Thursday July 06 Ag News

Cuming Co Feeders Golf Tournament and Membership Social
Thursday, July 20
Indian Trails, Beemer
2:30 check in / 3:00 shotgun start
  - 4 person scramble
  - Teams preferred. Individuals will be placed on teams as spots are available.
  - Team prizes awarded after
  - Ask Tyler Weborg about tournament sponsorship
Send entries and fees in by July 15. Make check payable to Cuming Co Feeders
  - Tyler Weborg - 1737 V Rd  - Pender, NE 68047
6:00 Social with Steak Sandwich - If you’re not golfing come out and enjoy a Steak Sandwich
Questions:  Tyler Weborg 402-922-0187 or Jordan Feller 402-640-7009



Multi-State Soybean Gall Midge Field Day: Register Now

Join a multistate team of Extension entomologists for a hands-on opportunity to learn more about soybean gall midge biology, scouting, and management. The Multi-State Soybean Gall Midge Field Day will be held at the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education (ENREEC) near Mead, NE, on July 25th and 26th, 2023 (9 am - 2 pm). This event will emphasize interactive learning about this economic pest through field demonstrations and short presentations. There will be ample opportunities to see the pest and its injury to soybean and to learn about ongoing research efforts.

The 25th is open to soybean farmers, consultants, industry, coops, etc. The 26th is for research and extension personnel. Board members are welcome to attend either day. Both days will have very similar content, but we are anticipating different conversations between the two days.

Specific learning outcomes of this event include:
    identify soybean gall midge larvae,
    recognize plant injury and how to scout in soybean,
    understand soybean gall midge biology, and
    see a variety of management tactics being evaluated for yield protection.

Several stops are planned to highlight management strategies:
    Host plant resistance screen
    cultural: tillage, hilling, date of planting, plant population
    chemical:  seed treatments, at-plant,  foliar, and drop-nozzle
    biological: specimens will be available to see firsthand

The field day is free, but registration is required. Registration is also limited, so sign up early to ensure you have a spot. Come early for coffee and donuts. Lunch is included!

Growers, Consultants, Industry, etc. Registration Link July 25th Field Day: https://go.unl.edu/register2023july25soygall

Research and Extension Registration Link July 26th Field day: https://go.unl.edu/register2023july26soygall

Thank you to the North Central Soybean Research Program, Nebraska Soybean Board, and our Ag Industry Partners for supporting this event.



Nebraska Farmers Union Board of Directors Pass Resolution Supporting the Repeal of LB753

At their summer board meeting, the Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) Board of Directors supported the petition drive to put a repeal of LB753-the controversial law passed in the 2023 legislative session that uses dollar-for-dollar income tax credits for individual and corporate donations made to private and parochial school scholarships-before the voters in the fall election.

The top five reasons for opposing LB753 and supporting the repeal of it before the voters listed by the NeFU Board of Directors were:

1.         LB753 blurs the line between church and state funding by allowing public income tax credits to be used for select private and parochial school scholarships. The separation of church and state line gets blurred when public tax dollars are used to fund private and church schools. LB753 sets bad public policy precedent.  Public schools should be publicly funded, and private schools should be privately funded.

2.         Private schools that would directly benefit from tax payer funded income tax credits would not be subject to the same accountability and reporting requirements as do public schools. If private schools take tax payer money, then they should comply with public accounting standards.

3.         Private schools that would directly benefit from tax payer funded income tax credits are not required to serve all students. If private schools want public money, they should serve all children.

4.         Nebraska ranks near the bottom of all states in the amount of income and sales taxes it uses to fund public education. LB753 will make Nebraska’s property tax dependent education funding system worse by siphoning off public tax dollars for private gain and use. Year one costs will be $25 million and will grow to $100 million annually, or potentially more depending on what future Legislatures decide to do.

5.         LB753 will have an extremely negative effective on charitable giving and all the good works non-profits do to improve the quality of life for all Nebraskans. The most profitable corporations and richest Nebraskans will go to the place that gives them the most income tax bang for their buck. LB753’s dollar-for-dollar income tax credit is simply too lucrative compared to other incentives.

For information on where to get petitions and how to properly circulate a petition, go to “Support Our Schools” website at: https://supportourschoolsnebraska.org/ .  



Farmland Leasing Meetings to Address Key Topics Impacting Owners and Tenants of Iowa Farmland

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting multiple farmland leasing meetings during July and August at various times and locations throughout the state. The annual meetings are offered to address questions that Iowa landowners, tenants or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland.

Core components of the 2023 program will be land values and cash rent trends, land ownership and tenure, methods for determining a fair rental rate, the latest legal updates that impact farm leases and land ownership, and communication between tenants and landowners.

The recently released Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey indicates 58% of Iowa farmland is leased, with the majority of farmland leases being cash rental arrangements.

“The goal of these programs is to share resources and information with Iowa farmland owners and tenants and strengthen leasing relationships,” said Ann Johanns, extension program specialist. “Improved communication and better understanding of the other party in lease negotiations creates stronger relationships that benefit Iowa agriculture across the state.”

A 100-page workbook to compliment the program topics includes resources regarding land leasing agreements such as surveys, sample written lease agreement and termination forms, along with many other publications.

Find local options for meetings and webinars
The leasing meetings being held across Iowa are facilitated by farm management specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach. A listing of the ISU Extension and Outreach county offices hosting meetings is available online https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html.

Meetings include:
8/3/2023 9:00 AM East Pottawattamie County Extension - (712) 482-6449 - 614 Dr. Van Dee Road, Oakland - Tim Christensen - $20

8/3/2023 2:00 PM Plymouth County Extension - (712) 546-7835 - 251 12th Street SE, Le Mars - Gary Wright - $20

8/3/2023 6:00 PM West Pottawattamie County Extension - (712) 366-7070 - 126 E. Broadway, Council Bluffs - Tim Christensen - $20

8/9/2023 9:00 AM Harrison County Extension - (712) 644-2105 - 304 E. 7th St, Logan - Alexis Stevens - $20

8/9/2023 1:30 PM Monona County Extension - (712) 423-2175 - 119 Iowa Ave., Onawa - Alexis Stevens -  $20

8/10/2023 1:00 PM Woodbury County Extension - (712) 276-2157 - 4728 Southern Hills Drive, Sioux City - Gary Wright - $20

8/17/2023 6:00 PM Carroll County Extension - (712) 792-2364 - 1205 W. US Hwy 30 ste G, Carroll - Alexis Stevens - $20

Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the location they plan to attend, walk-in attendants may have higher registration costs. To pre-register, call or e-mail the local county extension office host site.

Virtual options
Two virtual options are also offered this year, a northeast Iowa focused webinar, along with a statewide webinar. The webinar options in past years have been a welcome addition for out-of-state landowners, or those who are not able to attend a program in-person. Topics from the in-person leasing program will be presented by farm management specialists, with the opportunity to ask questions.

Paid registrations have access to the live event, webinar recording and electronic version of the 100-page workbook. The northeast Iowa webinar will be held Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon https://go.iastate.edu/PK3ZSS. The statewide webinar is Aug. 29, also from 9 a.m. to noon https://go.iastate.edu/BCAS9K.



Naig Encourages Farmers to Utilize, Update the State’s Free Hay and Straw Directory

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship offers a free, searchable online directory to connect Iowa farmers who have hay or straw to sell with buyers who are interested in purchasing it.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging farmers or those with hay or straw to sell to update their listing at least once per year or as they have new inventories to offer. Organizations associated with promoting and marketing hay and straw can also access the free, online tool.

“Building markets for Iowa products is a priority for us, and the Hay and Straw Directory is a free, searchable online tool that connects Iowa sellers with both in-state and out-of-state buyers,” said Secretary Naig. “The Hay and Straw Directory is most effective and useful when it includes updated information, so I would encourage those with hay or straw to sell to make your updates now.”

To search by product and county, visit the online directory https://data.iowaagriculture.gov/haystraw/.

Anyone can view the hay and straw directory, but only Iowa sellers can be included on the list.

If you are an Iowan interested in selling hay or straw or need to update your information, you can do so by creating an account in the online system. You may also contact Judy Allison with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at 515-281-8604 or judy.allison@iowaagriculture.gov.



DMC Margin Drops More than $1 in May to Record Low
NMPF

The May Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) margin dropped by $1.01/cwt from April to $4.83/cwt, the lowest it’s ever been and the first time below $5/cwt during the life of the current program or that of its predecessor, the Margin Protection Program (MPP), triggering payment at both the Tier I and Tier II levels.

The May all-milk price dropped by $1.40/cwt from a month earlier to $19.30/cwt, while the DMC feed cost eased lower by $0.39/cwt in that time, on lower corn and soybean meal prices. The May payment for the maximum Tier 1 coverage at the $9.50/cwt level will be $4.67/cwt. The May payment for the low-cost Tier 2 coverage at the $5.00/cwt level will be $0.17/cwt.

Available forecasts anticipate the margin dipping down closer to $4/cwt during early summer, with a bottom in July, and not rebounding above $9.50/cwt until early in 2024.



USDA Dairy Products May 2023 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.20 billion pounds, 0.2 percent below May 2022 but 2.8 percent above April 2023. Italian type cheese production totaled 486 million pounds, 2.2 percent below May 2022 but 1.4 percent above April 2023. American type cheese production totaled 509 million pounds, 4.2 percent above May 2022 and 4.7 percent above April 2023. Butter production was 194 million pounds, 8.1 percent above May 2022 but 1.2 percent below April 2023.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with May 2022)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 206 million pounds, up 7.0 percent.
Skim milk powder - 35.4 million pounds, down 30.3 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with May 2022)
Dry whey, total - 81.8 million pounds, up 3.2 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 94.1 million pounds, down 1.0 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 42.9 million pounds, up 18.0 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with May 2022)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 63.9 million gallons, up 2.6 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 40.5 million gallons, down 1.7 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 1.90 million gallons, down 6.9 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 4.37 million gallons, down 8.2 percent.



June CWT-Assisted Dairy Export Sales Total 12.6 Million Pounds

CWT member cooperatives secured 51 contracts in March, adding 4.7 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 220,000 pounds of butter, 6.6 million pounds of whole milk powder, 22,000 pounds of anhydrous milkfat and 1.1 million pounds of cream cheese to CWT-assisted sales in 2023. In milk equivalent, this is equal to 105.7 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. These products will go to customers in Asia, Oceania, South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Middle East-North Africa, and will be shipped from June through December 2023.

CWT-assisted 2023 dairy product sales contracts year-to-date total 61.7 million pounds of American-type cheese, 815,000 pounds of butter, 24,000 pounds of anhydrous milkfat, 5.2 million pounds of cream cheese and 31.2 million pounds of whole milk powder. This brings the total milk equivalent for the year to 513.4 million pounds on a milkfat basis.

Exporting dairy products is critical to the viability of dairy farmers and their cooperatives across the country. Whether or not a cooperative is actively engaged in exporting cheese, butter, anhydrous milkfat, cream cheese, or whole milk powder, moving products into world markets is essential. CWT provides a means to move domestic dairy products to overseas markets by helping to overcome U.S. dairy’s trade disadvantages.



Animal Nutritionists Collaborate with Soy Checkoff to Uncover Value Opportunities for U.S. Soybean Meal

Collaboration between animal nutritionists and the soy checkoff could bring additional value opportunities for U.S. soybeans, ultimately benefiting both animal agriculture and American farmers. This impact spans the poultry, pig, dairy and aquaculture sectors.

The checkoff convenes industry leaders as part of its Animal Nutrition Working Group (ANWG) to advise research investments with the highest value for farmers and the industry. USB’s new strategic plan consists of three priorities for soybean meal. These are overall nutrient composition, improved measurement of anti-nutritional factors and the resulting benefits to animal production, performance and health.

“Animal nutritionists formulate feed based on digestible amino acids and net energy content as well as best cost,” said R. Dean Boyd, Ph.D., adjunct professor of nutrition at Iowa State and North Carolina State universities and a member of the ANWG. “On the other hand, farmers can make more income by maximizing yield. Over time, this has led to seed varieties that are high yielding but slowly declined in crude protein concentration. This is a global problem that USB is actively working on to correct and highlight for other partners in the value chain.”

Soybean meal continues to be the standard for all other protein feedstuffs. This team of nutritionists examines how soybean meals are properly used beyond just protein content.

“Our hope is to improve awareness and understanding of U.S. soybean meal’s benefits to overall animal health and encourage a shift toward total value-based ingredient decisions on the production and processing side of the supply chain,” said Mamduh Sifri, Ph.D., Sifri Solutions LLC, retired director of poultry nutrition at ADM and a member of the ANWG.

Research funded by the checkoff demonstrates that enhanced nutrient content can improve animal health, feed efficiency and the valuation of soybean meals. Examples of this research include:
    A partnership between USB and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research on The Soybean Nutrition Enhancement Project brings together state-of-the-art technologies and expertise in breeding, genomics, biotechnology, statistical and computer learning, phenomics, physiology, agronomy, food and nutritional sciences and engineering. The goal is to improve soybean protein and amino acid composition, increasing economic return to soybean farmers and the U.S. soybean industry.
    Research confirms an economic return with a direct, positive relationship between soybean meal and improved performance and efficiency of pigs, broilers and laying hens. The research also concluded that soybean meal provides additional complementary nutritional factors, demonstrating antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects that reduce the negative impact of swine health challenges.
    Research that created a framework for estimating the economic value of soybean meal considers the complete nutritional package of crude protein, amino acids and energy concentrations. It found that increasing soybean meal crude protein by 1% increases soybean meal value by $10.27 for swine and $12.62 for poultry per metric ton of complete feed. Read more about the findings in the Feedstuffs June edition.

“Animal agriculture’s strong and growing demand for U.S. soybean meal ensures reliability as our most vital customer and partner for U.S. soybean farmers. In the U.S., animals consumed $16.6 billion in soybean meal value MY 21/22,” said Keenan McRoberts, Ph.D., vice president of strategic alignment for USB. “As global demand for nutritious, sustainable animal protein continues to rise, the checkoff will continue to prioritize research that ensures we deliver a comprehensive and valuable product to the animal agriculture industry. We will work with nutritionists and other animal scientists from pertinent disciplines to communicate and activate market incentives for U.S. Soy around product value, which extends to health benefits, sustainability benefits and other factors beyond cost and crude protein.”




Dietary Guidelines Protocols Need Newer Dairy Science, NMPF Tells Committee

The National Milk Producers Federation called for newer science on dairy fats, and for no inferences to be made about the health benefits of plant-based milk alternatives based on dairy science, in comments submitted June 30 on draft protocols developed by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory committee.

These protocols will, when final, inform the conduct of systematic reviews and food pattern modeling that will form the science base of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

Key points of NMPF’s comments include:
    Allowing for the inclusion of studies shorter than 12 weeks in duration;
    Advocating for newer body of science on dairy fat in the committee’s review;
    Pushing for dairy milk and plant-based milk alternatives not to be grouped together for the same evidence review, strongly cautioning against any inferences made regarding the health impacts associated with milk consumption that would be applied to plant-based milk alternatives; and
    Spotlighting dairy’s role in health equity, including lactose-free and low-lactose products being a nutrient-dense option.

Once the protocols are set, the committee will examine available information to answer the questions and develop recommendations to be released in its scientific report. USDA and HHS will then use the recommendations to update the current DGAs. The next public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 13.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 6/30/2023

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending June 30, ethanol production climbed 0.8% to 1.060 million b/d, equivalent to 44.52 million gallons daily and the largest weekly volume in over six months. Output was 1.5% more than the same week last year and 3.8% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 0.6% to 1.045 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.02 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks settled 3.1% lower to 22.3 million barrels. Stocks were 5.2% less than a year ago but 0.6% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned across all regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, sprang 3.1% to 9.60 million b/d (147.15 annualized). Weekly demand was the highest since late December 2021 and 1.6% above the five-year average.

Likewise, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol improved 2.9% to 923,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.15 bg annualized and a five-week high. Net inputs were 2.1% more than the same week last year and 0.9% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports declined to an estimated 80,000 b/d (23.5 million gallons for the week). There were zero imports recorded for the 30th consecutive week.



U.S. Exports of Ethanol Ebbed while DDGS Rallied in May
Ann Lewis, Senior Analyst, Renewable Fuels Association  

May U.S. ethanol exports eased 10% to 113.2 million gallons (mg), chiefly reflecting lower undenatured non-beverage, non-fuel ethanol shipments (including 12.6 mg lower exports to India). Canada was our largest destination for the 26th consecutive month and accounted for 45% of global ethanol sales. The 51.0 mg of ethanol shipped north of our border (a 9% increase over April and the second largest on record) included 73% of total U.S. denatured fuel exports for the month. Other substantial markets included the European Union (22.6 mg, +37%)—primarily shipped to the Netherlands, marking the country’s second largest import volumes on record—the United Kingdom (9.7 mg, -7%), South Korea (9.6 mg, -10%), Peru (6.2 mg, +113%), and Colombia (6.0 mg, +116%). Brazil again remained essentially absent from the market with a 16% tariff on U.S. ethanol in place. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports total 593.0 mg, lagging 18% behind last year at this time.

For the fifth consecutive month, the U.S. did not register any meaningful imports of foreign ethanol.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, sprang to a 9-month high of 958,385 metric tons (mt) in May. This was 23% more than April but 1% behind year-ago volumes. The bulk of DDGS shipments landed in just six countries, yet several smaller markets logged near-record volumes (e.g., Tunisia imported 20,008 mt and Guatemala bought 18,016 mt). Mexico captured the largest market share (17%) for the 11th consecutive month (up 4% to 163,731 mt), and Turkey’s imports were up sevenfold to a 22-month high of 146,559 mt. South Korea (103,925 mt, -7%), Indonesia (89,005 mt, +21%), Vietnam (83,905 mt, +29%), and Canada (59,523, +65%) rounded out our largest global customers for the month. Year-to-date DDGS exports, totaling 4.17 million mt, lag 11% behind last year at this time.



 USGC Celebrating 50 Years Of Partnership With Taiwan

The U.S. Grains Council's office in Taiwan celebrated 50 years last week. A celebration was held in Taipei, welcoming Council staff and industry leaders to come together to reflect on the past 50 years while looking to the future.

Last week, the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) office in Taipei, Taiwan, celebrated its anniversary, marking 50 years of market development and relationship enhancement between Taiwan and the U.S. The office held an anniversary celebration, in which leaders of the Council and Taiwan’s agriculture sector, who have built partnerships over the past 50 years, gathered, recognizing the cooperation and mutual success of the past and pledging sustainable cooperation for mutual development in the future.

“For decades, Taiwan routinely has ended up in our top 10 markets for grains in all forms, corn and more recently, for barley. This consistent and stable demand has provided certainty to American corn and barley growers because we know we can count on Taiwan year after year to be a reliable partner,” said USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand in his remarks.

When the Council first opened its Taiwan office in 1973, there were no local contacts, no programs in place and no significant imports from the United States. However, the demand to build a market was there. As of the last half century, the office has been developing services and programs including technical programs, trade servicing and trade policy, which have contributed to the transformation of Taiwan's agricultural and livestock industries.

As the economy grew in Taiwan, so did the desire for food with more protein, triggering additional feed grain demand. The per capita meat consumption has increased by more than three times, creating a solid foundation for the health of new generations here in Taiwan. From the first director, CM Lynn, the second director, Clover Chang, and the current director, Michael Lu, their work on behalf of the Council has made Taiwan one of the top markets for U.S. grains and co-products.

“Even after 50 years, the office has always maintained enthusiasm and vitality to extend services, particularly in new-to-market products and applications such as the use of U.S. malting barley in local draft beer production, and the new initiative of blending U.S. ethanol into gasoline to help Taiwan meet greenhouse gas emission reduction goals,” Lu said.

The Council looks forward to many more years of working together with its partners in Taiwan to find homes for U.S. grains and co-products.

"It is through this partnership and trust that we’ll be able to work through current issues on grain imports that we may face," said USGC Chairman Brent Boydston in his remarks. "Thank you for the wonderful work and 50 years of partnership and dedication. Here is to another 50 years."