Wednesday December 29 Ag News

 Private Pesticide Training Schedule Set for 2022

The 2022 private pesticide applicator training dates, times, and locations have been set, with sessions beginning in early January and continuing through early April at sites throughout Nebraska.

Notification letters will be sent out by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to applicators whose license will expire in 2022. The cost of the training is $50, payable the day of the training.

Private pesticide licenses also can be obtained by completing an online course. Pesticide applicators can purchase access to the online course after Jan. 1 via a link that will be posted on the Pesticide Safety Education Program site. Cost of the course is $50. Call 402-472-1632 with any questions about this training.

For any questions about the scheduled training sessions, please contact local Nebraska Extension county offices.

There will be changes in the process year, both for first-time license applicants and those applying for recertification.

First, applicators' new licenses will be tan in color and have the words "General Agriculture" and the code 00 printed on them.

Second, applicators who use soil fumigants must pass the commercial Soil Fumigation (category 01A) exam to receive this certification.

Also, applicators who use non-soil, structural or rodent burrow fumigants will be required to pass the commercial Non-Soil/Structural Fumigation (category 11) exam to receive this certification. These additional categories are not required for applicators who use rodent burrow baits or smoke cartridges.

Training manuals are available for purchase on the UNL Pesticide Safety Education Program site, or call 402-472-1632 for more information. Applicators who want to add these categories to their license are encouraged to purchase the study manuals as soon as possible and review the literature prior to taking the exam(s).

Third, applicators attending any training session will need to provide proof of identification at the training site, such as a driver's license.

Fourth, physical copies of the extension publication EC130, "The Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska," will no longer be provided at the trainings. However, every trainee will be provided with access to a digital copy of EC130. Copies of the 2022 guide may be ordered online.

Locations and dates for 2022 private pesticide training sessions, along with other resouces, can be found here: https://pested.unl.edu/.  



Crop Production Clinics Begin Jan. 5

Beginning Jan. 5, the 2022 Nebraska Crop Production Clinics will feature live presentations and present research updates and information tailored to regional crop issues and grower interests. Sponsored by Nebraska Extension, the programs will be held in-person on nine days throughout January, with the final clinic offered via Zoom on Jan. 28.

Session topics will include crop production, insect management, pesticide safety, disease management, soil fertility, water management, weed management, and agribusiness management and marketing.

Pesticide applicator recertification training will also be available.

Clinic dates and locations are as follows:
Jan. 5 -- Gering Civic Center, Gering
Jan. 6 -- Mid-Plains Community College -- South Campus, North Platte

Jan. 11 -- Northeast Community College, Norfolk
Jan. 13 -- Holiday Inn Express, Beatrice

Jan. 19 -- C3 Hotel & Convention Center, Hastings
Jan. 21 -- Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC), Ithaca

Jan. 25 -- Younes Conference Center, Kearney
Jan. 26 -- Holthus Convention Center, York

Jan. 28 -- Virtual via Zoom

Individual clinics will be customized to address topics specific to that area of the state, allowing growers to get research-based information on the issues they face locally.

Visit the Crop Production Clinics 2022 website for the most up-to-date information.

Registration is available online for each location. Pre-registration is required and costs $80.

Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available in these areas: crop production, nutrient management, integrated pest management, water management and professional development.

Pesticide Applicator Recertification: The clinics will offer commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators a venue to renew their licenses in the General Standards, Ag Plant and Demonstration/Research categories.

The crop production clinics also will serve as a venue for private pesticide applicators to renew their licenses.

Contacts are:
- Chris Proctor, clinics coordinator and extension educator, 402-472-5411.
- Registration questions can be directed to Connie Hansen, 402-472-8747.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Reviews 2021 Top Ag Stories, Looks Ahead to Leading Issues in 2022

Nebraska’s agricultural economy rebounding this year and the subsequent property tax relief tied to the economy are among the top agriculture stories of 2021, according to Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB). Also making the list is the move to expand broadband, calls for sweeping changes to the cattle markets, and NEFB’s work to halt a proposal that would devastate family farms.

“It’s no secret that we’ve seen progress in prices for most commodities over the past year and we know that when Nebraska agriculture does well, our state’s economy does well,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president. “Increased state revenue numbers mean property taxpayers who have been seeking relief will receive a big ‘win’ through the Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act, getting back a tax credit equal to 25 percent of their property taxes paid to schools when they file their 2021 tax return.”

The Property Tax Incentive Act established in 2020, which grew from $115 million in the first year to $548 million this year, allows Nebraskans to claim an income tax credit based on the property taxes paid to K-12 schools. But, according to McHargue, the work on tax reform is not done and one of the most impactful things the Legislature can do in 2022 is to build upon that property tax relief.

In addition to increased funds for property tax relief, boosting e-connectivity is essential to modern agriculture, according to NEFB. This year, Nebraska Farm Bureau was instrumental in securing $40 million over the next two years for the expansion of broadband to unserved and underserved areas of the state.

“Agriculture and rural Nebraska will not reach its full potential without access to reliable, high-speed broadband. Much of the technology that allows farmers and ranchers to improve across the board, including minimizing our environmental footprint, relies on e-connectivity” said McHargue. “For many of our rural communities, access to health care and educational and business opportunities can only be gained through quality broadband and rural Nebraska can’t afford to be left behind,” said McHargue.

Federal proposals to increase taxes on Nebraska family farms, ranches, and businesses also made the list of top issues. Discussions in Washington, D.C. this year centered around the spending bill, Build Back Better, which Nebraska Farm Bureau opposes as it would ramp up capital gains, estate (death), and corporate taxes, including a proposal to eliminate “stepped-up basis” tax provisions.

“Preserving stepped-up basis is vital to ensure the next generation of farmers and ranchers can continue to feed, clothe, and fuel the world. Eliminating this important tool would subject many farm and ranch families to a new tax burden, forcing some to sell portions of their farm or ranch to pay the tax bill, further consolidating agriculture,” McHargue said.

Nebraska Farm Bureau expects the outcome of key elections, specifically the governor’s race, to top the list for the news cycle in 2022.

“It’s important for Nebraska’s next governor to understand the importance of agriculture to our state’s economy and the importance of keeping farmers and ranchers on the land. We know rural Nebraska’s voice is shrinking, which is why Nebraska Farm Bureau held a gubernatorial candidate forum in early December. We wanted to make sure our members had a chance to get to know the candidates so they can make informed decisions in this important election,” McHargue said.

Looking ahead at other issues in 2022, Nebraska Farm Bureau predicts growing Nebraska’s livestock sector will be a major news item for state and national levels.

“Nebraska’s economic development is directly tied to protecting and growing our state’s livestock sector. The cattle industry is the largest segment of that sector, highlighting the need to reform the way cattle are marketed in the United States. Which is why we continue to call on Congress to take up and pass Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer’s Cattle Market Transparency Act, which will provide needed reform to the cattle marketplace,” McHargue said.

With a series of cyberattacks on food processors and agriculture cooperatives making headlines in 2021, Nebraska Farm Bureau sees the issue of cybersecurity to continue to be front and center. According to McHargue, farmers and ranchers want to ensure that officials at the state and federal levels take necessary action to secure and protect data.

McHargue also pointed out the importance of international trade to the bottom line for Nebraska farmers and ranchers, calling on the Biden administration to focus efforts on trade policy in 2022.

“Every dollar in agricultural exports generates $1.28 in economic activities such as transportation, financing, warehousing, and production. It is critical the administration work to enact new trade agreements to create new market opportunities for Nebraska farm and ranch families,” McHargue said.



PURE PRAIRIE FARMS BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO CHARLES CITY, IA CHICKEN PLANT

New premium chicken integrator, Pure Prairie Farms Inc., completed its long-anticipated purchase of a former Simply Essentials chicken processing plant this month. The former plant at Charles City, Iowa, which previously closed in August of 2019, is a state-of-the-art retail tray-packaging facility and features air-chill technology, an under-represented and underserved attribute in the market. In addition to organic offerings, additional product features include all natural, highly trimmed products, made from chicken flocks in which antibiotics have never, ever been used, and that have been fed a vegetable- and grain-based diet. All told, Pure Prairie Farms is well-poised to capitalize on the growing desire for premium poultry products, as U.S. consumer demand rises to a forecasted 113 pounds of chicken consumed, per capita, in 2021.

"Everyone that's come together in this effort has a passion for the chicken business," said Brian Roelofs, Pure Prairie Farms' president and chief executive officer. "It's been a long journey, and we are excited to bring this state-of-the-art plant back to life. Not only for everyone involved, but for the greater community of Charles City. It's now the place we call home," Roelofs added.

According to Roelofs, Pure Prairie Farms represents the cooperative efforts of local farm partners, investors, and executives who bring bench strength in Midwestern poultry and a deeply committed team. Not only will the company's ownership make-up include the executive group and farm partners, alike—a unique combination in the chicken industry—but Pure Prairie Farms plans to further differentiate itself from industry giants as it focuses on the value of relationships. "Through the entire process, which has been years in the making, we've remained steadfast in our commitment to growers as partners. We look forward to building an even stronger team as we work together, as one, to offer unmatched chicken experiences and value for one another," Roelofs said.

Along with Roelofs, executive positions include poultry industry veterans of former Minnesota-based GNP Company, before it was purchased in 2016. These include Brad Vokac, vice president of sales and marketing, and Eva Wiechmann Miller, vice president of supply chain for Pure Prairie Farms. George Peichel, chief financial officer, and Anita Janssen, vice president of strategic initiatives, round out the company's top leadership, both having previously held executive positions with former Iowa-based chicken company, Prairie's Best Farms.  

"Our intent is to become an employer of choice and for Pure Prairie Farms to share its prosperity with the greater Charles City community. Through the experience of our team and appreciation for people, we are 100 percent committed to further building relationships through stewardship, integrity, cooperation, and excellence, together," Roelofs concluded.

Pure Prairie Farm's premium quality chicken products, for all segments, will initially focus distribution efforts in the upper Midwest. Through immediate improvements made, Roelofs expects the integrated system, including the Charles City facility, to become fully operational by spring of 2022. For sales information, customers can contact the Pure Prairie Farms sales team at info@pureprairiefarms.com.

Founded in 2021, Pure Prairie Farms, Inc. is a company committed to delivering premium quality and organic chicken products to retail, deli, and foodservice segments. All natural, air-chilled, and highly trimmed, offerings come from chickens raised under strict animal welfare standards, with no antibiotics ever, and fed a vegetable- and grain-based diet (no animal byproducts). Owned and operated by experienced midwestern poultry leaders and family farm partners, it's through community support, farmer involvement and ownership that Pure Prairie Farms contributes to the health and wellbeing of its rural communities; and to generations of family farmers for years to come. The company's state-of-the-art, tray-packaging facility is in Charles City, Iowa.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 12/24/2021

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending December 24, ethanol production expanded by 8,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 0.8%, to 1.059 million b/d, equivalent to 44.48 million gallons daily. Production was 13.4% above the same week last year, which was affected by the pandemic but 0.7% less than the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production volume increased 0.6% to 1.072 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.43 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks remained principally unchanged at 20.7 million barrels. Stocks were 12.0% below the year-ago level and 1.7% less than the same week in 2019. Inventories built across the East Coast (PADD 1) and Midwest (PADD 2) but thinned across the other regions.
                                                                                                              
The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, jumped 8.2% to 9.72 million b/d (149.07 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was the largest volume since July as well as 19.6% more than a year ago and 8.5% above the same week in 2019.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol increased 3.2% to 910,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.95 bg annualized and a nine-week high. Net inputs were 11.2% more than a year ago and 2.9% above the same week in 2019.

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



Fertilizer Prices Continue to Climb

Retail fertilizer prices for the third week of December 2021 continued to move higher, albeit at a slower pace.  The percentage higher moves are not as much as they have been in recent weeks. In fact, all of the moves were in the single-digit range, something that hasn't happened since the second week of September 2021.

Only three of the eight major fertilizers are showing a significant move higher. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or greater.  Leading the way higher is anhydrous, which was up 9% from a month prior. The nitrogen fertilizer's average price was at $1,424/ton, which continues to be an all-time high in the DTN data.  10-34-0 was 5% more expensive compared to last month. The starter fertilizer's average price was at $791/ton.  Urea was 5% more expensive compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $910/ton, which was also an all-time high.

The remaining five fertilizers had just slight price increases compared to the prior month. DAP had an average price of $862/ton, MAP $932/ton, potash $807/ton, UAN28 $583/ton (all-time high) and UAN32 $679/ton (all-time high).  Potash topped the $800/ton level for the first time since the fourth week of June 2009, when the price was $815/ton. The all-time high price for potash is $896/ton which was seen the first week of November 2008.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.99/lb.N, anhydrous $0.87/lb.N, UAN28 $1.04/lb.N and UAN32 $1.06/lb.N.

Retail fertilizer prices compared to a year ago show all fertilizers have increased significantly with several having well over 100% price increases.  10-34-0 is now 71% more expensive, MAP is 74% higher, DAP is 82% more expensive, potash is 121% higher, urea is 151% more expensive, UAN32 is 171% higher, UAN28 178% is more expensive and anhydrous is 208% higher compared to last year.



Share of Income Spent on Food in U.S. Dropped 10% in 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession in 2020, the share of U.S. consumers' disposable personal income spent on food decreased 10.1 percent from the previous year to 8.62 percent, the lowest share in the past 60 years. DPI is the amount of money that U.S. consumers have left to spend or save after paying taxes.

The share of DPI spent on food in the United States was relatively steady over the last 20 years, decreasing from 9.95 percent in 2000 to 9.58 percent in 2019. Consumers spent 1.4 percent more of their incomes on food at supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse club stores, supercenters, and other retailers (food at home) from 2019 to 2020, while they spent 22.2 percent less of their incomes on food at restaurants, fast-food places, schools, and other places offering food away from home over the same period.

Changes in the shares of income spent on food in 2020 resulted, in part, from pandemic-related closures and restrictions at food-away-from-home establishments, as well as from the largest annual DPI increase in 20 years. The increase in DPI was driven by additional Government assistance to individuals in 2020, including stimulus payments to households and increased unemployment insurance benefits.

The data for this chart come from the Economic Research Service's Food Expenditure Series data product. See also the Amber Waves article Average Share of Income Spent on Food in the United States Remained Relatively Steady from 2000 to 2019, published in November 2020.