Weekend Ag News Round-up - February 19th

 NEBRASKA FARM NUMBERS LOWER

Nebraska's number of farms and ranches declined during 2022, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number of farms and ranches in the state, at 44,300, was down 500 farms from 2021. Numbers of farms and ranches in Nebraska with less than $100,000 in agricultural sales decreased 500 farms from a year earlier while operations with agricultural sales of $100,000 or more was unchanged.

Land in farms and ranches in Nebraska totaled 44.8 million acres, unchanged from 2021. The average size of operation, at 1,011 acres, was up 11 acres from a year earlier.



IOWA FARMS AND LAND IN FARMS

The total number of farms in Iowa in 2022 was 84,900, unchanged from 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Farms and Land in Farms 2022 Summary report. Total land in farms for Iowa during 2022 was 30.5 million acres. The average farm size in Iowa in 2022 was 359 acres, unchanged from 2021.



Farms and Land in Farms Highlights

The number of farms in the United States for 2022 is estimated at 2,002,700, down 9,350 farms from 2021. The number of farms increased in all sales classes except the $1,000-$9,999 and $10,000-$99,999 sales classes. In 2022, 50.8 percent of all farms had less than $10,000 in sales and 81.4 percent of all farms had less than $100,000 in sales. In 2022, 7.5 percent of all farms had sales of $500,000 or more.
 
Total land in farms, at 893,400,000 acres, decreased 1,900,000 acres from 2021. The biggest change for 2022 is that producers in Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999 operated 1,620,000 fewer acres than in 2021. In 2022, 30.0 percent of all farmland was operated by farms with less than $100,000 in sales, while 41.2 percent of all farmland was operated by farms with sales of $500,000 or more.

The average farm size for 2022 is 446 acres, up from 445 acres the previous year. Average farm size increased in the $1,000,000 or more sales class and decreased or remained unchanged in all other sales classes.



Ag safety during calving season

Calving season is a busy time of the year and can be really exciting. However, there are some very real dangers in working with livestock, especially during calving time when cows want to protect their calves. Why is that?

Hormone levels begin to increase in cows/heifers as they approach calving, and they start to develop strong maternal instincts. These instincts can make the animals behave aggressively toward those they perceive as a threat, such as farmers, veterinarians or anyone else entering their area. These hormone levels can rise even higher after birth, and even a previously docile cow could become fiercely protective of her calf.

This can make calving season a particularly dangerous time. According to recent data from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), of 197 farm-related fatalities in the last decade, 38 involved livestock. Twelve of those fatalities (32%) involved situations with cows protecting their calves, while only six involved incidences with bulls. In 2021 alone, working with cattle accounted for three farm fatalities.

However, fatalities only give you a partial picture, as incidents involving livestock during calving season are responsible for the greatest number of non-fatal accidents — 25%. While not fatal, these accidents can cause a great strain on the ranch, as the work piles up while injured workers are unable to perform their normal tasks.

The following are several tips on how to stay safe during the busy time of calving season:

·         Make sure you have enough calving pens available for your herd size.

·         Check your equipment before calving season and replace or repair any loose bolts or hinges on gates or doors, ensuring they are secure and in good working order.

·         Obtain a head gate and calving gate, both of which are great pieces of equipment for dealing with a freshly calved cow or newborn calf.

·         When possible, ensure there is a physical barrier between yourself and a freshly calved cow —  especially when treating a calf.

·         Work out your escape route before you enter the pen, and always be alert to the possibility of a potentially dangerous situation.

·         Be alert when you are near a cow or get between her or her calf.

·         When possible, have another person present to assist if needed.

·         Keep in mind that calving pens are magnets for young children who want nothing more than to see the new babies. However, children are often viewed as a threat by the cow, so ensure that they are kept out of the calving shed.

·         Work calmly and quietly to avoid stressing the animals.

Whether bedding the calving area, assisting with a cow during calving or assisting the calf immediately after birth, remember to be safe. Safety is important not only for you and anyone assisting you, but also for the cow and calf. Stay safe this calving season.



Ethanol Forum in Omaha Invites National Speakers to Highlight Emerging Issues
 
Biofuels stakeholders and experts from across the nation will join the Nebraska Ethanol Board and Renewable Fuels Nebraska for the annual Ethanol: Emerging Issues Forum March 6-7, 2023, in La Vista, Nebraska, at the La Vista Conference Center. In its 17th year, the Forum serves newcomers to the ethanol industry and experienced professionals who want to hear about emerging markets, policy, and technology, and who want to connect with industry colleagues.
 
Newly-elected Governor of Nebraska Jim Pillen and Dr. Venus Welch-White, senior advisor to the Agricultural Advisor of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will headline this two-day event, and highlight how Nebraska ethanol plays a role in agriculture, the economy, and sustainability. What does new state and federal legislation mean for sustainable aviation fuel; carbon capture, storage, and utilization; use of higher ethanol blends; and the Renewable Fuel Standard? The program covers it in the state, federal, and global policy discussions.
 
The Innovation Showcase highlights three carbon-reducing technologies and reviews the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) — a first-of-its-kind project in South Dakota to illuminate the path forward for climate-smart farming practices.
 
This year’s Forum also includes resources to learn about investing in decarbonization projects and infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy and USDA will review past, current, and future funding, while Advanced Resources International helps make economic sense of carbon marketing and shows ethanol producers how credits can stack up in their favor.
 
Registration and a detailed agenda are available at ethanol.nebraska.gov/events/emerging-issues-forum/. Nebraska ethanol producers, students, media, and Nebraska legislators are welcome to attend at no cost. See “registration type” for details or email jessica.sodeke@nebraska.gov with questions. Registration ends Feb. 26.
 
The many successful years of the Ethanol: Emerging Issues Forum remain possible from the support of local and national sponsors. This year’s Signature sponsors include Bio Nebraska, Carbon America, Husch Blackwell, Kutak Rock, Navigator CO₂ Ventures, Novozymes, Summit Carbon Solutions, and WCR. Supporting sponsors include the American Coalition for Ethanol, CoBank, Fluid Quip Technologies, HMT, IFF, Pelican Energy, Phibro’s Ethanol Performance Group, Pivot Global Bioethanol Coalition, the Renewable Fuels Association, and USDA Rural Development.



Ricketts Congratulates Nebraska's Orthman Manufacturing on New EXIM Financing

Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a longtime champion of Nebraska manufacturing, announced financing from the Export-Import Bank for Orthman Manufacturing of Chapman, Nebraska to expand its exports.

“I am pleased to see a Nebraska small business get funded to expand their international trade,” said Senator Ricketts. “Nebraska agricultural manufacturers like Orthman continue to lead the way with innovations that help producers improve productivity, preserve the soil, and feed the world.”

In business since 1967, Orthman manufactures agricultural and conservation tillage equipment, including cultivators, toolbars, guidance systems, rippers, planter attachments, and scrapers.

The Export-Import (EXIM) bank supports U.S. economic and job growth by providing American businesses to financing tools like direct lending, loan guarantees, and trade credit insurance to boost their export sales. Since Fiscal Year 2014, EXIM has provided support to 13 small business exporters in Nebraska with total financing of over $426 million. Other Nebraska companies to have received EXIM support include: Preferred Popcorn LLC in Chapman, Gavilon Ingredients, LLC in Omaha, and Oxbow Enterprises Inc. in Omaha.



NEBRASKA FEBRUARY 1 POTATO STOCKS

Nebraska growers, dealers, and processors held 4.30 million cwt of potatoes in storage on February 1, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Current stocks represent 45% of the 2022 production. Total stocks are defined as all potatoes on hand, regardless of use, including those that will be lost through future shrinkage and dumping.

Comparing stocks by type, Russets accounted for 29% of the total, unchanged from 2022. Whites were 68% of the total, down 1% from 2022. Reds and Yellows were withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

U.S. Potato Stocks Down 3 Percent from February 2022
Potatoes held in storage on February 1, 2023 totaled 192 million cwt, down 3 percent from February 1, 2022. Potatoes in storage accounted for 49 percent of the 2022 production, up 1 percent from the same period a year earlier. The indicated season to date disappearance, at 200 million cwt, was down 5 percent from the same period last year. Season to date shrink and loss, at 15.3 million cwt, was down slightly from the same time last year. Processors in the 8 States used 112 million cwt of potatoes for the season, down 2 percent from February 2022.



Over 150 Grants to Support Iowa Students Learning Agriculture

The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded 155 grants to schools throughout Iowa to support the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction or after school programs with an academic focus.

The Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Supplement Grants are designed to help teachers initiate new projects or expand existing projects that promote agriculture literacy in students. Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips and other projects.

One grant recipient, Jane Eklund of East Union Elementary in Afton, Iowa, whose students will learn about where their food comes from, conduct research about agriculture entities, and then plant and grow their own crop, commented, “I am honored and excited to receive the grant. I can’t wait to see how excited the students will be with the agriculture activities and books we plan to use.”

Some of the innovative applicants will be conducting projects this spring including culinary and nutrition programs, crop and animal lifecycles, pollinators, ecosystems, renewable energy, aquaponics, water quality, farm-to-fork projects, dairy field trips, egg hatching, and agricultural history tours. Successful applicants will use these agricultural experiences to teach language arts, social studies and a variety of other concepts already taught in their classrooms.

“We had a lot of great applications that focus on integrating agriculture into science, social studies, and language arts curriculums,” said IALF executive director, Kelly Foss. “We hope these grants will allow teachers to make real world connections to what they are already teaching.”

The grants are a special project of IALF and made possible through support from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

“The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is proud to provide financial assistance to support Iowa teachers in their classrooms,” said Ronnette Vondrak, IFBF community resources manager. “Agricultural literacy is critical in expanding a deeper understanding of the value and impact agriculture has across our state and the world.”

A teacher at Waukee Northwest High School applied to use the funds in a collaborative effort between Northwest High School’s culinary programs, the school’s science courses, and Waukee’s APEX program. Upon being informed of the grant award, Nick Ross, Waukee Northwest High School principal, said, “This is great news. Our students will have enhanced learning opportunities courtesy of this grant.”

The projects will be completed before the end of the school year with final reports submitted by June 9. For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org. For a complete list of award recipients, go to https://bit.ly/3Itj8TE

IALF serves as a central resource for educators and volunteers who want to teach Iowa’s students about agriculture. The mission is to educate Iowans, with a focus on youth, regarding the breadth and global significance of agriculture. Iowa is a leading producer of agricultural products that are essential to feed a growing world population, estimated to reach more than nine billion by 2050. IALF believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. IALF will support existing agriculture education efforts such as FFA, 4-H and Ag in the Classroom. IALF was created through a joint effort of agricultural stakeholders, including the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Corteva Agriscience, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. For more information visit IALF online at www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.



Austin Hill wins the Beef. It's What's For Dinner.® 300

Austin Hill joins a prestigious list as back-to-back winner of the 2023 Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® 300. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, once again partnered with Daytona International Speedway to sponsor the 42nd annual NASCAR Xfinity Series season opening race, one day before the iconic DAYTONA 500. For the second year in a row, Austin Hill drove into victory lane where he was greeted by a buckle and the beef to close out a week that showcased all things beef and agriculture to race fans young and old.

“The race outdoes itself every year, and continues to be a huge hit among NASCAR fans,” said Clark Price, Federation Division Vice Chair for NCBA, “It’s an honor to be here for a third year to once again showcase the values of cattle farming and ranching that resonate with fans, and bring everyone together with beef on the grill.”

The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® 300 is part of DAYTONA Speedweeks presented by AdventHealth. Throughout the week, race fans had a chance to interact with farmers and ranchers, try their hand at roping, and of course taste some delicious beef at the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. midway tent. Additionally, campers and tailgaters who sported signs showing they were grilling beef were surprised with beef gear, from steak seasoning packets to shirts and bags.

For race fans not able to join the tailgate in person, a satellite media tour took the tailgate to them. Just two days before the race, award winning chef Ryan Clark, Tucson’s Iron Chef for three consecutive years and Executive Chef for the AAA 4-Diamond and Forbes 4-Star Hotel Casino Del Sol, was live from the track for interviews with TV and radio stations across the country. Chef Clark shared two of his favorite race day recipes – a Beef, Beer & Cheese Dip and BBQ Beef Sliders – both perfect for tailgating, or homegating.

And it wasn’t just race fans getting in on the fun, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and members of the media were all treated to delicious beef meals prepared by chefs from the Beef Loving Texans on behalf of beef farmers and ranchers everywhere.

Finally, the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand was also showcased nationwide through various advertising efforts before and during the race. In addition to signage on the racetrack, funding from several State Beef Councils allowed for commercials showcasing beef to a national audience on FS1 during the race. Ads were also featured on various digital platforms and billboards could be seen in the Daytona International Airport and along the highway approaching the speedway.



Handy Bt Trait Table Updated for 2023 Corn

The Handy Bt Trait Table was updated in February 2023 by Dr. Chris DiFonzo, Michigan State University. It lists information about all Bt corn hybrids commercially available in the U.S. in a concise two-page format. It presents the trade names for hybrids with Bt traits, Bt protein(s) expressed, targeted insects and herbicide traits.

The table is a useful reference to help understand which hybrids have which traits (both Bt and herbicide tolerance traits). This table can help avoid the development of resistance from using the same traits repeatedly (even if you change hybrids) and will be useful during the field season as you troubleshoot insect injury or prepare to apply herbicides.

Now in its 21th year, this table has become the standard as an authoritative reference to Bt toxins in corn. For more information, see the Bt Trait Table site https://www.texasinsects.org/uploads/4/9/3/0/49304017/bttraittable_feb_2023.pdf.



Still Time to Apply for the ASA and Valent Ag Voices of the Future Program

The American Soybean Association is accepting applications for the Valent and ASA Ag Voices of the Future program, which will be held July 10-13, 2023, in conjunction with the summer ASA Board meeting and Soy Issues Forum in Washington, D.C. The Ag Voices of the Future program is for students interested in improving their understanding of major agricultural policy issues, the importance of advocacy, and careers that can impact agricultural policy.

ASA and Valent partner with the collegiate organization Agriculture Future of America on the application process and promotion of this program. The class size is limited, and there has already been significant interest in this summer’s program. While the application period opened in November, students still have until March 9, 2023, to submit their final application.

Select students from the 2023 Ag Voices of the Future program will also be awarded a scholarship to participate in the AFA Leaders Conference, Nov. 9-12, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. The scholarship will cover the students’ registration fees and travel expenses to and from the conference.

To apply for the ASA and Valent Ag Voices of the Future program, and in turn be considered for a scholarship to the AFA Leaders Conference, students should visit the Ag Voices of the Future webpage on the ASA website, click the green “Apply Now” button, and submit their application by March 9. Students must be at least 18 years old by July 10, 2023, to participate in the program. To make sure students are considered for the Ag Voices of the Future program, they should check the box on the application form that reads, “I have an interest in agriculture policy and would like to be considered for the ASA and Valent Ag Voices of the Future Program (July 10-13, Washington, D.C.) and an AFA Leaders Conference Scholarship.” If a student has already applied for the AFA Leaders Conference, they can modify their application to include checking the box for the Ag Voices of the Future program.



Growth Energy to IRS: Using the Best Science Will Maximize the Impact of IRA’s SAF Tax Credits

In a comment letter submitted today to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Growth Energy—the nation’s leading biofuels trade association—urged the agency to rely on the most accurate and up-to-date lifecycle analysis (LCA) approaches in order to make the most of the 40B and 45Z tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and to help the U.S. become the global leader in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Growth Energy sent the letter in response to the IRS’s call for public comment on its implementation of the IRA’s 40B Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit and the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit. This is the third time Growth Energy has submitted comments to the IRS on these incentives, and the third time it has reiterated to the agency how important it is that the most thorough, accurate science be used to determine which producers are eligible for the tax credits and how much they can claim.  

“Specifically, the IRS must allow ethanol-to-jet fuel producers to use the U.S. Department of Energy’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model in determining the fuel’s lifecycle GHG emissions,” the letter said. “Further, the IRS’s implementation of the 40B and 45Z tax credits must rely on accurate and complete GHG lifecycle emissions accounting to determine credit eligibility.”

Many Growth Energy member companies have already made substantial investments in SAF production, and in its letter the association noted that it views “U.S. leadership in the global SAF market to be vital to the decarbonization and future economic competitiveness of the U.S. aviation sector.”  

Relying on the GREET model and the most comprehensive LCA accounting methods would “incentivize further GHG emissions reductions and further the IRA’s goals,” Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor wrote to Treasury in November 2022. “Any other approach, such as GHG emissions values that do not account for the array of potential GHG-reduction strategies, would fail to incentivize further reductions and accordingly frustrate the purpose of these tax credits.”