Friday June 23 Cattle on Feed, LENRD increases irrigation allocations + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 3%

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.45 million cattle on feed on June 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 3% from last year. Placements during May totaled 450,000 head, up 14% from 2022. Fed cattle marketings for the month of May totaled 520,000 head, up 5% from last year. Other disappearance during May totaled 20,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 630,000 head on June 1, 2023, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from May but up 2 percent from June 1, 2022. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 535,000 head on feed, down 4 percent from last month and down 2 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,165,000 head, down 2 percent from last month but unchanged from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during May 2023 totaled 74,000 head, down 19 percent from April but unchanged from May 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 55,000 head, unchanged from April but up 20 percent from May 2022. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 129,000 head, down 12 percent from April but up 8 percent from May 2022.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during May 2023 totaled 72,000 head, down 9 percent from April but up 1 percent from May 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 73,000 head, up 70 percent from April and up 18 percent from May 2022. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 145,000 head, up 19 percent from April and up 9 percent from May 2022. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 4,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Down 3 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on June 1, 2023. The inventory was 3 percent below June 1, 2022.
By State             (1,000 hd -  % June 1 '22)
Colorado ......:      1,000           92         
Iowa .............:       630          102     
Kansas ..........:      2,470           99        
Nebraska ......:      2,450           97        
Texas ............:      2,810           96       

Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.96 million head, 5 percent above  2022. Net placements were 1.88 million head. During May, placements of cattle  and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 380,000 head, 600-699 pounds  were 295,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 480,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 505,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 215,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head.
By State         (1,000 hd  -  % May '22)
Colorado ......:      175           106          
Iowa .............:      74           100              
Kansas ..........:      495           103         
Nebraska ......:      450           114           
Texas ............:      455            99           

Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.95 million head, 2 percent above 2022. Other disappearance totaled 74,000 head during May, 3 percent below 2022.
By State         (1,000 hd  -  % May '22)
Colorado ......:      145            94         
Iowa .............:        72           101          
Kansas ..........:      455            99          
Nebraska ......:      520           105         
Texas ............:      425           104         



LENRD Board Votes to Increase Irrigation Allocations to Protect Drought Stricken Acres

Last year, in a proactive measure and in response to the acute drought that took a commanding grip in Northeast Nebraska, the LENRD (Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District) implemented restrictions on wells pumping over 50 gallons per minute, until the drought decreases in intensity.

Initially, the Board had voted to limit municipal water supply wells to 250 gallons per day per capita for any city or town in a D3 or D4 designation, while irrigation wells (that do not already have an allocation) would be limited to 15 inches per acre for each certified irrigated acre for any well located in a designated D3 or D4 area.

After hearing from their constituents on the severity of the current situation for many producers with sandy soils, the board discussed the possibility of adjusting the inches previously allocated. At their June meeting, the Board voted to increase the 15 inches per acre limit to 20 inches per acre, for any well located in a designated D3 or D4 area.

Brian Bruckner, Interim General Manager of the LENRD, said, “The decision from the board to impose allocations for this year was to protect the health and welfare of the public during the drought, but also to minimize negative impacts to groundwater supplies. Given the current state of the drought, the board felt it was necessary to increase the inch allocations for any well not already in a designated sub area or not already limited with any other restrictions.”

The state remains in varying degrees of drought, but things have intensified in the northeast. Bruckner added, “Hopefully we can catch some rain in the coming weeks that will provide sufficient improvement and maybe bring some areas out of allocation altogether.”

If drought conditions are downgraded to a D2 designation for a period of 14 consecutive days, the drought-imposed restriction would be lifted for those wells and locations within that D2 designation area. So far, almost 1,400 wells have been removed from the drought-imposed restriction. Even though the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows an increase of D3 and D4 designations throughout the district, irrigation wells already removed from the allocation restrictions will not be reimposed. A map showing the 2023 groundwater allocations can be found on our website at www.lenrd.org

In other action the Board also heard from Janel Kaufman, Senior Civil Engineer with Houston Engineering, who provided a 90% update on the Maple Creek Watershed Plan. The two projects that could result from the completion of the plan are improvements to the Clarkson levee and a small dike or levee system for Nickerson. This project is still in the planning stage of a multi-step process.

Jeremy Milander, UNL Extension Educator, also provided a report on the success of the Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) Demonstration Sites.  The BGMA received funds from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) to demonstrate and research best management agricultural practices to reduce nitrogen leaching into the groundwater.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails. The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, July 27th, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.



Soybean Gall Midge Found in Kansas and Confirmed in North Dakota
Nebraska Extension

Soybean gall midge was found on soybean and sweet clover in northern Kansas. This is the first detection of soybean gall midge in Kansas. In addition, samples collected on soybean in southeast North Dakota last summer were identified as soybean gall midge through DNA sequencing.

Join us for a Regional Field Day on July 25th (9 am - 2 pm) at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center.

A significant infestation of soybean gall midge has already been observed at the field day site providing a great opportunity for a hands-on experience with this new pest of soybean. Talk with entomologists that are working on soybean gall midge and see several management practices firsthand. Click "Here" to register or use the link below.
 
Registration Link:
https://nuramp.nebraska.edu/ems/event.php?EMSEventUUID=247f9338-6ed2-4bf2-9942-0b60c6b70865

Soybean gall midge larvae have been found at adult emergence monitoring sites in NE, IA, and MN. The soybeangallmidge.org website map has been updated to provide information on the presence of larvae and wilting or dead plants at each monitoring site. On June 19th, adults were collected from a current year’s soybean field in east central NE, marking the start of the first generation from this year’s soybean. Adults are still emerging from last year’s soybean fields (overwintering generation) at some sites. We expect adult emergence from last year’s soybean for a few more weeks based on data from previous years.

It’s a good time to scout fields
This is a good time to get out and scout your soybean fields. See the scouting page on soybeangallmidge.org for details on how to scout your fields.



USDA Reminds Nebraska Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports

Agricultural producers in Nebraska who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center as soon as possible ahead of the upcoming July 17 deadline.

“Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Tim Divis, FSA acting state executive director in Nebraska. “Most of our planting is complete across the state, so we are asking producers to call their local FSA office to make an acreage reporting appointment, if they don’t already have one scheduled.”

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits, Divis said.

The deadline for acreage certification is July 17, 2023. This includes common spring-planted crops, such as corn, soybeans, dry edible beans and sugar beets, but also includes Conservation Reserve Program acres and perennial grass, such as pastures.

“We are asking producers to pay close attention to communications from their county FSA office as it may have processes in place to facilitate the completion of acreage reports, including specific timelines to return maps,” Divis said.

Producers also should report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to plant. Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the earlier of the date listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

FSA offers continuous certification for perennial forage. This means after perennial forage is reported once and the producer elects continuous certification, the certification remains in effect until a change is made. Check with FSA at the local USDA Service Center for more information on continuous certification.

Option to View, Print and Label Maps on Farmers.gov
Producers can access their FSA farm records, maps and common land units through the farmers.gov portal. Through a new mapping feature, producers can import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture planting boundaries. This allows producers to view, save, print and label their own maps for acreage reporting purposes. To access mapping features and other helpful on-line tools, producers need level 2 eAuth access linked to their Business Partner customer record. Visit farmers.gov/account to learn how to create a farmers.gov account.

Video tutorials, including how to use mapping tools, are available on the farmers.gov YouTube channel. Learn more about a farmers.gov account.

More Information
Producers can make an appointment to report acres by contacting their local USDA Service Center.



Smith, Larson, Fischbach, and Panetta Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Veterinarians in Rural Areas

Today, Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), John Larson (D-CT), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, legislation to help address the shortages in essential veterinary services facing rural communities.

The members released the following statements:

“Veterinarians play a critical role in ensuring the health, safety, and security of our nation’s first-class food safety system,” Rep. Smith said. “The services they provide help American farmers and ranchers maintain our nation’s domestic livestock supply chain. This bill updates a tax code discrepancy to ensure like treatment for physicians and veterinarians who choose to serve where they are needed most.”
 
“Veterinarians work hard to keep our nation’s livestock healthy from right here in Connecticut all across the country,” said Rep. Larson. “Making student loan repayment programs accessible to veterinarians who choose to serve in rural communities will help alleviate disparities in coverage and guarantee the continued welfare of our livestock.”  

“This bill is common-sense legislation that maximizes the impact of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program by getting more of these dollars to rural America and keeping less of these dollars in Washington D.C.,” said Rep. Fischbach. “My Ways & Means colleagues and I introduced The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act to eliminate this unnecessary tax to ensure quality treatment for veterinarians in rural communities like ours so they can continue their important work caring for America’s livestock and maintaining our supply chains.”

“The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) is vital to placing veterinarians in rural communities, but the outdated system of withholding taxes limits its impact,” said Rep. Panetta. “Our bipartisan legislation would make VMLRP loan repayments exempt from withholding taxes, similar to other federal programs that put doctors in rural communities. By addressing this discrepancy in the federal tax code, we can expand the program’s reach and better address veterinary shortages in rural areas found on the Central Coast of California to the center of America."

The legislation is supported by the American Veterinary Medial Association (AVMA). AVMA released the following statement on the legislation:

“Increasing veterinary services in high-priority rural areas through the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, would help keep the nation’s livestock healthy and our food supply safe and secure, and protect public health,” said Dr. Lori Teller, American Veterinary Medical Association President. “The AVMA has been a long-time champion of the proposed legislation. After the legislation received a historic level of support in the previous Congress, we look forward to working with the congressional champions to enact this bill and help rural communities across the country access the many essential services veterinarians provide.”

The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) provides student loan reimbursement to veterinarians who chose to practice for three years in federally designated shortage areas. A similar program, the National Health Service Corps, provides loan repayments to medical doctors and other human health practitioners.

Despite the similarity of these programs, National Health Service Corps loan repayments are exempt from federal withholding tax, while VMLRP payments are not. To address this inconsistency, The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act would codify a similar exemption for VMLRP.



BIOSECURITY MEASURES HELP PROTECT LIVESTOCK DURING LIVESTOCK SHOWS

With its many county fairs, livestock competitions, and rodeos, summer is the perfect season to highlight Nebraska agriculture. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) wants to remind livestock owners that summer is also the perfect time to protect your animals and keep them healthy by following strict biosecurity measures.

“Just like people can spread illness to each other when gathered in a group, livestock diseases can be spread by contact with sick animals,” said State Veterinarian Roger Dudley. “We want livestock owners to be aware and practice good biosecurity measures with their animals, particularly with animals participating in livestock competitions and shows.”

Here are some biosecurity tips to follow before, during and after livestock shows.

Before the show
• Monitor your animal’s health. If your animal is sick, do not attend the show.
• Clean and disinfect your show equipment and trailer before going to the show.

During the show
• Monitor your animals for heat stress and any signs of illness.
• Do not share equipment or tools with other exhibitors.
• When watering your animals using a community hose, do not allow your animal to drink directly from the hose or dip the community hose in your bucket.

After the show
• When returning from a show, isolate those animals from other animals at your farm and watch for signs of illness. Do not allow nose-to-nose contact between these sets of animals.
• Don’t share supplies like buckets and feed pans between animals in isolation and other animals. All equipment should be thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and allowed to dry after use in the isolation area.
• Consult a veterinarian if your animal becomes ill.
• Clean and disinfect equipment, clothing, shoes, show box and contents, and vehicles/trailers that were used at the show.

To help prevent the spread of diseases, Nebraska has import restrictions for livestock coming into the state from states that have confirmed reportable disease cases. If you are considering moving an animal into Nebraska, please visit https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/imports/import-requirements.html or call 402-471-2351 to learn more about any importation orders that are currently in place.

Individuals from Nebraska transporting animals to exhibitions in other states should contact the destination state to learn about their import requirements before transporting animals. Individuals or practitioners who suspect or have concerns about livestock diseases should contact NDA at 402-471-2351.



Fujan Seeks Legislative District 23 Seat

Dennis Fujan of Prague has announced he is seeking election in 2024 to the Nebraska Legislature in Legislative District 23, a seat currently held by Senator Bruce Bostelman of Brainard who is unable to seek re-election next year due to term-limits. District 23 includes Saunders, Colfax, and a portion of Butler counties.

“Rural Nebraska needs strong conservative leadership in the Legislature,” said Fujan. “After prayerful thought and consideration, I decided to step forward and ask for the honor to represent District 23 in the Legislature.”

“My priorities include fighting for Nebraska’s family farmers, growing our rural communities, lowering property taxes, defending gun owner rights, safeguarding veterans’ benefits, protecting innocent life, and supporting parental rights and local control of our schools,” said Fujan. “My promise is to work every day for a better tomorrow for our farmers and small towns, our children and grandchildren, and defend our God-given and Constitutional freedoms.”

Fujan, a United States Navy veteran, is a lifelong resident of Saunders County. He is a fourth-generation farmer living on his family’s original farm outside of Prague. Fujan grows soybeans in addition to producing corn and hay. He has been an active member of the American Soybean Association since 1997 and served as the Nebraska Soybean Association president from 2015-2017.

In addition to the Soybean Association, Dennis serves as Director of the Saunders County Farm Bureau, Director of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Saunders County Livestock Association and Knights of Columbus. Previously, Dennis served on the Prague Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, and as commander of American Legion Post 232. Dennis and his wife, Pat, have been married for 50 years and are members of Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church at Plasi in rural Prague. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.



Cedar County Cattlemen meeting    
Date: Monday, July 10, 2023
Meeting:  6:30 p.m.
Location: Hartington Golf Club, 710 West Clubhouse Drive, Hartington, NE
Speakers:  Laura Field and Allan Louthan
Contact: Christina Lammers (402) 380-4753



NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS
 
Nebraska egg production during May totaled 196 million eggs, up from 129 million in 2022. May egg production per 100 layers was 2,475 eggs, compared to 2,465 eggs in 2022.  All layers in Nebraska during May 2023 totaled 7.92 million, up from 5.23 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

IOWA:  Iowa egg production during May 2023 was 1.20 billion eggs, up 35 percent from the previous May, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of all layers on hand during May 2023 was 47.0 million, up 38 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for May 2023 was 2,544, down 2 percent from a year ago.

U.S. May Egg Production Up 4 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.37 billion during May 2023, up 4 percent from last year. Production included 8.02 billion table eggs, and 1.34 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.24 billion were broiler-type and 103 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during May 2023 totaled 387 million, up 5 percent from last year. May egg production per 100 layers was 2,419 eggs, down 1 percent from May 2022.
                                    
Total layers in the United States on June 1, 2023 totaled 386 million, up 5 percent from last year. The 386 million layers consisted of 317 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 65.1 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.81 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on June 1, 2023, averaged 78.0 eggs per 100 layers, down 1 percent from June 1, 2022.



Iowa Corn I-LEAD Class 11 Applications Open

Applications are open for the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program, which focuses on increasing industry professionals’ knowledge and understanding of the corn industry. This year marks the eleventh class of this reputable ag leadership program, a two-year intensive learning experience available through the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Applications are available on Iowa Corn’s website and are due July 3, 2023.

“I would recommend I-LEAD to others because it was an excellent program that gave me opportunities I never could have experienced on my own,” said Joe Roberts of Wright County and I-LEAD Class 10 member.  “I-LEAD gave me the chance to expand my network, share my story with others and to see the impact agriculture has around the globe.”

“Leadership development is a priority at Iowa Corn,” said Larry Buss, President of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. “Our organization and other commodity groups rely on strong farmer and producer volunteers to guide our organizations now and into the future. I-LEAD brings leaders with a passion for agriculture together to network, expand skillsets and pave the way for the future of our industry.”

Each I-LEAD class meets about ten times over the course of two years providing experience and training provided by Iowa Corn in the agricultural industry such as leadership, effective communication, policy and global agriculture. The program includes an experience in Washington D.C., a domestic mission and an optional international mission.



Applications open for Iowa Farm Bureau's 'Grow Your Future' Award

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state’s largest grassroots farm organization, encourages young farmer entrepreneurs between 18-35 years old with an ag-related business to enter the Grow Your Future Award for a chance to win $7,500. This competition is focused on Farm Bureau members with enterprises that tap into niche production, agritourism and specialty services.

“The Grow Your Future Award was created by the IFBF young farmer committee who understand the need to diversify and can appreciate the challenges that come with efforts to bring additional income to the farm,” says Amanda Van Steenwyk, Iowa Farm Bureau’s farm business development manager.  

Interested entrepreneurs should apply at www.iowafarmbureau.com/growyourfuture by Sept. 1. Up to ten applicants will be selected and narrowed down by public vote. The top finalists will compete in a live pitch-off during the 2024 Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Conference on Feb. 2, 2024. Winners will be announced Feb. 3.

First, second and third place finalists will receive $7,500, $5000 and $2,500, respectively. Last year’s Grow Your Future Award winner was a mushroom grower who used his winnings to purchase a delivery van and walk-in cooler.

“In addition to the Grow Your Future Award, Iowa Farm Bureau has a rich history of supporting rural entrepreneurs.  One example is through the Renew Rural Iowa program, mentoring nearly 4,000 rural entrepreneurs and business owners while creating more than $150 million in economic impact for rural Iowa communities,” says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson.  “The Grow Your Future Award is just one more way to highlight innovation and support rural entrepreneurs. The crop of applicants we get are equally diverse and impressive, ranging from cricket farmers to cover crop seed dealers, but the common thread is a vision and willingness to explore unconventional avenues in farming that make Iowa agriculture and our rural communities even stronger.”



USDA Cold Storage May 2023 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on May 31, 2023 were down 7 percent from the previous month and down 11 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 6 percent from the previous month and down 20 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 7 percent from the previous month and down 4 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 2 percent from last month and up 46 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on May 31, 2023 were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 9 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down slightly from the previous month but up 10 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 9 percent from last month and up 6 percent from May 31, 2022.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on May 31, 2023 were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 1 percent from May 31, 2022. Butter stocks were up 11 percent from last month and up 14 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on May 31, 2023 were down 1 percent from last month but up 7 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 8 percent from last month but up 3 percent from a year ago.



Agriculture Workforce Coalition Statement on House Agriculture Committee Ag Labor Working Group

The Agriculture Workforce Coalition welcomes the formation of a House Agriculture Committee working group to explore solutions to the ag labor crisis being faced by farmers, ranchers and growers across the country. We would like to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Scott for their leadership in establishing this working group in a bipartisan way to address one of agriculture’s most pressing issues and further thank Representatives Rick Crawford and Don Davis for showing their commitment to the producers they represent by co-chairing the group.

“The AWC looks forward to supporting the work of this group in any way and stands ready to provide any input as the process moves forward.”

The Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) unites over 70 organizations representing the diverse needs of agricultural employers across the country. AWC serves as the unified voice of agriculture in the effort to ensure that America’s farmers, ranchers and growers have access to a stable and secure workforce. The steering committee of the AWC consists of: American Farm Bureau Federation, AmericanHort, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, National Milk Producers Federation, National Potato Council, USA Farmers, U.S. Apple Association, United Fresh Produce Association, and Western Growers Association. To learn more about AWC, visit our website at www.agworkforcecoalition.org.



USDA Issues Final Rule regarding Preserving Trust Benefits Under the Packers and Stockyards Act

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a notice in the Federal Register on June 23, 2023, implementing revisions to regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act (Act). These revisions implement the Livestock Dealer Statutory Trust, which provides financial protection for cash sellers of livestock. These updated regulations are part of USDA’s efforts to support transparency throughout the supply chain and ensure fair prices for farmers and livestock producers. The revisions go into effect on July 24, 2023.

Congress amended the Act providing for a statutory trust covering livestock purchases by dealers. Dealers whose average annual livestock purchases exceed $100,000 are required to hold all livestock purchased, and if livestock has been resold, the receivables or proceeds from such sale, in trust for the benefit of all unpaid cash sellers of livestock until full payment has been received by those sellers. The final regulation adds procedures and timeframes for a livestock seller to notify the livestock dealer and the Secretary of Agriculture that the seller has not received full payment for livestock purchased by the dealer and that the seller intends to preserve their trust interests. Unpaid sellers must notify the dealer and the Secretary in writing within 30 days of the date payment was due on the transaction or within 15 business days after notice that payment was dishonored in order to preserve their trust benefits. In addition, under the final rule, livestock dealers are required to obtain written acknowledgement from livestock sellers that trust benefits do not pertain to credit sales and are required to maintain records related to credit sales.



ARA Supports Legislation to Reauthorize CFATS

Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President & CEO Daren Coppock released the following statement in support of legislation introduced by Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., to reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS):

“ARA strongly supports Senator Peters’ legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program for an additional 5 years.

"If Congress does not act by the end of July 2023, this program will expire and create regulatory uncertainty for agricultural retailers, manufacturers, and others regulated by this important DHS security program.

"The CFATS program, which was first authorized in 2007, is a coordinated effort between industry and DHS to protect high-risk chemical facilities from the threat of terrorists and other criminal acts.

"A long-term reauthorization provides our industry with the certainty it needs to make the necessary facility investments to mitigate security threats.”