Tuesday March 29 Ag News

Road safety campaign aims to keep farmers safe

Aiding U.S. farmers in getting home safely to their families every night is a priority for your soy checkoff. While farming may be one of the most rewarding occupations, it’s also one of the most dangerous. With the support of the United Soybean Board and state soy organizations, including the Nebraska Soybean Board, the Maryland Soybean Board developed the Find Me Driving “Road Safety” campaign, aimed to raise motorists’ awareness of farm equipment drivers on the roads during the spring, summer and fall. The campaign also offers farmers tools for best practices in driving slow moving vehicles (SMVs) on roadways. Through the campaign, various resources — such as training videos, safety posters and window clings for your tractor and combine — were developed to help keep farmers and others safe on the road.

“Farmers driving SMVs can do so much to raise awareness of their presence on the road to other faster-moving vehicles,” said Anne Meis, Chair of the Nebraska Soybean Board Education and Communication Committee. “It comes down to operational best practices when moving farm equipment from one location to another, and each farm equipment driver should follow the safety tips available from this campaign to help ensure their safety and the safety of others.”

One particular asset created for the campaign is the road safety window cling, which took home a regional first place “Best of NAMA” award this year. The National Agri-Marketing Association’s awards program honors the best work in agricultural communications. Placed in the cab of a slow-moving vehicle, the cling reminds drivers of basic safety checks to make before driving on a public road:
    Reflective materials and SMV emblem are displayed and clean.
    Brake pedals are locked together for even stops.
    Required lights and warning flashers are on; turn off rear facing work lights.
    Mirrors are clean and adjusted for clear views.
    Tires are at the maximum recommended pressure and wheel bolts are tight.
    Route conditions are clear of road construction, bad weather and accidents.

“We encourage all farm organizations to promote the road safety campaign tools with their farmers and share the road safety information with their non-farming neighbors driving the same rural roads with our farm equipment,” concluded Meis.

The Find Me Driving campaign website https://findmedriving.com/ has a collection of safety-related resources for general motorists and SMV drivers including checklists, training videos, driving statistics and tips, and safety articles.



Nebraska extension offering reimbursement for events serving women in agriculture

Nebraska Extension’s Women in Agriculture program has launched a new effort to support events across the state that are geared toward serving female farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals.

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture Partnership Program will reimburse eligible event organizers for up to $2,500 in educational expenses. Priority for 2022-23 will be given to events that focus on stress mitigation and suicide prevention. Submissions are welcome from any educational event that primarily serves women in agriculture and is focused on farm and ranch business management and related topics.

Jessica Groskopf, director of Nebraska Women in Agriculture, said the program offers new and established events the chance to grow by offsetting some eligible expenses, which could include speaker fees, venue rental and costs for marketing and printing.

“By partnering with other events around the state, Nebraska Women in Agriculture is able to build on its commitment to empower more women to compete and survive in the ag industry by providing leadership, learning experiences, support and networking opportunities,” Groskopf said.

For over 35 years, the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program has worked to provide unbiased, research-based risk management education to female agriculture operators, consultants, landowners, service providers and value-added business owners in Nebraska. Through annual conferences and year-round programming, the program has helped to develop the management skills and resiliency of women in every facet agriculture.

More information about the partnership program is available on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu/partners.



2022 Beef Ambassador Contest

Nebraska Cattlewomen - Consumer Promotion and Education Committee with the Nebraska Cattlemen would like to announce the 2022 Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest and Beef Advocacy Training will be held Thursday, June 9, 2022, at Mid-Plains Community College in Valentine beginning at 1:00 pm. The competition is targeted towards youth who are passionate about the beef industry.

The Nebraska Beef Ambassador Program provides an opportunity for youth, ages 14 - 24 years old, to become spokespersons and future leaders for the beef industry. Senior and collegiate divisions are judged on an issues response and a mock media interview. The advocacy workshop will help participants learn how to use advocacy to share their stories, interview strategies, and social media tools.

More information can be found on the Nebraska Cattlemen website https://nebraskacattlemen.org/about/nebraska-cattlewomen/. Registration deadline is Friday, June 3, 2002.  



Seed Selection to Combat Alfalfa Diseases
Melissa Bartels, NE Extension Educator
 
Alfalfa is Nebraska’s 3rd most valuable crop. As you think about selecting alfalfa varieties to plant this year; be sure to consider varieties available with greater resistance to diseases. Anthracnose and Phytophthora root rot are two of the most serious alfalfa diseases we are faced with here in Nebraska.

Anthracnose can appear anytime of the year on any age of alfalfa stand. Affecting the stems and crowns of the alfalfa plant, this disease can move rapidly and significantly lower alfalfa production in as little as one to two growing seasons. In some cases, disease stress can reduce alfalfa’s ability to with stand cold temperatures resulting in winter kill.

Phytophthora root rot is a major cause of seedling death and the most common root rot affecting all stages of alfalfa. This pathogen can cause seedling damping off in new stands followed by plant death in wet conditions, occurring in as little as a few days. In established stands, Phytophthora root rot causes taproot issues resulting in up to a 50% yield loss and progressive decline over time and potential winter kill.

With both of these diseases’ symptoms are most devastating on susceptible alfalfa varieties. Therefore, proper seed selection will be the first line of defense for disease management. Select varieties of alfalfa seed that have at least a moderate to high resistance to anthracnose and Phytophthora root rot to effectively prevent yield and stand losses. There are multiple races of anthracnose that have been identified to cause economic damage to alfalfa in the Midwest, race 1, 2 and the newly discover more aggressive race 5. Be sure to consult your seed representative to get the best protection for your alfalfa fields as new varieties are coming to the market this year.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Welcomes Supreme Court Decision to Hear Case Against California’s Prop 12

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation against California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork from hogs born to sows that weren’t raised according to the state’s “arbitrary” production standards.

“We are extremely pleased that the Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 12. California’s desire to impose regulations targeting farming practices outside its borders is a direct attack on our nation’s livestock producers who dedicate their lives to ensuring the humane treatment of the animals they raise,” said Mark McHargue, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau.

In November 2018, California voters approved Proposition 12, a ballot measure that prohibits the sale of pork and eggs that is not produced according to the state’s production standards. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, Proposition 12 was set to impose unscientific animal housing standards that reach outside of California’s borders to farms across the United States. However, the Sacramento County Superior Court ruled to delay enforcement of Proposition 12 for retailers in January. That delay was set to last for 180 days.

“This law is misguided and should not dictate farming practices for an entire nation. It’s important for agriculture to share with the court how Proposition 12 will restrict farmers’ efforts to provide a safe environment for their animals and how this law damages family farms and raises the price of pork and eggs across the country,” McHargue said.

The U.S. Supreme Court could hear oral arguments in the fall and could render a decision by the end of the year.



 Continued Support for Fischer’s Updated Cattle Market Reform Bill
        
Several national and Nebraska agriculture organizations have emphasized their support for U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) updated Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. Sen. Fischer, who is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced the new version of the bill this week with Sens. Grassley (R-Iowa), Tester (D-Mont.), and Wyden (D-Ore.).

“Thank you to Senators Fischer, Grassley, Tester, and Wyden for their relentless pursuit to advance legislation that strengthens the bottom line of the U.S. cattle producer. There has never been this much momentum for industry change, both in the countryside and in the Capitol. USCA stands with county, state, and national producer associations across the U.S. in supporting mandatory cash trade minimums – a concept that is also supported by the majority of Senate Agriculture Committee members…” said U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) President Brooke Miller.

“Rampant consolidation in the cattle industry has made pricing in the cattle market increasingly opaque. Fair cand competitive markets rely on price discovery and transparency. For farmers and ranchers to bargain effectively with packers, they need access to reliable, accurate pricing information. This bill would shed light on the market and bring about greater fairness. NFU thanks Senators Tester, Grassley, Fischer, and Wyden for their continued leadership on this issue. The bill improves upon the version from November 2021, and we encourage swift action by the Senate and House on this legislation,” said National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew.

“Nebraska Farm Bureau and the farm and ranch families we represent continue to thank Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer for her leadership in helping to provide needed reforms to Nebraska’s cattle industry. The complexities and controversies surrounding the way cattle are marketed within the United States cannot be understated. However, as with every issue she champions, Sen. Fischer remains steadfast in her commitment to do what’s right for farmers, ranchers, and all Nebraskans. NEFB remains committed to working with Senator Fischer to provide additional cattle market transparency and price discovery,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) President Mark McHargue.

“Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) strongly supports Senators Fischer, Grassley, Tester, and Wyden’s updated Cattle Market Reform Bill. This negotiated bipartisan bill represents an historic opportunity to substantially improve and reform beef markets. It will increase beef market competition, transparency, the volume of mandatory price reporting data, cash market sales, penalties for packer violations, and establishes a cattle contract library. NeFU supports all those critical beef market reform provisions. We strongly urge the Senate Ag Committee and Congress to take full advantage of the bipartisan momentum that exists to restore competition in beef markets. The current non-competitive system is systematically squeezing multi-generational family businesses out of business. We thank Senator Fischer for her hard work, tenacity, and leadership. Beef production is the largest source of farm income in Nebraska, and is critical to the future of our state,” said Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) President John Hansen.

"Price discovery is a public good. Negotiated market participants invest time and resources to discover fed cattle prices for their respective regions and the entire industry. Until price discovery participation is better valued at all points in the supply chain, live cattle market price negotiation will continue to decrease until there is little to no negotiated trade left and outside markets will have to be relied upon for price determination. We thank Senator Fischer for her continued work and dedication to identifying resolutions to this complicated issue,” said Nebraska Cattlemen President Brenda Masek.

The updated bill would:
    Require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish 5-7 regions encompassing the entire continental U.S. and then establish minimum levels of fed cattle purchases made through approved pricing mechanisms. This does NOT change the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) reporting regions. Approved pricing mechanisms are fed cattle purchases made through negotiated cash, negotiated grid, at a stockyard, and through trading systems that multiple buyers and sellers regularly can make and accept bids. These pricing mechanisms will ensure robust price discovery and are transparent.

    Establish a maximum penalty for covered packers of $90,000 for mandatory minimum violations. Covered packers are defined as those packers that during the immediately preceding five years have slaughtered five percent or more of the number of fed cattle nationally.

    The bill also includes provisions to create a publicly available library of marketing contracts, mandating box beef reporting to ensure transparency, expediting the reporting of cattle carcass weights, and requiring a packer to report the number of cattle scheduled to be delivered for slaughter each day for the next 14 days. The contract library would be permanently authorized and specify key details about the contents that must be included in the library like the duration of the contract and provisions in the contract that may impact price such as schedules, premiums and discounts, and transportation arrangements.



NeFU Supports for Updated Cattle Market Reform Bill

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) announced its strong support for Senators Fischer, Grassley, Tester, and Wyden’s updated Cattle Market Reform Bill. NeFU has been calling on Congress for years to address the lack of competition in agricultural markets, including all the meat markets. The four firm concentration ratio (CR4) in beef markets is 85%.

NeFU President John Hansen said, “This negotiated bi-partisan bill represents an historic opportunity to substantially improve and reform beef markets. This bill will dramatically increase beef market competition, transparency, the volume of mandatory price reporting data, cash market sales, penalties for packer violations, and establishes a cattle contract library. The updated Senate bill is an extremely positive step in the right direction towards restoring competition.  It needs to move forward.”

NeFU Vice President and Policy Chair Vern Jantzen of Plymouth said, “Our current beef market system is badly broken. It needs a comprehensive overhaul. NeFU policy supports these critical beef market reform provisions. Beef production is the largest source of farm income in Nebraska, and is critical to the future of our state. If we want beef producers tomorrow, we must act today to fix our broken beef markets.”

Hansen said, “According to the February 2022 USDA NASS data, Nebraska’s beef industry is the leading source of farm income in our state and ranked 1st in the nation in commercial cattle slaughter, 2nd in beef and veal exports, all cattle and calves, all cattle on feed, and commercial red meat production, and 4th in beef cows. It is fair to say that the future of our state and our beef industry are linked. The better our beef does, the better our state does. When beef producers make money, it drives the rural and state economy forward. It is critical to the future of our state that Congress fixes our broken beef markets.”

“We strongly urge the Senate Ag Committee and Congress to take full advantage of the high tide of bi-partisan momentum that exists today to begin the process of restoring competition in beef markets.  It will be a long and frustrating process. President Biden’s Executive Order on Competition provides us additional leverage that we should fully utilize. We thank Senator Fischer for her hard work, tenacity, and leadership.  We urge all beef producers and beef supporters to help Senator Fischer move the badly needed reform package forward”, Hansen concluded.

Jantzen said, “Our hard-working beef producers are not only world class beef producers, they are world class natural resource managers. It is imperative that we focus on the nuts and bolts of beef market reforms so that our beef producers can get paid a fair price for the top-quality beef they produce.”



Cattle Market Reform Discussion Continues in 2022

Today, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced an updated version of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. The bipartisan bill includes several provisions aimed to improve price discovery and transparency for all participants in the fed cattle market, just as the preceding bill introduced last year. However, negotiations between members of the Senate Agriculture Committee and feedback from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) led to several changes from the previous iteration that remain to be determined.

In brief, the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act requires the nation’s largest beef packers to procure a percentage of their cattle via negotiated-type trade. This bill signals commitment from congressional leaders to cross the finish line with a solution that requires packers to increase competitive participation in the fed cattle market beyond alternative marketing arrangements.

"Sen. Grassley works tirelessly to represent his constituent cattlemen in the face of adversity,” said Bob Noble, president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. “We look forward to working with USDA and Iowa's congressional delegation to ensure the provisions are implemented in the most meaningful way possible.”

About the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act
    The bill establishes a variety of approved pricing mechanisms that may be utilized by packers for procurement, including cattle sold at a stockyard/auction market, through a trading system or platform with multiple buyers and sellers, and via cash or negotiated grid means.  
    The provisions outlined in the bill apply to the lower 48 states, which means the USDA is charged with creating new regions to regulate major packers outside of the beef belt.
    Initial mandatory minimum requirements within each region are based on historical cash and negotiated grid purchases in 2020 and 2021.
    Covered packers are required to meet mandatory minimums within a time period established by the USDA (minimum one week; maximum 30 days).

In addition to the aforementioned changes, the bill requires covered packers to report the number of cattle scheduled for delivery for each of the next 14 calendar days; includes mandatory reporting of cutout yield data; establishes a cattle contract library; expedites average carcass weight reporting; and increases the penalty for mandatory minimum violations to $90,000 each.



North American Meat Institute:
Grassley-Fischer Bill is Still a Government Mandate on Producers

The North American Meat Institute today said the latest version of the Grassley-Fischer government mandate bill is now more onerous and more irrelevant as market driven prices for cattle producers have steadily risen to seven-year highs.

    “Supply and demand has already driven the cattle markets back into balance without the radical government interference and convoluted mandates called for in the latest draft of the Grassley-Fischer bill,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Make no mistake, the bill still contains government mandates directing how producers market their cattle.”

The new draft mandates a certain amount of cash-market sales between packers and cattle feeders, establishing “government approved pricing mechanisms” by which cattle must be bought and sold.

     “If this bill becomes law,” said Potts, “there will be cattle producers who want alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) but will instead be forced to sell on the cash-market, and the industry will turn back time to the days of commodity cattle, or worse, to government-controlled markets.”

At the 2022 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Atlanta, Dr. Stephen R. Koontz, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Colorado State University said, “Mandated cash trade is not going to get you better price discovery. It's going to put a $50 cost on calves impacted.” This $50 cost per head will be shouldered by cattle feeders and cow-calf producers - those hard hit by the pandemic.

AMAs benefit producers and consumers because producers are incentivized and rewarded to invest in the quality of the herd, resulting in consistent high-quality beef that consumers demand. With the premiums producers can receive through AMAs, producers can continue to innovate, which is critical as consumers increasingly demand – and the industry provides – more sustainable beef. Without a robust and market-balanced role for AMAs, the costs associated of meeting increased sustainability will be borne by producers, either through higher costs of production or decreased demand for beef.

Both the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the nation’s two largest producer organizations, oppose mandates.



R-CALF USA Issues Statement on the Modified Compromise of the 50/14 Bill

Yesterday, Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) jointly released a modified compromise of the earlier introduced 50/14 bill, also known as the spot market protection bill. The newly modified compromise bill is called the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022. R-CALF USA strongly opposed the initial version of the compromise bill and called on the Senate Agriculture Committee to reject the bill pending the conclusion of R-CALF USA’s Cattle Antitrust Litigation.    

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard issued the following statement in response to the modified compromise’s announcement:

“R-CALF USA remains deeply disappointed that Congress has not yet taken any meaningful action to address the serious crisis in the cattle industry that is now entering its eighth year.

“We don’t yet know how many U.S. cattle operations have been needlessly destroyed by the prolonged, structurally broken marketplace as the U.S. Department of Agriculture ceased publishing annual reports on the number of U.S. cattle operations several years ago.    

“What we do know based on what USDA does still report is that we’ve lost another 1,000 small independent feedlots just between 2020 and 2021.

“Based on the combination of widespread drought and the broken marketplace, we fear our industry’s losses of cattle farmers and ranchers and cattle feeders are substantial and ongoing.

“We asked Congress to take decisive action to restore the competition purged from our cattle markets by the largest packers that shifted large volumes of cattle out of the competitive cash market and placed them in non-competitive captive supply arrangements. Some or all of these captive supply arrangements are akin to packer ownership and control of cattle.

“While we reserve our opinion regarding the modified compromise bill pending our ongoing analysis, we remain concerned that at its heart, the proposal authorizes the USDA to take up to two more years before it even establishes minimum cash volume requirements; to set those minimum requirements at the same inappropriate level that they’ve been at during the past two years; and then to keep them at that inappropriate level following the required review after the first two years of implementation and periodic reviews after each five-year increment.

“We were hoping Congress would provide a measured response to this serious crisis and we will continue wading through this complicated proposal to determine if it provides any meaningful reform worthy of America’s independent cattle producers’ support.”



IDALS, APHIS Confirm Additional Cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in 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 two positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa. The confirmed cases were in a commercial turkey flock in Hamilton County, Iowa and a commercial layer flock in Guthrie County, Iowa.

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 and Land Stewardship 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.



EPA Expands Use of Enlist Products to 134 Additional Counties for the 2022 Growing Season

Following the thorough review of a proposed label amendment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the use of Enlist One and Enlist Duo in 134 additional counties, providing growers with additional weed management options for the 2022 growing season. Today’s action is an example of EPA’s commitment to working with stakeholders when new information becomes available to make regulatory decisions that reflect the best available science and protect human health and the environment.

Enlist One and Enlist Duo, two herbicides used to control weeds in conventional and genetically modified corn, cotton, and soybean crops, can now be used in all counties of Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. In Texas, Enlist products can now be used in Bowie, Cooke, Fannin, Grayson, Lamar, and Red River counties. Read page 16 of the new Enlist One label and page 16 of the new Enlist Duo label to see which counties remain prohibited.

In January 2022, EPA issued seven-year registrations for these Enlist products. At that time, Enlist One and Enlist Duo were not approved for use in all counties of the United States. Counties were prohibited if they were not proposed for use by the product registrant, Corteva, or if EPA expected the use of Enlist products would likely affect or jeopardize federally threatened or endangered (listed) species that live on-field in a county.

In February 2022, Corteva submitted a label amendment to propose use of Enlist One and Enlist Duo in 128 additional counties. Corteva did not propose use in these counties during the registration renewal because Enlist products were previously thought to put the American Burying Beetle, a threatened species, at risk. However, after the renewal action was complete, Corteva proposed that EPA consider use in these counties. Based on EPA’s new effects determination, which included a robust analysis of updated species range maps from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), EPA expects that the use of these products — with the existing label requirements in place to mitigate spray drift and pesticide runoff — will not likely jeopardize the American Burying Beetle or other listed species and their critical habitats in these counties.

In March 2022, Corteva also submitted a label amendment to propose use of Enlist Duo in six Minnesota counties. EPA previously prohibited use in these counties because the Agency expected that the use of Enlist Duo would likely jeopardize the Eastern Massasauga rattle snake exposed on-field. However, EPA’s prior analyses were based on FWS’s 2020 species range maps. EPA subsequently learned that FWS updated their species range map in 2021, which shows that the Eastern Massasauga rattle snake is no longer present in Minnesota. Therefore, EPA has now determined that the prohibition of Enlist Duo in these counties is no longer necessary. In addition, EPA evaluated whether the use of Enlist Duo would affect other off-field listed species that live in these counties. EPA now expects that, given the current mitigations on the product labels, these products will not likely jeopardize listed species or adversely modify critical habitats. The current mitigations will also reduce unintentional harm (i.e., “take”) to individuals of all listed species in these counties.

Regardless of whether Enlist One and Enlist Duo are applied in a county that contains listed species or not, all Enlist One and Enlist Duo applicators — in all 34 states where these products are registered for use — must follow label requirements that reduce pesticide spray drift and runoff. Additionally, it is important to note that Enlist One and Enlist Duo are still prohibited in several counties where EPA identified risks to other on-field listed species during earlier registrations, including prohibitions EPA recently implemented based on the Agency’s 2022 effects determination.

In addition to today’s action, EPA corrected an oversight on the Enlist One and Enlist Duo product labels by removing prohibitions for two counties in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Enlist products are not registered for use in the states of Massachusetts or Rhode Island, and therefore Enlist products remain prohibited in all counties of these states.



Growers Welcome EPA Decision on Enlist, Hope for Continued Progress & Lessons Learned

Grower groups including the American Soybean Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, and National Cotton Council welcomed and expressed appreciation for an announcement from EPA that will restore use of Enlist herbicides to many U.S. counties. This label amendment, prompted by new data submitted to EPA, lifts county-level bans on use of Enlist and Enlist Duo in 134 counties across multiple states, including those where the American Burying Beetle is alleged to be present.

Brad Doyle, soy farmer from Arkansas and president of the American Soybean Association, welcomed the announcement, stating, “County-level bans had growers in these areas anxious and frustrated when the announcement came out in January – especially in this market where inputs are scarce and costs are sky high. We appreciate EPA hearing our concerns and working to quickly restore access in many counties where science and data support doing so.”

"On behalf of corn farmers, we would like to thank the EPA for expeditiously reviewing the data and lifting the corresponding restrictions,” said Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington.

The grower groups hope the Enlist decision has provided EPA a good learning opportunity to instruct future registration decisions. Growers have been very critical of bans affecting entire counties where protected species may be present in only a fraction of the county or potentially not at all, or where conservative methods have overestimated the impact on some species. Announcements of new restrictions just weeks ahead of planting after many growers have already received products has also been stressful to producers. Numerous counties remain under county-level bans following EPA’s latest decision. The groups hope the agency will continue reviewing data that might allow use to be restored in those areas, as well.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall responded, “AFBF is glad EPA is partially stepping back from its decision to restrict critically needed herbicides right before spring planting. It is essential that EPA continue to work with farmers to understand the impacts of its decisions. Products like Enlist enable farmers to utilize environmentally beneficial practices that preserve the soil, minimize fuel use, and capture carbon. We hope EPA is cognizant of timing constraints, supply chain challenges, and the implications of various restrictions in future pesticide decisions.”

Stephen Logan, chairman of the National Cotton Council’s Environmental Task Force and cotton producer from Louisiana, expressed appreciation that EPA continues to refine the science necessary to comply with the ESA and FIFRA mandates, stating, "Many mitigations are already in place, and others—such as reasonable buffers—provide species protection without banning use for the whole county. I hope EPA and the Services continue to refine their decision process and credit farmers for our environmental stewardship actions on our farmlands.”

In January, EPA issued new seven-year registrations for over-the-top use of herbicides Enlist and Enlist Duo on herbicide-tolerant corn, cotton, and soybeans. While the new registrations were welcome and worked for many growers across the country, producers in 217 counties disproportionally concentrated in several states were impacted by county-level bans, risking production in affected counties amidst ongoing supply chain challenges. Grower groups have urged EPA to review additional data that may allow for lifting county-level bans and view today’s announcement as a significant step toward that outcome.



New Cuts and Dishes Introduced to Foodservice Sector in Japan

Although the foodservice sector in Japan has generally struggled through the pandemic, a few restaurant segments are faring well. With yakiniku restaurants growing in popularity and sales, more than 14,000 visitors attended the 2022 Yakiniku Business Fair in Tokyo looking for new ideas in an environment of changing demand and rising costs.

With funding from the Beef Checkoff Program, Texas Beef Council and National Pork Board, USMEF introduced new menu and merchandising ideas to the foodservice sector during the two-day show. With the duty on picnic/cushion meat decreasing in April, USMEF stepped up its promotion of U.S. picnics to the foodservice sector as an alternative cut.

“We are building on previous work in promoting picnics as a value-added cut to foodservice,” says Satoshi Kato, marketing director, USMEF Japan. “For this important show, we highlighted the reduced duty on picnics and we developed new ginger pork and pulled pork dishes for sample tastings and consideration as new menu items.”

To capitalize on the growing consumer demand for takeout and delivery meals, USMEF also unveiled a new “U.S. Beef Take-Out Menu Book” at the show. Funded by the Beef Checkoff, the menu book focuses on value-added menu ideas utilizing 10 cuts of American beef — chuck eye roll, rib eye roll, strip loin, top blade, short plate, outside flat, outside skirt, hanging tender, tongue and large intestine.

USMEF worked with two chefs to create three new recipe ideas for each of the 10 items for the menu book.

“The menu book was very well received at the Yakiniku Business Fair and we are now distributing it to importers and meat processors that have close relationships with foodservice companies,” says Takemichi Yamashoji, USMEF Japan director. “With changes in consumer demand, personnel shortages and rising costs, we see this as an opportunity to present high-value U.S. beef meals as profitable solutions to the foodservice sector.”



USDA Publishes Origin of Livestock Final Rule for Organic Dairy

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published the highly anticipated Origin of Livestock (OOL) final rule for organic dairy. This change to the USDA organic regulations will promote a fairer and more competitive market for all organic dairy producers, by making sure that certified USDA organic dairy products are produced to the same consistent standard.

“This action demonstrates the USDA’s strong commitment to America’s organic dairy farmers,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “The Origin of Livestock final rule provides clear and uniform standards about how and when livestock may be transitioned to organic dairy production, and how transitioned animals are managed within the organic dairy system. Now, all organic dairy livestock producers will have the confidence and certainty they are operating in a fair and competitive market.”

“Consumers of dairy that carry the USDA Certified Organic Seal can trust that those products meet their expectations for how organic dairy products are produced,” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “At the same time, the rule announced today also ensures new organic producers have a fair way to enter the market.”

USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) will oversee the new rule, which in general:
    Allows a dairy livestock operation transitioning to organic, or starting a new organic farm, to transition non-organic animals one time.
    Prohibits organic dairies from sourcing any transitioned animals. Once a dairy is certified organic, animals must be managed as organic from the last third of gestation. Variances may be requested by small businesses for specific scenarios.

More information about the Origin of Livestock rule is available at: www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/national-organic-program-origin-livestock.



NASDA Vice President expresses importance of completing the farm bill and states’ role in federal policymaking
 
Bruce Kettler, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Second Vice President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture testified before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research today. Kettler’s remarks addressed the importance of completing the farm bill, states’ co-regulatory role with the federal government and farmers’ challenges in accessing specialty crop block grants.
 
Kettler emphasized the necessity of a bipartisan, fully funded 2023 Farm Bill and how certainty for farmers in policy and regulation is key to effective implementation of the bill further down the line.
 
“It is vital Congress provides certainty by delivering a forward-looking, fully funded farm bill, on time,” Kettler said. “If the pandemic and the recent events unfolding in Ukraine have taught us anything, it is that this farm bill, and all future farm bills are an issue of national security.”
 
Sharing from NASDA’s unique perspective as the nexus between states and the federal government on agriculture and food policy, Kettler stated that state and federal agencies’ work to “promote economic stability while guaranteeing a safe and accessible food supply” must be a “joint venture.”
 
He encouraged further cooperation between states and federal agencies and proposed five principles for “cooperative federalism.”
 
Regarding Specialty Crop Block Grants, Kettler touched on the need for a stronger definition of “specialty crops,” and the challenge smaller farms face in accessing grant money when competing against larger institutes for the same pool of funding.
 
“One difficulty our team faces every year is answering the question, ‘What is a specialty crop?’” Kettler said.  The current definition is broad and creates confusion on which crops make the cut. Sunflowers are one example.”
 
He also shared those smaller groups and businesses have the knowledge and ideas that would benefit their local specialty crop industry, but they don’t have the same access to the program.
 
“We ask that the Committee consider allowing USDA to direct funds to be used for technical assistance for the grant application process, and that the grant parameters be expanded to address the current and future needs of the industry,” Kettler said.
 
NASDA recommends increasing funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program while ensuring a flexible, locally responsive and state-led program.



Hannah Thompson-Weeman named President and CEO of Animal Agriculture Alliance

The Animal Agriculture Alliance board of directors has announced that Hannah Thompson-Weeman, currently serving as the Alliance’s vice president, strategic engagement, has been named the organization’s new president and CEO. Thompson-Weeman will assume the role on May 1 prior to the departure of longtime president and CEO Kay Johnson Smith later that month to join the staff of Alliance member organization Dairy MAX, one of the leading regional dairy councils in America representing more than 900 dairy farmers and serving communities in eight states.

A picture containing person, wall, indoor Description automatically generatedThompson-Weeman joined the Alliance in 2014 as director of communications and since that time has been promoted to vice president of communications before assuming her current role leading strategic engagement. She has led the Alliance’s issues management, crisis communications, animal rights extremist monitoring and influencer engagement work, as well as played an integral role in connecting with supporters and developing Alliance programs such as the Stakeholders Summit, Animal Ag Allies and College Aggies Online. Thompson-Weeman’s expertise and passion in these areas has made her a sought-after columnist for various publications and speaker for national and even international events, helping to build the Alliance brand. She holds a B.S. in agricultural communication with a minor in agricultural business and an M.S. in agricultural and extension education, both from The Ohio State University.

“Hannah’s history with the Alliance and energy for taking its mission to new heights make her the ideal choice for both a seamless transition and a bright future for the organization,” said Christina Lood, senior director, sustainability and innovation communications, Zoetis, and current Alliance chairperson. “The board of directors offers Kay the deepest gratitude for her nearly 28 years of commitment to the Alliance. The organization would not be what it is today if it weren’t for her pouring limitless time and energy into growing the Alliance’s resources, team and programs. We wish her all the best in her new role and look forward to continuing to engage with her both personally and professionally.”

Johnson Smith is departing the Alliance to join longtime Alliance member Dairy MAX as chief operating officer. A nonprofit organization headquartered in Texas and with operations in Colorado, southwest Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and Wyoming, Dairy MAX is part of a nationwide effort to promote dairy, develop new dairy foods, provide educational information and increase consumption.

“While it is certainly bittersweet to leave the Alliance after so many years, I am looking forward to remaining in the animal agriculture community and continuing to be the Alliance's strongest advocate, now as part of a member organization,” said Johnson Smith. “The Alliance will be in exceptional hands with Hannah leading a strong team with deep roots at the organization. It has truly been an honor to have served the Alliance, our members and the broader animal agriculture community for all these years, and I’m thrilled to be able to continue to do so in a new role going forward.”

Thompson-Weeman will begin her new duties just prior to the Alliance’s 2022 Stakeholders Summit, set for May 11-12 in Kansas City. Both Johnson Smith and Thompson-Weeman’s time at the Alliance and new roles will be celebrated during the Chairperson’s Reception at the event. For more information on the Summit, themed “Come Together for Animal Ag: Be Informed, Be Ready, Be Here,” and how to register, visit bit.ly/AAA22Summit.