Wednesday April 12 Ag News

 GRAZING WINTER ANNUALS
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Educator

Grazing winter annuals such rye, winter wheat, or triticale commonly begins in April.  All three of these forages can be very high in quality and reduce the need for expensive hay feeding and allow additional time for spring growth of our perennial summer pastures.

Because of cooler than normal temperatures this spring, growth may be a little behind.  Begin grazing when the plants are about 5 to 6 inches tall and manage to keep the maximum height at 8 to 10 inches.  A good starting point is about 0.5 cow or 1 stocker calf per acre in early spring and increasing from there.  Rotational grazing with higher stocking densities can assist with keeping the plant maturity more uniform and reduce selective grazing. Look ahead 1 or 2 pastures and move based on how the plants are recovering in those pastures. These forages grow fast and recover from grazing fast.

The most common mistake when spring grazing small cereals is letting the grass get ahead of the cattle.  It is important to increase stocking density as the spring progresses to ensure the cattle can keep up with the rapid forage growth. This can be achieved by either adding more cattle or reducing the number of acres being grazed.

Like most cool-season grasses in early spring, small cereal forages are also high in potassium. This means there is a need to provide supplemental magnesium as potassium interferes with magnesium availability to the animal. A free choice mineral with a targeted 4 oz per day intake should contain at least 10% magnesium to prevent grass tetany in lactating cows and 5% magnesium to increase gains in stocker calves.

For more information on this topic, check out the April BeefWatch newsletter and podcast at beef.unl.edu.  



USDA TO GATHER DATA ABOUT FARM LABOR

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey this month. The survey will collect information about hired labor from over 1,400 farmers and ranchers in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. NASS will publish the data May 24 in the Farm Labor report available on the NASS website at nass.usda.gov/Publications. Survey recipients who do not respond by April 19 may be contacted by NASS to arrange an interview.

In the survey, NASS asks producers to answer a variety of questions about hired farm labor on their operations, including total number of hired farm workers, total hours worked, and total wages paid for the weeks of Jan. 8-14 and April 9-15, 2023. Survey recipients can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.

“Agricultural labor data are critical in helping producers when hiring workers and estimating expenses,” said Nick Streff, director of the NASS Northern Plains Region Field Office. “The data that farm operators provide through NASS’s Agricultural Labor Survey also allow federal policymakers to base farm labor policies on accurate information.”

USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor use the survey data to estimate the demand for and availability of seasonal agricultural workers, establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers and administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs.

“By asking about two separate time periods each time we collect these data during the year, we are able to publish biannual data and capture seasonal variation,” said Streff. “This approach reduces the number of times we survey farms, while ensuring that accurate and timely data are available.”

Producers are encouraged to visit youtu.be/6oWSOjGTQzU for further information on and assistance completing this survey. All previous Farm Labor publications are available on the NASS website at nass.usda.gov/publications/publications. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northern Plains Region Field Office at (800) 582-6443.



Attorney General Hilgers Obtains Preliminary Injunction Against Biden Administration’s WOTUS Rule

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced that the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a preliminary injunction today against the Biden Administration’s implementation and enforcement of the Waters of the United States rule. The WOTUS rule, which was recently promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, significantly expands the geographic reach of the EPA’s authority under the Clean Water Act by redefining the term “waters of the United States.”

Attorney General Hilgers said: “Today’s victory honors the principle that Washington bureaucrats cannot exceed the limits set by Congress on their regulatory authority. We will continue to take every step to protect Nebraska farmers and ranchers from the Biden Administration’s overreach.”

Attorney General Hilgers recently addressed the importance of this litigation in his March column, which is available here.

In February, Attorney General Hilgers joined a coalition of 24 states in challenging the WOTUS rule in federal court. Nebraska’s co-plaintiffs are West Virginia, Georgia, Iowa, North Dakota, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. The district court made its preliminary injunction effective in each of the plaintiffs’ states.



Fischer Statement on WOTUS Injunction

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a preliminary injunction halting President Biden’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:

“There’s no question that Biden’s WOTUS rule represents a reckless intrusion into Nebraskans’ communities and livelihoods. Today’s legal victory is an important step in the right direction to stop D.C. bureaucrats from regulating our state’s resources.”

In February, Nebraska joined a coalition of 24 states in challenging the WOTUS rule in federal court. The district court made its preliminary injunction effective in each of the plaintiffs’ states.



Naig Issues Statement on WOTUS Court Decision

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released the following statement after the court's decision today on the new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:

“The court’s decision to grant an injunction on the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States rule is very welcome news for Iowa agriculture. This rule is too broad, too burdensome, too intrusive and far too costly. I want to commend Attorney General Bird for leading the legal fight to overturn the rule. Iowa farmers must be able to freely operate using modern farming practices and we do not need this unworkable bureaucratic decree hindering our efforts to accelerate the adoption of proven conservation and water quality practices.”



NCBA Highlights Federal Injunction Stopping WOTUS Rule in 24 States

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) praised the decision by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota to grant a preliminary injunction stopping the Biden administration’s “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule from taking effect in 24 states. Combined with a previous ruling in the Southern District of Texas, 26 states across the country are protected from the Biden WOTUS rule.
 
“Once again, the courts have affirmed that the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule is overreaching and harmful to America’s beef farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “Cattle producers in 26 states now have some additional certainty while this rule is being litigated and we are optimistic that the Supreme Court will provide nationwide clarity on the federal government’s proper jurisdiction over water.”

This injunction was granted thanks to a lawsuit filed by 24 state attorneys general seeking to overturn the WOTUS rule. In total, NCBA and its litigation partners have secured preliminary injunctions in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. NCBA’s motion for a nationwide injunction is still pending in the North Dakota court.



Second Judge Sides with Farmers by Halting WOTUS Rule

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall calls a second U.S. District Court ruling to halt the 2023 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule a win for farmers. Today’s ruling, out of North Dakota, stops implementation of the rule in 24 states. The first ruling, out of Texas, halted the rule in two states.

“This ruling reinforces our belief that the current WOTUS Rule is a clear case of government overreach. AFBF proudly stood with the 24 states involved and more than a dozen other organizations in this challenge and in backing the first successful court challenge on behalf of farmers and ranchers who simply want clear rules.

“Two District Courts have now acknowledged the new rule likely oversteps EPA’s authority under the Clean Water Act. With the rule now on hold in more than half the country, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps should do the right thing by listening to our legitimate concerns and rewriting the rule to draw a bright line of jurisdiction.

“This isn’t just a philosophical dispute: farmers and ranchers in the remaining states are left with no clear way to determine where federal jurisdiction begins and ends on their own property. The rule creates a fuzzy, subjective assessment that’s unfair to landowners.

“Here’s the bottom line: clean water is important to all of us and farmers and ranchers certainly share the goal of caring for our natural resources – we depend on them for our livelihoods – all we’re asking for is a sensible rule that farmers can interpret without hiring a team of lawyers.”

The 24 states impacted by today’s ruling are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Read today’s ruling here.

The first decision to halt the rule came from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on March 20, 2023. It stopped implementation of the rule in Texas and Idaho.



Iowa Pork: Tell Us Where to Find the State's Best Tenderloins
    
Iowans love breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, and restaurants across the state pride themselves on serving up unique renditions of this regional staple. The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is once again asking loyal fans to vote for their favorites.

The 21st annual Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest is underway, with online nominations accepted through June 5. The winning restaurants are announced in October.

“There’s always so much excitement around this contest,” said Kelsey Sutter, IPPA’s marketing and programs director. “Restaurants that earn this badge of honor will forever sell more tenderloins, as customers pour in from across the Midwest, and even other countries!”

A traditional tenderloin starts with a pounded-out slice of pork loin that’s dredged through flour, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, or crushed crackers. The meat is then fried to a crispy, golden brown and served on a bun. To qualify for the contest, hand-breaded tenderloins must be on the daily menu at an Iowa establishment with year-round, consistent hours. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal eateries, and catering businesses are ineligible.

This first round lets the public weigh in with their No. 1 choices, and nominations are limited to one per person. Those who nominate the winning restaurant will be entered to win a $100 prize.

Following the spring nomination period, IPPA’s Restaurant & Foodservice Committee will review 40 restaurants, which include the five restaurants with the most nominations from each of IPPA’s eight districts. Leading contenders will be turned over to a panel of undercover judges, who visit the locations and rank the tenderloins based on pork quality, taste, physical characteristics, and eating experience.

The top five picks will be revealed during National Pork Month, observed in October, with the winning restaurant receiving $500, a plaque to display in their business, and statewide publicity. The runner-up is awarded $250 and a plaque from IPPA.

Winners from the past five years:
    2022 — Lid’s Bar & Grill, Waukon
    2021 — Victoria Station, Harlan
    2020 — PrairieMoon On Main, Prairieburg
    2019 — The Pub at the Pinicon, New Hampton
    2018 — Three C’s Diner, Corning

Nominations in 2022: IPPA received 4,812 nominations for 449 different establishments.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 4/7/2023

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending April 7, ethanol production dropped 4.4% to a 13-week low of 959,000 b/d, equivalent to 40.28 million gallons daily. The volume produced was 3.6% less than the same week last year but 5.8% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate declined 1.3% to 991,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.19 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks were incrementally lower at 25.1 million barrels. However, stocks were 1.3% higher than a year ago and 7.6% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned across the East Coast (PADD 1) and Rocky Mountains (PADD 4) but built across the remaining regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, scaled back 3.9% to 8.94 million b/d (136.99 bg annualized). Yet, demand was 2.3% more than a year ago and 6.3% above the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol ticked up 0.3% to 891,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.66 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.5% above the same week last year and 8.0% more than the five-year average.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the eighteenth consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of February 2023.)



Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Strongest-Ever Pollution Standards for Cars and Trucks to Accelerate Transition to a Clean-Transportation Future

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new proposed federal vehicle emissions standards that will accelerate the ongoing transition to a clean vehicles future and tackle the climate crisis. The proposed standards would improve air quality for communities across the nation, especially communities that have borne the burden of polluted air. Together, these proposals would avoid nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to more than twice the total U.S. CO2 emissions in 2022, while saving thousands of dollars over the lives of the vehicles meeting these new standards and reduce America’s reliance on approximately 20 billion barrels of oil imports.

“By proposing the most ambitious pollution standards ever for cars and trucks, we are delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s promise to protect people and the planet, securing critical reductions in dangerous air and climate pollution and ensuring significant economic benefits like lower fuel and maintenance costs for families,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These ambitious standards are readily achievable thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is already driving historic progress to build more American-made electric cars and secure America’s global competitiveness.”

Since President Biden took office, the number of EV sales has tripled while the number of available models has doubled. There are over 130,000 public chargers across the country – a 40% increase over 2020. The private sector has also committed more than $120 billion in domestic EV and battery investments since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The new standards proposed today reflect the advancements and investments in clean vehicle manufacturing, which have been accelerated by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and complement the ongoing transition in the market towards cleaner vehicles.

The new proposed emissions standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles for model year (MY) 2027 and beyond would significantly reduce climate and other harmful air pollution, unlocking significant benefits for public health, especially in communities that have borne the greatest burden of poor air quality. At the same time, the proposed standards would lower maintenance costs and deliver significant fuel savings for drivers and truck operators.
    Through 2055, EPA projects that the proposed standards would avoid nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions (equivalent to more than twice the total U.S. CO2 emissions in 2022).  The proposed standards would reduce other harmful air pollution and lead to fewer premature deaths and serious health effects such as hospital admissions due to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
    By accelerating adoption of technologies that reduce fuel and maintenance costs alongside pollution, the proposed standards would save the average consumer $12,000 over the lifetime of a light-duty vehicle, as compared to a vehicle that was not subject to the new standards.
    Together, the proposals would reduce oil imports by approximately 20 billion barrels.
    Overall, EPA estimates that the benefits of the proposed standards would exceed costs by at least $1 trillion.

Light- and Medium-Duty Vehicle Proposed Standards
The first set of proposed standards announced today, the “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium Duty Vehicles,” builds on EPA’s existing emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for MYs 2023 through 2026. The proposal retains the proven regulatory design of previous EPA standards for light-duty vehicles, but leverages advances in clean car technology to further reduce both climate pollution and smog- and soot-forming emissions.

Between 2027 and 2055, the total projected net benefits of the light- and medium-duty proposal range from $850 billion to $1.6 trillion. The proposal is expected to avoid 7.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions through 2055, equivalent to eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions from the entire current U.S. transportation sector for four years and would also deliver significant health benefits by reducing fine particulate matter that can cause premature death, heart attacks, respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, aggravated asthma, and decreased lung function. EPA analysis shows that severe health impacts related to particulate matter exposure will also be reduced – including lung disorders (including cancer), heart disease, and premature mortality.

EPA’s proposal considers a broad suite of available emission control technologies, and the standards are designed to allow manufacturers to meet the performance-based standards however works best for their vehicle fleets. EPA projects that for the industry as a whole, the standards are expected to drive widespread use of filters to reduce gasoline particulate matter emissions and spur greater deployment of CO2-reducing technologies for gasoline-powered vehicles.

The proposed standards are also projected to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Depending on the compliance pathways manufacturers select to meet the standards, EPA projects that EVs could account for 67% of new light-duty vehicle sales and 46% of new medium-duty vehicle sales in MY 2032. The proposed MY 2032 light-duty standards are projected to result in a 56% reduction in projected fleet average greenhouse gas emissions target levels compared to the existing MY 2026 standards. The proposed MY 2032 medium-duty vehicle standards would result in a 44% reduction compared to MY 2026 standards.

Heavy-duty Truck Proposed Standards
The second set of proposed standards announced today, the “Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Phase 3,” would apply to heavy-duty vocational vehicles (such as delivery trucks, refuse haulers or dump trucks, public utility trucks, transit, shuttle, school buses) and trucks typically used to haul freight. These standards would complement the criteria pollutant standards for MY 2027 and beyond heavy-duty vehicles that EPA finalized in December 2022 and represent the third phase of EPA’s Clean Trucks Plan.

These “Phase 3” greenhouse gas standards maintain the flexible structure that EPA previously designed through a robust stakeholder engagement process to reflect the diverse nature of the heavy-duty industry. Like the light- and medium-duty proposal, the heavy-duty proposal uses performance-based standards that enable manufacturers to achieve compliance efficiently based on the composition of their fleets.   

The projected net benefits of the heavy-duty proposal range from $180 billion to $320 billion. The proposal is projected to avoid 1.8 billion tons of CO2 through 2055, equivalent to eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions from the entire current U.S. transportation sector for an entire year, and deliver additional health benefits by reducing other pollutants from these vehicles. The standards would result in improved air quality nationwide, and those who live near major roadways and are disproportionately exposed to vehicle pollution and heavy-duty activity, which often includes low-income populations and communities of color, would benefit most directly.

Investing in America’s Clean Transportation Future
The proposed standards align with commitments made by automakers and U.S. states as they plan to accelerate clean vehicle technologies in the light- and medium-duty fleets in the next 10 to 15 years. Car and truck companies are moving to include electric vehicles as an integral and growing part of current and future product lines, leading to an increasing diversity of clean vehicles for consumers.

These developments are bolstered by President Biden’s investments in America, which provide unprecedented resources to support the development and market for clean vehicle technologies and associated infrastructure and represent significant investment in expanding the manufacture, sale, and use of zero-emission vehicles. As these technologies advance, battery costs continue to decline and consumer interest in electric vehicles continues to grow. President Biden’s legislative accomplishments are also supporting critical generation of clean electricity and production of clean hydrogen needed to decarbonize transportation. EPA considered this rapid innovation in its assessment that tighter emissions standards are feasible.

EPA’s proposals are informed by robust and inclusive stakeholder engagement with industry, labor, advocates, and community leaders. EPA’s proposals will be published in the Federal Register and available for public review and comment, and the agency will continue to engage with the public and all interested stakeholders as part of the regulatory development process.



NCGA Expresses Serious Concerns Over Limitations of EPA’s Vehicle Standards Proposal

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a proposal for new greenhouse gas and multi-pollutant emissions standards for light-duty vehicles, which does not adequately account for the environmental benefits of low-carbon ethanol. In response to the announcement, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) released the following statement:

“While we share the administration’s goal of lowering emissions, we are frustrated that EPA appears to be turning exclusively to electric vehicles to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The limitations on raw materials, charging infrastructure, consumer preferences, and other factors dictate the need for a wider range of options to immediately mitigate carbon emissions.

“We urge EPA and the Biden administration to focus on outcomes and opening pathways for all low-carbon fuels and technologies to help meet these strong standards, rather than appearing to focus on only enabling one technology in electric vehicles. Vehicle standards should help drive a level playing field that allows consumers access to a variety of clean vehicle and fuel options, including low-carbon ethanol, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52%.

“In previous rulemakings and prior to this proposal, we have urged EPA to set a federal minimum clean octane standard in conjunction with stricter vehicle standards. These cleaner fuels from mid-level ethanol blends would support advanced vehicles, offering an essential pathway for achieving significant GHG and complementary criteria pollutant emissions reductions.

“We continue to urge EPA to provide a clean octane pathway to provide consumers with another affordable choice while also meeting the Biden administration’s climate and air quality objectives. We have also advocated for Congress to legislate on this issue through our support of the Next Generation Fuels Act.

“We will be active participants in offering improvements to EPA’s proposed rule.”



NFU Statement on Proposed EPA Standards for Cars and Trucks

In response to the proposed federal vehicle emissions standards released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew issued the following statement:

“Today’s announcement from EPA misses the mark,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “We have the tools and the resources right now for biofuels to play a much larger role in our transportation economy. Addressing the climate crisis is going to take immediate action and putting further emphasis on the availability of higher blends of ethanol or other biofuels is something that could be done right away.”



Growth Energy: EPA Tailpipe Emissions Proposal Would Leave Carbon Reductions on the Table

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement in response to standards proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would govern tailpipe emissions for light-duty vehicles starting with the 2027 model year:

“Based on early reporting, EPA’s proposed standards show a lack of imagination and ignore the reality that even by the most aggressive estimates, internal combustion engines will still occupy more than half of the light-duty vehicle marketplace by 2040. This proposal would constrict innovation and risk leaving millions of tons of carbon reductions on the table—setting us on a path towards eliminating any role for proven, emissions-reducing biofuel blends precisely when we should be embracing a strategy that supports multiple low carbon options.

“In President Biden’s own words, ‘you simply can’t get to net-zero by 2050 without biofuels.’ By disregarding the contributions of low-carbon biofuels, the proposal puts a thumb on the scale for one technology at the expense of others, rather than giving automakers the flexibility to pursue innovative strategies for decarbonizing light-duty vehicles.

“In order for the U.S. to meet its climate goals from the transportation sector, low carbon biofuels must be part of any strategy to drive emissions reductions. The proposed standards should drive the adoption of the greatest possible range of technologies and fuels—particularly those that support hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

“Biofuels are a mainstay of any climate strategy looking to attain net-zero emissions by 2050. No other solution offers the same immediate climate benefits while also reducing emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and other smog-forming pollutants linked to cancer and other negative health outcomes. Lower-carbon biofuels will be vital to decarbonizing transportation for decades to come, and it’s a mistake for EPA to ignore their track record of success and their unmatched ability to lower emissions right now, as well as in the coming decades."



EPA’s Proposed Tailpipe Standards Overlook Ethanol’s Low-Carbon, Efficiency Benefits

By blatantly tipping the scales in favor of battery electric vehicles, the proposed tailpipe emissions standards for 2027 and beyond released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overlook an obvious near-term opportunity to achieve significant vehicle efficiency improvements and carbon emissions reductions through increased use of high-octane, low-carbon ethanol fuel blends.

“While we certainly share the Biden administration’s goals of increasing vehicle efficiency and reducing carbon emissions from transportation, we strongly disagree with policy approaches that arbitrarily pick technology winners and losers with no clear scientific basis,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Today’s EPA proposal would effectively force automakers to produce more battery electric vehicles and strongly discourage them from pursuing other vehicle technologies that could achieve the same—or better—environmental performance at a lower cost to the U.S. economy and American families. We urge EPA to reconsider its proposal and instead adopt a technology-neutral approach that treats all low-carbon transportation options fairly and equally.”

Cooper continued, “As this administration’s own research shows, high-octane, low-carbon renewable fuels like ethanol can immediately deliver dramatic improvements in fuel efficiency and carbon performance when paired with the right engine technologies. But today’s EPA proposal unfortunately ignores the ethanol opportunity and instead declares EVs as the winner, despite mounting evidence that a headlong rush into electrification could lead to a host of unintended environmental and economic consequences.”

RFA has pointed out that a flex fuel vehicle (FFV) running on E85 made from certain forms of ethanol available in the marketplace today would provide similar or even lower carbon emissions at a far lower cost. But today’s EPA proposal disregards the upstream carbon impacts of fuel production—including electricity made from coal or natural gas—and provides no incentive or encouragement for automakers to continue manufacturing FFVs or other liquid-fueled vehicles that can benefit from high-octane, low-carbon ethanol blends. RFA also debuted a plug-in hybrid FFV at the recent National Ethanol Conference, demonstrating that a battery/liquid fuel combination provides the greatest range, lowest cost, and most flexibility for consumers.

“All we are asking for is a level playing field,” said Cooper, who noted that RFA will continue to provide EPA with formal comments and input on the proposal. “If given the same opportunity and an equitable regulatory framework, we are confident that higher ethanol blends—and the vehicles designed to use them—can play an instrumental role in affordable decarbonization of the nation’s light-duty auto fleet.”



ACE Reaction to EPA’s Proposed GHG Transportation Standards

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its new set of aspirational greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for Model Years 2027-2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles biased toward an uncertain electric vehicle future over other readily available, consumer-friendly CO2 reducing technologies like low carbon, high octane biofuels which are reducing GHGs and saving consumers money at the pump today. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings issued the following reaction upon initial review of EPA’s proposal:
 
“We share EPA’s desire to decarbonize the U.S. passenger fleet but believe there is a better way than arbitrarily regulating a solution with significant unknowns. As EPA Agriculture Advisor Rod Snyder told ACE members just last month, there is no question we will be using liquid transportation fuels for a long time to come, our lifetimes. Appreciating this truth, ACE members are dedicated to producing domestic biofuels with net-negative carbon scores – something that EVs will never achieve.
 
“Effective federal policy would incent the market to deliver multiple technologies to decarbonize the transportation sector such as through a technology-neutral federal Clean Fuel Standard that sets aggressive reduction goals beginning now. With properly crafted policy, low carbon biofuels can serve as a low-cost, technologically proven means to meet decarbonization goals in the near and long term while creating economic opportunities in rural America.  
 
“Unfortunately, today’s proposal isn’t that. Today’s proposal would stifle innovation and slow near-term climate reductions in exchange for a future of supply chain uncertainty and exacerbating environmental damage and human rights impacts from unsustainable mining of critical minerals across the globe. There has to be a better way.
 
“Rather than put all our eggs in the electric vehicle basket, a smarter and more achievable approach would be through a technology-neutral Clean Fuel Standard that ensures fair and accurate accounting and crediting of GHG reductions from climate-smart agriculture practices and unleashes homegrown fuel sources.”



Anhydrous Leads Fertilizer Prices Lower in Early April 2022

Retail fertilizer continues to shift lower, according to prices tracked by DTN for the first full week of April 2023. The trend has been in place since the beginning of the year.  Seven of the eight major fertilizer prices are lower compared to last month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Anhydrous leads the way lower once again. The nitrogen fertilizer was 5% less expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $1,002/ton. Six fertilizers were all just slightly lower compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $818/ton, MAP $809/ton, potash $642/ton, urea $625/ton, UAN28 $423/ton and UAN32 $507/ton.

One fertilizer was unchanged compared to last month. 10-34-0 had an average price of $740/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.68/lb.N, anhydrous $0.61/lb.N, UAN28 $0.75/lb.N and UAN32 $0.79/lb.N.

All fertilizers are now double digits lower compared to one year ago. 10-34-0 is 18% less expensive, DAP is 21% lower, MAP is 23% less expensive, potash is 27% lower, UAN32 is 31% less expensive, UAN28 is 33% lower, anhydrous is 35% less expensive and urea is 39% lower compared to a year prior.



U.S. Grains Council Publishes New Guide For High Protein Corn Co-Products To Aide Importers

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently released a handbook about new and evolving high-protein corn co-products produced by the U.S. ethanol industry. It is meant to update international customers on the nutritional profiles of these products and their applications in animal feed.

The Council is proud and excited to have led the creation of the handbook, which will articulate the differences between traditional distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and newer, higher-protein corn co-products.

"Considering the increasing popularity and usages of U.S. DDGS, plus the new high-value corn co-products now entering the market, we believe this handbook will help buyers and end users stay informed on these high-quality feed ingredients," said Kurt Shultz, USGC senior director of global strategies. “The Council has a robust catalog of information about U.S. corn co-products that will help international producers incorporate them into their animal rations.”

The high-protein handbook is a supplement to the Council’s existing series of DDGS user handbooks, which have been a resource for U.S. DDGS importers around the world since 2007.

The guide was written by Dr. Jerry Shurson, a professor of animal nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Shurson also authored all four editions of the Council’s standard DDGS handbook, providing a consistent and digestible library of information about U.S. feed product options.

Contents of the handbook include chapters explaining the nutritional composition of high-protein corn co-products and details about feeding applications for a wide variety of animals, as well as in aquaculture diets. A chapter is also dedicated to wet and dried corn fiber/bran and solubles (CBS), de-oiled DDGS, and corn distillers oil (CDO) to give buyers and end-users even more information about the latest developments in U.S. corn co-products.

"In periods of higher global grain prices, U.S. corn co-products are one tool to lower feed costs," Shultz said. "There are many excellent alternative feed ingredients produced by the U.S. ethanol industry. When included in properly formulated feeds, it results in outstanding animal health, performance and feed product quality."



Scientists Evaluate Potential Human Cannabinol Exposure from Consuming Meat if Cattle is Fed Hempseed Cake

Scientists from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and North Dakota State University (NDSU)  recently found that when cattle were fed with the industrial hemp byproduct, hempseed cake, very low levels of Cannabis chemicals (cannabinoids) were retained in muscle, liver, kidney, and fat tissues.

Currently, hempseed cake cannot legally be used in food animal rations because the magnitude of cannabinoid (Cannabidiol [CBD] and Tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]) residues remaining in edible animal tissues have not been characterized.

To determine if hempseed cake could be safely used as a source of protein and fiber in cattle feed, a team of USDA-ARS and NDSU researchers, led by Research Physiologist David J. Smith, evaluated cannabinoid residues (CBD, THC) in edible tissues of cattle that were fed hempseed cake. Scientists found that the concentrations of these chemical compounds in meat products contributed only a small fraction of the total amount global regulatory organizations consider safe for consumers.

Products from Cannabis plants (hemp; Cannabis sativa L.) have been used for fiber, food (seeds and oil), and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Although the plant contains over 80 naturally occurring compounds called cannabinoids, the best-known cannabinoids are CBD and THC which are biologically active. In the modern era, plant breeders have cultivated Cannabis plant varieties to produce high amounts of CBD and THC (used for recreational and medicinal purposes) and varieties used for fiber and oil seed production ("industrial hemp"), which contain relatively low CBD and THC concentrations.

In the 2018 Farm Bill, Congress authorized the legal production of industrial hemp in the United States (U.S.) with the stipulation that industrial hemp would contain less than 0.3% THC on a dry-matter basis. The low percentage of THC differentiates hemp products from marijuana or medicinal Cannabis varieties, which may contain greater than 5% THC.

As industrial hemp develops as an agricultural commodity in the U.S., companies are now producing hemp seed oil from cultivars with very low THC content (< 0.01%). However, producers of hemp seed oil are having difficulty finding a market for hempseed cake, a major byproduct formed during oil extraction from industrial hempseed.

Hempseed cake is highly nutritious. In fact, a study completed by NDSU, in partnership with USDA-ARS, shows that hempseed cake is a viable alternative feed source for cattle.

In the study recently published in Food Additives and Contaminants led by Smith, groups of heifers were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 20% hempseed cake for 111 days. When the feeding period was completed, cannabinoid residues in the liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue were measured in animals harvested 0, 1, 4, and 8 days after hempseed cake was removed from the diet to learn how quickly cannabinoids are cleared from tissues. The hempseed cake used in the study contained an average concentration of 1.3 ± 0.8 mg/kg of CBD and THC combined, which is 1/3000 of the legal threshold of 0.3% (3000 mg/kg) THC.

Cannabinoid residues were sporadically detected in urine and plasma of cattle during the feeding period, and low levels (about 10 parts per billion) of CBD and THC combined were measured in adipose tissue (fat) of cattle harvested with no withdrawal period. In liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle, however, CBD and THC were below detectable levels in the cattle fed hempseed cake.

"According to our exposure assessment, it would be very difficult for a human to consume enough fat from cattle fed with hempseed cake to exceed regulatory guidelines for dietary THC exposure," said, David Smith with the Animal Metabolism-Agricultural Chemicals Research Unit in Fargo, North Dakota.

"From a food safety view point, hempseed cake having low cannabinoid content can be a suitable source of crude protein and fiber in cattle feed while offering industrial hemp producers a potential market for this byproduct of hempseed oil extraction," added Smith.

Final determination and approval for the legal use of hemp products in animal feeds remain with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.