USDA Cattle on Feed Report - Jan 21 + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 2%

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.60 million cattle on feed on January 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2% from last year.  Placements during December totaled 505,000 head, up 5% from 2020.  Fed cattle marketings for the month of December totaled 475,000 head, up 6% from last year.  Other disappearance during December totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 2%

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 600,000 head on January 1, 2022, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service - Cattle on Feed report. This was down 2 percent from December and down 2 percent from January 1, 2021.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 87,000 head, down 7 percent from November and down 6 percent from December 2020. Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 94,000 head, up 2 percent from November and up 3 percent from December 2020. Other disappearance from feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head in Iowa totaled 3,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent
    
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on January 1, 2022. The inventory was 1 percent above January 1, 2021. This is the second highest January 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.36 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.68 million head, up 2 percent from 2021.

On Feed, by State (1,000 hd - % Jan 1 '21)
Colorado ......:              1,130          102                   
Iowa .............:                600           98                 
Kansas ..........:              2,490          100                 
Nebraska ......:              2,600          102              
Texas ............:              2,920          102               

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.96 million head, 6 percent above 2020. Placements were the highest for December since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.91 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 510,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 470,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 450,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 333,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 105,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.

Placements by State (1,000 hd - % Dec '20)
Colorado ......:                 165           106               
Iowa .............:                  87            94                
Kansas ..........:                 450           102              
Nebraska ......:                 505           105                
Texas ............:                 445           117                

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.86 million head, slightly above 2020. Marketings were the second highest for December since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during December, 10 percent below 2020.

Marketings by State (1,000 hd - % Dec '20)
Colorado ......:                  170           100           
Iowa .............:                   94           103          
Kansas ..........:                  430           101            
Nebraska ......:                  475           106           
Texas ............:                  395           100          



Ricketts Announces Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced recent appointments he has made to fill Nebraska’s boards and commissions.  Here are some of the appointments announced on Friday.....

The following appointees are unpaid and are not subject to Legislative confirmation:

Nebraska Aquaculture Board
Richard Lackaff, Bassett

Nebraska Hemp Commission
Tara Smydra, Norfolk
Josh Watchorn, Sidney
Annette M. Wiles , Plattsmouth

Nebraska Invasive Species Council
Dennis Schroeder, Lincoln

Nebraska Potato Development Committee
Adam Naslund, Cody
Henry Nira, Gering
Troy Sorensen, Alliance
Laurie Widdowson, Kearney

Rural Broadband Task Force
Andrew Buker, Omaha
Ronald Cone, Kearney
Zachary Hunnicutt, Giltner
Gwen A, Kautz, Overton
J. Thomas Shoemaker, Cambridge
Daniel Spray, Norfolk
Andrew Whitney, Seward

The following appointees are unpaid and subject to Legislative confirmation:

Nebraska Brand Committee
Terry L. Cone, Burwell

Nebraska Ethanol Board
Scott B. McPheeters, Gothenburg
Taylor D. Nelson, South Sioux City

Thank you to the many Nebraskans that give generously of their time and talent to make a difference in our state.  These appointments will provide crucial insight and expertise to their respective boards, committees, and commissions.  To learn about openings and apply to serve on a board or commission, go to https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req.



Growers to Share Local On-farm Research Results

The annual Nebraska On-Farm Research Network research results update meetings will be offered in-person in 2022. Farm operators and agronomists from across the state will obtain valuable crop production-related information from on-farm research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers in partnership with University of Nebraska faculty. These research projects cover products, practices and new technologies that impact farm productivity and profitability.

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is a statewide, on-farm research program that addresses critical farmer production, profitability and natural resources questions. Growers take an active role in the on-farm research project sponsored by Nebraska Extension in partnership with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, the Nebraska Corn Board, the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff and the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.

The February programs will provide an opportunity to hear growers who conducted on-farm research share their results from the 2021 growing season. Replicated, field-scale comparisons were completed in growers’ fields, using their equipment. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the 2021 Research Results Update book, which contains results from 83 on-farm research studies, including:
    Eight studies on Xyway in-furrow fungicide.
    Two studies on hydraulic downforce.
    Five studies on starter fertilizer.
    Three studies on nitrogen rate and timing.
    Seven studies on nitrification inhibitors.
    Six studies on sensor-based fertigation.
    Six studies on sensor-based N management with a high-clearance applicator.
    Six studies on Pivot Bio PROVEN, five studies on crop models for N management.
    Six studies on interseeding cover crops into corn or soybeans.
    Seven soil health studies conducted in collaboration with NRCS.
    Three studies on soybean practices for increasing yield and profitability.
    Four studies on non-traditional products.

The following locations are planned:

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022
    Alliance — Knight Museum & Sandhills Center, 908 Yellowstone
    North Platte — West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center (WCREEC), 402 W. State Farm Rd.
    York — Cornerstone Ag & Event Center, Fairgrounds York, 2400 N. Nebraska Ave.
    Norfolk — Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S. 13th St.
    Auburn — 4-H Building Nemaha County Fairgrounds, 816 I St.
    Kearney — Buffalo County Extension Office, 1400 E. 34th (Fairgrounds)

Programs start at 9 a.m. CST (8 a.m. MST). Check-in begins a half-hour before the meeting starts. The program will conclude at 3:30 p.m. CST (2:30 p.m. MST).  

For program details and to register, visit the Nebraska On-Farm Research site. Pre-registration is required. Walk-in registration will not be permitted. Please pre-register at least two days in advance for planning purposes. In-person meetings will only be held if local and UNL directed health measures allow and if weather conditions are suitable for travel. If a meeting is canceled, registered participants will be notified via email, phone or text message.

For more information or to register by phone, please contact Taylor Lexow, Nebraska On-Farm Research program coordinator, at 402-245-2222. For general inquiries about the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, contact Laura Thompson, extension educator, at 402-245-2224.



2022 Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference Set for Feb. 2 in David City

There are many benefits to utilizing cover crops, such as improved soil health and reduced erosion. It is the details of how and what to do that can present challenges. The 2022 Eastern Nebraska Soil Health Conference (formerly Nebraska Cover Crop Conference) will provide information to growers who are just getting started with cover crops and to those who are already making cover crops part of their operation.

The conference will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST Wednesday, Feb. 2 with check-in starting at 8:30 a.m.  The conference is scheduled for the event center at the Butler County Fairgrounds, 62 L Street, David City, Nebraska.

Topics and presenters include:
    Recognizing Healthy Soil (Virtual Real-Time Presentation) — Aaron Hird, Nebraska NRCS State soil health specialist
    When is Manure the Right Solution for a Cropping System? (Virtual Real-Time Presentation) — Amy Schmidt, associate professor and livestock manure management engineer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Cover Crops and Crop Insurance — Cory Walters, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Using Winter Hardy Small Cereals for Grazing and Silage — Mary Drewnoski, beef systems specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Making Soil Health Work for Your Operation — Chris Gaesser, Gaesser Farms, Iowa
    Strategies to Use Cover Crops for Weed Suppression — Anita Dille, professor in the Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
    Planting Equipment for Cover Crops and Into Cover Crops — Paul Jasa, Nebraska Extension engineer
    Presenters panel — informal discussion with growers, landowners, and consultants

Registration and details available on the conference website https://enrec.unl.edu/nebraska-cover-crop-conference/.

There is no fee to attend, but pre-registration is required. Day-of, walk-in registration will not be permitted.

Local COVID-19 guidance at the time of the conference will be followed. The conference will only be held if local and UNL-directed health measures allow and if road conditions are suitable for travel. In the event of cancellation, registrants will be notified via email, phone or text message.

CCA credits are applied for and pending.

Sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Soybean Board.

For more information contact Nebraska Extension Educators: Gary Lesoing, 402-274-4755, Melissa Bartels, 402-367-7410, Michael Sindelar, 402-762-3644, Todd Whitney, 308-995-4222, or Nathan Mueller, 402-821-2151.



Northeast Community College awarded $450,000 agriculture workforce training grant

Today’s food production systems and processes are dependent on many resources, including the work of agriculture producers and processors, many of whom continue to incorporate high tech practices into their operations.

At the individual producer level, few operations exist which do not utilize Global Positioning System (GPS)-driven crop production equipment, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping for efficient irrigation and chemical application, automated temperature, humidity and feeding controls in livestock barns or computer-based records management.

At the processor level, an increase in robotics and automation in processing lines and use of predictive analytics for scheduling and distribution are additional examples of dependence upon technology-based tools.

The tools provide many efficiencies; however, they are vulnerable to hacking and ransomware attacks, essentially putting the nation’s food safety and security in jeopardy. A new project at Northeast Community College is designed to address the concerns. The Ruraltech+ Training Program to Boost IT and Cybersecurity Skills in the Agricultural Workforce project will create a framework for educating incumbent workers in rural agriculture cooperatives on data analysis and information security as well as developing a pipeline of ag-tech workers for growing industry needs.

“Use of short-term, flexible training options to provide training is cornerstone to the success of this project,” said Cyndi Hanson, dean of Workforce Development at Northeast. “Offering upskilling and reskilling accessible opportunities to geographically dispersed audiences of the rural workforce will elevate the practice of information security measures essential to minimizing disruption of operations.”

The major goal of the project is to bring technical knowledge of information security within agriculture-based employers. Training will be provided to at least 40 individuals annually via synchronous, virtual, short-term training and fifteen industry-recognized certifications earned by program participants will be offered annually. Additionally, a general agriculture competence course will be coupled with a cybersecurity bootcamp to equip five entry-level workers annually for integration into the agriculture-technology workforce pipeline.

The project will be conducted using multiple efforts, each with distinct evaluation strategies. For example, curriculum that is relevant to incumbent workers will be developed through conversations with agriculture

coop managers. Hanson said they are also welcoming conversations with agriculture-based businesses that would like to participate in training.

“Providing opportunities for those currently engaged in our agriculture workforce access to foundational cybersecurity principles to protect our nation’s food supply is the focus of what we are doing,” Hanson said. “The opportunity to provide training virtually increases access for those geographically distant but critical components of agriculture.”

To develop the curriculum, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Northeast Community College a grant totaling $450,000. Nebraska US Senator Deb Fischer is excited the project will connect the state’s future agriculture and technology workforce with skills to succeed.

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Northeast Community College over the years on increasing adoption of precision agriculture technologies,” Fischer said. “I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition and create opportunities for our students.”

Leah Barrett, president of Northeast, said the funding is important to help increase the efficiency and productivity of food production, as well as to guard against cyberattacks targeting the nation’s food supply.

“We are proud to partner with agricultural cooperatives across Nebraska to grow their IT workforce and create pathways for entry-level workers as well as incumbent workers to upskill and get the critical skills they need to support our agricultural system,” Barrett said.



Free Farm and Ag Law Clinics Set for Early 2022

Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state throughout January, February and March 2022. The clinics are one-on-one in-person meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. These are not group sessions, and they are confidential.

The attorney and financial advisor specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial and business planning, transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, debt structure and cash flow, agricultural disaster programs, and other relevant matters. Here is an opportunity to obtain an independent, outside perspective on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.

Clinic Dates
    Monday, Jan. 31 — Norfolk
    Thursday, Feb. 3 — Fairbury
    Thursday, Feb. 3 — Grand Island
    Wednesday, March 2 — Norfolk
    Friday, March 4 — Grand Island
    Friday, March 4 — Fairbury

To sign up for a free clinic or to get more information, call the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.  Funding for this work is provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska.



Applications for Conservation Incentive Contracts Being Accepted Now

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers financial and technical assistance to plan and implement conservation practices through Conservation Incentive Contracts. Agricultural producers have until March 11, 2022, to apply for 2022 funding.

Contract Incentive Contracts are an option available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) that offers producers financial assistance to adopt conservation management practices on working landscapes. Conservation Incentive Contracts are available nationwide and help producers address priority resource concerns, like sequestering carbon and improving water quality.

Producers may use incentive contracts as a “steppingstone,” from correcting resource issues on specific land units, to achieving sustainable stewardship on their entire operation. Conservation Incentive Contracts:
    Have an initial length of five years.
    Require producers to address at least one priority resource concern during the contract period.
    Offer two types of payments:
        Practice Implementation Payments, which are paid after completion and certification of a conservation practice.
        Management Practice Payments, which include management practices that will serve as annual payments and are paid as soon as practicable after October 1 of each fiscal year.

For more information on Conservation Incentive Contracts, contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center.



Fischer Statement on Bipartisan Cattle Market Reform Bill

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today released the following statement on the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act:

“Today, the American Farm Bureau reiterated its support for our efforts to ensure every segment of the cattle market can succeed. Though there are differences of opinion within their own organization on the solution, family farmers and ranchers have been clear. Robust negotiated cash sales are integral to facilitating price discovery in the market. I am proud of the growing bipartisan consensus we’ve built for our legislation with seven Republicans and nine Democrats on the bill, including ten members of the Senate Agriculture Committee. We will continue to advance this proposal to ensure a fair and transparent cattle market for our nation’s cattle producers.”

The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act was introduced with Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The bill has 14 additional co-sponsors, including Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.) Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).



Farm Bureau Seeks Revision to Cattle Transparency Act

The American Farm Bureau Federation announced today its support of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2021, with the exception of the bill’s establishment of mandatory minimums for negotiated purchases.

AFBF delegates voted last week in Atlanta to revise 2022 Farm Bureau policy. While Farm Bureau supports robust negotiated sales, delegates voted to oppose government mandates that force livestock processing facilities to purchase a set percentage of their live animal supply via cash bids.

“AFBF appreciates the hard work that has been done on both sides of the issue to address the pressing needs facing America’s cattle industry,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act takes positive steps toward ensuring fairness for America’s farmers and ranchers as they work to feed this country’s families.

“We support the majority of this legislation, but we cannot support mandatory cash sales. We are committed to working with the sponsors of the bill to make revisions to ensure it aligns with the priorities outlined by our membership.”

The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act is sponsored by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and cosponsored by 14 other senators from both sides of the aisle. The legislation would also equip farmers with more information by establishing a cattle contract library, updating mandatory price reporting and increasing fines for companies that violate the Packers and Stockyards Act.



Soil Fertility Workshops to Be Held across Iowa

Farmers wishing to maximize the profits from their fertilizer dollars will want to attend one of 15 in-person workshops or a virtual workshop hosted by Iowa State University. The workshop series, called Soil Testing Interpretations and Recommendations: Maximizing Return on Investment, will be held in February and March. This series will address the profitable management of soil fertility in Iowa, as conditions continue to change with increased fertilizer input costs and a rising demand for nutrients from higher-yielding crops.

“These workshops will lead farmers through the basics of soil testing, analytical tests, calculating crop nutrient removal, understanding return on investment from fertilizer applications, how crop response correlates to soil test levels and what is known about crop response to micronutrients,” says Josh Michel, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The workshops are designed to help farmers understand their current soil nutrient situation, the amount their crops are using in a growing season and what needs to be added.

“While many decisions have already been made for the 2022 growing season,” said Virgil Schmitt, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, “fertility decisions will continue to evolve with changes in fertilizer prices and land tenure.”
Workshop details and locations

Workshops will be offered in person and one virtual option will be offered as well.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration is $40, and includes publications, copies of presentations, and any refreshments or meal (if provided for in-person meetings). Registrants should contact the extension office listed below to register for the workshop they plan attend. Registration fees for in-person workshops may be paid in advance or the day of the program.   

In-person workshop dates, times and locations are listed below. Register with the appropriate ISU Extension and Outreach county office.

    Feb. 8, 1-4:30 p.m. at Water’s Edge Nature Center in Algona. Complete the online registration form found on the Kossuth County webpage or call 515-295-2469 to register by Feb. 1.
     
    Feb. 10, 1-4 p.m. at the Borlaug Learning Center near Nashua. Call Floyd County at 641-228-1453 to register by Feb. 3.
     
    Feb. 14, 1-4:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Harrison County office. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 712-644-2105 to register by Feb. 7.
     
    Feb. 15, 1-4:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Crawford County office. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 712-263-4697 to register by Feb. 8.
     
    Feb. 16, 1-4:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Coon Rapids. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 641-747-2276 to register by Feb.9.
     
    Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Elkhorn Town Hall. Lunch is included. Call 712-755-3104 to register by Feb. 15.
     
    Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Grundy Center Community Center. Call 319-824-6979 to register by Feb. 16.
     
    Feb. 23, 1-4 p.m. at the Lytton Fire Station. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 712-297-8611 to register by Feb. 16.
     
    Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Leonard Goode Community Center in Ogden. Snacks will be provided. Call 515-386-2138 to register by Feb. 17.
     
    Feb. 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Cedar County office. Lunch is included. Call 563-886-6157 to register by Feb. 17.
     
    Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the ISU Extension and Outreach Black Hawk County office. Call 319-234-6811 to register by Feb. 18.
     
    Feb. 28, 1-4 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Fayette County office, 218 South Main Street, Fayette. Register by Feb. 21.
     
    March 1, in Dyersville, hosted by both Dubuque and Delaware counties. The location will be at FarmTek, located at 1440 18th Ave. SW, Highway 20, Dyersville. Register by Feb. 22.
     
    March 2, 1-4 p.m. at the library in Riceville. Call 563-547-3001 to register by Feb. 23.
     
    March 3, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Henry County office. Lunch will be provided. Call 319-385-8126 to register by Feb. 24.
     
    March 4 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the ISU Extension and Outreach Wapello County office. Lunch will be provided. Call 641-732-5574 to register by Feb. 25.
     
    March 17, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the LeMars Convention Center. Lunch will be provided. Call 712-546-7835 to register by March 10.
     
A virtual, statewide option is being offered via Zoom as well. This will be offered in a four-part series from Feb. 22-25 each day from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Registration is $40. To register, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Kossuth County office at 515-295-2469 or go to https://go.iastate.edu/DJLJVN to register online.

Participants who register and pay the registration fee by Feb. 15 will receive a mailed copy of supporting materials for the program prior to Feb. 22. Participants who register, but whose payment is received after Feb. 15, will receive electronic copies of the supporting materials.



Commodity Classic Announces Main Stage Line-Up for 2022

Some of the nation’s leading agriculture experts and well-known personalities will be featured on the Main Stage during the 2022 Commodity Classic held March 10-12 in New Orleans.

The Main Stage, presented by Successful Farming® and Commodity Classic, is located right on the trade show floor. Presentations are scheduled during trade show hours. Highlights of the Main Stage line-up for 2022 include:
    Al Kluis, marketing columnist for Successful Farming®: Strategies for Success in 2022
    Cashing in on Carbon, presented by Agoro
    The Future of Agriculture is Data, presented by GrainChain
    Generation Next, presented by Pivot Bio
    Xtreme Ag: Oh, the Mistakes We’ve Made, So You Don’t, presented by FMC
    Kevin Kimberley: The Planter Doctor
    Carbon Markets Tell-All Panel, presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions
    A cooking demonstration presented by USA Poultry & Egg Export Council

Commodity Classic is unlike any other agricultural event and features a robust schedule of educational sessions, a huge trade show showcasing the latest technology, equipment, and innovation, top-notch entertainment, inspiring speakers, unique optional tours, and the opportunity to network with thousands of progressive farmers from across the nation.

Registration and housing for the 2022 Commodity Classic are available at CommodityClassic.com. A complete schedule of events and additional details are also available online. Make sure to follow Commodity Classic on Twitter at @ComClassic and on Facebook for continued updates.

Commodity Classic is hard at work ensuring that this year’s show will be a fun and safe event that complies with COVID-19 guidelines in New Orleans. Masks are currently required in all indoor spaces in New Orleans, and proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required for entry. Commodity Classic is finalizing onsite testing and vaccination verification plans to make complying with local and state COVID-19 mandates as quick and easy as possible. Visit CommodityClassic.com/health-safety for the latest health and safety updates.