Tuesday July 12 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on July 1 conditions, Nebraska's winter wheat production is forecast at 31.8 million bushels, down 23% from last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Average yield is forecast at 37 bushels per acre, down 12 bushels from 2021. Area to be harvested for grain is estimated at 860,000 acres, up 2% from a year ago.

Oat production is forecast at 943,000 bushels, down 35% from last year. Average yield is forecast at 41 bushels per acre, down 15 bushels from 2021. Area to be harvested for grain is estimated at 23,000 acres, down 12% from a year ago.



IOWA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Oat production in Iowa is forecast at 2.66 million bushels, down 34 percent from the 4.00 million bushels produced in 2021 according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. The expected yield is 76.0 bushels per acre, down 1.0 bushel from 2021. Iowa oat growers intend to harvest 35,000 acres for grain, down 17,000 acres from last year.

The forecasts in this report are based on July 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next crop production forecasts, based on conditions as of August 1, will be released on August 12.



Winter Wheat Production Up 2 Percent from June Forecast

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.20 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the June 1 forecast but down 6 percent from 2021. As of July 1, the United States yield is forecast at 48.0 bushels per acre, down 0.2 bushel from last month and down 2.2 bushels from last year's average yield of 50.2 bushels per acre. Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 25.0 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 30, 2022, but down 2 percent from last year.

Hard Red Winter production, at 585 million bushels, is up 1 percent from last month. Soft Red Winter, at 376 million bushels, is up 5 percent from the June forecast. White Winter, at 240 million bushels, is down 1 percent from last month. Of the White Winter production, 15.1 million bushels are Hard White and 225 million bushels are Soft White.

Durum wheat production is forecast at 77.2 million bushels, up 107 percent from 2021. Based on July 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 40.3 bushels per harvested acre, up 16.0 bushels from 2021. Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 1.92 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 30, 2022, but up 25 percent from 2021.

Other spring wheat production for grain is forecast at 503 million bushels, up 52 percent from last year. Based on July 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 47.0 bushels per harvested acre, up 14.4 bushels from 2021. Area harvested for grain or seed is expected to total 10.7 million acres, unchanged from the Acreage report released on June 30, 2022, but 5 percent above 2021. Of the total production, 457 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, up 54 percent from 2021.



Farm Credit Services of America reports uptick in land values in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming

Farmland values in the first half of 2022 benefited from continued profitability in agriculture. Benchmark farmland values increased in each of the four states served by Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica), extending gains in the real estate market that began with the 2020 harvest and rising grain prices.

The rate of increase slowed compared to last year’s double-digit hikes. Even so, the average value for farmland is at all-time highs in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Values are strong for high quality cropland, and stable to slightly higher for average to below-average cropland. Pasture values have held, with tight supplies mitigating the impact of drought and lower demand.

State - Six-Month Change - One-Year Change - Five-Year Change - Ten-Year Change
Iowa (21)* - 9.0% - 36.2% - 58.1% - 62.7%
Nebraska (18) - 8.7% - 25.6% - 27.8% - 59.9%
South Dakota (22) - 7.1% - 20.8% - 18.5% - 86%
Wyoming (2) - 15.3% - 17.1% - 50.9% - 104.6%
*The parentheses indicate the number of benchmark farms appraised by FCSAmerica every six months to track values and trends in the real estate market.

Agriculture, like other industries, is paying more to do business. Input costs, interest rates and inflation are squeezing margins. But producers still anticipate a profitable 2022.

“Despite increasing costs, opportunities for positive profit margins remain as a result of high grain prices and demand for protein products,” said Tim Koch, FCSAmerica’s executive vice president of business development.

“Some of the factors influencing commodity prices today, including unrest in Ukraine and dry growing conditions in areas of South America, likely will carry into 2023 and support continued strength in commodity prices. But profit margins ultimately will depend on input costs and a producer’s ability to manage cost increases and supply chain disruptions.”

Producers are leveraging the past few years of strong profits to buy land and grow their businesses. Interest in farmland also has picked up among buyers who are looking for safe, long-term alternatives to a stock market rocked by global uncertainty and volatility. Both on-farm profits and demand for ground contribute to a real estate environment in which values remain strong for the foreseeable future, Koch said.

While this is good news for agriculture, it comes with a price. Cash rents generally lag changes in real estate values, as well as profitability in the industry. Producers anticipate significant increases in cash rents this fall as landlords adjust rates to reflect record land values and consecutive years of strong profits.

Here is a look at state-by-state benchmark trends in the first six months of 2022:

Iowa: Values rose by more than 10% on 9 of 21 benchmark farms, down from 19 farms in the latter half of 2022. Eight benchmark farms have values exceeding $15,000 per acre.

Nebraska: Four benchmark farms saw no change in values and two declined in value. The remaining 12 farms increased in value, eight of them by double digits, including one with an increase of 25.5%.

South Dakota: Values were unchanged on six farms and rose on the remaining 16. Seven farms experienced double-digit increases as high as 18.8%.

Wyoming: The cropland farm saw its value increase 8.2%, while the pasture unit saw a much bigger increase of 22.4%.



Haskell Ag Lab’s Family Field Day to Feature Animals, Weather, Beer, and Blood!
Leslie Johnson, NE Extension Manure Management Educator

The summer is passing quickly. It started off kind of slow and cool, but once it got going there was no stopping it, and boy has it been toasty. Independence Day was a HOT one and county fairs are happening. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and really get to work preparing for the annual Haskell Ag Lab Family Field Day on August 3rd.  We have some great stuff in store!

Of the new and exciting things this year, the ones I’m most excited for are:
    A visit from the area’s own Drs. Ben and Erin from Heartland Docs, DVM,
    The Nebraska State Climatologist sharing predictions of weather for the rest of the growing season,
    An exhibit about growing and using your own hops, and
    Our first ever blood drive!
    The 65th anniversary of the Haskell Ag Lab - Honoring the Past, Celebrating our Present, and Dreaming the Future

If you weren’t aware of the Heartland Docs, DVM TV show on Nat Geo Wild, you are in for a treat. Drs. Ben and Erin have become nationally famous and, being from Hartington, they’re practically at home at the Haskell Ag Lab. You’ll get to meet them and ask questions about the show and about life as a veterinarian in rural Nebraska.

Fortune telling might not be what Al Dutcher is known for, but for farmers, the weather tends to be pretty telling of what our fortune might be. While the old adage “wait 5 minutes, the weather in Nebraska will change” might be true, I’ve heard from Al several times over the summer and his forecast for Nebraska has been very accurate – even when it deviates from other forecasters or isn’t what we want to hear. I’ve come to expect no less from him, and you can bet he’ll share what he expects the weather to do as we look forward to harvest season.

Lots of us enjoy a good brew now and then, but have you ever made your own beer? Maybe you’ve considered it, but didn’t know where to start because you knew nothing about hops? Find the hops booth at the field day where Ryan with 6th Meridian Hops will be sharing his knowledge about growing hops, choosing varieties, and using them in the brewing process.

Do you know anyone who has ever needed blood? I bet you do; I know I can think of several individuals. Get ready to roll up your sleeves for the Haskell Ag Lab’s first ever Blood Drive. This year, the Lifeserve Bloodmobile will be on-site during the field day to collect blood donations. According to the blood center, “9 out of 10 people that live to the age of 70 will use blood during their lifetime”. We decided that while we had people together for the field day, why not encourage a little community service by hosting a blood drive?!? So, stay hydrated and join several staff members to fill the bus with much needed blood!

Oh, and don’t forget! Everyone that visits the registration desk at the field day will receive $10 in tickets for use at the on-site food trucks! This event is free and open to everyone of all ages. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the farm site with booths and activities scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Find out more at go.unl.edu/halfieldday2022 .



PLATTE VALLEY CATTLEMEN SUMMER GOLF EVENT
Monday, August 8, 2022
Quail Run Golf Course-Columbus
-1:30 pm check-in and 2:00 pm shotgun start
- 4 person scramble, make a team or they will assign you one - $55/person
- Pin & team prizes awarded following the meal - Must be present to win
- Steak Dinner will be served at approximately 6 pm at Quail Run - $20/person for meal only

Please send entries and fees in BEFORE JULY 27 so the committee can set up the tournament. Return all responses to:  Tyler Engstrom, 42476 205th Ave., Creston, NE  68631                                   
     
**Any business or individual interested in sponsoring a hole and/or pin prize, please contact Tyler Engstrom at (402)276-6347 or tyler.engstrom@bankfirstonline.com or Brian Steffensmeier at (402)750-9985 or briansteffy@yahoo.com

Remember August 15th is the PVC Outlook Meeting in Clarkson.



Wach joins Nebraska Soybean Board as Demand and Utilization Coordinator

The Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) is pleased to announce the hiring of Wesley Wach as demand and utilization coordinator.

In his position, Wach will handle the development of the demand and utilization programs that NSB invests the checkoff into each year. The goal of those specific programs is to ensure that Nebraska soybeans are preferred as a food, feed, fuel and industrial input source. This role is integral in building and sustaining soybean demand while looking at new opportunities for the many uses that soybeans bring to consumers, customers and industrial industries.

Wesley grew up on a diversified farming operation near Hayes Center, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May of 2022 with a degree in Agricultural Economics and minors in Engler Entrepreneurship and Agricultural Communications. While in college, he worked as a research assistant on the Weed Science Team for the Agronomy and Horticulture Department. In this past year, he served as the communications and outreach intern for the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. Wesley’s rural, research and leadership background prepared him well to work with commodity organizations.

“We are excited to welcome Wesley to our team as the demand and utilization coordinator at a pivotal time in the soybean industry,” said Scott Ritzman, NSB executive director. “He will work with contractors along with the rest of NSB’s team to continue to build demand for Nebraska soybeans and increase utilization of soybean products both domestically and internationally. Growing up on a farm and his previous work experiences brings value to NSB as the newest team member.”

“Serving the producers of Nebraska has become a passion of mine these last few years, and I have had many incredible opportunities to broaden my exposure to the agriculture industry,” said Wach. “It has been inspiring to connect with individuals who have the best interests in mind for our farmers, and I look forward to working with our staff to promote and grow the value of Nebraska soybeans.”

Wach started his role on June 20. He can be contacted and welcomed at wesley@nebraskasoybeans.org.



Renewable energy siting guidelines offer tool for local officials

As more companies, municipalities, states, and utilities set clean energy goals, the demand for renewable energy will continue to increase.

Because of the complexity of energy projects, however, the process of drafting ordinances and approving permits can be confusing and challenging for local officials considering requests for the first time.

A new white paper from the Center for Rural Affairs—“Exploring Siting Guidance: Agriculture Siting Matrices Inform Renewable Energy Siting”—looks at how the creation of a set of guidelines, also known as a siting matrix, could help in that process.

 “While a renewable energy siting matrix is a relatively new tool, the concept has been applied and used in other industries for years,” said Lindsay Mouw, policy associate for the Center and author of the paper. “The agricultural sector has used livestock siting matrices, which provide guidance for responsible siting of livestock animal feeding operations.”  

The paper provides an overview of livestock matrix tools used in Iowa and Nebraska, and how they could serve as a model for evaluating renewable energy standards, such as setback distances, environmental compliance, and decommissioning plans. Additionally, the paper addresses the pros and cons of a siting matrix model and shares examples of programs established in states, such as Indiana, that can assist with decisions.

Mouw said the development of statewide renewable energy siting matrices can help reduce barriers to renewable energy development by providing guidance to local decision makers while improving transparency, trust, and fairness in the siting process. But, as the name suggests, they should be guidance, rather than a requirement.  

“Every county and community has unique features that should be carefully considered by planning and zoning officials, and these considerations should lead to zoning that addresses the needs of residents,” she said. “While identifying standards that will operate effectively in every county is difficult, recommending broad principles and thoroughly researched guidance that communities and officials can use during the project permitting process is a possibility."

For more information or to view “Exploring Siting Guidance: Agriculture Siting Matrices Inform Renewable Energy Siting,” visit cfra.org/publications.



No-Till on the Plains to Host Dakotas Bus Tour

Join No-till on the Plains, fellow producers and soil health leaders Aug. 16 through 18, on a special trip that was last held in 2015. The tour will spend time with national leaders at their demonstration farms and grazing sites at South- and North Dakota. Dive into water, carbon and nutrient cycles; cropping and livestock diversity; and building a learner network with your trip partners.

The space is limited (54), the opportunities are limitless and the fee is "are you kidding me?" low.

Key details are:
- two departure sites (Aug. 16--Hays, Kan., at 6 a.m. and then proceed to Ward Labs, Kearney, Neb., at 8:30 a.m.)
- Aug. 16, tour Ward Labs; On the bus, Ray will teach soil science and geographic features as we proceed through the Sandhills to the outstanding, Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Pierre, S.D. Dwayne Beck leads the afternoon and joins the trip as a co-host.
- Evening Steak Fry and special celebration to recognize leaders including Dan Gillespie and Jody Saathoff (posthumously). Stay at Pierre.
- Aug. 17-18, Jay Fuhrer hosts at the Menoken Farm, Menoken, N.D. Jay is one of the leading teachers of soil biology and mimicking native rangelands with crop, insect and livestock diversity. We will also visit two other producers' sites (TBA) that explore the challenges and growth in the soil health journey.
- Aug. 18, return by early evening to Kearney and Hays.

As a special bonus, the learning network that is formed will have the opportunity to meet at a special session at the 2023 NTOP Winter Conference at Wichita. Details to be provided.

Sponsors include: Green Cover, Exapta, Mountain View Seeds, Ward Labs, Arrow Seed, the Midwest Cover Crop Council, Jody Saathoff Memorial Fund, Nebraska SARE, Kansas SARE, Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund, and Rebecca Gillespie.

Accommodations and meals are included in the three-day registration fee ($200, double-room; $300, single-room). Space is limited to 54 participants on the bus, so early registration is advisable. More details and registration are available at notill.org or contact, Aaron Sawyers, NTOP Coordinator, (785) 210-4549 or director@notill.org.

Discover more about No-till on the Plains by visiting http://notill.org/.



USDA Accepts More than 3.1 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 3.1 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland Signup, the highest in history. This program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity and conservation, and it’s part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and to conserve natural resources.

“This year’s record-breaking Grassland CRP signup demonstrates the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Grassland CRP clearly demonstrates, time and time again, that conservation priorities and agricultural productivity not only have the capacity to coexist but also complement and enhance one another.  Through all our working land conservation programs, farmers and ranchers play a critical role in helping secure the future of both our food production and our natural resources.”

Nationwide, this year’s Grassland CRP signup surpassed last year’s 2.5 million acres by 22%. So far this year, producers have enrolled 2 million acres through the General Signup and more than 464,000 acres have been submitted through the Continuous CRP Signup. This means about 5.6 million acres are entering CRP in 2023, surpassing the 3.9 million acres expiring this year.

Other highlights include:
    Top states included Colorado (642,000 acres), South Dakota (nearly 425,000 acres) and Nebraska (nearly 422,000 acres).
    States with the highest increase in acres compared with last year include Arizona (141% increase), California (129% increase), and Utah (122% increase).

Because Grassland CRP supports not only grazing operations but also biodiversity and conserving environmentally sensitive land such as that prone to wind erosion, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) created two National Priority Zones in 2021: the Greater Yellowstone Migration Corridor and Dust Bowl Zone. For this year’s signup, FSA expanded the Greater Yellowstone Wildlife Migration Corridor Priority Zone to include seven additional counties across Montana, Wyoming, and Utah, to help protect the big-game animal migration corridor associated with Wyoming elk, mule deer and antelope. FSA accepted offers on more than 1.4 million acres in these two zones.

Grasslands enrolled in CRP help sequester carbon in vegetation and soil, while enhancing resilience to drought and wildfire. Meanwhile, producers can still conduct common grazing practices, such as haying, mowing, or harvesting seed from the enrolled land, which supports ag production.  



ASA Thanks USDA for Effort to Provide Farmers Greater Access to Crop Insurance Protection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to reduce the economic risk of raising two crops on the same land in one year. Citing “continuing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” USDA in a statement said it aims to support farmers as they work to stabilize food prices and better feed populations both domestically and abroad.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency is expanding double crop insurance opportunities in over 1,500 counties where double cropping is an option, a move the American Soybean Association supports and for which it thanks the administration. ASA has urged RMA to adjust the geographic line northward for producers to be eligible to insure double cropped soybeans.

ASA President Brad Doyle of Arkansas said, “This announcement provides farmers greater access to crop insurance, an important risk management tool. We are pleased USDA is moving forward with next steps to expand availability for the 2023 crop year after receiving input directly from farmers and throughout our soy states.”

The latest double-crop announcement is in follow-up to a broader set of commitments made earlier this year by the administration to increase domestic food production amid potential global food shortages related to the invasion of Ukraine.

For soybeans, double crop coverage will be expanded to or streamlined in at least 681 counties, including all that were initially targeted for review. While some additional counties were permanently added to be double crop counties, USDA in its release stated a majority of expansion removed barriers such as requiring production records and streamlined the process to get personalized coverage through a written agreement.

USDA stated it may add additional counties as it explores additional options with farmers this summer.



Counter-Seasonal Opportunity
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Ag and Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Events on the grains markets appear to be communicating the potential for counter-seasonal opportunities in feeder cattle markets. There is the potential for price strength into the fall.

Grain markets spent the first five months of this year rallying to impressive highs: $7.50/bu harvest corn, $15/bu harvest soybeans, and $12-$13/bu harvest wheat. Concerns about current supplies, strong international and/or domestic demand, political concerns over war in eastern Europe, the pandemic recovery, and potential for drought were all contributors. However, during the two weeks prior to the June 30 USDA NASS Acreage report the harvest corn market sold off $0.80/bu and beans lost $1/bu. The selling has continued after the report. And it is my assessment that the report was not surprising – the exception would be for soybeans. It was expected that the report would show 89.8 million acres of corn were planted. The actual report numbers were 89.921 million acres. Hardly a surprise. Pre-report expectations for soybeans was that 90.6 million acres would be planted and the report delivered 88.325 million acres. And the low end of the expectations was 89.2 million acres. That is outside of the expectation range and would be classified a surprise. Details on where bean acres are short are interesting, but in the end this is hardly a bearish report. Yet both markets have continued the selloff. There have been a few days of corrections during the move lower but harvest corn is down in total about $1.50/bu and beans about $2.00/bu. This change is a substantial and fundamental change in the outlook for animal feeding costs. This will without a doubt create opportunities for some improved prices of feeder cattle and calves.

But we will have to wait for the substantive resumption of trading in many cash feeder cattle markets following the holiday week. Markets and regions in the central U.S. that did trade were modestly higher. Cash markets for corn and other feedstuffs, however, have held their strength. Regional cash corn markets in Kansas, Colorado, and Texas are routinely $1.30 to $2.30/bu over the September contract price. The futures markets for grains are revealing a changing supply and demand picture that should be much more favorable for cattle producers. However, the cash markets have yet to follow.



Webinar Symposium to Discuss Small Tick Causing Big Problems for Cattle

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is hosting a two-day webinar symposium to address concerns regarding the Asian Longhorned Tick and the pest’s possible impact on the U.S. cattle industry. The free virtual event will be held Aug. 23-24 from noon to 3:45pm (Eastern) each day.

“Our goal is to inform and educate cattle producers across the country about this potential threat,” said Dr. Kathy Simmons, NCBA’s chief veterinarian.

The two-day webinar is designed to provide cattle producers, state animal health officials, veterinarians, and other key stakeholders with current information from industry experts about how to identify and manage the tick. Veterinarians from currently affected states and USDA officials will discuss disease implications as well as possible treatment options and prevention of ticks on animals and in pastures.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pleased to work with producers, industry stakeholders, and animal health experts to identify ways to mitigate the spread of invasive species and the diseases they carry,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, assistant director of the Ruminant Health Center at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), Veterinary Services Strategy and Policy Unit. “We thank the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for their partnership in organizing this event and we look forward to a constructive conversation on reducing the threat posed by the Asian Longhorned Tick."

The Asian Longhorned Tick is an invasive exotic pest first found in the United States in 2017. Since then, it has spread to 17 states ranging from the South all the way up through the East Coast. The tick is extremely mobile, spreading to new locations by attaching to people, birds, pets and wild animals, however, it can survive for up to a year in the environment without attaching to a host. Because it is smaller than a sesame seed, it is also difficult to detect.

The tick is extremely aggressive and can cause stress and severe blood loss in cattle. The tick also carries diseases such as bovine Theileriosis, a disease that causes anemia, failure to grow (ill-thrift), persistent infection, reproductive problems, and in some cases, death. There is currently no approved treatment against Theileria orientalis, leaving cattle at risk.

“This tick species is of great concern, but producers can protect their herd through frequent inspection and by reporting sightings to their veterinarian or local animal health official,” said Dr. Simmons. “The first step is knowing what to look for, and I encourage producers to participate in this important webinar to receive the most current information.”

For more information, and to register, visit www.ncba.org.



Ohio Corn Grower Appointed to Board of International Trade Group

Anthony Bush, an Ohio farmer, has been appointed to serve as a director on the board of MAIZALL, the international alliance of maize growers and exporters from Argentina, Brazil and the United States. He joins John Linder, NCGA’s chair, representing NCGA to the board.

Bush, a fourth-generation grain farmer, is also a board member for Ohio Corn and Wheat.

“Anthony is a nationally respected agricultural leader who will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the MAIZALL board,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “I can think of no one better to represent the American agricultural community as we collaborate with other farmer leaders from Brazil and Argentina to position the Americas for new trade opportunities overseas.”

Combined, MAIZALL’s three countries account for over 50% of global corn production and 70% of world exports. Bush will begin serving on the board, effective immediately.



NAWG Responds to White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Study Recommending Dam Breaching

Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released two new reports on Columbia River Basin Salmon and Long-Term Energy Planning in the Pacific Northwest. The draft report Rebuilding Interior Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead, which was prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with feedback from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, outlines steps necessary to achieve healthy and harvestable salmon populations. Specifically, one of the recommendations includes breaching one or more of the Lower Snake River Dams. While the Administration has not endorsed the Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force’s goals at this time, or the proposals identified in today’s draft science report, these reports and the CEQ press release fail to mention the transportation, navigation, and energy benefits of the river system and the negative impacts dam breaching would have throughout the agricultural industry and rural communities.

“As a wheat farmer in the Pacific Northwest, growers from across the region benefit from barging as an efficient and affordable way to get our wheat to buyers worldwide,” said NAWG President and Washington state wheat grower Nicole Berg. “The idea of breaching the dams on the Lower Snake River would have a devastating economic impact on the livelihood of wheat growers beyond the PNW. The Columbia Snake River System is critical infrastructure system that enables reliable wheat transportation to more than 20 countries throughout the Pacific Rim. NAWG has serious concerns about these reports and encourages the Administration to engage with the agricultural industry because breaching these dams will adversely impact wheat growers who are already facing economic pressures from inflation and lingering supply chain issues.”

Yesterday, NAWG filed public comments in response to the Draft Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) Benefit Replacement Report, which was published on June 9. Dam breaching would still require Congressional approval, and NAWG continues to educate lawmakers on the important role this critical infrastructure plays in helping move grain overseas in a time of growing fears of world hunger.



Late Planting, Disease Threats Call for Cleaner & Greener Syngenta Fungicides

With 2022 planting complete, growers are turning their attention to managing their in-season inputs and protecting against disease. This season, managing disease and improving plant health with the right fungicide are crucial due to the higher risk of disease from late planting throughout the Midwest and an above average predicted hurricane season for the South and East Coast.

“The decision to use a fungicide always boils down to a grower’s bottom line,” says Logan Romines, Syngenta fungicide product lead. “Determining if it’s worth it all depends on which fungicide a grower chooses. With the Syngenta portfolio of fungicides, like Miravis® Neo, Miravis Top, Miravis Ace and Trivapro®, growers can expect cleaner and greener fields with higher yield and return on investment (ROI) potential.”

Without the preventive protection of a fungicide, corn, soybean and wheat fields may exert more energy defending against disease than bulking up yield. Additionally, disease can impact standability, grain development and harvestability. That’s why choosing a fungicide with both exceptional disease control and proven plant-health benefits could be key in 2022 to keep crops cleaner, greener and potentially higher yielding.

“The impact of plant health on yield can be broken down into three pillars: light efficiency, water conservation and harvest efficiency,” says Tyler Harp, Syngenta fungicide technical product lead. “Leaves that are greener can capture and hold more light energy from the sun. With better water conservation comes less transpiration, meaning the plant requires less water to transport nutrients and converts more energy into potential yield. When combined, both sources create more available energy for the plant to use toward grain development and higher potential yield.”

When it comes to harvest efficiency, there are several ways that fungicides help promote more potential ROI. With fungicides that control disease and help create stronger crops, there is less lodging and shattering at harvest. “This allows growers to more quickly conduct their harvest, saving time, fuel and ultimately money ― something that is extremely important in times with rising fuel prices” says Harp. At the end of harvest, the cost per bushel will have lowered and harvest efficiency increased.

“It sounds too good to be true, but years of trials have shown these cleaner and greener fungicides deliver healthier plants with higher potential yield,” Romines says. “ADEPIDYN® technology found in our Miravis brand family and SOLATENOL® technology found in Trivapro ultimately are going to deliver increased consistency and will afford you the best results.”