Thursday March 24 Ag News

 Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council elects new officers

The Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council elected new officers and board members during its annual meeting on March 11, 2022.  

Newly elected officers include Chairman of the Board: Gerald Clausen of Lincoln; Vice Chair: Jerry Catlett of Bruning; Secretary: Jolene Messinger of McCook and Treasurer: Raymond Morse of Norfolk.  
Newly elected board members include Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek and Kevin Peterson of Stromsburg. Nicole Boshuslavsky of Omaha, Scott Meradith of Lincoln, Raymond Morse of Norfolk, Jay Rempe of Lincoln were re-elected for a second three-year term   

Retiring board members include Kelly Brunkhorst of Lincoln, who served as Chairman of the Board for 2021-2022.  

Board members also include Mary Eisenzimmer of Big Springs, David Englund of Omaha, Jessica Groskopf of Scottsbluff, Drew Jensen of Lincoln, Suzanna Klaasmeyer of Hershey, Bobbi Kriz-Wickam of Lincoln, Lori Luebbe of Lincoln, Scott Richert of Gresham, and Dr. Marysz Rames of Wayne. Dr. Richard Bischoff of Lincoln serves as the IANR Liaison Representative, and Matt Dolch of Lincoln serves as the President of the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association. The council’s president is Terry Hejny, who also serves as the director of the Nebraska LEAD Program.

The Nebraska LEAD Program includes men and women, currently active in production agriculture and agribusiness and is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council in cooperation with the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  

For more information, or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 41 which will begin in September of 2022, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program, 104 ACB, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0940.  You may also call 402-472-6810 or email leadprogram@unl.edu  Applications will be due June 15, 2022.



Nebraska Farmers Union Salutes America’s Traditional Independent Family Farmers and Ranchers

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) took advantage of National Agriculture Week to salute America’s traditional independent family farmers and ranchers. “Our traditional system of independently owned and operated family farm and ranch agriculture continues to be the envy of the rest of the world,” said NeFU President John Hansen.

“Yet, that traditional system of agricultural food, fiber, and fuel production is being undermined with non-competitive markets. Our ag supply sectors and meat and grain processing sectors have become increasingly concentrated and dominated by foreign ownership. It is no wonder family farmers get squeezed out of business when they buy their agricultural inputs from monopolies and then sell their agricultural products to another set of monopolies” Hansen said.

NeFU pointed out that the four firm concentration ratios (CR4) used to measure market concentration show that agricultural markets have become a system of shared monopolies.

NeFU recent data showed the CR4 for seedcorn is 85%, soybean seeds 70%; the global herbicide and pesticide market 84%; and grocery retailers 65%.  Only two companies manufacture nearly half of the farm tractors and equipment.

NeFU recent data showed that the CR4 for beef processing was 85%; 70% for pork process, and 54% for poultry processing.  The CR4 for soybean crushing is 82% and wet corn milling is 84%.

Monopolies use their massive market share power to control and manipulate prices to their advantage. In the case of the food economy, monopolies underpay food producers and over charge food consumers.

“NeFU is asking our members and the entire rural community to get involved in legislative efforts to bring competition back to agricultural markets, and the entire U.S. economy. NeFU salutes President Biden’s Competition Executive Order, Congressional ag market reforms, and National Farmers Union’s “Fairness for Farmers” ag market reform campaign to bring competition and fairness to our nation’s family farmers and ranchers.

“Our nation’s traditional system of independent family farmers and ranchers are the most economically and socially beneficial way to produce our nation’s food, fiber, and fuels. Thanks to the strong stewardship ethic of family farmers and ranchers they are also the best stewards of our nation’s precious soil and water resources,” concluded NeFU President John Hansen.



Farm Credit Lenders Plan Significant Expansion of Online Lending Platform

Farm Credit lenders in 28 states today announced they are collaborating to nearly triple in size the area where their shared online land loan application service will be available. FarmLend.com, the online service, will accelerate and simplify the farm and ranch loan process across more than 300 million acres.

FarmLend.com allows borrowers to apply for land financing 24/7, when and where it’s convenient for them. Within three business hours, applicants are contacted by a financing expert who answers questions and helps guide their loan application through their Farm Credit association’s review and approval process.

“The FarmLend experience has been especially well-received by customers who value online convenience paired with quick access to financing and ag expertise,” according to Carl Horne, vice president of digital loan products and services at Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica). “Making financing experts who understand the ag real estate market accessible soon after someone applies online has allowed FarmLend to provide a unique ‘best of both’ experience that customers highly value.”

FCSAmerica developed and maintains the FarmLend website on behalf of collaborating associations in the Farm Credit System, a network of customer-owned cooperatives that serve agriculture and rural communities with credit and financial services.

Farmlend.com currently is offered in the geographies served by FCSAmerica, Frontier Farm Credit, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, and Farm Credit of Western Arkansas. The additional associations that will offer FarmLend in 2022 include Farm Credit Mid-America, Farm Credit East, American AgCredit and Carolina Farm Credit.

AgCountry FCS went live with FarmLend in 2021. “The team at AgCountry looks to meet our customers when and where they want to do business,” said Troy Andreasen, chief marketplace officer. “We’re excited for the opportunity to collaborate with other Farm Credit associations because together we are stronger in serving our mission.”

Mark Barker, a senior vice president for ag lending at Farm Credit Mid-America, said a shared digital channel shortens the time to market for Farm Credit associations working to meet the needs of customers increasingly accustomed to doing business online.

“Going to market in a collaborative approach allows all of us to benefit from the ongoing enhancements to FarmLend that offer educational content, loan calculators and information important to land buyers,” Barker said. “Land sales are moving online, and it follows that financing is expected online as well.”

The FarmLend site offers access to financing for farmland and ranchland today. “Our intent is to offer additional solutions in the future,” Horne said. “We started with ag real estate financing since that’s where we saw the greatest demand for digital access.”



Representatives Mann, Axne, Senator Moran Ask ITC to Eliminate Moroccan Phosphate Duties

On March 17, U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Cindy Axne (IA-03), and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) led 83 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) requesting it address the strain on the fertilizer supply by eliminating duties on phosphate fertilizer products imported from Morocco. Morocco is a long-time supplier of phosphates to the U.S., and currently only 15% of the world’s supply of phosphate fertilizer is not subject to duties for import into the U.S.

The letter also requests the ITC and Commerce suspend their preliminary determination to impose duties on UAN imports from Trinidad and Tobago. As of February 2022, all fertilizer prices are at record levels, and eliminating these duties would provide the most immediate opportunity for a near-term, partial remedy to these high input costs.

“The American Soybean Association is extremely concerned with the high price and availability of fertilizers. ASA has steadily opposed the 19% duties that have been placed by the Commerce Department on imports of phosphate from Morocco and are opposing the ongoing investigation and potential imposition of tariffs on nitrogen fertilizer from Trinidad and Tobago,” said ASA President Brad Doyle (AR) in a release from Rep. Mann’s office.

ASA worked with the Congressman and is supportive of the letter.

“We are grateful to Rep. Mann, Rep. Axne and Sen. Moran for their leadership on this letter and hope the International Trade Commission will heed this request and suspend these duties to provide much-needed relief to farmers. It is time for the tariffs to go,” Doyle said.



USDA Livestock Slaughter: Record High Beef Production in February

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.43 billion pounds in February, up 1 percent from the 4.39 billion pounds produced in February 2021.

Beef production, at 2.25 billion pounds, was 7 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.69 million head, up 6 percent from February 2021. The average live weight was up 5 pounds from the previous year, at 1,395 pounds.

Veal production totaled 4.2 million pounds, 10 percent below February a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 30,400 head, down 8 percent from February 2021. The average live weight was down 4 pounds from last year, at 243 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.17 billion pounds, down 4 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.94 million head, down 5 percent from February 2021. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 293 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 9.2 million pounds, was down 14 percent from February 2021. Sheep slaughter totaled 143,400 head, 12 percent below last year. The average live weight was 128 pounds, down 4 pounds from February a year ago.

By State:                   million lbs  -  % Feb '20
Nebraska ......:               643.0            102       
Iowa .............:               711.4            101       
Kansas ..........:               470.5            109       

January to February 2022 commercial red meat production was 8.99 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2021. Accumulated beef production was up 2 percent from last year, veal was down 5 percent, pork was down 6 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 10 percent.



IDALS, APHIS Confirms Third 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 positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The virus was found in a commercial turkey flock.  This is the third confirmed case of HPAI in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The first case was in a commercial turkey flock on March 6 and the second case was in a flock of commercial laying hens on March 17.

“This is a difficult time for poultry producers as HPAI continues to impact farms across Iowa and the United States,” said Secretary Naig. “We continue to work with them, USDA and other industry stakeholders to implement our plans and minimize the spread of the virus. Biosecurity remains the best line of defense to protect the health of our poultry flocks.”   

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 must 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.



Diesel Yardage Calculator Can Help Producers Estimate Costs

Current retail values of diesel fuel can be used as an index to estimate current and near-future yardage charges in maintaining livestock. Iowa Beef Center associate scientist Garland Dahlke said it’s important for producers to know their costs, especially in light of higher fuel prices. An updated resource from the Iowa Beef Center, which is a part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, allows producers to better estimate energy costs.

Energy costs are highly correlated to all other costs of production. As energy costs climb, the cost of doing business climbs proportionately. When feeding cattle, the items that make up the yardage cost are influenced by energy costs, and diesel fuel prices are a good gauge to what should be happening to the yardage charge within a given operation, and when it needs to be adjusted.

“The beauty of this application is that energy costs precede all other costs, and diesel fuel pricing is something that is easy to discover and has less 'data noise' than following the price of oil on the Board of Trade,” explained Dahlke, an associate scientist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “With this in mind, we can do a fairly good job in estimating what the yardage cost of feeding a pen of cattle will be. We do need to do a little work in establishing what the initial yardage charge should be. With this point of reference, the changes in fuel price will influence this base calculation accordingly.”

Dahlke has updated the Iowa Beef Center’s Yardage-Diesel Fuel Relationship calculator to help producers determine cost estimates. This Excel-based calculator allows an existing yardage fee to be adjusted as changes in diesel fuel price occur.

The calculator file is available for free download from the calculators page on the Iowa Beef Center website https://iowabeefcenter.org/calculators.html.

For more information on the use of energy, specifically diesel fuel, as a common input from which others are influenced determining yardage costs, see this ISU Animal Industry Report by Dahlke: “Diesel Fuel Price as a means of Forecasting Livestock Yardage Costs”.



Farmers Union Praises Appointments to USDA Iowa Committee

The Iowa Farmers Union praised the appointments of five farmers to the Iowa USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.

"These outstanding individuals are excellent leaders in their communities and have shown exceptional dedication to family farmers and sustainable agriculture," said Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman. "They represent the broad diversity of Iowa agriculture and they will serve farmers well."

Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders, keeping producers informed about FSA programs and operating in a manner consistent with USDA equal opportunity and civil rights policies.

The FSA state committee is comprised of five members including a designated chairperson. The individuals appointed to serve on this committee are:

Committee Chair Wendy Johnson -- Charles City
Kayla A. Koether - Decorah
Ryan Marquadt - Van Meter
Mark Recker - Arlington
Seth Watkins - Clarinda

"All of these appointees are friends of our organization and Ryan Marquardt has recently served on the Iowa Farmers Union Board of Directors."

The Farm Service Agency serves farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural partners through the effective, efficient, and equitable delivery of federal agricultural programs. The Agency offers producers a strong safety net through the administration of farm commodity and disaster programs. Additionally, through conservation programs, FSA continues to preserve and protect natural resources and provides credit to agricultural producers who are unable to receive private, commercial credit, including targeted loan funds for beginning, underserved, women, and military veterans involved in production agriculture.



United States and Japan Reach an Agreement to Increase Beef Safeguard Trigger Level Under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today announced that the United States and Japan have reached an agreement to increase the beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. The new three-trigger safeguard mechanism will allow U.S. exporters to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality beef and reduce the probability that Japan will impose higher tariffs in the future.
 
“This agreement is a great win for our two countries that ensures American farmers and ranchers can continue to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality U.S. beef,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai.  “I especially want to thank Ambassador Rahm Emanuel for his fierce determination to get this deal done. Today’s agreement is the latest example of the Biden-Harris Administration’s successful resolution of trade disputes with our partners that increases market access and economic opportunity for our producers and their workers.”
 
“This is a positive development for America’s farmers and ranchers. It allows for greater market-based growth in U.S. beef exports to Japan and reduces the probability of higher Japanese tariffs being imposed on U.S. goods,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “America’s farmers and ranchers have beef products that can compete anywhere in the globe and this announcement will allow them to demonstrate just that. I want to thank Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Ambassador Katherine Tai and the entire team at USTR for their work to get this deal across the finish line.”
 
“This is a win-win for American ranchers and Japanese consumers,” said United States Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel. “It ensures certainty for years and shows American beef can compete and win anywhere anytime.”
 
The agreement includes a new three-trigger mechanism whereby all three triggers must be hit in order for Japan to implement the safeguard and impose a higher tariff.  The three triggers are:
-    Imports from the United States must exceed the original beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement;
-    The aggregate volume of beef imports from the United States and the original signatories of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) must exceed the CPTPP beef safeguard; and
-    Imports from the United States must exceed the total amount of beef imports from the United States during the previous year.

Both governments will work to finalize the text of the agreement reflecting the new trigger levels and complete their respective domestic procedures.  The United States, in consultation with Japan, will publish the final text of the agreement at the soonest, appropriate time.
 
In 2021, the United States was the top beef exporting country in the world, with global sales of beef and beef products valued at over $10 billion.  Exports of U.S. beef to Japan totaled almost $2.4 billion in 2021.



USMEF Statement on Adjustments to Japan's Beef Safeguard

Today the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced changes to the safeguard on Japan's imports of U.S. beef. More details are available in this joint press release.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued this statement:
"USMEF greatly appreciates the efforts of USTR and USDA to adjust Japan’s safeguard on U.S. beef. The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement was a tremendous breakthrough for the U.S. meat industry, including the significant reduction in Japan's tariffs on U.S. beef, but the playing field has not been entirely level due to this safeguard. The changes announced today reduce the potential impact of the safeguard and make it less disruptive for U.S. exporters and their customers in Japan."

U.S. beef exports to Japan exceeded 320,000 metric tons in 2021 and set a new value record at $2.38 billion. But U.S. beef was subject to a higher tariff than its competitors for 30 days, from mid-March to mid-April, after imports exceeded the safeguard volume.



NCBA Welcomes Announcement on Japan – U.S. Trade Agreement

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomes today’s announcement that the United States and Japan have reached an agreement in principle on the Japanese beef safeguard. As part of the terms of the Japan – U.S. Trade Agreement, both countries entered consultations after the volume-based safeguard was triggered in March 2021. NCBA strongly supported efforts to secure improvements to the beef safeguard that are mutually beneficial for Japanese consumers and American cattle producers.
 
“While the details of the agreement in principle have not been disclosed, NCBA is encouraged that today’s announcement means we are taking necessary steps to secure long-term solutions that enable American cattle producers to continue providing Japanese consumers with high-quality U.S. beef at competitive prices. NCBA greatly appreciates Ambassador Tai’s leadership and the hard work of negotiators who have been working on this effort for the past year,” said Kent Bacus, NCBA Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access.
 
Japan is one of the top export markets for U.S. beef, accounting for over $2.3 billion in U.S. beef sales in 2021.



Meat Institute Supports Agreement to Increase Safeguard Trigger Level for U.S. Beef Exports to Japan

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) said that today’s U.S.-Japan deal to increase the beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement will increase the American beef industry’s ability to meet Japan’s growing demand for U.S. beef.

“The Meat Institute welcomes this agreement that will help the U.S. beef industry earn greater market access to Japan,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “The Meat Institute thanks the Biden Administration for their dedicated work securing this deal.”

In addition to increasing market growth for U.S. beef into Japan, the new three-trigger safeguard mechanism will decrease the likelihood that Japan will impose higher tariffs on U.S. beef.

In 2021, Japan was the United States’ largest beef volume market (320,738 metric tons) and second largest value destination (more than $2.3B).



Press Statement Regarding New Section 232 Agreement Between the U.S. and the UK

The UK has a population of 66 million people and represents the fifth largest global economy, but produces less than 60 percent of its food needs, presenting a potentially lucrative market for U.S. agriculture in general and feed grains in particular.

As part of a new Section 232 agreement reached Tuesday between the U.S. and the UK regarding steel and aluminum imports from the UK, the 25% retaliatory tariff on U.S. corn has been zeroed out allowing U.S. corn farmers to renew their trading relationship with Britain. The agreement will be effective June 1, 2022.

Statement from USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand
“This agreement will provide opportunities to expand free and fair trade and strengthen our economic and strategic relationship with one of our greatest allies. The U.S. Grains Council is very pleased with the outcome regarding this agreement because it paves the way for U.S. corn to re-enter the UK market once again,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC president and CEO. “This agreement lifts the retaliatory tariffs on more than $500 million of U.S. products, including U.S. corn, and that is vital not only to global economic development, but also U.S. agriculture’s profitability.”



Corn Growers Call on the Biden Administration to Use Emergency Authority to Maintain Consumer Access to Lower-Cost Fuel

Corn grower leaders from 19 states sent an open letter to President Biden today calling on him to use the administration’s existing emergency authorities to tap more homegrown renewable fuels, like ethanol, to help stabilize energy markets and lower the price of fuel for consumers.

The letter comes as Russia’s attack on Ukraine has impacted energy markets, increasing oil and gas prices.

The letter called on the president to prevent consumers from losing the choice of E15, often marketed as Unleaded 88, a higher ethanol blend that costs less and reduces emissions. A 2021 court decision resulting from oil industry efforts to limit the growth of higher ethanol blends reversed year-round market access for E15, beginning this summer, absent action from the Biden administration or Congress.

“We urge your administration to act to prevent consumers from losing access to a lower-cost fuel option on June 1,” the letter read. “As gas prices have increased following the rise in oil prices, higher ethanol blends have provided drivers with savings, with ethanol priced an average of 78 cents less per gallon than unblended gasoline at wholesale during March.”

The Biden administration has several tools to use, including acting under Section 211 of the Clean Air Act, having the EPA use its enforcement discretion or issuing an executive order.

Increasing the use of lower-cost and lower-emission E15 could easily replace previous oil imports from Russia, according to the letter.

“If we replaced just one-third of regular E10 fuel sales with E15, we would fully replace all gasoline from previously imported Russian oil,” the corn grower leaders said. “When it comes to cost, blending more ethanol, not less, is an immediate step to help lower fuel prices.”

Farmers can quickly help policymakers bring down the fuel prices, the letter noted.

“American farmers stand at the ready to help lower costs at the pump, decarbonize liquid fuels, support domestic manufacturing jobs and revitalize the U.S. economy with clean energy, all while continuing to meet demands for food, feed and exports, due to our increased productivity and sustainability,” said the farmer leaders.

In addition to emergency action from the Biden administration, NCGA is also asking Congress to advance legislation to ensure continued access to E15 to lower fuel prices and work on policy, such as the Next Generation Fuels Act, which will provide a permanent pathway to higher ethanol blends.



ADC slates second webinar Apr. 5 on ‘Future of Federal Milk Pricing’

Dairy farmers are invited to participate in the second segment of American Dairy Coalition’s webinar series: “Future of Federal Milk Pricing Forum.”

The Forum will be convened by webinar on April 5 from 1:00 to 2:30 EDT.

“A lot of good information was discussed during our first webinar in February, and dairy farmers have started to develop a list of priorities. Let’s continue the discussion and move forward in tackling these hard topics,” ADC CEO Laurie Fischer reports.

“The financial stability of our nation’s dairy farmers is the foundation of the entire dairy industry and a significant portion of agriculture’s infrastructure. During the past six years, farmers have struggled through depressed milk prices, huge increases in costs for fertilizer, diesel fuel, feed, labor, and this list goes on,” she observes.

Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option as Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) participation has been declining over the past decade, and new developments -- such as the make allowance study and the upcoming Farm Bill -- are entering the picture.   

Dave Natzke of Progressive Dairy Magazine will again moderate the session.

Panelists will include Danny Munch, American Farm Bureau Federation economist, on “How could the new USDA Dairy Processing Study (Make Allowances) impact your mailbox milk check?”

Bryan Henrichs, a dairy and custom crop farmer in Illinois will speak on behalf of dairy farmers addressing key ‘milk pricing’ issues to update the current complicated pricing policies and changing FMMO participation landscape.
 
Also, bringing a Farm Bill update from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture will be Kyle Varner with the office of Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Jeremy White with the office of Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.).
 
Through these webinars, ADC is positioning dairy farmers to be heard and to lead the federal pricing discussions instead of being caught unaware and dealing with the fallout like in the Class I pricing change that was made in the last Farm Bill without farmer input.
 
A bipartisan Senate bill was introduced in November that, if passed, would require USDA to hold national FMMO hearings. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack told producers in Wisconsin that FMMO hearings will not be held until there is “consensus within the dairy industry.” At the same time, 2023 Farm Bill discussions, where milk pricing changes may be considered, are getting underway.
 
“The FMMO system is complex with regional, national, and global factors. We have seen the impact of a pricing change that was made legislatively, without a vetted hearing process or farmer input, in the last Farm Bill. We must never let this happen again!” notes Fischer. “Farmer input is vital. These webinars are your opportunity to bring ideas to the table and to learn about the issues.”
 
To register for the April 5 webinar, scan the QR code with a smartphone or go to this link: https://qrco.de/bcslBi.
 
When registering, dairy farmers and leaders in state and national dairy farm organizations can reserve a spot to speak to provide input on solutions to the panelists and other attendees.
 
The main goal of this webinar is to hear farmer perspectives and begin to pull ideas together. During the webinar, there will also be opportunities to submit questions in the queue for the moderator.



NMPF and IDFA Urge USDA to Improve Child Nutrition and Food Security Through Increased Dairy Consumption in School Meals

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today submitted joint comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service urging the agency to improve nutrition security by updating school meal nutrition standards to encourage increased consumption of dairy in keeping with recommendations from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) report and with leading health organizations.

In 2020, the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report found that a staggering 79 percent of 9- to 13-year-olds are not meeting the recommended intake of dairy foods and thereby under-consuming a variety of nutrients during childhood and adolescence, including potassium, calcium, and vitamin D. In their comments to USDA, IDFA and NMPF noted that school children of all ages are falling short of these recommendations, and they rely on school meals to meet their nutritional needs. IDFA and NMPF also noted that falling participation rates in school breakfast and lunch programs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are a growing concern for overall nutrition security among students.

USDA this spring announced transitional school meal nutrition standards for the next two school years that will allow schools to continue to serve low-fat flavored milk consistent with DGA recommendations, and pause overly stringent sodium reduction targets that threaten the ability of school meals professionals to serve nutrient-rich cheeses. USDA intends to craft more permanent standards for school year 2024/2025 and beyond that pave the way for healthy and nutritious school meals.

“IDFA applauds the USDA’s goal of creating ambitious, achievable, and durable nutrition standards for students that support positive health and development outcomes for children while improving nutrition security,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “The most recent DGA report is clear: children are not receiving enough essential nutrients for growth, development, healthy immune function, and overall wellness. School meals offer the most important opportunity of the day for children to get the essential nutrients they need, and dairy foods—including milk, yogurt, and cheese—are absolutely critical to building meals that children want to consume. Now the spotlight is on USDA to make dairy a central building block in its effort to craft ambitious, achievable, and durable school meal standards consistent with the DGAs.”

“On behalf of American dairy farmers, NMPF thanks USDA for their work to enhance school meal nutrition standards to reverse the underconsumption of dairy and help students boost their intake of key nutrients,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “Milk and other dairy products support USDA’s critical goal of boosting consumption of essential nutrients, including potassium, calcium and vitamin D. Low-fat flavored milk is fully consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and is a nutrient-dense option that kids in schools choose to drink.”

In their joint comments, IDFA and NMPF urge USDA to embrace the recommendations of the DGA report and expand nutritious dairy options that encourage dairy consumption among children. USDA can do this by continuing flavored milk and yogurt offerings in schools and setting sodium limits that accommodate use of cheese in school meal products, the associations said.

An overall decline in school milk consumption has been identified in recent years, particularly after whole milk and low-fat flavored milk options were removed from school meals 10 years ago. “USDA can begin to reverse the trend through providing certainty for schools offering flavored milks, which provide the same micronutrients as white milk but with a flavor that many children prefer,” IDFA and NMPF said. “Flavored milks, like all cow’s milk, are a source of 13 essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and potassium.”

Similarly, continuing to recognize flavored yogurt in school meals would encourage consumption of a nutritious dairy product that has been associated with higher diet quality in children, with higher intake of multiple nutrients, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin D. In addition to being nutritious offerings for children, flavored milk and flavored yogurt have been shown to decrease food waste from school meals and increase overall meal participation.



NGFA urges STB to address inadequate rail service

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today urged the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to address “significant rail service disruptions” negatively impacting the nation’s supply chains.

In a March 24 letter to STB Chairman Marty Oberman, NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert said rail customers are not being adequately served by the Union Pacific (UP), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Norfolk Southern (NS) railroads.

“NGFA’s preference is to seek commercial solutions between individual rail customers and their rail carriers,” Seyfert said. “However, the service issues that our member companies are raising indicate that the problem is a network problem affecting entire regions of the country.”

At rail origins, NGFA members are unable to purchase grain from farmers because they are waiting for loaded trains to be moved out by the railroad. Conversely, at rail destinations, NGFA members have run out of grain and have been forced to shut down flour and feed mills and cut off sales to customers while awaiting grain deliveries. In some cases, NGFA members have been unable to deliver feed to livestock producers that may not have alternative feed sources.

“In an effort to continue service for customers during the rail service disruptions, NGFA members have done as much as possible to keep animals fed, but the ability to stretch resources is exhausted and growing more tenuous with each additional day of service delays,” the letter noted.

NGFA said the railways’ adoption and implementation of “precision scheduled railroading” has negatively impacted their ability to recover from operational stresses and serve customers.

The Association asked STB to request weekly rail service updates and plans from rail carriers to bring rail service “up to an acceptable level.” NGFA also urged STB to require that rail carriers provide annual service assurance plans to help reduce the probability of future widespread rail service disruptions.