Thursday June 08 Ag News - World Pork Expo - Day 2

National Drought Summary for June 6, 2023
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
 
Heavy rains fell this week across some of the western parts of the Central and Southern Great Plains, especially in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma and Kansas, leading to widespread improvements to ongoing drought in the western Great Plains. Heavy rains in the central and southern Florida Peninsula also led to improvements to ongoing drought and abnormal dryness in the southwest Florida Peninsula. Widespread degradations occurred in the Midwest and western portions of the Northeast, amid very dry and warm recent weather. In the West, some minor improvements occurred in parts of Nevada, Utah and Idaho, where high streamflows and large precipitation amounts from the winter into May led to a reassessment of conditions. Degradations were made in a few parts of western Montana and northwest Washington, where precipitation deficits mounted amid declining soil moisture and streamflow.

Midwest
Localized heavier rains (exceeding 2 inches in spots) fell across the western reaches of the Midwest region, though large swaths of drier-than-normal weather occurred here. Farther east, in Kentucky and the Great Lakes states, mostly or completely dry weather occurred this week, which led to mounting short-term precipitation deficits and worsening streamflows and soil moisture values. Unusually warm temperatures, reaching or exceeding 9 degrees above normal in large portions of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, also contributed to worsening dryness. Large-scale additions and expansions of abnormal dryness and moderate drought occurred, especially along and east of the Mississippi River and in central Minnesota, where the combination of precipitation deficits, low streamflow and declining soil moisture was most prevalent. Due to similar conditions along the Missouri River in western Iowa, some expansions were made to severe drought there.

High Plains
Heavy rains fell over parts of the Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and southeast Wyoming plains again this week, leading to widespread one-category improvements in areas with increasing soil moisture and lessening precipitation deficits. After recent heavy rains, some improvements were also made in northeast and east-central Kansas. In eastern Nebraska, some heavier rains fell, but these were quite spotty, so drought areas remained mostly unchanged. Conditions improved in a small area southeast of Lincoln where rainfall amounts locally exceeded 4 inches. North of Omaha, extreme drought expanded slightly, as soil moisture and precipitation deficits worsened alongside poor streamflow. During May, Lincoln and Omaha both received much less than an inch of rainfall, and much of Saunders County received less than an inch of rain as well. Omaha’s May total of 0.17 inches of rain came in as the driest May on record there. In South Dakota, moderate and severe drought increased in coverage in the southeast, where short-term precipitation deficits mounted amid decreased streamflow and soil moisture. Rolling corn was reported north of Mitchell, and very dry soils were reported in far southeast South Dakota, where impacts to agriculture and need for irrigation are quickly ramping up.
 
Looking Ahead
For June 8-13, an inch or more of rain is forecast from the Pacific Northwest to the western interior, then across the central Plains, northern parts of the Southeast, and much of the Midwest. Local amounts up to or exceeding 3 inches of rain is forecast in northern and central Montana and the northern Rockies of Colorado. Far southern Florida may also see an inch or so of rain during this period. A quarter inch or more can be expected in the northern Plains into the western Midwest, the Northeast and the South from Texas to Florida. Little to no precipitation is predicted for the lower four-corners area and Pacific West Coast.

For the period from June 13-17, the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center forecast favors below-normal precipitation across parts of the south-central and southeast United States, especially the central and western Gulf Coast areas into southwest Texas and southern New Mexico. Above-normal precipitation is favored in the Intermountain West and Great Basin, and with lesser confidence also favored from the Central Great Plains eastward into the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Below-normal precipitation is favored in the Great Lakes vicinity. Above-normal precipitation is favored in most of Alaska, with the exception of the far southern reaches of the southeast Panhandle, where below-normal precipitation is more likely. Temperatures in Alaska are likely to be below normal in most areas, excluding the far north, with the highest forecast confidence centered over south-central and southeast Alaska. In the Lower 48, cooler-than-normal temperatures are favored in the Southwest and Intermountain West, excluding southeast New Mexico, and in the Upper Ohio River Valley. Warmer-than-normal temperatures are more likely in the north-central and northwest United States, especially in Minnesota and surrounding states, and from Texas and Oklahoma southeast into southern Alabama and Georgia and all of Florida.



Adult SGM Emergence in Northwest IA and White Larvae Found in East Central NE
NE Extension

Two male soybean gall midges were captured at the ISU Northwest Research Farm near Sutherland on Tuesday (June 6). This is about one week earlier than the previous first captures in Iowa. We encourage you to scout soybean at the edge rows after V2 for signs of larval infestation.

In east-central Nebraska, white larvae (early development stage) were found on volunteer soybean near Syracuse and early planted soybean near Mead, NE, on June 7th (Fig. 1). The frequency of infested plants was low at both sites, and only a few larvae were found on the infested plants.

All sites except one in east-central NE have had adult activity. In northeast NE, one of three sites has had adult activity. See map on soybeangallmidge.org.

No adults have been detected in Minnesota or South Dakota.



RFA Leadership on Display at Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo

The industry keynote address by President and CEO Geoff Cooper headlines the Renewable Fuels Association’s busy list of activities during the 39th annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo conference, taking place June 12–14 in Omaha. As part of this year’s event, RFA will also be showcasing its new Flex-Fuel Plug-In Hybrid EV at the Expo.

“Each year, the Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo provides another terrific opportunity for renewable fuel leaders to come together, and I’m looking forward to sharing a message that celebrates our recent successes and examines the many opportunities in front of us,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “From sustainable aviation fuels to carbon capture to plug-in hybrid FFVs, this is a time of remarkable innovation and advancement in the ethanol industry, and I am excited to be sharing RFA’s vision for the future.”

In addition to Cooper’s address Tuesday morning, June 13, RFA speakers this year include Vice President for Strategy and Innovation Tad Hepner, who will trace the industry’s path to net-zero carbon emissions in a Monday afternoon panel. Also, Senior Vice President for Government and Public Affairs Troy Bredenkamp will serve on the annual association leadership panel after Tuesday morning’s keynote. The event will also include a meet-and-greet reception for members of RFA’s committees on Monday evening, while RFA’s Young Professionals Network will be holding a networking cocktail hour in conjunction with Renewable Fuels Nebraska.

RFA’s booth at the FEW Expo is No. 1101, right inside the main entrance. Also attending from RFA in addition to the three speakers are Robert White, vice president for industry relations, and Justin Schultz, director of environment, health and safety.



Nebraska Governor Signs Bill Promoting Use of Biodiesel

Gov. Jim Pillen (R-NE) signed into law legislation promoting the sale and use of biodiesel in Nebraska. The bill, LB 727, provides retail tax incentives for the sale of biodiesel at fuel retailer locations throughout the state adding value to Nebraska soybean farmers while promoting continued growth of the burgeoning renewable fuel industry.

Part of an omnibus revenue bill, the Nebraska Biodiesel Tax Credit Act, provides a 14-cent per gallon credit for the sale of biodiesel. The credit is applied to a Nebraska fuel retailer’s income tax liability. Total funding for the program is $5 million.

“We applaud Gov. Pillen for signing legislation that will continue to strengthen the momentum of a growing biodiesel market,” said Donnell Rehagen, CEO for Clean Fuels Alliance America. “Nebraska has responded to the call to decarbonize through this forward-thinking legislation that promotes the production and use of biodiesel, a homegrown fuel from homegrown feedstocks.”

The proposal was introduced by Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth and amended to LB 727 which was shepherded through Nebraska’s unicameral legislature by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn. The biodiesel proposal received overwhelming support from Nebraska’s agriculture industry, biodiesel producers and fuel marketers. The legislation ultimately passed unanimously by the Nebraska Senate.

“This legislation recognizes the impact biodiesel has on the demand for soybean oil,” said Courtney Lawrenson, Clean Fuels Alliance America Governing Board Member and AGP Vice President of Oils and Energy. “AGP has long recognized the steady growth of the soybean processing industry with plans to expand feedstock production capacity in David City and applauds lawmakers for solidifying Nebraska’s leadership role in the industry.”

Nebraska is a leader in soybean production – among the top six soybean producing states. In 2022, the biodiesel industry in Nebraska supported an estimated $322 million worth of overall value to Nebraska soybeans. For a Nebraska farmer with 500 acres, the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports about $28,400 to their bottom line.

“Passing the Biodiesel Tax Credit Act is a win for Nebraska producers and consumers,” said Lori Luebbe, Executive Director for the Nebraska Soybean Association. “It reinforces the commitment to making renewable fuels an integral part of our state’s energy portfolio. We appreciate the support of Gov. Jim Pillen, Sen. Tom Brandt, and members of the legislature for ensuring biodiesel is a part of Nebraska’s clean energy solution.”

Overall, the Nebraska biodiesel industry supports $833 million in economic activity and close to 5,900 jobs, many of which are in rural parts of the state.

“We were thrilled to work with our member associations including the Nebraska Soybean Association, AGP and the other organizations who helped build a strong coalition advocating for this legislation while making biodiesel a priority in Nebraska,” said Jeff Earl, Director of State Regulatory Affairs for Clean Fuels.

Nebraska joins the ranks of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri as states that have recently passed legislation supporting the sale and production of biodiesel. These efforts will help grow the biodiesel market in the Midwest by over 300 million gallons.



Nebraska Landowners List 260,000 Acres on Land-Sharing Marketplace

Among the 77 Nebraska listings covering 260,000 acres available to book for recreational opportunities on the LandTrust website, Henry Beel’s family ranch near Ainsworth has been earning additional income since the spring of 2021.

Dubbed “the Airbnb for Outdoor Recreationists,” LandTrust is an online marketplace that allows landowners to connect directly with outdoor enthusiasts, providing opportunities to recreate on their property and allowing them to generate additional passive income. Landowners can host experiences like hunting, bird watching, farm tours, RV stays and more, with complete control over every booking.

“At LandTrust, we believe the future of working lands is dependent on a portfolio of income from agricultural production, conservation and recreational opportunities,” said Nic De Castro, Founder and CEO of LandTrust. “We help landowners tap into the income potential of those recreational opportunities and at the same time open up millions of acres of private land for outdoor enthusiasts. We’re on pace for landowners listed on LandTrust to earn $1.6 million this year.”

Recreational opportunities on the 900-acre Beel ranch include deer hunting, turkey hunting, coyote hunting and dove hunting. Beel’s family is extremely focused on keeping animal populations healthy and appreciates the control they have with LandTrust, which allows them to turn bookings on and off as populations fluctuate.

“LandTrust has been an easy way to expand our business beyond just ranching – every little bit helps. And we’re in complete control of who can hunt and on what days, instead of an outfitting service,” Beel said. “For example, we’ve turned down about 20 turkey hunts this year so we can maintain a healthy population. We also limit the number of deer that hunters can take.”

Similar to other companies in the sharing economy like Airbnb and Vrbo, LandTrust is a land-sharing site where landowners can list their property online and outdoor enthusiasts can search for experiences that match their interests. Landowners mainly in Montana, Nebraska and Kansas currently list over 1 million acres on LandTrust, which can be searched by state, property name or type of experience.

“Compared to traditional annual leases, landowners prefer LandTrust’s short-term rental model because it enables them to continue letting their friends, family and neighbors hunt, fish and otherwise enjoy their land, and also generate income when they aren’t using it,” De Castro said.

For Beel’s family, LandTrust has been easy to use and has even led to lasting relationships.

“The LandTrust platform doesn’t take much time to use and comes with the support of LSMs (Landowner Success Managers),” Beel said. “We’ve seen a lot of out-of-state hunters since we started using it and have still been able to let family, friends and locals hunt on our property whenever we want. We’ve even had recurring guests – one who I text with regularly will be visiting for a third year.”



NPB Welcomes Four New Officers for 2023-2024 Term

The National Pork Board (NPB) elected four new officers for the 2023-2024 term beginning July 1.

NPB’s 15-producer board of directors represent the 60,000 U.S. pig farmers who pay into the Pork Checkoff – a program funding research, promotion and education efforts for the benefit of the whole industry. The board allocates Pork Checkoff funds to address producer priorities, outlined in the producer-led annual planning process, to build trust and add value for U.S. pork and pork products.  

Pennsylvania pork producer Bob Ruth was elected to serve as the president of NPB. Ruth currently serves as the senior vice president for Clemens Food Group after working for Country View Family Farms for more than 20 years. He is also an active member of the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Board of Directors, PennAg and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.  
 
“I am deeply honored to be selected by my peers as president for the next year,” Ruth said. “We are all committed to serving our fellow producers by providing the best return possible on their Checkoff investments. I know this is an extremely difficult time in our industry, but I want our producers to know we don’t take it lightly and we will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf to help educate, promote and conduct research showing consumers pork is a great source of sustainable protein.”

In addition to Ruth, Al Wulfekuhle (Iowa) was reappointed to the board and elected as vice president and Chad Groves (Kansas) was elected as treasurer. Heather Hill (Indiana) will serve as past president in an ex-officio status. 
 
“Serving on the National Pork Board the past six years and as the president the last year has been a true honor and very humbling to represent America’s pork producers,” Hill said. “I’m very proud of the work the NPB is doing and has planned for the future. Right now, pork producers are facing very challenging times, and I want my fellow producers to know that NPB leaders are here to listen, learn and lead. We are committed to making sure the investments we're making with our Pork Checkoff dollars in the areas of research, education and promotion protect our freedom to operate, support demand for the product we raise both domestically and internationally and help us prevent and prepare for foreign animal disease.”

Other producers appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to serve terms on NPB beginning July 1 include:
    Dr. Gordon Spronk, Minnesota
    Morgan Wonderly, California
    Santiago Vazquez, North Carolina
    Stewart Leeth, Virginia
    Al Wulfekuhle, Iowa



Broad-Based Growth for April Pork Exports; Beef Exports Trend Lower

April exports of U.S. pork achieved gains in a wide range of markets, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports were below the very large totals posted a year ago, but export value per head of fed slaughter was the highest in eight months.

Pork exports climb to Mexico, Korea, ASEAN and Australia
Propelled by another month of widespread growth, April pork exports totaled 243,789 metric tons (mt), up 15% from a year ago, while value increased 10% to $660.1 million. April exports to South Korea were the largest in nearly four years, while exports also trended higher to leading market Mexico and to the ASEAN, the Dominican Republic, Australia, Taiwan and China/Hong Kong. Export value per head slaughtered ($67.56) was the highest since May 2021.

For January through April, pork exports climbed 14% to 960,480 mt, valued at $2.62 billion (up 13%).

“International demand continues to be a positive for the entire pork supply chain,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “While Mexico remains a star performer for U.S. pork, it’s really encouraging to see growth in many markets. Latin American demand has remained strong while the momentum for U.S. pork into the Asia Pacific region has also been increasing. This is critical for maximizing carcass value and generating revenue for an industry that is facing difficult economic conditions.”

April beef exports increase to Mexico, Korea, Europe and Africa
April beef exports were 10% below last year at 111,416 mt, while value fell 18% to $859.5 million. However, the share of production exported was steady with last year and export value per head of fed slaughter ($441.70) was the highest since July.

Beef exports continued to gain momentum in Mexico in April, while exports also increased to South Korea, Europe and Africa. Exports to China/Hong Kong were relatively strong in April but shipments to Japan were down significantly.

Through the first four months of 2023, beef exports were down 8% in volume (437,910 mt) and were 21% lower in value ($3.21 billion) compared to last year’s record pace.

“With U.S. beef supplies tightening, it’s difficult to keep pace with the remarkable export totals posted in the first half of 2022, but exports continue to account for a similar share of production as last year’s record,” Halstrom said. “The rebound in travel and tourism – which is now gaining momentum in Asia – and related foodservice opportunities continue to support beef demand. In some countries we have also seen a recent easing of the inflationary pressure on consumers’ discretionary income.”

Halstrom added that for both beef and pork exports, it is imperative that West Coast port terminal operators reach a contract agreement with longshoremen.

“While there has been no formal strike or lockout, sporadic work stoppages on the West Coast are a major concern for exporters and their international customers,” Halstrom said. “This is especially true for companies shipping chilled beef or pork to Asia. For that business, reliability and timeliness are paramount.”

April lamb exports trend lower
Exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts totaled 153 mt in April, down 13% from year ago, while export value fell 20% to just over $1 million. Exports to Mexico more than doubled to 54 mt, but these gains were offset by lower shipments to the Caribbean.

Through April, lamb exports were still 22% ahead of last year’s pace at 817 mt, with value up 10% to $4.7 million. Exports trended higher to Mexico, the Netherlands Antilles, the Bahamas, Guatemala and Canada.



Clean Fuels, RFS Stakeholders Send Letter to President Biden on RFS BBD Volumes

Today, Clean Fuels Alliance America and 75 industry stakeholders delivered a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency substantially increases the biomass-based diesel (BBD) and advanced biofuels volumes in the Renewable Fuel Standards for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Clean Fuels was joined in the letter by several national industry associations and their members, including American Soybean Association, 22 state soybean associations, Diesel Technology Forum, National Energy and Fuels Institute, National Oilseed Processors Association, North American Renderers Association, and U.S. Canola Association.

The letter points out that EPA’s proposed volumes fall far below the industry’s current production and, if finalized, would undermine investments in the industry’s expansion. EPA is expected to finalize the RFS volumes by June 14. The letter is available for download.

“The proposed RFS volumes simply do not provide sufficient market space for the fuels that are produced and available now to help numerous industries decarbonize their transportation footprint,” the letter states. “The low volumes threaten the ability of new market sectors, like marine and aviation, to decarbonize in the near term.”

“The undersigned have asked EPA to annually increase the biomass-based diesel volumes by 500 million gallons. Given the demonstrated increase in production in the first four months of this year, the request is very conservative,” the letter continues. “As your administration reviews the RFS rule for 2023, 2024, and 2025 before its final release on June 14, we ask that you ensure a true upward trajectory for the program’s volumes to further facilitate the growth of homegrown, low-carbon, advanced biofuels.”

Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs with Clean Fuels, added, “Our members, agriculture partners, and fuel users have all made significant investments to grow the industry, and those investments are already paying off. In the first months of 2023, the clean fuels industry increased biodiesel and renewable diesel production by more than 200 million gallons.”

“EPA must follow through on its promise of an upward trajectory for RFS volumes,” Kovarik continued. “As capacity and production grows, the economic benefits will increase – unless EPA fails to get the RFS volumes right.”



DMC Margin Drops Below $6 in April
NMPF

The April Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) margin dropped by $0.25/cwt from a month earlier to $5.84/cwt, the first time the margin fell below $6 since August 2021. The April all-milk price was $20.70/cwt, down $0.40/cwt from March, while the DMC feed price was down for the month by $0.15/cwt, due entirely to a lower soybean meal price. The April payment for maximum Tier 1 coverage at the $9.50/cwt level will be $3.42/cwt.

Available forecasts continue to indicate that monthly DMC margins will stubbornly remain around $6 into the summer and then slowly rise during the second half of the year, not topping $9.50/cwt until November.



NMPF Board of Directors Approves Comprehensive Farm Bill Recommendations

NMPF’s Board of Directors approved June 7 a suite of farm bill policy priorities covering the commodities, conservation, trade, and nutrition titles, working to enhance federal support for producers and expand access to nutritious dairy products for consumers at home and abroad.

With the current farm bill set to expire Sept. 30, Congress is working to enact a new bipartisan five-year farm bill. NMPF’s recommendations will aid in enacting an on-time farm bill that provides dairy producers the certainty they need as they manage their risks and resources while seeking market opportunities at home and abroad.

“The farm bill is crucial both to dairy farmers seeking to effectively manage their risk and to the consumers who benefit from the nutritious products dairy farmers work every to provide,” said Randy Mooney, chairman of NMPF’s board and a dairy farmer outside Rogersville, MO. “We stand ready to work with lawmakers as they craft this complex, extremely important legislation that touches everyone.”

In the Commodities title:
NMPF seeks to build on its successes in the last farm bill to strengthen the dairy safety net and provide producers with access to a range of risk management tools. NMPF’s board voted to support continuing the Dairy Margin Coverage safety net while updating the program’s production history calculation. The board also voted to prioritize improving the Livestock Gross Margin-Dairy and Dairy-Revenue Protection programs should new funding become available.

The board also voted to seek farm bill language to direct USDA to conduct mandatory plant cost studies every two years to provide better data to inform future make allowance reviews. This would complement the near-term make allowance update NMPF is pursuing through its Federal Milk Marketing Order initiative via the USDA hearing process announced last week. Similarly, the board also voted to pursue restoring the previous “higher of” Class I mover in the most expeditious manner possible, either administratively via the FMMO process or legislatively through the farm bill, in which the mover was last changed in 2018.

In the Conservation title:
NMPF is advocating for policies that better position the dairy industry to meet its voluntary, producer-led goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral or better by 2050. NMPF’s board voted to support maintaining robust funding for voluntary conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that supports dairy farmers in their ongoing land and water resource management efforts, with additional emphasis on feed and manure management both of which are major areas of opportunity in sustainability. The board also voted to seek relief from program payment limitations that prevent the family farmers that produce most of the nation’s milk supply from fully using these programs.

In the Trade title:
NMPF will support policies recognizing the growing importance of trade for U.S. dairy, with exports accounting for one-sixth milk of all U.S. milk production, a share expected to grow. NMPF’s board voted to support enhancing funding for trade promotion programs like the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development program, which promote American-made dairy and agriculture products that compete with heavily subsidized foreign products and return well over $20 in export revenue for every dollar invested.

The NMPF board also voted to seek language to protect common food names, as embodied in the bipartisan, bicameral SAVE Act that would establish an official list of common food and beverage names and direct USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative to prioritize this issue in international trade negotiations.

In the Nutrition title:
NMPF will support policies that reflect dairy’s role as an excellent source of 13 essential nutrients, some of which are under-consumed, according to the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is vital to linking the food we produce as farmers to families across the country facing difficult circumstances. NMPF’s board voted to support the enhancement of federal nutrition programs to provide nutritious dairy products to beneficiaries. NMPF also supports the bipartisan Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program introduced in the Senate to encourage SNAP participants to choose healthful dairy products at the grocery store.



USDA Announces $23 Million in Grant Funding Available to Support the U.S. Dairy Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $23 million in grant funding is available to support processing capacity expansion, on-farm improvements, and technical assistance services to producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives.

The Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives provide valuable technical assistance and subgrants to dairy farmers and businesses across their regions, supporting them with business plan development, marketing, and branding, as well as increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques to support the development of value-added products.

“The Dairy Business Innovative Initiatives use their on-the-ground knowledge and their ability to target funding where it will have the most regional and local impacts to make significant improvements to the U.S. dairy supply chain,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “This program is a great example of USDA’s efforts to build capacity from the bottom up and the middle out by supporting small and mid-sized dairy operations.”

The funds will be awarded noncompetitively to the current initiatives at the California State University Fresno; the University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; and the University of Wisconsin. Through the Request for Applications (RFA), the initiatives will have an opportunity to submit proposals for this year’s funding. Dairy farmers and businesses interested in the program must contact the appropriate initiative to be considered for direct technical assistance or a subaward.

AMS encourages applications to identify activities that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, low-income, and minority individuals, and underserved communities. AMS also encourages partnerships with minority-serving institutions of higher education. For projects intending to serve these entities, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.

Application Information
The Request for Applications (RFA), information about grant eligibility, and a list of previously funded projects are available on the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative webpage. Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 10, 2023.

USDA promotes climate-resilient landscapes and rural economic systems, including tools to support agriculture, forests, grazing lands, and rural communities. AMS encourages applicants to consider including goals and activities related to reducing and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or adapting to the already occurring climate change in their project’s design and implementation.