Monday June 12 Crop Progress + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending June 11, 2023, there were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 23% very short, 26% short, 49% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 32% very short, 33% short, 34% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 9% poor, 26% fair, 43% good, and 18% excellent. Corn emerged was 97%, ahead of 91% last year, and near 93% for the five-year average.

Soybean condition rated 4% very poor, 12% poor, 31% fair, 40% good, and 13% excellent. Soybeans emerged was 93%, ahead of 87% last year and 84% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 17% very poor, 21% poor, 33% fair, 27% good, and 2% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 87%, near 85% last year and 83% average.

Sorghum condition rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 27% fair, 61% good, and 7% excellent. Sorghum planted was 81%, behind 88% last year, and near 84% average.

Oats condition rated 10% very poor, 18% poor, 36% fair, 33% good, and 3% excellent. Oats headed was 37%, near 36% last year, but behind 49% average.

Dry edible beans planted was 55%, behind 62% last year. Emerged was 24%, equal to last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 19% very poor, 18% poor, 30% fair, 25% good, and 8% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Another dry week with some more isolated rain showers for the week left a steady 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 11, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Some farmers were finishing up soybean planting this week as row crop planting activities near conclusion. Other field activities included cutting hay and spraying crops. Drought concerns are increasing.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 14 percent very short, 46 percent short, 39 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 13 percent very short, 46 percent short, 40 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn emergence is nearing completion at 98 percent, 1 week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn condition declined to 70 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-five percent of soybeans have emerged, 11 days ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of the average. Soybean condition dropped to 66 percent good to excellent.

Sixty-six percent of the oat crop has headed, 10 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of normal. There were reports of some oat fields starting to turn color. Oat condition declined to 66 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-one percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, roughly 2 weeks ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Hay condition declined to 49 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 41 percent good to excellent. No major livestock concerns other than precipitation needed to improve pasture conditions.



USDA Crop Progress Report: Corn, Soybean Conditions Drop 3 Percentage Points

U.S. soybean planting was 96% completed as of Sunday, June 11, ahead of the five-year average by 10 percentage points, according to USDA NASS' weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

Corn was 93% emerged and soybeans were 86% emerged. Soybeans were rated 59% in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from the previous week. The corn crop was rated 61% in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from the previous week.

Winter wheat headed was 89% and 8% of the crop was harvested. U.S. winter wheat condition was rated 38% good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from the previous week.

CORN
-- Crop progress: 93% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, up 8 percentage points from the previous week and 6 percentage points ahead of the five-year.
-- Crop condition: Nationally, corn was rated 61% good to excellent, down 3 percentage points from the previous week and below last year's rating at this time of 72%.

SOYBEANS
-- Planting progress: Soybean planting moved ahead 5 percentage points last week to reach 96% as of Sunday. That is 9 percentage points ahead of last year at this time, and 10 points ahead of the five-year average.
-- Crop progress: 86% of soybeans were emerged as of Sunday, 12 percentage points ahead of last year and 16 points ahead of the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: Soybeans were rated 59% good to excellent, as of Sunday. That's 3 percentage points lower than last week and 11 points below last year at this time.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop development: 89% of winter wheat was headed nationwide as of Sunday, up 7 percentage points from the previous week and now 1 point ahead of the five-year average.
-- Harvest progress: 8% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 1 percentage point behind both last year and the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: Nationwide, winter wheat was rated 38% good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from the previous week and slightly ahead of last year's rating at this time of 31% good to excellent.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 97% of the spring wheat crop was planted as of Sunday, up 4 percentage points from the previous week and still equal with the five-year average.
-- Crop progress: 90% of spring wheat was emerged as of Sunday, up 14 percentage points from the previous week and 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: USDA said 60% of the spring wheat crop was rated good to excellent as of June 11, 4 percentage points down from last week, but up 6 points from the five-year average.  



Nebraskans Invited to Register for the 2023 Ag & Economic Development Summit

Governor Jim Pillen, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) encourage Nebraskans to register for the Governor’s Ag and Economic Development Summit. This year’s event will take place August 8-9, 2023, at the Younes Conference Center North in Kearney.

Registration for the Summit is now open at govsummit.nebraska.gov. Trev Alberts, Director of Athletics for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be the keynote speaker.

“Together, we have responsibility to create great opportunities for the next generation of Nebraskans,” said Governor Pillen. “The Summit is a gathering where we can address the challenges facing our state, while strategizing how to make the most of our wealth of talent and natural resources. I invite you to join me for this year’s event. It’s a great way to build relationships with fellow Nebraskans who are shaping the future of the Good Life.”

The annual Governor’s Summit convenes economic developers and industry leaders in agriculture to discuss how to best grow Nebraska. This year, breakout sessions will cover workforce development, bio manufacturing, value-added agriculture, creative housing solutions, international trade, and much more.
 
“Nebraska agriculture has a reputation for producing food, feed, and fuel of the highest quality,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “It’s an exciting time to be part our state’s top industry. We’re expanding broadband to every corner of the state, making rapid technological advances, and discovering innovative uses for our sustainable commodities. At the upcoming Summit, we’ll explore more ways to spur growth in ag and strengthen partnerships across industries.”

UNL Athletic Director Trev Alberts is scheduled to provide remarks during lunch. Alberts starred for the Husker football team as an All-American and played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts. After a successful stint as a sports analyst, he returned to Nebraska to spearhead UNO athletics and guided Mavericks’ sports into Division I competition. In July 2021, Alberts was hired to direct athletics at UNL. In just two years on the job, he has distinguished himself as a champion for student-athletes and has taken bold steps to grow the Husker brand.

“We’re excited to have Trev Alberts headline the Summit to share his leadership insights and vision,” said DED Interim Director Joe Fox. “The conference is a can’t-miss networking opportunity. It’s also the best way to stay abreast of trends affecting the economic well-being of our state. We hope everyone dedicated to seeing Nebraska prosper will make plans to join us in Kearney for the Summit.”

The 2023 Summit officially kicks off on Tuesday night, August 8th, with a reception and banquet hosted by the Nebraska Diplomats. The evening event includes an awards ceremony to honor leaders, businesses, and communities who have made key contributions to the state’s economic success over the previous year.

Wednesday, August 9th, is the primary day of the Summit. It features opening and closing remarks from Governor Pillen, a keynote from Trev Alberts, and a full slate of breakout sessions—each led by a panel of subject matter experts.

To register for the Diplomat Banquet and Summit, visit govsummit.nebraska.gov. A full Summit agenda is also available through the website. For questions, contact Lori Shaal at lori.shaal@nebraska.gov or 402-471-3780.



RFA Sees Progress as Ethanol Industry Advances Toward Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

A survey of U.S. ethanol producers shows the industry to be on track toward its net-zero-carbon goal, a new white paper and presentation indicate, with facilities producing ethanol that is up to 55 percent less carbon intensive than gasoline, on average. The findings will be spotlighted in a presentation by the Renewable Fuels Association this afternoon at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in Omaha by RFA Vice President for Strategy and Innovation Tad Hepner.

In July 2021, RFA’s producer members unanimously committed to ensure that, by 2023, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70 percent, on average, when compared directly to gasoline, and reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner. A report released at the 2022 National Ethanol Conference identified a workable pathway to that goal. Earlier this year, RFA surveyed its member producers and received responses from nearly all RFA member biorefinery facilities, representing a wide variety of sizes, plants with annual production capacities ranging from 35 to 150 million gallons. These responses came from biorefineries operating in 12 different states, both inside and outside the Corn Belt.

“We’re very happy to see the progress being made by RFA’s ethanol producer members toward the net-zero goal,” Hepner said. “Nearly 8 out of 10 facilities are on track to achieve net-zero by 2050 or sooner, but there are some barriers that remain to be overcome, such as access to capital, policy and regulatory uncertainty, permitting challenges and a lack of clear return on investment. As the nation’s leading trade association for renewable fuels, we have our work cut out for us, and we look forward to the challenge and the opportunity for success.”

Among other findings to be presented:
    All the survey facilities reported adopting at least one tracked carbon-reduction technology in recent years, and most have adopted more than one of these technologies and practices.
    These plants have seen a 12 percent reduction in average carbon intensity since 2015/16.
    Nearly two-thirds of the plants have an approved Efficient Producer Pathway under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
    While just over a third of the plants currently capture biogenic C02, more than three-quarters intend to adopt carbon capture and geological sequestration technology.
    A majority of the plants have approved pathways to participate in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, and many also have approved pathways for similar programs in British Columbia, Oregon and Canada overall.
    Most biorefineries have received a premium value for renewable fuels sold into these low-carbon markets.



New advanced dry yeast expands fermentation opportunities

At the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) today, Novozymes announced the launch of its latest yeast technology, Innova® Apex ADY. Apex ADY is the most advanced active dry yeast in the market, increasing ethanol yield and reducing urea additions without sacrificing robustness to common production stressors, such as high temperature and organic acids. Innova® Apex ADY provides ethanol producers with the choice of a dry yeast format after the successful launch of Innova® Apex cream yeast last year.  

Innova® Apex ADY, the industry’s most robust, high yielding active dry yeast, helps producers achieve their best performance, delivering up to 2% more ethanol than leading advanced dry yeasts in the market. The Innova® brand of yeasts can reduce chemical costs by lowering demand for urea by up to 90% and eliminating the need for other fermentation aids like nutritional supplements.  

Innova® Apex ADY allows ethanol production facilities to increase efficiency with flexibility to push their plants to up to 36% dry solids and reduce glycerol by up to 38%. The advanced yeast solution consistently delivers reliability and production KPIs under the most difficult process conditions, including temperature spikes up to 97º F. This advanced yeast solution can power through common bacterial infections by tolerating up to 0.6% lactic acid and 0.4% acetic acid. Innova® Apex ADY is specifically designed for corn ethanol fermentations that run between 52 and 65 hours.
      
The future of Innova yeasts  
Looking ahead, Novozymes is investing to deliver solutions customers need to reach their unique targets – such as starch, fiber, corn oil, protein, unique end markets, and future biorefinery opportunities. The company seeks to advance the industry with the power of biological solutions for sustainable, profitable production.  

All Innova® advanced yeast solutions have elite breeding for robustness and advanced enzyme expression, each developed with MicroBioGen breeding technology and Novozymes biological engineering and world-leading enzyme expertise. The Innova® yeast portfolio provides the ethanol industry’s most trusted fermentation performance and value.



USDA Welcomes 2023 Tribal College Fellows to Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today welcomed five faculty and staff from tribal colleges and universities and one state land-grant university to learn about USDA research opportunities, programs, and services through the Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship (The Tribal Fellowship). This program is part of USDA’s commitment to remove barriers to service for tribal nations, and encourage tribal economic development opportunities, workforce development, and tribal and national food security. The Tribal Fellowship Program is administered by USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations.

“Tribal colleges are anchors in their communities, and these fellowships enhance the collaborations between tribal nations and USDA,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Every day, USDA is striving to better serve tribal governments, citizens, and organizations and honor our nation’s trust and treaty responsibility.”

From June 12-16, USDA headquarters will host four tribal college faculty and one extension staff member to introduce them to USDA services and programs that will help them and their students. The fellows will participate in intensive cross training with USDA program leaders across the Department to identify areas for collaboration. At a later date, select fellows will spend a week at a USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) research facility to collaborate on research between the tribal colleges and USDA. On their return home, the fellows can share their insights and experiences with students and colleagues in their communities. The program aims to strengthen tribal college research capacity, introduce faculty to USDA programs and resources, and engage more tribal college students in agriculture-related career paths.

Tribal colleges and universities are cultural, educational, and community cornerstones within tribal nations. For reservation communities, they provide education, career, and technical training; they support research and extension to improve local agriculture, and they uphold Native languages and cultural traditions. USDA supports tribal colleges and universities through scholarships, internships, fellowships, and support for research, classroom education, and extension (sharing knowledge, training, and informal education with agricultural professionals and local communities). There are 36 federally recognized tribal colleges and universities designated as land-grant institutions through the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. Learn more at the USDA’s Tribal College Program website.

The 2023 Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellows are:
    Kristy Kinlicheenie, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Ariz.
    Melanie Kirby, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.
    Teresa Quintana, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.
    Abhishek RoyChowdhury, Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint, N.M.
    Sudha Shanmugam, Little Priest Tribal College, Winnebago, Neb.

USDA is including Indigenous perspectives in agricultural research and education and recognizes the importance of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK). In addition to the Tribal College Fellows program, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is partnering with Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish (NHS) College in North Dakota on a research program to integrate Western and Indigenous knowledge in propagating Indigenous plants important to tribes in the region. USDA is also collaborating with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) to fund an Indigenous Knowledge research track at their annual youth conference.



CVA's DUNCAN FEED MILL TO TRANSITION TO ANTIBIOTIC-FREE

As consumers needs and wants change, Central Valley Ag (CVA) changes with them. Staying current on market trends is crucial to providing the best products and services. One of the ways CVA does this is by producing antibiotic-free pet food. Antibiotic-free pet food has become a popular item in many countries around the world and CVA plays a role in providing those products. “The consumer, not only in the US but around the world, has stated very definitely that they do not want antibiotics in the food products that they’re buying,” stated SVP of Feed, Robert Turek, “they prefer antibiotic-free for themselves and their pets, which are part of their family.”

PET FOOD
Currently, CVA produces pet food in one of its mills. The food produced here is mostly for pocket pets, as they are sometimes called, such as rabbits and guinea pigs. However, as the need for antibiotic-free feed grows, CVA has made the decision to switch a second mill to antibiotic-free.

Central Valley Ag’s Duncan Feed Mill will soon become the next antibiotic-free mill. Currently, the mill produces supplements, minerals and complete feeds for poultry, swine, and beef. After the process of switching to antibiotic-free is complete, the mill will be able to produce higher-value, antibiotic-free feed for multiple species. Currently, CVA is at its production capacity for non-antibiotic feeds and adding the Duncan mill will increase capacity by ten times.

MILL REGULATIONS
Many regulations must be met to become an antibiotic-free mill and a lot of work must be done before we can make the switch from conventional to non-medicated products. “We have to clean every single nook and cranny out of the whole mill,” said SVP of Feed, Robert Turek, “there are stringent certifications and practices we have to meet in order to be labeled as antibiotic-free. They require regularly scheduled, third party audits to verify we have met these certifications before the mill is able to start producing feed.”

When complete, the products produced at Duncan will meet human food grade standards. This means the food produced in the mill will be of high enough quality for human consumption. Central Valley Ag is proud to have a competent team of professionals capable of providing consumers with these higher-value products.

This change will allow the CVA feed division to remain sustainable and relevant into the future and be able to serve the ever-changing animal foods market.



CVA invests in drying capacity and flexibility in Northwest Iowa

Over the past 12 months, Central Valley Ag Cooperative (CVA) has been looking at ways to add drying capacity and to increase the flexibility and speed of dumping for producers in Plymouth County, Iowa from its Akron, Iowa facility.

“We know that we need to be able to accept wet corn and have the ability to dry it at a speed that meets our producers’ needs during harvest,” said Brent Reichmuth, Senior Vice President of Operations at CVA. “By reinvesting in a drying system that can handle high moisture grain, we allow producers the opportunity to get in the field sooner and to bring in grain in a wet year.”

Once complete, the site will have an additional 166,796-bushel bin dedicated to handling high moisture grain that can be blended or dried. In addition, CVA is investing in a 4,700 bushel per hour dryer, a 10,000 bushel per hour wet/receiving leg, a 7,500 bushel per hour dry leg and a 10,000 bushel per hour receiving pit.

CVA looks forward to breaking ground on this project by fall 2023. “We plan to have this expansion completed and ready to receive grain for the fall harvest of 2024,” stated Reichmuth. “This project allows CVA to provide the quality service that member-owners have long come to expect from their cooperative.”



ICGA Invites Farmers to Discuss Key Policy Issues at Roundtables

Policy development at the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is a vital grassroots process. Each year, ICGA hosts roundtable meetings in local communities across the state to gather members' insight and feedback on priorities. These meetings, held in each crop reporting district, allow ICGA members to come together, share a meal, and discuss key issues impacting corn farmers.

Roundtables are FREE for ICGA members, but registration is requested. A meal will be included at each session. If you can't attend a roundtable but wish to present a policy resolution for consideration, please contact your local ICGA Board member.

Event Times and locations include:
DISTRICT 1: June 22 @ 6:30 p.m., Waterfront Grille & Event Center, Arnolds Park, IA
DISTRICT 4: June 22 @ 6:30 p.m., Old Town Winery, Ida Grove, IA
DISTRICT 7: June 27 @ 6:30 p.m., Restored Burlington Northern Depot/WW II Museum, Red Oak, IA
VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE: June 28 @ noon, Open to all, register to receive the Zoom link.

Policies brought forward and approved at roundtable meetings go on to the annual ICGA Grassroots Summit on August 28th for the ICGA delegates to debate for adoption into the ICGA policy book. This process enables the organization to take action in lobbying for and supporting sound policy development and pro-farmer legislation.

For more information, please visit iowacorn.org/roundtables.



Monona County Pasture Walk on June 26

Livestock producers who graze cattle are invited to attend a Pasture Walk on June 26 at the ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm located east of Castana.  The program will begin with supper at 5:30 p.m. followed by the program from 6 to 8:45 p.m.  The overall focus of the event is pasture recovery following three years of drought.  Specific topics include pasture condition scoring, grazing management, soil fertility, weed control, common forage insects, and funding for pasture improvement.  Speakers include specialists from ISU Extension and Outreach, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rich Pope – former Integrated Pest Management specialist with ISU.   

There is no cost to attend but registration is required.  To register, call the Monona County Extension Office at 712-423-2175 by June 19.  Participants are advised to dress for outdoors and will be walking a pasture most of the evening. For more info, contact Beth Doran, ISU Extension beef specialist, at 712-737-4230 or email doranb@iastate.edu.



Nominations Open for 2023 Women Impacting Agriculture

Nominations are now open for 2023 Women Impacting Agriculture. This annual recognition program honors women who are making a positive difference in Iowa agriculture. Honorees will be recognized Nov. 30 at the seventh annual Women in Ag Leadership Conference, hosted by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag program.

Iowans can nominate any woman working in the agricultural industry by submitting an online application. Nominations are due by June 30 at 5 p.m. Eligibility requirements are listed on the Women in Ag website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/women-impacting-agriculture. Nominees will be selected by a committee of past honorees, past conference attendees and extension staff and partners.

This recognition is in its eighth year and 35 women have been honored. “I really appreciate how the Women Impacting Agriculture awards celebrate and recognize everyday champions in every facet of agriculture,” said Madeline Schultz, ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag program manager. “I love it when other women tell me they can relate to the honorees and can see themselves as champions too!”

The Women Impacting Agriculture honorees will have the opportunity to attend the annual Women in Ag Leadership Conference in Ames Nov. 29 and 30.

“I always enjoy the summer and winter Women in Ag conferences,” said 2022 honoree Susan Kuennen, of Fayette County, Iowa. “The afternoon, the day before is one of the highlights I really look forward to; that ‘boots on the ground’ experience, visiting a business, factory, Iowa State facilities, etc. Love the ability to interact with other like-minded women as we all want to be better caretakers of our land,” she added.

Women Impacting Agriculture honors women who are making positive changes and creating a more sustainable Iowa by improving economic resiliency and stability; conserving natural resources; and being influential agricultural leaders, family members and community volunteers.  

For more information, Madeline Schultz is available at 515-294-0588, or schultz@iastate.edu.



USDA Accepts More Than 1 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program General Signup

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 1 million acres in this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup. This is one of several signups that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is holding for the program. The results for CRP General signup reflect the continued importance of CRP as a tool to help producers invest in the long-term health, sustainability, and profitability of their land and resources.  
 
“This year’s General CRP signup demonstrates the value and continued strength of this voluntary conservation program, which plays an important role in helping mitigate climate change and conserve our natural resources,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Today’s announcement is one of many enrollment and partnership opportunities within CRP, including opportunities through our working lands Grassland CRP, Continuous CRP, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). USDA will continue working to ensure producers and landowners have the information they need to take advantage of the options that work best for their operations.”  
 
Offers for new land in this General CRP signup totaled about 295,000 acres nationwide. Producers submitted re-enrollment offers for 891,000 expiring acres, reflecting the successes of participating in CRP longer term. The total number of CRP acres will continue to climb in the coming weeks once FSA accepts acres from the Grassland CRP signup, which closed May 26. Additionally, so far this year, FSA has received 761,000 offered acres for the Continuous CRP signup, for which FSA accepts applications year-round.  
 
The number of accepted acres that are enrolled in General CRP will be confirmed later this year. Participating producers and landowners should also remember that submitting and accepting a CRP offer is the first step, and producers still need to develop a conservation plan before contracts become effective on October 1, 2023. Each year, during the window between offer acceptance and land enrollment, some producers ultimately decide not to enroll some accepted acres, without penalty.  

General CRP Signup 
The General CRP Signup 60 ran from February 27 through April 7, 2023.   
  
Through CRP, producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve soil health and water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on agricultural land. In addition to the other well-documented benefits, lands enrolled in CRP are playing a key role in climate change mitigation efforts across the country.   
  
In 2021, FSA introduced improvements to the program, which included a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This incentive provides an annual 3, 5, or 10 percent incentive payment based on the predominant vegetation type for the practices enrolled – from grasses to trees to wetland restoration.

Other CRP Signups  
Grassland CRP is a working lands program that helps producers and landowners protect grassland from conversion while enabling haying and grazing activities to continue. Lands enrolled support haying and grazing operations and promotes plant and animal biodiversity. Lands are also protected from being converted to uses other than grassland. This year’s signup for Grassland CRP ran from April 17 through May 26.

Continuous CRP, in which producers and landowners can enroll throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap. Continuous CRP includes the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative, the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). In CREP, which is available in certain geographies, partnerships with States, Tribes, and other entities are leveraged for participants to receive a variety of added incentives and flexibilities. Also available is the Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) initiative. CLEAR30, a signup opportunity under that initiative available nationwide, gives producers and landowners across the country the opportunity to enroll in 30-year CRP contracts for water quality practices. 



Apply for NCGA Leadership Academy Today

Applications for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) 2023/2024 Leadership Academy Class are live! The goal of this program is to bring together a diverse group of grower leaders who seek to improve their ability to serve their state organizations, enhance their communication skills, and understand the important role of advocacy—all to advance the priorities of our nation’s corn growers and build the next generation of industry leaders.

Through this program, NCGA’s members are empowered to pursue their leadership journey and utilize their skills to inspire action in others.

The 2023/2024 class will meet in St. Louis, MO from August 7-9, 2023, for a session on leadership, communication, and personal branding. The class will reconvene in Washington, DC from January 22-24, 2024, for advocacy training. NCGA is grateful to our sponsors, UPL and FMC, for their support of this program.   

Interested in participating? You can find more information and the live application here https://www.ncga.com/get-involved/leadership-programs/profile/leadership-academy.



Medgene receives USDA license to produce first Platform Vaccines for the cattle industry, allowing veterinarians to respond to emerging diseases faster

The USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) has allowed animal health company, Medgene, license to produce and market a USDA - approved category of vaccines called Platform Vaccines to the cattle industry. Specific cattle vaccines available under this new Platform Vaccine category include Influenza D, Coronavirus, Rotavirus, and Papillomavirus.

Medgene's vaccine approaches leverage USDA-approved "platform technology" guidelines that are safe, and easily adapted to multiple animal disease targets. The result is the development of vaccines and an understanding of how diseases move across species and geographies within a fraction of the time of traditional vaccine approaches.

Dr. Alan Young, Chief Technology Officer for Medgene, began foundational work in Platform Vaccine technology in 2010. "Vaccines have come a long, long way since their first use in the late 1700s. We've learned that diseases, no matter what the species, have a lot in common. But by focusing on the unique genetic components that are different, we can create vaccines that are far more efficient."

Veterinarian and advocate of Platform Vaccines, Bob Gentry, DVM, stated "For the veterinarian, Platform Technologies improve our option in providing care. We can identify a disease and provide a vaccine within weeks instead of years. For animal owners, that can mean tremendous differences in the health of their animals."

Medgene announced their receipt of USDA licensure at a June 9 event held at Iowa State University's Research Park facility in Ames, Iowa. Medgene CEO, Mark Luecke, stated, "Getting Platform Vaccines to market has been a team effort. From government regulatory to university research to the extraordinary team at Medgene, Platform Vaccines are a historic example of teamwork towards a common goal - improving animal health."

Medgene's Influenza D, Coronavirus, Rotavirus and Papillomavirus vaccines are available to licensed veterinarians.



The Threat of Black Cutworm in the Midwest

Black cutworm (BCW) is an aggressive pest that arrives in the Corn Belt in late spring, feasting on many plants, including corn, cotton, tobacco and turf grasses. While BCW overwinters throughout the southeast United States, it moves prominently north with spring storms.

“It’s black cutworm that we worry about,” said Matt Montgomery, Pioneer Field Agronomist in Illinois.

Black cutworms can be identified by their body segments. A gray body with four dots – two small and two large – distinguishes BCW from other common cutworms, such as armyworm.

When smaller, BCW larvae will chew holes in the leaves. When grown, adult BCWs begin cutting V1 to V5 plants and even drill into V6 to V8 plants, killing the growing point. In wet soils, cutting will occur mostly above ground. With dry soil, a majority of cutting will be below ground.

Economic thresholds for black cutworm are 2, 3, 5, and 7 cut plants per 100 plants for seedling, V2, V3, and V4 stage plants, respectively.

Scouting for cutting damage and digging fields is the best way to identify a potential issue. Applying a rescue treatment is the most effective and economical way to control black cutworm populations once identified. Broadcast pesticide or bait application may be used as a rescue treatment in cases of higher pest pressure and crop damage.

Utilizing products with traits that provide cutworm protection are the best way to proactively deal with BCW. Insecticide seed treatments at high rates may give some control, but lower rates are not as effective.

If fields have a history of BCW pressure, they are more likely to have repeat instances. In these cases, growers should monitor moth flight reports, consider reducing tillage and/or eliminate other practices that leave a food source for the young larvae.

“If you’re seeing heavy cutworm pressure, you need to strongly consider fall weed control,” Montgomery said. “Farmers have less and less time in the spring to clean up fields and spray for pests. It’s absolutely critical to start clean and stay clean.”