Thursday April 6 Ag News

Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Navigable Means Navigable

Last week, I spoke on the Senate floor to fight a blatant power grab by the federal government. The Senate considered a resolution attempting to block the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule from President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This rule would change the definition of navigable waters to include things like roadside ditches, puddles on construction sites, and farm ponds.

Think about that – President Biden’s EPA and his Army Corps of Engineers apparently believe that drainage ditches, construction site puddles, and farm ponds are “navigable waters.”  If allowed to stand, this rule would increase costs and uncertainty for farmers and ranchers, property owners, and small businesses. To say this rule defies all common sense is an understatement.

I know that Nebraska is a land-locked state, but it doesn’t take a PH.D to understand that the word “navigable” means you can put a boat in the water and go someplace. The Merriam Webster definition of “navigable” is “deep enough and wide enough to afford the passage of ships”. If you put a boat in a roadside ditch, you aren’t going anywhere. If you put a boat on the construction site puddle, you aren’t going anywhere. If you put a boat on a pond, you’re not leaving the pond. Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers know that what the EPA is proposing just isn’t right.

Beyond that, the Biden administration is trying to change the meaning of a law without coming to Congress. The 1972 Clean Water Act says “navigable waters” 50 times. Congress’ intent was very clear. The EPA had authority over streams, rivers, and oceans, not temporary water sources. The Biden administration is trying to subvert our laws and the correct response from Congress is to stop it.

President Biden and liberal bureaucrats have absolutely no business regulating this, and I think the President knows it. Why? Because President Biden’s EPA and Army Corps of Engineers quietly finalized this new rule on the last working day of the year. It appears that the regulators hoped no one would notice this power grab. Well, we noticed. Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers noticed. My colleagues and I noticed and we pushed back hard. Our resolution passed with bipartisan support, sending a message to President Biden that our farmers and ranchers need relief, not regulation. We provided needed oversight and accountability in response to executive overreach. We defended Article I of our U.S. Constitution which says that Congress makes laws, not D.C. bureaucrats.

I recently participated in a telephone townhall with my colleague Senator Deb Fischer where we heard directly from Nebraskans about this issue. One woman told us that she was “tired of fighting” EPA bureaucrats. For years, she had rallied her friends and neighbors to write letters and comments opposing a similar rule proposed by President Obama’s EPA in 2015. She was angry that President Biden’s EPA refused to listen, forcing her to raise grassroots opposition once again. I fought the Obama rule in 2015 as Governor, and I am fighting the Biden EPA now as Senator.

It is clear that Washington bureaucrats are in desperate need of some Nebraska common sense. I was proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues in opposing this rule.

Along with Senator Fischer and the rest of my colleagues in the Nebraska delegation, my team and I are here to serve you. Contact my team and I anytime by phone at 202-224-4224, on my website www.ricketts.senate.gov, or via email contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov. I am honored to serve our great state and will continue to work to protect the Good Life from Washington overreach.



Northeast Community College launches new agriculture-diesel mechanic apprenticeship

Northeast Community College has created a new agriculture-diesel mechanic apprenticeship program that is tailored to serve individuals who are unable to attend college as a traditional full-time student. With the apprenticeship program, students will work at an ag diesel company and earn an income while advancing their career and obtaining industry skills.

Development of the program began in 2021 through conversations with the ag diesel industry around the shortage of qualified diesel mechanics. Northeast's Diesel Technology-Agriculture associate degree program is consistently filled with additional interested students who are placed on a waitlist. The college began exploring ways to increase capacity in this area as well as offer an alternative pathway for those not able to attend school full-time as a traditional student.

“The apprenticeship program is centered around bootcamp-style classroom education and structed on-the-job learning,” said Kimberly Andersen, apprenticeship director at Northeast. “The first cohort of classroom training will begin in mid-June. Apprentices will spend five-to-six weeks in the classroom learning the basics of the industry and work processes. Individuals will then begin working full-time at one of our employer partners and will return to Northeast quarterly for module trainings ranging from four-to-six days each.”

Apprentices will also complete structured on-the-job learning alongside an experienced mentor at their company. On-the-job training will help apply classroom knowledge to real-world experiences.

Apprenticeship provides an alternative pathway to career success for individuals who need to earn an income while they learn. Apprentices will earn an hourly wage while working on the job and may also be eligible for company benefits such as health, dental and paid time off.

“The completion of the apprenticeship program will place the apprentice in the middle of one of the most sought-after job markets, achieving the skillsets to have a fun and rewarding career, in an industry filled with rapid innovations,” said Bob Shald, service manager for Mitchell Equipment. “Mitchell Equipment is a proud supporter of Northeast’s Apprenticeship Program.”

Completing the apprenticeship program will take approximately three years. Apprentices will receive a nationally recognized credential from the United States Department of Labor. In addition, they’ll be earning a sustainable living wage through a full-time career with potential for advancement within their company.

“Northeast is excited to be offering this innovative opportunity for individuals in our area,” Andersen said. “This type of program is the first of its kind in the ag diesel field and Northeast is proud to be able to offer it.”

Individuals interested in becoming an apprentice or businesses that have a desire to get involved in the program should contact Andersen at kander61@northeast.edu or (402) 844-7121. Learn more about apprenticeship programs at Northeast by visiting northeast.edu/apprenticeships.



NCW – Consumer Education and Promotion Committee Announces 2023 Beef Ambassador Competition and Advocacy Training

Today, Nebraska Cattlemen’s NCW – Consumer Education and Promotion Committee announced that the 2023 Beef Ambassador Competition and Advocacy Training will take place on Wednesday, June 7 at 1:00 p.m. CT at the Farm Credit Services office in North Platte, Nebraska.

The Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest and Beef Advocacy Training provides an opportunity for future beef industry leaders, ages fourteen to twenty-four years old, to sharpen their advocacy skills and strengthen their knowledge of the key issues facing the number one industry in Nebraska.

The Beef Ambassador Competition requires participants to address current issues facing the beef industry with both a written response and a mock media interview. The competition is separated into two divisions, senior and collegiate. Cash prizes will be awarded, and the two first-place division winners will receive a belt buckle. The first-place junior and collegiate winners will become official NCW Beef Ambassadors for a full year. They will work to educate consumers and students on the importance of beef. At the end of their one-year term, the collegiate Nebraska Beef Ambassador will be awarded a scholarship on behalf of the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation.

Chandler Mulvaney, Director of Grassroots Advocacy and Spokesperson Development for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, will lead this year’s beef advocacy training. Chandler will help participants learn how to use advocacy to share their stories, interview strategies, and social media tools.

The deadline to register is Friday, June 2. Registration and additional details can be found on the Nebraska Cattlemen website at www.nebraskacattlemen.org. For more information, please contact Bonita Lederer at ncw@necattlemen.org or at (402) 450-0223.

The 2023 Beef Ambassador Competition and Advocacy Training is sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America.



Statement by Mark McHargue, President, regarding Appointment of Carolyn Bosn and the Resignation of Sen. Suzanne Geist

"The Nebraska Farm Bureau congratulates Carolyn Bosn on her appointment to the Nebraska Legislature serving District 25. Bosn was appointed after Sen. Suzanne Geist announced her resignation as senator for District 25. Carolyn has deep roots in Nebraska agriculture. Her background in law and agriculture will serve her well in the legislative body and we look forward to working with her in the coming days and weeks as we continue our efforts to enrich the lives of Nebraska farm and ranch families. We thank Governor Pillen for his swift action in appointing Ms. Bosn.”

“As chairman of the Legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunication Committee, Sen. Geist worked to improve roads and broadband in Lincoln and across the state. Her support for providing property tax relief for all Nebraskans was welcomed by our members. We wish Sen. Geist well in her quest to become Lincoln’s next mayor.”



USDA names Chaves to serve on national advisory committee for food safety regulation  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed Husker food scientist Byron Chaves to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection. Chaves, an assistant professor in the Food Science and Technology Department, specializes in food safety science and related public health dimensions.  

Chaves, who joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty in 2017, also is a food safety specialist for Nebraska Extension, providing training and technical assistance to the food manufacturing industry in Nebraska and regionally.

“Your expertise and knowledge are highly regarded,” USDA wrote in making the announcement. “We look forward to collaborating with you on ideas and more effective ways to ensure that our public is educated and knowledgeable about the safety of our meat and poultry inspection.”   

The advisory committee’s decisions provide guidance for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which annually conducts 7.6 million food safety and food defense procedures across 6,800 USDA-regulated establishments. FSIS inspections each year include more than 162 million head of livestock, 9.7 billion poultry carcasses and 2.8 billion pounds of liquid, frozen and dried egg products.

Chaves’ Extension activities include on-site food safety assessments for compliance with federal food safety regulations, and development of environmental monitoring programs for pathogens. He assists in developing food safety plans and offers workshops to disseminate relevant food safety information.  

Chaves is the state lead for a center leading efforts for the successful implementation of FDA food safety regulations across Nebraska.  

Chaves has a B.S. in food technology from the University of Costa Rica; an M.S. in food science/experimental statistics from Clemson University; and a Ph.D. in food safety and microbiology from Texas Tech University. He has been a visiting research scientist at the Centre for Food Safety at University College Dublin in Ireland and at the Food Safety Laboratories at ANSES in Maisons-Alfort, France.  

In a letter, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack thanked Chaves for his upcoming service on the advisory committee. “Your expertise and recommendations will benefit and improve our nation’s food safety programs,” Vilsack wrote.  



Iowa Farmers Optimistic About Agricultural Economy in New Survey

Iowa farmers are optimistic about the state's agricultural economy, according to a recent survey conducted by Bank Iowa. The survey polled thousands of farmers, with 67% expressing confidence that the ag economy will remain the same or improve in 2023. Additionally, over 70% of farmers reported being in the same or better financial shape compared to the previous year.

While finding qualified labor remains a top concern for farmers, the survey found that labor expenses were the second-highest concern. Bank Iowa's CEO, Jim Plagge, suggests that Iowa farmers may need to take on the task of training the next generation of farmers through hands-on apprenticeships.

The survey also found that technology is leading the way in terms of investment decisions. The percentage of farmers considering investing in ag-tech has risen from 22% to 36% over the past two years, with automation technology being the most popular investment. While larger farms are more willing to invest in technology, nearly every farmer reported implementing some type of ag-tech into their operations.



Iowa Corn Supports New Engine Technology and the Promise of Low Carbon Ethanol for Heavy-Duty Engine Applications

ClearFlame Engine Technologies, an innovation company dedicated to clean engine technology, announced that with the support of Iowa Corn, that it has recently raised $30 million in Series B funding to move from pilot to product in key markets. The new funding will help demonstrate how ClearFlame’s unique engine modification technology powers diesel engine platforms with renewable liquid fuels like ethanol in place of diesel fuel, helping to advance carbon and climate goals more immediately and cost efficiently.

“Sustainability continues to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind and with technology like this, companies will be able to improve their carbon footprint and power their heavy-duty transportation fleets with cleaner-burning, more affordable fuel like ethanol,” said Pete Brecht a farmer from Central City, Iowa, who serves as a director for both Iowa Corn Opportunities and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. “Not only is this a great opportunity for farmers to see more corn grind through ethanol production but it also gives the transportation industry a reliable source of homegrown fuel made right here in Iowa.”

By maintaining over 85% of the original diesel engine design, the company’s patented technology can efficiently adapt to markets like long-haul trucking, agriculture, power generation and mining, offering the same power, durability and performance as today’s diesel engines while readily integrating into existing manufacturing, fueling, maintenance and repair ecosystems.

“We are grateful for the continued support of Iowa Corn,” said BJ Johnson, ClearFlame CEO and co-founder. “Ethanol and other clean renewable fuels represent a critical part of our overall zero-carbon strategy. Our strategy puts these sustainable fuels to work powering diesel engines, the workhorses of our economy who also contribute significantly to transportation emissions. We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnerships as we move from pilot to product.”

“This investment is a testament to our mission of creating opportunities for long-term Iowa corn grower profitability.”  said Mark Mueller a farmer from Waverly, Iowa, who serves as a director for both Iowa Corn Opportunities and the Iowa Corn Growers Association. “With it we are able to showcase the importance of creating new uses for corn that make the world more sustainable, including powering heavy-duty engines with low carbon ethanol.”



USDA Awards Innovations in Climate-Smart Agriculture, Soil Health and Nutrient Management

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $40 million this year for 31 new projects through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, one of the ways USDA brings together partners to develop innovative approaches to climate-smart agriculture. Additionally, USDA is announcing a $19 million investment in two projects focused on nutrient management funded through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and two new formal partnerships to further nutrient management implementation.

These investments emphasize adoption and implementation of climate-smart practices, including nutrient management, which helps producers manage nutrients and soil amendments to maximize their economic benefit while minimizing their environmental impact.

Vilsack announced the investments at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he highlighted the development and adoption of new and innovative technologies and systems that will boost conservation efforts and agricultural production across the country. The announcement reflects the goals of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy from the bottom-up and middle-out and unleash an innovation boom that is Made in America.

“Addressing climate change is a tremendous challenge, but agriculture plays an important role, and we’re grateful for our many partners who are helping us confront the challenge head on. These new projects and agreements are working to mitigate climate change, conserve and protect our water, enhance soil health and create economic opportunities for producers,” said Vilsack. “We’re empowering our partners to develop new tools, technologies and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop cost-effective solutions to resource challenges.”

CIG
Iowa-based partners are two of the 14 partners with funded CIG On-Farm Trials projects. This year, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $25 million through On-Farm Trials, which supports more widespread adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. Incentive payments are provided to producers to offset the risk of implementing innovative approaches.

In Iowa through On-Farm Trials:
    Iowa State University of Science and Technology will demonstrate the advantages of a relay intercropping system to maintain or enhance productivity and profitability while improving soil health and increasing nutrient reductions. A diverse intercropping system will add cropping system resiliency and promote a more diversified and stable community of soil organisms, from microbes to earthworms, while suppressing pathogens and crop pests and benefitting nutrient cycling and soil structure.
    The Iowa Soybean Association is promoting the adoption of newly synthesized cropping systems that increase profitability, reduce nutrient losses and improve soil health. Project objectives include characterizing profitability and natural resource outcomes for improved cropping systems and developing new economic insights, natural resource conservation, and improved cropping system stability via crop modeling and statistical analysis.

Meanwhile, NRCS is investing $15 million in 17 projects through CIG Classic, which enables partners to develop new tools, technologies, and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions to resource challenges.

See the NRCS website for the list of all CIG Classic and CIG On-Farm Trials awarded projects.

For fiscal year 2022, NRCS set aside targeted funds for CIG Classic and On-Farm proposals that entirely benefit underserved producers, which includes producers who have previously lacked access or not participated in NRCS programs. This includes socially disadvantaged producers, military veterans, beginning farmers and limited-resource producers. Additionally, applicants competing for these set-aside funds were able to waive the non-federal match requirements.

Additional funding will be available for CIG On-Farm Trials for fiscal year 2023. The IRA provided $19.5 billion to support climate-smart practices through NRCS conservation programs, enabling NRCS to invest $50 million per year from fiscal years 2023 to 2027 for CIG On-Farm Trials. As part of the next call for proposals, NRCS will prioritize applications that focus on diet and feed management to reduce enteric methane emissions from livestock. More information on the fiscal year 2023 call for proposals is forthcoming.

RCPP Nutrient Management Grants
NRCS awarded two grants through RCPP to help producers achieve more efficient nutrient management within targeted critical conservation areas (CCA):
    Family Farms LLC will improve soil health and reduce the amount of nutrients applied to and lost from cropland in the Mississippi River Basin. This will be done through nutrient management plans that incorporate the addition of biochar to help conserve nutrients by enhancing nutrient efficiency.
    The Environmental Initiative, Inc. will use “nutrientsheds” – interconnected networks of geographically close farms to move and balance nutrient needs – to mitigate excess nutrient run-off adversely affecting the watershed. Within each of the two proposed “nutrientsheds,” participating producers will obtain nutrient management plans so that manure at participating farms can be collected and processed through the partners’ centralized thermophilic anaerobic digesters.

Through RCPP Grants, the lead partner must work directly with agricultural producers to support the development of new conservation structures and approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.

The more than $19 million awarded through these grants builds on the $200 million in RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangement and RCPP Classic partnership projects previously awarded in fiscal year 2022.

The RCPP fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity will be announced in late Spring. The Inflation Reduction Act provided an additional $4.95 billion in RCPP over four years starting in fiscal year 2023 to accelerate the adoption of conservation practices that help producers prepare for and mitigate against the impacts of climate change.

Nutrient Management MOUs
Additionally, as part of its effort to increase use of nutrient management practices, NRCS has also recently signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that further its conservation efforts targeted at improving nutrient management:
    American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and its International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) Program establishes a framework enabling ASA to recommend individuals for the NRCS Technical Service Provider (TSP) program. The TSP program enables certified individuals outside of NRCS to provide among other things, nutrient management plans to producers and landowners.
    Truterra (a Land O’ Lakes company) intends to explore opportunities to expand nutrient management adoption and increase technical capabilities of producers and landowners; assess the capabilities and tools of Truterra to deliver nutrient management technical assistance; expedite and streamline the technical assistance delivery system; and collaborate on assessment tools and opportunities to expedite producer participation in broader NRCS programs.

NRCS will continue to leverage additional partnerships to expand capacity and reach new producers with technical and financial assistance.

More Information
NRCS has prioritized projects that serve underserved producers through CIG and RCPP in recent years. Additionally, NRCS is investing up to $70 million in cooperative agreements with entities for two-year outreach projects that will increase participation by underserved producers and underserved communities in conservation programs and enhance opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences.



'Agronomy in the Field' Events Planned across Iowa

Four Agronomy in the Field cohorts are being offered in 2023 across Iowa. Agronomy in the Field is a workshop series for women that provides learning opportunities for forage and crop production.

The focus is on developing agronomic decision-making skills that can be utilized on one’s own personal farm or family cropping operations, including water quality and conservation practices.

The workshops are organized by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and are useful for landowners, active farmers and farm families, and others in the agricultural industry interested in a refresher on agronomic basics. The workshops will include hands-on opportunities in fields to help participants solidify the concepts and information they learn.

Below are the details for each of the cohorts including location, dates, time and registration information.

Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm, 6320 500th St., Sutherland
    Dates: May 24, June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 13.
    All sessions will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.
    RSVP by May 17; contact Marsha Rehder at 712-957-5045 or mrehder@iastate.edu.
    Cost is $25.
    Support comes from the ISU Extension and Outreach O’Brien County office.

Central Iowa: Des Moines Area Community College, Dallas County Farm, 25749 N Ave. (US 169), Adel
    Dates: April 18, May 23, June 20, July 18, Aug. 22.
    All sessions will be held from 6-7:30 pm.
    To RSVP contact Aleta Cochran at 515-993-4281 or aleta@iastate.edu.
    There is no charge to participate due to the support of the ISU Extension and Outreach Dallas County office.

Northeast Iowa: Postville and surrounding area, 1246 107th Ave., Castalia
    Dates: May 24, June 21, July 26, Aug. 29, Sept. 20.
    All sessions will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.
    To RSVP contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Fayette County office at 563-425-3331 or xfayette@iastate.edu.
    The registration fee is $75 for all five sessions, or $15 per individual session. College and high school students may register at a discounted rate of $20 for all five sessions or $5 per individual session.
    Support comes from the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette and Winneshiek county offices.

East Central Iowa: Doug and Denise Bishop’s Farm, 1764 240th St., Manchester
    Dates: May 17, June 14, July 19, Aug. 24, Sept. 13.
    All sessions will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.
    To RSVP contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Delaware County office at 563-927-4201 or xdelaware@iastate.edu.
    The registration fee is $75 for all five sessions, or $15 per individual session. College and high school students may register at a discounted rate of $20 for all five sessions or $5 per individual session.
    Support comes from the ISU Extension and Outreach Buchanan, Delaware and Dubuque county offices.

For each location, the cost covers all supplied materials and resources. This course is valued at $75 per person, but due to the generosity of the above listed county extension offices, the registration fee is being subsidized at some locations.

For more information regarding details for each location, contact your lead extension field agronomist: northwest Iowa, Leah Ten Napel, at lre@iastate.edu or 712-541-3493; central Iowa, Meaghan Anderson, at mjanders@iastate.edu or 319-331-0058; northeast and east central Iowa, Josh Michel, at jjmichel@iastate.edu or 563-581-7828. Or email agronomyinthefield@iastate.edu

For additional updates and information, follow the Iowa Women’s Agronomy in the Field Facebook page.




Momentum Continues for U.S. Pork Exports in February; Beef Exports Below Year-Ago

U.S. pork exports remained robust in February, achieving double-digit increases over last year in both volume and value, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports were lower year-over-year but improved from the low totals posted in January.

Pork to Mexico remains strong; CAFTA and ASEAN regions also trend higher
February pork exports totaled 219,729 metric tons (mt), up 11% from a year ago, while export value increased 10% to $596 million. This included a particularly strong performance for pork variety meat exports, which jumped 40% to nearly 48,000 mt, valued at $111.8 million – up 25% and the eighth highest on record.

Through February, total pork and pork variety meat exports increased 12% to 456,496 mt, valued at $1.24 billion (up 13%). Exports are on a record pace for Mexico and the Dominican Republic and trending higher year-over-year to China-Hong Kong, Central America, the ASEAN region and Taiwan.

“After setting a value record in 2022, the momentum for pork variety meat exports continues this year,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “While this is largely attributable to a rebound in exports to China, demand is also strengthening in other markets including Mexico and the Philippines. It also reflects an improved labor situation, which has helped the U.S. industry increase its capture rate and broaden the range of destinations for pork variety meats.”

Beef export volume steady to Japan and Korea, trends higher to Mexico
Beef exports totaled 105,057 mt in February, down 3% from a year ago, while export value dropped 16% to $757.8 million. For the first two months of the year, exports were down 9% from last year’s large volume to just under 206,000 mt, while export value dipped 24% to $1.46 billion. February exports to Japan and South Korea increased slightly from a year ago, though value trended lower. Through February, beef exports trended significantly higher year-over-year to Mexico, the Caribbean, the European Union and South Africa.

“On the beef side, it was encouraging to see a modest rebound compared to January,” Halstrom said. “With Asian markets continuing to ease indoor mask mandates and eliminate travel restrictions, we expect to see a continued boost in restaurant traffic and foodservice demand as the year progresses.”

Lamb exports continue to trend higher
Exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts totaled 224 mt in February, up 26% from a year ago, while value increased slightly to $1.23 million. Led by growth in Mexico, the Netherlands Antilles, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Guatemala, January-February exports increased 70% to 446 mt, while value was up 31% to $2.33 million.



Statement by Mark McHargue, President, regarding President Biden’s Veto of Congressional WOTUS Repeal Resolution

"Time and again efforts to expand the regulatory reach of the Clean Water Act have been rejected by Congress, courts, farmers and ranchers, and anyone who turns the earth with a shovel. President Biden’s tone-deaf rejection of a bipartisan resolution passed through both Houses of Congress is not surprising yet extremely disappointing. It is our hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will send the Biden administration a clear and direct message to go back to the drawing board on a new Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that respects private property rights and states regulatory authority.”

“Nebraska farmers and ranchers appreciate the steadfast support of Senators Fischer, and Ricketts as well as Congressmen Flood, Bacon, and Smith.”



AFBF to President Biden: You Let Farmers Down

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today commented on President Biden’s decision to veto the Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution that would have overturned the Environmental Protection Agency’s overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The CRA was a bipartisan, bicameral effort by Congress to halt implementation of the flawed rule.

“This veto flies in the face of President Biden’s promise to support farmers and ranchers. This rule is a clear case of government overreach that leaves farmers wondering whether they can farm their own land. It’s a shame the President is standing with bureaucrats instead of with the people who stock America’s pantries.

“The President’s decision to disregard the bipartisan will of Congress also causes farmers, ranchers and all Americans to doubt his often-repeated commitment to work with Congress when Members come together on a bipartisan basis. They did so and he rejected their will with the stroke of a pen. Mr. President, you let us down.”

The Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval passed in the Senate with bipartisan support by a vote of 53-43 and passed in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support by a vote of 227-198.



Final 2022 Organic and Non-GMO Harvested Acreage Now Available

Mercaris is pleased to announce final 2022 harvested acres for over 25 non-GMO and organic crops are now available. The new data is provided on Mercaris’ Acreage Analyzer tool which enables users to visualize U.S. identity-preserved acreage from multiple angles as well as identify historical acreage and market trends.

According to Mercaris’ final organic acreage estimates, nearly 8.3 million acres of USDA-certified organic land were harvested in the U.S. – across more than 19,000 certified organic farms – during 2022.

“Following a decline in certified organic pasture and rangeland, the area dedicated to organic field crop production accounted for the largest share of total certified organic land,” says Mercaris Vice President of Economics Ryan Koory. “Land utilized for organic field crop production reached nearly 3.7 million acres over 2022, holding mostly flat with the prior year for the first time since 2016 when Mercaris began collecting this data.”

With total organic field crop acres remaining even with the prior year, this distribution of acres across organic crops appears to have shifted over 2022 in response to several market factors.

“Acres dedicated to organic oilseed production increased 23% over 2022, with organic soybeans alone increasing by more than 74,000 acres,” says Koory. “These gains appear to have come at the cost of organic corn and organic small grains with those acres declining 1% and 9%, respectively, over the last year. Organic wheat acres also increased over 2022, supported mostly by a 6% increase in organic spring wheat acres.”

While certified organic acreage held largely steady through 2022, land planted with non-GMO corn and soybean seeds is estimated to have fallen by more than a million acres during 2022. According to USDA data, U.S. non-GMO corn and soybean planting declined 9% year-over-year to less than 10.6 million acres in 2022. This decline follows a reduction in non-GMO corn and soybean acres and a general increase in the use of GMO seeds across the country.



US Ag Dependent on Natural Gas

A new report by the American Gas Association (AGA) on natural gas usage by U.S. agriculture shows how important this product is to the industry. This is especially true for several Midwestern states with economies dependent upon agriculture and the various subsectors.

The report analyzed the natural gas consumption and economic impacts of U.S. crops, livestock, food processors and agrochemical sectors of the U.S. economy. The findings in this analysis are based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and federal economic data embedded in the IMPLAN economic model.

Here are some of the more important figures from the report:

-- The U.S. agriculture sector is a major part of the economy. It provides 5 million direct jobs. In addition, agriculture contributes $437 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).

-- Accounting for indirect suppliers and induced expenditures, the U.S. agriculture sector supports 17.2 million jobs and approximately $1.75 trillion in U.S. GDP. States with the largest share of their economies supported by the U.S. agricultural sector include Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Montana and Missouri.

-- Just five of the many agricultural subsectors combined consumed 2.06 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas in 2021, nearly the equivalent to the total consumption of California, which is the second-largest natural gas-consuming state. The five subsectors are food processing, beef and dairy cattle production, grains production, fertilizer and other agrochemicals and soybeans and other oilseeds production.

-- The U.S. agrochemical sector produces fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals for use on farms. In 2021, U.S. production of nitrogen fertilizer and other agrochemicals required the consumption of nearly 95 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas. States with the largest consumption of natural gas related to the production or the supply chain of agrochemicals include Texas, Louisiana, Iowa, California, Ohio, Indiana, Alabama, Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Mississippi.