Monday October 17 Harvest Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 16, 2022, there were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 46% very short, 36% short, 18% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 47% very short, 37% short, 16% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 18% very poor, 18% poor, 25% fair, 32% good, and 7% excellent. Corn mature was 94%, near 95% last year, and equal to the five-year average. Harvested was 46%, ahead of 39% last year and 32% average.

Soybeans harvested was 76%, near 74% last year, and ahead of 57% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 16% very poor, 19% poor, 36% fair, 28% good, and 1% excellent. Winter wheat planted was 94%, near 92% both last year and average. Emerged was 73%, near 74% last year and 72% average.

Sorghum condition rated 40% very poor, 24% poor, 17% fair, 15% good, and 4% excellent. Sorghum mature was 87%, behind 93% both last year and average. Harvested was 34%, well behind 55% last year, and near 36% average.

Dry edible beans harvested was 85%, near 88% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 52% very poor, 31% poor, 14% fair, 3% good, and 0% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress & Condition Report

Harvest continued with 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 16, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, fall tillage, and applying fall fertilizer and manure.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 21 percent very short, 40 percent short, 38 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 23 percent very short, 41 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Corn in the mature stage or beyond was 96 percent, 1 day behind last year but 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest of the State’s corn crop reached 38 percent complete, 2 days behind last year but 6 days ahead of the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 19 percent. Corn condition rose to 65 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond were at 96 percent. Soybeans harvested reached 74 percent complete, 11 days ahead of the average.

Pasture condition rated 29 percent good to excellent. No livestock issues were reported.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Corn and soybean harvest continued ahead of the average pace last week, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday. Mostly favorable harvest weather expected this week should extend that trend, according to DTN forecasts.

CORN
-- Harvest progress: 45% of corn was harvested as of Sunday, Oct. 16, up 14 percentage points from the previous week. This year's harvest progress is now 5 percentage points behind last year's 50% but 5 percentage point ahead of the five-year average of 40%.
-- Crop development: Corn mature was estimated at 94%, 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 92%.
-- Crop condition: 53% of corn remaining in fields was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 54% the previous week but 7 percentage points below last year's rating of 60%.

SOYBEANS
-- Harvest progress: 63% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, up 19 percentage points from the previous week. That is now 5 percentage points ahead of last year's 58% and 11 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 52%.
-- Crop development: 96% of soybeans were dropping leaves, 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 94%.
-- Crop condition: 57% of soybeans remaining in fields were rated in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but 2 percentage points below last year's rating of 59%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 69% of winter wheat was planted as of Sunday, even with last year and now 1 percentage point ahead of the average pace of 68%.
-- Crop development: 38% of winter wheat was emerged as of Sunday, still 6 percentage points behind the five-year average of 44%.



Northeast Community College agriculture students meet with industry representatives in the field

The Acklie College Farm at Northeast Community was a busy place recently with over 170 agriculture students meeting with industry representatives during a day designed to connect the two groups and showcase employment opportunities in the industry.

The students loaded onto trolleys to move to different stations across the farm during an Ag Field Day that included working demonstrations focused on agronomy.

“We have a lot of our industry collaborators and partners who work with us on some applied research and demonstration work in the fields. They came here to show the students some of what they’re learning in these fields,” said Jill Heemstra, ag program director at Northeast. “They also talked about some of the career options that students can explore in terms of the different kinds of companies in different parts of agriculture.”

This is the second year for the Ag Field Day. Since students are generally at Northeast for two years, the
ag department offered different presentations from a year ago so that second-year students experience something new. Companies on hand included AKRS Equipment Solutions, which demonstrated the many types of equipment it offers. Orthman Manufacturing demonstrated a strip till plot where a company representative dug a soil pit to show students the differences in soil.

In addition, Sandramere Seed and Supply conducted crop scouting with the students.

“We actually planted soybeans here in late August in order to have some in the early stages of growth to compare for students,” Heemstra said. “So, we had an unusual sight out there with fully mature soybeans near some that are just a few inches tall.”

Helena Chemical representatives conducted “Ask an Agronomist” sessions where students found something in the fields that interested them. They brought back what they discovered to talk about what they saw and what it means for the health of the crop. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conducted a soil health demonstration, and representatives from the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) spoke on some of the resources that different groups can offer students as they move out into their jobs, especially if they're farming.

Heemstra said the hands-on experiences allowed students to get an idea of the different skills they need for a career in agriculture. She said they asked company representatives to focus on a specific activity to interact with them during the day.

“We told them that students are going to remember their company and the opportunities they have if they have a great experience with them; not to just stand there and talk at them. I really appreciate how much these companies answered that call. They worked hard to create activities that make their company and their piece of this memorable to these students so that they will think of them and want to come talk to them at career fairs and apply for internships and apply for jobs.”

Students in eleven of Northeast’s agriculture programs participated in the Ag Field Day. The students will have an opportunity to take part in another Ag Field Day next spring with a focus on animal science.

Heemstra said the ag department hopes students have a real appreciation for the importance of all the different pieces of agriculture that were showcased during the event such as soil, equipment, and technical knowledge, among others. She said the day wasn’t just for students; it was valuable to businesses participating as well.

“When they collaborate with us, they're really excited about talking to the students. And in the current job market they really want interns and future employees. They really want to get out in front of the students and let the students know that there are careers with their companies. And I think they kind of enjoy coming out here and digging in the fields for a day or two,” she said with a chuckle.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Supports Amendment 1

Nebraska Farm Bureau has taken a position of support for a constitutional amendment that would allow political subdivisions that own or operate an airport to spend money to develop new or expanded commercial air travel.

“Nebraska Farm Bureau has a long history of supporting economic development opportunities to grow rural Nebraska. Nebraska is at a disadvantage when it comes to air service across the state, but a ‘yes’ vote on Amendment 1 will help ensure commercial air service in rural areas of Nebraska and economic vitality,” said Mark McHargue, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.

Nebraska Farm Bureau delegates representing farmers and ranchers from all 93 Nebraska counties supports policy that encourages legislations and economic development incentives for meaningful and supportive economic development programs.

“Growing commercial air service at smaller airports would also assure that essential services are delivered to rural areas of Nebraska such as the health and welfare of communities, maintaining supply chains, manufacturing and agriculture support, and food and fuel supplies,” McHargue said.

Amendment 1 will appear on the Nebraska General Election ballot November 8.



Trailblazers attend Advocacy Training Workshop

Driving the demand for beef starts at the grassroots with a strong network of advocates willing to share beef’s positive message. The new Trailblazers program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the beef checkoff, is designed to create a network of grassroots advocated equipped with the tools, training, resources and professional development to promote beef to new audiences and find solutions to issues impacting the industry. The initial cohort is made up of ten participants from six states, three of which are from Nebraska—Brianna Buseman (Lincoln), Natalie Jones (Stapleton), Jaclyn Wilson (Lakeside).  

 As a result, the Nebraska Beef Council had an active role in the most recent Trailblazer workshop hosted in Kansas City. As part of the workshop, NBC highlighted the planning and execution of state beef council (SBC) programs with emphasis on the exploration of how working together, we can foster an environment of long-term engagement and increased involvement between Trailblazer advocates and local state beef councils. Nebraska has a dynamic group of industry professionals who upon completion of the program, will serve as industry spokespeople and inform beef advocates at the local and state levels on advocacy, media and spokesperson best practices.



GRAZING VS. BALING CORN RESIDUES
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator
 
As harvest progresses, crop residues are readily becoming available as a forage source.  Producers looking to capitalize on these feeds often consider two options for use, grazing or baling.  Which option is best for you?
 
Grazing corn residue allows animals to be selective about what they eat. Animals choose higher quality grain, leaf, and husk first, grazing soiled or lower quality feed when it becomes the only choice available.  With proper stocking, corn residues will meet nutrient requirements in dry cows.  However, quality of residues will decrease with time as stalks are subjected to weathering.
 
Practices such as strip or rotational grazing can help extend the grazing period and balance quality. Initial investments in fence and water sources are drawbacks of grazing, but once the labor of putting fence in is completed, the cows do the work of harvesting.
 
Baling on the other hand requires labor and fuel to harvest and put-up residues.  Because of the tough nature of corn residue, wear and tear on machinery is a consideration. How residues are harvested is also important and can greatly impact final quality.  If the initial raking of residues is particularly aggressive, the dirt(ash) content of the final product will be high.
 
Because of the generally low quality and the risk of sorting, grinding corn stalk bales before feeding is beneficial.  This does however add additional cost and equipment requirements for use.
 
Finally, baled residues are usually fed away from the field where they are harvested, resulting in nutrients losses where harvest occurred.  The value of these losses depends on fertilizer price and how much residue is removed.  Spreading manure from the feeding location back on the field can help mitigate some of this loss.



Lid's Bar & Grill in Waukon Wins 2022 Best Breaded Tenderloin Contest
    
A car dealership-turned-restaurant is where you’ll find Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin for 2022.

Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon, in the northeast corner of the state, has won the 20th annual contest, presented by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and managed by its restaurant and foodservice committee.

“Obviously we enjoy highlighting our state’s delicious pork,” said Kelsey Sutter, IPPA’s marketing and programs director. “But this award also forever transforms local Iowa businesses, as tenderloin enthusiasts look forward to the announcement every year, and are known to travel lengthy distances to try a variation of this Midwestern staple.”

Each third-pound tenderloin is cut and twice tenderized at Quillin’s Food Ranch in Waukon. At the restaurant, the never-frozen meat is hand-breaded to order—dipped in milk then dredged through a seasoned breading.

“The tenderloins are actually fairly thick, so you can taste the pork instead of just breading,” said Dan Liddiard, who co-owns Lid’s with his wife Kelly. Lid’s is a shortened version of the couple’s last name.

The deep-fried favorite is served with lettuce and mayo on a lightly buttered and toasted bun, baked fresh daily also at Quillin’s. Sandwiches include a side of crinkle-cut French fries.

Chef Phil Carey, a tenderloin finalist judge, describes the sandwich as having “great pork flavor, with a wonderful breading that greatly complements the overall sandwich,” as well as a “perfect size of bun-to-pork-tenderloin ratio.”

The Liddiards are Waukon natives who opened the eatery in July 2020. Dan Liddiard had operated West Side Auto Sales on the site for nearly a decade. However, when car sales plummeted during the early months of COVID-19, he reduced his inventory and renovated a portion of the office, showroom, and shop for the restaurant. The Liddiards had no prior experience in food service.

“Nope,” Dan Liddiard admits. “Not till after the day we opened.”

Since being named among the top five tenderloin finalists earlier this month, tenderloin fans have been flooding in from all over the state, the Liddiards said. The business went from selling about 25 pounds of loins per week, to 35 to 40 pounds a day. A drive-up window accommodates carry-out customers.

“To be nominated for this was absolutely incredible,” said Dan Liddiard, choking back tears. “To win is 10 times that. It’s pretty great.”

IPPA’s restaurant and foodservice committee will officially present the best tenderloin award at the restaurant Tuesday, Oct. 18. Lid’s will receive $500, a plaque, and a large banner to display.

This year’s runner-up is Ludlow’s Steakhouse in Corydon, about an hour and a half south of Des Moines. The designation comes with a $250 prize and plaque from IPPA. Other finalists, listed alphabetically by town, have earned a top five plaque to display:
    Massena – Main Street Bar & Grill
    St. Olaf – St. Olaf Tavern
    Van Meter – 5th Quarter Bar & Grill

IPPA received 4,812 nominations for 449 different establishments during a spring nomination period. The restaurant and foodservice committee reviewed the top 40 restaurants in the summer. Each was scored on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics, and eating experience.

The tenderloin contest recognizes Iowa dining establishments that offer a hand-breaded or battered pork tenderloin as a regular menu item. To win, businesses must be open year-round. The winners are announced as part of #Porktober22, or National Pork Month, which celebrates the state’s dedicated pig farmers and the great product they produce.

Victoria Station in Harlan, about an hour and 40 minutes west of Des Moines, won the 2021 contest.



Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory develops new test for cattle diseases

The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, a part of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has developed a new test for two major blood-borne diseases in cattle.

The laboratory's Molecular Research and Development section, under the leadership of Jianfa Bai, clinical professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, has developed a unique polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, bovine test specific for the endemic disease anaplasmosis and the emerging disease Theileriosis. These insect vector-transmitted diseases are caused primarily in the U.S. by the American dog tick for anaplasmosis, and the Asian longhorned tick for Theileria.

The new K-State test will allow veterinarians and cattle producers to screen their herds and herd additions for these specific disease-causing organisms, helping them more effectively prevent and manage the diseases.

Although there are more than one Anaplasma organism species present in cattle, anaplasmosis is caused by a specific bacterium called Anaplasma marginale. This organism can be found in all states except Hawaii and is endemic in many areas of the U.S. Infection can occur at any age, but clinical signs are usually only observed in animals over 2 years old. Anemia, difficulty breathing and death are common clinical signs. Treatment is usually successful with currently available antimicrobials.

Multiple Theileria species are present in cattle populations, but only Theileria orientalis genotype Ikeda and T. orientalis genotype chitose cause disease. As an emerging disease, Theileriosis has been reported in only a few states. The Asian longhorned tick responsible for the disease's transmission has been found in only 17 states, but its range is expanding. This tick has not been found in Kansas, but it has been found in western Missouri and northwest Arkansas. T. orientalis infection can occur at any age. Clinical signs are similar to anaplasmosis, but these signs can be observed in both calves and adults. Unlike A. marginale, treatment for Theileria is much less successful.

"In the Molecular Research and Disease section of the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, our main goal is to develop molecular assays for detection of emerging and reemerging animal diseases," Bai said. "Developing assays that can detect the targeted pathogens and differentiate closely related but less pathogenic ones is an important aspect contributing to disease management."



FARMERS NATIONWIDE SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO EPA ON ATRAZINE

More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision, submitting comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by the Triazine Network, a diverse coalition of state and national agricultural groups across the nation that rely on atrazine and other triazine herbicides to control weeds. The atrazine comment period ended October 7.

“EPA’s actions have been more like a tennis match than a product registration review,“ said Greg Krissek, Triazine Network co-chair and Kansas Corn Growers Association CEO. “In its 2020 decision, EPA finalized and published the aquatic level of concern at 15 parts per billion. Then it used an activist court case against its own decision to reconsider the level of concern. In June, EPA announced it wanted to change the level of concern to an ultra-low 3.4 parts per billion. They floated that number in a 2016 risk assessment but never implemented it. They told us this year that 3.4 ppb was always the number, but that was just their staff’s wishful thinking until they rolled out this year’s proposed revision.”

In their comments, growers expressed frustration with the EPA’s lack of transparency and its repeated efforts to implement measures that would end effective use of atrazine for weed control. In addition to the ultra-low 3.4 ppb level, EPA doubled and tripled down by creating an over-predictive model that predicted 72 percent of U.S. corn acres would be in violation.

“Instead of relying on real-world water testing, the agency would simply look at a map it made up with a questionable model to decide if a grower would be required to add between one and four mitigation practices from its problematic pick list,” said Triazine Network Co-Chair Gary Marshall, who is Missouri Corn Growers Association emeritus executive director. “If EPA would have used just a little bit of common sense, we wouldn’t be fighting this fight.”

The next step is a Scientific Advisory Panel, which EPA has committed to convening to examine the science behind its proposed 3.4 ppb level of concern.

“Our growers are frustrated with the repeated attacks on atrazine, one of the safest and most studied herbicides in history,” Krissek said. “The Triazine Network and others have been fighting this fight for over 25 years. We have science on our side, but EPA continues its attempts to rework the discredited research to reach its own conclusions. We look forward to participating in the upcoming Scientific Advisory Panel.”



 Study: Access to E15 Fuel Would Save Drivers Over $20 Billion in Annual Fuel Costs

Today, Growth Energy released a study conducted by ABF Economics that found that nationwide access to E15, a 15 percent ethanol blended fuel, could save drivers billions in annual fuel costs, create new jobs, and return billions to the U.S. economy. Specifically, the data show that a nationwide transition to E15 would:
    Save consumers $20.6 billion in annual fuel costs,
    Put an additional $36.3 billion in income into the pockets of American households,
    Support an additional 188,000 jobs,
    And generate $66.3 billion for the U.S. GDP.

"The price of gas remains top of mind for American families who don’t want to lose access to a low-carbon, low-cost choice at the pump,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Over the summer, E15 saved drivers up to nearly a dollar per gallon at the pump in some areas, with savings averaging to $0.16 per gallon across the country. Today’s study shows that expanded, year-round access of this higher biofuel blend can provide a much-needed boost to the farm economy and even greater savings to American families.”

The release of today’s study follows months of record-high gas prices across the country and President Joe Biden’s emergency waiver to allow the sale of E15 for the 2022 summer driving season to address those prices. Thanks to the availability of E15, drivers found savings of up to nearly a dollar per gallon at the pump by filling up with this higher blend of biofuel.

E15 is currently sold at over 2,700 stations across 31 states, and drivers have chosen the biofuel blend to fuel 35 billion miles total. E15 is approved for cars 2001 and newer — more than 96 percent of cars on the road.



Dairy Producers Can Now Enroll for 2023 Signup for Dairy Margin Coverage

Dairy producers can now enroll for 2023 coverage through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program, an important safety net program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps producers manage changes in milk and feed prices. Last year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) took steps to improve coverage, especially for small- and mid-sized dairies, including offering a new Supplemental DMC program and updating its feed cost formula to better address retroactive, current and future feed costs. These changes continue to support producers through this year’s signup, which begins today and ends Dec. 9, 2022.

“Dairy producers are the backbone of many agricultural communities across rural America,” FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said. “Dairy Margin Coverage provides critical assistance to our nation’s small- and mid-sized dairies, helping make sure they can manage the numerous and often unpredictable uncertainties that adversely impact market prices for milk. This year showed why enrolling in DMC makes good business sense. Early in the year, some economists predicted that DMC would not trigger any payments for the calendar year, but then fast forward to now, when we’re starting to see payments trigger and a return on investment.”  

DMC is a voluntary risk management program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.  

So far in 2022, DMC payments to more than 17,000 dairy operations have triggered for August for more than $47.9 million. According to DMC margin projections, an indemnity payment is projected for September as well. At $0.15 per hundredweight for $9.50 coverage, risk coverage through DMC is a relatively inexpensive investment.

DMC offers different levels of coverage, even an option that is free to producers, aside from a $100 administrative fee. Limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged or a military veteran farmers or ranchers are exempt from paying the administrative fee, if requested. To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the online dairy decision tool. 

Supplemental DMC
Last year, USDA introduced Supplemental DMC, which provided $42.8 million in payments to better help small- and mid-sized dairy operations that had increased production over the years but were not able to enroll the additional production. Supplemental DMC is also available for 2023.

Supplemental DMC coverage is applicable to calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023.  Eligible dairy operations with less than 5 million pounds of established production history may enroll supplemental pounds.  

For producers who enrolled in Supplemental DMC in 2022, the supplemental coverage will automatically be added to the 2023 DMC contract that previously established a supplemental production history.

Producers who did not enroll in Supplemental DMC in 2022 can do so now. Producers should complete their Supplemental DMC enrollment before enrolling in 2023 DMC. To enroll, producers will need to provide their 2019 actual milk marketings, which FSA uses to determine established production history.

DMC Payments
Additionally, FSA will continue to calculate DMC payments using updated feed and premium hay costs, making the program more reflective of actual dairy producer expenses.  These updated feed calculations use 100% premium alfalfa hay rather than 50%. The benefits of these feed cost adjustments were realized in the recent August 2022 margin payment as current high feed and premium hay costs were considered in payment calculations.



Federal Milk Marketing Order Forum Successfully Brings Sector Together

The American Farm Bureau Federation was joined by representatives of the National Milk Producers Federation, dairy cooperatives, processors, state dairy associations and dairy farmers from across the country for a successful first-of-its-kind industry-wide Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) Forum.

The three-day event provided a platform for farmers’ voices to be heard while also answering the call from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to bring the dairy producer community together to discuss FMMO modernization. Discussions at the forum focused on Class price formulas and de-pooling, among other topics.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Milk Producers Federation agreed on a joint statement regarding the need for FMMO improvements. A number of dairy organizations attending the event also supported the joint AFBF-NMPF statement and are listed below.

The AFBF-NMPF statement reads:

“We support the federal milk marketing order (FMMO) system as key to fair market-based farmer milk pricing and recognize the importance of periodically updating the program to reflect changes in the dynamic U.S. dairy industry. With the last major update to the FMMO system occurring in 2000, we believe it is time to consider improvements that better reflect today’s milk markets.

“In addition, the pandemic-related market disruptions of 2020 also highlighted the need to modernize the program so that it can better mitigate the impacts on producers of disruptions in milk pricing such as occurred then.  At that time, a combination of federal order price formulas, temporary market imbalances, and sudden demand disruptions created disorderly marketing of milk, to the detriment of producers.

“We anticipate the prospect of a hearing conducted by USDA in 2023 that could address FMMO price formulas, including all four Classes, as well as the Class I price surface.  An amended pricing system should improve price discovery, improve the clarity of the program, continue to support timely payments to producers, and reduce price incentives to de-pool milk.

“We are encouraged by the healthy discussion at this week’s Federal Milk Marketing Order Forum and look forward to continuing the discussion about promoting a healthy dairy industry through modernization of federal order pricing.”

Organizations participating in the event and endorsing the joint statement include:
American Dairy Coalition
National Farmers Organization
National All-Jersey
Georgia Milk Producers
Indiana Dairy Producers
Kentucky Dairy Development Council
Missouri Dairy
Dairy Producers of New Mexico
Ohio Dairy Producers Association
Virginia State Dairymen’s Association



NMPF Urges Farmers to Consider Federal Risk Management Tools as USDA Announces DMC Signup
Milk Loss Disaster Program in Works

With rising costs eroding dairy margins despite high farm milk prices, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is urging farmers to sign up for maximum 2023 coverage under USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, an important component of federal dairy risk-management programs supported by NMPF.

USDA has announced that DMC signup begins today, with a deadline of Dec. 7. Despite record prices this year, accompanying record costs resulted in DMC payments for August for farmers enrolled at the maximum coverage level.

“The current combination of high prices with costs that can be even higher illustrates the basic value of DMC for producers who can benefit from the program,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “By calculating assistance via a margin rather than a target price, DMC offers a measure of protection against the current cost volatility that’s challenging many milk producers.”

Farmers should also consider signing up for federally backed risk-management programs appropriate to their operations, Mulhern said.

DMC is designed to promote stable revenues and protect against financial catastrophe for small and medium-sized producers. It’s part of a suite of federally backed risk-management tools, including the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) program and the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Producers (LGM-Dairy) program, which were revamped in the 2018 Farm Bill at NMPF’s urging.

DMC resulted from NMPF’s effort to improve inadequate federal margin-protection insurance. LGM-Dairy and DRP were made workable via NMPF’s efforts to remove spending caps and a ban on enrollment in multiple programs, which previously limited their usefulness.

Mulhern also reminded eligible farmers who did not sign up for supplemental DMC coverage in 2022 based on updated production levels that they have another opportunity to do so this year.

NMPF also reminds producers that USDA is developing a separate milk loss program, as provided for in legislation enacted last year. This program will reimburse dairy producers of all sizes for milk dumped on account of disasters that occurred in 2020 and 2021, including, but not limited to, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms including polar vortexes, droughts, hurricanes, and wildfires. NMPF is working with USDA as it develops the initiative.



Export Exchange 2022 Speakers Talk Advantages of U.S. Corn, Co-Products And Sorghum

The advantages of buying U.S. corn, co-products and sorghum were on tap Friday at Export Exchange 2022, where nearly 500 international buyers and domestic suppliers gathered to examine the U.S. value chain for grains.

“From competitively priced corn to protein-rich distiller’s grains and being the largest supplier of sorghum in the world, U.S. grains stand head and shoulders above the rest, and our commodities export system is one of the most efficient in the world,” said the leaders of the U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association, in a joint statement. “It’s easy to replace or substitute shipments, our contracts are forward-based and include risk management and no one ever has to wonder about the price. These are U.S. advantages that our global competitors cannot offer.”

The three organizations co-sponsored the event.

Speakers during the last day of the event illustrated numerous reasons why U.S. commodities offer the best advantage to global buyers and how its scalable and transparent export system provides direct access to satisfy grain needs around the world.

Topics during today’s general sessions, covered by top experts in their fields, included:
- "Poultry, Pork and Beef Meat Economic Outlook” – Brett Stuart, Global AgriTrends
- “Sorghum – The Right Choice” – Norma Ritz-Johnson, United Sorghum Checkoff Program
- “Advantages of Buying U.S. Corn” – Dr. Alvaro Garcia, South Dakota State University; Shane Mueller, North Dakota State University; Dr. Vijay Singh, University of Illinois
- “High Protein DDGS and Corn Fermented Protein Nutritional Overview” – Dr. Jerry Shurson, University of Minnesota

Export Exchange 2022 allows buyers and sellers of U.S. corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), sorghum and other commodities to network, talk shop and gain a better understanding of the needs of buyers around the world and the caliber of supply the U.S. provides.

As Export Exchange ends, 11 pre-event teams will return to their home countries after having experienced harvest and the U.S. value chain firsthand, while 10 additional trade teams will head to corn-growing states to see advanced farming operations, explore DDGS production at ethanol plants, view port facilities and more so they may build their networks with U.S. suppliers, rounding out their time in the United States.



 U.S. Grains Council Marks End Of Export Exchange 2022 With 10 Post-Event Trade Teams Visiting Farm Operations Across 11 States

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is continuing to build business-to-business relationships between domestic producers and global end-users by sponsoring 10 trade teams following the culmination of Export Exchange 2022. Eleven other groups have already spent time meeting with key partners along the value chain prior to Export Exchange to further their connection to U.S. agricultural stakeholders and their understanding of the export system as a whole.

Export Exchange is a biennial educational and trade forum for U.S. feed grains that hosts nearly 500 international buyers, importers and domestic suppliers. This year’s edition was held in Minneapolis from Oct. 12-14.

“The Council takes pride in being able to attract such diverse groups of international buyers and government officials from various countries in support of Export Exchange and in overall market capacity building,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC President and CEO. “The lasting memories and relationships created from this event will benefit U.S. producers and end-users worldwide for years to come.”

The trade teams represent a wide range of industry leaders who contribute to strong U.S. export numbers year after year in commodities including corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and sorghum.

A description of the teams and the dates of their travel are listed below:
• Canadian corn and DDGS team to Minnesota, Oct. 14
• Mexican sorghum and DDGS team to Kansas and Texas, Oct. 15-18
• Latin American logistics team to Minnesota, Michigan and Louisiana, Oct. 15-19
• Japanese corn team to North Dakota, Oct. 15-19
• Vietnamese corn team to Indiana and Kentucky, Oct. 15-19
• North and West African corn, DDGS and sorghum team to Ohio, Oct. 15-19
• Mexican white corn team to Kentucky and Louisiana, Oct. 15-20
• Southeast Asian (SEA) aquaculture team to Idaho, Oct. 15-20
• SEA DDGS team to Illinois, Oct. 15-20
• Taiwanese corn and DDGS team to Illinois and Washington, Oct. 15-21



Selecting the Right Hybrids to Defend Against Tar Spot

Tar spot has been impacting many fields throughout the United States. Just last year, it slashed U.S. corn yields by about 231.3 million bushels – which was more damage than any other disease. While the exact impact on this year’s crop is still unknown, it’s clear that tar spot does not appear to be going away any time soon. For growers, it’s important to be proactive and select the right hybrids now to help combat tar spot in 2023.

“Hybrid selection is the No. 1 thing growers should be doing right now for next year,” said Ryan Bates, Pioneer Field Agronomist in Wisconsin.

It is important to prioritize hybrids with genetic resistance to tar spot, as it appears to mitigate symptoms and yield loss more effectively than either cultural or chemical management practices. Check hybrid tolerance ratings for hybrids that will work in your field and work against tar spot and find a balance between yield and resistance.

Earlier this year Pioneer launched tar spot ratings for their corn lineup. It is recommended that producers review their hybrid selections with their local sales representatives to determine which hybrids and tar spot ratings are best suited for their farms. Reviewing will also help develop a management strategy that extends beyond hybrid selection and will work to keep tar spot at bay for years to come.

“We want to select hybrids that will work for the future,” said Bates. “Especially if we get a year with a lot of moisture, that deep wetness drives tar spot development.”

Tar spot overwinters, so crop rotation may be the best option – especially in fields that experienced heavy pressure this season. In years with less favorable weather, rotation or management of infested debris may be of more value in limiting the development of tar spot.

For next growing season, remember to protect plant health throughout the season by reducing stress from lack of nutrients or from other pathogen infection may help reduce risk of yield loss.



USDA Releases Proposed Regulatory Framework to Reduce Salmonella Infections Linked to Poultry Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Friday released a proposed regulatory framework for a new strategy to control Salmonella contamination in poultry products and reduce foodborne illnesses attributed to these products. The agency is hosting a virtual public meeting on Nov. 3, 2022, to seek input from stakeholders on the proposed framework.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Salmonella bacteria cause approximately 1.35 million human infections and 26,500 hospitalizations in the United States every year. Of those infections, over 23% are attributed to poultry consumption. Foodborne illness can have a devastating impact, both personally and financially, on people’s lives, the cost of which reverberates through the economy. Data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) show the total cost for foodborne Salmonella infections in the United States is a staggering $4.1 billion annually and the cost for the loss of productivity to the economy is $88 million. These are real costs to real people that can and should be prevented.

“We know that Salmonella in poultry is a complex problem with no single solution,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary Sandra Eskin. “However, we have identified a series of strategic actions FSIS could take that are likely to drive down Salmonella infections linked to poultry products consumption, and we are presenting those in this proposed framework.”

“This is a historic first step toward final product standards that are science-based, risk-based, enforceable, and effective at protecting our vulnerable loved ones,” said Amanda Craten, board member of STOP Foodborne Illness. “As a parent of a child who suffered from Salmonella illness and is left with permanent injury, I have advocated and engaged in the process to modernize poultry standards to ensure no child has to experience the devastation of a preventable, virulent Salmonella illness. I’m thankful that USDA is making the prevention of illnesses like my son Noah’s a priority.”

The proposed framework has been shaped by months of information-gathering and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, researchers, and scientists. The proposed framework consists of three key components that, together, support a comprehensive approach to controlling Salmonella in poultry.
    Requiring that incoming flocks be tested for Salmonella before entering an establishment;
    Enhancing establishment process control monitoring and FSIS verification; and
    Implementing an enforceable final product standard.

The framework under consideration also addresses cross-cutting issues of testing for Salmonella, the impact on small and very small establishments and data sharing.

Dr. Craig Hedberg, a professor at University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Co-Director of the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, agrees that this framework “is an important step towards moving away from hazard-based regulation toward risk-based regulation. Focusing on levels of Salmonella and highly virulent strains of Salmonella rather than just the presence or absence of Salmonella should reduce the number of illnesses associated with poultry.”

Dr. Angie Siemens, Vice President for Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory at Cargill, said, “In alignment with our strong commitment to food safety, Cargill supports the need to develop a public health risked based approach to assist in meeting the Healthy People 2030 Salmonella targets. We look forward to reviewing the FSIS Salmonella framework and engaging in a robust dialogue on this issue.”

FSIS is soliciting input on all aspects of the draft framework, related to the three components as well as the cross-cutting issues. An online copy of the proposed framework is available at: www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/inspection-programs/inspection-poultry-products/reducing-salmonella-poultry/proposed.

Concurrently, FSIS is gathering scientific evidence relevant to the approaches presented in the proposed framework.
    The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) has been charged with providing guidance on what types of microbiological criteria FSIS might use to better prevent Salmonella infections associated with poultry products.
    FSIS is also completing a risk profile for pathogenic Salmonella subtypes in poultry and is collaborating on quantitative risk assessments for Salmonella in chicken and turkey that will address key risk management questions associated with this framework.
    FSIS also expanded its exploratory sampling program for young chicken carcasses to generate microbial data to help inform future policies.
    FSIS is transitioning from using presence-based tests to tests that quantify the amount of all Salmonella cells.

Representatives from industry, consumer groups and other stakeholders are invited to participate in the public meeting. Attendees must pre-register to attend the meeting. To view the agenda and to register to attend, please visit the Meetings and Events page on the FSIS website. The meeting will be held on Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET via Zoom.

FSIS is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the proposed framework, both at the public meeting and in written comments submitted to the meeting docket published in the Federal Register. Comments and information received on the proposed framework will be considered by FSIS before moving forward with any proposed changes to regulations or other actions. Anyone who wishes to provide oral comments on the proposed framework at the public meeting should indicate so when registering for the public meeting. Written comments should be submitted at www.regulations.gov. Interested persons will have 30 days to comment after the meeting notice is published in the Federal Register. To view the Federal Register meeting notice and information on how to comment or submit information, visit the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/federal-register-rulemaking/federal-register-notices/proposed-framework-controlling.