Thursday September 29 Ag News

 NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY DOWN 4%

Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2022, was 3.50 million head, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was down 4% from September 1, 2021, and down 1% from June 1, 2022.

Breeding hog inventory, at 410,000 head, was down 11% from September 1, 2021, and down 2% from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 3.09 million head, was down 3% from last year, and down 1% from last quarter.

The June - August 2022 Nebraska pig crop, at 2.08 million head, was down 11% from 2021. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 185,000 head, down 7% from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.25 for the June - August period, compared to 11.65 last year.

Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 185,000 sows during the September - November 2022 quarter, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for December 2022 - February 2023 are 180,000 sows, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.



Iowa Hogs & Pigs Report

On September 1, 2022, there were 23.4 million hogs and pigs on Iowa farms, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Hogs and Pigs report. Inventory was up 2 percent from the previous quarter but down 3 percent from the previous year.

The June-August 2022 quarterly pig crop was 5.80 million head, up slightly from the previous quarter and up 1 percent from last year. A total of 500,000 sows farrowed during this quarter. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.60 for the quarter. This is a record high pigs saved per litter for any quarter.

As of September 1, producers planned to farrow 500,000 sows and gilts in the September-November 2022 quarter and 485,000 head during the December 2022-February 2023 quarter.



United States Hog Inventory Down 1 Percent

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2022 was 73.8 million head. This was down 1 percent from September 1, 2021, but up 2 percent from June 1, 2022.   

Breeding inventory, at 6.15 million head, was down 1 percent from last year,  and down slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 67.6 million head, was down 1 percent from last year, but up 2 percent from last quarter.

The June-August 2022 pig crop, at 33.6 million head, was down 1 percent from 2021. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.02 million head, down 1 percent from 2021. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.13 for the June-August period, unchanged from last year.

United States hog producers intend to have 2.97 million sows farrow during the September-November 2022 quarter, down 2 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, and down 6 percent from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for December 2022-February 2023, at 2.90 million sows, are down 1 percent from the same period one year earlier, and down 1 percent from the same period two years earlier.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 50 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up 1 percent from the previous year.

Iowa hog producers accounted for the largest inventory among the states, at 23.4 million head. Minnesota had the second largest inventory at 8.80 million head. North Carolina was third with 8.30 million head.

To obtain an accurate measurement of the U.S. swine industry, NASS surveyed roughly 4,700 operators across the nation during the first half of September. The data collected were received by electronic data recording, mail, telephone and through face-to-face interviews.



AG Peterson Joins Lawsuit Against Pesticide Makers for Anticompetitive Practices

Attorney General Peterson has joined a bipartisan group of 10 states and the Federal Trade Commission in filing a lawsuit against pesticide makers Syngenta and Corteva, alleging anticompetitive practices that have harmed farmers.

The complaint, filed today in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of North Carolina, accuses the defendants of using "loyalty programs" with pesticide distributors to exclude generic competitors from the market. The programs reward distributors for selling Syngenta and Corteva products long after their patent and other protections have expired, thus inflating prices. "These unlawful business practices have cost farmers many millions of dollars a year," the complaint alleges.

The lawsuit accuses Syngenta and Corteva of violating state and federal laws, including the FTC Act and the Clayton Act. The FTC and state attorneys general ask the court to end the loyalty programs, and grant equitable monetary relief and attorney fees, among other remedies. The relief would include restitution for farmers in Nebraska.

Syngenta -- based in Basel, Switzerland, and a subsidiary of Sinochem Holdings Corp. of China -- and Corteva, based in Indianapolis, are among the largest makers of crop-protection products in the United States. The companies' products are used on a wide range of grains, vegetables, fruits, and other crops, helping improve yields and food security.

To encourage innovation, companies such as Syngenta and Corteva can initially develop, patent, and register active ingredients in their products and exploit their commercial potential for several years. After those protections expire, generic manufacturers may enter the market with products with the same active ingredients and rely on the same toxicology and environmental impact studies. This competition ordinarily leads to dramatic price reductions, benefiting farmers and consumers.

The complaint accuses Syngenta and Corteva of undermining this system by paying incentive payments, or "rebates," to distributors on one condition: The distributor must keep its purchases of comparable generic products below a low threshold. Corteva and Syngenta have entered into loyalty-program agreements with substantially all leading distributors in the United States. In turn, the distributors sell the products containing the branded ingredients to retail outlets.

These loyalty programs enable the defendants to maintain high prices and dominant market positions years after exclusivity for an active ingredient has expired. They also have forced generic manufacturers out of the market, the lawsuit alleges.

The FTC commissioners voted today to pursue the lawsuit. In addition to Nebraska, the lawsuit was joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin.



Nebraska Food for Health Center Maps Sorghum Genes Controlling The Human Gut Microbiome

Each of us walks around with trillions of living microbes in our gut. Our diet shapes the kinds and abundance of microbes living in our gut which are connected to our health and well-being. But as scientists learn more and more about which microbes are associated positive and negative impacts on human health, a key question has remained unanswered: "How do we change our own microbiomes?"

The answer may be in the food we eat. Different foods, made from different crops contain a variety of fibers, polyphenols and other natural compounds that can influence the abundance of different microbes within the human gut. Increasing our fiber intake by consuming whole grains vs food made from refined flour is one example. But what if different grains have different effects on our guts?

In a study from the laboratory of Dr. Andrew Benson that was led by Dr. Qinnan Yang, scientists at the Nebraska Food for Health Center demonstrate that natural genetic variation within crop plants can indeed play a major role in controlling growth of specific organisms in human gut microbiomes. In this study the researchers used sorghum, an ancient grain first domesticated in Africa that is grown and consumed around the world today. Sorghum is known to have a large number of bioactive models that can stimulate cells in the human body, including microbes in our gut. Dr. James Schnable, a member of the Nebraska Food for Health Center who studies corn and sorghum genetics provided grain from almost three hundred different kinds of sorghum. Dr. Yang made flour from each of these sorghum lines and used a new automated system to measure the impact of flour from each kind of sorghum on the human gut microbiome, the team applied the tools of quantitative genetic to identify parts of the sorghum genome that affect how the gut microbiomes of different human beings responded to being fed sorghum.

In two cases, Dr. Yang noticed that the same region of the sorghum genome that caused major changes in the human gut microbiome was also controlling differences in the color of the sorghum seeds and sorghum flour. The team was excited when they realized that these two parts of the genome contained two genes, called Tan1 and Tan2, that control the production of condensed tannins, a group of compounds that add flavor to red wine and dark chocolate. Sorghum varieties with intact versions of both the Tan1 and Tan2 genes had dark colored seeds and stimulated the growth of a set of microbes including Faecalibacterium, Roseburia and Christensennella while other sorghum varieties with mutations in either gene produced light colored seeds that failed to stimulate growth of these organisms. Beyond the excitement of identifying the actual genetic cause that can stimulate these organisms, the team was also energized by the fact that many studies show that these same organisms are quite beneficial for human health and are believed to help prevent conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

“It’s so cool to see effect of Mendelian genetics in a crop plant working like a charm on human gut microbiome,” said Dr. Yang. “It really isn’t just about tannin or even sorghum. Now that we’ve shown plant genes can control changes in the human gut microbiome, we can use our approach screen hundreds or thousands of samples of different crops. That makes it possible for plant breeding programs to harness natural genetic variation in crops to breed new crop varieties that improve human health by promoting beneficial bacteria in the human gut.” Dr. Benson added, “this is remarkable to see plant geneticists, microbiologists, and food scientists working together to develop and improve a new generation of traits in food crops aimed at reducing diseases.”



NEBRASKA POULTRY AND EGG DEVELOPMENT, UTILIZATION AND MARKETING COMMITTEE NOTICE OF MEETING
 
The Nebraska Poultry and Egg Development, Utilization, and Marketing Committee has planned a meeting for Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 10:00 a.m at the NPI/PED Office in Milford, NE.

The current agenda of subjects to be discussed at this meeting is available for public inspection at the offices of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Egg Division, 521 First Street, Milford, Nebraska.

Please send any funding requests or additions to the PED agenda to Alyssa no later than October 12, 2022.  Please contact the PED office at 402-761-2216 or alyssa@nepoultry.org if you have any questions.



NDA’S 2023 POULTRY CALENDAR FEATURES PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR’S CONTEST AND BIOSECURITY INFORMATION FOR KEEPING BACKYARD FLOCKS HEALTHY

Keeping backyard flocks healthy is important to poultry owners. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s (NDA) 2023 poultry calendar features photos from this year’s contest and includes biosecurity information for poultry owners to protect their flocks from diseases like avian influenza. NDA’s annual Poultry Photo contest was open to Nebraska 4-H and FFA members from around the state.

“4-H and FFA members work hard to ensure that the animals in their care stay healthy and strong,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman. “The photos from NDA’s annual Poultry Photo contest show healthy birds in a variety of settings that highlight the diverse poultry industry found in Nebraska.”

The students submitting winning photos from this year’s contest are Mallory Beethe of Gretna; Kelsey Bunn of North Bend; Elizabeth Hilkemann of Firth; Grace Mentzer of Lincoln; Anne Nygren of Ashland; Elisa Oberg of Farnam; Janae Oberg of Farnam; Jon Oberg of Farnam; Kara Oberg of Farnam; Franklin Polacek of Norfolk; Aniah Stone of Minden; and Josh Stone of Minden.

“I would like to thank the 4-H and FFA members who submitted photos for our Poultry Photo contest this year,” Wellman said. “Your creativity, attention to detail, and photography skills set you apart from your peers. Congratulations!”

NDA’s 2023 calendar featuring Poultry Photo contest photographs and important biosecurity information can be viewed and downloaded from NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian.



Aurora Cooperative and KAAPA Ethanol Holdings, LLC announce joint venture of Aurora Cooperative Ethanol

Aurora Cooperative Elevator Company (“Aurora Cooperative”) and KAAPA Ethanol Holdings, LLC (“KAAPA”) are pleased to announce a joint venture involving Aurora Cooperative’s ethanol and grain facilities located west of Aurora, Nebraska.

The joint venture plans to make significant investments with the goal of increasing production and efficiency at the ethanol facilities so that the facilities remain a destination for area farmers' corn for many years to come.

Aurora Cooperative’s Board Chair, Bill Schuster, said “We are looking forward to a partnership with KAAPA Ethanol at our ethanol and grain facilities. KAAPA has a track record of operational expertise and strong financial performance. We believe this partnership will strengthen the future of the ethanol plant for our farmer-owners."

KAAPA's Board Chair, Paul Kenney, said "Aurora Cooperative has led the way in promoting E -15 and higher ethanol blend fuels in Nebraska with its A-Stops and other efforts. We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Aurora Cooperative with its ethanol and grain facilities west of Aurora and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership."

Chris Decker, Aurora Cooperative's Chief Executive Officer, said "I'm excited to partner with KAAPA, they are a successf ul Nebraska-based company. Like Aurora Cooperative, KAAPA is owned by farmers. Aurora Cooperative and KAAPA share similar values and exist for the sole purpose of serving our farmer-owners. Aurora Cooperative believes this partnership will allow us to make the investments needed in order for these assets to remain a value- added destination market for our farmer-owners in the future."

Chuck Woodside, KAAPA's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are excited for the opportunity to partner with Aurora Cooperative at its ethanol facilities west of Aurora. Hamilton County is an excellent location logistically for an ethanol plant. The proximity to our plants in Minden and Ravenna will give us the opportunity for additional synergies."

Aurora Cooperative and KAAPA anticipate the transaction will close in early 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, and look forward to a bright future serving Hamilton County and surrounding area farmers.



North Central IPM Center Moves to Iowa State

The North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center is coming to Iowa State University with renewed funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The grant award is for $4 million and the Center will receive $1 million annually for four years.

"Iowa State is honored to host the North Central IPM Center and will continue to be an integral part of effective and efficient pest management in Iowa and across the region in agricultural, natural and urban systems," said Daniel J. Robison, endowed dean's chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State. "This is fundamental to our work, and we are thrilled to support these efforts regionally."

Laura Iles and Daren Mueller, both at Iowa State, will now serve as co-directors for the center. Iles is director and extension plant pathologist with the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic, and Mueller is a professor and extension plant pathologist at Iowa State. The Center was previously located at Michigan State University and was directed by Lynnae Jess for the last four years with co-direction support from Iowa State.

This fall, Iles will shift priorities from the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic, which she has directed since 2009, to leading the center. In addition to directing the clinic, Iles also served as the insect diagnostician and provided outreach and training on horticultural pests and disease issues. As center director, Iles will lead the Center's grant program and signature programs as well as the creation of national pest alerts.

Mueller will also lead the center in a co-director role. He coordinates the Iowa State IPM program and also co-directs the Crop Protection Network. His main research interests involve understanding the biology and management of field crop diseases.

The North Central IPM Center champions innovation of pest management tools as well as use of these tools, while protecting people and the environment. Much of the center's pest management focus is directed at agricultural production, which includes specialty crops from blueberries to cucumbers, and the pests that affect crops. The center also supports efforts to control pests that threaten human health (like ticks and mosquitoes), pests that invade structures (like cockroaches and bedbugs) and invasive pests (like the northern giant hornet).

The center shares details about pest management efforts by producing Pest Alerts, Pests and Progress webinars, and a monthly newsletter. An annual grant program provided by the center distributes $200,000 annually to working groups dedicated to collaborating across state boarders to address pest challenges. Another $100,000 is awarded annually to pest-related research projects.

The North Central IPM Center is one of four IPM centers in the United States, and the center represents the 12 Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The center was previously housed in East Lansing, Mich.



IDALS Crop Insurance Discount Program for Cover Crops

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will again offer its crop insurance discount program for cover crops this year. The program offers farmers and landowners who plant fall cover crops, like rye and oats, the opportunity to apply for a $5 per acre discount on their spring crop insurance premiums. The sign up for the program will begin on December 1.

“The growth in cover crop usage is strong and continues to accelerate statewide because farmers are seeing the benefits of better soil health and improved water quality and this discount will save them money on their crop insurance,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Every field and farm is different and so farmers and landowners should talk to their agronomist, conservation professional, or seed representative to determine which varieties of cover crops may work best for their farm.”

Farmers and landowners may start enrolling in the cover crop insurance discount program in December. To qualify, the cover crop acres cannot be enrolled in other state or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cost share programs. More information about the cover crop insurance discount program is available at cleanwateriowa.org/cropinsurancediscount.

In addition to preventing soil erosion, especially with Iowa’s variable weather conditions, cover crops improve water quality by locking in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. They also offer weed control and additional forage for livestock producers.

Program Details
This is the sixth year the crop insurance discount program is being administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). Interest in the program continues to grow with new farmers and fields joining each year. To date, approximately 1,800 farmers have enrolled nearly 1,000,000 acres of cover crops in the program. Iowa’s program has also served as a model for other states, including Illinois and Indiana.

Some insurance policies may be excluded, like Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, or those covered through written agreements. Participants must follow all existing farming practices required by their policy and work with their insurance agents to maintain eligibility. Farmers should visit their local USDA service center to learn about other cost share funding that may be available to support the implementation of conservation practices.



Can Long-Term Soil Health Practices Improve Water Quality?

In an Oct. 5 webinar hosted by Iowa Learning Farms, two soil health experts from Ohio will discuss a study they are conducting on the interrelationships between agricultural soil, water and the practices being utilized to address nutrient losses and water quality.

The webinar will feature Vinayak Shedekar, research scientist at Ohio State University in Columbus, and Will Osterholz, research soil scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Soil Drainage Research Unit in Columbus.

Shedekar’s current research is focused on agricultural water management, monitoring and modeling of soil health, hydrology and water quality. Osterholz is currently investigating relationships between in-field soil health and edge-of-field water quality, as well as the contributions of legacy soil phosphorus sources to phosphorus losses from agricultural landscapes.

Iowa Learning Farms is an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program.

In the webinar, “Can Long-Term Soil Health Practices Improve Water Quality?,” Shedekar and Osterholz will draw on a study they are conducting in Ohio, to discuss the interrelationships between agricultural soil, water, and the practices being utilized to address nutrient losses and water quality.

Osterholz will focus his comments on the soil health component, relating the benefits of cover crops and no-till to soil health, especially when adopted over long periods of time. He will also discuss ongoing research to better understand the effect of these practices on edge-of-field water and differences between transitional and mature implementations.

Shedekar will share information and outcomes of their study regarding monitoring water quality as it is discharged from fields with short- and long-term history of soil health practices as well as in comparison to adjacent fields in which no soil health practices have been utilized.

“We know that practices such as cover crops and no-till can improve soil health, but we are aiming to expand the body of knowledge to identify where these soil health practices positively affect water quality," said Shedekar. “Finding whether good soil health is equal to water quality, and under what circumstances and timescale, should provide the industry with important information to inform decision making.”

Participants in Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinars are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.
Webinar access instructions

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon CDT Oct. 5:
    Click this URL, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172.
    Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID 364 284 172.
    Or, join from a dial-in phone line by dialing +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923; meeting ID 364 284 172.

The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time.

A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit has been applied for. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the live webinar.



Three outstanding leaders in water quality awarded 2022 IAWA Iowa Watershed Awards

The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and partners honored three outstanding leaders in water quality with 2022 IAWA Iowa Watershed Awards to recognize their work across the state.

Awards were presented at the Iowa Water Conference in Dubuque on Thurs., Sept. 29 during the fifth annual IAWA Iowa Watershed Awards program. The awards program was developed by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Conservation Districts of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

    Hunter Slifka, watershed project coordinator for the Turkey River Headwaters & Chihak Creek in NE Iowa, is the 2022 Watershed Coordinator of the Year. With Slifka’s dedication to water quality in his 62,000-acre watershed, cover crops have expanded from only 1,500 acres five years ago to 17,000 acres this past fall. This has a direct impact on water quality for his community and communities downstream. His work is also improving trout streams that feed into the Turkey River. To celebrate his achievement, IAWA will provide the Howard County Soil and Water Conservation District Office in Cresco with $5,000 for the project.

    Ruth McCabe, Heartland Co-op Conservation Agronomist based in Central Iowa, won the Private Sector Impact Award. In 2021 alone, McCabe’s work directly led to a wide variety of conservation practices that improve water quality: nearly 10,000 acres planted to cover crops, a 147-acre prairie restoration in north central Iowa, 44 edge-of-field practices called saturated buffers and bioreactors, and one wetland project.

    Tracy Peterson, City of Ames Municipal Engineer, was honored with the Public Sector Impact Award. Peterson oversees a five-year, $6.3 million flood mitigation program that focuses on a section of the South Skunk River that used to flood frequently. That’s changing because of the city’s project that includes strategies such as wetlands which help to improve water quality and reduce flood risk.

The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) is increasing the pace and scale of farmer-led efforts to improve water quality in Iowa. Founded in 2014 by Iowa Corn, the Iowa Soybean Association, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association, IAWA is building public-private partnerships focused on implementing water quality solutions. Iowa farmers are actively engaged in various conservation efforts that improve water quality. Learn more at www.iaagwater.org.



Register for Free Virtual Stockmanship & Stewardship Event

Register today for the free Stockmanship & Stewardship virtual event to be held Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. This online version of the popular in-person event provides an opportunity for cattle producers to learn about beef sustainability and livestock welfare, how consumer concerns have impacted the industry, and the role that Beef Quality Assurance plays in the conversation.

The full-day event features nationally recognized speakers and clinicians discussing topics such as grazing management practices in various climates, cattle handling, marketing, nutrition, international trade, labor, antimicrobial resistance and more. The program brings together beef and dairy producers, stakeholders and key industry members to engage in the discussion of current industry challenges, consumer driven trends, and realistic strategies to enhance producers’ commitment to stockmanship and stewardship.

“As a proud sponsor of Stockmanship & Stewardship events, Merck Animal Health is pleased to help bring this virtual edition to cattle producers from coast to coast,” said Kevin Mobley, executive director of sales and marketing for Merck Animal Health.

The program is sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Merck Animal Health, and the Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance program. For more information and to register, visit www.StockmanshipAndStewardship.org.



Growth Energy Statement on Updated EPA Guidance on Cellulosic Biofuel from Corn Kernel Fiber

Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its updated guidance on what methods should be used to determine the cellulosic converted fraction of corn kernel fiber in the production of cellulosic ethanol. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement in response:

“We’re pleased to see EPA update its guidance for cellulosic biofuel from kernel fiber, a move that provides additional flexibility for bioethanol producers and the potential to accelerate stalled registrations for cellulosic biofuels. Approval of these registrations is important to fulfilling the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard and to help further decarbonize the transportation sector. We look forward to further reviewing EPA’s guidance with our members.”

In its guidance, EPA proposes three potential ways companies might satisfy registration requirements for corn fiber, including:
    Adoption of the DOE/NREL method,
    Demonstration of reasonable accuracy by returning comparable cellulose values to the NIST reference materials using a non-voluntary consensus standards body (non-VCSB) method, or
    Use of advanced analytical techniques; e.g. mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), as identified by DOE/NREL in their analytical method and validation.



ASA, Stakeholder Groups Strongly Urge EPA to Deny Petition Revoking 15 Organophosphate Pesticides

The American Soybean Association is urging the EPA to deny a petition seeking to cancel uses and revoke tolerances of 15 different organophosphate pesticides (OP). Through both ASA-specific comments and stakeholder coalition comments, ASA's message to EPA is clear: Maintain the availability of crop protection tools like organophosphate pesticides to help farmers continue safe, affordable and sustainable food production.

In the coalition comments, the groups address the broader economic harm that would result should EPA grant this petition, as well as analysis as to why this petition is not scientifically justifiable. If the agency moves forward and grants the petition, the groups fear it would cause immediate, significant and irreparable harm to U.S. agricultural producers. The coalition's concerns include increased pest resistance challenges that will harm the ability of growers to protect their crops in the future; undercutting public health efforts intended to protect people from insect pests like mosquitoes; and disrupting trade and undermining domestic and global food security.

ASA also submitted soybean-specific comments outlining the harm that growers will face should the petition be granted. U.S. soybean farmers currently use several of the 15 pesticides in the petition to protect against damaging insect pests, specifically acephate, dimethoate and phorate. The organization outlines the millions of dollars in yield losses the domestic soybean industry loses to insect pests yearly and reminds the agency that if OPs were revoked, the losses from insect pests could increase significantly. The comments provide the example that, if left unchecked, "soybean aphids and stink bugs – both insects for which acephate is registered for use in soybeans and can help control – can inflict yield losses up to 40%."



ARA Commends FMCSA Seasonal Ag CDL Reforms

Today the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) applauds the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for publishing reforms to the Seasonal Ag CDL program.

Reforms to the Farm-Related Restricted Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, more commonly known as the Seasonal Ag CDL program, go into effect immediately.

ARA Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Counsel Richard Gupton issued the following statement:

"This is a step in the right direction to ensure agricultural retailers are able to provide the level of service their farmer customers require at peak times in the growing and harvest season.

"One of the main reforms impacting ag retailers is the increase to the number of days that the restricted CDL is valid to 210 from 180 days. The second major reform is the change to a calendar year rotation for the program to prevent any overlaps from season to season from one year to the next.

"ARA commends its coalition partners along with Senators Jerry Moran and John Thune for their support and effort to get these critical provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. ARA is grateful FMCSA published the Congressionally mandated reforms to allow enough time for states to implement prior to the 2023 planting season."

ARA and coalition partners sent letters to Congress in May and June of 2021 in support of modernizing this program.

States that allow for the Seasonal Ag CDL exemption will still need to make changes to their existing state rules. Learn more in the Asmark Institute's report showing 24 states that offer the CDL.



Record Turkey Prices Expected as Thanksgiving Approaches

Families can expect to pay record high prices at the grocery store for turkey this upcoming holiday season thanks to the impacts of the bird flu and inflation. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg costs in their latest Market Intel.

The retail price for fresh boneless, skinless turkey breast reached a record high of $6.70 per pound in September, 112% higher than the same time in 2021 when prices were $3.16 per pound. The previous record high price was $5.88 per pound in November 2015, during the 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak.

Inflation is adding to the price hikes. All retail food prices were 11.4% higher in August compared to the same time last year. Despite the higher prices, there should be enough turkeys available for the Thanksgiving demand.

“All of us are feeling the pain of higher prices at the grocery store,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “HPAI outbreaks in the spring and an uptick in cases in the fall are taking a toll, but farmers remain dedicated to ensuring America’s food supply remains strong.”

It is important to understand that farmers aren’t profiting from record high retail prices. High supply costs from feed, fuel, fertilizer and labor make raising turkeys even more expensive. USDA’s most recent Farm Sector Income Forecast predicts record high total production costs, increasing by 17.8% from 2021 to $437.4 billion in 2022.

While egg prices have come down from record highs in July, the average price for a dozen grade A eggs is $2.34, 27% higher than the same time in 2021, and 44% above the five-year average of $1.29.



Smithfield to Pay $75 Million to Settle Price Fixing Suit

Smithfield Foods Inc has agreed to pay $75 million to settle a lawsuit by consumers who accused the meat producer and several competitors of conspiring to inflate prices in the $20 billion-a-year U.S. pork market by limiting supply.

A preliminary settlement in the antitrust case was filed on Tuesday night with the federal court in Minneapolis, and requires approval by U.S. District Judge John Tunheim.

The accord follows the judge's Sept. 14 approval of a similar $20 million settlement between consumers and JBS SA , one of Smithfield's largest rivals.

Smithfield spokesman Jim Monroe said the company denied liability in agreeing to settle, and that the accord reduces the distraction, risk and cost of protracted litigation.

He also said the accord eliminates a "substantial portion" of Smithfield's remaining liability in the nationwide case.

The company is based in Smithfield, Virginia and is a unit of Hong Kong-listed WH Group ltd, which calls itself the world's largest pork company.

Several companies have faced lawsuits in Minneapolis and Chicago also accusing them of inflating beef and chicken prices.

In the pork litigation, Smithfield previously reached settlements of $83 million with so-called "direct" purchasers such as Maplevale Farms and $42 million with commercial purchasers, a group that includes restaurants.

Some of the other defendants are Hormel Foods Corp, Tyson Foods Inc and data provider Agri Stats Inc.

Smithfield agreed to provide cooperation that the plaintiffs' lawyers said will strengthen their cases against the remaining defendants.

The Biden administration has announced plans to bolster competition in the meat sector, amid concern that some meat packers could dictate prices and add to inflationary pressures.

Wednesday September 28 Ag News

2023-2024 Engler Entrepreneurship scholarships available

Students passionate about becoming an entrepreneur and learning how to pursue their purpose through entrepreneurship can now apply for scholarships to the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the 2023-2024 academic year. Incoming and current College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students are eligible to apply, but must have had prior FFA or 4-H experience.

Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 are awarded annually to Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship students, who may reapply for up to three years according to Tom Field, Director of the program. In 2022, approximately 90 students received scholarship support totallying more than $194,000 from the Engler program.

To apply, students must complete an application and series of essay questions at https://englerjourney.com. Applications are due by midnight on Jan. 22, 2023.

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program is a unique opportunity at Nebraska designed to empower enterprise builders. Approximately 200 UNL students are pursuing development of their entrepreneurial skills and capacity in the program. Participation in the program is not restricted to scholarship recipients.  

The Engler program began in 2010 with a $20 million gift over 10 years from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. The mission of the program is to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. The program offers an academic minor while serving as an intersection in which students from a diverse array of majors and business interests can come together in pursuit of the American Dream. For more information about the program, visit https://englerjourney.com.



Rogers Memorial Farm celebrates 75 years of hands-on agricultural research

The rows of no-till plots on the University of Nebraska Rogers Memorial Farm stand as a lasting testament to the practicality of no-till farming — 42 years and counting.  

The impact of these plots was celebrated on Sept. 22, when the department of Biological Systems Engineering hosted an event to honor 75 years of Rogers Memorial Farm. The anniversary provided a retrospective of the farm and a glimpse at future agricultural research possibilities.  

Nearly 90 attended the event, which included an open house, farm tours, a program and lunch. During the program, emeritus faculty Elbert Dickey and Biological Systems Engineering extension engineer Paul Jasa were recognized for their contributions to no-till farming.

The Rogers Memorial Farm is used for research, education and demonstrations. It is run by the BSE department in cooperation with other university departments and United States Department of Agriculture agencies.  

Those involved with the farm jokingly refer to it as the best-kept secret of the university. It’s a small operation, with 320 acres of land, a Quonset, an old white barn, some large storage sheds, an office and various farm equipment. Two staffers currently work on the property, Jasa and Stuart Hoff, farm manager.  

There are currently 30 ongoing research projects and 15 university classes that use the farm as an outdoor laboratory. Various groups also host extension trainings, tours and field days.

Rooted in soil management practices
The farm is best known for its no-till production. No-till is a farming practice that minimizes soil disturbance by creating a furrow just large enough to plant seeds, according to the USDA. This allows cover crop residue to remain on the surface, which protects the soil from crusting, erosion, high summer temperatures and moisture loss.  

Jasa has been the sole caretaker of the farm’s no-till plots and planted them himself in 1981. He’s also been at the operation for over half of its 75 years under the university’s care.  

As an engineer, Jasa came to find the benefits of no-till almost incidentally. He was studying tillage systems for energy and labor issues in the early 80s with Dickey, the farm’s manager at the time.

“It was only after we started practicing no-till, we noticed the benefits,” Jasa said. “As engineers who studied equipment, soil was different.”

The benefits of no-till only grew more pronounced as the plots matured. To demonstrate the differences, the no-till plots are planted next to plots that use traditional tillage.  

Compared to the tilled plots, the crops grown using no-till practices are greener with higher yield. The soil structure is richer and more resilient. For example, in 2009, the no-till yield was 237 bushels an acre, while the yield for tilled plots was 210 bushels an acre. The 2015 no-till yield was 223.4 bushels an acre, compared with 186.5 bushels an acre tilled yield. No-till yields were also significantly higher in 2018 and 2021.  

These yields are important because they have to be profitable for the farm to continue doing its research, Jasa said. Hoff’s farm manager salary is paid from crop harvests, and the fields are run as a self-supported farm operation farm instead of demonstration plots. It doesn’t receive state or university funding like other research farms.  

“I always stress that because they always say, ‘You can do what you want because you don’t make money.’ We do,” Jasa said. “… Our plots are field length, they’re not 10-by-10 foot, done by hand labor.”

Current and future collaborations
The farm also serves as a site for others to conduct their own research. This has included outside organizations such as the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Sabrina Ruis, Agronomy and Horticulture research assistant professor, started working on a research project on the farm as a post-doctorate researcher for Humberto Blanco. Ten years later, she’s still studying residue removal on the farm.

“With cover crops, the effects are not observed until the long-term. With weather being variable, that affects biomass and yields,” she said. “With multi-year data… that really gives you a good picture of what they’re doing.”

Santosh Pitla, BSE associate professor of advanced machinery systems, plans to continue his work with agricultural technology on the farm. He has tested small robot platforms and a 60 hp autonomous planter Flex-Ro on its plots. Pitla will also take on a role as co-chair of the Rogers Memorial Farm committee to further support future research efforts.

“We have such a huge legacy here. I don’t know if there are many fields like this in conservation agriculture no-till,” Pitla said. “I think the future is bringing more technological tools to enhance the impact of this field and use this as an experiential learning center for the next-generation workforce.”

Concerning Jasa’s research, he plans continue maintaining his plots for the foreseeable future.  

“I’m on year 42; I’m still learning things,” he said. “I still have fun doing it.”



FALL THISTLE CONTROL
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Pasture & Range Specialist

Did you spray thistles this past spring and summer?  If so, it would be a good idea to revisit those areas and even though it has been dry, there are likely some remaining or new growth that has occurred.  October and early November is a key time to control thistles in pastures.  There are several biennial thistles, but musk, plumeless, Scotch, and bull thistles are our most problematic.  Biennials require portions of two growing seasons to flower/reproduce. They develop from seed the first season into a flat rosette. When trying to control biennial thistles, destruction of rosettes prior to flowering (bolting) is an effective means of preventing seed formation and subsequent spread.

Another thistle to look out for is Canada thistle.  Canada thistle is a creeping perennial that can be controlled with fall spraying, in conjunction with other management options in the spring.

While in the rosette stage, thistles are more effectively controlled using herbicides.  It is important to note that fall spraying of thistles is not a silver bullet and effective control often needs repeated applications.  It will take several years of timely control before the soil seed bank is reduced.  There are many herbicides labeled for thistle control.  Take care when purchasing products and always read/follow label directions before use.   

GrazonNext® HL, Milestone®, Chaparral®, Graslan® L, Stinger®, Overdrive®, and Tordon 22K® are all products that are labelled for use on biennial thistles as well as Canada thistle. 2,4-D mixed with dicamba is also an effective option but should be sprayed when temperatures are warmer for the highest efficacy.  When using Tordon 22K® or Graslan® L, both products are restricted use and contain picloram.  Use extreme caution around other vegetation, especially trees, as both products will kill woody plants.   



2022 Heifer Price Discounts
Elliott Dennis, Extension Livestock Economist, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

There continues to be a high percentage of total cattle on feed that are heifers, indicating that the breeding herd will be smaller in 2023 and 2024. The steer and heifer price difference could work to slow some of these placements. Heifer calves are generally discounted relative to steers due to their tendency to finish at lower weights, with lower daily gains, and higher feed conversions. Large price differences provide incentives for heifers to be retained in the herd. This difference varies over time driven by the cattle cycle and seasonally due to the availability of total feeder cattle available to feedlots to place on feed.
 
Nebraska feeder cattle provide a good indicator of how these price differences have varied over time, within season, and across weight class. Price differences are larger for lighter cattle (500-599 pounds) versus heavier cattle (700-799 pounds) due to the price weight slide. In Nebraska, for lighter feeder cattle, the price difference tends to be largest in winter and slowly declines through the year. For heavier feeder cattle, the price difference climbs through the year, peaking in the summer, before declining again. During the cattle cycle, price differences tend to widen during periods of contraction and narrow during periods of growth. The magnitude of these price differences varies greatly given market conditions and overall consumer demand.
 
However, higher prices for feeder cattle tend to expand the top end of the ranges (i.e. steer prices rise faster than heifer prices because of their ability to finish), which translates to greater heifer discounts. This is what appears to be happening this year. The price difference in both lighter and heavier feeder cattle is much larger this year than it has historically been over the last 5-years. For example, price differences in March for 500-599 pound feeder cattle have averaged $13.51 per cwt. over the last 5-years. This year, the price difference was $27.68 per cwt. In almost every month this year for both lighter and heavier feeder cattle, the price difference has been larger than the 5-year average and the largest over the past 5 years. The price difference is reflecting the higher premium for steers due to higher underlying feeder cattle prices and is providing some downward incentives to start rebuilding the beef cow herd – at least for 2024.
 
The actual steer–heifer price difference is still unknown for October to December 2022. Given historical patterns, one could reasonably expect the price difference to be smaller relative to price spreads earlier this year but slightly higher than the 5-year average. That would put the steer – heifer price spread, for Nebraska feeder cattle, somewhere between $15-17 per cwt. for 500-599 pound feeder cattle and $7-12 per cwt. for 700-799 pound feeder cattle. The caveat is that the steer – heifer price difference for cattle that were sold via a video auction out of the North Central region for delivery in September, October, and November suggests that this price difference could be much larger.  Feeder cattle weighing 500-600 pounds for delivery in November have a price difference of $23.69 per cwt., considerably higher than what we would normally expect, even for this year. Of particular interest is the sharp narrowing of the price difference at heavier weights this fall. The narrowing is entirely due to the heifer prices being nearly flat from approximately 700-900 pounds. In other words, there is a significant premium to deliver heifers at higher weights this fall which could further delay any herd rebuilding efforts.
 
One overarching trend that has occurred over the last 20 years is the preference for carcasses to meet restaurant steak specifications and reduce the amount of trim at processing. Under these circumstances, heifer carcasses would be preferred, and if this made up a large portion of the overall beef demand could start to affect the historical patterns of the steer–heifer price difference. However, at higher wholesale prices large carcasses could still be preferred since it would spread out some of the processing costs per carcass over additional pounds of meat.



Grassley, Brown Bill to Ban Foreign Individuals from Getting U.S. Farm Credit

Tuesday, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), introduced the Farm Credit for Americans Act that would prevent foreign individuals from obtaining credit and financial services through the Farm Credit System (FCS). Currently, certain foreign individuals and entities are eligible to receive credit through this government-sponsored enterprise.

"We created the Farm Credit System to ensure farmers and agriculture workers in Ohio and across the country have access to affordable credit -- not to benefit foreign investors and hostile governments," said Brown. "Foreign governments, especially China, have bought up prime farmland across this country at an alarming rate for decades. This will put in place a clear standard: American taxpayer dollars should not be used as a financing tool for foreign governments to undermine our national security and take our family farms."

FCS was established in 1916 to provide credit to rural areas when commercial lenders were avoiding farm loans. It is mandated and limited by statute to serve agriculture. In 2021, FCS had a portfolio of roughly $210 billion in farm loans.

Since 1997, Farm Credit Administration regulations have allowed FCS associations to extend credit to certain foreign nationals who are not permanent residents of the United States and to foreign-owned entities. Brown and Grassley's bipartisan Farm Credit for Americans Act would make foreign individuals and entities, as defined by the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, ineligible for financing through the FCS.



Scholarships Support Students Pursuing Pork Industry Careers

Twenty-five college and university students returned to school this fall with $39,000 in scholarships to help support their interest in pork industry careers. The scholarships were provided by the Iowa Pork Foundation; the family of the late Jim Ledger, a Washington County pig farmer; the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA); and the Iowa Purebred Swine Council (IPSC).

Iowa Pork Foundation scholarships
The foundation awarded scholarships to 10 incoming first-year students and eight returning students this year. It also managed other scholarships, including the Jim Ledger Memorial Scholarship for students planning to return to production agriculture; and the Nelda Christian Graduate Fellowships, presented to one student in the Iowa State University (ISU) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and to one ISU College of Veterinary Medicine student.

Incoming and returning undergraduate scholarship recipients must be Iowa residents who maintain a 2.5 grade point average and major in an agriculture-related field with an emphasis on swine production.

First-year students each received $1,000:
    Atlantic — Paige Jensen, Northwest Missouri State University
    Creston — Halle Evans, Iowa State University
    Danville — Britnie Helmick, Southeastern Community College
    Goldfield — Emily Christensen, Ellsworth Community College
    Keota — Drew Sieren, Kirkwood Community College
    Le Mars — Grant Schroeder, Iowa State University
    Marathon — Clayton Ehlers, Dordt University
    Oskaloosa — Trent Van Gilst, Dordt University
    Pierson — Elle Ploeger, South Dakota State University
    Villisca — Allie Sandin, Iowa State University

Returning students were awarded $2,000 each:
    Audubon — Grace Christensen, Iowa State University
    Dubuque — Hannah Schiesl, Iowa State University
    Klemme — Brielle Smeby, Iowa State University
    Rock Rapids — Adam Knoblock, Iowa State University
    Salem — Jacob Stukerjurgen, Iowa State University
    Sanborn — Paige Dagel, Briar Cliff University
    Walker — Isaac Wiley, Iowa State University
    Washington — Gracie Greiner, Iowa State University

The Jim Ledger Memorial Scholarship is $2,000:
    Crawfordsville — Jacob Eichelberger, Kirkwood Community College

Graduate fellowships are worth $3,000 each:
    Wesley — Jamie Studer, Iowa State University
    Arcadia, Ohio — Katyann Graham, Iowa State University

Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA) scholarships
IFAA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarships, financial awards, and incentives for college-bound Iowa youth seeking a post-secondary education in the area of agriculture.

IPPA and IPSC provided $5,000 in scholarship support through IFAA. These recipients, also listed below by their hometowns, have a strong background in swine projects and activities.

Recipients of $1,000 IPPA scholarships were:
    Reinbeck — Emma Fleshner, North Iowa Area Community College
    Rock Rapids — Adam Knoblock, Iowa State University

Recipients of $1,500 IPSC scholarships were:
    Columbus Junction — Tate Boysen, Iowa State University
    Ogden — Ty Heeren, Des Moines Area Community College



USDA Expands Local Foods in School Meals through Cooperative Agreement with Iowa

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Iowa for more than $2.1 million to increase their purchase of nutritious, local foods for school meal programs.

Through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) will purchase and distribute local and regional foods for schools to serve children through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. These products will be healthy and unique to their geographic area, with the goal of improving child nutrition and building new relationships between schools and local farmers.

“This cooperative agreement supporting Iowa schools is another example of how USDA is working to build a more resilient food system rooted in local and regional production,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt.  “The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program provides an opportunity for states to strengthen ties between local farmers, ranchers, food businesses and schools, and gives students access to nutritious foods unique to the area they live in, building stronger connections across local communities.”

“Strengthening relationships between local producers and schools is a long-term strategy to ensure our children always have access to nutritious foods in school, a win-win for child health and American agriculture,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Stacy Dean. “Through this program and many other efforts to support the school meal programs, USDA is committed to giving schools the tools they need to set children up to learn, grown, and thrive.”

With the LFS funding, IDALS will purchase locally made and produced foods that will be distributed to Iowa’s schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

“These grants provide yet another way that we can assist our schools with providing fresh, nutritious, and delicious meals to students while also building demand and markets for Iowa meat, produce, and dairy products,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “As we continuously pursue efforts to shorten the distance from farm to plate, improve our supply chain resiliency, and foster long-term connections between students, schools, and farmers, initiatives like the Local Food for Schools program are helpful and important.”

The LFS cooperative agreements will allow organizations the flexibility to design food purchasing programs and establish partnerships with farmers and ranchers that best suit their local needs, accommodate environmental and climate conditions, account for seasonal harvests, improve supply chain resiliency and meet the needs of schools within their service area. Additionally, the program will provide more opportunities for historically underserved producers and processors to sell their products.  Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program is authorized by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. AMS looks forward to continuing to sign agreements under this innovative program.

The Local Food for Schools cooperative agreement program is one of many ways USDA is supporting school meal programs this school year and transforming our food system in the long term.



RFA Elects New Board Leadership at Annual Meeting

The Renewable Fuels Association elected officers and its board of directors today at its annual membership meeting in Milwaukee, Wisc. Erik Huschitt, CEO of Badger State Ethanol, was elected Chairman of the organization, replacing Jeanne McCaherty of Guardian Energy Management.

“I am humbled and honored to become chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association, which continues to lead our ethanol industry with an amazing leader, a fabulous staff, and members who are tremendous Americans representing their plants, businesses and communities,” Huschitt said.

Huschitt, of Monroe, Wisc., has been with Badger State since January 2002 and currently serves as president of the Wisconsin BioFuels Association. He also has spent years on the board of the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, which plays a vital role in Wisconsin’s feed and grain industries.

RFA’s board also elected Jeff Oestmann, CEO of Granite Falls Energy, as Vice Chairman. Before becoming CEO of Granite Falls in May 2021, he served as head of biofuels operations at Syngenta and was previously CEO of East Kansas Agri-Energy.

“Erik Huschitt and Jeff Oestmann have proven themselves time and again as thoughtful and strategic leaders deeply committed to the role ethanol can play not just in the communities they serve, but also across our nation and around the world,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This is a critical and exciting time for the ethanol industry. We know Erik and Jeff will provide outstanding leadership and guidance to the association and the entire industry as we face the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2023. Over more than four decades, our successes and defining victories as an organization have resulted from the drive and vision of our officers and board of directors. We know that tradition will continue with the leaders elected here today.”

Retaining their current positions in board leadership for 2023 are Rick Schwarck, President of Absolute Energy, as Board Secretary, and Mike Jerke, CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, as Treasurer.



USDA Expands PACE Coverage

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture today for expanding the Post-Application Coverage Endorsement insurance option for corn farmers who “split-apply” nitrogen.

The expansion will include most counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin where non-irrigated corn is insurable.

“PACE provides an additional risk management tool for corn growers who split-apply nitrogen,” said Iowa farmer and NCGA President Chris Edgington. “We believe in this crop insurance product and are glad that the Risk Management Agency is expanding access to PACE for the next crop year.”

PACE provides coverage for the projected yield lost when producers are unable to apply the post-nitrogen application due to field conditions created by weather. It is available as supplemental coverage for Yield Protection, Revenue Protection, and Revenue Protection with Harvest Price Exclusion policies.

PACE was developed by the Illinois Corn Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, Ag-Analytics Technology Company, LLC, Meridian Institute and others.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 9/23/2022

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending September 23, ethanol production dropped 5.1% to 855,000 b/d, equivalent to 35.91 million gallons daily and the smallest volume since February 2021. Production was 6.5% less than the same week last year and 10.5% below the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production volume declined 3.0% to 927,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.21 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks grew 0.8% to 22.7 million barrels. Stocks were 12.2% higher than a year ago and 4.9% above the five-year average. Inventories built in the East Coast (PADD 1) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3) but thinned across the other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, jumped 6.0% to a six-week high of 8.83 million b/d (135.29 bg annualized). However, demand was 6.1% less than a year ago and 2.8% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol rose 3.6% to 911,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.97 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.1% more than a year ago and 0.8% above the five-year average.

There were no imports of ethanol for the fourth consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of July 2022.)



Renewable Diesel Projected to Turbo Charge U.S. Biofuel Growth

By producing fuel using sources with lower carbon intensity than traditional petroleum-based products, the U.S. biofuels sector is well-positioned to play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the recent surge of investments in U.S. renewable diesel production capacity is likely to ignite a period of growth and transition for the biofuels industry.

“The outlook for biofuels is favorable as the U.S. and other leading developed countries embrace renewable liquid transportation fuels as a solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg, lead grain and farm supply economist for CoBank. “Renewable diesel offers the most intriguing opportunity in the biofuels space, given the extraordinary growth potential.”

As major oil companies have begun embracing renewable diesel, U.S. production is expected to increase exponentially. Several industry stakeholders have announced plans for new soybean crush and refinery facilities over the last two years. Soybean oil is the feedstock most commonly used for producing renewable diesel. Combined, the proposed crush and refinery projects would increase U.S. renewable diesel production capacity six-fold by 2030 to 6.5 billion gallons annually.

However, the expected growth in soybean oil-based renewable diesel requires considerably more soybean bushels for domestic crush. CoBank estimates that U.S. soybean acreage would need to increase by 17.9 million acres to fill the supply gap created by the additional crush and refinery projects that have been announced. Additionally, the U.S. would need to stop exporting whole soybeans.

Alternatives to a massive shift of acres from corn to soybeans would include growing other oilseeds like canola and sunflower on a larger scale, importing other vegetable oils, or using other feedstocks such as beef tallow to produce renewable diesel fuel.

Biofuel production has grown nearly 8% every year over the past 15 years, driven by tax credits and targeted government programs, including the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will increase usage of renewable energy in general, and biofuels in particular.

Biodiesel and renewable diesel are 50%-55% less carbon-intensive than traditional petroleum diesel. Although renewable diesel and biodiesel have similarly low carbon scores, renewable diesel offers the additional benefit of being used as a “drop-in” fuel. That means it does not require additional blending with petroleum diesel, which is required before biodiesel can be used by commercial engines. As a drop-in fuel, renewable diesel does not require any modifications to older engines, a key attribute for increased adoption.



NFU President Rob Larew Participates in White House Hunger Conference

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew participated in the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health today. This historic conference is the first of its kind since 1969.

“Family farmers and ranchers work hard to feed their communities, and Farmers Union is proud to stand together in this fight to –– once and for all –– end hunger in the United States,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “We have long held the belief that access to safe and nutritious food is a basic human right, and to secure that right we’re advocating for strong federal nutrition programs, with an emphasis on fresh and locally produced food. I am proud to have been invited and to be able to share the perspectives of family farmers in the fight to end hunger.”

NFU has long advocated for a strong nutrition title in the farm bill, including pushing back against drastic cuts to SNAP proposed in the 2018 Farm Bill process. Farmers Union members also advocated for improvements to nutrition programs during their 2020 Legislative Fly-In, including increasing monthly SNAP allotments, as well as urging Congress to support distribution of surplus food from farms to food banks.

NFU is a proud member of the Alliance to End Hunger and will continue to work in coalition with the anti-hunger community to promote food and nutrition security across the country.  



Thompson: White House Hunger Conference Nothing More Than a Political Stunt

Today, Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), Republican Leader of the House Committee on Agriculture, issued the following statement regarding the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health:

"Republicans undoubtedly share an interest in improving the health of all Americans. Yet, the disorderly nature in which this Conference came to fruition has sparked legitimate concerns. From unanswered inquiries to the exclusion of many Republican and Democrat policymakers and relevant stakeholders, it’s unfortunate today’s Conference has seemingly deteriorated into a handpicked political gathering whose sole purpose is to perpetuate partisan ideologies. I remain committed to reviewing any emerging policy proposals and will make certain our producers are part of the conversation."

BACKGROUND: On May 4, 2022, President Biden announced the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. On August 10, 2022, Republican Leader Thompson sent a letter to the White House requesting answers to numerous questions regarding the haphazard planning of the Conference. Receiving no response, Rep. Thompson was joined by Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), James Comer (R-KY), and Andy Harris (R-MD) in sending a follow-up letter to the White House expressing concern at the lack of bipartisan outreach.



NCBA Represents Cattle Producers at White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

Today, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall attended the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to represent U.S. cattle producers who raise the most sustainable beef in the world and provide a nutritious protein to Americans.

“The White House has prioritized ending hunger and increasing access to nutritious food and America’s cattle producers are ready to help by providing safe, sustainable, and nutritious protein to the world,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “We will continue to highlight beef’s role as an excellent source of protein for all ages, especially for those Americans lacking iron and other essential beef nutrients.”

The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, held for the first time in over 50 years, provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss solutions to end hunger and reduce the risk of diet-related diseases by 2030. Agricultural producers have a central role in this conversation as providers of our nation’s food. NCBA has previously highlighted the importance of beef in a balanced diet and will continue to showcase the innovative, sustainable production practices employed by cattle producers that ensure safe, wholesome, nutritious beef is accessible to all.



America’s meat companies fill the “protein gap” to help end hunger in the United States

Aligned with the Biden administration's goal of ending hunger in the United States and with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the North American Meat Institute and America’s leading meat companies are advancing industry-wide best practices and increasing access to nutrient-dense meat for families in need.

The Meat Institute shared today with White House Conference organizers its commitment, made through the Protein PACT for the People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow, to help measure and fill this “protein gap” by 2025.  The Meat Institute has also formally designated food security as a non-competitive issue, which will facilitate industry-wide information sharing and implementation of best practices as the sector works with the White House and all stakeholders to end hunger.

Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented:
“According to Feeding America, meat is one of the top three most needed foods for food charities. Yet, meat represents just 1% of food distributed by food charities, in part due to limited capacity to limited infrastructure for cold storage, packing, and distribution.

The resulting “protein gap” worsens hunger and particularly impacts women, children, and older adults who have greater need for the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals best and sometimes only found naturally in animal-source foods.

Filling the “protein gap” is a top priority for the Meat Institute and its members, who have committed to act on a non-competitive basis to help end hunger in the United States by openly sharing information and advancing industry-wide implementation of best practices, like investing in protein pack rooms and refrigerated transportation.”

Meat Institute members are taking significant steps to achieve this ambitious commitment. For example, Cargill announced in August a new $4.9 million donation to Feeding America, including to build and expand protein pack rooms. JBS has donated more than $2 million for improvements in cold storage and distribution, along with contributing to food safety training and safe meal preparation. This month, Tyson Foods donated $2.5 million to Feeding America, allocating $1 million to Equitable Food Access grants, and 2.5 million pounds of protein.

During a July 12 stakeholder session convened by the Protein PACT to provide input for the White House Conference, food security experts and partners across animal agriculture highlighted the critical role of meat in ending hunger.



NMPF Statement on White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health

Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), issued the following statement regarding today’s White House Conference on Hunger Nutrition and Health:

“I would like to thank the White House for inviting me to today’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Ensuring people have access to the nutrition they need to live, develop, and be healthy is key priority for dairy farmers across the U.S. We are hopeful today will serve as a launching pad for the dedication and collaboration we will need to end food insecurity and reduce diet-related disease in the U.S., goals NMPF shares with the conference.

“We know from decades of working in this area that dairy products — and the 13 essential nutrients they provide such as protein, calcium, Vitamin D and potassium — will be vital ingredients to meeting these goals. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) shows that dietary patterns that include dairy are associated with beneficial health outcomes, such as lowered risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The guidelines also note that dairy is under-consumed across all age categories. Scientific evidence clearly indicates that milk and dairy foods are part of the solution to challenges like food and nutrition insecurity, health equity, and diet-related and other noncommunicable diseases.

“To prepare for the conference, NMPF worked with other agricultural, anti-hunger, nutrition and medical groups to urge the White House to place a high priority on access to affordable, diverse and healthful foods, which includes protecting Americans’ ability to make informed, meaningful choices about what they eat. NMPF is pleased to see in the White House’s strategy released yesterday a commitment to increased access to affordable food for all and culturally appropriate food options and recommendations. We are also heartened by the strategy’s consistent emphasis on increasing consumption of healthful foods to levels recommended in the dietary guidelines.

NMPF looks forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders inside and outside government to improve nutrition security and diet-related health for all Americans. Together we can realize the policies and programs required to achieve these important goals, including increasing access to affordable food and strengthening Americans’ ability to make informed, meaningful choices across all populations.”

Tuesday September 27 Ag News

 Higher input costs dictate preserving cattle health
Alfredo DiCostanzo, NE Extension Beef Systems Educator

Somehow when prices reach a certain high level, we all rush to review and attempt to control some of them but may forget to look for others that could merit attention.  Feed is an example of an input we readily look to manage.  We seek desperately to find a “deal” in purchasing grain, co-products or roughage, mostly to no avail.  For the most part, prices of energy-containing feeds track corn grain price, those of protein-containing feeds track soybean meal price, and prices of roughages respond to effects of weather on forage crops.  This leaves very little option to find bargain alternative feed prices.  If anyone does, they must be careful that quality or excessive moisture does not make an apparent good deal turn out bad.

Alternatively, as managers seek to keep costs to operate a feedlot from getting too high, an appropriate target to keep in mind this fall is keeping cattle alive and healthy.  Relatively speaking, feed costs represent 35% of finishing costs while feeder cattle costs, at 58% of finishing cost, represents the largest proportion of costs.  

In the fall of 2021, corn grain price averaged $5.50/bu and 500- to 600-lb feeder steers averaged $175/cwt.  Corn grain price is currently $7.00/bu and 500- to 600-lb feeder steers are selling for $206/cwt.  Increases in corn grain and feeder cattle price year over year are 27% and 15%, respectively.  Despite greater proportional increases in corn grain than feeder price, the projected effect of higher corn price on feeding costs is $100/head while the projected effect of higher feeder cattle price on feeding costs is $180/head.

Although fed cattle prices are supposed to be supported by lower beef supply and fewer cattle, this expectation is moderated somewhat by economic conditions in the US and beyond.  This optimism is readily tempered by observing live cattle future charts for the early portion of 2023:  they have been trading in the $150’s.  Therefore, the expectations for profit in cattle feeding must reflect this reality.  Using these and other estimates of cost, projections of net return per head are suggested to be in the range of $10 to $100/head.

TARGET CATTLE HEALTH
Feeder calf, procurement, and transportation costs will cost feedyards from $1,200 to $1,300 per head for a 550-lb calf.  At these costs, for each 100 head, a single mortality percentage costs the lot $13/head.  At this weight, respiratory disease treatment costs range from $15 to $20/head.  Therefore, a single incidence of respiratory morbidity in a 100-head lot adds $0.15 to $0.20/head to the lot cost.  

Implications of morbidity or mortality on finishing cost are greater as cattle grow.  Because of high fuel and feed costs, each day on feed will cost from $2.30 to $3.00/head.  With these feed and yardage costs, a single mortality in 100 head at day 21 on feed will bring the cost of the lot to $14/head.  Similarly, morbidity increases of 10 percentage units, with $20 to $30/head treatment cost, drives cost of a 100-head lot $2.50/head.  

Because costs of filling a pen with cattle increased and fed cattle prices may continue to trade laterally, temptation to keep cattle on feed longer will creep in.  Choosing to keep cattle on feed longer will dictate that personnel continue to be vigilant of health issues; cumulative feeding costs reaching past $500/head will make a late-season death cost over $1,800 ($18/head) or more.  Late-season illness is usually sudden and with little symptoms.

When the prospects for net profit are positive but not large, even low incidence of morbidity and mortality eats away at profit rapidly.  Therefore, with high feeder cattle, feed and fuel prices, our attention must be placed on managing and watching cattle to preserve their health and well-being.

This is the time to schedule a visit by the consulting veterinarian.  Veterinarians are regularly updated on pathogens responsible for current respiratory and digestive disease and antibiotics or other medications to which they are susceptible.  A thorough discussion with the veterinarian should lead to updated protocols to prevent or identify, diagnose, and treat respiratory and digestive disease.  Also, this is the time to review incidence and response to foot conditions experienced in the yard:  footrot or digital dermatitis.  Cattle kept on feed longer will have a greater propensity for late-season digestive and foot disorders.

Personnel responsible for reading bunks, riding pens, pulling, and treating cattle should be reminded of the importance of their role in identifying cattle displaying signs of illness or any other condition.  In some cases, a discussion on the implications of death and illness costs to the feedlot bottom line is in order.

Pen-riding protocols should be reviewed and posted in the office and at hospital sites.  Personnel tasked with administering disease-prevention and treatment should also be presented protocols verbally and in writing.

Preparations for cattle arriving at the yard include cleaning and disinfecting water troughs thoroughly before arrival and at regular intervals (7 days or fewer) after arrival.  At the processing or hospital facility, thorough cleaning, disinfecting, and greasing equipment is recommended.  Also, at the hospital or processing facility, managers should make sure that tagger and tag removal equipment, refrigerator, vaccine cooler, and equipment to administer vaccines, antibiotics, implants, and dewormers is in good working order and resupplied.  

Other items to keep in mind, in addition to recommendations by consulting nutritionists and veterinarians:  water supply should be ample, and from a fresh and clean source and strategic inclusion of long grass or mixed legume-grass hay during the first days after arrival helps attract calves to the bunk.  

Although another difficult year feeding cattle awaits, it is my hope that these observations will help in preparing for it.  Although we are assured nothing, not being prepared will ensure we do not succeed.



Cuming County 4-H Members Compete at Regional Crop Scouting Competition

The Kornhusker Kids 4-H Crop Scouting Team competed in the Regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition held in West Lafayette, Indiana on Thursday, September 15th. In order to make it to regionals, teams had to finish in first or second at the state contest. The team composed of Logan Consbruck, James Rolf, Ian Schiller, Isaac Wooldrik and Brayden Rolf finished in 1st place at the state contest in August held in Ithaca, NE.

The Regional contest was held at Purdue Extension at the Beck Agricultural Center. The contest composes of ten stations including corn growth and development, soybean growth and development, disease ID & management, weed/herbicide ID, sprayer calibration, cover crops, forages, nutrients, and diagnostics. Each team would rotate through the stations and had a time limit to complete the questions/quiz.

The Kornhusker Kids finished in 5th place out of 11 teams. The team was coached by Chris Schiller & Brian Rolf.



GRAZING FOR INTERSEEDING
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Pastures and hay meadows provide higher quality feed, are more productive, and require fewer inputs when they have good forage legumes growing in them.

Outside of moisture, nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient in pasture production.  While commercial fertilizer may be a quick and easy option, it’s costly.  Instead, let’s grow our own N using legumes.

Do you have a pasture area or hay meadow that is relatively free of weeds and makes up no more than about 15 percent of your total pasture acres?  If so, here is what I want you to do.  From now until that grass will grow no more this year, graze that grass hard.  Grub it down, then graze it some more. With dry weather this summer, maybe you have already accomplished this on a portion of your ground already.

Now why would I recommend overgrazing?  Surely it will hurt the grass.  Well, that's exactly what we want.  Next spring, you will interseed legumes like red clover, white clover, and alfalfa into that grass to make it more nutritious and productive.  We may even consider a winter frost seeding if conditions are right.

The biggest challenge to establishing legumes into a grass sod is competition by that existing grass on new, slow growing legume seedlings.  Anything you do to reduce competition and slow down grass growth will help.  Overgrazing this fall prior to next spring’s seeding will weaken the grass and slow its spring growth, thus giving new legume seedlings a better chance to get started. With drought causing unplanned overgrazing this summer, interseeding may be a way to make some lemonade out of that particular lemon. Of course, all this depends on moisture next spring to work.

While you’re at it, also collect some soil samples.  Then analyze them and apply any needed fertilizer.  Legumes especially need good phosphorus and the proper soil pH.

So, add some legumes to your pasture next spring.  Graze your grass this fall until virtually nothing is left.  Then, keep grazing a couple weeks more just to make sure. Legumes you add next spring will establish better because of it.



Nominations Open for Women Impacting Agriculture

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Leadership Conference is seeking Women Impacting Agriculture nominees. The winners will be honored at the 2022 Women in Ag Leadership Conference, to be held Nov. 29-30.

“The goal of the award is to honor women who are making positive changes in Iowa agriculture,” said Madeline Schultz, Women in Ag program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Schultz invites nominations for women in all areas of agriculture including owners, managers and employees of Iowa farms, agricultural businesses and organizations. Nominees must also have a connection to ISU Extension and Outreach, either serving as a volunteer, Iowa State University alum or any unpaid position within the organization.

Honorees will receive a cash award, a personalized gift and conference registration. 2020 honoree Emily Boettcher said she enjoyed getting to network with new people and still keeps in touch with them today. She believes the award is a great example of the encouragement women in agriculture should share with each other.

“I would encourage people to nominate others,” said Boettcher. “They (people in agriculture) make the world go round.”

Nomination forms and additional information can be found at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/women-impacting-agriculture-2022-call-nominations.

All Iowans who know a woman making a difference in agriculture are invited to submit their nominations no later than Friday, Oct. 7.

Questions can be directed to Schultz at schultz@iastate.edu.



IDALS Welcomes Applications for Water Quality Demonstration Projects

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting applications for water quality demonstration projects. Iowa has a long and well-established track record of utilizing demonstration projects to spur the development of new or improved conservation practices that are helping to protect water quality. The selected projects will help deliver education, outreach, and technical assistance to farmers and landowners to advance the implementation of conservation practices.

“With the assistance of both public and private partners, these water quality projects will help farmers and landowners in establishing additional conservation practices and infrastructure that will positively benefit our state’s water quality in the years ahead,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Continuous conservation innovation paired with long-term dedicated water quality funding will help us accelerate and scale up our efforts to meet the goals outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.”

Demonstration projects should focus on outreach and technical assistance that will directly lead to the adoption of water quality focused conservation practices. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate a proven track record of delivering the necessary planning, development, and design of projects and practices. Strong partnerships with stakeholders that have or will be contributing significant resources to the project are also critically important.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), counties, county conservation boards, other units of government, not-for-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public water supply utilities or watershed management organizations are eligible to submit applications. Applicants are also encouraged to partner with additional stakeholders that can assist with outreach and technical assistance.

The applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 18, 2022. Projects selected to receive funding will be announced in early December and are projected to start on January 1, 2022. Project application guidance can be found here or can be requested by contacting the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality at 515-281-5851.



U.S. Red Meat Industry Commemorates 45 Years in Japan

Leaders representing the U.S. red meat industry recently traveled to Tokyo to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the inaugural U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) office, which opened in Tokyo in 1977. Japan has consistently been a top customer and is the leading international market for U.S. red meat, purchasing nearly $4.1 billion in 2021. Through July 2022, U.S. red meat exports to Japan reached $2.4 billion.

The U.S.-Japan trade partnership is highly valued by those in the U.S. pork, beef and lamb industries. While in Tokyo for meetings, market visits and a celebration event attended by 200 importers, distributors, trade media and U.S. exporters, industry representatives expressed appreciation for the business relationships developed over the past 45 years and expressed a commitment to serve the Japanese market well into the future.

Industry representatives participating were: USMEF Chair Mark Swanson of Fort Collins, Colo., founder of Tru Grit KGMS Enterprises LLC; Dean Meyer, USMEF chair-elect and livestock and grain producer from Rock Rapids, Iowa; Norman Voyles, Cattlemen’s Beef Board chair and beef producer from Martinsville, Ind.; Dan Gattis, Texas Beef Council chair and rancher and attorney from Georgetown, Texas; Molly McAdams, executive vice president of the Texas Beef Council; and Craig Floss, CEO of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.



Pork Industry Guides US Swine Health Improvement Plan Forward

More than 250 producers, veterinarians, swine health officials, state pork association officials and others recently met as delegates to the US Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) meeting in Bloomington, Minnesota. The delegation discussed and passed resolutions and standards to bring more clarity and definition to the project as it works toward its goal of becoming a full USDA program designed to safeguard, certify and improve animal health.

“We’re very pleased with the great discussions and action that took place at the 2022 house of delegates meeting as we seek to move the program forward,” said Tyler Holck, DVM, US SHIP Senior Program Coordinator, Iowa State University. “We would like to see even more producers, live-animal marketers and packers across the country join their peers in participating as we seek to grow this program in the months and years ahead.”

Speakers and delegates representing 31 states discussed traceability, surveillance, feed biosafety, site biosecurity and live-haul sanitation. Voting delegates approved eight resolutions for further assessment and consideration of four standards related to traceability, feed biosafety (2), live haul sanitation, surveillance (2), feral pig risk mitigation and governance. Working groups and/or pilot projects will begin in the next year for all areas with findings and recommendations to be presented at the 2023 US SHIP delegates’ meeting.

“Those who attended this meeting offered invaluable input and showed a high level of collaboration that should help make US SHIP even more successful as it moves ahead,” said Dusty Oedekoven, NPB’s chief veterinarian. “The industry needs to do everything it can to prepare for an event such as African swine fever, and this program can and should help us achieve that goal. I would urge producers to contact their official state agency and enroll in SHIP.”

Specifically on foreign animal disease, Holck said, “US SHIP aims to incorporate a number of the foreign animal disease preparedness efforts into a singular USDA certification (ASF-CSF Monitored) of US swine production premises, live animal marketing operations and slaughter facilities.”

Per US SHIP’s original intent, the plan is to mitigate risks of disease introduction and provide a practical means for demonstrating evidence of freedom of disease (outside of foreign animal disease control areas) in support of ongoing interstate commerce and a pathway towards the resumption of international trade.

“We are encouraging all segments of the US pork industry to participate in US SHIP,” Holck said. “When fully implemented, the program is designed to be applicable across the full spectrum of U.S. pork industry participants from the small show pig farmer to the large commercial producers and slaughter facilities.”

US SHIP Official State Agencies across the US began the process of enrolling sites last March. To date, approximately 40 percent of the US breeding herd and growing pigs across 31 states have enrolled in US SHIP. The pilot program is on an expedited path towards becoming a USDA program by 2024.

US SHIP has been endorsed by the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, North American Meat Institute, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, United States Animal Health Association and the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

Oedekoven added, “As a major funding partner of US SHIP using Pork Checkoff funds, we’re encouraged to see the level of industry engagement and solidarity behind the core objectives of the plan to help improve the nation’s foreign animal disease readiness and protect our ability to maintain continuity of business in the face of a potential foreign animal disease outbreak.”



NCGA Calls on Farmers to Contact EPA Regarding Atrazine

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is encouraging growers to join its call-to-action and submit comments to the EPA on the important role atrazine, a popular herbicide, plays in their work.

The call-to-action was launched over the summer as EPA began revising its registration for atrazine. EPA is proposing a level of concern for atrazine at 3.4 parts per billion, down from the current level of 15 parts per billion.

The move would significantly impair the effective use of atrazine on farms, according to NCGA.

“Atrazine allows corn growers to experience higher yields using less land with fewer inputs, which is good for the environment and saves growers money,” said Brooke S. Appleton, vice president of public policy at the National Corn Growers Association. “Reducing the effectiveness of this important herbicide will hinder the work of farmers and turn the clock back on our conservation efforts.”

Since the organization launched the call to action on July 20, more than 3,000 growers have taken action through NCGA’s website. The response on this issue needs to reflect its importance to our industry, according to NCGA leadership.  

EPA’s open comment period closes on October 7.



NAMI Calls for Swift Senate Approval of Esteban, Taylor and McKalip Nominations
 
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI or the Meat Institute) called for swift consideration of three nominations critical to the meat and poultry industry pending before the full Senate: Jose Emilio Esteban to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Alexis Taylor to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs and Doug McKalip, nominated to be Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

“The meat and poultry industry supports the nominations of Esteban, Taylor and McKalip,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Their leadership in food safety and trade is much needed and with strong bipartisan support, they should be considered without further needless delay.”

Esteban and Taylor’s nominations were reported favorably out of the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier today. Earlier this month, McKalip’s nomination was also reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Finance which has jurisdiction on trade issues. All three await final consideration by the full Senate.

Jose Emilio Esteban
“Dr. Esteban is well respected and well qualified to lead the food safety mission at the Department,” said Potts. “A veterinarian and an epidemiologist with decades of experience at USDA, Esteban is uniquely qualified to ensure sound science drives food safety and public health decision-making.”

Alexis Taylor
“Alexis’ experience working in Congress, in the Department and as Oregon Secretary of Agriculture make her uniquely qualified for this role,” said Potts. “She is the right person at the right time to lead the nation’s focus on strengthening exports, expanding access to new markets and navigating an increasingly unpredictable global economy. We look forward to working with her especially as meat and poultry products are seeing record demand at home and abroad.”

Doug McKalip
“It is important to have an advocate like Doug McKalip fighting for U.S. agriculture within USTR who will defend and promote our interests in diverse, growing markets by reducing trade barriers, expanding market access and ensuring a level playing field for our exporters,” said Potts.



USMEF Statement on Advancement of Under Secretary for Trade Nomination

Today the Senate Agriculture Committee reported favorably on the nomination of Alexis Taylor to serve as USDA under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs.  U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued this statement in support of the nomination:

USMEF thanks the Senate Agriculture Committee for advancing the nomination of Alexis Taylor, an outstanding nominee who has strong, bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. USMEF had many opportunities to work with Ms. Taylor in her previous roles at USDA and we are confident she will continue to be a strong and effective voice for U.S. agriculture. We fully support her prompt confirmation by the Senate.



Statement On Passage Of Alexis Taylor through Senate Ag Committee  

Today, Brian Kuehl, Executive Director of Farmers for Free Trade, the nation’s leading ag trade advocacy coalition, released a statement commending the Senate Ag Committee on sending the nomination of Alexis Taylor to be Under Secretary For Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs to the full Senate.   

“It’s encouraging to see the nomination of Alexis Taylor move through the Senate Ag Committee in a bipartisan manner. Our farmers, ranchers and processors rely on overseas market to successfully run their operations. It is imperative that we have a full team of negotiators on the field to bolster American exports and having Alexis Taylor as Undersecretary of Ag Trade at USDA is essential to doing that.The full Senate should move her nomination forward as soon as possible.

"We are also asking the Senate to move swiftly in confirming Doug McKalip as Ag Trade Negotiator at USTR. We are concerned to see that Senator Menendez has placed a hold on the nomination of Mr. McKalip. Regardless of Senator Menedez’s intentions behind the hold, further delaying the ag negotiator position is self-defeating and a disservice to American farmers who rely on exports. We encourage Senator Menendez to work with the administration to lift the hold as soon as possible.”



Biden-Harris Administration Makes $500 Million Available to Increase Innovative American-Made Fertilizer Production

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is making $500 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers caused by the war in Ukraine.

“Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is creating a resilient, secure and sustainable economy, and this support to provide domestic, independent choices for fertilizer supplies is part of that effort,” Vilsack said. “USDA believes in the growth of innovative, local businesses owned and shared by people who can best serve their own unique community’s needs, fill gaps, and build opportunities. Recent supply chain disruptions have shown just how critical it is to invest in the agricultural supply chain here at home. The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is one example of many Biden-Harris Administration initiatives to bring production and jobs back to the United States, promote competition and support American goods and services.”

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is part of a whole-of-government effort to promote competition in agricultural markets. The funds are being made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation.

Grants will be used to support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers. Funds also will expand the manufacturing and processing of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives in the U.S. and its territories.

The program will support fertilizer production that is:
    Independent, and outside the orbit of dominant fertilizer suppliers. Because the program’s goal is to increase competition, market share restrictions apply.
    Made in America. Products must be produced by companies operating in the U.S. or its territories, to create good-paying jobs at home, and reduce the reliance on potentially unstable, inconsistent foreign supplies.
    Innovative. Techniques will improve fertilizer production methods and efficient-use technologies to jumpstart the next generation of fertilizers and nutrient alternatives.
    Sustainable. Ideally, products will reduce the greenhouse gas impact of transportation, production and use through renewable energy sources, feedstocks and formulations, incentivizing greater precision in fertilizer use.
    Farmer-focused. Like other Commodity Credit Corporation investments, a driving factor is providing support and opportunities for U.S. agricultural commodity producers.

Eligible entities are for‐profit businesses and corporations, nonprofit entities, Tribes and Tribal organizations, producer‐owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, and state or local governments. Private entities must be independently owned and operated to apply.

The maximum award is $100 million. The minimum award is $1 million. The grant term is five years.

The Department will begin accepting applications in the coming days via www.grants.gov. Notably, there will be two opportunities for submission.

The Department plans for a 45-day application window for applicants to receive priority for projects that increase the availability of fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphate or potash) and nutrient alternatives for agricultural producers to use in crop years 2023 or 2024.

The Department will also offer an extended application window, providing an additional 45 days (90-day application window) to receive applications for financial assistance to significantly increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes. This extended application window will support applicants who need more time to make additional capacity available.



Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Biden-Harris National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

“The release of the Biden-Harris National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health is a defining moment for our nation. It sets us on a path to end hunger, enhance nutrition, and improve health outcomes in this country. This strategy compiles recommendations from dozens of listening sessions held over the summer. I want to thank the individuals and organizations who shared their lived experiences, galvanized their networks, and made recommendations to improve the lives of all Americans.

“I am particularly excited by the Strategy’s pathway to provide healthy school meals to all students. This approach would reorient the school meal programs from an ancillary service to an integral component of the school day and allow schools to focus on providing the highest quality meals and engaging children around the importance of healthy food. Providing all school children access to healthy, nutritious meals will drive better health and give them the tools to reach their full potential, which means a better and fuller future for our nation.

“Today’s release of the strategy is just the beginning. The recommendations made in the Biden-Harris National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health are significant, and will require ongoing work to implement and execute on the proposals. The Strategy lays out big goals, and we need everyone - local, state, and tribal governments, Congress, private companies, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens - to work together to achieve them.”




NGFA supports the Reliable Rail Service Act

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) issued a statement supporting the Reliable Rail Service Act, a bill introduced today by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., that would better define Class I rail carriers’ common carrier obligation.

The Staggers Act of 1980 required rail carriers to serve the wider shipping public “on reasonable request,” a principle known as the common carrier obligation. However, more than 40 years later, the common carrier obligation remains poorly defined with no established criteria.

The Reliable Rail Service Act statutorily clarifies the common carrier obligation and establishes specific criteria for the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to consider when determining whether a railroad is meeting this obligation to provide rail service. If the STB determined a carrier was not meeting its common carrier obligation, the bill would empower the STB to prescribe service standards consistent with the needs of the shipper making the request.

“NGFA thanks Sen. Baldwin for her leadership in responding to severe rail service issues that have caused supply chain disruptions, endangered the delivery of feed to livestock, led to grain processing facilities slowing and shutting down, and negatively impacted U.S. grain exports,” NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert said. “Clarification of the common carrier obligation has been needed for decades and this bill would strengthen STB’s oversight authority to help address our nation’s freight railroad supply chain challenges and improve rail service for agricultural shippers.”

Similar language is included in the Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act (H.R. 8649), introduced in the House on Aug. 2 by House Transportation and Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Donald Payne Jr., D-N.J.



 LMA Hosts 2022 Washington D.C. Fly In
 
Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) members and staff traveled to Washington D.C. September 18-20, 2022, for the LMA D.C. Fly In. This was the first LMA D.C. Fly In hosted by the association since spring of 2020. Over the course of two days, approximately 50 LMA members and staff met with Senators, U.S. Representatives, Congressional staff people, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials.

LMA members advocated for Congress to pass bills that would update an outdated Packers and Stockyards Act rule prohibiting owning both a livestock auction and a packer. This is an antiquated rule that predates the current, transparent method of selling livestock at an open auction. A pair of bills would address this issue by allowing livestock auction owners to invest in small and regional packers. At the same time, very large packers would still be prohibited from owning a livestock auction.  The Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act (H.R. 7438) is being championed by Representatives Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). The Senate companion, the Expanding Local Meat Processing Act (S.4709) is being championed by Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). LMA members also spoke about a need to update Packers and Stockyards Act prompt payment requirements due to slowing mail service and a desire to incentivize electronic payment as the more efficient method.

Fly In attendees also met with leadership of the USDA Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Division; Andy Green, USDA Senior Advisor for Fair and Competitive Markets; and Dr. Rosemary Sifford, Chief Veterinary Officer of the United States and USDA APHIS VS Deputy Administrator.

In addition to meetings with legislators and regulators, LMA hosted a briefing to educate staff of the House of Representatives and Senate on the livestock marketing industry. The briefing featured Will Epperly, 2022 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, mock selling pies to legislative staff to simulate the process of buyers purchasing livestock in an auction market.

“I’m thrilled with the LMA members and staff who took time out of their busy schedules to engage with decision makers at the D.C. Fly In” said Chelsea Good, LMA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs & Legal. “Participants made an important commitment not only for their own businesses but our industry as a whole. Developing personal relationships with legislative offices, building a base understanding of the livestock marketing industry, and discussing current issues are all key to making sure livestock market interests are well represented in federal policy.”

LMA members who attended this year’s D.C. Fly In were Jim Akers, Ky.; Randel Arnett, Ky.; Mark Barnett, Tn. & Ky.; Jade Baumeister, Texas; Will Epperly, Iowa; Jerry Etheredge, Ala.; Sara Evans, Ky.; Darrell Ford, Ark.; Aimee, Ben and Seth Hale, Texas & Okla.; Ashley and Peyton Hale, Okla.; Jennifer Houston, Tenn.; Alisha Hudson-Roach, Va.; Matt and Wendy Huntley, Kan. & Okla.; Cale and Nicole James, Okla.; Bracken Marburger, Texas.; Paike, Sami and Skye McNiel, Okla.; Joe Nelson, Minn.; Jake Parnell, Calif.; Brody Peak, Kan.; George Raftopoulus, Colo.; Steve Sterchi, Ky.; Mike VanMaanen, Mo.; Melody Varner, Okla.; Chandra and Ryan Wegener, Kan.; Elizabeth and Ryan Zeltwanger, Kan.; and Cheyenne and Zach Zumstein, Idaho.

LMA staff who attended D.C. Fly In included Natalie Ayers, Communications and Strategic Media Coordinator; Joe Barbour, Region Executive Officer; Pierce Bennett, Director of Government and Industry Affairs; Jesse Carver, Region Executive Officer; Chelsea Good, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs & Legal; Izabella Michitsch, Director of Events; Jara Settles, General Counsel & Vice President of Risk Mitigation; Lucas Simmer, Government and Industry Affairs Administrator; Dan Stark, Chief Financial Officer, Craig Taylor, Region Executive Officer; and Cynthia Zamora, Financial Risk Mitigation Associate.

Local livestock markets across the country work hard to bring in multiple buyers to bid competitively on sale day, providing true price discovery of the value of all types of livestock, maximizing the return to the seller. At the same time, they provide buyers with a centralized location with a ready supply of livestock in the offering. The D.C. Fly In is an opportunity to share with policy makers the importance of these businesses and to ensure that they are not overly regulated in ways that impede progress.



Record Turkey Prices Expected as Thanksgiving Approaches

Families can expect to pay record high prices at the grocery store for turkey this upcoming holiday season thanks to the impacts of the bird flu and inflation. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg costs in their latest Market Intel.

The retail price for fresh boneless, skinless turkey breast reached a record high of $6.70 per pound in September, 112% higher than the same time in 2021 when prices were $3.16 per pound. The previous record high price was $5.88 per pound in November 2015, during the 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak.

Inflation is adding to the price hikes. All retail food prices were 11.4% higher in August compared to the same time last year. Despite the higher prices, there should be enough turkeys available for the Thanksgiving demand.

“All of us are feeling the pain of higher prices at the grocery store,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “HPAI outbreaks in the spring and an uptick in cases in the fall are taking a toll, but farmers remain dedicated to ensuring America’s food supply remains strong.”

It is important to understand that farmers aren’t profiting from record high retail prices. High supply costs from feed, fuel, fertilizer and labor make raising turkeys even more expensive. USDA’s most recent Farm Sector Income Forecast predicts record high total production costs, increasing by 17.8% from 2021 to $437.4 billion in 2022.

While egg prices have come down from record highs in July, the average price for a dozen grade A eggs is $2.34, 27% higher than the same time in 2021, and 44% above the five-year average of $1.29.



Regenerative Ag Not a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

As more food companies move toward regenerative agriculture commitments to meet bold sustainability goals, close collaboration between the food industry and farmers is key to ensuring true sustainability along the supply chain. That was the overarching message when soybean farmers and food companies discussed the complexities of regenerative agriculture during a September virtual roundtable meeting hosted by the United Soybean Board (USB) and The Center for Food Integrity (CFI). The meeting was part of a broader effort by USB and CFI to foster collaboration between farms and food companies on the topic of sustainability.

Farmers shared their on-farm sustainability efforts to enhance soil health and sequester carbon through practices such as no-till and cover crops, and food companies detailed their current projects and how they work with farmer suppliers. While there was no consensus on a specific definition for regenerative agriculture, all agreed it’s about continuously improving farm sustainability while protecting natural resources and farmer livelihoods.

“It’s farming in a way that maintains productivity and improves ecological outcomes,” said Jason Rowntree, C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture with the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University and director of MSU’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture.

“It’s about improving water function and cycling, soil carbon and sequestration and soil health,” said Rowntree. “But at the end of the day, regenerative agriculture is about the farmer. It must be profitable and edifying and something they can accomplish.”   

Food companies described how they are working with farmers to reach sustainability goals. In 2018, Smithfield Foods committed that 75% of its grain would be sourced from farmers with established regenerative agriculture practices.

“To date, we’ve engaged more than two million acres in our sustainability initiatives,” said Brooke Wynn, senior director of sustainability for Smithfield Foods. “We’ve achieved that by working with agronomists to provide technical assistance to farmer suppliers on topics like nutrient management and the use of cover crops. We’ve also provided seed to farmers at reduced cost to help them put these best practices in place.”     

“Grain production is 20 to 25% of our carbon footprint,” said Wynn. “We are striving to reduce emissions without lowering yields. At the end of the day, that’s what everyone wants.”

Cargill has worked across various supply chains over the years to enhance sustainability, including row crops, beef, cocoa in West Africa and palm in southeast Asia.  

“What we find with regenerative agriculture is these principles around soil health and improving farmer profitability can be applied across geography and across farm size,” said Ashley McKeon, director of regenerative agriculture at Cargill. “We see regenerative agriculture as feeding a growing population, while improving farmer profitability and having positive environmental outcomes – a triple win. We asked ourselves how our company could play a role.”

Two years ago, Cargill set a commitment to advance regenerative agriculture across 10 million acres in North America by 2030.

“We immediately set the foundation and received an enthusiastic response that included farmers interested in engaging with us and enrolling in our programs,” said McKeon. “In our row crop sourcing, which includes soybeans, corn, wheat and cotton, we’re supporting regenerative agriculture practices like reduced tillage and cover crops on over 668,000 acres. We’re confident we’ll get to a million acres by the end of this year.”

The good news, said McKeon, “is we’re not starting from ground zero with agriculture. Many farmers have been doing this for a long time. Our job is to help build on successes and remove some barriers that have gotten in the way of larger-scale adoption.”

“When we interviewed some of our growers, they said they want simplicity, transparency and flexibility to suit their specific operation,” she said. “Our goal is to focus on the outcome, not dictate practices.”

It's an approach Tony Mellenthin, Wisconsin soybean farmer and USB farmer-leader, appreciates.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all,” he said. “What works for a southern farmer may not work for a northern farmer in terms of conservation practices. But even though their approaches may look different, they’re still improving the sustainability of U.S. agriculture.”

When PepsiCo made a commitment last year to spread regenerative agriculture across all acres from which they’re purchasing, they did so because strong and resilient agricultural communities are the basis for maintaining their own growth, as PepsiCo is on a growth trajectory.

“We know we’re going to need strong farms into the future. Our goal is to keep farmers farming and do it in a way that improves their resilience as our climate changes,” said Margaret Henry, senior director of sustainable ag strategy at PepsiCo who grew up on her family’s Kentucky dairy farm. “Farmers are experiencing 10-year and 20-year weather events almost every year now and it’s hurting their pocketbooks directly.”

Data collection for measuring outcomes was discussed, with varying opinions on how to prove if regenerative practices are working. Henry recommended a balanced approach.

“We need enough data, but we don’t need so much that we’re doing mostly ‘farm bothering’ rather than ‘farm partnering’,” she said. “We will always push for the most reasonable, simple level of data collection that's credible and accurate, without having farmers spend a quarter of their time entering data on computers or giving up their rights to their data and privacy. Farmers should be in the field, farming, and hopefully our efforts will help them do that sustainably, long into the future.”

The demands at the farmgate for sustainable and regenerative practices will only continue to grow, according to Henry.

“Over the next 24 to 36 months in the food and beverage space, we’re going to see a tremendous scaling of what five years ago, we were doing this on a few thousand acres. Now we’re seeing scaled engagement all over the country reaching millions of acres and that momentum is only increasing.”



New research shows potential of Syngenta's Enogen corn to pay financial and sustainability dividends for dairy industry

Syngenta Seeds unveiled new research today quantifying the benefits of using Enogen® corn for livestock feed in dairy operations. In addition to being a practical and scalable way for dairy producers to reduce certain environmental impacts, Syngenta found that when comparing Enogen corn to traditional feed products, a U.S. dairy farm operation could potentially yield a financial savings of $132 to $208 per milking cow.

The financial value assessment1, conducted in partnership with model developers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Animal and Dairy Sciences and Agronomy Departments and Rock River Laboratory, evaluated factors such as milk content, expected milk revenue, and associated corn silage costs, resulting in a final metric of Income Over Feed Cost (IOFC).

"Confirming that Enogen isn't just a difference-maker for environmental efficiency but for farmers' bottom lines is significant," said Eric Boeck, Syngenta's Regional Director for North America Seeds. "I've never met a farmer who isn't willing to innovate to make their operation more sustainable, but they also wouldn't be doing their job if they weren't assessing the cost involved. Knowing that Enogen can result in a win-win for them raises its ceiling as a solution for dairy producers across North America."

Enogen corn contains an efficient alpha amylase enzyme that converts starch to usable sugars quickly, delivering more available energy to dairy cows while being easily digestible. When fed to dairy cattle as silage, Enogen corn can increase feed efficiency for dairy farmers by about 5%2, which is highly significant when factoring in the millions of dairy cows in just the U.S. alone.

"When we're searching for solutions that can move the needle across an entire industry, the impact of a new product or new technology is important, but it needs to be something producers can incorporate into their operations without too much disruption – the simpler, the better," said Randy Shaver, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Animal and Dairy Sciences Department. "When you add financial benefits of this magnitude to something that's already able to improve feed efficiency just by changing corn hybrids, you're going to get the attention of a lot of dairy producers."

In addition to the financial value assessment, Syngenta Seeds conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) for the dairy industry and unveiled a similar LCA for the beef industry in 2021, which demonstrated the potential for reducing the environmental footprint of livestock production by switching to Enogen corn in feed rations. The dairy-specific LCA, completed by sustainability firm Sustainable Solutions Corporation, highlights potential reductions in environmental impacts, including lower emissions of greenhouse gases and lower use of land, energy and water.

Specific findings show that, per 1,000 dairy cows3, a farm operation could potentially yield the following savings by switching to Enogen silage:
-    More than 1.4 million kg CO2e in greenhouse gas reduction, equivalent to removing 314 passenger cars from the road for one year.
-    More than a 249-acre reduction in land use for growing corn, equivalent to 189 American football fields.
-    More than 13 million fewer gallons of water used, enough to fill 21 Olympic-size swimming pools.
-    220,000 kWh in energy savings, enough energy to power 19 average homes for a year.

"This is an example of how a more efficient solution for the animal itself benefits every other part of a farm operation. Conducting a life cycle analysis helps to understand and quantify the benefits for the animal, the farmer, and the planet," said Tad Radzinski, President of Sustainable Solutions Corporation.

Agriculture alone is responsible for 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the whole food value chain accounts for 25% of emissions. Syngenta Seeds, as part of Syngenta Group, is committed to helping the agriculture industry reduce its carbon footprint and play a role in meeting the world's net zero target. In June 2020, Syngenta Group announced new targets and investment objectives as part of a $2 billion commitment to help farmers address the effects of climate change and improve long-term agricultural sustainability.

Enogen corn for feed, currently available commercially in the United States and Canada, represents a significant opportunity for the agricultural industry to take meaningful steps to reduce its overall impact on the environment. Syngenta Seeds is continuing to explore possibilities to bring Enogen technology to other countries around the world while continuously investing to accelerate innovation to support farmers with more sustainable agriculture.