Wednesday April 19 Ag News

Trumler Ranch Receives Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award

Trumler Ranch of Rockville has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat resources in their care.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 27 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Nebraska, the award is presented with Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN), Cargill and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Chris and Jenifer Trumler and their sons raise beef cattle and own the 930-acre Trumler Ranch in Buffalo, Howard, Hall, and Sherman counties. The Trumlers will be presented with $10,000 and a crystal award at the AFAN annual meeting in November.

“Most times, the belief in conservation is passed from generation to generation which we see in action today at the Trumler Ranch. Chris’s conservation practices at this ranch along with the care he has for wildlife is a testimony to his stewardship of the land,” said Steve Martin, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) Executive Director. “We find that those who care for the land reap the benefits for generations to come. Congratulations to the Trumler Ranch on a well-deserved award.”

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Nebraska recipient,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

“The recipients of this award are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today. Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO.

“Trumler Ranch exemplifies how a cattle ranch can be economically viable while providing environmental benefits for all. The Trumler family leads by example in utilizing Nebraska’s grasslands to produce exceptional cattle and quality wildlife habitat,” said Sammy Renteria, General Manager of Cargill’s facility in Schuyler, Nebraska.

Nebraska landowners were encouraged to apply (or be nominated) for the award last year. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders.

The first Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award was presented to Wilson Ranch of Lakeside in 2006. The 2022 recipient was Wine Glass Ranch of Imperial. To view profiles of each award recipient visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/Nebraska.

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Nebraska is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Cargill, AFAN, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, Audubon Nebraska, Lyle Sittler Memorial Fund, McDonald’s, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Game and Parks, Nebraska Land Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, World Wildlife Fund-Northern Great Plains, and Green Cover Seed.

In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 27 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

ABOUT TRUMLER Ranch
Chris Trumler traces his conservation ethic to his grandfather and father.

Chris’ grandfather grew up loving the outdoors on a farm near Munich, Germany. Following World War II, hunting was prohibited, and fishing was costly, so he moved his family to Nebraska in 1950 in search of a better life. By the 1970s, Chris’ father was a German and industrial arts teacher who dreamed of raising cattle and owning a place to hunt and fish.

After purchasing an overgrazed piece of the Sandhills range, his father improved areas where erosion had formed “blow outs” by fencing them off and planting trees to stabilize the sandy soils. Chris carried countless jugs of water to those trees as a child. He passion for wildlife conservation took root after noticing the trees were attracting deer, quail, and grouse.

Chris is still planting trees today on Trumler Ranch’s 930 acres of native grasslands and wetlands. To create shelter belts for cattle and wildlife, he planted enough trees to stretch more than one mile.

Although a full-time cattle rancher, Chris says he also sees himself as a wildlife manager after working as a conservation technician for Nebraska Games and Parks’ wildlife and fisheries divisions. He rotationally grazes his cattle herd using wildlife-friendly cross fencing.

A “deferred grazing” system of not grazing part of the ranch until July allows it to reach “climax vegetation.” This provides excellent conditions for deer to fawn, and for upland birds to nest. By timing their calving season for summer, this system matches the cows’ nutritional needs to when the pasture is at its highest nutritional stage.

Limiting his cattle herd’s access to natural waterways has also produced conservation benefits. Wetlands and former stock ponds offer habitat for migratory and shore birds. During dry years, these areas support prairie chicken, grouse, and quail. Fencing cattle away from streambanks has improved water quality by reducing erosion. Chris is experimenting with hinge-cutting trees along streambanks to slow the water and provide habitat for fish and invertebrates.

Cold, clean drinking water is delivered to cattle tanks through a series of pipelines fed by solar wells and windmills. The tanks have corrugated escape ramps for wildlife that fall in the tank.

Although the harvesting of hay is timed to avoid nesting and fawning seasons, Chris takes extra precautions to protect wildlife by attaching a flush bar to his hay mower. He also provides an escape route for rabbits and birds by not initially cutting a hayfield’s perimeter. This allows wildlife the option of not crossing barren cut areas to reach cover or adjacent uncut fields.

Crop rotations, no-till practices, and cover crops are used on Trumler Ranch’s irrigated and dryland crop fields. Cover crops of rye and turnips are grown each fall to build the soil’s organic matter. This practice also reduces the need for commercial fertilizers and prevents nitrates from leaching into groundwater. Regular soil sampling of each field also prevents over-application of fertilizer.

Chris reduced his ranch’s water usage and eliminated runoff concerns by updating to a pivot and sub-surface drip irrigation system. He planted the corners of his pivot irrigated field with pollinator-friendly vegetation. In addition to helping pollinators, the additional ground cover and prevalence of insects provides more quality bird habitat.

Among his many volunteer and outreach activities, Chris mentors youth pheasant hunters on the value of having a conservation ethic. On and off the ranch, Chris is living the better life that his immigrant grandfather envisioned decades ago.

LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD PROGRAM is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Sand County Foundation presents the award in California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont). www.leopoldconservationaward.org

AFAN (Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska)
AFAN was formed in 2005 by the leading agricultural organizations in Nebraska to support and grow the livestock industry. Growing the livestock industry adds value to Nebraska’s abundant feedstuffs and creates economic opportunities on farms and ranches and in rural communities. AFAN provides one-on-one services to producers to help them understand opportunities, works with companies to help overcome challenges, and supports the recruitment of ag-based businesses. AFAN works with our partners to inform consumers about where their food comes from. Developing a vital rural economy is the overarching goal of AFAN. https://becomeafan.org

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through its No Farms, No Food message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families. www.farmland.org

CARGILL provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments, and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 149,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. We are passionate about our goal to be the global leader in nourishing people and operating responsibly across the agricultural, food, industrial and financial markets we serve. https://www.cargill.com/

SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION inspires and empowers a growing number of private landowners to ethically manage natural resources in their care, so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. www.sandcountyfoundation.org

THE NEBRASKA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST was established in 1992 to conserve, enhance and restore the natural environments of Nebraska. It was created on the conviction that a prosperous future is dependent upon a sound natural environment and that Nebraskans could collectively achieve real progress on real environmental issues if seed money were provided. https://environmentaltrust.nebraska.gov/



TRIGGER DATES
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator  

As we head into the growing season following last year’s dry conditions, assessing pasture conditions at the correct time is critical to successful planning. How can trigger dates complement your drought planning this year?

One of the main factors driving annual forage production in Nebraska’s grazinglands is available moisture.  Both cool and warm season grasses in the state rely heavily on spring and early summer precipitation at a time when the plant is rapidly growing.  This period of rapid growth varies by species, and is driven by air temperature, day length, and soil moisture.  Speed of spring growth and recovery after grazing depend on this. Once optimal conditions have passed, getting significant growth even if it does rain is difficult.

With this in mind, we can set up some trigger dates to assess moisture levels and pasture conditions, informing the implementation of a drought management plan.

• April 15 to May 10: smooth bromegrass pastures with below average precipitation, annual production may be reduced 25-50%.

• May 20 to June 10: Assess earlier precipitation levels. If March-May precipitation was 50-75% of the long-term average, reduce stocking rates 30-40% or more depending upon grass species and plant health.

• June 15 to June 30: Approximately 75 to 90% of grass growth on cool-season dominated range sites and 50% of grass growth on warm-season dominated range sites will have happened.  Rainfall after late June results in limited benefit to cool-season grass production.

• July 15: Precipitation after this date will have limited benefit to warm-season tallgrass production but can still result in some forage growth from shortgrass warm-season species such as buffalograss and blue grama.

Knowing when to pull the trigger on drought plans is not an easy decision, but it can mean the difference between managing with conditions or scrambling to catch up.  This year, use trigger dates for your operation to successfully implement drought mitigation strategies.  



NEBRASKA HEMP ACREAGE

Industrial hemp grown in open areas in Nebraska in 2022 totaled 300 acres, up 15% from 2021, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Industrial hemp harvested in open areas totaled 280 acres, up 12% from last year.

IOWA HEMP ACREAGE
Iowa hemp growers planted 115 acres of hemp in open fields in 2022, down 45 acres from 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – National Hemp Report. Harvested acres for 2022 were estimated at 105, compared with 120 acres the previous year.

Area harvested for floral hemp in the open was estimated at 23 acres, accounting for approximately 22 percent of the total hemp acreage harvested from open fields. Production of floral hemp grown in the open for 2022 was 22,000 pounds, down 27,000 pounds from 2021. The average yield for 2022 floral hemp in the open was 950 pounds per acre, up 430 pounds per acre from the previous year. The value of floral hemp grown in the open totaled $653,000 compared to $2,652,000 in 2021.

National Hemp Report
All industrial hemp: In 2022, the value of hemp production in the open and under protection for the United States totaled $238 million, down 71 percent from 2021.

Industrial hemp in the open: Planted area for the Nation in 2022 for all  utilizations totaled 28,314 acres, down 48 percent from 2021. The value of  hemp production in the open for the United States totaled $212 million, down 70 percent from last year. Area harvested for all purposes in the open
totaled 18,251 acres, down 45 percent from 2021.

Floral hemp in the open: United States floral hemp production grown in the open for 2022 was estimated at 6.78 million pounds, down 66 percent from 2021. Area harvested for floral hemp in the open in the United States was estimated at 7,105 acres, down 56 percent from last season. The average yield for 2022 floral hemp in the open was estimated at 954 pounds per acre, down 281 pounds from last year. The value of floral hemp grown in the open totaled $179 million, down 71 percent from 2021.

Grain hemp in the open: National production of hemp grown in the open for grain in 2022 totaled 2.43 million pounds, down 44 percent from 2021. Area harvested for hemp grown in the open for grain in the United States was estimated at 5,379 acres, down 35 percent from last season. The average yield for 2022 hemp grown in the open for grain was estimated at 452 pounds per acre, down 78 pounds from last year. The value of hemp grown in the open for grain totaled $3.63 million, down 39 percent from 2021.

Fiber hemp in the open: In 2022, production of hemp grown in the open for fiber was estimated at 21.0 million pounds, down 37 percent from 2021. Area harvested for hemp grown in the open for fiber in the United States was estimated at 6,850 acres, down 46 percent from last season. The average yield for 2022 hemp grown in the open for fiber was estimated at 3,070 pounds per acre, up 450 pounds from last year. The value of hemp grown in the open for fiber totaled $28.3 million, down 32 percent from 2021.

Seed hemp in the open: Production of hemp grown in the open for seed in 2022 was estimated at 146,000 pounds, down 92 percent from 2021. Area harvested for hemp grown in the open for seed in the United States was estimated at 812 acres, down 77 percent from last season. The average yield for 2022 hemp grown in the open for seed was estimated at 180 pounds per acre, down 350 pounds from last year. The value of hemp grown in the open for seed totaled $1.48 million, down 96 percent from 2021.

Hemp under protection: In 2022, hemp growers used 4.58 million square feet under protection for production, down 71 percent from 2021. The 2022 value of hemp production under protection in the United States totaled $26.1 million, down 77 percent from last year.

Hemp clones and transplants grown under protection in the Nation for 2022 totaled 1.26 million plants, down 94 percent from 2021. The value of hemp clones and transplants grown under protection totaled $738,000, down 97 percent from last year. United States production of floral hemp grown under protection was estimated at 105,238 pounds, down 66 percent from 2021. The value of floral hemp grown under protection totaled $24.7 million, down 62 percent from last year. Hemp grown under protection for seed totaled 1,476 pounds, down 64 percent from 2021. The value of hemp grown under protection for seed totaled $576,000, down 98 percent from last year.



ChopLocal Offers On-Demand Educational Webinar Series for Niche Meat Producers

ChopLocal, an online farmer’s market for niche meat producers, recently published a six-part educational video series. The series features previously recorded webinars focused on helping farmers, small meat processors, and fishermen increase their sales through ecommerce.

The first video is from a January webinar covering the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG). The grant, offered annually, awards farmers selling direct-to-consumer up to $250,000 in funding. Stephen Ussery, founder of Stewards Unlimited, an experienced agricultural grant-writing service, led the webinar.

Matt LeRoux, Extension Agent at Cornell University, led Marketing 101: How to Sell Your Meat Online. This webinar focuses on helping businesses move their marketing plan from “autopilot” to strategic. LeRoux gives webinar viewers the necessary guidance to develop a marketing strategy that is specifically tailored to meat and seafood businesses.

Social media is an excellent way to boost business, but using these platforms effectively can take time and effort. Led by Victoria Robinson, Farm Marketing Mentor, Using Social Media to Sell Direct-to-Consumer, helps create an understanding of how to grow on social media platforms, as well as how to use digital marketing to generate sales. The full webinar offers a more in-depth look into what content can be top performing and how to grow both on and off of social media.

With the ever-present need to build trust with consumers, Know, Like, and Trust: What Today’s Consumers Want to Know About Your Farm, gives webinar viewers a better understanding of consumers' attitudes, motivations, values and fears. Roxi Beck, Consumer Engagement Director at the Center for Food Integrity, shares the 7 elements of trust-building transparency, what today's consumers want to know about your farm, and how to share your farm's values.

We eat with our eyes first, and that’s why food photography skills are essential for businesses selling meat direct-to-consumer. In Food Photography and Sharing Recipes, Kelsey Byrnes of Dance Around the Kitchen covers the basics of food photography, simple tips for editing photos and how to properly share recipes.

To round out the series, Matt LeRoux led Profitable Meat Pricing. In this webinar, LeRoux teaches the marketing techniques needed to be profitable in every channel. Additionally, LeRoux walks through a live demo of the NEW Cornell Meat Price Calculator tool.

The webinars are part of the 3-year Farmers Market Promotion Program grant through USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. All webinar recording links and additional educational materials for businesses selling meat direct-to-consumer can be found at https://sell.choplocal.com/local-meat-marketing-resources.

To find a farm or butcher shop selling meat near you, visit https://choplocal.com/.



NCBA Files Comments on USDA Traceability Rule

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed comments on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” to emphasize the importance of electronic animal identification to protect the cattle industry from the threat of a foreign animal disease. USDA’s proposed rule would apply to cattle 18-months or older only when moving interstate.

“An outbreak of a foreign animal disease in the United States, like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), would be catastrophic to the cattle industry and our way of life,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “Traceability is about risk protection and ensuring we have the tools to quickly identify and respond to an outbreak while strengthening consumer trust in our high-quality beef. Our comments emphasize the importance of protecting the U.S. cattle herd from the threat of a foreign animal disease while also protecting producers’ private data, limiting the cost of tagging devices, and operating at the speed of commerce.”  

Without a national traceability system in place, the impact of a foreign animal disease outbreak would be magnified. For example, an FMD outbreak in the United States would lead to an immediate stop of all livestock movement for at least 72 hours. Most major export markets would close to U.S. beef and the estimated economic impact could be as high as $228 billion.

A traceability system supports cattle producers quickly returning to normal operations after a disease outbreak. Traceability data would allow producers in low-risk areas to resume transporting cattle, while helping animal health officials stop the spread of disease in high-risk areas. A traceability program also helps expedite the return to an FMD-free designation, which is beneficial for trading relationships and consumer trust in beef.

Background
As a grassroots organization, NCBA’s perspective on traceability has been developed by cattle producers who serve on the NCBA Traceability Working Group and by grassroots members who voted on traceability policy at the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention. NCBA believes that any traceability system:
    Is industry driven.
        To serve the needs and interests of beef cattle producers.
        In coordination with current and future federal, state, and tribal government animal disease traceability programs.
    Is capable of being managed and overseen by private entities that address animal disease traceability needs of the beef cattle industry in coordination with government, state, and tribal disease tracing mechanisms.
    Maintains producer data privacy.
    Is equitable to all industry sectors.  
    Is compatible with common industry practices.
    Operates at the speed of commerce.  
    Is credible in domestic and international markets.
    Uses electronic identification devices and electronic data transfer.



January-March Milk Production up 1.0 Percent

Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 56.8 billion pounds, up 1.0 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.42 million head, 20,000 head more than the October - December quarter, and 40,000 head more than the same period last year.

Q1 2023 Milk Prod by State
Nebraska ....:       340 million pounds, down 3.4% from Q1 '22
Iowa ...........:      1,470 million pounds, up 5.8% from Q1 '22

March Milk Production up 0.6 Percent
Milk production in the 24 major States during March totaled 18.9 billion pounds, up 0.6 percent from March 2022. February revised production, at 17.0 billion pounds, was up 1.2 percent from February 2022. The February revision represented an increase of 48 million pounds or 0.3 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,116 pounds for March, 3 pounds above March 2022. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.95 million head, 44,000 head more than March 2022, and 6,000 head more than February 2023.

IOWA: Milk production in Iowa during March 2023 totaled 507 million pounds, up 4 percent from the previous March according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service -- Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during March, at 239,000 head, was 1,000 below last month but up 10,000 from March 2022. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,120 pounds, down 5 pounds from last March.



Record Beef Production in 2022

Total red meat production for the United States totaled 55.6 billion pounds in 2022, 1 percent lower than the previous year. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 55.5 billion pounds. On-farm slaughter totaled 93.3 million pounds.

Beef production totaled 28.4 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the previous year. Veal production totaled 58.7 million pounds, up 1 percent from last year. Pork production, at 27.0 billion pounds, was 2 percent below the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 136.2 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2021.

Commercial cattle slaughter during 2022 totaled 34.3 million head, up 1 percent from 2021, with federal inspection comprising 98.1 percent of the total. The average live weight was 1,369 pounds, down 2 pounds from a year ago. Steers comprised 47.0 percent of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 30.6 percent, dairy cows 9.1 percent, other cows 11.7 percent, and bulls 1.7 percent.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 369,200 head, 6 percent lower than a year ago with 98.1 percent under federal inspection. The average live weight was 253 pounds, up 17 pounds from a year earlier.

Commercial hog slaughter totaled 125 million head, 3 percent lower than 2021 with 99.5 percent of the hogs slaughtered under federal inspection. The average live weight was up 1 pound from last year, at 289 pounds. Barrows and gilts comprised 97.3 percent of the total federally inspected hog slaughter.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.07 million head, was down 8 percent from the previous year with federal inspection comprising 84.9 percent of the total. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from 2021 at 126 pounds. Lambs and yearlings comprised 93.7 percent of the total federally inspected sheep slaughter.

There were 946 plants slaughtering under federal inspection on January 1, 2023 compared with 905 last year. Of these, 776 plants slaughtered at least one head of cattle during 2022 with the 12 largest plants slaughtering 49 percent of the total cattle killed. Hogs were slaughtered at 659 plants, with the 14 largest plants accounting for 59 percent of the total. For calves, 3 of the 160 plants accounted for 54 percent of the total and 1 of the 553 plants that slaughtered sheep or lambs in 2022 comprised 14 percent of the total head.    

2022 Red Meat Prod by State
     million lbs. -    2022    -    2021
Iowa .............:   8,563.2    8,797.5
Nebraska ......:   7,983.8    7,968.4
Kansas ..........:   6,090.0    6,156.0

Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas accounted for 50 percent of the United States commercial red meat production in 2022, unchanged from 2021.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 4/14/2023

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending April 14, ethanol production jumped 6.8% to an 8-week high of 1.024 million b/d, equivalent to 43.00 million gallons daily. The volume produced was 8.1% more than the same week last year and 14.2% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 0.6% to 997,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.28 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks expanded 0.7% to 25.3 million barrels. Stocks were 3.9% higher than a year ago and 8.2% above the five-year average. Inventories built in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) and West Coast (PADD 5) but thinned across the remaining regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, fell 4.7% to a 9-week low of 8.52 million b/d (130.60 bg annualized). Demand was 3.9% less than a year ago but 2.0% above the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol declined 1.0% to 882,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.52 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.5% below the same week last year but 6.6% above the five-year average.

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



New Analysis Shows Consumers Save at Least 25 Cents per Gallon With E15

A new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association indicates that since the beginning of 2022 American drivers saved an average of more than 25 cents per gallon when using the E15 fuel blend, which contains 15 percent low-carbon ethanol, compared to regular E10 unleaded.

RFA analyzed more than 3,000 actual pump prices for E15 and E10 submitted by drivers to E15prices.com from more than 550 retail gas stations in 30 states between January 2022 and early April 2023. The average of the 1,520 prices reported for E10 was $3.686 per gallon, while the average of the 1,520 corresponding prices for E15 was $3.413 per gallon. Thus, the average discount for E15 was $0.27 per gallon, or 7.4 percent.

“This review of actual pump prices submitted by drivers shows that lower-carbon E15 is providing real savings for American families,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “In nearly half of the price submissions, E15’s discount to E10 was between 15 and 50 cents per gallon. And in some special cases, E15 prices were $1 or more per gallon below the price of E10. At a time when U.S. drivers were facing record-high gas prices, this report confirms that E15 delivered relief at the pump. We urge the Biden administration to carefully review this data as it considers options for allowing the continued sale of E15 this summer.”

The RFA analysis was submitted to the House Agriculture Committee yesterday, ahead of today’s hearing with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan. In a letter to the Committee accompanying the report, Cooper noted that American families will face higher fuel prices at the pump on June 1 unless swift action is taken to save the lower-cost E15 ethanol blend.

“The market conditions that warranted emergency waivers for the 2022 summer driving season still exist today,” Cooper wrote. “In fact, nationwide gasoline inventories are 6 percent lower today than they were at this time a year ago when EPA issued the first emergency waiver. Now more than ever, American families need the economic relief offered by lower-cost, lower-carbon E15. Without swift action by EPA, American families will lose access to the lowest-priced fuel available for most cars on the road beginning June 1.”



Anhydrous Again Leads All Eight Major Fertilizer Prices Lower

Average retail fertilizer prices were down again the second week of April 2023, continuing a trend that has been in place since the beginning of the year, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

All eight of the major fertilizer prices are lower compared to last month with just one fertilizer considerably less expensive. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more. Leading the way lower once again was anhydrous. The nitrogen fertilizer was 5% lower compared to last month and had an average price of $1,003 per ton. The remaining seven fertilizers were all just slightly lower compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $821 per ton, MAP $809/ton, potash $642/ton, urea $625/ton, 10-34-0 $740/ton, UAN28 $427/ton and UAN32 $507/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.68/lb.N, anhydrous $0.61/lb.N, UAN28 $0.76/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 22% lower, MAP is 24% less expensive, potash is 27% lower, UAN32 is 31% less expensive, UAN28 is 32% lower, anhydrous is 35% less expensive and urea is 39% lower compared to a year prior.



USDA Invests Over $46M in Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today an investment of more than $46 million in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which has funded farmer-driven grants and grassroots education programs resulting in climate-smart solutions for farms and ranches in every state and island protectorate since 1988.

“This investment in sustainable agriculture underscores USDA’s ongoing commitment to transforming our food and agricultural systems,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics (REE). “Through this investment, SARE will continue to provide competitive grants and education programs that foster farmer-driven innovation to promote climate-smart practices, make sustainable producers more profitable, and improve local economies and the quality of life in rural communities.”

These 10-year awards are being made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in four regional SARE host institutions and the National Reporting, Coordinating, and Communications Office (NRCCO). Grant recipients are the University of Minnesota (North Central SARE Regional Host Institution); University of Vermont (Northeast SARE Regional Host Institution); University of Georgia (Southern SARE Regional Host Institution); Montana State University (Western SARE Regional Host Institution); and University of Maryland (NRCCO).

Since its authorization in the 1990 Farm Bill, SARE has supported farmers in four regions (North Central, Northeast, South, and West), with each regional program hosted by a Land-grant Institution and guided by volunteer Administrative Councils that make grants and set regional priorities. These councils include farmers and ranchers along with representatives from universities, government, agribusiness and nonprofit organizations. Technical reviewers, also volunteers, lend professional and practical experience to help councils evaluate project proposals.

“Sustainable agriculture is a high priority for NIFA across many of our programs as we seek to provide more profitable farm income, promote environmental stewardship and enhance quality of life for farm families and communities,” said Dionne Toombs, acting director of USDA NIFA. “In the last 35 years, with funding from NIFA, SARE has provided $380 million in grant funding for nearly 8,400 projects serving farmers, growers and rural communities.”

These projects cover a wide range of topics, including supporting producers with on-farm renewable energy, pest and weed management, cover crops, high tunnel and session extension, crop rotations, marketing, pollinator health and local and regional food system development.

REE advances agricultural research, education and Extension across the nation to make transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA invests in initiatives that ensure the long-term viability of agriculture and applies an integrated approach to ensure that groundbreaking discoveries in agriculture-related sciences and technologies reach the people who can put them into practice. In FY2022, NIFA’s total investment was $2.2 billion. For more information, visit NIFA’s website: www.nifa.usda.gov.



USDA Announces Funding Availability to Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Options for Underserved Producers and Tribal Communities

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of up to $125 million through two new grant programs that will create more options for meat and poultry farmers by investing in independent, local meat and poultry processing projects that increase competition and enhance the resiliency of the food supply chain.

These new grant programs, the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program and the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program, are part of the broader $1 billion American Rescue Plan investment by the Biden-Harris Administration to expand processing capacity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors.

“This is the latest step in USDA’s transformational work to fill gaps and help small and underserved producers market their products, support thriving local and regional food systems by investing in processing capacity that’s closer to farms, and alleviate major bottlenecks in food and agricultural supply chains,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Importantly, we’re also taking steps to increase the overall availability of protein from indigenous animals like bison, reindeer and salmon, which have been the backbone of tribal food systems for generations.”

Since July 2021, for example, USDA has worked with 30 businesses to expand their operations through Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Project grants and has helped many more work towards a federal grant of inspection through Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants. More information on USDA’s work to fulfill this commitment can be found at usda.gov/meat.

About the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program
This new grant program will provide up to $50 million to improve tribal nations’ food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by developing and expanding value-added infrastructure related to meat from indigenous animals like bison, reindeer or salmon. The program will fund projects that focus on expanding local capacity for the harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distribution of indigenous meats.

“This is a historic investment to support indigenous food supply chains by enhancing community food sovereignty and traditional harvesting methods,” said USDA Office of Tribal Relations Director Heather Dawn Thompson. “Tribal nations have clearly articulated their priorities to USDA over the last two years, and this program directly responds by focusing on species and activities which have historically not had significant access to funding in federal programs.”

“For too long, Native American farmers and ranchers have been asked to produce more to meet increasing demand across the country and around the world, while they and the tribal communities they come from have struggled to see their fair share of the benefits,” said USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small. “Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is proud to offer this investment in tribal nations’ food chain resiliency as a part of USDA’s broader efforts to restore indigenous food ways. By expanding and enhancing local processing capacity, these projects will provide culturally appropriate food and community food security to tribal communities.”

Eligible applicants are Indian tribes, as defined by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, as well as wholly-owned arms and instrumentalities, and joint or multi-tribal government entities. USDA partners with tribal-serving organizations on projects to reimagine federal food and agriculture programs from an indigenous perspective and inform future USDA programs and policies.

More information is available on USDA’s Indigenous Animals Grants webpage. Applications will be accepted through July 19, 2023.

About the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program
The Local Meat Capacity Grant program will provide up to $75 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to build resilience in the meat and poultry supply chain by providing producers with more local processing options and strengthening their market potential. This grant program is targeted to support meat and poultry processors with smaller-scale projects, with a goal to increase processing availability and variety for local and regional livestock producers.

“Local and regional meat processing is an important part of a resilient food supply chain. It not only provides producers with diverse processing options in their areas, but it also adds infrastructure, income and jobs in communities and provides more choices for consumers,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “These Local Meat Capacity grants will provide local livestock and poultry producers with more and better options by modernizing, diversifying, and decentralizing processing capacity. As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s comprehensive approach to transforming the food system from farm to fork, this program complements other USDA grant programs building capacity along the supply chain, like the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, by providing targeted support for meat and poultry processors with smaller-scale projects.”

The Local Meat Capacity Grants will fund both expansion and equipment-only projects through a competitive grant process. USDA encourages applicants to engage with livestock producers, especially small and underserved ranchers.

More information is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Local MCap webpage. Applications will be accepted through July 19, 2023.

Both grant programs are aligned with USDA efforts to:
    Ensure equitable access to USDA programs and benefits from USDA-funded projects and support the policies of Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
    Contribute to the resilience of the food and agricultural supply chains through support for diversified, value-added agriculture and support the policies of Executive Order 14017 on America’s Supply Chains.
    Promote competition in the food system and support the policies of Executive Order 14036 on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.



University Products Issues Urgent Warning to Cattle Ranchers: 'New Study Reveals High Costs of Acute Anaplasmosis Infections in Beef Bulls'

University Products LLC, a Louisiana-based company, is warning cattle ranchers and beef producers about the adverse breeding outcomes associated with acute anaplasmosis infections. A new study reveals that the endemic tick-borne disease reduces breeding soundness in beef bulls, leading to undesirable breeding outcomes which could result in critical herd implications for cow-calf producers in endemic areas throughout the United States.

The study also recommends a 90-day or greater retest window for bulls of unsatisfactory breeding potential recently recovered from clinical anaplasmosis. Originally published in BMC Veterinary Research, the research looked at breeding soundness in beef bulls experimentally infected with anaplasmosis – a tick-borne disease that costs U.S. cattle ranchers a conservative estimate of $1 Billion in losses per year.

A veterinarian researcher and vaccine developer, this is an issue that Dr. Donald Luther, DVM of University Products understands well. University Products produces the only effective vaccine against anaplasmosis that is approved for experimental use and has been successfully deployed in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and South America for over 20 years.

"This continues to be an underreported issue for ranchers, producers, and beef consumers every single year," said Dr. Luther. "I have a client right now, a seasoned cattle owner in Louisiana for over 60 years, who began using our vaccine a couple of years ago. Like most ranchers, he has battled anaplasmosis outbreaks every single year for his entire career. And before using the vaccine, he noted that the cattle's hocks were locked, along with a loss of appetite and unusual weight loss. One time he lost nine head in just a two-week period."

"Anaplasmosis is devastating for ranchers like him, and this is the type of situation that many other producers are looking at," said Dr. Luther. "Since he began using our vaccine though, he has seen his cattle conception rates go from 50% to 93%. And he said his cattle are not as aggressive, that their body condition is much improved. These are real world results."

"We cannot overstate the importance of this study's conclusions for the cattle industry," said Dr. Luther. "Reduced breeding soundness in beef bulls due to anaplasmosis is significant, and the losses in the industry due to this disease are substantial. It is vital that cattle ranchers and beef producers take the threat seriously and take measures to protect their herds. Our vaccine has already been proven effective for over two decades. It can significantly reduce infection signs in at-risk animals, and we hope ranchers will consider using it to protect their herds and their profits."