Friday June 16 Ag News

Rural Mainstreet Economy Expanding: Bankers Ranked Federal Reserve Rate Hikes as Greatest Challenge

After declining below growth neutral for March, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index for June expanded above the threshold for a third straight month to its highest level since May 2022, according to the June monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

Overall: The region’s overall reading in June climbed to 56.9, the highest reading since May 2022 and up from last month’s 55.8. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.

“After negative growth during the first quarter of this year, the Rural Mainstreet economy experienced positive, but slow, economic growth for all of the second quarter. Only 3.4% of bankers reported a downturn in economic conditions for the month,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.

Farming and ranching land prices: The region’s farmland price index rose to 59.3 in June from 56.3 in May. This was the 33rd straight month that the index has advanced above 50.0.

Farm equipment sales: The farm equipment-sales index fell to a weak 48.3 from 50.2 in May.  Farm equipment sales declined for only the third time in the past 31 months. “Higher borrowing costs have begun to negatively impact purchases of farm equipment,” said Goss.

More than half of bankers reported that higher interest rates were impairing farm equipment purchases.

The region exported $13.3 billion of agriculture and livestock in 2022. This represented 26.5% growth from the previous year. Mexico was the chief destination, accounting for 55.2% of the region’s farm and ranching exports.

Below are the state reports:
Iowa: Iowa’s June RMI expanded to 51.7 from 50.8 in May. Iowa’s farmland-price index advanced to 55.6 from May’s 50.6. Iowa’s new-hiring index for June moved higher to 52.4 from 48.8 in May. The state exported $2.1 billion of agriculture and livestock in 2022. This represented 4.3% growth from the previous year. Mexico was the chief destination, capturing 70.9% of the state’s farm exports.

Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI slipped to a healthy 62.9 from 66.0 in May. The state’s farmland-price index for June expanded to 59.6 from May’s 58.0. Nebraska’s June new-hiring index dipped to 69.5 from 72.0 in May. The state exported $1.3 billion of agriculture and livestock in 2022. This represented 11.8% growth from the previous year. Mexico was the chief destination, capturing 69.4% of the state’s farm exports.

The survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. The index provides the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former Chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey and launched it in January 2006.



Randy Vlasin Honored as Nebraska’s Outstanding Agricultural Educator of the Year and Awarded with New Golden Owl
 
On June 7, 2023, the Nebraska FFA Foundation, Nebraska Agricultural Education Association (NAEA) and Nationwide recognized Randy Vlasin, Hayes Center Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor, as Nebraska’s first Golden Owl Award winner and Outstanding Agricultural Educator of the Year at the Nebraska Career Education Conference.

Agricultural educators play a vital part in their communities, dedicating countless hours to equip students for fulfilling careers and help them follow their interests. To further honor contributions and support them with additional resources, the Nebraska FFA Foundation and Nebraska Agriculture Education Association have partnered with Nationwide to present Vlasin, the Outstanding Agriculture Educator of the Year, with the first Nebraska Golden Owl Award. Nationwide established the Golden Owl Award in 2018 to recognize outstanding teachers across several states.

Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, the Nebraska FFA Foundation, NAEA and Nationwide collected nominations for Nebraska’s top agricultural teachers from students, parents and community members across the state. Following the recognition of six finalists:
Amanda Hafer, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Lutheran High Northeast
Ashtyn Vivion, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Alliance
Brent Nollette, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Valentine
Chad Schimmels, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Eustis-Farnam
Randy Vlasin, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Hayes Center
Robyn Graham, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Humphrey

A selection committee honored Mr.Vlasin as the grand prize winner for 2023 Nebraska Agricultural Educator of the Year. Vlasin received the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and was presented with an additional $3,000 Nationwide-funded check to reward him for his service.

Vlasin is retiring after investing 34 years into his teaching career. Hayes Center is one of the smallest chapters in the state, with 24 students currently in FFA. Vlasin was always quick to remind his students that, “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight. It’s about the size of the fight in the dog. It’s about what you want to achieve.” Students lived out this analogy as competitors at state and national competitions, proving that they, too, can succeed despite their size.

“For over the past thirty years Randy Vlasin has been a leader in Nebraska Agriculture Education and FFA. He is known as one of the most competent educators in supporting students' FFA leadership and community involvement.” noted Stacey Agnew, Executive Director of the Nebraska FFA Foundation. “He understands the dynamics of preparing students for careers in agriculture, especially in rural Nebraska. Likewise, he shares his wisdom as a mentor and thought leader for all of Agriculture Education and FFA in Nebraska. He is very deserving of the 2023 NAEA Outstanding Agriculture Educator and Nebraska Golden Owl Award”.



Nebraska Farm Bureau County Leaders Engage with Elected Officials in Washington, D.C.

Eleven county Farm Bureau leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with elected officials to discuss the 2023 farm bill priorities, EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation, and labor/immigration during Nebraska Farm Bureau’s first County Leaders D.C. Fly-In.  Over the course of three days, these individuals met with Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, Representatives Adrian Smith, Don Bacon, Mike Flood, and the Senate Ag Committee.

“It is impactful when lawmakers hear from farmers and ranchers who are directly affected by the farm policy they vote on,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Director of National Affairs Jordan Dux. “The farm bill is imperative to ensuring that producers have the necessary risk management tools to help them successfully support the needs of a growing population. As these county leaders interacted directly with elected officials, the personal stories and connections they shared, in addition to the policy goals, encourage the lawmakers to actively support the legislation.”

Nebraska Farm Bureau’s first County Leaders D.C. Fly-In was held in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau’s Advocacy Fly-In. During the visit, county leaders had a chance to hear directly from the chair and ranking members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees and hear their plans for formulating the next farm bill, with prioritizing funding for risk management tools including federal crop insurance programs being at the top of the list. Excitement over the recent U.S. Supreme Court WOTUS win regarding Sackett v. EPA was also discussed. However, more will need to be finalized before farmers and ranchers can fully breathe a sigh of relief. Lastly, finding a practical solution to the agricultural worker problem by updating labor and guest worker policy was also a top priority. NEFB’s county leaders shared personal experiences with all three issues directly with Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation.

“With the current drought, crop insurance is so important to have. My message to our Nebraska delegation was to keep that safety net so we can get through another year and can plant a crop next year,” said Dawn Kucera, who farms near Madison and serves on the Nebraska Farm Bureau board representing the P&E Committee. “I think the Advocacy Fly-In program is extremely valuable, because it gives us an opportunity to come to Washington, D.C. to see what our primary purpose as Farm Bureau is: promoting policy and working to get legislation that is favorable to farmers and ranchers. This experience gives us an opportunity to see that process firsthand and realize the power that we have when advocating for our issues.”

Members of Congress valued the experience of meeting with Farm Bureau members noting that the best ideas come from the grassroot level.

“I have always wanted to go to Washington, D.C. and I’ve learned how hard our Nebraska delegation works for us and how Nebraska Farm Bureau represents us,” said Tim Lorenz, a Sarpy County Farm Bureau member.

The 2023 County Leaders D.C. Fly-in was an opportunity to engage and encourage county Farm Bureau leaders to tell their stories and impact the future of agriculture in Nebraska and nationwide.

“Nebraska Farm Bureau is essential to be a part of if you are a farmer or rancher. Nebraska Farm Bureau is very influential on state and national issues. It is truly a grassroots organization that protects agriculture and has the backs of farmers and ranchers,” said Hannah Borg, a Dixon County Farm Bureau member.

County leaders that attended the 2023 County Leaders D.C. Fly-In included:
Hannah Borg and Adam Boeckenhauer, Dixon County;
Jim Stewart, Lancaster County;
Tim Lorenz, Sarpy County;
Jason Perdue, York County;
Ben Deerson, Saunders County;
Vance Tonack, Douglas County;
Bree Denaeyer, Cherry County;
Krista Podany, Holt County;
Dawn Kucera, Madison County; and
Nick Ladenburger, Hitchcock County.



Connealy attends 2023 Young Cattlemen’s Conference

Gabriel Connealy of Whitman, Nebraska, represented the Angus breed at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) 2023 Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC), June 1-9. Each year, the Angus Foundation selects and sponsors an individual to attend the conference. Originally selected in 2020, Connealy’s trip was postponed several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group of over 70 cattlemen from across the nation convened in Denver, starting the conference at the NCBA office and concluding the trip in Washington, D.C., with a visit to Capitol Hill. Throughout their travels, attendees explored the beef value chain from pasture to plate, including stops at Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association, Tyson Foods beef plant, Certified Angus Beef and Wendy’s Global Headquarters. Connealy said he enjoyed the variety of stops, from gaining an eye-opening new perspective at Wendy’s to visits he was more familiar with.

“Visiting Certified Angus Beef (CAB) is a highlight of any trip, and it was great to see the reactions of other participants who were unfamiliar with CAB,” Connealy said.

YCC is designed to broaden experiences for the cattlemen that attend. “Personally, I had little experience or knowledge of the policymaking or lobbying portion of our industry — the D.C. aspect of the trip was especially beneficial.”

Connealy is well versed in both involvement and history within the Angus breed. Growing up in Nebraska on his family’s Angus seedstock operation, Connealy Angus, he developed a passion for the industry and desire to assist the family business. This led him to obtain his bachelor’s degree in finance and later his master’s degree, with an emphasis in animal breeding and genetics, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). In addition to managing the family herd of 3,000 registered Angus cows, Connealy is a member of NCBA, has served as an Angus Convention voting delegate and played an integral role in the startup of his local Grant County Nebraska Farm Bureau chapter. His hunger for knowledge and dedication to the industry made YCC the ideal learning opportunity. Connealy emphasized the uniqueness of this experience, which allowed him to connect with and learn from fellow cattlemen from a variety of backgrounds.

“Truly, the highlight of the trip was the other participants from around the nation,” Connealy said. “I was exposed to aspects of our industry that I knew little about, and made many friends that I hope to keep in touch with and trade lessons with for years to come.”

The Angus Foundation selects a young cattleman to represent the breed at the conference annually through an application process. Emphasis is placed on applicants’ leadership experiences and American Angus Association® and beef industry involvement. The attendee’s trip is fully underwritten through the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted support for the Foundation’s mission to advance Angus education, youth and research.

“I’m honored and humbled to be able to represent the Angus breed and Angus Foundation at YCC,” Connealy said. “I’d like to give a sincere thank you to the Association and the Foundation for the opportunity. There are many great young people in our breed, and I would encourage each and every one of them to apply for YCC.”

“We are fortunate to have had someone with as much passion and dedication as Gabriel representing the Angus breed at YCC,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “We’re very proud to provide this support as he expands his industry knowledge and leadership, and we’re thankful for the generous donors that allow us to do so.”

Applications to represent the Angus breed at the 2024 YCC will be due in January of the upcoming year. To learn more about this opportunity and the work of the Angus Foundation, visit www.AngusFoundation.org.



USDA SURVEYING CATTLE OPERATIONS

In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey about 16,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories.

“This information helps producers make timely, informed business decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction. It also helps packers and government leaders evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export,” said Greg Thessen, Director of the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Field Office. “Obtaining the current count of cattle will serve as an important decision-making tool for the entire agriculture industry.”

During the first two weeks of July, Nebraska and Iowa producers will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle on feed information. To  make it as convenient as possible for producers to participate in the survey, NASS offers the option of responding via the Internet, telephone, or mail.

NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data in aggregate, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified. The July Cattle report will be released on July 21, 2023. This and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/publications. For more information, call the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Field Office at (800) 772-0825.



UNL Seeks Next Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics. IANR is seeking an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative person who will provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the department. We are looking for a strong leader who understands university teaching, research, and Extension and who will be able to use their knowledge and skills to help the department maximize its impact. The incumbent will be one who appreciates the unique contributions of agricultural economics research and education and how faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders can work together to address the most important economic challenges facing agriculture and society. The successful department head will be a collaborative and inspiring leader who puts the success of the department above their individual accomplishments in the role.

Recognizing that diversity enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and belongingness, IANR and the Department of Agricultural Economics are committed to creating research, learning, Extension programming, and work environments that are inclusive of all forms of diversity. Every person and every interaction are treated as important to our collective wellbeing and our ability to deliver on our mission.  

The Head is charged with coordinating and promoting all aspects of our land-grant mission within the department. The incumbent provides leadership and oversight of all Agricultural Economics programming and initiatives. The department head will be appointed to a five-year renewable term, subject to satisfactory annual reviews and a formal reappointment review.

More here:  https://ianr.unl.edu/head-department-agricultural-economics



HUSKER WHEAT RESEARCH FOCUSES ON PARTNERSHIPS, INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION

Over the generations, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has been a key partner of Nebraska wheat producers. That connection has bolstered crop productivity and enhanced disease resistance. It’s transformed farming methods, promoting environmental sustainability. Present-day Husker faculty salute this legacy and are building on it.

Larry Flohr, a Deuel County producer and certified seed producer long active in Nebraska’s wheat sector, has seen that history and points to the important advances. He’s a longstanding supporter of the annual wheat variety trials managed by the university. This year’s trials will take place in six locations throughout Nebraska in June.  

“The exchanges the researchers have during the wheat variety trials allow them to get feedback firsthand from the producers themselves,” said Flohr, who’s been growing wheat since 1978.

Over the decades, Flohr said, Husker researchers “have done an outstanding job relative to issues we had with Russian wheat aphids and specific rust problems — leaf rust, stem rust. They've worked on varieties relative to those. All of that came from their interest and how they were directed by their exchange with farmers.”

The university’s multi-faceted relationship with the wheat sector is among the longest and most fruitful of the institution’s partnerships with Nebraska agriculture. Starting in the 1950s, small-grains breeder John Schmidt ultimately developed 28 new wheat varieties with improved disease resistance and stable yield. His successor at the university, Stephen Baenziger, continued that tradition, producing more than 40 wheat cultivars before his retirement in 2021.

The university’s breeding work has, among other things, made Nebraska wheat stand out for its hardiness in winter, Flohr said.

That legacy continues to inspire the university’s present-day wheat researchers, said Katherine Frels, assistant professor of agronomy and horticulture, who has succeeded Baenziger as the state’s small-grains breeder.

“We’ve got this history of developing varieties that are consistent performers and serve our producers well, year over year,” Frels said. “They are stress-tolerant. They have good protein and good baking quality, and they have good yields. So they're something that our producers can really count on to perform.”

Charles “Charlie” Fenster, a specialist in dryland cropping systems at the university’s Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, is another notable figure in the university’s partnership with the state’s wheat sector. Fenster, who retired in 1982, energetically promoted transformative farming methods that improved wheat yields, soil and water conservation, and profitability.

“We've gone from deep-plowing to conservative tillage to, more recently, no-till,” Flohr said. “Farming rotations have changed considerably over the period of years.”

Fenster’s research helped producers better understand the effects on wheat production from specific chemicals.

“Charles Fenster was quite an advocate of the change in farming methods over the years in the Panhandle,” Flohr said. “The dryland wheat farmer owes a lot to his research.”

Later generations of Husker researchers have built on that foundation, Flohr said. In addition to tillage methods, “over the years, they've analyzed the most effective planting dates, early and late, through the fall,” he said. “They’ve also had information on planting methods, the rates of how many pounds per acre and so forth, and now the measurement is completely different.”  

A key strength of the university’s present-day wheat research is its embrace of interdisciplinary collaboration. Solving problems and addressing producers’ needs require contributions from a range of specializations, said Amanda Easterly, a research assistant professor at the university’s High Plains Agricultural Lab in Sidney.

Each of the university’s research centers in western Nebraska features a core group of scientists, researchers and Nebraska Extension personnel, Easterly said.

“We span the breadth from ag economics to ag education to agronomy, entomology and so forth, across all ag-related disciplines,” she said. “We are constantly engaging with our growers. So it’s really a neat way to stay grounded to what the needs are of folks in Nebraska, and then making sure that those folks felt heard back in Lincoln.”

Easterly finds inspiration in the example of M. Rosalind Morris (1920-2022), a pioneering professor of plant cytogenetics at Nebraska. Her groundbreaking research on wheat genes enabled major advances in breeding wheat varieties.

“She was the first female faculty member in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture,” appointed in 1947, Easterly said. “She was also the first woman to be named a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy — a remarkable woman who laid that groundwork that Dr. Baenziger and Dr. Frels are carrying forward in plant breeding. She’s been one of the shining examples of wheat research.”

The number of diseases affecting wheat worldwide is significant. Each year, 50 diseases cause the loss of about 20% of wheat production globally. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, pathogens often evolve to develop resistance to disease-prevention methods, Frels said. “So we often see that we have to develop new methods of resistance to overcome how the pests have evolved.”

Husker scientists tailor disease-resistance approaches to the needs of individual parts of the state, Frels said, because the wheat disease prevalence in eastern Nebraska differs from that in the western regions, demonstrating the value of the university’s statewide wheat research and Extension effort.

A central challenge facing the state’s wheat producers is the recent arrival of the wheat stem sawfly, a type of wasp whose pupae slice completely through the wheat stem. “The stem falls over, and we can’t harvest it,” Frels said. “It’s absolutely catastrophic.”

Ultimately, new wheat varieties can help address the problem, but until then, Husker researchers are drawing on their interdisciplinary collaboration for more immediate strategies. Entomologists are studying use of a parasitoid wasp to attack the wheat stem sawfly. Easterly is working on plant-structure strategies to strengthen wheat stems against the insect pest.

The multi-faceted response shows the practical value of cross-disciplinary collaboration, Frels said.

In addition to her research, Easterly said, working closely with Nebraska wheat producers is a central and rewarding part of her job.

“My stakeholders, the folks that I'm serving, they're the folks that I see at daycare,” she said. “They’re the folks who live down the road from me. And so their success is my success in making sure that I’m doing what they need. That really motivates me.”

The newest generation of wheat research scientists promises to continue the Husker tradition of being a key partner with Nebraska wheat producers for continued innovation and success.



House appropriations bill sets a mixed outlook for rural funding

On Wednesday, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed its agriculture appropriations bill for 2024. The $17.8 billion spending package, which proposes annual funding levels for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), follows the March release of the Biden administration’s budget for the same year.

While the package included spending cuts for multiple USDA programs, House appropriators showed their support for small businesses by holding funding for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) stable. The program, which provides loans and technical assistance to rural entrepreneurs, is slated to receive $6 million–the same amount allocated for 2023.

“RMAP is an essential tool for small businesses across the country,” said Kalee Olson, policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs. “We’re pleased to see members of the House Appropriations Committee recognize its value.”

While funding for RMAP remained intact, the Center is disappointed that other programs important to rural communities will face spending cuts if the proposed legislation becomes law. The House budget includes $776.892 million for Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)—a decrease of $24 million from 2023. CTA funds Natural Resources Conservation Service field staff who help agricultural producers develop and implement conservation plans.

“Many farmers and ranchers are eager to implement practices on their operations that are good for natural resources,” Olson said. “NRCS staff funded by CTA play an essential role in producers’ efforts to improve soil health and water quality.”

Other programs facing spending cuts include Farming Opportunities, Training, and Outreach and the Local Agriculture Market Program. These programs provide funds for training and services that benefit beginning and underserved producers, as well as local and regional food systems.

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s version of the bill is expected next week.



REMINDER: ICPB to Hold Director Elections for USDA Crop Reporting Districts 1, 3, 6 & 7

Since 1978, Iowa corn farmers have elected their peers to serve on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board® (ICPB) to oversee the investment of funds generated by the Iowa corn checkoff program.  

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board® (ICPB) will hold elections in crop reporting districts 1, 3, 6 and 7. Iowa corn farmers elect their peers to serve on the Board of Directors of ICPB to oversee the investment of funds generated by the Iowa corn checkoff program. The board’s primary priorities and responsibilities include domestic and foreign market development, research of new and value-added corn uses, and education on corn and the farmers who grow it.

Crop reporting districts 1, 3, 6 and 7 can vote during business hours at their local county ISU Extension office for representation on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

Anyone who has produced and marketed 250 bushels of corn or more in Iowa in the previous marketing year is eligible to vote in the election. Producers unable to visit the local ISU extension office on July 11 can vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested no later than June 19 by contacting the Iowa Corn office at 515-225-9242 or on our website at www.iowacorn.org. Absentee ballots must be postmarked or returned to the Iowa Corn office no later than July 11.


The current candidates are as follows:

USDA Crop Reporting District 1
Joshua Haack, O’Brien County 
Chad Harms, Dickinson County 

USDA Crop Reporting District 3  
Caleb Hamer, Black Hawk County   
Jason Orr, Buchanan County 

USDA Crop Reporting District 6 
Mikayla Colehour, Jones County  
Kyle Stahle, Johnson County 

USDA Crop Reporting District 7 
Darin Proffit, Page County  
Jeff Thomsen, Cass County  

The results of the election are announced publicly on July 14.

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB), works to develop and defend markets, fund research, and provide education about corn and corn products. For more information, visit iowacorn.org. 



It Will Be Legal To Sell Raw Milk In Iowa On July 1; What Do Producers Need To consider?

In response to questions from producers and industry surrounding the legislation signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds on May 11 the Dairy Extension Team at Iowa State University will be presenting a webinar in conjunction the Iowa State Dairy Association, “Raw Milk For Human Consumption: Issues To Consider”, on July 12, 2023 from 6 to 9 pm CDT. This free webinar will be geared towards dairy producers and potential producers interested in the new rules surrounding raw milk sales in Iowa.

During this informative webinar, attendees will learn about these new rules and regulations as well as managing raw milk risk and best practices for sample collection of raw milk. The following presenters will share information and answer questions from the audience:
Senator Jason Schultz, the District 6 Republican legislator who sponsored the bill, will outline his vision and reason for the legislation
Kitt Tovar, attorney and manager of the Beginning Farmer Center will outline liability for producers
Dr. Pat Gorden, DVM, PhD (College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University) will discuss best practices for sample collection under the new rules.
Mark McAfee, MaAfee Farms and Organic Pastures, USA’s largest raw milk dairy– tells how he does raw milk
Dr. Stephanie Clark- Iowa State University, discuss the role of sanitation in producing raw milk
Dr. Larry Tranel & Fred Hall, discuss their top three issues in managing a 10-cow dairy
"There has been quite a bit of uncertainty and questions surrounding these new rules," said Dr. Gail Carpenter, Iowa State University Extension Dairy Specialist. "Our goal is to provide producers with the most current information so that they can make informed decisions in light of this legislation."

Interested producers and potential producers are encouraged to attend the free webinar live from 6 to 9 pm. on July 12 by pre-registering at least on hour prior to the program at:
https://go.iastate.edu/SIHLB6

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist in your area: in Northwest Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu; in Northeast Iowa, Jennifer Bentley, 563-382-2949 or jbentley@iastate.edu; in East Central Iowa, Larry Tranel, 563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu; in Ames, Dr. Gail Carpenter, 515.294.9085 or ajcarpenter@iastate.edu.



World Pork Provides Solutions and Comradery for an Evolving Industry

World Pork Expo marked its 35th anniversary on June 7-9, as more than 10,000 producers and industry professionals traveled to the Iowa State Fairgrounds to visit the world’s largest pork-specific trade show. Presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Expo features a wide range of free seminars, networking opportunities and abundant hospitality.

“Producers come to Expo to reconnect with their peers, to share and exchange ideas,” said Scott Hays, NPPC president and Missouri pork producer. “This year is particularly challenging, and you can’t remain stagnant. Producers need to continue to innovate and embrace new ideas.”
 
Facing Today's Challenges Together
There’s no question that U.S. producers are facing a range of challenges from rising input costs, labor shortages, and the July implementation of California’s Proposition 12, which eliminates the use of gestation-sow stalls associated with any pork product sold in the state.

“Prop 12 was a big point of conversation at Expo this year,” said Todd Heisterkamp, executive director at Crystal Springs. The company has had a free-access gestation sow stall on the market for several years, but more recently, producers are taking a harder look. “Producers may not be happy, but they are taking the approach of ‘let’s figure it out,’” he noted. “And if anyone can figure out how to produce a pig requiring different technology, and provide the lowest-cost pork worldwide, it’s the U.S. producer.”

 Embracing Technology to Find Efficiency
The on-farm labor shortage is also top of mind with producers, and they are shopping for technology and equipment that provide solutions. “The industry is ready for much more technology and people are actively looking for solutions,” said Marchel Schubert, business development manager for Ro-Main. Among the company’s new offerings is an in-barn camera that pairs with artificial intelligence technology to count pigs.

“Producers tell us ‘I don’t have enough labor, so give me a tool to automate some of these tasks,’” he noted. “We want to support the farmers and workers, make their jobs easier so they can focus on efficiency and taking care of the pigs.”

Having attended Expo for 20 years, Schubert said the show is a good place to connect with clients and make new, high-quality contacts, including international visitors. Attendees from Latin America, Canada, Europe, and numerous Asian countries returned to Expo this year.

“It’s the main [trade] show in the U.S., but it really is the biggest [pork trade show and event] in the world,” he added.

 Seminars Offer Business Insights
Pork producers and their staff could select from a dozen free seminars presented throughout Wednesday and Thursday of Expo. “The seminar subjects were excellent, and producers had an opportunity to ask questions,” Heisterkamp said. “That’s a value to everyone.”

This year, many of the five Business Seminars presented by allied industry companies addressed the economics of the pork industry, optimizing profitability, and turning challenges into opportunities. The connection between swine health and nutrition as well as sow productivity completed the lineup.

Presented by the National Pork Board and Pork Checkoff, this year’s seven Pork Academy seminars addressed gene editing, foreign animal disease preparedness and on-farm solutions, long-term sustainability and improving pig survivability. Additional seminars provided an economic outlook for the pork industry, discussed the global market and outlined domestic opportunities for U.S. pork.

Rounding out the 35th annual Expo was plenty of tasty pork barbeque offered at allied industry hospitality tents and the Big Grill. Always a visitor favorite, the Big Grill, staffed by Iowa’s Tama County Pork Producers Association and friends, served up more than 10,000 free pork lunches over Expo’s three days.

“Expo continues to provide value to producers and the industry as a single event to see what’s new, collect information and compare notes, all with the goal of producing safe, nutritious, affordable pork for U.S. and global consumers,” Hays said.

Mark your calendars for June 5-7, 2024, and plan to attend the World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.



CLAAS Joins Major Equipment Manufacturer Group Announcing Right to Repair MOU with the American Farm Bureau Federation

CLAAS of America has joined with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that provides farmers and ranchers confirmation of their right to repair their own equipment. This marks the fifth MOU with major farm equipment manufacturers, now including CLAAS, Kubota, John Deere, CNH, and AGCO.  CLAAS is recognized the world over for its superior engineering and leading innovations in the production of combines, forage harvesters, tractors, balers and hay tools.

“CLAAS is delivering on our continuing promise to provide solutions that improve our customers’ businesses, as their success and our success go hand in hand,” says Eric Raby, Senior Vice President, Americas, for CLAAS. “We are pleased to announce our MOU with AFBF solidifying for farmers the right to repair.”

While CLAAS takes pride in its FIRST CLAAS SERVICE delivered through its dealers, they realize that customers also may need the ability to make repairs on their own terms. The company has supported this for years and offers an app for mobile devices under its CLAAS Connect portal that puts machine-specific owner manuals and technical resources directly in their customers’ hands. The agreement with AFBF codifies the commitment of CLAAS to provide customers with the resources and tools they need to safely repair their equipment. This is another example of CLAAS’ commitment in listening to their customers and sharing technology that will help them take their farming operations to new levels of productivity.

“The memorandum of understanding with CLAAS demonstrates AFBF’s continued commitment to ensure farmers have access to the tools they need to keep their farms running, and America’s families fed,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers are more dependent on technology than ever before, and they asked us to find a private-sector solution to the right to repair issue. This agreement is another step toward guaranteeing timely repairs for farmers regardless of the equipment they use.”

The agreement creates a framework for farmers and independent repair facilities in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico to access technical manuals, tools and product guides to self-diagnose and self-repair machines, while respecting intellectual property and legislated legal requirements of the manufacturer. It also reconfirms the ability to lease diagnostic tools, purchase products and parts from CLAAS dealers.



Corn Board Elects Ken Hartman Jr. to Leadership

The National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board has elected Ken Hartman Jr. to become the organization's next first vice president for the new fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2023.

Hartman is a fifth-generation farmer who operates a grain farm along with his wife, Anita, daughter, Amanda, and mother, Joann in Waterloo, Illinois. Together, they have also raised specialty crops such as tofu soybeans and white corn, while also being early adopters of precision farming technologies. His daughter Alexis is a financial analyst for Waste Management in California and Ashley works for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa.  

“I’m honored to serve America’s corn farmers in a new way with NCGA,” said Hartman. “I look forward to working with my fellow officers as we tackle issues that are critically important to corn growers and rural America.”

Hartman currently chairs the NCGA Finance Committee. He also served as co-chair of the 2023 Commodity Classic committee.  

Hartman was honored by Prairie Farmer magazine with the Master Farmer award in 2021 for his exceptional agricultural production skills as well as his commitment to family and service.

On October 1, Tom Haag of Minnesota becomes chairman, and the current first vice president, Harold Wolle of Minnesota, becomes NCGA president. In October 2024, Wolle becomes chairman, and Ken Hartman becomes president.



Growth Energy Cheers Senate Push for U.S. Leadership on SAF

Growth Energy today praised a bipartisan letter signed by 16 senators calling on the U.S. Department of the Treasury to use the most accurate and up-to-date lifecycle analysis for calculating new tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Authored by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), the letter notes that “the certainty and reliability of a science-based, United States government-developed model” is vital to ensuring that American farmers can contribute to the aviation industry’s decarbonization.

“It would be climate malpractice to anchor our SAF ambitions to outdated models that disregard U.S. innovations in biofuel production and climate-smart agriculture,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “With current technologies, farm-based feedstocks are the only sources of clean, renewable energy available in large enough volumes to deliver on our decarbonization goals. Fortunately, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) have developed the gold standard for lifecycle modeling, informed by the latest hard data on everything from indirect land use change to fertilizer inputs. Only with the best available science guiding incentives can we unlock the innovations and investments needed to meet this administration’s SAF Grand Challenge. We applaud Senator Duckworth and our other Senate champions for working to ensure U.S. SAF production isn’t grounded before it can ever take off.”

In their letter, the senators flag major flaws in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) model and urge adoption of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model. Failure, they warn, “will not only prevent American farmers from contributing to a clean energy economy, but it will drastically delay adoption of promising low emission energy sources and force the aviation industry to miss an opportunity to eliminate millions of tons of carbon emissions in the coming years.”



USDA Recognizes National Pollinator Week

During the week of June 19 – 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing National Pollinator Week through the continued commitment and support for pollinator health and research. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Honey bee pollination alone adds more than $18 billion in value to agricultural crops annually.

“Our world's ecosystem and food supply greatly rely on pollinators – without them, many of our nation's crops wouldn't be able to produce as many fruits, nuts or vegetables resulting in lower supplies and higher prices,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This week and every week, it is critically important that we continue to encourage the protection of pollinators and their habitats. Fewer pollinators harm both farm income and nutrition security for many Americans. Healthy pollinator populations are essential to the continued success and well-being of agricultural producers, rural America and the entire U.S. economy.”

USDA recognizes the critical role pollinators play in agriculture and supports pollinator health through research, data collection, diagnostic services, monitoring, pollinator habitat enhancement programs and pollinator health investments. USDA will release the “2023 Annual Strategic Pollinator Priorities Report” later this year outlining USDA pollinator research and programmatic priorities, focusing both on managed and wild pollinators. Identifying pollinator research priorities and practices enables USDA, partners and communities to make informed decisions when supporting pollinator health in the agricultural systems, ecosystems and economies that depend on pollinators.

Last month, USDA released a three-year Science and Research Strategy, which establishes a framework to transform the U.S. food system and support our Nation’s farmers, ranchers, producers and foresters. The framework includes efforts focusing on pollinator health research, education and Extension priorities. This year’s Annual Strategic Pollinator Priorities Report reflects input from Tribal and Hispanic/Latino community members and complements the USDA Science and Research Strategy. USDA is committed to ensuring our scientific research priorities reflect the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

To celebrate National Pollinator Week, USDA will host a pollinator exhibits exposition on Friday, June 23, 2023 (no rain date scheduled), from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on the Jaime L. Whitten lawn, on Jefferson Drive, SW between 14th and 12th Street, SW (next to the Smithsonian Metro Station), in conjunction with USDA’s Farmers Market. The event is an opportunity for the public to explore and learn about pollinator health and how these powerhouses feed the world.

Learn more about USDA pollinator work at www.usda.gov/pollinators.



Senate committee approves bill to create new feed additive category at FDA

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) commended the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for advancing a bill that would establish a new pathway at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for novel feed additives to increase livestock efficiency and production.

NGFA has endorsed the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act of 2023 (S.1842), sponsored by Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; and Michael Bennet, D-Colo. During a June 15 hearing, the Senate HELP Committee advanced the bill in its reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA).

NGFA noted that the Innovative FEED Act would modernize the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to enable innovative products to reach the market and advance improvements in food safety. “We strongly endorse this bill that would promote the availability of animal food products with novel benefits, such as improving the environment and reducing human foodborne illness,” said David Fairfield, NGFA senior vice president of feed.

The FDA recently acknowledged that some animal food products do not fit clearly within the agency’s two existing categories – animal drug or animal food. NGFA participated in a virtual listening session on the issue held by FDA in 2022. NGFA’s comments made during the session and subsequently submitted to the docket urged FDA to modernize its policies to allow animal food manufacturers to make truthful, non-misleading production, environmental and well-being claims for animal foods that have been substantiated to provide such benefits in a more efficient manner. Historically, FDA has required animal foods with such claims to gain approval as animal drugs. In contrast, the Innovative FEED Act would allow products with these claims to gain approval as feed additives, a more efficient and predictable process.

In addition to establishing a new pathway for manufacturers to receive approval for feed additives, the Innovative FEED Act also establishes guardrails to ensure only qualifying products are eligible for this pathway while also ensuring products are safe to use.



Farm Service Agency Now Accepting Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local County Committees

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is unveiling a new GIS tool to make it easier for producers to participate in the nomination and election processes for county committee members, who make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally.

 All nomination forms for the 2023 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2023.   

“Producers serving on FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency, and they serve as the eyes and ears for the producers who elected them,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “In order for county committees to be both effective and equitable in their decision-making at the local level, they must reflect the full diversity of American agriculture. I am excited that we have another opportunity through this year’s nominations and elections cycle to make our committees more inclusive, and in turn, better equipped to best serve all our customers. I encourage you to consider serving the farmers, ranchers and producers in your community on your local FSA county committee, and I thank you in advance for your public service.”

Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for members. LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and they may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.

Customers can locate their LAA through a new GIS locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

“Based on feedback from stakeholders, including the USDA Equity Commission, we are unveiling this new tool to make it easier for producers to effectively participate in the process,” Ducheneaux added.  

Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they:
Participate or cooperate in a USDA program
and
Reside in the LAA that is up for election this year

A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority producers, women and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office.   

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues.    



R-CALF USA Joins 102 Groups Urging Congress to Choose Farmers Over Big Meat in Ag Appropriations Bill

This week, R-CALF USA joined 102 farmer, rancher, consumer, labor, farmworker and faith organizations in a letter sent to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, urging Congress to stand with American farmers and remove a policy rider from its FY24 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

The policy rider would prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from writing, preparing or publishing proposed rules to strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, one of the most important federal statutes for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

The letter explained why the proposed rules are particularly crucial stating that because of the highly concentrated and vertically integrated nature of the livestock industries, this concentration gives the multinational meatpackers overwhelming market power and allows for continued anticompetitive practices that are particularly harmful to American family farmers.

The letter included specific examples of behavior the rules would prevent and cited that American farmers and ranchers are being driven out of business every day and for decades have been demanding action from their government to ensure fair markets. It also notes that this is not the first time the packers have used appropriations riders to prevent USDA from addressing their monopoly power.

The letter concluded with describing the rider as “an unacceptable attack on the ability of the USDA to do its job: protecting American farmers and ranchers and ensuring fair and competitive markets,” and called on committee members to reject the rider and stand with American farmers and ranchers.

“This is the most important issue to cattle producers today,” said Bill Bullard, R-CALF USA CEO. “We must get this language removed.”



Producers Can Now Go "Whole Hog" on New Heat Stress App for Pigs

HotHog, a new smartphone application ("app") that predicts heat stress in pigs, is now available for download and use, a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists announced today.

Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, HotHog taps into local weather data to predict the relative comfort or heat stress levels of pigs on an hourly, daily or weekly basis. Swine producers can then use this information to take pre-emptive measures, like ensuring plenty of drinking water, cooling the pigs with fans or mists, and limiting transport to early morning hours.         

Annually, heat stress in pigs costs the U.S. swine industry an estimated $481 million in revenue losses. Ensuring the positive welfare and productivity of pigs (a top source of animal protein worldwide) will be even more critical in the face of global climate change—particularly during the summer months and in tropical regions, noted Jay S. Johnson, an animal scientist who leads the ARS's Livestock Behavior Research Unit in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Pigs are especially vulnerable to heat stress because they cannot sweat. In modern production settings, pigs cope with heat through panting, while the caregivers adjust ventilation rates, utilize sprinklers, and ensure free access to abundant, cool water for the animals to drink. Without such measures, pigs may start to eat less, grow slower, produce less lean muscle, produce less milk and experience other health, productivity or fertility problems.

Gestating sows are among a swine herd's most vulnerable members, and when heat-stressed, they may give birth to fewer and smaller piglets. Heat-stressed gestating sows may also give birth to in utero heat-stressed piglets that have a greater risk of health and other complications in their postnatal life.  

According to its developers, HotHog is the first decision-support tool of its kind to predict thermal stress based on behavioral and physiological data collected from heat-load studies of swine—and more precisely, from non-pregnant breeding females and mid- and late-gestation sows. This is what differentiates the app from other decision-support tools that are now available to swine producers.

"Additionally, many thermal indices currently in use were originally developed for use in non-swine species and may not accurately predict thermal comfort and stress in pigs," added Johnson. The HotHog app was developed, tested and released with collaborators from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC); Purdue University (Purdue) in West Lafayette, Indiana; and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones, the app offers several features, including:
Settings for geographic user locations—from Shiloh, Illinois, to Brisbane, Australia, for example
Current local time and weather, including temperature forecasts color-coded to one of six thermal states (or categories) in swine—namely, cool, comfortable, warm, mild heat stress, moderate heat stress and severe heat stress
Four graphic icons for additional user options located at the bottom of the app's display screen.
Clicking on the pig icon, for example, describes physiological and behavioral signs associated with the thermal state predicted to affect the herd's sows. Clicking on a fan icon displays a page titled "Management Observations and Mitigation Options," which provides recommendations for ensuring the sows' comfort based on the thermal state that the app has predicted.

Another icon resembles a gear. "It takes the user to a settings page where they can edit their individual profile and set specific preferences, such as switching between dark and light mode or specifying whether temperatures are presented in Fahrenheit or Celsius," Johnson explained. "Users can also find information there on how the app was developed, considerations for use of HotHog, and options to report problems with HotHog or ask specific questions."

Johnson's HotHog collaborators are Betty McConn (ORISE), Allan Schinckel, Lindsey Robbins and Brianna N. Gaskill—all of Purdue University, Angela Green‑Miller (UIUC) and Donald Lay Jr. (ARS). They began work on the project in 2018 under a grant from USDA's National Institute for Food and Agriculture and have published several papers reporting their findings, including the December 2022 online issue of the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology.

Future updates to HotHog will include Spanish translation, push notifications and thermal predictions for boars, nursery pigs and growing-finishing pigs, among other groups. The app will apply these updates through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store updates, Johnson said.



American Agri-Women "Road to Influence" Leadership Program Announced and Now Open for Applications.

American Agri-Women (AAW) members can apply now for the “AAW’s Road to Influence” personal and leadership development program.  The group is making history with this unique program that is for women only, from across the nation, from a variety of backgrounds in farming, agribusiness, ranching, forestry and the food industry.

AAW’s President Heather Hampton+Knodle said, “We are not tied to one state or emphasizing one set of issues. It is not a “one hit wonder” one-day event.  We are investing in the growth and evolution of women so they can lead meaningful conversations and progress in their homes, work, communities, and the industry.”

The 14-month program will launch in August in conjunction with AAW’s LEAP: Leading, Empowering and Aspiring to Progress event in Reno, Nevada which is open to all AAW members.  As they travel the AAW Road to Influence, participants will explore three phases: a deep dive into themselves to identify and manage blindspots and strengths; maximizing working in teams; and enacting a program or initiative to advance the AAW mission.  The program will integrate virtual meetings with intervals of three to four in-person seminars that culminate with graduation at the 2024 AAW Convention in Wisconsin.

Applications are due by June 21st to the AAW Leadership Development Team Lead, Sara Reid Herman.

The packet and membership information can be found at the organization’s website, www.americanagriwomen.org.