Monday February 7 Ag News

 Ricketts to Lead Trade Mission to UK and Ireland in August

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) announced plans for a trade mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland this August 20-28.

“The United Kingdom and Ireland are key trading partners for Nebraska,” said Gov. Ricketts.  “Strengthening ties with both countries will raise the profile of our state in Europe and encourage new investment in our communities.  I’m excited for the mission and its major potential to grow Nebraska.”

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Ag Service shows that exports from Nebraska to the United Kingdom and Ireland totaled around $1.065 billion from 2010-2020.  Companies based in the UK also employ 4,494 Nebraskans in 21 communities around the state.

DED Director Anthony L. Goins said that firms interested in helping expand Nebraska’s reach should consider joining the delegation.

“This is a great opportunity for Nebraska companies seeking to explore or expand in the international marketplace,” said Goins.  “At the same time, they’ll be helping us represent our state’s industries and grow its global footprint.  The resulting investments and partnerships will help strengthen our economy for years to come.”  

NDA Director Steve Wellman said he sees room for growth in Nebraska’s agricultural exports to the UK and Ireland, and he encouraged the farming and ranching community to attend.

“There’s a lot of room for growth in ag exports to the United Kingdom and Ireland, particularly in beef, pork, corn, and distillers grains,” said Wellman.  “Farmers and ranchers are the best people to tell the story of Nebraska agriculture and show consumers and agribusiness leaders the quality ag products that Nebraska has to offer.  I encourage Nebraska agriculture representatives to consider joining us on this upcoming trade mission.”

Businesses interested in participating in the trade mission should contact DED’s Cobus Block at cobus.block@nebraska.gov to apply.  Space is limited.



Northeast Cattlemen Membership Meeting

Monday, February 21
Geno's Steakhouse, Wayne
Social 6:00 pm
Prime Rib Diner at 7:00 pm
$40.00 / person

Northeast Nebraska Cattlemen Steak Fry
Sunday, April 23, 2022 - Wayne
 
For more information on the Northeast Nebraska Cattlemen contact Joel Bruns 402-922-0112 joelbruns@yahoo.com.  If you have any questions about your Nebraska Cattlemen dues  please contact the Nebraska Cattlemen office 402-475-2333 or Jessie Rudolph - jrudolph@necattlemen.org.  



Nebraska Extension to host virtual financial record-keeping course

The next session of “Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options,” Nebraska Extension’s four-part record-keeping course, will be held virtually from 1 to 3 p.m. Central time on March 15, 17, 22 and 24.

This course is designed to help farmers and ranchers understand their current financial position and how big decisions like large purchases, new leases or changes in production will affect their bottom line. Participants will work through the financial statements of a case study farm, watching pre-recorded videos, completing assignments and participating in video chats. Upon completion of this program, participants will have a better understanding of how financial records can be used to make decisions and confidently discuss their financial position with their family, business partners, and lenders.

Participants should plan on attending each of the four workshop dates. The course requires participants to have an internet connection. The course fee is $20 per participant and class size is limited to 20 people. Register by March 8 at https://wia.unl.edu/know.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2020-70028-32728.



PLANNING FOR SUMMER ANNUAL FORAGES
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Range & Forage Specialist

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the importance of planning for cool-season annual forages and the same applies for summer annual forages.  Taking care of this early could save you some money on seed or ensure that you get what you want.

Your plans should include whether you plan to hay this forage or have it for extra grazing?  But which one will you plant?

It can be confusing because there are six different types of major summer annual forage grasses.  These include: sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, forage sorghum (which we often call cane or sorgo), foxtail millet, pearl millet, and teff.  Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.  So, base your choice primarily on how you plan to use it.

For pasture, sudangrass or pearl millet are good choices.  Both are leafy, they regrow rapidly, and they contain less danger from prussic acid poisoning than other annual grasses.

For hay or green chop, select sorghum-sudan hybrids or pearl millet because they yield well and they have good feed value when cut two or three times.  On sandy soils, or when conditions are dry, foxtail millet may be a better choice for summer hay.  It dries fast, doesn't regrow after cutting, and handles dry soils well.  Cane hay is grown in many areas and produces high tonnage, but it’s lower in feed value and dries more slowly after cutting than the hybrids or millets.  Or you could choose teff for a really soft, leafy, high quality horse hay.

If the plan is to chop for silage, choose the forage sorghums, especially hybrids with high grain production.  They can't be beat for tonnage or for feed value.

While there are several choices of summer annual forages, simply select the one that is best adapted to the way you plan to use it.



ISU Meat Lab Short Courses Return for 2022

A strong interest in the beef processing industry is leading the Meat Science Laboratory at Iowa State University to offer its second “Fresh Beef Short Course” in less than a year.

The course, which is designed to offer a hands-on experience for participants who have an interest in expanding their knowledge of the beef processing industry, will be offered March 22-24 at the university’s meat lab.

Interest in all types of meat processing remains strong following market disruptions caused by COVID, and the long-standing trend of consumers wanting to know more about the product they buy, said Terry Houser, associate professor and Smithfield Foods chair in meat science extension at Iowa State.

Meat processors across Iowa and the nation have experienced an unprecedented backlog of processing orders, and there is heightened interest in expansion and growth.

“If a processor can come in and do a good job and produce high quality products, I think they’re going to have some pretty good consumer demand going forward,” Houser said.

Although COVID may be temporary, he said consumer interest in their food and where it comes from is here to stay, especially among millennials.

“That generation isn’t going anywhere and when they have their own kids, they’re teaching them the same values about product quality, variety and where it comes from,” Houser said.

In addition to the fresh beef course, the lab has more than a half-dozen other courses planned, covering fresh pork, sausages, snack jerky, food safety and more.

Course participants range from those looking to get into the meat industry, to those who may already work in the industry but want more education on the specifics of meat processing.

The cost for the fresh beef short course is $1,595 and includes course materials, hands-on education, three days of lunch and an evening reception.

Courses planned through September include:
    Fresh Beef Short Course (March 22-24).
    HACCP Workshop - Spring (March 29-31).
    Dry & Semi-Dry Sausage Short Course (April 12-14).
    FSIS Des Moines District Food Safety Summit (April 21).
    Sausage and Processed Meats (July 18-22).
    Snack Stick and Jerky Short Course ***New Course*** (Sept. 13-15).

Full course details can be found on the Meat Science Short Courses web page https://www.meatscience.ag.iastate.edu/shortcourses, including registration deadlines. Some registrations may be capped, to ensure the opportunity for participant interaction.



Iowa Families Invited to Apply Now for the 2022 Century and Heritage Farm Program

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encourages eligible farm owners to apply for the 2022 Century and Heritage Farm Program now. The program was created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation to recognize families who have owned their farms for 100 years and 150 years, respectively.

“The Century and Heritage Farm Program recognizes the strength and resiliency of Iowa’s multi-generation farm families,” said Secretary Naig. “I always look forward to celebrating with the families and hearing stories about their incredible farming legacies. I am grateful for the investments they make to protect our rich farmland and their continued commitment to our state’s agriculture community.”

To apply, download the application on the Department’s website at iowaagriculture.gov/century-and-heritage-farm-program.

Applications may also be requested from Kelley Reece, coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program, at 515-281-3645 or kelley.reece@iowaagriculture.gov. Written requests can be mailed to Century or Heritage Farm Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

To be included in the 2022 Century or Heritage Farm Program, completed applications must be received by the Department no later than June 1, 2022.

This marks the 46th anniversary of the Century Farm Program, which started in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. To date, more than 20,000 farms from across the state have received this recognition.

This is the 16th anniversary of the Heritage Farm Program. More than 1,500 farms have been recognized since this program began in 2006. To search for previous Century and Heritage Farm recipients, visit centuryfarms.iowaagriculture.gov/. Photos from past recognition ceremonies are also available on the Century and Heritage Farm Program website.

The ceremonies recognizing the 2022 Century and Heritage Farm families will be held at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 18, in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.



Farm Sector Profits Forecast to Remain Above Average in 2022
USDA Economic Research Service

Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast to have increased by $23.9 billion (25.1 percent) in 2021 relative to 2020 and is forecast to decrease by $5.4 billion (4.5 percent) in 2022 relative to 2021. Forecast at $113.7 billion in 2022, net farm income would be 15.2 percent above its 2001–20 average of $98.7 billion when prior years are adjusted for inflation. In inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars, net farm income is forecast to decrease by $9.7 billion (7.9 percent) in 2022 from 2021.

Net cash farm income is forecast to have increased by $17.0 billion (14.5 percent) in 2021 relative to 2020 and is forecast to increase by $1.9 billion (1.4 percent) to $136.1 billion in 2022 relative to 2021. When adjusted for inflation, 2022 net cash farm income is forecast to decrease by $2.9 billion (2.1 percent) from 2021. Net cash farm income in 2022 would be 13.6 percent above its 2001–20 average of $119.8 billion. Net cash farm income encompasses cash receipts from farming as well as farm-related income (including Government payments) minus cash expenses. It does not include noncash items—including changes in inventories, economic depreciation, and gross imputed rental income of operator dwellings—reflected in the net farm income measure above.

Cash receipts from the sale of agricultural commodities are forecast to increase by $29.3 billion (6.8 percent, in nominal terms) from 2021 levels to $461.9 billion in 2022. Total crop receipts are expected to increase by $12.0 billion (5.1 percent) from their 2021 level following higher receipts for soybeans, corn, cotton, and wheat. Total animal/animal product receipts are expected to increase even more, by $17.4 billion (8.9 percent), following higher receipts for milk, cattle/calves, and broilers.

While 2022 cash receipts overall are expected to increase, lower direct Government payments and higher production expenses are expected to counteract their net effects.  Direct Government payments are forecast to fall by $15.5 billion (57 percent) from 2021 to $11.7 billion in 2022. The decrease is expected because of lower supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance for COVID-19 relief in 2022 compared with 2021. Meanwhile, total production expenses, including operator dwelling expenses, are forecast to increase by $20.1 billion (5.1 percent) to $411.6 billion (in nominal terms) in 2022. Spending on nearly all categories of expenses is expected to rise with large increases in feed and fertilizer-lime-soil conditioner expenditures.

Average net cash farm income for farm businesses is forecast to remain relatively unchanged from 2021 at $91,500 per farm in 2022. However, the regional average net cash farm income outlook is mixed. For farm businesses located in the Northern Crescent and Eastern Uplands regions, average net cash farm income is forecast to increase in 2022, but it is forecast to decline for farm businesses located in the Basin and Range, Fruitful Rim and Mississippi Portal regions.  For all other regions, average net cash farm income is forecast to be relatively stable in 2022. Farm businesses specializing in cotton and dairy are expected to see the largest growth in average net cash farm income in 2022, while those specializing in specialty crops and hogs are expected to see the largest declines in 2022.

Farm sector equity is forecast up by $29.1 billion (1 percent) to $2.85 trillion (in nominal terms) in 2022. Farm assets are forecast to increase by $42.2 billion (1.3 percent) to $3.31 trillion in 2022, largely reflecting anticipated increases in real estate value. When adjusted for inflation, equity and total assets are forecast to fall by 2.5 and 2.2 percent respectively. Total farm debt is forecast to increase by $13.1 billion (2.9 percent) to $467.4 billion (in nominal terms) but decline 0.7 percent when adjusted for inflation. The farm sector debt-to-asset ratio is forecast to increase from 13.89 percent in 2021 to 14.11 percent in 2022. Working capital, which measures the amount of cash available to fund operating expenses after paying off debt due within 12 months, is forecast to decrease by 3.3 percent in 2022 from 2021.

Median Income of Farm Operator Households Forecast to be Flat in 2021 and Rise in 2022
Median total farm household income is forecast to be relatively flat in 2021 at $83,311 and increase to $88,234 in 2022. That is a nominal increase of 4.1 percent (a 0.1 percent decline after inflation) between 2020 and 2021, and a 5.9 percent nominal increase (a 2.2 percent increase after inflation) in 2022.

Farm households typically receive income from both farm and off-farm sources. Median farm income earned by farm households is forecast to decrease in 2021 to -$1,344 from -$1,198 in 2020, and then forecast to decline further to -$1,385 in 2022. Many farm households primarily rely on off-farm income: median off-farm income in 2021 is forecast at $71,234, an increase of 5.0 percent from $67,873 in 2020, and to continue increasing by 4.4 percent to $74,354 in 2022. This increase is due to higher earned income—income from wages, salary, and nonfarm businesses—and higher unearned income—income from interest, investments, pension and retirement accounts, unemployment compensation and other public transfers. Since farm and off-farm income are not distributed identically for every farm, median total income will generally not equal the sum of median off-farm and median farm income.



CATTLEMEN’S BEEF BOARD ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AT 2022 WINTER MEETINGS

Cattle producers Norman Voyles, Jr., Jimmy Taylor and Andy Bishop are the new leaders of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). This officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2022.

Voyles, Taylor and Bishop were elected by their fellow Beef Board members during their Winter Meetings, held during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention in Houston, Texas. Voyles, the 2021 vice chair, will now serve as the CBB’s chair, while Taylor will transition from his role as the 2021 secretary-treasurer to become the 2022 vice chair. Bishop is the newest member of the officer team, taking on Taylor’s former responsibilities as secretary-treasurer.

Chair Norman Voyles, Jr. owns and operates a seventh-generation grain and livestock farm near Martinsville, Ind. with his brother Jim and son Kyle. Voyles received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Purdue University and a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska. Voyles is a member of the Morgan County (Ind.) Beef Cattle Association and the Indiana Cattlemen’s Association. He’s a member of the Indiana Farm Bureau and a past member of the Farm Service Agency board of directors and the Morgan County Fair board.

“As 2022 gets underway, the beef industry is facing some challenges, but we also see many opportunities,” Voyles said. “The past few years haven’t been easy for producers, but there are many positives that we can build upon. The men and women who make up the Cattlemen’s Beef Board are committed to advancing the beef industry and working with Checkoff contractors to execute successful programs and initiatives throughout the coming year.”

Vice Chair Jimmy Taylor and his wife Tracy run a commercial Angus herd near Cheyenne, Oklahoma consisting of approximately 600 females on 12,000 acres. Their ranching efforts have earned them the 2011 Certified Angus Beef Commitment to Excellence Award and the 2013 Oklahoma Angus Association Commercial Breeder of the Year. The use of artificial insemination, proper nutrition, genomics and other new technologies play a large role in obtaining the operation’s goal: to create a good eating experience for the consumer. Taylor has also served on several local and state boards.

Secretary-Treasurer Andy Bishop and his wife Meagan currently raise their four children on their registered Angus seed stock operation, Fairfield Farm, living by the motto “Faith, Family and Farming.” Bishop began his career teaching agriculture to students and eventually moved into the field of agriculture lending in 2007. Bishop is the former chair of the Kentucky Beef Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference. Bishop also served as a member of the Long Range Planning Task Force and as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Young Producers Council and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Young Producers group.

“Norm, Jimmy and Andy are incredibly dedicated to the beef industry, and their experience will be invaluable as we guide the CBB through 2022,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “They bring their own unique perspectives to their new roles with the CBB, and we’re looking forward to their knowledge and expertise as we continue to find new and innovative ways to drive beef demand throughout the year ahead.”

To learn more about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety, visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.



January 1 Feeder Cattle Supplies Decline 2.6 Percent
James L. Mitchell, Extension Economist, University of Arkansas

One estimate that analysts like to calculate from the Cattle Inventory Report is feeder cattle supplies outside feedlots as of January 1. USDA does not report feeder cattle supplies directly, but it is easy to calculate using other categories in the report. The last row in the table listed below estimates feeder cattle supplies outside feedlots for U.S., Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky, respectively.

Using data from the table, adding Other Heifers, Steers 500 Pounds and Over, and Calves Under 500 Pounds (steers, heifers, and bulls) gives the Total Feeder Cattle Supply. Subtracting Cattle on Feed gives Feeder Cattle Supplies Outside Feedlots. As of January 1, 2022, there were 25.5 million head of feeder cattle outside feedlots, a 2.6 percent decline from last year. Arkansas had a significant decrease in feeder cattle supplies, down 9 percent year over year. In Mississippi, feeder cattle supplies were about even with the year prior, while Kentucky had a 5 percent decline.

Why did feeder cattle supplies decline so dramatically? Strong fourth-quarter prices, coupled with drought, likely resulted in producers selling cattle that they would have otherwise kept through the winter. For example, Arkansas prices for 500-600 pound steers averaged $163/cwt for Nov-Dec 2021, or 13 percent higher year over year. These high prices provided adequate incentives for producers to sell some cattle earlier. Cattle on feed data showed that cumulative Nov-Dec feedlot placements were 5 percent higher than 2020 placements for the same months.

January cattle on feed inventories are close to even with last year. It will take time for feedlots to work through these inventories. In the next couple of months, we should start to see tighter feeder cattle supplies show up in the placement data. Tighter feeder cattle supplies will translate to higher prices.



Cattle Producers Send WOTUS Letter to EPA

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) submitted a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of over 1,600 cattle producers from 44 states calling for a definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that works for the cattle industry.
 
The letter is in response to a rule proposed by the Biden administration to repeal the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and implement new regulations on water features, including features commonly found on farms and ranches. The letter asks EPA Administrator Michael Regan to support a limited, clear definition of WOTUS that maintains agricultural exclusions and respects existing Supreme Court precedent limiting federal jurisdiction over small bodies of water.
 
“The Biden administration’s rule repeals bipartisan exclusions for agriculture that existed under both Democratic and Republican administrations,” said NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager. “Without these critical exclusions, common features like stock ponds, agricultural ditches, and drainage systems can fall under federal jurisdiction, preventing cattle producers from actively managing their land and caring for their cattle.”
 
Despite the Biden administration representing this approach as a simple repeal, the draft rule is a significant change from both the Obama-era 2015 WOTUS rule and the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule, both of which maintained these exclusions which sought to protect the farmers and ranchers who manage stock ponds and certain ditches without disruptions from the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers.
 
“Stock ponds provide drinking water for cattle and agricultural ditches keep fields from flooding. Regulating these small features does nothing to improve water quality and makes day-to-day operations more difficult for cattle producers,” said NCBA Treasurer Joe Guild, a Nevada rancher and member of the NCBA Environmental Working Group. “Cattle producers already take steps to protect water—without government intervention—because it’s the right thing to do. Furthermore, farmers and ranchers are already doing good conservation work. I encourage the Biden administration to listen to farmers and ranchers across the country, rather than issuing top-down regulations from an office in Washington DC.”
 
The Biden WOTUS proposal also removes exclusions for ephemeral features, or water features that only flow during rain or after snowmelt. This creates even more confusion for cattle producers who may find puddles and creeks on their property that quality as a “WOTUS” during a rainstorm but are normally dry land.
 
NCBA’s grassroots letter is the culmination of a four-month long campaign to urge the EPA and the Biden administration to finally end the constant regulatory changes that created years of uncertainty for cattle producers. NCBA mobilized cattle producers to share their stories at EPA and Army Corps listening sessions and participate in agency roundtables. In January 2022, NCBA endorsed a report from the EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee, which recommended developing a clear WOTUS definition, maintaining exemptions for common agricultural features, and reconsidering the EPA WOTUS roundtable process. Later in January, the Supreme Court announced that it would consider the case Sackett v. EPA and address the scope of WOTUS, leading NCBA to urge the EPA to suspend WOTUS rulemaking until the case is decided. NCBA will continue monitoring WOTUS developments in Washington and advocating for solutions that support cattle producers.
 
In addition to the grassroots letter signed by cattle producers, NCBA and its affiliates will submit technical comments to the EPA for consideration under the rulemaking docket.



NASDA speaks out on federal agencies’ disregard of state governments’ role in regulating clean water
 
Today, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture expressed significant concerns with a proposed rule to revise the definition of the term “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act issued jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
 
“The Clean Water Act is built on the concept of cooperative federalism,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said.  “The Navigational Waters Protection Rule respected limitations on federal jurisdiction, as well as the capabilities and responsibilities of states to regulate and promote water quality.”
 
In NASDA’s comments sent to EPA, NASDA CEO Ted McKinney urged the EPA and the Corps to suspend further action on this rulemaking until guidance from the Supreme Court is provided.
 
“Unfortunately, the proposed rule will return us to the ambiguity of past regulation as well as the federal overreach that ignored the role and expertise of state partners,” McKinney said. “This is unacceptable, and NASDA urges the EPA and the Corps to reconsider the clarity and the undeniably appropriate level of protection offered by the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and move to reinstate this regulatory structure through a process that will withstand procedural complaints in the courts.”
 
In addition to today’s comments, NASDA members, farmers, ranchers and the agriculture industry have repeatedly advocated for clarity and reasonableness in the regulatory definition of WOTUS.



USDA Announces $1 Billion Investment to Support Farmers, Climate-Smart Initiatives

The United States Department of Agriculture will allocate $1 billion to help farmers across the country develop ways to address climate change, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today.

“As farmers, we are committed to being good stewards of the land and to addressing environmental issues,” said Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “We are pleased that USDA is addressing climate challenges with a voluntary, incentive-based approach that recognizes the need to provide flexibility for farmers.”
 
USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities will use funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation, to stand up pilot projects that implement climate-smart conservation practices on farms.  A climate-smart commodity is defined as an agricultural commodity that is produced using agricultural (farming, ranching or forestry) practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon.

State and local governments, commodity groups, businesses, tribal governments and nonprofits are encouraged to apply. Applications for projects worth over $5 million are due April 8, while applications for projects that cost $250,000 to $5 million are due on May 27.



U.S. Soybean Farmers Weigh in on Vilsack’s Rural Climate Initiative

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new $1 billion investment in partnerships that support climate-smart farming, ranching and forestry practices and that expand market opportunities for those climate-smart commodities to increase their competitive edge.

The American Soybean Association was engaged in that program announcement on Monday.

“ASA appreciates USDA’s announcement of the new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, which we hope will help soy farmers throughout the country and the agricultural value chain to address climate change,” said Brad Doyle, ASA President and Arkansas soy grower. “America’s soybean farmers welcome opportunities to grow sustainable markets for their crops, including as food, feed, biofuels, and other biobased goods, and through export programs like the Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol. Unlocking a new climate-smart commodity marketplace is a positive next step for our industry, and we are pleased to see what innovations this pilot program delivers.”

ASA commented on the early stages of the partnership program in November. As soy growers learn more about these new revenue stream opportunities, ASA reiterates that the industry has established long-term goals for sustainability, and soybean farmers work day to day through good farming practices to do their part and remain committed to the environment.



Farm Bureau Commends New Climate-Smart Pilot Projects

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s announcement of the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities pilot program.

“Farm Bureau commends efforts by USDA to address the challenges farmers and ranchers are facing in their attempts to adopt new and emerging climate-smart practices, as well as participate in developing climate marketing channels.

“Voluntary, incentive-based pilot projects are a great first step to identify barriers and ensure farmers and ranchers of all sizes can participate no matter where they are located or what they produce.  We look forward to working with the administration, Congress and our members to develop bipartisan solutions that provide adequate CCC funding while also ensuring the longevity of programs that build on our longstanding commitment to sustainability.”



NFU OFFERS SUPPORT FOR NEW USDA “PARTNERSHIPS FOR CLIMATE-SMART COMMODITIES”

Today, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack unveiled a new opportunity that will support farmers and ranchers in their efforts to fight climate change. The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities will fund pilot projects to accelerate the role farmers and ranchers play in providing climate solutions.

In comments submitted to USDA in November, National Farmers Union stressed the importance of a national, broadly inclusive initiative in terms of geography and scale of production, and that participation by limited resource, beginning, and social disadvantaged farmers and ranchers should be encouraged.

“NFU has long called for bold and cooperative action to rein in the climate crisis, and this announcement marks a key step in helping farmers and ranchers be part of the solution,” said Rob Larew, President, National Farmers Union.

“We appreciate that the climate-smart commodities opportunity is designed to be inclusive, collaborative, and focused on voluntary, incentive-based practices and approaches to conservation,” added Larew. “NFU is hopeful these pilot projects will help develop new market opportunities for farmers, and we stand ready to work with the administration to ensure the pilot projects are successful.”



Clean Fuels Asks for Certainty in the RFS Volumes for 2020, 2021 and 2022

Today, Clean Fuels Alliance America submitted comments supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to deny pending small refinery exemptions. On Friday, Clean Fuels submitted comments on EPA's proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Volume Standards for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Clean Fuels commented on nearly every aspect of the wide-ranging proposal but expressed particular concern with EPA's triggering of "reset" authority and proposals for regulating biointermediates.

Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels' Vice President of Federal Affairs, writes in the comments on the annual volumes, "We ask EPA to provide certainty to the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry, do not unlawfully use the reset authority to retroactively adjust the 2020 volumes, and be cautious of unintended consequences associated with the biointermediates provisions."

In addressing the separate proposal on pending small refinery exemptions, Kovarik writes, "Clean Fuels supports EPA's proposal to deny 65 pending small-refinery exemption petitions and requests that EPA also deny the 36 small-refinery exemptions -- 31 of which were originally granted -- for 2018." The 36 additional petitions pending before the agency are those remanded by order of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in response to EPA's motion in Sinclair Wyoming Refinery.

Clean Fuels estimates that the 2018 exemptions reduced demand for biodiesel and renewable diesel by 190 million gallons. Overall, the flood of exemptions that EPA granted beginning in 2017 impacted 550 million gallons of biomass-based diesel, resulting in 5.2 million metric tons of additional greenhouse gas emissions. "If EPA were to grant the pending 2019 small refinery exemptions, we estimate that biodiesel and renewable diesel will experience a future market loss of approximately 200 million gallons, resulting in 1.9 million MT of GHG emissions in the atmosphere that could have otherwise been avoided," Kovarik writes.

"EPA's denial of pending small refinery exemptions is not just appropriate, but required," Kovarik added. "Clean Fuels and its members appreciate the administration's commitment to getting the RFS back on track. We urge EPA to finalize the volumes quickly, account for small refinery exemptions fairly, and grow the market for biofuels through a timely rule for 2023 and beyond."



Growth Energy: EPA Must Quickly Finalize 2022 RVOs and Fix the Flaws of 2020, 2021 RVOs  

Growth Energy submitted comments in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed 2020, 2021, and 2022 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs), urging the agency to quickly finalize the proposed 2022 RVO and fix the flaws in the proposed 2020 and 2021 RVOs to fully capture the environmental, societal, and economic benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as Congress intended. Importantly, Growth Energy’s comments address the critical importance of this rule's impact on what happens when the agency begins work this year on a new rule – called “the Set” – that establishes multi-year targets for 2023 and beyond.

“The Renewable Fuel Standard was designed by Congress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our transportation sector, improve U.S. energy security, and support American economic growth,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “If the Biden Administration enforces the RFS as previously promised, the RFS can be an even more powerful weapon in the fight against climate change, improving air quality, and addressing environmental justice concerns.   

“EPA’s proposal includes a number of forward-looking actions that underscore the critical role biofuels play in decarbonizing the transportation sector. We are encouraged that EPA’s proposal for 2022 RVOs would place the RFS program back on track with 15 billion gallons implied conventional ethanol requirements that account for any estimated future small refinery exemptions. We urge the EPA to finalize the 2022 proposal immediately to get these RVOs in place for this compliance year and provide biofuel producers with much needed market certainty.

“However, EPA’s proposal includes some serious flaws that need to be addressed in the final rule. It contains unlawful and unnecessary retroactive cuts to the 2020 RVO and includes inexcusably late volumes for 2021 that simply reflect actual production volumes rather than spur refiners to meet Congress’s RFS goals. Such moves, if finalized, would create further uncertainty in the renewable fuel marketplace and undervalue biofuels as a low-carbon, homegrown fuel and its role in our nation’s battle with climate change.”  

In its comments to the agency, Growth Energy urges EPA to update its lifecycle analysis to better reflect the greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential of biofuels as demonstrated in newer science and updated GHG lifecycle emissions modeling. Growth Energy’s comments also discuss the environmental justice concerns related to air quality and how higher biofuel blends may be an available solution.   

Growth Energy’s comments to EPA also support clarity regarding the use of biointermediates in the production of renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel, and speedy approval of several pending RFS pathway applications and registrations, including the production of cellulosic biofuel from kernel fiber and several other biofuels.   



IRFA and Iowa Corn Encourage EPA to Deny Pending RFS Exemption Requests and Refocus on Core Mission of RFS
 
Today the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) submitted joint comments to the EPA encouraging the agency to follow through with its proposal to deny 65 small refinery exemptions (SREs) to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
 
The comments emphasized that denying unjustified SREs is “not only justified but is required by a fair and faithful execution of the RFS.” IRFA and ICGA stressed that the primary justification given by refiners for an exemption is the cost of RINs while it has been repeatedly proven that RIN prices do not negatively harm refiners.
 
“After more than a decade to comply with the RFS, no refiner has made an even remotely credible case that compliance with the RFS creates disproportionate economic harm,” the groups said.
 
The comments also suggested to EPA several steps that would increase the availability and thereby reduce the price of RINs, chief among them ensuring all parts of the country have access to lower volatility blendstock that would make it possible for retailers to sell E15 all year.
 
“By standardizing the volatility of gasoline blendstocks, EPA can eliminate current boutique fuels, unlock greater ethanol blending opportunities, improve air quality, and reduce GHG emissions – all while increasing the supply and lowering the price of RINs,” the groups said. “Allowing more consumers the option of E15 provides them with a higher octane, lower cost, lower emissions fuel while at the same time significantly improving RFS compliance options for obligated parties.”
 
Finally, IRFA and ICGA urged EPA to refocus on the mission of the RFS – to lower greenhouse gas emissions, increase national security, and improve air quality by moving the market toward biofuels.
 
“There has still not been one single year when the RFS was fully and faithfully implemented at the 15-billion-gallon level for conventional biofuels,” they said. “While we applaud EPA’s proposal to end the SRE abuse, we implore the Agency to properly implement all facets of the RFS for the first time ever.”



ACE Supports EPA’s Proposal to Deny Small Refinery Exemption Petitions

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) today submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposal to Deny Petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs).

ACE CEO Brian Jennings wrote in the organization’s feedback that “ACE strongly supports EPA’s proposed decision to deny all pending SRE petitions by finding the petitioning refineries do not face disproportionate economic hardship (DEH) caused by compliance with their RFS obligations.”

The comments provide background on the litigation that compels EPA to deny the pending SREs, including precedent established by the Tenth Circuit Court in HollyFrontier v. Renewable Fuels Association, which ACE was a petitioner on, and subsequent decision by the Supreme Court in HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC v. RFA. EPA’s proposed denial of all pending SRE petitions complies with the Tenth Circuit Court ruling in that: 1) The cause of refinery “hardship” must be the RFS, rather than general economic factors; and 2) EPA’s determination that RFS compliance costs are essentially a pass through that are not ultimately born by refiners prevents RIN prices from being used to justify waivers.

ACE is also encouraged EPA proposed to evaluate future SRE petitions based on these two restraints.

The submitted feedback highlights the stringent threshold that must be met to prove the RFS is the cause of economic harm, citing precedent from 2008 (economic recession) and 2012 (drought) that provide narrow authority and require implementation of the RFS itself to be the cause of economic harm.

ACE’s comments conclude by backing up EPA’s correct interpretation that RIN [renewable identification number] prices do not cause economic harm with several relevant findings from EPA and others. “EPA’s proposed rulemaking denying the pending SRE petitions complies with the long-held position that RIN prices cannot be evidence of economic harm in seeking a waiver from RFS obligations,” the comments read.



Hesston by Massey Ferguson Launches New Self-Propelled Windrower

AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, introduced today a new self-propelled windrower from Hesston by Massey Ferguson® that provides hay farmers more uptime, more power, and more comfort. The new WR Series windrower will debut at the AGCO booth during World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA, on February 8-10, 2022.

The WR Series windrower offers a 10% increase over previous models in overall efficiency to provide the power and speed to maximize hay production and quality. User-friendly features reduce the stress and fatigue brought on by long days in the field, while advanced smart farming technology helps minimize the overall carbon footprint for West Coast hay and livestock operations.

“When it comes to high-quality hay, every hour counts,” said Matt LeCroy, marketing director, Hay & Forage North America. “Massey Ferguson customers rely on the straightforward and dependable nature of their equipment to efficiently accomplish work across their farms. The new WR Series windrower allows them to maximize their time in the field with minimized impact on the environment all while riding in one of the most comfortable high-tech cabs on the market.”

Greater Power and Fuel Savings
At the heart of the new WR Series design is a closed center auxiliary hydraulic system. Depending on application, this feature allows for a 10% fuel reduction or 10% available power increase. This boost in overall efficiency is paired with a 150-gallon fuel tank capacity — an increase over previous models — for greater uptime and productivity.

For added performance and sustainability, the new WR Series features AGCO Power™ engines, delivering up to 265 HP at 2100 rpm and more than 280 HP at 1950 rpm. These highly dependable and cost-effective engines offer a proven legacy of consistency, reliability, fuel savings and increased efficiency. The WR197 features a 4.9-liter, four-cylinder while the WR235 and WR265 are equipped with a 7.4-liter, six-cylinder engine. A large tandem hydraulic header drive pump offers increased hydraulic capacity and control, allowing producers to run disc or draper heads. This provides higher productivity, faster field speeds, and better performance in all field conditions.

Cutting-Edge Technologies for Improved Efficiencies and Comfort
The new WR Series also offers some of Massey Ferguson’s most cutting-edge technology for increased efficiency and a comfortable ride. The Datatronic™ 5 terminal collects all vital operations in one convenient place and provides an intuitive interface for increased productivity and ease of use. This system allows for individual operator profiles, making it easy to customize operational preferences. Producers can also use MF Guide and other smart farming technologies for more economical operation.

This system reduces overlaps and can save up to 12% fuel in field operations. The spacious, ergonomically inspired Vision™ Cab with high visibility, rounded front windshield and tinted rear glass provides an unobstructed view for operation and transport. A suspended rear axle — the oscillating GlideRider™ — absorbs bounce and shock for increased operator comfort. Paired with the optional OptiAir™ four-point air bag suspension, producers can experience one of the smoothest rides available.

“Hesston by Massey Ferguson hay equipment is known for high productivity and producing some of the best quality forage,” LeCroy said. “The WR Series provides the efficiency and dependability producers have come to expect, with added comforts that make this vital job more enjoyable. We’re excited to offer the WR Series to operators who were Born to Farm.”