Monday July 18 Crop Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending July 17, 2022, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 22% very short, 37% short, 39% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 22% very short, 38% short, 39% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 5% very poor, 9% poor, 22% fair, 49% good, and 15% excellent. Corn silking was 45%, near 49% last year and 48% for the five-year average. Dough was 1%, near 3% both last year and average.

Soybean condition rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 24% fair, 50% good, and 16% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 55%, behind 72% last year and 63% average. Setting pods was 14%, behind 28% last year and 19% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 19% very poor, 22% poor, 36% fair, 20% good, and 3% excellent. Winter wheat harvested was 61%, ahead of 55% last year, and near 60% average.

Sorghum condition rated 5% very poor, 15% poor, 30% fair, 43% good, and 7% excellent. Sorghum headed was 10%, near 7% last year, but behind 15% average.

Oats condition rated 12% very poor, 19% poor, 34% fair, 32% good, and 3% excellent. Oats harvested was 20%, behind 35% last year, and well behind 40% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 30% fair, 55% good, and 9% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 16%, near 14% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 23% very poor, 25% poor, 37% fair, 13% good, and 2% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS REPORT

Little precipitation and above average temperatures resulted in 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 17, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included cutting hay and starting fungicide applications.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 24 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 8 percent very short, 23 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

Corn silking or beyond was 31 percent, 4 days behind both last year and the 5-year average. Scattered reports throughout the State showed 1 percent of the corn crop reached the dough stage. Corn condition rating was 81 percent good to excellent.

Fifty-five percent of soybeans were blooming, 6 days behind last year and 2 days behind average. Thirteen percent of the soybean crop was setting pods, 1 week behind last year and 3 days behind the 5-year average. Iowa’s soybean condition rating was 78 percent good to excellent.

Nearly all the oat crop has headed with 67 percent of oats turning color or beyond, 1 week behind last year. Oat harvest for grain reached 16 percent, 3 days behind last year. Iowa’s oat condition was 81 percent good to excellent.

Fifty-five percent of the State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay was complete. All hay condition rated 72 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 57 percent good to excellent. Livestock were stressed due to above average heat and humidity with pinkeye in cattle still an issue.



USDA: Crop Development Behind Average, but Conditions Hold Mostly Steady

U.S. corn and soybean development remained behind the five-year average last week, while conditions for both crops held mostly steady, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: 37% of corn was silking as of Sunday, July 18, according to NASS. That is 15 percentage points behind last year's 52% and 11 percentage points behind the five-year average of 48%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 6%, 1 percentage point behind both last year and the five-year average of 7%.
-- Crop condition: 64% of corn was rated in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week. The current rating remains 1 percentage point below last year's rating at this time.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: 48% of soybeans were blooming, 7 percentage points behind the five-year average of 55%. Fourteen percent of soybeans were setting pods, 5 percentage points behind the five-year average of 19%.
-- Crop condition: 61% of soybeans were rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage points from 63% the previous week but up from 50% at this time a year ago.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: 70% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, just 1 percentage point behind last year and the five-year average of 71%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: 68% of the crop was headed, 22 percentage points behind the five-year average of 90%.
-- Crop condition: 71% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, up 1 percentage points from 70% the previous week and well above last year's rating of 11%.



UNL webinar will offer strategies for direct marketing meat to consumers

A webinar that will be presented by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability at noon on July 28 will cover tips, tools and strategies for successfully direct marketing meat to consumers.

“So You Want to Direct Market Your Meat to Consumers? Now What?” will feature a panel that includes perspectives from a producer, a meat processor and an industry expert. They will offer “how to” advice and describe common pitfalls to avoid.

“Over the last several years, there has been a growing interest in selling livestock products directly to consumers,” said Elliott Dennis, an assistant professor in the university’s Department of Agricultural Economics. “This webinar will be beneficial for everyone from those who are considering starting a direct marketing business to seasoned marketers.”

Panelists will include Gary Sullivan, an associate professor in the Department of Animal Science at the university; Charlie Emswiler, owner and operator of Wahoo Locker; and Mariel Barreras, founder of Barreras Family Farm LLC., in Blair, who has extensive knowledge in marketing, sales and growth planning. Dennis will host the webinar.

Register on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.



USDA TO SURVEY COUNTY SMALL GRAINS ACREAGE

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey producers in 32 states, including Nebraska, for its 2022 County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) for small grains.

The survey will collect information on total acres planted and harvested, and yield and production of small grains crops down to the county level. CAPS will provide the data needed to estimate acreage and production of selected crops such as barley, oats, and wheat in the United States.

“The data provided will help federal and state programs support the farmer,” said Nicholas Streff, Director of the NASS Northern Plains Regional Field Office. “I hope every producer understands the importance of these data and will take the time to respond, if they receive this survey. Producers can lose out when there are no data to determine accurate rates for loans, disaster payments, crop insurance price elections, and more. Without data, agencies such as USDA’s Risk Management Agency and Farm Service Agency do not have information on which to base the programs that serve those same producers.”

Farmers are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov, by mail or fax. Nebraska producers who do not respond in the next few weeks may be emailed a reminder or contacted for an interview to complete the survey.

NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law. The CAPS data will be published in NASS’s Quick Stats database (quickstats.nass.usda.gov) at 3p.m. EDT on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northern Plains Regional Field Office at (800) 582-6443.



International Trade Commission Rejects Fertilizer Duties in Win for Farmers
 
The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled today against imposing tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers imported from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago.

“This comes as a welcome relief,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “We have been sounding the alarms and telling the ITC commissioners that tariffs will drive up input prices to even more unaffordable levels for farmers and cripple our supply. I am so glad they listened.”

The decision comes after CF Industries filed a petition with ITC in late 2021, requesting that the commission place tariffs on urea ammonium nitrate, which is used in liquid fertilizers. Shortages and prices have since increased exponentially.

NCGA has come out strongly against the tariffs. It was the only commodities group that testified at ITC’s public hearing, and it forcefully raised the issue in the press. NCGA also engaged in an aggressive advocacy campaign with elected officials.

ITC’s decision takes effect immediately.



 Soy Growers Thank ITC for Ruling Against Imposing Final Duties on Imports of Fertilizer

As U.S. soy growers face historic fertilizer costs, the American Soybean Association applauds the U.S. International Trade Commission’s announcement today that it rejects imposing final duties on Urea Ammonium Nitrate from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Few inputs have exhibited more price inflation than UAN, which has experienced a jarringly high price increase due in large part to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These two countries are important crop and energy producers, as well as producers of fertilizers and fertilizer input products—including natural gas for UAN. Last month, ASA and other ag groups asked ITC to take into consideration that price pressure experienced by commodity farmers has cascading effects that reverberate through the farm economy.

“ASA has expressed concerns with fertilizer prices and availability for over a year,” said Brad Doyle, president of the American Soybean Association and Arkansas soybean grower. “Today’s ruling by the ITC against the imposition of final duties on imports of UAN from Trinidad and Tobago and Russia will provide much-needed relief from tariffs for U.S. soybean growers and farmers across the country. We thank the ITC for considering the impact on farmers in their determination, and ASA will continue to advocate for the removal of tariffs.”



USMEF Releases Updated Value of Red Meat Export Numbers and the Impact on Corn Farmers

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) just recently updated its export numbers and the value to corn and soybean farmers. The study shows in 2021, beef and pork exports accounted for 537 million bushels of corn usage, which equals $2.94 billion (estimated using an average corn price of $5.48 bushel).

“The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) works closely with USMEF and other domestic and export partners to help drive demand and bring value back to corn farmers,” said NCGA Market Development Action Team Chair and Colorado farmer Troy Schneider. “The animal ag industry is the largest user of U.S. corn, and it’s important to collaborate and partner with the industry to expand and grow these markets.”

Other key findings from the 2021 report include:
    Beef and pork exports account for 3.4 million tons of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS)
    Pork and beef exports contributed 12% of bushel value
    The market value of beef and pork exports to U.S. DDGS equals $716 million

To see state-by-state metrics and an overview of the numbers, click here https://www.usmef.org/exports-of-u-s-feedgrains-and-oilseeds-through-red-meat/.



Ethanol Days of Summer Free Fuel Contest Continues

The Renewable Fuels Association’s Ethanol Days of Summer Contest, which offers free fuel to participants for reporting prices of E15 and E85, continues through Labor Day. Each week, RFA awards $250 in free fuel.

“Even though the price of fuel has dropped in recent days, we’re still experiencing abnormally high prices at the pump, and higher ethanol blends like E15 and E15 are a great way for drivers to save money while supporting rural America,” said Robert White, RFA Vice President for Industry Relations. “This summer, several retailers—such as Sheetz and Pearson Fuels —have recently offered special savings on these ethanol blends, below the already-lower cost of the fuel, compared to regular unleaded. With nearly a billion impressions on our website just in June, we know people are seeking out options. We hope this program will help drivers discover a new fuel as they rediscover America on vacation road trips.”

There are two ways to enter the contest and win:
-    Submit prices for E15 or E85 at E85prices.com. Register or log in at E85prices.com or use the E85prices.com mobile app.
-    Submit pictures of higher blend prices on Twitter. Pictures can be of the fuel dispenser or price sign and should include, at a minimum, regular unleaded (E10) and E15 and/or E85. Include station name, city, and state. Tag @EthanolRFA and include the hashtags: #ethanol #E15 #E85 and #fuelprices (unless those words are already mentioned).

Contestants will be entered into a random weekly drawing for a pre-paid credit card to be used for fuel purchases. Winners for the 2022 contest so far are:
    Week 1: FellwokJones (from E85prices.com) – drawn June 6
    Week 2: CornProne (from E85prices.com) – drawn June 13
    Week 3: Jantenbensel (from E85prices.com) - drawn June 20
    Week 4: Yam245 (from E85prices.com) - drawn June 27
    Week 5: @Ben_Sunderhaus (from Twitter) - drawn July 5
    Week 6: @diggitydon21 (from Twitter) – drawn July 12

Want to learn more about ethanol and why it’s a GREAT fuel for your car? Visit RFA’s consumer section or read our updated FAQ to learn how the benefits of ethanol are worth the switch to E15.



Land Market To Be Active This Fall
Randy Dickhut, Senior Vice President - Real Estate Operations, Farmers National Company

The Indications are that land auction activity will be good during the 2022 pre and post-harvest sales seasons. With the normal slowdown of land sales during spring planting and the early summer period coming to an end, booking of auctions for late summer through the fall time frame is picking up at Farmers National Company.    

The number of sales and amount of land sold from now until the close of 2022 will probably not equal the very active land market experienced in the last few months of 2021.  Quite a bit of additional selling then was prompted by anticipated tax law changes coming in the following year which would have raised taxes and lowered the net received from a sale or estate plan. Sales activity will more than likely exceed what was seen during the slower land market years of 2015 to 2020.
    
Several reasons are prompting landowners, typically estates, trusts, and recent inheritors, who had been thinking about selling their land to move ahead with the sale sooner than later. Number one would be the historically high sales prices at this time in the market. High prices normally bring out more sellers. Another factor influencing when to sell for landowners is the huge amount of uncertainty in several factors that influence land values. One of the uncertainties is interest rates, how high and how soon will rates move up. Shorter-term uncertainties include weather, 2022 yields, and what farm incomes will look like at the end of the year.

A number of additional landowners are making the decision to sell in 2022. This is increasing the sale activity outlook for the next few months. The demand or buying side of the equation has been holding up well with farmer and investor interest remaining strong, but time will tell if factors in the ag and general economy will change the demand for land.  



Soy Growers Welcome Opportunity to Provide Protein for Critical Food Aid to Address Global Hunger, Child Malnutrition

The U.S. Agency for International Development today announced nearly $1.3 billion in additional critical humanitarian and development assistance to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, including $200 million for the procurement of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food.

RUTFs, an energy-dense medical food paste made of soy, peanuts, powdered milk, vegetable oil, sugar and multivitamins, is one of the most effective tools to help severely malnourished children. The U.S. is one of the world’s largest and most cost-efficient producers of RUTFs, but American farmers have the capacity to produce more.

This past spring, the American Soybean Association urged Congress to provide $200 million in appropriations to procure RUTFs and double the global supply to reach more food insecure children across the globe. ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program works with companies like the Rhode Island-based Edesia, one of many enterprises that relies on U.S. soy to provide affordable, high-quality protein in its products designed to combat malnutrition, like RUTFs. U.S. soy growers applaud this new investment and welcome the opportunity to expand the industry’s contribution to global food security.

“U.S. soybean growers are proud of the role they play in global food security and today’s announcement from USAID Administrator Samantha Power is a significant investment in addressing global hunger and child malnutrition,” said ASA President Brad Doyle, a soybean grower from Arkansas. “Through the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, ASA has partnered with companies like Edesia to increase the use of soy in ready-to-use therapeutic foods. Soy growers welcome the opportunity to provide more protein to feed those in need around the world and we thank USAID and the administration for this much-needed investment in RUTFs.”

“USAID’s announcement further reinforces the importance of U.S. soy for global food security,” said Gerry Hayden, ASA/WISHH Program chair and an ASA director from Kentucky. “Through USB’s funding of ASA/WISHH’s leadership for global food security, U.S. soybean growers were able to personally see the role of U.S. soy in Edesia’s RUTFs in December at WISHH’s global food security dialogue. Edesia already expects to procure the equivalent of more than 170,000 bushels of U.S. soy this year. USAID’s announcement may result in an increase to that amount.”



Lance Zimmerman Named Senior Beef Analyst at RaboResearch North America

Rabobank has tapped veteran beef industry research analyst and economist Lance Zimmerman to join its RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness (F&A) team in North America. Zimmerman has served the animal protein industry for 18 years, gaining recognition regionally and globally for his forward-looking thought leadership.

Rabobank’s RaboResearch F&A group is a global team of more than 75 analysts who monitor and evaluate global market events that affect food and agriculture worldwide. Zimmerman will join more than 20 analysts based in North America who are internationally respected experts in sectors ranging from animal protein to produce, farm inputs to consumer foods. The team collects key insights into commodity markets; conducts in-depth analysis of the factors that drive sector success or failure; and examine megatrends that ultimately influence clients’ business strategies.

“Lance’s insights and expertise will benefit our Rabobank and Rabo AgriFinance clients across North America and around the globe, and we look forward to what he will bring to this role,” said Roland Fumasi, Head of RaboResearch North America. “His proven track-record in serving the animal protein industry will help drive the future of our highly successful team.”

As Senior Beef Analyst of RaboResearch F&A North America, Zimmerman says his goal is to continue providing unparalleled insight and value to beef industry members, and other Rabobank clients and stakeholders.

“I will leverage my experience in animal protein to create synergies with other sector experts across RaboResearch, so that we can provide unique, thought-leading knowledge to our clients that they can’t get anywhere else,” Zimmerman  said. “I am excited and honored to be asked to join such a well-respected global team.”

Zimmerman joins Rabobank after nearly 12 years at CattleFax, where he began as a market analyst in 2011. He went on to serve as CattleFax’s Manager of Research, Analysis and Data from 2016 to 2021, and most recently as the Director of Research and Protein Market Analysis. Before joining CattleFax, Lance spent over six years at Certified Angus Beef, where he led their marketing and supply development efforts.

Growing up in a farming and ranching family and serving as a Kansas FFA State officer, Zimmerman has always been committed to the success of the food and agriculture industry. He has served as the Chairperson of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Young Producer’s Council and was selected as the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and Chicago Mercantile Exchange Beef Industry Scholar in 2003.

His entire career has been focused on serving the food and agribusiness industry, with the majority of it dedicated specifically to agribusiness and animal protein industry research. He holds an M.S. in agricultural economics and a B.S. in agriculture from Kansas State University.