Not Another Meat-Like Protein Alternative!
Alfredo DiCostanzo, NE Beef Systems Extension Educator
The natural inventory cyclicity in the beef industry is clipping right along in response to supply and demand. Although challenged by drought and resulting high grain and forage prices, cattle producers are adjusting management to capitalize on high beef cattle prices.
One might think we have another 12 to 18 months of good prices to reap the benefits of the current downtrend in inventory. Yet, along comes another non-meat-based meat-like alternative. Notice I chose not to call it meat as it is not meat, but this one is derived from cattle.
An article in “Progressive Dairy,” a serious and reputable magazine which I read regularly, recently published an article on this alternative. (Information contained in this column was derived from said article; content on the company’s website is sparse).
Top Protein, a startup company, transforms whole, skim or condensed milk into a red or white meat-like alternative. The process the company cites to grow a protein fiber structure is called fermentation-derived nutrimimicry; the fiber structure is then transformed into the meat-like alternative. According to the company founder, the eating attributes of this alternative are similar to those of meat protein and, in the case of the chicken alternative, as good as the original.
Claims by the company about the nutritional value of the meat-like alternative indicate greater protein content and better amino acid profile, lower caloric content, and lower cholesterol content than a beef burger. Differences in protein, fat and cholesterol content depend on the choice of fat content of each product being compared. What caught my attention, and it will catch the attention of folks’ intent on finding an alternative to meat protein, is the observation by the company that one gallon of milk yields one pound of milk-based meat alternative.
I have no argument with this conversion ratio: milk has a solids content of 12%. If a gallon of milk weighs 8.6 lb, then 12% of 8.6 lb is 1.032 lb. Therefore, the conversion makes sense: 1 gallon of milk should provide 1 lb of meat-like alternative. However, the average person will not think through this calculation when reading promotional material containing this conversion figure.
As long as the company is using this observation, let us delve into the financial implications of it a bit deeper. Yearly milk production from a US dairy cow was 24,000 lb (2,700 gallons) in 2022. Therefore, according to the conversion cited by the company, a single dairy cow would produce 2,700 lb of meat-like alternative.
During 2022, the yearly cost of operating a dairy averaged $5,000 per cow. At an expected production of 2,700 lb, and ignoring transportation and processing costs, the cost of a pound of meat-like alternative derived from a dairy cow would be $1.85/lb.
On-farm beef cost of production cannot compete with the meat-like alternative on-farm cost of production. Using $1.20/lb as average cost of gain and yearly gain output from a single head space in the feedlot of 1,277 lb (365 days multiplied by 3.5 lb/day) with a yield of retail beef from live weight of 567 lb (63.5% dressing yielding 70% of saleable beef from hanging weight) yields an on-farm cost of production of $2.70/lb.
Beef production requires that the entire animal be harvested; thus, the contribution from the sale of byproducts (drop and other products) should offset some of this difference. Crediting saleable beef yield with the current value of drop reduces cost of production another $0.40/lb.
The balance of the difference, as for when comparisons between meat proteins are made, is dependent on differences in taste and versatility of beef cuts and ground product. Although often claims are made about how close a meat-like alternative flavor resembles that of the product they are trying to replace the reality is it is rare when a complete flavor substitution is achieved.
Let’s hope for that! In the meantime, let us continue to focus on raising the most efficient, safe, wholesome, and family-friendly meat protein in the World.
NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION
For the week ending June 18, 2023, there were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 28% very short, 33% short, 38% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 34% very short, 37% short, 29% adequate, and 0% surplus.
Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 8% very poor, 10% poor, 23% fair, 43% good, and 16% excellent.
Soybean condition rated 9% very poor, 12% poor, 29% fair, 38% good, and 12% excellent. Soybeans emerged was 96%, near 93% last year, and ahead of 91% for the five-year average.
Winter wheat condition rated 15% very poor, 19% poor, 31% fair, 32% good, and 3% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 94%, equal to last year, and near 93% average.
Sorghum condition rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 26% fair, 61% good, and 5% excellent. Sorghum planted was 95%, near 94% last year and 93% average.
Oats condition rated 9% very poor, 17% poor, 38% fair, 32% good, and 4% excellent. Oats headed was 65%, near 68% last year, and behind 70% average.
Dry edible beans planted was 76%, behind 84% last year. Emerged was 48%, behind 55% last year.
Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 20% very poor, 15% poor, 30% fair, 29% good, and 6% excellent.
Iowa Crop Progress & Condition Report
Below average precipitation for the week gave Iowa farmers 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 18, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting hay and spraying crops. Drought concerns were still prominent.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 20 percent very short, 50 percent short, 30 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. The percentage of topsoil moisture considered short to very short has gone from 25 percent the week ending May 21, 2023, to 70 percent for the week ending June 18, 2023, just 1 month later. Subsoil moisture condition rated 17 percent very short, 47 percent short, 35 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Corn condition continued to decline rating 59 percent good to excellent. Ninety-eight percent of soybeans have emerged, 10 days ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of the 5-year average.
Soybean condition dropped to 56 percent good to excellent.
Eighty-four percent of the oat crop has headed, 11 days ahead of last year and the average. Ten percent of oats were turning color, 1 week ahead of last year and normal. Oat condition declined to 50 percent good to excellent.
Ninety-six percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed and the second cutting has started with 6 percent complete, roughly 1 week ahead of last year and the average. Hay condition declined to 36 percent good to excellent.
Pasture condition rated just 28 percent good to excellent. Livestock producers have started to supplement with hay as pasture conditions continued to decline. Reports were also received of concerns with water supply as some ponds and creeks have been going dry.
USDA Crop Progress Report: Corn Condition Falls 6 Points During Week Ended June 18
U.S. corn and soybean conditions fell for a second week in a row during the week ended Sunday, June 18, according to USDA NASS' weekly Crop Progress report released Tuesday. The report, which is normally released on Mondays, was delayed this week due to the Juneteenth holiday.
Already stressed crops could see more pressure for at least part of this week, as a couple of ridges of high pressure in the upper atmosphere are combining to bring widespread heat and dryness from Texas through the Great Lakes, according to DTN forecasts.
CORN
-- Crop progress: 96% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, up 3 percentage points from the previous week and 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: Nationally, corn was rated 55% good to excellent, down 6 percentage points from 61% the previous week and below last year's rating at this time of 70%. The current rating is the lowest for the crop for this date since 1988.
SOYBEANS
-- Crop progress: 92% of soybeans were emerged as of Sunday, 11 percentage points ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 81%.
-- Crop condition: Soybeans were rated 54% good to excellent as of Sunday. That's 5 percentage points lower than last week's 59%, 14 points below 68% last year at this time, and the lowest good-to-excellent rating for the crop for this date since 1996.
WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop development: 94% of winter wheat was headed nationwide as of Sunday, up 5 percentage points from the previous week and 1 point ahead of the five-year average.
-- Harvest progress: 15% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, up 7 points from the previous week but 5 points behind the five-year average pace of 20%.
-- Crop condition: Nationwide, winter wheat was rated 38% good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week and ahead of last year's rating at this time of 30% good to excellent.
SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop progress: 98% of spring wheat was emerged as of Sunday, up 8 percentage points from the previous week and 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 95%. Ten percent of spring wheat was headed, even with the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: USDA said 51% of the spring wheat crop was rated good to excellent as of June 18, down 9 percentage points from last week's 60%, and 8 points below the five-year average of 59%.
Fischer, Colleagues Introduce EATS Act to Protect Nebraska’s Autonomy over Agricultural Practices
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, recently co-led legislation that preserves the right of states and local units of government to regulate agriculture within their jurisdictions, free from interference from other jurisdictions. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would prevent states like California from regulating farmers and ranchers nationwide. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D., led the introduction of the legislation.
“State regulations like California’s Proposition 12 could directly disrupt Nebraska producers’ ability to feed the nation. Congress shouldn’t allow any one state to single-handedly upend the country’s agricultural economy and force the American people to bear the burden of higher food prices. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation so Nebraska family farmers and ranchers can continue to produce safe and affordable food for our nation without interference,” said Senator Fischer.
“The fractured opinion issued by the Supreme Court in NPPC v. Ross creates a slippery slope that puts our successful interstate economy at risk, by putting complete control in the hands of our largest states. NCBA supports the EATS Act as a tool to give impacted farmers and ranchers relief from state standards that create new costs and regulatory burden,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart.
“We appreciate the Senators for working constructively to find a legislative solution to the challenges presented by California Proposition 12. Proposition 12 will have a significant impact on pork producers and consumers across the country,” said National Pork Producers Council CEO Bryan Humphries.
“As agricultural producers work to feed and fuel a growing population, they need every tool at their discretion and freedom to choose all allowable mechanisms. ARA is pleased to lend support to the EATS Act and applaud its introduction,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock.
“We are grateful lawmakers are seeking ways to ensure grocery store shelves and meat cases across the country do not go bare, and that farmers and ranchers have open access to reach all American consumers,” said Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall.
Background:
The EATS Act would prevent states from impeding Ag trade from other states within the country.
Unnecessary, burdensome regulations in one state can unfairly impact producers nationwide by increasing costs. Some of these laws directly deal with the production of animals — forcing producers to bear the brunt of the increased cost of production and raising food prices on families.
The most recent of these harmful regulations is California’s Proposition 12, which requires that meat products raised outside the state conform to the radical animal rights standards adopted by California. Several other states have adopted or contemplated similar laws that would impact agricultural production outside their state.
In addition to Senators Fischer and Marshall, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.).
Nebraska’s Federal Delegation Leads “Farm Bill for Nebraska” Listening Tour
Yesterday, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Mike Flood (R-NE) participated in a farm bill listening tour during which they heard directly from Nebraska producers about their priorities in anticipation of the 2023 Farm Bill.
The tour consisted of stops at Weber & Sons Co. feed yard, a Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation Commodity Roundtable at Doane University, a visit and tour to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR), a roundtable with Nebraska lenders at Farm Credit Services of America, and a presentation and townhall with Green Plains Energy employees at their office.
“Yesterday was another great opportunity to visit with Nebraska producers about their priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill,” said Senator Fischer. “Whether it’s preserving crop insurance, improving access to precision ag technologies, or cutting red tape – there is a lot we can accomplish in this important legislation. We have a great federal delegation, and I know we are all committed to delivering results for Nebraskans.”
“Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska,” said Senator Ricketts. “I’m proud to work alongside Senator Fischer and the entire delegation to ensure this Farm Bill gives our farmers and ranchers what they need to continue feeding and fueling our state and nation. One in four jobs in Nebraska is tied to agriculture, and I appreciate all those who met with us on our Farm Bill listening tour to share their ideas about how to make these government programs more efficient and effective.”
“Nebraska’s outstanding agriculture producers are the backbone of our economy,” said Representative Smith. “From regulatory reform to innovation in precision ag to disaster relief, sound federal agriculture policy is vital for our state. These listening sessions provided a valuable opportunity to ensure the 2023 Farm Bill reflects the interests of the Third District, and I look forward to ongoing opportunities to support advancement and prosperity in Nebraska’s agriculture industry.”
“It is great to be visiting Nebraska farms with our Congressional Delegation,” said Representative Bacon. “We are here listening to farmers and ranchers so we can go into the farm bill knowing their needs and deliver for them.”
“Agriculture isn’t just Nebraska’s number one economic driver – it’s the heart of who we are and what we do in the First Congressional District,” said Representative Flood. “This year, Congress will complete what has become a five-year ritual in Washington: writing and passing the Farm Bill. The Nebraska delegation is working together to ensure that we have a Farm Bill for Nebraska that grows agriculture, bridges the urban-rural divide, invests in research, and protects our way of life.”
NEBRASKA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VOICES SUPPORT FOR STRONG AG RESEARCH FUNDING
It will be critical for the upcoming farm bill to include significant federal funding for agricultural research, Nebraska’s five-member congressional delegation said during a visit to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus on June 19.
U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, who hosted the visit to campus, said his “No. 1 priority” in representing Nebraska’s 1st District was securing federal funding for major U.S. Department of Agriculture research facilities planned for Nebraska Innovation Campus. The center, which will focus on precision agriculture and water, climate and resilience, will boost the number of USDA agricultural scientists in Nebraska to 150, up from the current 63.
The university will complement the USDA research center with an agricultural innovation facility on Innovation Campus facilitating the conversion of ag research into products and services, plus a business incubator.
During their visit to East Campus, the lawmakers — Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, Reps. Flood, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith — heard presentations on Husker research initiatives in fields such as ag-related robotics and precision agriculture, plant science and animal science innovations, and the advances made possible through on-farm research. They were briefed on the importance producers place on information from the National Drought Mitigation Center, located at the university.
Ted Carter, president of the University of Nebraska system, welcomed the lawmakers during a lunch of brisket and sausage prepared and processed by Husker meat science students. “Today’s grand challenges around agriculture have never been more urgent or more complex,” underscoring the enduring importance of the university’s agricultural research, he said.
Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, noted that the U.S. lags well behind in government funding for agricultural research compared with China and the European Union.
Four funding options for the upcoming five-year farm bill now being developed by Congress have particular importance for the university and Nebraska agriculture, Boehm told the lawmakers:
> The planned USDA research facilities, called the National Center for Resilience and Regenerative Precision Agriculture, at Innovation Campus. The USDA center and complementary Husker facilities can greatly bolster precision-ag and climate resilient technologies and boost the state’s economic development through ag-startup creation.
> Support for workforce development for the precision agriculture sector. Farm bill funding can serve the public interest, Boehm said, by supporting existing and new programs for high school and college students that partner with land-grant universities to develop co-op, internship and workforce opportunities in precision agriculture. In presentations to the lawmakers, Husker alumni described innovative businesses they created after participation in the university’s Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program. Examples included The Combine, which facilitates the development of Nebraska ag-tech startups, and Sentinel Fertigation, which uses regularly updated ag-tech data to develop precision fertilizer application using irrigation equipment. The Sentinel technology was developed through extensive Husker on-farm research.
> Sustained funding of $3.8 million annually for the National Drought Mitigation Center, rather than the current ad hoc funding approach. Fischer has been a strong advocate for such sustained funding, Boehm said.
> Support for USDA research into ag data security. Precision technology is increasingly integrated into the agricultural economy so that ag devices are connected to communicate and interact with each other, raising concerns over cybersecurity. Fischer has had a legislative interest in that issue, known as the Ag Internet of Things. A software platform by the university’s Tractor Test Laboratory, Boehm said, could in the future provide “a cybersecurity proving ground where we cyber-harden agricultural digital platforms before they get to the consumer.”
At the Tractor Test Laboratory, students explained how the university has used precision technology to reduce pesticide drift and fine-tune nitrogen application. The lawmakers saw several examples of ag robotics in field production.
Ag research has been vital in boosting the productivity of Nebraska’s farm sector, Bacon said. “In the 1930s, we had 35 bushels per acre of corn. Today’s it’s way over 200. It’s a good example of what research can do.”
Ricketts, a former Nebraska governor, noted that one in four jobs in the state are connected to agriculture. Robust agricultural production “is not only important to our state; it’s important to our country,” he said. “Food security is national.”
Smith expressed thanks for the university’s statewide focus. “I want to say how much I appreciate the university’s footprint across Nebraska,” he said. Whether in Scottsbluff at the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center or at the university’s precision-ag facilities in Lincoln, “I just cannot say enough about how important the work you do is. And then Extension takes all this research to the producers” across the range of the state’s agricultural products.
The university, Fischer said, has well communicated the breadth of its agricultural research during the June 19 event, as well as in May when Husker faculty explained the university’s precision-ag research advances during a visit by Fischer, Ricketts and John Boozman, the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to the university’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead.
“I will continue my work in representing the interests of our land-grant mission at the University of Nebraska,” Fischer said. “We have outstanding programs at this university. It’s part of my job on the Appropriations Committee to advocate for these great programs that we have at this university with the great research that is done, and make sure that it will continue and grow.”
Northeast Nebraska Ag Banquet to Unite Agricultural and Business Communities
The Norfolk and Madison Area Chambers of Commerce are gearing up to host the Eighth annual Northeast Nebraska Ag Banquet, a highly anticipated event in the region.
Scheduled for June 22 at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Madison, the banquet will commence at 5:30 p.m. with the theme "Uniting the Agricultural & Business Communities. The focus will be on fostering collaboration among Madison County and adjacent counties, including Antelope, Wayne, Pierce, Stanton, Boone, and northern Platte.
Attendees can enjoy a delectable pork loin dinner while listening to insightful presentations by guest speakers, including Nick Bowdish, President/CEO of Norfolk Crush, LLC, and a representative from CIE (formerly Louis Dreyfus).
Open to the public, tickets for the banquet can be purchased for $35 at the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce office on West Norfolk Avenue.
The primary objective of the event is to raise funds for academic scholarships available to high school seniors and college students in northeast Nebraska pursuing agricultural and agri-business education.
During the banquet, five deserving students will be awarded $1,000 scholarships, and the recipients of the Norfolk Beef Expo scholarships for 2022 will be recognized. Additionally, the event will honor a distinguished Farm Family of the Year and an outstanding Ag-Business of the Year. Nominations for these awards can be submitted to the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce via forms available on their website and Facebook page.
For further information, interested individuals can visit https://norfolkareachamber.com/ or contact the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce at 402-371-4862.
Ask EPA to Reconsider Its Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards
Chris Grams - Nebraska Corn Growers Association President
As you may have heard, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed an extreme emissions standards rule for future light-duty and medium-duty vehicles, the types of vehicles most drivers use every day.
This proposal picks winners and losers in the energy sector and puts biofuels on the losing side. The proposed standards would effectively force automakers to produce electric vehicles at an increasingly rapid rate in order to comply, with no consideration of the impacts on American families. In fact, EPA estimates automakers will need to have two-thirds of all new light- and medium-duty vehicle sales in 2032 be EVs in order to keep their vehicle fleets in compliance with these standards.
Without changes, this proposal will manipulate the market, pushing automakers to solely focus on EVs, leaving consumers with fewer vehicle and fuel choices and higher vehicle and fuel costs. EPA’s proposal ignores the wide range of vehicle and fuel options that could be used to cut emissions costs, specifically use of higher ethanol blends, such as clean, high-octane fuels used in advanced engines, flex-fuel vehicles that use E85, and even flex-fuel hybrid vehicles. EPA’s proposal fails to remove barriers and open pathways for all of these options with its one-size fits-all approach. If left unchanged, this rulemaking has the potential to remove hundreds of millions of bushels of domestic corn demand off the market per year due to lower ethanol consumption. EPA should consider all options to cut vehicle emissions, as clean, low-carbon ethanol is readily available now.
Please join me in reaching out to the EPA to voice your concerns with this proposal and advocate for all viable solutions to cut emissions. The comment period closes July 5th.
Summer Field Days - Weeds & Nutrients
Nathan Mueller, NE Extension Educator
Nebraska Extension has numerous field days that agronomists, conservationists, and farmers can attend during the summer across the state. Locally, we have two upcoming regional field days at the end of June and early July. Please learn more about each of the field days and consider attending.
First up is our Weed Management Field Day on Wednesday, June 28 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the South Central Ag Lab near Clay Center. This field day will include on-site demonstrations of new technologies and herbicides for weed control in corn, soybean, and sorghum. The field day is free to attend, but preregistration is required at https://agronomy.unl.edu/fieldday. Registration is from 8:30 to 9:00 am with rolls and coffee available. Free lunch is also provided including UNL Dairy Store Ice Cream for dessert. Certified Crop Adviser credits are available. There will be two tours with four demonstrations trials discussed in each tour. Tour 1 is on-site demonstration of new technology/herbicide for weed control in soybean including planting green and residual herbicide interaction in soybean, interseeding small grains in soybeans for weed suppression, comparison of herbicide programs for weed control in soybean, and evaluating pre-emergence herbicides for weed control in XtendFlex soybean. Tour 2 is on-site demonstration new technology/herbicides for weed control in corn and sorghum including comparison of herbicides program for weed control in corn, control of corn volunteers in Enlist corn, evaluating Surtain for weed control and crop safety in corn, and control corn volunteers in iGrowth sorghum. Learn more by visiting the field day website at https://agronomy.unl.edu/fieldday
Second up is our 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day on Thursday, July 6 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm held at the August N. Christenson Research and Education Building at the Eastern Nebraska, Research, Extension and Education Center near Ithaca. The field day is free to attend including lunch and features knowledge and tools to improve nutrient management, soil health, crop yields and water quality. This is a great opportunity to learn about 4Rs (right source, right rate, right time, right place) strategies to improve crop yield and profits while protecting the environment. Certified Crop Advisers can earn 4.5 CEUs on Nutrient Management. Attendance counts toward Lower Platte North NRD Nitrogen Certification. Topics covered at the field day include performance of nitrogen recommendations tools, optimizing phosphorus fertilizer use in Nebraska, potassium fertilizer recommendations, nitrogen management with sensor-base fertigation, and 2 hours of nutrient management demonstration activities in the field. Registration is required to participate. Learn more and register at https://agronomy.unl.edu/4rs-nutrient-stewardship-field-day.
Saunders County Livestock & Ag Association 2023 Twilight Tour
Dan Kellner, President
This year’s Twilight Tour will take us through Eastern and Central Saunders County.
Start at 5:00 p.m. – SHARP!
Stop 1: Champion Feeders dba Mead Cattle Company
1344 County Road 10, Mead, NE 68041
Owner – Kevin Buse
Manager – Buck Wehrbein
Assistant Manager – Dan Malousek
– 30,000 cattle feed capacity. Buck and Dan will explain their cattle feeding overview operation.
From Champion Feeders, head north on County Road 10 for 1.5 miles, then turn west on County Road L, continue west on County Road L for 6 miles, turn south on County Road 16, follow County Road 16 into Wahoo, NE. Omaha Steel will be on the south side of the road.
Stop 2: Omaha Steel Castings Company
921 E 12th Street, Wahoo, NE 68066
General Manager- Travis Toline
– Travis and associates will give a presentation and tour. ALL TOUR PARTICIPANTS WILL NEED TO WEAR HARD HATS, EYE AND HEARING PROTECTION. NO OPEN TOE SHOES! ALCOHOL IS NOT PERMITTED ON OMAHA STEEL PREMISES. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
The final stop will be at the Saunders County Fairgrounds 4H Building, where we will be serving the evening's meal.
We want to Thank all the Hosts at the various stops for sharing their time and giving us an opportunity to see their operations. It should be an educational and enjoyable evening. We are looking forward to seeing you at the Twilight Tour.
IRFA Calls on EPA to Finalize Overdue Midwest Governors' Year-Round E15 Fix
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today called upon the EPA to finalize its proposed rule to approve the Midwest Governors’ Year-Round E15 fix. The public comment period on the proposed rule closed April 20, two months ago today.
“At this point, there is no excuse for further delays in approving the Midwest Governors’ E15 fix,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “The law is clear. The proposed rule was straightforward. There were no germane negative comments. This rule should be final by now. The EPA is 11 months overdue and counting.”
In April of 2022, eight Midwest Governors, led by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, exercised their Clean Air Act (CAA) authority to equalize the summer regulations for E10 and E15. By law, EPA should have approved this action after no more than 90 days. Defying the Congressional deadline, EPA waited 10 months to propose a rule, which has still not been made final.
“We are grateful the EPA provided an emergency solution for this summer, but retailers and consumers deserve the certainty this rule would provide going forward,” stated Shaw. “E15 saves consumers at the pump, reduces tailpipe emissions, promotes Midwest agriculture, and lowers carbon emissions. I commend the governors for their patience during this process, but there is simply no justification for further delays. The EPA must follow the law.”
The congressionally mandated 90-day deadline for the EPA to finalize the governors’ action ended July 27, 2022. Governor Reynolds called for immediate action by the White House on January 17, 2023. Midwest attorneys general followed suit and called upon the White House for action on January 27, 2023. On February 9, 2023, Midwest members of congress urged the White House to act.
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.
“I think it is more important now than ever before that industry and farm professionals develop their leadership and network skills,” Roberts said. “Being able to share stories from the class, missions and others’ experiences has been one of the best parts of I-LEAD.”
If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Brian Bell, Iowa Corn Director of Leadership and Organizational Development at bbell@iowacorn.org. For more information, visit www.iowacorn.org/ilead.
ISU Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Workshop June 27
Beef producers are invited to attend a Beef Quality Assurance workshop to become Beef Quality Assurance certified or to renew their certification. ISU Extension and Outreach will offer the training on June 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm near Castana.
There are several reasons to attend a Beef Quality Assurance training – to maintain market access with major packers, to learn about important changes and new technologies in cattle production and management, and to maintain consumer confidence in the beef they consume.
The training is offered at no cost. Registration is required by June 23 and may be made by calling ISU Extension and Outreach Monona County at 712-423-2175.
For those who cannot attend an in-person session, Beef Quality Assurance training is available on-line.
For more info, contact Beth Doran, ISU Extension and Outreach Beef Specialist at doranb@iastate.edu or phone 712-737-4230.
Farmers and Ranchers Fight Against Rep. Ashley Hinson’s EATS Act with Iowa Radio Ad Campaign
Today, the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA) announced the continuation of an ad campaign first established by OCM earlier this month condemning the so-called Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression (EATS) Act led by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-IA in the House and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS in the Senate. OCM launched a campaign that began in Politico against the EATS Act, a bill that would have a devastating impact on America’s farming and ranching families. This bill erases state laws, giving Chinese corporations unchecked control over American family farmers.
The radio campaign began on Saturday with spots on Cedar Rapids’ iHeart Radio station that will continue across the state and in other key swing Congressional Districts throughout the upcoming Farm Bill debate. The 30-second spots encourage listeners to call their elected officials and ask them to vote no on any Farm Bill that contains the Steve King rebranded EATS Act.
EATS is just a revamped version of the controversial “King Amendment” championed by former Rep. Steve King (R-IA). It is the biggest attack on states’ rights America’s rural communities have likely ever faced. The “King Amendment” failed to make it into the past two farm bills after bi-partisan opposition to the egregious amendment. Now, legislators working for industrial agriculture interests have rebranded the measure hoping most would not notice.
This legislation will erase countless laws passed by state and local governments nationwide that benefit family farms over international conglomerates, as well as those that support dairy farmers, baby food safety, and the control of invasive pests. Put simply, this bill permanently strips power from legislators at state and local levels of government.
Key Quotes
“If the King Amendment or EATS act or anything like it is added to the farm bill it will be devastating for dairy producers across America,” said Deborah Mills, chair of the National Dairy Producers Organization and a board member at OCM.
“We must prevent the EATS Act from being included in the upcoming Farm Bill and exhaust every resource available to keep this poison pill from becoming law,” said Jonathan Buttram, the president of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association and OCM board Treasurer. “U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders Debbie Stabenow, Glenn Thompson, John Boozman, and David Scott should reject this egregious attack against state agriculture laws.”
“OCM is ready, willing, and able to roll up our sleeves and dig in to help prevent the EATS Act from being enacted in the upcoming Farm Bill,” said Taylor Haynes, president of OCM. “American family farmers will not stand for this attack on states’ rights that could land our farms under the control of the Chinese Government.
“The EATS Act is nothing but a Trojan Horse designed to put family farmers out of business and give multinational conglomerates like JBS and Chinese-owned Smithfield an even greater advantage than they already have.” said Mike Schultz, senior vice-president at OCM and founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association. “It’s a crying shame to see my Senator Roger Marshall leading this assault on producers and states’ rights.”
“If the Farm Bill includes Rep. Ashley Hinson's egregious provision and passes it, companies like the Chinese-owned Smithfield and Brazil-based JBS will own livestock production in the United States,” said Marty Irby, president at CMA and board secretary at OCM. “We’d rather have no farm bill than a farm bill with Hinson's EATS Act included.”
The EAT’s Act is a gift to the Chinese and Brazil governments whose agribusiness conglomerates have lobbied to remove U.S. state and local protections for rural communities. If passed, it’ll also be a devastating blow to multigenerational American farmers and ranchers who’d be forced to compete against these foreign industrial operations opening in their locales.
Furthermore, the EATS Act would create a race to the bottom when it comes to food safety in our country, eliminating state laws protecting baby food and the safety of milk for our families.
OCM and CMA are committed to fighting against the EATS Act to ensure that America’s farmers and ranchers don’t get wiped out, our dairy farmers continue to benefit from state laws they’ve worked so hard to pass, and families are able to still purchase safe, affordable food.
Up Corn, Down Horn
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University
Continued dry conditions across much of the western corn belt have resulted in sharply higher new-crop corn futures prices. Old-crop futures and cash prices have risen also. There is little to no carry after the December 2023 contract, so all the buying decisions would depend on the general price level instead of any storage-related timing. The implied volatility for new-crop corn continues to creep higher as well. As a result, the prospects for higher meat prices have waned. Feeder cattle futures have been under downward pressure in recent weeks. Regionally, corn acres have areas that look quite stressed from heat and limited precipitation. There is also wide variability in conditions. Live cattle prices have been at record high levels, so the effect on feeders has been clouded or offset.
The dry conditions have locally limited the expectation for hay yields. The hay stocks situation in South Dakota was close to expectations, as winter use was in line with typical disappearance levels. With the expected 2023 hay acres, supplies would be good for the year. However, producers and Extension colleagues have already called attention to lower yields. The national picture would mirror the local situation and winter use was in line with expectations. Looking at the LMIC’s projections, there would be improvement in the supply situation for 2023 compared to last year. However, even with good yields there would not be a sizable enough increase to warrant widespread cattle herd expansion. Now, with dryer conditions, the prospect for alfalfa yields would be limited.
Higher feed prices and the prospect for tighter forage supplies would also influence other meat and dairy sectors. Soybeans have risen with corn, which are both negative for swine production margins. Pork prices have been under pressure as larger supplies have weighed on the market. Tighter pork supplies moving forward would be supportive or stabilizing of beef prices. Higher corn, soybean meal and hay prices would also be negative for dairy margins. Any downturn in milk prices could lead to a contraction in cow numbers and be a short-run source of additional beef supplies. The dairy sector has been the driver behind high alfalfa prices, and that pressure is likely to continue.
Beef seems to be having its moment with consumers. Cutout and wholesale values have risen recently and are at high levels. This is in sharp contrast to most pork prices, which are sharply lower. Tight cattle supplies and solid beef demand has resulted in live cattle prices on the futures side continuing to be at all-time record-high levels. The feeder cattle prices have come down from recent record-high levels, but still look favorable. Note also that the nearby contract is the August contract, reflecting cattle coming off of grass and trading at a large premium relative to current cash prices.
PLC Launches Grassroots Campaign Against BLM Public Lands Rule
This week, the Public Lands Council (PLC) launched a grassroots campaign regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rule “Conservation and Landscape Health.” The proposed rule would create significant, concerning changes to the BLM’s authority to manage the nation’s public lands and would open the door to removing livestock grazing from the range.
“The BLM must follow the law in managing our nation’s public lands for multiple use and sustained benefits for all,” said PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover. “Public lands grazing is an important conservation tool that protects these landscapes and is integral to national food security. We must remind the BLM that grazing is an essential use of our nation’s public lands and I hope you will join us in sending a letter to the agency leadership underscoring their responsibility to be good partners – especially since they’ve fallen short in this rule.”
The letter is available here. While the form requires an address in addition to a name and contact information, only the signers’ name, city, and state will be added to the proposed rule public comment docket. Questions regarding the letter may be directed to Hunter Ihrman (hihrman@beef.org). The letter will close when the agency stops accepting public comment on the rule, which is currently scheduled for July 5, 2023.
Farm Groups Call out Failure of USDA to Release Federally Mandated Dairy Checkoff Reports
Today Farm Action and the National Dairy Producers Organization sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack calling for the immediate release of federally mandated annual dairy checkoff spending reports, which the Secretary has not filed for the duration of his tenure.
The letter states that the reports, which are “mandated by the same legislation that authorizes the dairy checkoff program,” have not been submitted to Congress by USDA “for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022.” USDA is required by law to describe “activities conducted, accounting for the receipt and disbursement of all funds, and including an independent analysis of the effectiveness of the program.”
In explaining the importance of these reports, the letter points to the amount of money collected by the dairy checkoff program and the distressed state of the dairy producers who must pay into it. “Since USDA’s last annual report, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Program has collected nearly $1 billion in mandatory checkoff fees from dairy farmers. During the same time period, more than 6,000 dairy operations went out of business, and remaining dairy farmers continued to face economic hardship and an unprecedented farm stress crisis.”
The letter concludes by calling for “the publication of the reports or an update on their status by July 7,” and urging the Secretary to “fulfill this statutory obligation” on behalf of U.S. dairy farmers.
“The most disappointing part of this is that Secretary Vilsack failed in his duty to dairy farmers the last time he was USDA Secretary as well,” said Angela Huffman, president of Farm Action. “After skipping these reports for five years, he left the Obama administration for a million-dollar checkoff-funded dairy industry job. It wasn’t until 2017, when the Trump administration’s Secretary Perdue responded to pressure from farm groups and the media, that dairy farmers were able to see how their money was spent from 2012-2016.”
“The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act was first introduced in the 115th Congress, and here we are in the 118th Congress still working for transparency and accountability to reform the USDA’s commodity checkoff programs,” said Deborah Mills, chairwoman of the National Dairy Producers Organization. “This speaks volumes about what frustrates producers who are paying into checkoff programs. The recipients of the checkoff dollars are the greatest proponents of maintaining the status quo. Producers are being denied the basic right to have their questions about their investment answered.”
Farm Action is a farmer-led organization fighting corporate monopolies in agriculture. We envision a fair, sustainable, and healthy food system that empowers farmers, ranchers, and rural communities to feed their neighbors.
National Dairy Producers Organization (NDPO) is working to balance marketplace demand with a profitable milk price for the producer. Our number one priority and responsibility is producer profitability.
NJ Legislature Passes Ban on Ban Extreme Confinement of Calves and Pigs in Gestation Crates
Press Release
Today Animal Wellness Action, the Animal Wellness Foundation, and the Center for a Humane Economy applauded state lawmakers in New Jersey for passing a measure to ban gestation crates by an overwhelming vote of 35 to 1. The Assembly previously passed the measure by a count of 73 -1. The bills, S. 1298/A.1970, seek to ban the cruel practice of confining pregnant sows in immobilizing crates, as well as calves raised for veal. The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Vin Gopal and Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, now goes to Gov. Phil Murphy for a signature and he is expected to do so.
The legislative action comes just a month after the Supreme Court of the United States upheld California’s Prop 12, which not only affords breeding sows and veals calves definite minimum space requirements, but also restricts the sale of pork that comes from confinement operations. Some Midwest lawmakers have now introduced legislation, known as the Exposing Agriculture Trade Suppression Act, to repeal any state laws that restrict agricultural commerce. Animal Wellness Action and hundreds of other animal welfare, food safety, states’ rights, and other organizations have announced their opposition to that ill-considered, anti-democratic legislation.
Related to the New Jersey news, a national bill was recently introduced, the Pigs in Gestation Stalls (PIGS) Act, H.R. 2939, to ban the extreme confinement of mother pigs in gestation crates.
Creeping Up: Red Crown Rot Moves North
Causing deterioration of soybean stems and roots, as well as premature aging, red crown rot can give farmers headaches throughout the growing season. Red crown rot is a common southern U.S. fungal disease, but is now spreading to the Midwest.
Red crown rot infection is often detected after the R3 stage with the appearance of yellowing on the leaves. Because symptoms are similar to other common soybean diseases, such as sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot, and southern stem canker, inspection of the stems and roots is necessary to determine the causal pathogen. However, root and stem rot can occur without producing foliar symptoms.
“Correctly identifying crown rot is a big deal as we try to manage it and get it under control,” said Pioneer Field Agronomist Scott Eversgerd. “If you aren’t experienced with red crown rot, it’s best to send a sample to a lab so we know exactly what we’re dealing with.”
The key distinguishing characteristic of red crown rot is the presence of perithecia on the crown and roots just below the soil line. This often presents as tiny red balls and will give the crown a reddish color. Other factors can cause a reddish coloration of the lower stem, so it is important to look closely to confirm the presence of fungal tissues.
Yield losses of 30% have been documented with red crown rot infections in soybeans in Louisiana and Mississippi, where the disease has been present for years. Severely infected areas can be significantly impacted; however, red crown rot usually only affects patches within a field.
Management options are limited and no known rescue treatments are available to mitigate plant damage and yield impact once infection has been detected. Delaying soybean planting in fields known to be infested with the soil-borne pathogen Calonectria ilicicola can help reduce the severity of infection.
Improved soil drainage and management of root-feeding insects and nematodes can also help reduce the impact of red crown rot.
Five Modern Dairy Industry Benefits to Acknowledge and Celebrate
Austin Gellings, director of agricultural services at Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
Dairy plays a vital part in the diets of millions of Americans. The average person in the United States consumes approximately 276 pounds of dairy in a year. However, despite its undeniable impact on society, dairy is often misunderstood by a significant percentage of the population.
What is (or at least should be) known, though, is dairy is among the most essential industries in agriculture today. From the technological innovations that help with the actual milking of the cow, such as robotic milkers, to the economic impact of the dairy industry, all the way to the efforts being undertaken by the industry to be more environmentally sustainable, it’s important to recognize – and celebrate – the benefits of dairy.
With that fact in mind, AEM’s Dairy Leadership Group put together an informational flyer detailing the top benefits in modern milking today. Listed below are five, along with why they are so important.
Benefit No. 1 – Today, the U.S. dairy industry produces more milk than in 1944 with 16 million fewer cows.
The U.S. is one of the largest producers of dairy and dairy-related products in the world. American dairy farmers produced more than 226.6 billion pounds of milk. For comparison's sake, almost 80 years ago, the U.S. produced 116 billion pounds of milk. That is an increase of over 107 billion pounds, all while milking 16.2 million fewer cows.
Innovations within the industry have allowed for these gains in productivity. New technologies, such as modern parlor systems, or even the newer robotic milkers, have made milking easier than ever. This, paired with the new advancements in monitoring and maintaining a cow’s health throughout her lifetime, has allowed for such a significant increase in production. Simply stated, cows today are healthy, happy and productive.
Benefit No. 2 -- The U.S. dairy industry accounts for 3.5% of GDP. For comparison, the entire automotive industry accounts for 3%.
With all the dairy being produced, the industry plays a vital part in the U.S. economy. Contributing over $752 billion to the U.S.’s annual GDP, it accounts for nearly 3.5% of US GDP. For comparison’s sake, the auto industry accounts for 3% of total U.S. GDP. That $752.93 billion is a direct result of the over 3 million jobs accounted for by the industry. These jobs rage from manufacturing dairy related equipment, to the actual running and management of dairy farms, all the way to the processing of dairy to create some of everyone’s favorite treats like cheese and ice cream. These jobs account for more than $41.6 billion in wages that go toward supporting all of the people and their families that rely on the dairy industry as a source of income.
Benefit No. 3 – Dairy farmers across the U.S. are using a number of innovations to be environmentally friendly.
With the gains in productivity and contributions to the U.S. economy, the dairy industry has continued to find ways to leverage these technologies that have resulted in these productivity gains to also reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. Over the last 15 years, dairy has managed to reduce its GHG footprint by 17%, water usage by 10%, land use by 26%. And feed use by 15%.
Technology, genetics and more efficient farming practices are the biggest contributors to all the gains. All aspects of raising and milking cattle have seen these improvements, from the production of feed, to the milking and managing of the cattle, all the way down to the actual handling of the manure. There are even new technologies to allow farmers to capture methane and convert it into electricity. That manure can also be used as organic fertilizer. One 750-lb. dairy cow can produce enough manure fertilizer to cover 2,700 acres.
Benefit No. 4 -- 97% of the over 34,000 U.S. dairy farms are family-owned and operated.
All the gains can be associated with innovation. However, a common misconception is that dairy is mainly large, corporate farms, and that is why they are able to utilize all these technologies. Contrary to that conception, 97% of the over 34,000 US dairy farms are family owned and operated. These families work night and day to produce one of the most essential and pivotal products for the American diet.
Benefit No. 5 -- Dairy is an excellent source for the essential nutrients needed for life.
The end product of all their hard work, dairy, actually contains 18 out of the 22 essential nutrients that are needed for life, and USDA recommends two or three servings of it a day. The health benefits don’t end there, either. Consuming dairy can also help with heart health, lowering blood pressure, and can help provide a possibly reduced risk of type-2 diabetes.
All in all, the dairy industry has come a long way since the days of a farmer going down to the barn with a milk pale and a stool. Nowadays, farmers can remotely monitor a cow’s health, use robots to milk the cows, and even generate electricity from the manure. This has led to a number of gains in productivity and environmental sustainability, all while the dairy industry continues to produce some of the most nutritious foods available. The impact the dairy industry has on the lives of the majority of Americans is undeniable, and it is something that should be applauded.
So, as AEM recognizes an industry that feeds the world, embraces technological innovation and advancement, as well as plays a vital role in our U.S. economy by accounting for over 3 million domestic jobs, the association asks its members to do their part and show their support during National Dairy Month.
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