Thursday July 14 Ag News

 Extension workshop to focus on inheriting farmland and modern management, farming practices

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability will present a series of workshops in central and eastern Nebraska for those who have inherited or received farmland and want to learn more about the best strategies for managing and owning this asset.

“So You’ve Inherited a Farm … Now What?” will be held through Sept. 1, in partnership with Nebraska Extension offices in Lincoln, Columbus, Grand Island, Auburn and Ashland.

Extension educators Allan Vyhnalek and Jim Jansen will present on topics related to what it means to own farmland today. Those include evaluating whether to keep or sell the farm, managing a farm, lease provisions, legal considerations and managing communication and expectations among family members. Creating or adjusting estate plans will also be covered.

“We hear all the time from people who have lost their parents, and now are managing a farm for the first time in their lives,” Vyhnalek said. “Maybe they grew up there but haven’t been around for a while and they want to understand modern farming and management concepts, which this workshop will address.”

The program is free to attend, and lunch will be provided at each location by Peoples Company out of Omaha. Pre-registration is requested for each date. The schedule and registration information for each location are listed below.

“So You’ve Inherited a Farm … Now What?” Schedule and Registration:
    July 26 in Lincoln at the Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Road (register by July 22 at 402-441-7180).
    Aug. 11 in Columbus at the Platte County Extension Office, 2715 13th St. (register by Aug. 9 at 402-563-4901).
    Aug. 17 in Grand Island at Hall County Extension, College Park, 3180 W. Highway 34 (register by Aug. 15 at 308-385-5088).
    Aug. 22 in Auburn at the Nemaha County Fairgrounds, 816 I St. (register by Aug. 18 at 402-274-4755).
    Sept. 1 in Ashland at Round the Bend Steakhouse, 30801 E. Park Highway (register by Aug. 30 at 402-624-8030).

More information is available on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu.



Center urges USDA to reconsider use of carryover funds

In its continued efforts to advocate for increasing access to conservation programs, the Center for Rural Affairs is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to move more funds into the hands of farmers and ranchers.

In a recent letter to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Center addressed its management of carryover, or unspent fund reserves, asking the agency to prioritize releasing more of these funds for use in contracts.

Anna Johnson, policy manager for the Center, said this is a particularly concerning issue with the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). NRCS ended 2021 with more than $178 million in carryover funding for CSP. NRCS also ended 2021 with more than 33,000 CSP applications on the books, only 7,204 of which were funded and nearly 16,000 potentially still eligible for consideration.  

“During times of inflation, farmers and ranchers are looking at tough financial decisions, and may need to forego planned conservation activities without USDA support,” Johnson said. “We are urging USDA to reconsider their total CSP carryover figure and move more of these funds into contracts with farmers and ranchers.”

Johnson said releasing some of the carryover funding could help reduce the application backlog.

USDA’s public budget documents indicate their 2023 plan is to reserve $504 million in unspent carryover funding across all conservation programs, reserving it for the technical conservation assistance that allows farmers and ranchers to enroll in USDA conservation programs.

“While the Center is a strong, longtime supporter of robust funding for NRCS technical assistance, we are urging USDA to reassess total carryover funding levels and take prompt action to support more farmers and ranchers in accessing conservation programs.”



New popcorn promotes growth of beneficial bacteria in our stomach

Each of us walks around with trillions of microbes living in our gut. In past decades, scientists have started to understand how the properties of our personal microbiome impact our health. But the question of how to safely, effectively, and scalably influence our gut microbiomes has remained challenging. Today an article published by scientists from the Nebraska Food for Health Center explores a solution: naturally occurring genetic variation in the plants we already eat.

The study, published today in the leading journal Frontiers in Microbiology, focuses on popcorn. Corn is big business in the cornhusker state, and popcorn is no exception.  Americans eat more than 13 billion quarts a year; an average of about 40 quarts per person. But when it comes to the human gut microbiome, is all popcorn the same? Nate Korth, a Ph.D. student at the University of Nebraska, Food for Health Center set out to answer that question using new popcorn varieties developed by Prof. David Holding based on naturally occurring changes within a small number of genes that influence the amount and kind of protein in the popcorn kernels, referred to as quality protein popcorn. When Korth analyzed the effects of these new popcorn lines on the gut microbiomes of different human donors using the Nebraska Food for Health Center’s advanced screening technology, he found something unexpected: compared to the popcorn we eat today, human gut microbiomes fed the new popcorn varieties produced much more butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid shown to promote health in humans. Using DNA sequencing Korth also tracked how the composition of the human gut microbiomes changed in response to the type of popcorn they were fed. When human gut microbiomes were fed Holding’s popcorn, bacteria known to produce butyrate became more abundant compared to microbiomes fed regular popcorn.

“I was thrilled when I first saw the results for butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids,” said Korth, “the ability to promote the growth of butyrate-producing bacteria has really exciting potential implications for human health.” Increased production of butyrate produced by bacteria in the gut is associated with improving the integrity of the gut lining as well as improving metabolism and appetite control. Butyrate produced in the gut can also circulate throughout the body and recent studies have linked the increased abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria or increased production of butyrate itself to decreases in cholesterol and disease susceptibility. While the current study was pre-clinical in nature, utilizing in vitro fermentation, the Nebraska Food for Health team is hopeful to move to clinical studies in the future.

“This study really starts to show the potential of the Nebraska Food for Health Center to improve both human health and farmers’ bottom lines,” said Archie Clutter, Dean of Agricultural Research at the University of Nebraska. “There are few, if any, other places in the world where corn breeders are actively collaborating not only with food processors and microbiologists but physicians.” While the Nebraska Food for Health Center is working on evaluating the impact of many different crop varieties and food ingredients on the human gut microbiome, Dr. Holding's healthy popcorn is the first such study to be published in a peer reviewed journal and the closest to reaching farmers' fields. The farmers across the state of Nebraska plant more than 60,000 acres of popcorn each year and produce close to 120 million pounds of popcorn.



 Ag Voices of the Future Program Offers Students an Education on Ag Policy

A select group of 10 college students from nine different states completed the Ag Voices of the Future program this week in Washington, D.C. The program, sponsored by Valent U.S.A. and the Amercian Soybean Association, gives students an inside look at how agricultural policies are made in Washington. The students received an education on effective advocacy and the significant legislative and regulatory issues that impact farmers. The program also gave students the chance to visit with others who work in Washington to learn more about careers related to ag policy. The class was held July 11-14, 2022, in conjunction with the ASA Board Meeting and Soy Issues Forum.

An application process for the Ag Voices of the Future program was launched earlier this spring. The following students were selected for this year’s class.
    Alexis Bodlak, Nebraska
    Nathan Behrends, Iowa
    Molly Niewoehner, Iowa
    Wendy Burnley, Kentucky
    Kaitlyn Cloud, Missouri
    Alex Foret, Louisiana
    Chandler Jones, Texas
    Reagan Kulenkamp, Illinois
    Abigail Putnam, Florida
    Michelle Stangler, Wisconsin

The three-day program was packed with educational meetings and valuable networking opportunities. The students visited with staff from USDA and EPA, who have a direct impact on agricultural regulations; they participated in Hill visits with their state soybean associations; and met with a senior staff member for the Senate Ag Committee.

Extensive information was provided to the students on a variety of policy issues from industry, sustainability and government affairs staff with Valent and ASA.

The group also completed a writing workshop with a top communications firm.

In the evenings, the students participated in the Soy Industry Reception hosted by ASA and the National Oilseed Processors Association, a guided tour of monuments on the National Mall, and dinner with Ag Voices of the Future alumni who currently have positions or internships in Washington, D.C.



2022 Farm Progress Show Set to be an Exhibitor-Packed Event

Farm Progress Show has grown in scale every year since its debut in 1953, and this year continues its lead with all but a handful of its exhibitor lots sold out months in advance. The show will be held in Boone, IA from August 30th to September 1st. To accommodate for increased traffic, and to improve attendees’ experience, an additional traffic lane along Highway 17 will be added.

Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress events director, says he’s optimistic that this show will be second-to-none from a visitor and exhibitor perspective. “The addition of the traffic lane will improve the attendee experience from the moment they arrive at the showgrounds. Better traffic flow, coupled with a bustling exhibitor space, means everything is in place for an unforgettable event.”

The Farm Progress Show is unmatched in its ability to connect agricultural companies with farmers and ranchers.

The Farm Progress show has a longstanding tradition as a key information source on the buying journey for farmers. We’ve been working nonstop to ensure this year’s show delivers the elevated agricultural experience attendees and exhibitors have come to expect from Farm Progress,” said Don Tourte, senior vice president of sales and events with Farm Progress.

Innovative technology is at the forefront of the 2022 Farm Progress Show, but attendees will find plenty of entertainment as well. Event favorites, like must-see equipment and product demonstrations and the Floating Tractor display will all be a part of this year’s event. Lastly, for the first time at Farm Progress Show’s Boone showgrounds, a concert will be held. Country music star, Lee Brice, will return to Farm Progress Show for the second time. Concert admission is included in the Farm Progress Show ticket price.

For more information or to order tickets for Farm Progress Show 2022 visit FarmProgressShow.com. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for ages 13-17, and ages 12 and under are free. Those purchasing advance tickets online receive a discount of $5 per adult ticket.



Carpenter Tapped as State Dairy Extension Specialist

Gail Carpenter began a new role on July 1 as assistant professor in dairy and extension dairy specialist at Iowa State University. Carpenter brings a high-energy approach to the position with a unique combination of practical production experience and enthusiasm for helping others through research, teaching and outreach in applied dairy cattle nutrition and management.

Carpenter has been with Iowa State since 2021 as an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Animal Science and worked in various capacities in the dairy industry prior to joining Iowa State. Most recently, she was a dairy nutritionist for CSA Animal Nutrition in Ohio, and before that she was an assistant professor at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus (Ontario, Canada) in the Department of Animal Biosciences.

“Gail brings a passion for the dairy sector, a proven record as an educator and researcher and a problem solver mindset to the position,” said John Lawrence, animal science interim department chair and vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach. “We are excited to have her join the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team.”

Carpenter also served as the interim manager of the Iowa State Dairy Farm in 2021 and filled a gap in leadership during critical times such as silage harvest. She also helped implement a new program, DairyCY, where the students manage the Jersey herd at the farm.

“I’m thrilled to be moving into a position that gives me the opportunity to travel the state and work directly with Iowa’s dairy industry,” Carpenter said. “I’m already working with our members of the dairy extension team on upcoming programming related to nutrition and feed management on dairy farms, which will roll out in the coming weeks.”

Carpenter will continue teaching ANS 435 – Applied Dairy Farm Evaluation, coaching the Dairy Challenge Team and working with the DairyCY students.

She is in the process of planning several dairy field days for the fall, including silage webinars that will begin in August. She was exposed to dairy at a young age, through 4-H, and her family still holds an affinity for the Ayrshire breed.

Carpenter can be reached at 515-294-9085 or ajcarpen@iastate.edu



NCGA Elects Five Members to Serve on Corn Board

Delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Congress, which was held today in Washington D.C., elected five farmers to serve on the organization’s Corn Board.  Taking office on Oct. 1, the start of NCGA’s 2023 fiscal year, are new board members Matt Frostic of Michigan and J.R. Roesner of Indiana. Current board members Kelly Harsh of Ohio, Brian Thalmann of Minnesota and Dan Wesely of Nebraska were re-elected. Four were elected to three-year terms with Thalmann elected to the two-year term left open by FY23 First Vice President-Elect Harold Wolle, Jr. of Minnesota.

The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising day-to-day operations. Board members represent the federation of state organizations, supervise the affairs and activities of NCGA in partnership with the chief executive officer and implement NCGA policy established by the Corn Congress. Members also act as spokesmen for the NCGA and enhance the organization’s public standing on all organizational and policy issues.



Grassley Honored by Corn Growers for Contributions to Agricultural Community

National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington presented the organization’s prestigious President’s Award to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today during the group’s Corn Congress meeting in Washington, D.C.

“Sen. Grassley has spent his career advocating on behalf of corn growers,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “Whether it’s taking a stand on regulations burdensome to farmers, advancing agricultural exports through trade or supporting legislation that will extend access to higher ethanol blends, we would not have secured the policy successes we have over the years were it not for the contributions of the senior senator from Iowa. As an Iowan, it’s my honor to recognize Sen. Grassley with the NCGA President’s Award for his tireless work on behalf of the agricultural community.”

Sen. Grassley accepted the award and reflected on his work on corn issues.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this lifetime achievement award,” Grassley said. “As a proud Iowa Corn Growers Association member and one of only two farmers in the U.S. Senate, I am committed to being a voice for American agriculture and advocating for the family farmer. I am a strong advocate for year-round E-15, which creates another source of revenue for Iowa corn farmers. I appreciate the work the National Corn Growers Association does to represent corn growers across the U.S., and I look forward to continue working together to support Iowa farmers.”

Grassley serves on several committees, including the Senate Agricultural Committee. A lifelong Iowan, Grassley was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

The President’s Award is given annually to a leader who has worked to advance issues important to corn growers and agriculture.



Corn Growers, Working to Feed and Fuel the World, Call on Biden Administration for Help with Skyrocketing Input costs, Burdensome Regulations

As farmers work to feed and fuel the world, filling the void left by the war in Ukraine, national corn grower leaders unanimously passed a sense of the Corn Congress today calling on President Biden to maintain grower access to crop inputs.

The vote came during the National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress meeting, which is being held this week in the nation’s capital.

The measure, which is included in its entirety below, notes that “the world is facing skyrocketing fuel prices and potentially devastating food shortages, both of which can be addressed in part by America’s corn farmers, and America’s corn farmers have demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability through decades of documented reductions in soil erosion, greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.”

It then asserts that “the ability to address the crises facing our world today in a sustainable manner cannot be achieved without fair access to the inputs necessary to raise a crop each year, including pesticides, fertilizer and biotechnology seeds.”

The vote comes after EPA revised its atrazine registration, a move that could restrict access to a critical crop protection tool that has been well tested and shown to be safe for use.

It also comes after the U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to hear a case decided by a lower court from California, leaving in place a ruling that supports the claim that glyphosate use causes cancer – even as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly affirmed that the widely sold and well-studied herbicide is not carcinogenic.

Farmers have raised the alarm that a patchwork of regulations related to the farming tool could pop up across the country.

Farmers have also experienced major fertilizer price hikes and shortages over the last year thanks in part to steps taken by the U.S. International Trade Commission to impose tariffs on these products.

Corn Growers also raised these issues with Congress during recent Capitol Hill visits.
 
Sense of the Corn Congress
Whereas, the world is facing skyrocketing fuel prices and potentially devastating food shortages, both of which can be addressed in part by America’s corn farmers, and;

Whereas, America’s corn farmers have demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability through decades of documented reductions in soil erosion, greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and;

Whereas, the ability to address the crises facing our world today in a sustainable manner cannot be achieved without fair access to the inputs necessary to raise a crop each year, including pesticides, fertilizer and biotechnology seeds, and;

Therefore, we, the assembled voting delegates of the National Corn Growers Association ask President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to direct his administration to support American farmers by enforcing its granted federal authority to govern pesticide use through science-based policies and procedures, and eliminating unnecessary tariffs placed on fertilizers required to raise food and fuel for a world in need.



Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott Announces Legislation to Support Small Cattle Farmers and Ranchers

Below is a statement from Chairman David Scott announcing that he will be introducing legislation to help small family farmers and ranchers and address the national crisis in our nation’s beef supply chain:

“What has been missing from the conversation is help for the very beginning of our food supply chain, which is our nation’s small family farmers and ranchers. And, helping our nation’s small family farmers is one of my top priorities.

In our hearing examining beef market consolidation earlier this year, I was very disheartened to learn that the cattle industry has lost an average of 17,000 cattle ranchers per year.

My bill will apply to small family farmers and ranchers. According to USDA, the average beef cattle herd is 44 head, and operations of 100 or fewer beef cattle account for 90 percent of all farms and 44 percent of the beef cattle inventory.

Yet, we are losing an average of 17,000 cattle ranchers per year. This is a national crisis.

Therefore, it is very critical that my bill will target these small family farmers and ranchers so that they will be able to secure their fair share of the food dollar and we can at the same time stem the tide of losing 17,000 farmers per year.

To that end, I will be introducing a bill to provide small cattle farmers and ranchers with relief and long-term opportunities to increase their market power.

First, my bill creates a new program that strengthens the Federal safety net and makes insurance products work better for small cattle farmers and ranchers, both in terms of coverage and accessibility.

The second pillar establishes a grant program at USDA to help small farmers and ranchers and producer-owned cooperatives to undertake innovative business initiatives.

By developing more direct-to-consumer and direct-to-institution markets, my legislation will give small farmers and ranchers more control over where they sell their cattle or meat products and provide them with opportunities to add value to their products and increase their profitability.

I look forward to working with my colleagues here in Congress and our House Agriculture Committee on this very important piece of legislation.”



Superior Livestock Auction Teams Up With Digital BLOCKYARD Platform From Zoetis

Superior Livestock Auction and Zoetis are collaborating to offer BLOCKYARD™ technology to cattle producers, providing a central, consistent digital source of information for every animal. For cattle buyers and sellers, that means an easy way to access and share cattle records in real time.

BLOCKYARD provides access to a digital copy of an animal, so wherever an animal goes, its data can follow. The platform securely transfers and validates cattle records, like management data and genomic predictions, on individual animals or groups via a permission-based system. This helps producers understand the value of animals and securely share accurate production, health and genomic information.

“BLOCKYARD creates a true win-win scenario. Producers selling cattle have a new way to document and socialize the quality of their calves, and prospective buyers have access to key genetic and health information to inform purchase decisions,” says Jason Osterstock, vice president, Precision Animal Health, Zoetis. “It’s like a digital wallet, providing a secure and convenient way to let quality feeder cattle speak for themselves, all tied directly to Superior video auction catalog listings.”

BLOCKYARD allows registered users to:
    Share genomic insights to inform price discovery, management, selection and breeding decisions
    Communicate genetic merit for feedlot and carcass traits and share related expressed performance
    Help increase potential returns when marketing feeder and fed cattle for specific programs
    More accurately predict break-even points when buying cattle

Customers of Superior Livestock Auction can benefit from BLOCKYARD by having access to accurate animal insights, showing the value of every enrolled animal. The digital platform can showcase the full investment sellers made into their calves and can help communicate that information to potential buyers. Simultaneously, buyers can have more complete information about sale calves, removing the guesswork and giving them a clear starting point.

“At Superior Livestock, we take great pride in the established relationships we have with our industry partners,” says Danny Jones, president, Superior Livestock Auction. “These relationships are ultimately mutually beneficial for all involved and work together to help our customers provide added value in their cattle. The launch of the Zoetis BLOCKYARD platform is an example of one of these relationships, and we look forward to continuing to work together.”

It’s free to register and add cattle into the digital platform. Enroll animals for parentage and breed composition or order individual or group-level genetic predictions for a per-head fee. Data can be automatically synced with management systems like Performance Beef or added manually.

Learn more at welcome.blockyard.com.



NMPF Supports Congressional Action on Infant Formula, Urges U.S. Production Boost

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) today said it supports bipartisan House legislation that would encourage additional infant formula supply imports as a temporary way to ease short-term supply shortfalls in the U.S. market. NMPF emphasized, however, that boosting longer-term domestic production to ensure safe, secure infant formula supplies in the future is needed.

The “Formula Act,” H.R. 8351, would waive U.S. tariffs on infant formula imports through the end of 2022 to ensure that the domestic market has the supplies of formula it needs as it recovers from an acute processing capacity crisis that’s created nationwide infant-formula shortages.

“The United States has experienced a dire and highly unusual shortage of infant formula for much of this year, a temporary crisis that’s dragged on way too long but appears to be improving” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “As of this month, all U.S. formula production facilities are back online and working hard to restock the supply chain gaps that American families have struggled with over the past several months. That’s good news.

“U.S. government efforts to expand supply, including a temporary, short-term expansion of infant formula imports, are important steps to help ease the crisis. We support congressional action on the Formula Act. The legislation’s targeted focus and ample timeframe will address these short-term challenges while ensuring that the United States doesn’t create a permanent dependence on formula produced in foreign facilities. As the pandemic showed, long-term reliance on sourcing critical life-saving products from overseas puts American families at the mercy of foreign suppliers and foreign safety standards.”

“In addition to advancing the Formula Act, Congress and the Biden Administration should work together with the U.S. dairy and formula industries to explore what additional domestic policy reforms are needed to further expand U.S. infant formula production capacity so that this country can create the most reliable supply base for this important product.”



U.S. Grains-In-All-Forms Exports Remain On Pace With MY2020/2021

U.S. grain in all forms (GIAF) exports for the first nine months of the current marketing year (MY 2021/2022) totaled 96 million metric tons (MMT) (3,779,328,000 bushels in corn equivalent) to 145 countries, landing just under the total from the previous year (MY 2020/2021). Increased exports to Mexico, Canada and Colombia have helped offset year-to-date (YTD) losses in China and Japan, the five markets that account for nearly 70 percent of all GIAF commodity exports.

U.S. GIAF numbers are derived from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) GATS database. There is a three-month lag in data reporting, so currently monthly reporting is from September 2021 to May 2022.

“These five markets are important to overall grain-in-all-forms exports - Canada, with strong exports of U.S. corn and distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and continued strong ethanol exports is not only an important market for us to the north, but now the third largest after Mexico and China,” said USGC Vice President Cary Sifferath.

Important notes in the current marketing year information include:
Mexico has surpassed China month-over-month to become the top market for U.S. GIAF exports, totaling 21 MMT (826,728,000 bushels in corn equivalent) in the first nine months of the current marketing year, up 2 MMT (78,736,000 bushels in corn equivalent) from last. Corn and DDGS exports are up more than 1 MMT (39,368,000 bushels) and 280,000 MT (11,023,040 bushels in corn equivalent) in the first nine months of the marketing year, respectively. A trend to note is the sharp uptick in ethanol (up over 300,000 gallons) and sorghum (up from nearly zero, reaching 190,000 MT, or 7,479,920 bushels) exports that remained consistent over the nine months.

China is the second largest U.S. GIAF export market, with exports totaling 20 MMT (787,360,000 bushels in corn equivalent) in the first nine months of the current marketing year, down 7 MMT (275,576,000 bushels in corn equivalent) from last. Corn, sorghum, pork and pork products have experienced declines, buoyed by gains in poultry and poultry products (up 25,000 MT, or 984,200 bushels in corn equivalent), beef and beef products (up 214,000 MT, or 8,424,752 bushels in corn equivalent) and DDGS (up 70,000 MT, or 2,755,760 bushels in corn equivalent).

Canada has eclipsed Japan as the third largest GIAF market for the United States, with exports reaching more than 10 MMT (393,680,000 bushels in corn equivalent) in the first nine months of the marketing year, nearly double from last. Ethanol and corn exports continue to boom, totaling 331 million gallons and 5 MMT (196,840,000 bushels) in the first nine months of this marketing year. Gains in Canada have helped offset losses in China.

Ethanol, corn and DDGS exports to Canada continue to set records this marketing year, with ethanol exports averaging 37 million gallons each month. This flow commodities is an outcome of strong trade policies and partnerships between producers and users who benefit from grain sales.

Japan is the U.S. fourth largest GIAF market, with exports slightly behind Canada, totaling 10 MMT (393,680,000 bushels in corn equivalent) in the first nine months of the marketing year, nearly equal to last. Decreased export momentum is due to an overall decline in reported GIAF categories, largely visible in exports of corn (down 1 MT) from last. While not included in USDA GATS reporting, based on USGC data, there have been 84 million gallons of U.S. ethanol exported to Japan in the first nine months of this marketing year.

Colombia rounds out the top five GIAF markets with exports totaling 5 MMT (196,840,000 bushels in corn equivalent) in the first nine months of the marketing year, nearly equal to last. An influx of exports of corn and pork and pork products have helped offset losses from ethanol, down 300,000 million gallons from last year due to fluctuating policy changes at the national level.

“The benefits of the Council’s grain-in-all-forms data are that it not only gives us insights on direct corn, sorghum and barley exports, but also allows us to track the feed grain equivalents of grain exports of ethanol, DDGS and other grain co-products as well as feed grain equivalents of pork, beef and poultry exports. This shows the importance of these markets to the U.S. corn, sorghum and barley sectors,” Sifferath said.



New PowerCore® Enlist® Corn Technology From Corteva Agriscience Delivers Class-leading Flexibility to Manage Above-ground Pests and Weeds

Corteva Agriscience announced today new advancements in its portfolio of above-ground pest control products in corn. PowerCore® Enlist® corn is a comprehensive trait package designed for season-long insect protection and weed control and will be introduced as an integrated refuge offering: PowerCore® Enlist® Refuge Advanced® (RA) corn. Additionally, when commercially available, new PowerCore® Ultra Enlist® corn is expected to deliver an extra mode of action for geographies that need added protection and also will be available with integrated refuge as PowerCore® Ultra Enlist® Refuge Advanced® corn.  

“Earlier this year, Corteva Agriscience introduced Vorceed Enlist corn for corn rootworm acres and said that our R&D pipeline was full of promise,” said Judd O’Connor, President, North America Commercial Business, Corteva Agriscience. “Now, we’re excited to bring forward advancements in our PowerCore trait technology, designed to help farmers more effectively manage above-ground insect pressure while leveraging the Enlist corn trait for the ultimate weed management flexibility.”

PowerCore Enlist corn, as both structured refuge and integrated Refuge Advanced options, is stacked with three modes of action for enhanced control over the toughest above-ground pests, including susceptible European corn borer, fall armyworm, southwestern corn borer and corn earworm.

When commercially available, the new PowerCore Ultra Enlist corn will bring an additional mode of action for acres in geographies that need extra protection from higher pressure of above-ground pests like fall armyworm and western bean cutworm.
 
Corteva is finalizing its commercial plans for launching the new suite of products for PowerCore Enlist corn. Current introductory plans in the United States include:
     2023: Expanded access to PowerCore Enlist Refuge Advanced (RA) corn for farmers
    2024: Expanded access to PowerCore Ultra Enlist corn and PowerCore Ultra Enlist Refuge Advanced corn available for farmers
    Mid-decade: Advancement of a broader set of genetic backgrounds, making more maturities available
    Mid- to late-decade: PowerCore® Enlist® Refuge Advanced® corn and PowerCore Ultra Enlist Refuged Advanced corn will become the lead offerings from Corteva for above-ground pest acres

PowerCore Enlist Refuge Advanced corn technology is expected to be available in products across all Corteva seed brands, including Pioneer®, Brevant® seeds, AgVenture®, Dairyland Seed®, Hoegemeyer®, NuTech Seed® and Seed Consultants®. Corteva also plans to make the PowerCore Enlist trait broadly available to independent seed companies.

Elite genetics and advanced neighbor-friendly weed control technology

PowerCore Enlist corn will be available in a diverse lineup of high yield potential genetics across a wide range of maturities in both integrated refuge (Refuge Advanced) and structured refuge options. Built on elite genetics from Corteva, new products are rigorously field-tested in multiple locations for key agronomic traits, such as root and stalk strength, disease tolerance and late-season standability.

The Enlist® corn trait allows for the ultimate weed management flexibility with tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, glufosinate and FOP herbicides. Enlist herbicides feature near-zero volatility and reduced potential for physical drift when applied according to label instructions, with no calendar cutoff dates or time-of-day restrictions. In addition, a wide application window — to 30” corn (48” corn if applied using drop nozzles) — enables the use of Enlist herbicides to control late-season broadleaf weeds.
 
“The PowerCore Enlist corn portfolio will have all the options farmers need to more effectively manage above-ground pests and weeds,” O’Connor said. “When farmers tap the expertise of their local Corteva Agriscience team, they can be sure they’re choosing the genetics, herbicides and management practices to deliver the best fit for their farm.”





Rapid Adoption of Enlist E3® Soybeans Includes First-ever Varieties of Exclusive Pioneer® Brand A-Series Enlist E3® Soybeans

Enlist E3® soybean varieties have become a trusted trait technology for U.S. farmers — driving the Enlist® weed control system to become the industry’s fastest-growing soybean herbicide system.

The availability of the first-ever varieties of Pioneer® brand A-Series Enlist E3 soybeans in 2022 helped to bolster farmer adoption of this important herbicide trait technology. These highly anticipated varieties, exclusive to Pioneer, combine the world-class genetics of Pioneer brand A-Series soybeans, the company’s highest-yielding varieties ever, with Enlist® technology, among the most advanced new trait technologies in soybeans.

Don Gehrls, Pioneer Soybean Marketing Lead, says farmers have been asking for a performance boost in Enlist E3 soybeans for years. In 2021, A-Series soybeans delivered a 3 bushels-per-acre yield advantage against all competitors.1  

“With fresh challenges every season, farmers need the most consistent performance available,” Gehrls said. “That doesn’t just mean racehorse yields, but also better agronomic performance in key areas like standability and defensive traits to help protect yield from soybean diseases such as white mold and sudden death syndrome.”

Jason Garvick is a Pioneer sales representative with D&J Seeds in Kiester, Minnesota. Several of his customers were able to plant varieties of Pioneer brand A-Series Enlist E3 soybeans this season.

“Farmers were surprised at how quickly Pioneer was able to get exclusive genetics with Enlist E3 soybeans,” Garvick said. “For many farmers that was their biggest hesitation to making the switch, and we’re already seeing a very fast transition. Now, with proven A-Series genetics available in Enlist E3 soybeans — with better disease tolerance and increased yield stability — there’s even more excitement for harvest this season and for more availability next season.”

In all, 28 varieties of A-Series Enlist E3 soybeans were available in limited quantities this season, across a range of maturities. Larger-scale availability is expected across even more maturities to meet farmer demand for 2023 planting.

“We’re seeing a rapid adoption of Enlist E3 soybeans, and farmer interest in 2022 has really exceeded our expectations,” Gehrls said. “With wider availability of A-Series Enlist E3 soybeans next season and the recent re-registration of Enlist herbicides, we’re confident that trend will continue.”

Earlier this year, the EPA granted amended registrations for Enlist One® and Enlist Duo® herbicides for seven years through Jan. 11, 2029, giving farmers certainty in system availability for the foreseeable future.



Corn Growers Should Start Monitoring for Pests Now to Protect Yield

The best offense is a good defense when it comes to pest management, especially corn rootworm–an insect impacting more than 31 million acres and costing growers an estimated $1 billion annually in lost yield and control measures. Syngenta agronomists are encouraging growers to start their yield defense strategy now by monitoring for pests such as corn rootworm, western bean cutworm, and corn earworm. Monitoring throughout the growing season can help determine the best management strategies now and for the future.

"There are several key insect pest corn growers should keep an eye out for this growing season – including corn rootworm and western bean cutworm," says Bruce Battles, technical agronomy manager for Syngenta. "For those that plant corn on corn, conditions have supported an increase in corn rootworm populations in the last few years. Conducting root digs and monitoring adult corn rootworm beetles will help guide future management decisions."

According to Battles, western bean cutworm has continued to move east across the U.S. and into Ontario over the last two decades. "There can be several western bean cutworm larva per ear causing significant damage if it is not controlled."

To manage against costly pests, a whole-farm defense approach should include a trait stack that controls the widest spectrum of pests. Syngenta's DuracadeViptera™ trait stack offers the industry's most comprehensive protection, controlling 16 yield-damaging above- and below-ground insect pests, more than any competitive trait stack on the market.

"Some insects, such as corn rootworm, have indicators like previous year beetle counts or roots scores that can help predict next year's pest pressures and help with management decisions," says Tim O'Brien, traits manager for Syngenta. "But for other insects, their migrations and pressures can be unpredictable. Therefore, the best game plan against 16 different above- and below-ground insect corn pests like corn rootworm, western bean cutworm and corn earworm is the defense provided by DuracadeViptera."

Control 16 Above- and Below-Ground Pests with DuracadeViptera
For many growers, corn rootworm is the most damaging pest in their fields. DuracadeViptera helps control the costly below-ground pest–to help develop stronger, more robust root systems, leading to:
    Healthier plants
    Fuller leaves for increased photosynthesis and maximum grain fill
    Sturdy, strong stalks

The best-in-class DuracadeViptera stack also helps control above-ground pests, meaning less damage from ear-, stalk- and leaf-feeding insects, such as corn earworm, resulting in:
    Improved stand and higher yield potential
    Healthier ears with less insect damage
    Reduced risk of mold and mycotoxin development

"Crop scouting is a valuable tool in assessing current and future insect threats; however, scouting and timing rescue treatments can be labor-intensive, expensive and result in varying degrees of success," says O'Brien. "In addition, some insects do not have many, if any, treatment options available."

Using DuracadeViptera offers growers peace of mind and is the only trait stack on the market that protects against 16 above- and below-ground pests, allowing farmers to focus on more than just pests, which is essential to the success of their operation, according to O'Brien.



 Albert Lea Seed House Announces Acquisition of Blue River Organic Seed  

Albert Lea Seed House, owner of Viking Corn & Soybeans and one of the largest suppliers of organic field seed in the U.S., today announced it has acquired Blue River Organic Seed, the nation's longest-established organic seed corn brand from the Farmers Business Network (FBN).   

Founded in 2005 and based in Ames, Iowa, Blue River's product line includes organic corn, silage, soybean, alfalfa, forages and sorghum. Albert Lea Seed is headquartered in Albert Lea, Minn. In addition to organic seeds, its product line also includes small grains, cover crops, wildflowers and native grasses.

"We firmly believe that integrating the Viking & Blue River Organic seed brands will be a real benefit to organic farmers," said Albert Lea Seed President Mac Ehrhardt. "The combined company will provide the best selection of organic-specific genetics, delivered by a farmer-focused team that specializes in organic agriculture and from a family-owned company that is committed to the long-term growth and success of organic agriculture."

Highlights of the Acquisition:
    Elevates Albert Lea Seed as the largest organic field seed supplier, producer, and commercialization expert in the U.S.
    Brings experienced industry leaders to the Albert Lea Seed team and will expand the organization's relationships in the organic farming market.
    Adds Blue River's 40,000-square-foot, climate-controlled seed warehouse and office for support and distribution of the combined Viking/Blue River Organic Seed brand.

The combined Viking/Blue River Organic seed brand will operate out of Albert Lea, Minn. and Ames, Iowa.

"We have long admired the success of Albert Lea Seed. We are proud to join forces with them to accelerate our successes and seize the opportunity to further evolve the organic farming industry," said Maury Johnson, co-founder of Blue River Organic Seed. "We cherish our Midwest roots, and we remain committed to ensuring that farmers all across the country will benefit from the responsible production, sale and use of our organic products."

Albert Lea Seed currently serves more than 6,000 customers. The addition of Blue River will double the size of its organic corn and soybean seed business and will enable it to serve customers and dealers across the U.S. more efficiently.