Tuesday May 16 Ag News

 CONTROLING POISON HEMLOCK
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Poison hemlock and its cousin, Water hemlock, are on the list of top ten poisonous Nebraska plants.  A species that has really seemed to take over in wet or moist soils across the eastern portion of the state, hemlock can cause serious issues if ingested, by either livestock or humans.

A biannual, hemlock spends its first year as a rosette with fern-like leaves. A smooth, purple spotted reproductive stalk that can reach heights of 10 feet, topped with small white flowers, emerges in year 2.  Smell is another distinguishing characteristic, with hemlock having a smell best described as heavy or musty.

Hemlock plants produce alkaloid toxins in all parts of the plant.  These chemicals are extremely potent.  As little as 5 lbs. of consumed foliage can be a lethal dose for cattle.  The hollow stem on mature plants may seem like an attractive straw or pea shooter for small children, with detrimental consequences.

Luckily from an animal perspective, hemlock is not an attractive grazing option.  In a pasture with plenty of other grazing options, animals will typically leave hemlock alone.  However, when forage options are limited, even unpalatable plants may become an option for hungry animals.

The good news is that hemlock can be controlled with mowing or herbicide applications.  Regular mowing to prevent flower stalks from forming and producing seed can be an effective mechanical control technique, but need to occur regularly and will take several years to achieve control. In the spring, a 2,4-D + dicamba mix can effectively treat and control hemlock.

For both mowing and herbicide treatment, do not try to control hemlock during the grazing season! Let me repeat that again… Do not try to control hemlock during the grazing season! Following treatment, make sure livestock stay out of the treated area as the poisonous alkaloids can still be present in dead leaf tissue.  Additionally, mowing and herbicide alter the plant increasing its palatability, even in dead and dying plant tissues.



Fischer, Senators Press U.S. Bureau of Land Management to Withdraw Public Lands Rule

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, joined a group of 15 Senators this week in pressing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw its proposed Public Lands Rule. The letter was led by U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.).

“The proposal creates a framework for ‘conservation leases’ without authorization from Congress. The proposal specifically notes that ‘BLM shall not authorize any other uses of the leased land’ that it determines are ‘inconsistent’ with this new framework, thereby interrupting the successful balance of other responsible uses from hunting and grazing, to energy development and recreation … It’s clear that anti-grazing and anti-development organizations would abuse this tool to attempt to halt ranching and block access to our nation’s abundant energy reserves located on public lands,” the Senators wrote.

“Taking large parcels of land out of BLM’s well-established multiple use mandate would cause significant harm to many western states and negatively impact the livelihoods of ranchers, energy producers, and many others that depend on access to federal lands. As such, the proposal should be withdrawn immediately,” the Senators concluded.

In addition to Senators Fischer, Hoeven, and Daines, the letter is signed by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and U.S. Senators James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).



Ricketts Knocks Biden Administration for Refusing to Define Conservation in Controversial “30x30” Plan

Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a longtime champion of private property rights, exposed the Biden administration’s refusal to define the word “conservation” in the president’s “America the Beautiful” initiative. Formerly known as the “30x30 Plan,” the initiative seeks to conserve 30% of America’s land and waters by 2030.

“In reading through the Fish and Wildlife proposed budget, the president’s 30x30 environmental program is specifically mentioned there,” said Senator Ricketts. “The executive summary says the Service is a ‘key player’ in the administration’s goal for an ambitious ‘America the Beautiful’ initiative… Don’t you have to have a definition of conservation to be able to say 30% of the United States is conserved? Don’t you have to have a definition of that before you can even reach that goal?”

“More than two years ago, I led a coalition of 15 Governors in asking President Biden for more details about how this initiative could be achieved without a federal land grab,” Ricketts said after the hearing. “For two years, they’ve refused to give us anything. No definitions, no details, nothing. Reaching 30% would require restricting a land area the size of nine states of Nebraska by 2030. Without a clear definition of conservation, this plan is either a partisan sham with no tangible goals or a slippery slope to violating the property rights of Nebraskans.”  

Ricketts’ comments came during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works entitled “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget”.

Ricketts has been a longtime opponent of President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative. As Governor, Ricketts hosted a “Stop the 30x30 Summit” and a series of townhalls across Nebraska to raise the alarm about the prospect of a federal land grab in pursuit of Biden’s conservation goals. In June of 2021, he signed an executive order aimed at stopping its implementation of the plan.



Leading Ag Company Awards Scholarship to Local Student

Helena Agri-Enterprises is awarding Caden Arens of Norfolk, Nebraska, with the Homegrown Scholarship worth $1,000 to pursue a higher education in agriculture. Arens attends Norfolk Catholic High School and is entering Northeast Community College to study diversified agriculture. Helena’s Homegrown Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors from 14 states who are majoring in an agriculture-related program. For several years, the Homegrown Scholarship has been an important part of Helena’s commitment to developing the future of ag professionals.

The Homegrown Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors from certain counties in Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota and the entire states of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. Requirements include an essay with a maximum of 300 words on the applicant’s positive impact in their community and an essay with a maximum of 500 words on the applicant’s passion for agriculture and their plan to contribute to the industry in the future. Winners are chosen by Helena location management across the region.

Applications for the Homegrown Scholarship will be available again in early 2024 through ag teachers and local FFA chapters in participating states and counties. In addition to scholarships, Helena offers internships to college students across the Midwest every summer. Internship opportunities will be advertised this fall.



NRCS Announces New Organic Transition, CSP Signups in Iowa

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking new Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications now in local NRCS field offices.

NRCS accepts conservation program applications on a continuous basis but sets application cutoff dates as funding allows. The next application cutoff for OTI and CSP applications is June 15.

Organic Transition Initiative (OTI)
Through OTI, NRCS will dedicate $70 million nationwide to assist producers with a new organic management standard under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The OTI supports conservation activities and practices required for organic certification and may provide foregone income reimbursement for dips in production during the transition period.

NRCS will help producers adopt the new organic management standard by giving producers flexibility to get the assistance and education they need, such as attending workshops or requesting help from experts or mentors.

OTI-specific practices include:
    Organic Management (Practice Code 823)
    Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition (Practice Code 138)
    Transition to Organic Design (Practice Code 140)
    Conservation Cover (Practice Code 327)
    Conservation Crop Rotation (Practice Code 328)
    Cover Crops (Practice Code 340)
    Field Borders (Practice Code 386)
    Nutrient Management (Practice Code 590)

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
NRCS is also announcing an application cutoff of June 15 for new CSP applications in Fiscal Year 2023 for Iowa farmers. CSP funding is available for organic production practices and applications through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which emphasizes the adoption of climate-smart practices and enhancement activities.

In Iowa, areas of focus for climate smart agriculture include soil health, nutrient stewardship, grazing and pasture lands. Eligible practices include cover crops, no-till, crop rotations, prescribed grazing, and nutrient management.

During this application signup cycle, NRCS will use ACT NOW, where applications can be immediately approved and obligated when an eligible applicant meets or exceeds a predetermined minimum ranking score.

Higher payment rates and other options are available for historically underserved producers including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran, and limited resource farmers.   

For more information or to apply, visit your local NRCS field office.



Specialty Crop Farmers, Beekeepers Encouraged to Update Information on the Iowa Sensitive Crops Registry

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged beekeepers and producers of pesticide sensitive crops to register, renew or update their production plots, fields and beehive locations on the Iowa Sensitive Crops Registry.

“Specialty crop producers and beekeepers are highly encouraged to register or update their information annually on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Sensitive Crops Registry,” said Secretary Naig. “Up-to-date location information combined with good communication is key to ensuring harmony between neighboring crops and production methods.”

The online registry fosters enhanced communication and collaboration between producers of pesticide-sensitive crops, beekeepers and pesticide applicators. Producers that have not yet used the registry are encouraged to set up accounts and identify where their fields and hives are located. Previous registry users should annually confirm that their information and locations are still accurate.

Since 2017, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has partnered with the non-profit entity FieldWatch™, Inc. to provide the online registries, which include state-of-the-art mapping features that identify production sites and one-mile radius boundaries around apiaries. Two of the online registry tools developed and provided by FieldWatch™, Inc. include: driftwatch®, a registry for use by producers of commercial crops sensitive to pesticides, and beecheck®, a registry site for beekeepers and apiarists.

Specialty crop producers with apiaries may enter hive locations using either driftwatch® or beecheck®. Submitted producer site entries are overseen by state-appointed stewards at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship prior to their inclusion.

The intended crops for listing on the registries include, but are not limited to, beehives, apiaries, commercial fruit and vegetable plots, commercial nursery crops, commercial vineyards, commercial orchards, commercial Christmas tree plantings, and certified organic row crops, small grains, and pastures. All specialty crops grown certified organic may be designated as such on the driftwatch™ registry. The minimum field size for all specialty crop sites is ½ acre.

More information and a link to the registry can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Sensitive Crop Registry.



World Pork Expo's Educational Seminars Showcase Pork Industry Insights

Attendees at the 2023 World Pork Expo (WPX) will have free access to a wide range of educational seminars covering all aspects of the pork industry. Presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), this year marks the 35th anniversary of the industry’s largest pork-specific trade show. The free seminars held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, will again be a cornerstone of the three-day event.

"With so much happening in the pork industry right now, it's more important than ever for producers to have access to the latest information and insights," said NPPC board president Scott Hays. "This year's World Pork Expo is packed with educational seminars that will help attendees take their operations to the next level."
 
Featured Business Seminars
This year’s Business Seminars lineup includes topics covering sustainability, animal health, technology, and other important issues in the pork industry. All Business Seminars occur in the Varied Industries Building and will include multi-part panel discussions and Q&A opportunities with presenters and other experts.

Business Seminars schedule of events:
Wednesday, June 7:
    10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Digital technologies, such as sensors, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based programs, play a larger role in our lives. Learn more at Turning Animal Agriculture’s Toughest Challenges into Our Biggest Opportunities. Sponsored by: Alltech/Hubbard Feeds.

    1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Join Cargill and Swine Vet Center for Because Health and Nutrition are No Longer Two Separate Conversations, a panel discussion regarding nursery health in the U.S. swine industry today that includes slat-level strategies to improve clinical outcomes. Sponsored by: Cargill.

    2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Economics Shaping the Pork Industry features a panel discussion with special guests, including industry-leading economists and risk management consultants. Sponsored by: ADM.

    2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Market outlook, diet strategies, optimum market weights: it all matters when it comes to your profitability. Hear from marketing, nutrition, and production experts during this session, Because if You Aren't Optimizing Profits, Nothing Else Matters. Sponsored by: Cargill.

Thursday, June 8:
    9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Profitability is a key driver for sustainable pork production. Join us in conversation with Novus and invited experts for ScaleUp™ Program: Optimizing Pork Produced per Sow Lifetime. Sponsored by: NOVUS.

Pork Academy Sessions and Networking Opportunities
The Pork Academy, presented by the National Pork Board and Pork Checkoff, offers  expert insights and chances to win unique pork-inspired prizes for those who attend. Pork Academy sessions will also take place in the Varied Industries Building, and admittance is included with World Pork Expo entry.

Pork Academy schedule of events:
Wednesday, June 7:
    9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. What does demand look like for pork internationally and here in the U.S.? How are prices impacting markets and pork consumption? Join Dr. Steve Meyer and Dr. Lee Schulz for this interactive session, Porkonomics: An Economic Outlook for the Pork Industry.

    10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Could advancements in gene editing in swine improve animal and human health, sustainability, and food and agricultural production? Hear from experts across the pork supply chain in Is Gene Editing the Next Frontier?

    1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Gain insights and solutions to prevent and prepare for a foreign animal disease on your farm in this session, FAD Defense: From Ag K9s to On-Farm Solutions.

Thursday, June 8:
    8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Protecting your history and sustaining the future of your farm doesn’t have to be complex. Join our panel of experts for Using Your Sustainability Data to Protect Your Farm’s Legacy.

    9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Hear from key investigators in the “Improving Pig Survivability” project as they share their findings and explain practices you can take back to your operation in Advancing Profits and Sustainability by Improving Pig Survivability. This project is funded by the National Pork Board and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR).

    10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Explore the current and future state of the global pork market and gain insight into the anticipated opportunities and challenges ahead during this session, Global Pork Market Update and Opportunities.

    1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Join our expert panel for Proving the Industry’s Chops: Tackling a 30-Year Challenge as they share information about the market situation and pork’s role within it.

 Register Today
There’s still time to register to join thousands of pork industry professionals at World Pork Expo 2023! Visit worldpork.org for details about registration, events, hotel availability, and more.



 2022 National Beef Quality Audit Shows Efficiency Improvements

Since 1991, the Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) has delivered a set of guideposts and measurements for cattle producers and other stakeholders to help determine quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply. Results from the 2022 NBQA indicate that the beef cattle industry is producing a high-quality product that consumers want more efficiently and the industry’s primary focus across the supply chain remains food safety.

“The NBQA is an important tool for the industry to identify where improvements are being made and where there are opportunities to capture more value,” said Josh White, senior executive director of producer education and sustainability at NCBA. “The good news is, overall, the beef industry is providing a quality product to consumers that they enjoy.”

Early NBQAs focused on the physical attributes of beef such as marbling, external fat, carcass weight and carcass blemishes. These cattle industry concerns have evolved to include food safety, sustainability, animal well-being and the growing disconnect between producers and consumers. As a result, over the past 30 years, NBQA researchers have made significant changes to the research, leading to an increasingly meaningful set of results.

Based on individual interviews with stakeholders from across the cattle industry as well as in-plant research, key findings for fed cattle from the 2022 NBQA include:
    Market segments no longer consider food safety as a purchasing criterion, but an expectation.
    When comparing 2016 and 2022 NBQAs, the largest improvement was overall increased efficiency across the beef supply chain.
    Market sectors indicated that their companies strive to increase their sustainability, and work with the entire beef supply chain to do so.
    The entire industry felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonetheless, beef proved to be a choice of consumers, and the industry persevered to provide products.
    Due to pandemic pressures, more cattle over 30 months of age were harvested.
    The beef industry’s image improved within fed cattle market sectors.
    Foreign materials continue to present a problem, but the industry is making strides to decrease incidence.
    There was an increase in usage of electronic identification (EID).
    There was an increase in the frequency of Prime and Choice quality grades, while Select decreased drastically.
    While the industry is improving the quality of beef being produced, that quality is being accompanied by an increase in carcass weight and fat thickness, as well as large increases in percentages of Yield Grade 4 and 5 carcasses.

The NBQA, conducted approximately every five years, provides an understanding of what quality means to the various industry sectors, and the value of those quality attributes. This research helps the industry make modifications necessary to increase the value of its products. The efforts of the findings from the 2022 NBQA serve to improve quality, minimize economic loss, and aid in advancements in producer education for the U.S. beef industry. For more information about the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit, visit www.bqa.org.



STX Beef Co. Announces Purchase of Missouri Prime Beef Packers, LLC

Today, STX Beef Company, LLC (STX) announced the purchase of Missouri Prime Beef Packers. STX will take over operatorship immediately.

Missouri Prime Beef Packers is located approximately 20 miles north of Springfield in Pleasant Hope, Missouri. The plant, which sits on 256 acres, currently processes approximately 750 head of cattle per day in its 88,000 square foot facility.

"STX prides itself on taking care of our customers while offering customized solutions, and developing long-lasting commercial relationships," Terry Maul, STX Beef Company CEO said. "Missouri is home to a thriving beef industry, and we will be focused on delivering reliable service and dependable products to our customers."

STX is a JDH Capital company based in Corpus Christi, Texas, that currently operates a 250,000 square foot facility that processes over 1,000 head of cattle per day.

About STX Beef Company
STX Beef Company is a portfolio company of JDH Capital and is located in Corpus Christi. STX offers a comprehensive product line, including a consistent supply of boxed beef across USDA Prime, Choice, Select, Ground Beef and Export products.

About JDH Capital
JDH Capital is a private investment firm based in Houston, TX. JDH Capital engages in a wide range of investment activities including private equity and structured debt across multiple industries. It has partnered with numerous portfolio companies to provide growth capital or assist with special situations.



Certified Angus Beef Expands Offering with Grass-Fed Beef

Consumer demand for high-quality beef has been a long-time sales driver for Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and ultimately, it has increased demand for superior Angus genetics. As consumer preferences evolve, the brand is growing to provide premium beef for every liking.

And now, that will include a grass-fed option: Certified Angus Beef  ® Grass-Fed by Niman Ranch.

“While our core focus remains on the quality of our traditional product, we recognize that there is a growing consumer interest in grass-fed beef,” says John Stika, President at CAB. “This product will represent a small portion of total sales, but it's an important addition that helps us meet the needs of consumers who have different preferences — while offering them the high-quality beef they expect from us.”

The Certified Angus Beef ® Grass-Fed by Niman Ranch product will make up less than 1% of the total CAB supply. A niche product, the grass-fed, natural beef will initially only be available through a few, exclusive restaurants and grocery stores.

Consistent with all Certified Angus Beef ® brand products, the grass-fed beef must meet all ten specifications to qualify for the brand. With marbling a necessary specification to guarantee flavor and tenderness in beef, exceptional Angus genetics are key.

John Tarpoff II, Vice President of Beef for Niman Ranch, knows the value of high-marbling Angus cattle. He attributes the consistent, well-marbled Certified Angus Beef ® Grass-Fed product to the right genetics, quality pasture forages and top-notch animal care that minimizes stress.

Stika notes that CAB has long heard the request for a Certified Angus Beef ® Grass-Fed product, but it wasn’t until now the brand could offer a grass-fed program that included the brand’s specifications.

“We’re always looking for ways to meet the changing needs of our customers,” says Stika. “This collaboration with Niman Ranch allows us to continue offering choices to consumers at the meat case and on the restaurant menu, without compromising quality and taste.”

Although availability of this new product is limited, it’s an integral piece of CAB’s business maintaining relevancy in the marketplace and driving demand for Angus cattle.



U.S. Corn Farmers May Be Called on to Fill Void Left by War in Ukraine
Krista Swanson, National Corn Growers Association

Black Sea Initiative Success & Status
The Black Sea Initiative has allowed for the safe export of over 30 million metric tons (MMT) of grain and foodstuffs from Ukraine since initial agreement in July 2022, according to the United Nations. As of May 11, 2023, 50% of the total grain and foodstuffs cargo exported through the program has been corn, the grain most affected by blockages at the beginning of the war. Officials from United Nations, Ukraine, Turkey, and Russia are meeting this week in pursuit of extending the agreement beyond the approaching expiration date on May 18, 2023.

The grain corridor has accounted for 25.2 MMT, or 50% of Ukraine’s 52.9 MMT total grain and oilseeds shipments from July 2022 to March 2023. Three ports on the Danube River provide another increasingly used pathway for grain exports from Ukraine, accounting for 22% of grain and oilseed exports in that time frame. Ukraine now exports 1.5 million tons of grain monthly on the Danube, and expansion of a river canal should allow for an additional 500,000 metric tons each month, or 6 MMT per year.

Without an extension, Ukraine’s ability to export corn and other grains from ports that are part of the deal would be restricted. But alternatives exist, such as expanded potential for exports via the Danube. The fate of the Black Sea Grain Initiative may impact Ukraine’s export potential. Further impacting export potential are unknowns about planted area and production for 2023.

Ukraine As a Global Corn Exporter
Ukraine produced a record 42.1 MMT of corn in 2021, representing more than 400% growth in production in the fifteen-year period from 2007 to 2021. Even more significant is the growth in corn exports over the same period, rising from 2.1 MMT to 25-30 MMT in recent years. That translates to more than 1200% growth in exports as an increasing portion of the corn produced in Ukraine has been exported over time. Although Ukraine produces less than 4% of world corn in recent years, the nation has remained among the world’s top four largest corn exporters contributing 13% to 17% to world trade.

Corn exports as a percent of production trended upward from 28% in 2007/08 to around 80% in the three years leading up to the Russian invasion. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, corn exports were stalled for a few months until the Black Sea Grain Deal allowed exports to resume. The 27 MMT exported in the 2021/22 marketing year represented 64% of production, falling short of the approximately 80% of production exported in recent years that may have been expected to continue in a non-war scenario. This resulted in 2021/22 ending stocks at 6.1 MMT, significantly higher than normal ending stocks range over the past one and half decades.

War zone complications reduced planted and harvested acres last year, resulting in a 36% decline from the 2021 pre-war record corn production to 27 MMT of corn in 2022. Despite the lower production level, Ukraine is on track to export 25.5 MMT of corn in the current 2022/23 marketing year, supported by higher beginning stocks carried over from the previous year. With that level of exports, Ukraine will end the 2022/23 marketing year with ending stocks at 1.4 MMT, in line with the nation’s normal stock levels.

Ukraine 2023 Production & Exports
In the May World Agriculture Supply & Demand Estimates report, USDA projects Ukraine will produce 22 MMT or corn, an 18.5% drop from last year’s already reduced level. The projection for exports is 16.5 MMT, or 75% of production.

Ukraine remains a war zone, making it difficult to predict 2023 production. Given the cost of production compared to other crops and continued war related challenges, corn production is expected to be lower as USDA projections indicate. Even in a best-case scenario, it’s unlikely production could exceed 2022 production of 27 MMT, so that could be considered the maximum end of a possible production range for 2023. At 75% of production, exports would be 20.3 MMT in the maximum scenario.

On the other hand, a recent survey of 3,000 farmers in Ukraine indicates farmers may only plant half of the corn acres planted in 2022. If production were also half of last year at 13.5 MMT, exports at 75% of production would be 10.1 MMT. This likely represents a minimum scenario.

While exports near USDA’s mid-range estimate for Ukraine corn exports is most likely, the range between the maximum and minimum scenarios represents a possible fluctuation equivalent to more than 5% of total world corn exports.

Ramifications for U.S. Farmers  
A wide range of possible corn production levels in Ukraine translates to a wide range of possible export levels for the nation. Pair that with the unknown fate of the Black Sea Grain Deal, and there is a lot of uncertainty in the world market for corn in the 2023/24 marketing year. As U.S. corn exports fall behind the pace of recent years in an increasingly competitive global market, U.S. farmers may be expected to fill the void left by the ongoing war in Ukraine.