Thursday January 12 Ag News

 NEBRASKA 2022 ANNUAL CROP PRODUCTION SUMMARY

Corn for grain production in Nebraska based on year-end surveys is estimated at 1.46 billion bushels, down 22% from 2021, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Yield of 165 bushels per acre is down 29 bushels from last year. Farmers harvested 8.82 million acres of corn for grain, down 8% from 2021. Corn for silage production is 5.38 million tons, up 6% from last year. Silage yield of 12.5 tons per acre is down 7.0 tons from last year. Corn for silage harvested acreage of 430,000 acres is up 170,000 acres from last year. Corn acreage planted for all purposes is 9.60 million acres, down 3% from last year.

Soybean production for 2022 totaled 278 million bushels, down 21% from 2021. Yield, at 49.0 bushels per acre, is down 14.0 bushels from a year earlier. Area for harvest, at 5.68 million acres, is up 2% from 2021. Planted acreage totaled 5.75 million acres, up 3% from last year.

Sorghum for grain production in 2022 is estimated at 6.88 million bushels, down 65% from 2021. Yield, at 55.0 bushels per acre, is down 31.0 bushels from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 125,000 acres, is down 46% from 2021. Sorghum for silage production is 698,000 tons, up 55% from last year. Silage yield of 9.3 tons per acre is down 5.2 tons from last year. Sorghum for silage harvested acreage of 75,000 acres is up 44,000 acres from last year. Sorghum acreage planted for all purposes is 320,000 acres, unchanged from last year.

Alfalfa hay production, at 2.45 million tons, is down 34% from a year earlier. The average yield, at 3.10 tons per acre, is down 1.00 ton per acre from 2021. Area harvested, at 790,000 acres, is down 13% from 2021. Alfalfa haylage and greenchop production, at 68,000 tons, is down 35% from last year. Average yield, at 2.70 tons per acre, is down 1.50 tons per acre from last year. Area harvested, at 25,000 acres, is unchanged from last year. Seedings of alfalfa during 2022 totaled 110,000 acres, up 20,000 acres from a year earlier.

All other hay production, at 1.89 million tons, is down 26% from last year. The average yield, at 1.40 tons per acre, is down 0.15 ton per acre from last year. Area harvested, at 1.35 million acres, is down 18% from 2021. All other haylage and greenchop production, at 200,000 tons, is down 9% from last year. Average yield, at 4.00 tons per acre, is down 4.80 tons per acre from last year. Area harvested, at 50,000 acres, is up 25,000 acres from last year.

Proso millet production in 2022 is estimated at 1.73 million bushels, down 55% from last year's production. Yield, at 15.0 bushels per acre, is down 9.0 bushels from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 115,000 acres, is down 27% from 2021. Area planted, at 145,000 acres, is down 12% from last year.

Oil sunflower production in 2022 is 41.4 million pounds, up 48% from last year. Yield, at 900 pounds per acre, is up 50 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 46,000 acres, is up 39% from 2021. Area planted, at 50,000 acres, is up 43% from last year. Non-oil sunflower production of 5.01 million pounds is down 23% from last year. Yield, at 910 pounds per acre, is down 90 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 5,500 acres, is down 1,000 acres from 2021. Area planted, at 7,000 acres, is up 8% from last year.

Sugarbeet production is estimated at 0.958 million tons, down 31% from last year. Yield is estimated at 24.2 tons per acre, down 7.7 tons from the previous year. Acres harvested are estimated at 39,600 acres, down 10% from the previous year. Area planted, at 46,800 acres, is up 2,400 acres from last year.

Dry edible bean production of 2.49 million cwt is down 11% from a year ago. Yield, at 2,300 pounds per acre, is down 140 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 108,100 acres, is down 5% from 2021. Area planted, at 115,000 acres, is down 4% from last year. Beginning in 2019, chickpeas are excluded from the dry edible bean estimates.

Dry edible pea production is estimated at 145,000 cwt, down 59% from 2021. Yield is estimated at 690 pounds per acre, down 620 pounds from last year. Acres harvested are estimated at 21,000, down 22% from a year ago. Total acreage planted is 33,000 acres, up 14% from last year.

Potato production is 9.65 million cwt, up 4% from 2021. Yield, at 485 cwt per acre, is down 5 cwt from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 19,900 acres, is up 1,000 acres from 2021. Area planted, at 20,000 acres, is up 1,000 acres from last year.

Principal crop area planted totaled 19.3 million acres, down 3% from 2021. Area harvested, at 18.4 million acres, is down 5% from last year. Nebraska principal crop acres include corn, sorghum, oats, rye, winter wheat, soybeans, sunflower, dry edible beans, potatoes, proso millet, sugarbeets, and all hay. Double cropped acres and unharvested small grains planted as cover crops are also included.



Iowa Crop Production 2022

Corn for grain production in Iowa for 2022 was estimated at 2.48 billion bushels, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production 2022 Summary. Current year production was down 2 percent from the previous year's 2.54 billion bushels. Iowa's corn for grain yield was estimated at 200.0 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 12.4 million acres, 50,000 acres below 2021. Corn planted for all purposes in 2022 was estimated at 12.9 million acres.

Corn for silage production was estimated at 8.40 million tons, up 18 percent from 2021. The silage yield estimate of 21.0 tons per acre was unchanged from 2021. Producers harvested 400,000 acres of corn for silage, up 18 percent from 2021.

Soybean production was estimated at 587 million bushels in 2022. This was down 7 percent from last year's 632 million bushels. The Iowa soybean crop yielded 58.5 bushels per acre in 2022. The harvested acreage of 10.0 million was unchanged from 2021. Soybean planted acreage, at 10.1 million, was unchanged from 2021.

All hay production for the state was estimated at 3.64 million tons, down 12 percent from the 4.13 million tons produced in 2021. Producers averaged 3.03 tons per acre, down 0.25 tons per acre from 2021. All hay harvested acres were estimated at 1.20 million acres, down 60,000 acres from 2021.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures for hay production was estimated at 2.70 million tons, down 15 percent from 2021. Producers averaged 3.70 tons per acre, up 0.20 tons per acre from 2021. Harvested acres were down 180,000 from last year, to 730,000 acres. Iowa producers seeded 75,000 acres of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures in 2022, up 15 percent from 2021.

Other hay production was estimated at 940,000 tons, down 1 percent from 2021. Producers averaged 2.00 tons per acre, down 0.70 tons from the 2021 yield. Harvested acres of other hay, at 470,000, were up 120,000 acres from 2021.



USDA Crop Production 2022 Summary

Corn for grain production in 2022 was estimated at 13.7 billion bushels, down 9 percent from the 2021 estimate. The average yield in the United States was estimated at 173.3 bushels per acre, 3.4 bushels below the 2021 record high yield of 176.7 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 79.2 million acres, down 7 percent from the 2021 estimate.

Sorghum: Grain production in 2022 was estimated at 188 million bushels, down 58 percent from the 2021 total. Planted area for 2022 was estimated at 6.33 million acres, down 13 percent from the previous year. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 4.57 million acres, down 30 percent from 2021. Grain yield was estimated at 41.1 bushels per acre, down 27.9 bushels from 2021.

Soybean production in 2022 totaled 4.28 billion bushels, down 4 percent from 2021. The average yield per acre was estimated at 49.5 bushels, down 2.2 bushels from 2021. Harvested area was up slightly from 2021 to 86.3 million acres.



NEBRASKA DECEMBER 1, 2022 GRAIN AND HAY STOCKS

Nebraska corn stocks in all positions on December 1, 2022 totaled 1.01 billion bushels, down 31% from 2021, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the total, 610 million bushels are stored on farms, down 34% from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 397 million bushels, are down 25% from last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 184 million bushels, down 18% from last year. On-farm stocks of 53.0 million bushels are down 21% from a year ago, while off-farm stocks, at 131 million bushels, are down 17% from 2021.

Wheat stored in all positions totaled 22.3 million bushels, down 36% from a year ago. On-farm stocks of 1.70 million bushels are up 13% from 2021, and off-farm stocks of 20.6 million bushels are down 38% from last year.

Sorghum stored in all positions totaled 6.73 million bushels, down 52% from last year. On-farm stocks of 1.20 million bushels are down 4% and off farm holdings of 5.53 million bushels are down 57% from last year.

Hay stocks on Nebraska farms totaled 3.00 million tons, down 35% from last year. Grain storage capacity in Nebraska totaled 2.19 billion bushels, unchanged from 2021. Total grain storage capacity is comprised of 1.20 billion bushels of on-farm storage, unchanged from last year, and 990 million bushels of off-farm storage, unchanged from last year.



Iowa Grain Stocks report

Corn stored in all positions in Iowa on December 1, 2022, totaled 2.04 billion bushels, down 2 percent from December 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Grain Stocks report. Of the total stocks, 62 percent were stored on-farm. The September-November indicated disappearance totaled 700 million bushels, 2 percent below the 712 million bushels from the same quarter the previous year.

Soybeans stored in all positions in Iowa on December 1, 2022, totaled 481 million bushels, down 10 percent from December 1, 2021. Of the total stocks, 45 percent were stored on-farm. Indicated disappearance for September-November 2022 was 157 million bushels, 11 percent above the 142 million bushels from the same quarter the previous year.

Iowa on-farm storage capacity on December 1, 2022, was 2.05 billion bushels, unchanged from December 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Grain Stocks report. Iowa's 840 off-farm storage facilities had a storage capacity of 1.52 billion bushels, unchanged from the previous year. As of December 1, 2022, Iowa had a total of 3.57 billion bushels of storage capacity.

All hay stored on Iowa farms as of December 1, 2022, was estimated at 2.48 million tons, down 21 percent from December 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Disappearance from May 1, 2022, through December 1, 2022, totaled 1.88 million tons, compared with 1.44 million tons for the same period in 2021.



USDA Grain Stocks as of Dec 1, 2022

Corn stored in all positions on December 1, 2022 totaled 10.8 billion bushels, down 7 percent from December 1, 2021. Of the total stocks, 6.75 billion bushels are stored on farms, down 7 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 4.06 billion bushels, are down 8 percent from a year ago. The September - November 2022 indicated disappearance is 4.30 billion bushels, compared with 4.67 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions on December 1, 2022 totaled 3.02 billion bushels, down 4 percent from December 1, 2021. Soybean stocks stored on farms totaled 1.48 billion bushels, down 3 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 1.55 billion bushels, are down 4 percent from last December. Indicated disappearance for September - November 2022 totaled 1.53 billion bushels, down 4 percent from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on December 1, 2022 totaled 1.28 billion bushels, down 7 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 362 million bushels, up 32 percent from last December. Off-farm stocks, at 918 million bushels, are down 17 percent from a year ago. The September - November 2022 indicated disappearance is 498 million bushels, 26 percent above the same period a year earlier.
 
Grain sorghum stored in all positions on December 1, 2022 totaled 160 million bushels, down 45 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks, at 17.8 million bushels, are down 40 percent from December 1 last year. Off-farm stocks, at 142 million bushels, are down 45 percent from a year earlier. The September - November 2022 indicated disappearance from all positions is 74.8 million bushels, down 58 percent from the same period in 2021.



NEBRASKA WINTER WHEAT SEEDINGS

Winter wheat seeded area for 2023 is estimated at 1.11 million acres, up from last year's seeded area of 980,000 acres, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

U.S. Winter Wheat Planted Acres Up 2 Percent
Winter wheat seeded area for 2023 is expected to total 37.0 million acres, up 11 percent from 2022. Approximate class acreage breakdowns are: Hard Red Winter, 25.3 million; Soft Red Winter, 7.90 million; and White Winter, 3.73 million.



UNMC researchers highlight cancer risks for Nebraska farmers

A recent study by UNMC researchers showed low numbers of cancer screenings, as well as high instances of “cancer risk behaviors,” among Nebraska’s farmers. The study was published in the December issue of the Journal of Rural Health.

“Our research highlights some disparities in cancer screening and risk and preventive behaviors among farmers in Nebraska, which should be addressed through targeted interventions,” said Evi Farazi, PhD, an associate professor in the department of epidemiology in the UNMC College of Public Health, Tim Hawks Chair in Cancer Prevention and Population Science and principal investigator of the study.

“The results should be disseminated to the farmer population to raise awareness regarding cancer screening and risk behaviors that could be improved,” Dr. Farazi said.

In 2019, a statewide, cross-sectional survey of ranchers and farmers was administered to determine predictors of cancer risky and preventive behaviors.  

Of the 1,667 surveys mailed, researchers with the UNMC College of Public Health and Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement office, received 782 completed or partially completed surveys revealing a pattern of risky behaviors that could contribute to cancer development.

Cancer risk behaviors revealed in the study included:  
-    Not meeting the daily recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables  
-    Not meeting recommended physical activity guidelines
-    Tanning bed use
-    Smoking and  
-    Alcohol consumption

The research team also looked at how many of the respondents had taken part in cancer screenings for such things as:
-    Colon cancer
-    Cervical cancer
-    Prostate cancer
-    Breast cancer and
-    Skin cancer

“There also were some disparities with regards to unhealthy behaviors and being up to date with screening, with more men reporting heavy alcohol consumption and ever smoking 100 or more cigarettes, more individuals with higher income reporting being current with skin cancer screening and more older men being current with prostate cancer screening,” Dr. Farazi said.

The next steps in this project include:
-    Comparison with Nebraska non-farming population data; and   
-    A methodological paper to obtain better population-based estimates of cancer risky and preventable behavior among farmers.  

“This project is a strong example of how the collaborative efforts of the UNMC College of Public Health can contribute the overall mission of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement office,” said Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, PhD, associate director of Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement and professor of epidemiology in the UNMC College of Public Health.



Land Application Training Days
Initial training and Recertification training 2023

Workshops will be held in-person this year.  Where will the workshops take place?
Norfolk - Madison County Extension Office - Wednesday, February 15 - Initial Session: 9 am to 4 pm - Recertification: Afternoon only

West Point - Nielsen Community Center - Tuesday, March 7 - Initial Session: 9 am to 4 pm - Recertification: Afternoon only

Columbus - Platte County Extension Office - Tuesday, March 28 - Initial Session: 9 am to 4 pm - Recertification: Afternoon only

What will I learn?
Sessions will be held in-person and will include an update on regulations and dis cussion on how to best use manure on your operation.

Who Will Benefit from Attending?
    All who are interested in livestock manure management are welcome to take the training.
    Farm staff and advisors implementing farm's permit or nutrient plan are welcome and encouraged to attend. Consider making this workshop part of your staff's training.
    Crop farmers using manure, as well as farm staff and advisors implementing a livestock operation's permit or nutrient plan are welcome and encouraged to attend one or more sessions.

When You Must Attend
    Recently permitted operations that have not completed the initial Land Application Training must attend all-day session. Participants attending all sessions will receive NDEE Land Application Training certification.
    Additional educational training is required every 5 years for permitted operations. If you are unsure of your certification status, contact Leslie Johnson (402-584-3818) or Lindsey Roark (402-471-4233). Farm representative attendance for a 2.5 - 3 hour session (recertification) will fulfill NDEE Land Application recertification required every 5 years for permitted operations.

What Will it Cost
    $75 per operation (but all participants need to register)
    Lunch will be included for those attending all day training.
    Fees paid by credit card will be due upon registration, check or cash payment will be accepted at the door.
    Registration is required regardless of attendance location.

How Can I Attend?
    Registration is available online https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38yPsTM1UBnlD3U.
    Contact Leslie Johnson (402-584-3818) before the workshop for assistance



Statement by Mark McHargue, President, Regarding Appointment of Pete Ricketts to the U.S. Senate

“Nebraska’s farm and ranch families need champions in Washington, D.C., fighting for them each and every day, and they have one in Pete Ricketts. I want to offer our sincere congratulations to Pete on his appointment to represent Nebraska in the U.S. Senate. We look forward to continuing to work with him, as well as Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, on the many public policy issues facing farmers and ranchers in Nebraska.”

“Nebraskans need leaders who get things done. Senate designate Ricketts has proven time and again that he can advance good policy for all Nebraskans. I have watched Pete be an outstanding promoter of Nebraska agriculture, both here and around the world. I have no doubt he will keep Nebraska agriculture front and center in Washington, D.C. We are proud to lend our support to Pete Ricketts and we thank Governor Jim Pillen for his swift action in appointing Pete Ricketts to the United States Senate.”



RFA Congratulates Ricketts on Senate Appointment
    
The Renewable Fuels Association today congratulated former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts on his appointment to the U.S. Senate by new Gov. Jim Pillen.

“During his two terms as governor of Nebraska, Pete Ricketts showed tremendous vision and leadership on agricultural and renewable fuel issues,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “He clearly understands that ethanol plays a crucial role in boosting the rural economy, improving the environment, and bolstering our nation’s energy security. Ricketts will be a welcome addition to the U.S. Senate and we know he will have an immediate impact. We are excited to have the opportunity to continue our work with him to expand the production and use of low-cost, low-carbon renewable fuels and the other important bioproducts that come from our nation’s 200 ethanol biorefineries.”

Ricketts takes the place of former Sen. Ben Sasse, who resigned to take a position as president of the University of Florida. Ricketts will need to run in a special election in 2024 to serve out the remainder of Sasse’s vacated term.




Scoular CEO Paul Maass appointed to Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Board of Directors

Scoular CEO Paul Maass has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s head office Board of Directors.  The appointment was announced Wednesday.  Prior to this appointment, he served on Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Omaha Branch Board of Directors in 2022. 

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the nation’s central bank, which promotes the effective operations of the U.S. economy.

Members of the head office Board of Directors represent the Tenth Federal Reserve District: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri. Member banks within the Tenth Federal Reserve District elected Maass to a three-year term, representing the public.

“I am honored to serve on the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s board of directors,” Maass said.  “I look forward to working with my fellow board members to support the mission of the Federal Reserve system.”

Maass has been CEO at Scoular since 2016 and is responsible for the company’s worldwide strategic leadership. He also is a member of Scoular’s Board of Directors and has more than 30 years of experience in the agriculture and food industries.



Cattlemen’s Heritage Beef Finalizes Land Purchase for Site of Mills County Processing Facility

The Cattlemen’s Heritage Beef Company finalized the purchase of the 132-acre site of its planned 2,000-head per day beef-processing facility in Mills County on Dec. 30, 2022. The sale price was not disclosed.

“I’m very appreciative of the cooperation, flexibility, patience and professionalism that the owners, their representatives and officials in Mills County demonstrated throughout this process,” said principal developer Chad Tentinger. “Land purchases for projects of this size often take quite a while to complete and they often have unforeseen challenges, but everyone worked together very well from Day One and through negotiations until final documents were signed.”

The site is located on the northwest quadrant of Interstate 29 and Bunge Road intersection just south of the Pottawattamie-Mills county line. Groundbreaking will take place in 2023.

“A facility of our size and scale requires a certain level of infrastructure and public utilities. In addition to those requirements, this site checks all the boxes for logistics when it comes to the level of truck traffic for cattle and raw goods coming into the plant and processed goods leaving the facility,” he said. “Its proximity to I-80 is another logistical plus. With the eventual need for up to 800 employees, its location in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan statistical area is another valuable attribute.”

Tentinger noted that the site is zoned for industrial development with emphasis on agribusiness-type operations, Bunge North America operates a soybean processing facility on the opposite side of Interstate 29, just east of the Cattlemen’s Heritage site. An ethanol plant is located nearby.

“Our facility and its state-of-the-art operations fit the neighborhood, but we’ll also be putting our best foot forward in terms of an attractive public-facing design,” Tentinger said.

The company last year selected Gross-Wen Technologies, a leading algae-based wastewater treatment company, to provide contained treatment at the site. The technology will capture and offset several thousand tons of carbon dioxide per year from the atmosphere.

“That’s the equivalent of avoiding the use of 242,000 gallons of gasoline every year,” Tentinger said. “The nitrogen and phosphorus that it will recover will be converted into valuable, natural fertilizer for re-use by area farmers as part of our goal to create a carbon-neutral footprint.”



Signup for Crop Insurance Discount Program for Cover Crops Extended to Jan. 27

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today extended the deadline to apply for the Crop Insurance Discount Program for cover crops to Jan. 27. Farmers who planted fall cover crops in 2022 can apply to receive $5 per acre discount on their 2023 crop insurance premiums.

“Cover crops offer many agronomic benefits to farmers and landowners while also helping to improve water quality,” said Secretary Naig. “At a time when crop input costs continue to rise, this innovative program will save farmers money while also providing improved water quality for Iowans and those downstream.”

In its sixth year, the program has helped increase cover crop acreage across the state and has been replicated in other Midwest states. Iowa has approximately three million acres of cover crops, a conservation practice that improves soil structure, enhances permeability and holds phosphorus and nitrogen in place.

Farmers and landowners may signup online before Jan. 27 at apply.cleanwateriowa.org.



Iowa Biodiesel Production Ticks Up in 2022

According to a recent survey conducted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), Iowa’s 11 biodiesel plants produced a combined 349 million gallons of biodiesel 2022, up from 340 million gallons in 2021. Last year’s production was the third highest reported, with a record 365 million gallons produced in Iowa in 2018.

“Iowa continues to lead the nation in biodiesel production,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Biodiesel continues to be a good market for adding value for Iowa farmers. Even with growing renewable diesel production around the country, we see exciting new opportunities for biodiesel in addition to traditional on-road and agricultural markets. Home-heating oil, rail, and even marine applications are emerging that we believe will grow biodiesel demand in future years.”

Soybean oil, with 71 percent of production, remained the feedstock of choice for Iowa biodiesel producers. Likewise, animal fats remained in second place at 11 percent. Canola oil usage increased markedly to barely edge corn oil for third place. Both accounted for roughly 7 percent of production. Used cooking oil dropped to 4 percent of production.



IDALS Lifts Order Cancelling Live Bird Exhibitions Due to HPAI

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced that the November 10 order cancelling all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings of birds due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been lifted. The order also prohibited live birds from being sold or transferred at livestock auction markets, swap meets, and exotic sales.

It has been 30 days since the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed a new infection of HPAI in domestic poultry in Iowa. The last confirmed case of HPAI in Iowa was announced on December 12.

“Commercial poultry producers and those with backyard birds should continue to be vigilant with their biosecurity because this destructive disease still poses a serious ongoing risk,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We are continually monitoring highly pathogenic avian influenza case counts worldwide and we remain ready to quickly respond should spring migration bring us another enhanced level of threat.”

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products. An internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.



I-29 Moo University Presents Calf Care & Quality Assurance Webinar On Feb. 6

The I-29 Moo University 2023 Dairy Webinar Series continues Monday, February 6 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CT with a focus on how the Calf Care & Quality Assurance (CCQA) program. The CCQA program was formed by a collaboration of multiple sectors within the cattle industry to provide best management guidelines to calf raiser. Learn how you can incorporate this educational certification tool in to your operation through areas like calf health, animal handling & stockmanship, transportation and emergency preparedness. The program will be presented by Beverly Hampton Phifer and Dr. Julia Herman.

“Listeners will learn about the best management practices for calf care in this new program and can begin enrolling their employees in the online training,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Beverly Hampton Phifer currently manages the day-to-day operations of the National Dairy FARM Animal Care program. She joined NMPF in 2016. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Animal Care evaluator certification process, program participant relations, farmer resource development and outreach with the internal dairy industry.

Her experience in livestock production and risk management is life-long. Prior to joining National Milk, her professional resume includes providing technical support and project management for animal care, environmental and worker safety matters for a variety of animal agriculture trade associations. These include the Animal Agriculture Alliance, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the Wild Alaska Pollock Association among others.

Dr. Julia Herman serves as the Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. She leads education development and veterinary outreach for the Producer Education team and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. Her interests in animal behavior and welfare, biosecurity, and producer/employee education provide opportunities to improve food animal production systems that contribute to a safe food supply. Previously, she worked in a beef cattle practice on the Central Plains before joining the livestock faculty with Colorado State University’s veterinary school. She represents NCBA on cattle health and welfare advisory committees for national veterinary organizations and agricultural groups. Julia earned her DVM (2015) and MS (2013) with an emphasis in Epidemiology from Colorado State University and achieved board certification in veterinary preventive medicine in 2022.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, preregistration is required at least one hour before the webinar. Preregister online at: https://go.iastate.edu/A1QH3T.

For more information, contact: in Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota, Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; or in South Dakota, Heidi Carroll, 605-688-6623.