoming Webinars
Basic Ag Leasing Decisions for 2022
December 16
Noon-1 p.m. CDT
For tenants, land is difficult to rent because of limited supply and seemingly out of control costs, for landlords, the concern usually centers on receiving an equitable rent. This session will look at lease basics and cover the important lease considerations to consider as you work on the 2022 ag land leases. The webinar will be lead by Allan Vyhnalek, Extension Educator for Farm and Ranch Succession and Transition, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Register here.... https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.
Five Students Take State in Conservation Poster Contest
Leaves, branches and wildlife were artfully crafted by young Nebraskans throughout the year turning blank paper into award-winning posters.
Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) recognize students from kindergarten to 12th grade, who competed in the annual “Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities” Conservation Poster Contest. Students winning in the state competition include:
K-1: Monroe Crogan, Howells, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD)
2-3: Piper Hanson, Halsey, Nebraska (Upper Loup NRD)
4-6: Mariana Nexticapan Hernandez, Wayne, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD)
7-9: Emma Canham, Norfolk, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD)
10-12: Myranda Hansen, Norfolk, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD)
Each NRD selects a winner from their district contest to compete in the state competition. The state winners take home a $25 prize and will go on to compete in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) poster contest for a chance to win $200. National winners are selected at the NACD annual conference in February.
Typically, NRDs notify area teachers about the contest and allow them to introduce it in the classroom. Individual students can participate outside of the classroom by submitting their artwork to their local Natural Resources District. The 2022 poster theme is “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life.” For more information on the poster contest, visit the NARD website or contact Megan Grimes at mgrimes@nrdnet.org.
NEW Coop Announces 2021 Patronage Rates
NEW Cooperative is pleased to announce our 2021 patronage rates of 8 cents per bushel on grain and 6% on agronomy inputs.
NEW Cooperative’s Board of Directors also approved paying 100% of the 2021 qualified patronage dividends in cash this year, as well as revolving the 2015 local deferred equity. These two checks will be distributed early December 2021.
When coupled with the recently received 2014 regional deferred, this equates to $22.7 million in cash sent back to our membership and the communities we serve since this past September.
Dan Dix, General Manager stated, “The Board of Directors and management understand the importance of getting money back into the member hands that are currently using NEW Cooperative. We demonstrate this by having no members equity more than 7 years old. All of us at NEW Cooperative thank our membership for their continued loyalty and support as well as the best employee team in the business that makes this all possible.”
Petsource by Scoular plans to triple capacity, add 80 jobs with $75 million expansion
Just one year after launching operations, Petsource by Scoular plans a $75 million expansion that will triple its production capacity to meet increasing demand for freeze-dried pet food.
Petsource’s expansion of its Seward manufacturing facility, announced Tuesday, is projected for completion in early 2023 and is expected to create up to 80 new jobs. Petsource is an indirect, wholly
owned and independently operated subsidiary of Scoular.
The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially increased pet ownership to a record 70 percent of U.S. households. Pet food brands are expanding their premium products for this new generation of consumers, and freeze-dried products are among the fastest-growing pet food categories. The freeze-drying process protects and maintains an ingredient’s nutrition and taste, while extending its shelf life without added preservatives.
“Pet owners have shown a steadily increasing desire for high-protein, nutrient dense, and raw nutrition pet food options when feeding their new family members,” said Petsource President Amy Patterson. “I’m thrilled that Petsource and the community of Seward can be part of the solution for our pet food customers seeking to meet the growing demand for freeze-dried pet food.”
Scoular has partnered with pet food manufacturers for decades and will continue to invest to support the marketplace’s tremendous growth. The Petsource expansion is a critical component to larger strategic growth plans supporting the pet food industry, which include over $200 million in planned capital investments over the next several years.
“This is a very dynamic time for our company and for our industry. We are excited about the opportunity to triple Petsource’s capacity to support our valuable customers’ growth plans,” said Scoular CEO Paul Maass. “I’m confident that the talented team at Petsource will continue as a trusted partner for customers in the freeze-dried pet food industry, enabling their continued growth.”
Petsource is a turnkey contract manufacturer for the pet food industry, meaning it produces products to support its pet food customers’ brand names rather than its own. The company provides recipe development, raw meat processing, freeze-drying, and packaging solutions. It is among the first nationwide to bring these steps together in one integrated facility.
“At Petsource, we are fully committed in our passion to support the pet food marketplace, developing safe and high-quality products that protect our customers’ brands,” Patterson said.
The 105,000-square-foot, $50 million facility in Seward became fully operational in November 2020.
Petsource now employs just over 100 people. Hiring to accommodate the 70,000-square-foot expansion will be completed in phases starting in early 2022.
“The Petsource facility in Seward has been a big success,” said Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. “Only a
year after opening, it’s already planning a major increase in capacity. This expansion will create more
jobs as well as opportunities for Nebraska farmers and ranchers to supply chicken and beef to source the facility. Congratulations to Seward, and thanks to Scoular for choosing to grow here in the Good Life!”
“Petsource has been a tremendous community partner for Seward,” added Jonathan Jank, CEO and
Executive Director of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership. “Their expansion will be the single largest economic development project investment in the history of Seward County. We’re grateful for Petsource’s continued growth, which will benefit the area for years to come."
USDA Announces Agricultural Outlook Forum Theme and Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the theme and program of the 98th Agricultural Outlook Forum, a virtual event that will be held on February 24-25, 2022. The 2022 Forum theme is “New Paths to Sustainability and Productivity Growth” and the program will focus on innovations to minimize the environmental footprint of agriculture and ensure sustainability while improving crop yields.
“If we are to produce enough to feed a growing global population while minimizing our environmental impacts, we must develop new ways to do things,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I look forward to discussing with sector leaders how we can work on climate smart solutions that will improve the profitability and resilience of agricultural producers and open new market opportunities.”
The Forum will begin with a presentation by USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer on the Department’s outlook for U.S. commodity markets and trade for 2022 and the U.S. farm income situation. Secretary Vilsack will deliver the keynote address followed by a plenary panel of distinguished guest speakers. The Forum program will also include 30 breakout sessions covering six key areas:
Climate mitigation and adaptation
Frontiers in agricultural innovation and production
U.S. agricultural trade and global markets
Commodity outlooks
Supply chain resilience
Equity and inclusion
The Agricultural Outlook Forum is USDA’s largest and premier annual event. Each year it brings together a wide range of stakeholders from across the agricultural sector including producers, processors, policymakers, government officials, and nongovernmental organizations. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA held the 97th Forum as a free, virtual event for the first time, drawing nearly 5,000 attendees from the United States and around the world.
Visit the Agricultural Outlook Forum website https://www.usda.gov/oce/ag-outlook-forum to register and read the program at a glance. Follow the conversation at #AgOutlook on USDA’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Inspiring, Humorous Keynotes on Tap for 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention
General session keynote speakers slated for the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention are sure to inspire and entertain attendees. Inspirational speaker Jim “Murph” Murphy, founder and chairman of Afterburner, will speak during the afternoon general session at the convention on Sunday, Jan. 9, in Atlanta, Georgia. Comedian Jeff Allen will perform on Monday, Jan. 10, during the convention’s closing general session.
“We are excited to celebrate, mark our achievements and hear from leaders who have helped strengthen agriculture at the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Convention also affords us the opportunity to reflect and relax together with inspiring and humorous perspectives from keynote speakers Jim Murphy and Jeff Allen. We look forward to hearing from them.”
Murphy has a unique and powerful mix of leadership skills in both the military and business worlds. Murph joined the U.S. Air Force where he learned to fly the F-15 fighter jet and went from farm boy to fighter pilot in just 16 months. He logged more than 1,200 hours as an instructor pilot in the F-15 and accumulated over 3,200 hours of flight time in other high-performance aircraft. As the 116th Fighter Wing’s chief of training for the Georgia Air National Guard, Murph’s job was to keep 42 combat-trained fighter pilots ready to deploy worldwide within 72 hours. As a flight leader, he flew missions to Central America, Asia, Central Europe and the Middle East.
Allen is in his fifth decade as a working comedian. You may have seen him on “America’s Got Talent,” “Huckabee,” Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pure Flix, Warner Bros., Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime, TBN, CBN, Family Net and numerous other television networks. He can be heard regularly on SiriusXM’s comedy channels, as well as on Pandora and Spotify. He has performed for military troops on aircraft carriers and ships in the Indian Ocean. Look for him on Dry Bar Comedy, where he has surpassed 200 million views on Facebook and YouTube. Allen also produced and starred in his own sitcom pilot for Castlerock Television and in the critically acclaimed film, “Apostles of Comedy.”
Duvall will give his annual address to Farm Bureau members during the opening general session of the convention on Sunday, Jan. 9. The convention will be held in person Jan. 7-12, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia, with a virtual option for portions of the event available to those not attending in person.
Small-Scale, Local Producers Get Improved Insurance Coverage through New Micro Farm Policy
Agricultural producers with small-scale farms who sell locally can now get simplified insurance coverage through a new policy designed for their needs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the new Micro Farm policy, which simplifies recordkeeping and covers post-production costs like washing and value-added products.
“USDA is focused on supporting local and regional food systems, and Micro Farm is one more example of how we’re helping agricultural producers with farms of all shapes and sizes to manage their unique operations and risk,” said Marcia Bunger, Administrator for USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). “The Risk Management Agency values collaboration and feedback from our customers, and Micro Farm is one way we're responding to producers’ needs.”
Micro Farm is offered through Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and is geared to local producers. Details include:
- Eligibility: Micro Farm is available to producers who have a farm operation that earns an average allowable revenue of $100,000 or less, or for carryover insureds, an average allowable revenue of $125,000 or less. The increase in allowable revenue for a carry-over insured will allow for some farm growth in subsequent years before they become ineligible for the program. RMA’s research showed that 85% of producers who sell locally reported they made less than $75,000 in gross sales.
- Coverage Levels: All coverage levels will be available to producers using Micro Farm. This will enable producers to purchase the 80% and 85% coverage levels without providing additional paperwork.
- Underwriting and Recordkeeping Requirements: Micro Farm minimizes underwriting and recordkeeping requirements, and producers will not have to report expenses and individual commodities.
- Post-production Revenue: Producers can include post-production activities as revenue, such as washing and packaging commodities or value-added products like jam.
Micro Farm is available for the 2022 crop year. Sales closing dates are Jan. 31, 2022, Feb. 28, 2022, or March 15, 2022, depending on the producer’s county.
Producers with crops insured under another crop insurance policy or a vertically integrated operation will not be eligible.
This new policy derived from research directed by the 2018 Farm Bill, and it includes feedback from producers who grow for their local communities. See the full report.
Specialty and Organic Crops
The Micro Farm policy builds on other RMA efforts to better serve specialty and organic crop growers. This includes WFRP, which provides coverage for producers with larger operations that may not be eligible for Micro Farm. RMA recently made. RMA recently made improvements to WFRP as part of a broader set of new policies and expanded policies to assist specialty crop and organic producers.
More Information
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. If you have difficulty finding an agent, contact your RMA Regional Office. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.
Nick Maple Joins Meristem Team
Experienced ag account professional and seed rep Nick Maple has joined Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC (www.MeristemAg.com), one of the fastest-growing crop input suppliers in America. Maple becomes Meristem’s sales and dealer coach in the Western Corn Belt, operating out of Norfolk, Nebraska.
“Nick Maple is a service-oriented expert at helping farmers get solid crop production results,” says Mitch Eviston, Meristem Founder and CEO in announcing the hire. “Nick knows his stuff and has a passion for serving farmers. We are excited to gain the value of his experience as we continue to grow our Meristem business in Nebraska and surrounding states.” Maple has deep experience in the unique challenges of the Western Corn Belt at field-level, being raised near Orchard, Nebraska, on a small, dryland family farm.
“In my experience growing up, taking care of land, crops and family always came first,” says Maple. “Now I have the chance with Meristem to help lots of farm families put those first things first and be successful. I am truly excited about the opportunity.”
Maple has a degree in agronomy from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Starting out as an intern at a local cooperative, he soon became a location manager for Central Valley Ag Cooperative in Humphrey, Nebraska. His agronomic experience grew and he became a seed representative for Hogemyer Seed and has also worked for DuPont and AgVentures.
“Meristem’s people and products are oriented toward boosting ROI for farmers and that fits perfectly with my personal mission out here,” says Maple. “Every day, I’m walking fields with growers and figuring out how to help them grow more. Serving farmers and seeing them succeed is a key part of my life.” Maple will operate out of his home in Norfolk, Nebraska, where he lives with his wife Makala and daughter Riley.
Fifth-generation farmer wins 2021 Syngenta #RootedinAg Contest
Austin Walter, a farmer from Grand Ridge, Illinois, is the 2021 Syngenta #RootedinAg Contest grand prizewinner. Online voters and a panel of judges were charmed by Walter’s story of how his grandfather’s influence drove his decision to return to the family farm.
“My grandfather inspired me to build a life and career in agriculture,” Walter said. “I always respected my grandpa and what he's built here, and I'm very lucky and thankful to be able to come back and be a part of it.”
When reflecting on the most valuable lesson he learned from his grandfather, Walter said, “Never let your highest highs be too high or your lowest lows be too low. But I think the biggest thing he always tells us is don't worry about things you can't control and just try to be humble and kind.”
Walter had an important decision after attending Texas Tech University ― enter the commercial agriculture industry or return home to the farm and help the family operation continue to grow. Now back at the family’s row crop farm and cattle feedlot, he recently reflected on how his grandfather’s leadership influenced his return.
“I am blessed to be able to return and farm alongside both my father and grandfather, from whom I am able to learn a vast wealth of knowledge, which they gained over their years of experience,” says Walters. “It is truly a dream of mine to raise my kids on the farm the way that I was raised, in hopes of the tradition continuing for generations.”
Walter is the eighth winner since the #RootedinAg Contest, which started in 2014. “Agriculture’s greatest strength is its people,” said Pam Caraway, Syngenta marketing communications lead. “Fortunately, we are rich with folks like Ralph who understand the importance of the next generation of ag leaders and give their time and caring attention to ensure U.S. agriculture stays strong. We’re grateful for those who submitted their stories and the mentors who are shaping the ag industry of tomorrow.”
As the grand prizewinner, Walter receives $500, a professional photo shoot with his mentor and a $1,000 donation to a local civic cause he is passionate about. He chose the Grand Ridge Junior High FFA, a program for junior high students interested in agriculture that aims to prepare and expose students to potential career opportunities in agriculture.
To learn more about Walter’s story and the #RootedinAg Contest or to read other ag news stories, go to www.syngentathrive.com.
Deere Reports Net Income of $1.283 Billion for Fourth Quarter, $5.963 Billion for Fiscal Year
Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) reported net income of $1.283 billion for the fourth quarter ended October 31, 2021, or $4.12 per share, compared with net income of $757 million, or $2.39 per share, for the quarter ended November 1, 2020. For fiscal year 2021, net income attributable to Deere & Company was $5.963 billion, or $18.99 per share, compared with $2.751 billion, or $8.69 per share, in fiscal 2020.
Worldwide net sales and revenues increased 16 percent, to $11.327 billion, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 and rose 24 percent, to $44.024 billion, for the full year. Equipment operations net sales were $10.276 billion for the quarter and $39.737 billion for the year, compared with corresponding totals of $8.659 billion and $31.272 billion in 2020.
"Deere's strong fourth-quarter and full-year performance was delivered by our dedicated employees, dealers, and suppliers throughout the world, who have helped safely maintain our operations and serve customers," said John C. May, chairman and chief executive officer. "Our results reflect strong end-market demand and our ability to continue serving customers while managing supply-chain issues and conducting contract negotiations with our largest union. Last week's ratification of a 6-year agreement with the UAW brings our highly skilled employees back to work building the finest products in our industries. The agreement shows our ongoing commitment to delivering best-in-class wages and benefits."
Company Outlook & Summary
Net income attributable to Deere & Company for fiscal 2022 is forecasted to be in a range of $6.5 billion to $7.0 billion.
"Looking ahead, we expect demand for farm and construction equipment to continue benefiting from positive fundamentals, including favorable crop prices, economic growth, and increased investment in infrastructure," May said. "At the same time, we anticipate supply-chain pressures will continue to pose challenges in our industries. We are working closely with our suppliers to address these issues and ensure that our customers can deliver essential food and infrastructure more profitably and sustainably."
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