Friday March 18 Ag News

Ricketts Designates March 20th as “Meat on the Menu Day”

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that he had designated March 20th as “Meat on the Menu Day” in Nebraska.  On this day, Nebraskans are encouraged to purchase and eat beef, pork, chicken, lamb, or another kind of meat.

“I am proclaiming March 20th as Meat On the Menu Day in Nebraska,” said Gov. Ricketts.  “It’s a great opportunity for families to go to a restaurant or pick up some meat at the store to grill at home.  You’ll be getting a great, nutritious meal while supporting our farmers and ranchers.”

Watch a video of Governor Ricketts sharing the importance of livestock agriculture to Nebraska and see his invitation to participate in “Meat on the Menu Day” by clicking here.

Radical environmentalists have begun pushing cities and states to promote vegan diets.  March 20th is a part of the national “MeatOUT” campaign aimed at ending animal agriculture production.  Governor Ricketts has designated the same day as “Meat on the Menu Day” to highlight the importance of meat to a healthy diet.



PVC Feedlot Meeting is Monday evening
Brian Steffensmeier, Platte Valley Cattlemen President

The Platte Valley Cattlemen would like to invite you to our Feedlot Meeting Monday, March 21, 2022, at Wunderlich’s Catering in Columbus. Social hour will begin at 6:00 sponsored by Cooperative Supply out of Leigh (Tony Wordeman).  Meal will begin at 7:00 sponsored by Kit Held Seed and Chemical.

The main speaker will be Dr Kent Tjardes with Purina. He will be speaking on feeding cattle with high priced commodities.

They look forward to seeing you March 21, 2022.



Nebraska Corn Board recognized three ag leaders at annual awards dinner

Three individuals were recognized at the Nebraska Corn Board’s (NCB) 2022 awards dinner on March 17 in Lincoln. The annual awards event highlights outstanding contributions to the state’s corn industry. Each of the three recipients have long histories serving Nebraska agriculture.

Two recipients received the inaugural NCB Vision Award. The purpose of this recognition is to honor individuals, industry leaders, businesses or organizations that have gone above and beyond to help NCB achieve its vision, which is to enhance demand, add value and ensure sustainability.

Jon Hozfaster was the first recipient of the NCB Vision Award. A third-generation farmer from Paxton, Hozfaster grows corn, popcorn, alfalfa, wheat, soybeans, edible beans and operates a background feed yard. He served as the District 8 director of NCB from 2003 to 2018. He also served on the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) corn board for six years and provided valuable service to the Ethanol Action Team. Through this role, he was an instrumental leader in NCGA’s partnership with Growth Energy to establish E15 as the official racing fuel for NASCAR.
Jon Holzfaster, farmer from Paxton, accepts the Nebraska Corn Board’s Vision Award from Andy Groskopf, District 8 Director serving on the board.

Holzfaster made significant contributions to agriculture at the local, national and international levels. Along with his family, Holzfaster helped position Western Nebraska as an innovative and progressive area, not only to farm and ranch in, but a place to build new value-added ag related businesses. He has taken his commitment to building new demand for corn and his knowledge of economic development to help establish a farmer cooperative to build an ethanol plant.

“Jon has made significant contributions to both the corn and ethanol sectors at the local and national levels,” said Andy Groskopf, secretary and treasurer of NCB and farmer from Scottsbluff. “His impact is lasting, too. He’s still well-known and respected at national meetings even though he’s no longer serving on the NCB or NCGA boards.”

David Buchholz was the second recipient of NCB’s Vision Award. Buchholz has been a long-time friend and ally of Nebraska’s agricultural industry. His advertising agency, David & Associates, was the first advertising agency NCB ever partnered with over 30 years ago. Through his visionary thinking and strategic marketing savvy, millions of people from around the world have been exposed to positive messages about corn and agriculture.

Buchholz helped NCB with countless campaigns and advertising initiatives throughout the years. A few highlights:
    Strategic partnerships with influencers, such as Olympic bobsledder Curt Tomasevicz
    Helped refine the CornsTalk series into issue-based publications that were consumer-focused and easy to understand.
    Helped bring ethanol to the national stage through the Big Ten Network
    His creative efforts helped make promotional events successful, such as Husker Harvest Days, Pump Promotions, FFA Conventions and other trade shows.

“Dave was more than a contractor that worked for us but rather a trusted advisor or an extension of our staff,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, vice chairman of NCB and farmer from Giltner. “He had many ag-based clients, including NCGA, U.S. Grains Council, Nebraska Extension and others. This helped us because Dave truly understood agriculture and helped us put our best foot forward.”

The final recognition of the evening was the Ag Achievement Award. This honor, first presented in 1991, was designed to recognize outstanding and unselfish efforts to further the state’s corn industry. This year’s Ag Achievement Award was presented to Lynn Chrisp, a farmer from Hastings. In total, Chrisp has spent over 30 years serving corn farmers through state and national leadership roles.

At the national level, he most recently served as president and chairman of NCGA in 2018 and 2019 respectively. He was active on numerous NCGA action teams over the years and worked on several issues impacting corn farmers, such as global agricultural trade, production, stewardship, biotechnology, the Farm Bill and ethanol. His most recent work focused on ethanol’s role as a low carbon, high octane fuel, in which a bill was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives.

On the local level, Chrisp became a member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) in 1988. He previously served as chairman of NeCGA’s government relations committee with oversight for state and national issues. He also was involved in the planning and implementation of NeCGA’s leadership program to Washington, D.C.  Chrisp was instrumental in leveraging the strengths of NCB and NeCGA to implement a more unified brand under Nebraska Corn.

“Lynn has been a constant in Nebraska’s corn industry for as long as I can remember,” said Jay Reiners, chairman of NCB and farmer from Juniata. “He was a major reason why I got involved in Nebraska’s corn industry. Through his encouragement and mentorship, I was able to take the next step and help advocate for our state’s farmers. I have long admired Lynn’s leadership and continue to look up to him.”

Each award winner was identified and selected by NCB.



Gordon-Rushville Wins "Best of Beef"

The Nebraska ProStart Culinary Competition took place in early March featuring high school teams from across the state who competed virtually to create restaurant style dishes. Each year, the Nebraska Beef Council awards the “Best of Beef” trophy to the team that creates the most outstanding beef dish.

This year, the winner was Gordon-Rushville High School for their submission of a pan-fried New York Strip steak with a garlic-mustard pan sauce. The team of three students developed the menu, created the recipe, established pricing, and then prepared the dish with step-by-step instructions. The students were guided by their FCS teacher, Kay Kruger.

As the winner, the team received a plaque and a $100 beef voucher for product to be used in the classroom.



Nebraska LEAD Class 39 graduates

Due to a one-year pause in their agriculture-based leadership development program, Nebraska LEAD Class 39 recently received their certificates of completion from the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council. There are twenty-eight members of the LEAD 39 graduating class.

The journey began in the fall of 2019 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. Since that time, members of LEAD 39 traveled to every corner of the state, visiting nearly all of Nebraska’s private and public college campuses.  Hundreds of speakers volunteered their time to share their knowledge with LEAD 39 Fellows.  Topics presented ranged from natural resources and nuclear energy to agricultural policy and understanding of leadership styles.

LEAD 39 program graduates also received national instruction with travels to Kansas City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Some of the included stops were: KC: the regional Environmental Protection Agency office and the Federal Reserve Bank; D.C.: the Embassy of the Czech Republic, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Chicago: Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences and Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Due to the pandemic, members of LEAD 39 did not travel internationally.  Instead, the class traveled to Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. For 14 days, members of LEAD 39 saw first-hand agricultural practices of growing oysters and clams, vegetable production in hothouses, blue cheese production, alpaca ranching, growing grapes for wine and raisins, beef cattle finishing, and vegetable production in dessert conditions.  

Formal presentations included an audience with Karen Barrett-Ross (LEAD VI), Secretary of the California Food & Agriculture Department and Meg Brown, an agricultural advocate from Chico, California. The class had meetings with representatives of Roseburg Timer, the Northern California Water Association, the California Fresh Fruit Association, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, tours of Specialty Produce and Shearer’s Snack Foods, and a private behind the scenes tour of the San Diego Zoo.

Nebraska LEAD 39 Fellows by city/town are:  
ALBION: John Krohn
ARTHUR: Jason Christensen
BELLEVUE: John Bronner, Derek Brown  
BLUE HILL: Alex Buschow
BROKEN BOW: Ashley Peters
CLARKSON: Mike Podany
CLATONIA: Monte Murkle
COLON: Jeff Meduna
COLUMBUS: Justin Lorenz
ELGIN: Tiffany Hemenway
EUSTIS: Zack Jenner
GRAND ISLAND: Andy Paul  
HOLDREGE: Molly Trausch
HORDVILLE: Rebekah Bankson
LINCOLN: Travis Harrison, Laurel Mastro, Blythe McAfee, Brett Muhlbach, Tony Sibert
MULLEN: Kory Phillips
NELIGH: Koryn Koinzan
OMAHA: Craig Davidson, Benjamin Grabenstein  
STROMSBURG: Cale Pallas
SUTHERLAND: Thomas Kelly  
SUTTON: Jesse Mohnike
UTICA: Mindy Wolf

Applications for LEAD 41 are due no later than June 15 and are available via e-mail from the Nebraska LEAD Program. Please contact the Nebraska LEAD Program office at leadprogram@unl.edu.  You may also request an application by writing to 104 ACB, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 68583-0940 or by calling (402) 472-6810. You can visit www.lead.unl.edu for information about the selection process.

In its 41st year, the Nebraska LEAD Program is operated by the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, a nonprofit organization, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and in cooperation with Nebraska colleges and universities, business and industry, and individuals throughout the state.



USDA Announces Grain Inspection Advisory Committee Appointments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of six members to serve on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee beginning April 1, 2022.

Members appointed for a three year term include:
    Barbara L. Grove, Domestic Grain Handler, Central Valley Ag. -York, Nebraska
    Kurt A. Rosentrater, Professor, Iowa State University - Ames, Iowa
    Charles B. Bird, Diagnostic Test Kit Manufacturer, Neogen - Lansing, Michigan
    Christopher W. Frederking, Exporter, Zen-Noh - Convent, Louisiana
    Philip C. Garcia, Official Agency, Washington State Department of Agriculture- Olympia, Washington
    John M. Morgan, Exporter, Supreme Rice, LLC. - Crowley, Louisiana

Established under the U.S. Grain Standards Act on September 29, 1981, the advisory committee represents the interests of all segments of the U.S. grain industry from producer to exporter. The committee is comprised of 15 members representing grain processors, merchandisers, handlers, exporters, consumers, grain inspection agencies and scientists.



Nebraska black light trap insect monitoring network provides short and long term benefits

For decades, University of Nebraska-Lincoln entomologists have maintained black light traps at locations across Nebraska to serve as an early warning for potentially damaging crop insect pests that may occur.  Black light, or ultraviolet traps are attractive to several night flying insects, particularly moths.  Several of these moth species produce plant feeding caterpillars which can damage many Nebraska crops.

Currently, black light traps are maintained at four locations; Haskell Ag Laboratory near Concord; Eastern Nebraska Research Extension, and Education Center, near Mead; the South Central Ag Laboratory near Clay Center; and the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte.   

These traps are monitored several times a week during the growing season. Information is reported online at https://entomology.unl.edu/fldcrops/lightrap  and shared in newsletter articles and social media. UNL research and extension Entomologists who currently maintain these light traps and report data during the growing season include Tom Hunt (Concord), Justin McMechan (Ithaca), Bob Wright (Clay Center) and Julie Peterson (North Platte), with support from their technical staff.

Insect abundance varies across the state and fluctuates from year to year, both in its timing and magnitude, so monitoring current conditions can be useful to growers, crop consultants and others as they check fields during the growing season.  Light trap data cannot predict insect abundance in individual fields but can be important to alert people to know what to watch for.

Light trap data are not only a valuable tool for our Nebraska Extension programming during the current year, but we have found that having historical black light trap records can be an important research tool as well.  Several examples of this include:

Bt corn hybrids, which were engineered to be resistant to certain pests, were first commercialized in the US in 1996 and relatively rapidly adopted by growers because of their efficacy in reducing damage from European corn borer larvae tunneling in the corn stalk.  As more acres of Bt corn hybrids were grown, Midwestern university entomologists who worked with corn and other crops noticed they were seeing reduced numbers of European corn borer moths in their black light traps and in commercial fields.   

Entomologists from Nebraska and surrounding states shared their black light trap data from years before and after the introduction of Bt corn hybrids and were able to document that there was a significant relationship between the percentage of corn acres in an area planted to Bt corn hybrids and European corn borer moth catches in black light traps. As acres planted to Bt corn hybrids increased, the European corn borer populations decreased compared to their numbers before 1996.  This relationship held up across multiple states in the midwestern U. S.  and resulted in a paper being published in the prestigious journal, Science.   

The western bean cutworm, a pest of corn and dry beans in Nebraska, has been difficult to study because it is difficult to rear in the lab.  Information on degree-day requirements for insect development is a useful predictive tool to provide people localized recommendations on when to check fields for pest insects.  Typically, degree day requirements are determined by rearing insects in the lab at different constant temperatures to determine what is their minimum temperature for development and how much heat (degree-days) is required for egg hatch or larval and pupal development. Fortunately, UNL entomologists have maintained black light traps at several locations for decades.  

Using historic data from these traps, UNL researchers, in cooperation with entomologists from University of Minnesota, we were able to develop a statistical model to help predict western bean cutworm moth emergence. We now use this information to alert Nebraska growers when moth emergence has begun in different parts of Nebraska, based on temperature data available from Nebraska Climate Office weather stations across the state.  The timing of moth emergence is a signal that it is a good time to begin to check fields for western bean cutworm egg-laying, so that if needed, timely insecticide applications can be made. This research was published in the Journal of Economic Entomology.

Most recently, a group of entomologists from North Carolina State University is leading an effort to analyze the distribution of corn earworms in the United States and predict how this might change under various climate change scenarios in the future.  Nebraska entomologists have shared historical data on corn earworm moth captures from our black light trap network to this study.  We recently submitted an article to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences based on this work.



NEBRASKA HONEY PRODUCTION

Honey production in 2021 from Nebraska producers with five or more colonies totaled 1.83 million pounds, down 5% from 2020, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

There were 39,000 honey producing colonies in Nebraska during 2021, up 5% from 2020. Average yield was 47 pounds per colony, down 5 pounds from 2020. Producer stocks were 550,000 pounds on December 15, 2021, up from 250,000 pounds a year earlier.

Prices for the 2021 crop averaged $2.17 per pound, up from $1.69 per pound in 2020. Prices were based on retail sales by producers and sales to private processors and cooperatives. Total value of honey produced in 2021 was $3.98 million, up 22% from 2020.

United States Honey Production Down 14 Percent in 2021
United States honey production in 2021 totaled 126 million pounds, down 14 percent from 2020. There were 2.70 million colonies producing honey in 2021, down slightly from 2020. Yield per colony averaged 46.9 pounds, down 14 percent from the 54.5 pounds in 2020. Colonies which produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State where the honey was produced. Therefore, at the United States level yield per colony may be understated, but total production would not be impacted. Colonies were not included if honey was not harvested. Producer honey stocks were 23.5 million pounds on December 15, 2021, down 41 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.

Honey Prices Up 21 Percent in 2021
United States honey prices increased 21 percent during 2021 to $2.54 per pound, compared to $2.10 per pound in 2020. United States and State level prices reflect the portions of honey sold through cooperatives, private, and retail channels. Prices for each color class are derived by weighting the quantities sold for each marketing channel. Prices for the 2020 crop reflect honey sold in 2020 and 2021. Some 2020 crop honey was sold in 2021, which caused some revisions to the 2020 crop prices.



IDALS; APHIS Confirm Second Case of HPAI in Buena Vista County, Iowa
 
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a second positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The virus was found in a flock of commercial layer chickens. This is the second confirmed case of HPAI in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The first case was in a commercial turkey flock on March 6.

Flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual deaths to state/federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available at iowaagriculture.gov/biosecurity. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases should also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.



Top 10 Announced for Iowa's Best Burger Contest

Iowans submitted nominations between February 14 – March 14 to kick off the quest to find the best burger in Iowa. Nominations were accepted online by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2022 Top Ten restaurants. The restaurants making the Top Ten list (in alphabetical order) include:   
    Arty’s Ice Cream & Grill, Wilton
    Cattlemen's Steakhouse, Sac City
    Flaming Office Bar and Grill, Toledo
    Foodie Garage Eatery, Dubuque
    Lachele's Fine Foods, Des Moines
    Pally's Bar & Grille, Clive
    The Flying Elbow, Marshalltown
    The Handlebar, Dallas Center
    Victoria Station, Harlan
    West Towne Pub, Ames

To qualify, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty served on a bun or bread product. Burgers may include any combination of condiments, sauces, cheese or toppings.

“In total, we had more than 5,400 votes from 265 cities and towns across Iowa,” said Kylie Peterson, Director of Marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council. “This year’s Top Ten restaurants are award-winning worthy, but are only a few of the many restaurants in Iowa that do an outstanding job of promoting and serving our beef products to their customers on behalf of Iowa’s beef farmers.”   

Eight of the Top Ten restaurants are new qualifiers. Returning contestants include Arty’s Ice Cream & Grill and Foodie Garage Eatery.  

The final phase in the quest for the 2022 Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees Fahrenheit). The judges’ scores and comments will be accumulated and the winner will be announced on May 3 to kick off May Beef Month.

“Iowa cattle producers work tirelessly to provide high-quality beef to consumers across the state, country and globe,” said Bob Noble, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association President. “We are proud to support the Best Burger contest, and would like to congratulate the Top Ten, who serve 100% real beef. We thank you for serving our product and bringing out the best of beef.”

Last year, Bambino’s of Ossian took home the title of 2021 Iowa’s Best Burger. Winners in previous years include: 2020 – Twisted Tail Steakhouse & Saloon of BeeBeeTown; 2019 – Wood Iron Grille of Oskaloosa; 2018 - Café Beaudelaire of Ames; 2017 – The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ of Storm Lake; 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant Adair; 2015 – The Cider House of Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill in Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille in Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck in Dexter; and 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City.

To learn more about the contest and the Top Ten restaurants, including addresses and hours, visit www.iabeef.org.



Higher Fertilizer Prices May Make Manure a More Valuable Option

Last fall, fertilizer prices were trending higher, and with supply change issues and soaring fuel prices, that trend has continued into the spring.

Even with potentially higher crop prices, this offers challenges to finding ways to increase or maintain farm profitability. However, one available option is to explore the use of manure. Many livestock owners have long known the value manure has to offer. With skyrocketing commercial fertilizer prices, this offers the opportunity to make even better use of the manure resources.

In this article, ag engineering specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach explain the opportunities and challenges to using manure as fertilizer in the spring.

Farmers who historically have relied on synthetic fertilizer, and even those who have used manure, but have limited experience with spring application, should consider using some manure this spring. While there is never a guarantee of what fertilizer prices will do in the future, current prices are unprecedented. Until 2021, most years showed a lower average price in the fall than in the spring. Even if your manure resources are limited and applying some manure this spring means you won't be able to cover as much ground next fall, it still represents an opportunity to save some money now since fertilizer prices haven't stabilized.

Why apply manure in the spring?
Aligning nutrient availability with crop nutrient demands is good for the farm's bottom line and downstream water quality. Research has shown that applying nitrogen closer to when the crop needs it can reduce the risk of nitrogen loss to the environment. Fall nitrogen applications can pose a risk for nitrogen loss to the environment, especially when manure is applied earlier in the fall. With a longer period between manure application and crop nitrogen use, there is a higher likelihood that some nitrogen conversion and leaching will occur.

Especially with high nitrogen fertilizer prices, it can pay to apply manure in the spring. Across multiple research studies in Iowa and Minnesota, significant corn yield benefits (average of 33 bushels per acre) have been seen by delaying manure application from late fall when soils are 50 degrees Fahrenheit and cooling until spring. With 2022 futures corn prices, yield improvement can easily total over $200 an acre in value.

Cost savings can also add up fast with today's fertilizer prices. The nitrogen value in manure can often account for half of the manure's total fertilizer value. In typical swine finishing manure with 50 pounds N per 1,000 gallons and applied at a rate of 4,500 gallons per acre, the nitrogen value alone can sum up to over $200 per acre. How much of that $200 is available to the crop and how much leaches out depends on manure application practices and weather.

Factors at play include:
-    The length of time between crop nitrogen use and manure application.
-    The soil temperature that the manure is exposed to during this time.
-    The amount of moisture that moves through the soil.

Applying in the spring will ensure you're getting most of that $200 value without needing to spend money on other nitrogen fertilizer sources.

Spring can be a busy time, the window for fieldwork can be short, and spring rainfall can keep soils wet, leading to compaction concerns. However, there can be some clear economic and environmental advantages to applying manure in the spring. With much of the state rated as either abnormally dry or in moderate drought conditions as of March 10, conditions might be more favorable for spring manure application this year.

Similarly, this may be a good time to reexamine the nitrogen application rates you select. Manure management plans typically utilize the yield goal method to set nitrogen application rate maximums, intended for environmental protection, not to maximize profit. Rate selection tools, like Maximum Return to Nitrogen, can be used to determine rates that will help you maximize your manure fertility value and typically will help you stretch the manure across more acres.

Best practices for spring application:
-    Prioritize fields with well-drained soils, adequate drainage, good soil structure.
-    Consider reducing manure load sizes to limit axle loads to less than 10 tons, which will help reduce the risk of deep compaction.
-    Check for proper tire inflation. Consider reducing tire pressure to less than 20-35 psi and using flotation tires to reduce the risk of surface compaction.
-    Limit field traffic by designating sacrifice paths.
-    Agitate manure well for a more uniform nutrient application and sample manure for nutrient content to know what you are applying.
-    Check and calibrate application equipment for application rate uniformity and good injection or soil incorporation.
-    Watch the weather forecast closely and avoid manure application before rainfall events.

Working with New Grain Farmers to Utilize Manure
Farms that have not historically used manure in the past may be more interested in purchasing manure due to either inability to obtain other fertilizers or because of the high prices. If you are working with someone new to using manure, you can do a few things to help facilitate the exchange.
-    Set a price that works for both sides. Manure has value, and the value moves with the price of other fertilizer sources. Can selling some manure now potentially help you obtain acres for manure application in the future? If you are selling manure, look for fields that can utilize the N, P and K to maximize value and price.
-    Know your regulations. Suppose the manure is coming from a confinement animal feeding operation. In that case, it needs to be applied by a certified applicator. Unless it is sold under Chapter 200A, through an independent manure broker, the field needs to be in a manure management plan (and have appropriate soil tests and erosion assessment).
-    Share the experiences you had in what helps you get the most value and best benefits of your manure. Discuss improvements to soil health, all the nitrogen won't be available right away, and then state how the injection units will leave the field or best practices you've found to make planting a success.

Higher fertilizer prices make getting the most from your manure essential. Spring application has consistently shown similar or improved yields. Moreover, with the high fertilizer prices, getting manure nutrients to the right field at the right time makes manure more valuable than ever.



USDA Publishes Requests for Information on Fertilizer, Seed, Retail to Address Growing Competition Concerns in the Agricultural Supply Chain

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the publication of the details of three requests for information regarding seeds and agricultural inputs, fertilizer, and retail markets in the Federal Register on March 17. The publication of the RFIs opens USDA’s public inquiry to address growing competition concerns in the agricultural supply chain announced on March 11.

With these RFIs, USDA is also seeking information on competition and market access for farmers and ranchers, new and growing market competitors, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, and more about the context for these markets for farmers.

USDA is seeking information specifically on:
    Fertilizer.
    Seed and agricultural inputs, in particular as they relate to the intellectual property system.
    Retail, including access to retail through wholesale and distribution markets.

Comments may be submitted to Regulations.gov until May 16, 2022. USDA will use the comments received to develop reports mandated under the Competition E.O., and to develop policies relating to fair and competitive markets, supply chain resiliency, pandemic response, local and regional food systems, and other areas. Subsequent actions may range from new grant and loan programs to additional rules and regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 and other relevant laws to increase fairness and competition in American agricultural markets.

More information about this request for information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/fair-competitive.



Sheep Producers Return to D.C.
 
Legislative fly-ins such as the ASI Spring Trip have been nearly non-existent since March of 2020 when sheep producers were the last ones to visit with congressional delegations before the United States government went into a COVID-19 lockdown. But that drought came to end this week as sheep producers returned to the nation's capital.
 
"It was so wonderful to be back in Washington, D.C., this spring," said ASI President Susan Shultz of Ohio. "Everyone from the agency representatives we met with to Congressional leaders and their staffs seemed happy to see constituents back in town. Visiting our senators and representatives on the Hill is always a highlight, but we were also honored to meet with several government agencies who understand the important role our industry can play reaching the administration's climate goals."
 
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie reiterated his belief that sheep have a positive story to tell about the valuable role they can play in reversing climate change and aiding in wildfire suppression. Janet Bucknall of Wildlife Services once again pledged her agency's support for dealing with the many predator issues that have always plagued the sheep industry.
 
"We also heard from Farm Service Administrator Zach Ducheneaux – who we met with at our Executive Board meeting in South Dakota last summer – and he's another great supporter of the sheep industry," Shultz said. "We also met with the U.S. Forest Service because the American sheep industry is really at the forefront of targeted grazing, which is so important for their fire suppression and climate change priorities."
 
Priorities for sheep producers haven't changed much since their last visit to Washington, D.C., in 2020. Producers talked with their congressional delegations about such things as: international trade, mandatory price reporting, foreign labor and pharmaceuticals for minor species. At the same time, they were able to thank budget makers for increased support of the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station and Wildlife Services in the most recent appropriations bill that will carry through until the end of the fiscal year.
 
For the USSES in Dubois, Idaho, the bill contained $4.2 million for improvements to the buildings and facilities, as well as an additional $500,000 in rangeland research funding. The bill also provided additional funding for Wildlife Services, providing $116 million for Wildlife Damage Management and $23 million for Methods Development.
 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Equine, Cervid and Small Ruminant Health line item – covering the scrapie surveillance program – was increased to $32 million.
 
The two-day trip concluded with a reception at The Monocle on Wednesday as congressional leaders and staffers were treated to an American lamb dinner.



USDA Announces Partnership with Northwest Seaport Alliance to Ease Port Congestion and Restore Disrupted Shipping Services to U.S. Grown Agricultural Commodities

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans for prepositioning containers of agricultural goods near port terminals to help improve service for shippers of U.S. grown agricultural commodities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) to enhance access to a 49-acre “pop up” site to accept either dry agricultural or refrigerated containers for temporary storage at NWSA in Seattle to reduce operational hurdles and costs, making it so they can more quickly be loaded on ships at the export terminals. The NWSA includes the marine cargo operations of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma and is the fourth-largest container gateway in the United States.

Congestion-induced impacts to vessel schedules and prioritization of returning containers empty to Asia have significantly raised barriers for exporting agricultural products in containers, resulting in lost markets and disappointed customers. The Northwest Seaport Alliance has seen a nearly 30% decline in the export of agricultural commodities in the last six months of 2021 and the ratio of loaded versus empty container exports has shifted to predominately empty containers since May 2021.

USDA’s partnership with the NWSA’s existing near-dock facility at Terminal 46 in Seattle is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Supply Chain Task Force efforts with state and local governments and builds on earlier efforts. USDA’s efforts to increase capacity at the NWSA follow the Department’s announcement on January 31, 2022, of a similar partnership with the Port of Oakland in California, and a US Department of Transportation partnership with the Port of Savannah in Georgia. USDA continues to seek opportunities to partner with additional ports or other intermodal container facilities to help American farmers and agricultural producers move their product to market and manage the short-term challenges while pressing the ocean carriers to restore better levels of service.

“The pandemic revealed vulnerabilities across our supply system and as the economy has made an historic recovery, it has put additional strain on the supply chain,” Vilsack said. “The Biden-Harris Administration is calling out ocean carriers that are taking advantage of the situation to leverage undue profits and are treating U.S. agricultural companies and producers unacceptably. That is why we are using creative approaches to improve port operations while elevating American-grown food and fiber.”

“This new pop-up port project will give Washington farmers a place to store their products so they’re ready to make the next available ship,” said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell. “As the Washington growing season ramps up over the next few weeks, this new pop up port will fill up with containers of hay, grains, peas, lentils, refrigerated dairy products, all ready to load onto ships and reach consumers across the globe. This is one tool to help address port congestion, and I will continue to work to hold foreign shipping companies responsible for the price hikes that are leaving our farmers, growers and exporters on the sidelines.”

“Over the past year, The Northwest Seaport Alliance has been working closely with ag exporters to help mitigate supply chain challenges,” stated Ryan Calkins NWSA co-chair and Port of Seattle Commission President. “We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s leadership and look forward to this pilot program reducing costs for ag producers and helping bring more U.S. exports to foreign markets.”

“In partnership with PCMC, the NWSA has opened more than 60-acres of near-dock storage across our gateway to reduce port congestion and increase export opportunities,” stated Deanna Keller NWSA Managing Member and Port of Tacoma Commission Vice-President “The partnership with the USDA will further our efforts and provide needed relief for ag producers in our region.”

About the Partnership
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will make payments to agricultural companies and cooperatives that preposition containers filled with American-grown agricultural commodities at the “pop-up” temporary site at the Port of Seattle. Specifically, FSA payments of $200 per dry container and $400 per refrigerated, or reefer, container will help cover additional logistical costs. The sign-up will be streamlined through a central application process with the details available in a Notice of Funding Availability that will be published in the coming weeks. Payments will be made in arrears and verified with the pop-up terminal records.

The benefits of relieving congestion and addressing capacity issues at ports through partnerships like this one at the NWSA go well beyond the local region, as commodities and agricultural products grown and processed from thousands of miles away flow through the Port. American farmers, ranchers, workers, rural communities and agricultural companies throughout the supply chain will benefit from efforts to restore and improve proper service by ocean carriers; and ultimately, getting safe, nutritious U.S.-grown products to consumers around the world.