Thursday May 5 Ag News

 NPPD: Look up, look out for powerlines during spring planting

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is encouraging farmers to look up and look out for powerlines heading into spring planting season.

As farmers make their way back out to the field for planting season, NPPD is asking equipment operators to be aware of any powerlines located along the fields they are working in to ensure they can complete their work safely. “Planting season is a busy time for many of our customers in the ag community and it’s important that we remind operators the importance of working safely around powerlines,” says NPPD Transmission and Distribution Construction and Maintenance Manager Scott Walz. “Many pieces of equipment have large booms or can sit tall enough to get near powerlines. If equipment gets close, or contacts a powerline, it can cause serious or fatal injury, and can also result in power outages and damage to equipment as well as vehicle electronics.”

If a vehicle or piece of equipment is in contact with a powerline, call 911 or your local power provider and remain inside the vehicle until help can arrive and deenergize the powerline. When a powerline is touching a vehicle, it can electrify both the vehicle and the ground in the surrounding area. If a fire forces you to exit the vehicle, then do so by jumping away from the vehicle, landing on two feet, and shuffling as far away from the area as possible.

NPPD recommends farmers review the following safety precautions before entering the fields to begin harvest operations. To find more information on farm safety, view https://www.nppd.com/farmsafety.

    Each day, review all farm activities and work practices that will take place around powerlines and remind all workers to take precautions.
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    Know the location of powerlines and when setting up the farm equipment, be at least 20 feet away from them. Contact your local public power provider if you feel this distance cannot be achieved.
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    Use caution when raising augers or the bed of a grain truck or wagon. It can be difficult to estimate distance, and sometimes a powerline is closer than it looks. For large equipment, use a spotter to ensure the equipment stays a safe distance from the line.
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    Always adjust portable augers or elevators to their lowest possible level – under 14 feet – before transporting them. Variables like wind, uneven ground, or shifting weight can cause unexpected results.



Krehbiel reappointed as animal science department head

Clinton Krehbiel, who has served as the Marvel L. Baker Professor and Head of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Science Department since 2017, has been appointed to another five-year term in the position.

Under Krehbiel’s leadership, the department has adopted a strategic framework, grown undergraduate enrollment between 2017 and 2020, hired talented new faculty members, increased research funding and expenditures, and worked closely with industry and other partners across Nebraska.

Krehbiel was also instrumental in the formation of the Nebraska Integrated Beef Systems Hub, and the expansion of the Feedlot Innovation Center at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead.

“Dr. Krehbiel is an effective and compassionate leader focused on the success of Animal Science faculty, staff and students,” said Mike Boehm, NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “He is shaping the department in important ways, not the least with the talented faculty members he has recruited and hired to Nebraska.”

Krehbiel said he has been honored to lead the department and has particularly enjoyed the relationships he has built during his first five years in the position.

“The success and progress we have made as a department reflects the vision and diligence of faculty, staff, and students, and leadership and support from our IANR administration and stakeholders,” Krehbiel said. “There is plenty more progress to be made, and I am looking forward to continuing this journey.”

Krehbiel was raised on a diversified farm near McPherson, Kansas.  He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Clint was a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center. He then spent three years on the faculty at New Mexico State University before joining the faculty at Oklahoma State University in January 2000. Clint was a Regents Professor, the Dennis and Marta White Endowed Chair in Ruminant Nutrition and Health, and the Assistant Department Head of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University prior to joining the University of Nebraska.



Ag land management webinar to offer the latest on 2022 cash rents, land values

The latest trends in Nebraska cash rental rates and land values will be covered during the next Land Management Quarterly webinar, hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, at noon on May 16.

Offered since 2019, the quarterly webinars address common management issues for Nebraska landowners, agricultural operators and related stakeholders interested in the latest insight on trends in real estate, managing agricultural land and solutions for addressing challenges in the upcoming growing season.

The May webinar will examine the latest average cash rental rates and land values in the state, as reported in the recently released Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report and offer insight on adjusting rental rates considering high commodity prices this year. It will also cover best practices for communication between landlords and tenants, as well as family members, and offer advice on short- and long-term decision-making for agricultural land.

Viewers will have the opportunity to submit land management questions for the presenters to answer during the presentation.

The webinar will be led by Jim Jansen and Allan Vyhnalek, who are both extension educators with the Center for Agricultural Profitability. Jansen focuses on agricultural finance and land economics, as well as the direction of the annual Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey and Report. Vyhnalek is a farm succession and farmland management extension educator.

The webinar is free and will be recorded. Past recordings can be viewed the day after each session, along with recordings from the entire series.

Registration is free at https://cap.unl.edu/landmanagement.



Veterans, Agriculture, and Stress Webinar
Thursday, May 19 - 1:00 p.m. CT

This webinar will explore issues related to the interface of veterans, agriculture, and stress. Some main points to be addressed include the following:
    Unique characteristics and stressors of farm families
    Common themes and risk factors of mental illness and suicide in farmers and ranchers
    Agriculture and horticulture as tools for stress relief
    A farmer veteran's method of managing farm stress
    From Special Operator to flower farmer: a journey in healing

To participate in this free webinar, click here https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eD3NAtLSJfY919s to access the online registration form by Monday, May 16. Instructions for accessing the session will be sent to registrants by Tuesday, May 17. Please pass on this invitation to others you believe may be interested. Contact AgrAbility at 800-825-4264 or email agrability@agrability.org if you have questions.



USDA TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT ADOPTION OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail the Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey beginning May 30 to 1,204 Nebraska farmers and ranchers. The new survey is a joint project between NASS and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) aimed at better understanding conservation practice adoption and the role of technical and financial assistance. The survey results will be used to guide the implementation of NRCS programs in the future.

There are two versions of the survey this year – one requesting information on crop conservation practices and one for confined livestock conservation practices. If NASS does not receive producers’ completed surveys by June 13, they may reach out to schedule telephone interviews.

“Gathering information about farmers’ and ranchers’ motivation for and adoption of conservation practices allows USDA to understand the use and awareness of its programs,” said Nicholas Streff, director of the NASS Northern Plains Field Office. “Effective implementation of USDA programs helps both producers and conservation efforts.”

NASS encourages recipients to respond securely online at www.agcounts.usda.gov, using the 12-digit survey code mailed with the survey. Producers responding online will now use NASS’s new Respondent Portal. On the portal, producers can complete their surveys, access data visualizations and reports of interest, link to other USDA agencies, get a local weather update and more.  Completed questionnaires may also be mailed back in the prepaid envelope provided.

Results from both versions of the survey will be available Sept. 15, 2022, at nass.usda.gov and in NASS’s Quick Stats database at quickstats.nass.usda.gov.

All information reported by individuals will be kept confidential, as required by federal law. For assistance with the survey, producers can call the NASS Nebraska Field Office at (800) 582-6443.



U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai featured at Washington event celebrating Yeutter biography

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai headlined an event celebrating a new biography of former U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter on April 28 in Washington, DC.  

“He is a legend,” Tai said of Yeutter in her remarks. “I know that as the 19th U.S. trade representative, I very much stand on his shoulders, as I do on the shoulders of every U.S. trade representative before me.”  

The book, “Rhymes with Fighter: Clayton Yeutter, American Statesman,” by Joseph Weber, associate professor of journalism at Nebraska, celebrates the life and career of Yeutter, who grew up in Eustis, Nebraska, attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and embarked on a career in which he worked with four U.S. presidents and helped shape international trade policy. “Rhymes with Fighter” was published in December 2021 by the University of Nebraska Press.

The event drew together much of the Washington trade policy community, with over 100 of Yeutter’s family, friends, and former colleagues in attendance at Hogan Lovells, the law firm where Yeutter worked in his later years. The university’s Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance, the Washington International Trade Association, and the Association of USTR Alumni cosponsored the event, which also recognized the 60th anniversary of the office of the U.S. Trade Representative.  

The program included remarks from Nebraska Congressmen Adrian Smith and Don Bacon and former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills.   

Smith represents Nebraska’s third congressional district and is the ranking Republican on the trade subcommittee of the House Committee on Ways & Means. He recalled Yeutter’s enthusiasm when he saw a Nebraskan join the House committee with primary jurisdiction over trade policy.  

“To experience his excitement that a Nebraskan was joining the committee inspired me to do more and to articulate why we have trade and what trade can accomplish,” Smith said. “It goes without saying we Nebraskans are proud of Clayton Yeutter, but America is better off and the world is better off for his public service, and we are so grateful.”  

Bacon, who represents Nebraska’s second Congressional district, emphasized the importance of agricultural exports to Nebraska’s economy, citing the state as No. 1 in beef production and popcorn and a leading producer of several other crops, including corn, soybeans, and dry edible beans.

Hills succeeded Yeutter as U.S. trade representative, leading the trade agency while Yeutter served as secretary of agriculture for President George H.W. Bush. She spoke about their close partnership while both served in cabinet positions that are crucial to U.S. trade policy.

“He [Yeutter] was a real partner,” she said. “I don’t think we would’ve accomplished what we accomplished if we hadn’t been able to deal as a partnership on agriculture.”  

Among those achievements were negotiating with countries newly independent of the former Soviet Union and concluding the North American Free Trade Agreement, which built upon the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement Yeutter negotiated as U.S. trade representative.

Yeutter’s Nebraska roots also figured prominently in the evening’s remarks. Recounting the process of writing the book, Weber described the importance of Yeutter’s childhood participation in 4-H to his later career success.  

“Clayton learned both how to show cattle and how to give speeches – indispensable skills for him,” Weber said.  

He also emphasized Yeutter’s education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as key to launching his career.

“One of the things that struck me about his extraordinary career is that it almost did not happen,” he said, referring to the important role played by those who urged him to pursue higher education.  

Warren Maruyama, a partner at Hogan Lovells and longtime friend and colleague of Yeutter’s noted Yeutter’s trajectory from a small Nebraska farm doing schoolwork by the light of a kerosene lamp to the highest levels of the U.S. government where he helped transform world trade.  

“His life shows one of America’s enduring strengths,” Maruyama said.

Yeutter died in 2017, but his passion for trade continues through the university’s Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance. The institute prepares students for leadership roles in international trade and finance, supports interdisciplinary research related to trade, and increases public understanding of these issues.

“As those who worked alongside him and knew him best have said, Clayton was a visionary and American agriculture—and the world—continue to benefit from his achievements in international trade while the next generation builds upon them,” Yeutter Institute director Jill O’Donnell said. “He was also very prescient when it came to educating students to navigate a rapidly changing world and there is no better legacy to guide us in doing that here in Nebraska than that of Clayton Yeutter.”  



World Pork Expo's Educational Seminars Highlight the Latest Pork Insights

Pork industry professionals will get the latest in production and management education through topical seminars at the 2022 World Pork Expo, presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).  World Pork Expo takes place June 8-10 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

This year’s line-up of Business Seminars and Pork Academy gives producers the opportunity to learn about critical topics such as sustainability, data, industry collaborations, nutrition, and more.

“These seminars provide opportunities for pork professionals to stay on top of the latest challenges, topics, trends, and innovations in our industry,” said NPPC President Terry Wolters, owner of Stoney Creek Farms. “The World Pork Expo is an excellent place to learn how to improve operations and outcomes with the newest strategies.”
5 Business Seminars to Choose From

This year’s line-up of Business Seminars includes a variety of sessions, such as multi-part panel discussions and Q&A opportunities. All Business Seminars take place in the Varied Industries Building.

Business Seminars schedule of events:

Wednesday, June 8:
    12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Join Dan Jones, Ph.D. for Today’s Science, Tomorrow’s Success: ADM Feed Additive Portfolio and Elliott Brammer, VP Amino Acids, ADM Animal Nutrition to learn more about the amino acid market, current developments and research focus. Sponsored by ADM.
    1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Supply chain challenges. Labor shortages. Sustainability pressures. Market volatility. Join experts for this entry in our sustainability series, Sustainability of Modern Protein Production in Times of Global Supply Chain Uncertainty. Sponsored by Cargill in partnership with National Pork Board.
    2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — What does international and domestic demand for crops and pork look like? How is that impacting pork prices and pork consumption? Learn more in this seminar, Economic Outlook of the Crop & Pork Industry. Sponsored by ADM in partnership with National Pork Board
    2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Are you already thinking about how to optimize performance and profitability this fall? If not, you should be. Get the tools you need to do just that in this seminar, Perfect Plan for Fall Profitability & Beyond: Live! Sponsored by Cargill.

Thursday, June 9:
    9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — It’s no secret that most of us in the industry realize that market barrows perform better than gilts. But should we look at this challenge as a cost of business or a revenue opportunity? Join this panel discussion: Gilts vs. Barrows - New Innovation for Closing the Gilt Gap. Sponsored by Zoetis.

5 Pork Academy Sessions and Networking Opportunities
This year’s Pork Academy is included with admission. Presented by the National Pork Board and Pork Checkoff, the Pork Academy introduces big ideas and innovative thinking from experts ready to tackle the challenges faced by pork producers and our communities.  All Pork Academy events also take place in the Varied Industries Building.

Pork Academy schedule of events:

Wednesday, June 8:
    8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Coffee Talk: Hot Topics in the Pork Industry, featuring Bill Even, CEO of the National Pork Board.
    10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Sustainability Series: What’s Coming and Why You Need to Be Ready, featuring Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Professor and Air Quality Specialist, UC Davis CLEAR Center.

Thursday, June 9:
    8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Foreign Animal Disease Series: The Alphabet Soup of Disease Response, featuring guest speakers Dr. Pam Zaabel, Director, Swine Health, National Pork Board; Tyler Holck, Senior Program Coordinator, US Swine Health Improvement Plan; and Dr. Anna Forseth, Director, Animal Health, National Pork Producers Council.
    10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Foreign Animal Disease Series: Depopulation and Disposal, featuring Marguerite Tan, Director, Environmental Programs, National Pork Board; and Stephanie Wisdom, Director, Animal Welfare, National Pork Board.
    2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Sustainability Series: Decoding Carbon Markets – What Do They Mean to You?, featuring Dr. Sara Crawford, Vice President, Sustainability, National Pork Board, and the Pollination Group.

Be sure to check out the sponsored Lounge Hours in Meeting Room B from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and again from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for opportunities to network with staff experts from the National Pork Board and get answers to your questions about sustainability and disease preparedness.
There’s still time to register to join thousands of pork industry professionals at this summer’s must-attend pork event. Learn more about the 2022 World Pork Expo at www.worldpork.org, which contains details about registration, daily events, hotel availability, and more.



Beef Export Value Sets Another Record; Pork Exports Improve but Remain Below Last Year's Record Totals

U.S. beef exports soared to another new value record in March, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). March pork exports were the largest so far this year but well below the record-large totals posted in March 2021. Lamb exports continued to gain momentum in March, reaching the third largest monthly volume on record and the highest value in nearly eight years.

Demand for U.S. beef soaring in broad range of markets
Beef exports totaled 126,285 metric tons (mt) in March, up 1% from a year ago and the third largest on record, while value climbed 33% to a record $1.07 billion. First quarter exports increased 6% to 353,852 mt, valued at just over $3 billion (up 41%).

"Global demand for U.S. beef has eclipsed anything I have seen in many years in the meat business," said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "While this momentum is fueled by mainstay markets such as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, demand is also very strong in China/Hong Kong and key Latin American markets, while exports to the Middle East have rebounded impressively."

Halstrom cautioned that first quarter results do not fully reflect the impact of recent COVID-19 lockdowns in China that have slowed product movement and forced many restaurants to suspend or limit service. These obstacles are likely to have a greater impact on April and May export data. He also noted that while beef demand has been very resilient, inflation represents a potential headwind.

"Consumers throughout the world have shown how much they value the quality of U.S. beef, but disposable income is under increasing pressure as they pay more for energy and other daily needs," he said.

Pork exports to Mexico, Dominican Republic on record pace
March pork exports were 222,581 mt, the largest since November but nearly 25% below the record volume achieved a year ago. Export value was $615.3 million, also the highest since November but down 23% year-over-year. First quarter pork exports fell 20% from a year ago to 629,928 mt, valued at $1.71 billion (down 17%). Pork exports to Mexico and the Dominican Republic raced to a record pace in the first quarter and South Korea posted a strong increase in export value, but shipments to most destinations were below last year.

"While pork exports were down significantly from last year's record, we saw some encouraging trends in the March results," Halstrom explained. "U.S. pork commanded a higher price per pound than a year ago, with outstanding demand from Mexico and value growth in key markets such as South Korea and the Dominican Republic. The stronger U.S. dollar creates more price pressure in some destinations, but this will be offset to some degree by the narrowing price gap between U.S. and European pork."

Halstrom added that pork, beef and lamb exporters continue to face logistical obstacles and delays when moving product overseas. The situation is especially challenging for chilled meat shipments to key Asian markets.

Upward trend for lamb exports continues
With growth to Mexico, the Caribbean and the Philippines, U.S. lamb exports continued to gain momentum as March shipments increased 75% from a year ago to 1,906 mt, the largest volume since 2011 and the third largest on record. Export value nearly doubled to $2.88 million, up 95% and the highest since 2014. First quarter lamb exports increased 54% from a year ago to 5,019 mt, while value climbed 72% to $7.35 million. Muscle cut exports grew at an even faster pace, up 80% from a year ago in volume (492 mt) and 88% in value ($3.04 million).



USDA Proposes Rule Revisions to Implement the Livestock Dealer Statutory Trust Under the Packers and Stockyards Act

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a notice in the Federal Register proposing revisions to regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act (Act). These revisions implement the Livestock Dealer Statutory Trust, which provides financial protection for cash sellers of livestock.

Congress amended the Act in late 2020, providing for a statutory trust covering livestock purchases by dealers. Dealers whose average annual livestock purchases exceed $100,000 are required to hold all livestock purchased, and if livestock has been resold, the receivables or proceeds from such sale, in trust for the benefit of all unpaid cash sellers of livestock until full payment has been received by those sellers.  The proposed regulations would add procedures and timeframes for a livestock seller to notify the livestock dealer and the Secretary of Agriculture that the seller has not received full payment for livestock purchased by the dealer and that the seller intends to preserve their trust interests.  In addition, under the proposal, livestock dealers would be required to obtain written acknowledgement from livestock sellers that trust benefits do not pertain to credit sales and would be required to maintain records related to credit sales.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which administers and enforces the Act through its Packers and Stockyards Division, invites interested stakeholders and the public in general to review and comment on the proposed rule. Comments will be accepted at www.regulations.gov until June 6, 2022, on the proposed rule and until July 5, 2022, on the information collection burden.



Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Passes WRDA 2022
ASA newsletter

The Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously passed its Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 earlier this week.

WRDA provides for improvements to the nation’s ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration and other water resources infrastructure, which allow soybean farmers to transport their crop and remain competitive in the global market.

The Senate bill keeps Congress on a biannual WRDA schedule, which resumed in 2014. It also authorizes 21 Chief of Engineer’s reports, or projects with completed feasibility studies.

A proposal in the bill offered by Illinois Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and others would permanently adjust the inland waterways cost-share for construction and major rehabilitation projects to 75% general revenues/25% Inland Waterways Trust Fund (from 65%/35%). Additionally, the proposal eliminates the sunset provision to preserve these changes in perpetuity. ASA has expressed support for the cost-share proposal and continues to advocate for investments to fund lock and dam construction/rehabilitation. Upgrading the aging lock and dam systems along inland waterways is critical to increasing barge capacity for shipping larger loads of U.S. soybeans to international customers.

Up Next: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is developing its version of the WRDA bill with plans to release text and hold a markup in mid-May. ASA is working with partners to highlight strong support for a permanent cost share allocation adjustment among key members of the House.



Corn Export Cargo Quality Report Results Shared With North Asian Buyers

Buyers from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan took part in a hybrid event hosted by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) to learn about the findings of the 2021/2022 Corn Export Cargo Report and current planting conditions in the United States. Pictured, some attendees in South Korea joined the event in-person, hearing from Dr. Kyle Gilliam, USGC manager of global strategies and trade, about the report's findings.

The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) offices in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan came together to co-host an event launching the 2021/2022 U.S. Corn Export Cargo Report and offering customers information on grain market flows and new-crop production. Nearly 400 buyers from the three markets gathered on April 25 for the event, with some attending in-person and others using a virtual platform.

The program reviewed the findings of the recently-released report, provided an overview of planting conditions in the U.S. from three corn farmers and further examined the global grain market’s current status and outlook.

"Attendees appreciated the timely market intelligence that was provided during the webinar, which is beneficial for their purchasing decisions. The U.S. is a reliable source of global corn supply, especially under the current circumstances of market uncertainty," said USGC Director in Taiwan Michael Lu.

Participants were welcomed by USGC Vice President Cary Sifferath before hearing from Dr. Kyle Gilliam, USGC manager of global strategies and trade, on the report’s findings. Gail Lierer of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program and USGC Asia Advisory-Team (A-Team) leader; John Greer of the Nebraska Corn Board and member of the Western Hemisphere A-Team; and Dirk Rice of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and member of the Asia A-Team shared information on planting conditions and prospects in their respective states during a live producer panel.

"The timely information on the U.S. corn export quality and planting progress, weather and market information from representatives of three corn producing states is like nothing else that customers can obtain from other sources," said Tommy Hamamoto, USGC director in Japan. "This is a good example of the transparency of the U.S. corn industry."

Before ending the event with a question-and-answer session, attendees heard from Dr. Frayne Olson, crop economist and market specialist from North Dakota State University. Olson provided the audience with a grains crop market outlook presentation.

The export cargo quality report is a companion to the 2021/2022 Corn Harvest Quality Report that provides information about the quality of the most recent U.S. corn crop at harvest as it enters the international merchandising channels. Both reports provide reliable information on U.S. corn quality from the farm to the customer based on transparent and consistent methodology, offering an early view of grading factors established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), moisture content and other characteristics not reported elsewhere. The reports identify any noticeable changes occurring between the time of harvest and export loading. With 11 reports available, readers can compare the crop quality over many years.

Based on the information shared with buyers during the event, the Council believes the three markets will have greater confidence in the quality of U.S. corn, which has secured a stable supply chain and price competitiveness.

“A timely report on the superior quality of U.S. corn has given Korean buyers confidence to expand their purchases of U.S. corn,” said Haksoo Kim, USGC director in South Korea. "A buyer even shared with me that thanks to the Council, they were better able to understand the current planting and farming situation in the corn belt without having to go to the United States."

The findings of the report will also be shared in the coming weeks with buyers in Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama.



Council Releases Updated Importers Manual

Want to learn more about importing U.S. grains? The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has just the resource – the Importer Manual. The manual was recently updated for the first time since 2004.

The Importer Manual was created to provide the Council’s international customers with a comprehensive resource on how to properly import U.S. grains. The manual also provides additional resources and importer stakeholder information to better serve the organization’s members and international buyers.

“Enabling trade is an integral part of the U.S. Grains Council’s mission, and that’s exactly what the importer manual is set to accomplish,” said Sadie Marks, USGC manager of global programs. “The new edition of the manual dives deeper into important topics and highlights our membership, which represents the full U.S. export industry, to create a seamless and transparent guide for our international buyers to purchase U.S. grains.”

The manual is comprised of 14 chapters, each covering a different topic in ensuring the successful importation of U.S. grains. The chapters are as follows:
1. U.S. Grains – Commodity Descriptions
2. Food, Seed and Industrial Uses for Grains
3. How to Procure and Purchase U.S. Grain and Grain Co-products
4. Grain Quality - U.S. Grades and Standards
5. U.S. Grain Exports and Trade Flows
6. Shipping Terms – FAS, FOB, C&F, CIF
7. Ocean Freight and Transportation
8. Payment and Financing of U.S. Grains
9. Price Discovery and Cash Markets
10. Derivative Markets
11. Market Analysis
12. Price Risk Management and Hedging in U.S. Grain Markets
13. How to Become “Import Ready”
14. List of Resources

The new version has been significantly revised by expanding the depth of information, updating current resources and creating additional chapters, including hedging, derivative markets and the historical perspective behind U.S. grain exports and trade flows. Chapter three provides a link to the Council’s full membership directory, which represents the grain export system in its entirety, a valuable resource for international buyers.

The full document is downloadable on grains.org.



U.S. Monthly Average Milk Price Sets Record High in March
NMPF Newsletter

The highest-ever monthly U.S. average all-milk price was reported by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) for March, at $25.90/cwt. This was twenty cents per cwt higher than the previous record, in September 2014, the only year – until now – in which the monthly all-milk price topped $25.00/cwt.

The futures-based outlook for the milk price for all of calendar year 2022 halted its steady ascent since last summer during the fourth week of March, but it hasn’t dropped below $26.00/cwt since then, indicating there may be more monthly records ahead for this key measure of U.S. dairy farmers’ gross incomes from milk sales.

USDA has reported the March margin under the Dairy Margin Coverage program to be $11.55/cwt. Since March 2021, the DMC feed cost has increased by $3.22/cwt, while the all-milk price has risen by $8.50/cwt over the same period. The DMC Decision Tool on the USDA Farm Service Agency DMC website predicts that DMC margin will remain above the $9.50/cwt maximum coverage level under the program for the remainder of 2022.

April CWT-Assisted Dairy Export Sales Totaled 67 Million Pounds
CWT member cooperatives secured 40 contracts in April, adding 6.3 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 9,000 pounds of butter, 827,000 pounds of whole milk powder and 331,000 pounds of cream cheese to CWT-assisted sales in 2022. In milk equivalent, this is equal to 67 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. These products will go customers in Asia, Central America, Middle East-North Africa, Oceania and Europe, and will be shipped from April through October 2022.

CWT-assisted 2022 dairy product sales contracts year-to-date total 42.8 million pounds of American-type cheese, 46,000 pounds of butter, 4.3 million pounds of cream cheese and 15.6 million pounds of whole milk powder. This brings the total milk equivalent for the year to 543 million pounds on a milkfat basis.



USDA Hosts Virtual Event on Mental Health Support for Farmers and Ranchers

America’s farmers and ranchers are resilient, but even the most stalwart face mental health challenges. In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosts a free, virtual convening over three days to highlight this important, but often overlooked issue. The title of the convening is Sustainable Livelihoods and Behavioral Health: Strategies and Partnerships to address Farm Stress and Suicide. The event brings together leaders from USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), farmers and ranchers, technical assistance providers, as well as individuals and other strategic partners, to focus on current challenges with rural mental health. The event will focus on the federal government’s response across various agencies, as well as best practices and strategies to address stress and mental health issues on the farm and ranch.

Key takeaways include:
Information on the federal agency response to farm stress, including initiatives like the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) and the 988 national mental health crisis hotline.

Presentations from the USDA Rural Health Liaison team and Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) agencies to raise awareness of an issue that often has been stigmatized.

Interactive regional breakout sessions bringing together Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network partners, Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grantees, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) regional staff.

Capacity building trainings and workshops for USDA staff, technical assistance providers, and farmer-serving organizations, as well as clinicians and behavioral health providers.

The virtual event takes place May 17, 18, and 19 from 1 – 5 p.m. EDT. Register today and find more information at https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/other.