Tuesday July 25 Ag News

Working together to adopt a conservation mindset

Last year, we saw the driest year on record for Norfolk. The National Weather Service’s Karl Stefan Memorial Airport station recorded a total of 13.72” of precipitation for the year – a deviation of 13.74” from normal. While we’ve recently been fortunate to have received some precipitation, the area is still well below average. Much of northeast Nebraska is still designated as D4 (Exceptional) or D3 (Extreme) on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

“We’re in a drought, and it’s important that we’re all conserving the groundwater we share. It’s an important issue for all of us since we cannot survive without access to a reliable and safe source of drinking water,” said Brian Bruckner, Interim General Manager for the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD). According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even though about 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% is available for human use. And despite the water supply challenges faced by many communities across the U.S., each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water each day at home.

You may wonder how this affects you, or what you can do to make a difference. “It’s about being responsible with our resources and being accountable to our neighbors by assuring them that we’re doing all that we can to share this resource with everyone around us,” said Bruckner. “Conservation of the resource not only benefits the aquifer but limiting use helps to extend the life of the expensive infrastructure by reducing wear and tear on critical components.”

We can all improve our use of water by being more mindful of our actions such as: checking for leaks, installing water-saving appliances, and managing our sprinklers more efficiently.  According to EPA, bathrooms are the largest use of water in the home – using more than 50% of all indoor water. Instead of a bath, opt to take a quick shower instead. Having a low-flow shower head will also help ensure more efficient water usage as these use a third less water than regular shower heads. Another area for water conservation inside the home is the kitchen. If your home is equipped with a dishwasher, most are proven to be a more efficient means of cleaning dishes as opposed to washing them in the sink.

Not only are there ways to reduce water use inside, but outdoors as well. According to the EPA website and information booklet, Water Saving Tips For Your Home, residential outdoor water use across the U.S. accounts for nearly 8 billion gallons of water each day – mainly for landscape irrigation. To allow your lawn to absorb moisture better, Ready.gov encourages watering early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. It is also important to avoid overwatering your lawn. Most of the year, lawns only need one inch of water per week. You can check to see if the soil is moist by using a soil probe, spade, or large screwdriver. If the soil is moist, then the lawn doesn’t need more water. Not only that but it’s also beneficial to keep your grass longer. Longer grass promotes deeper root growth and a more drought resistant lawn.

If you own a private well, one of the most important things you can do is to be proactive in the maintenance of your well. If you’ve had issues with your well in the past, or you’re concerned about the well’s performance, it could become problematic during dry conditions. It’s also a good idea to know the location of your well (using GPS coordinates), the total depth, static water level, and age of your well. This information will help well owners answer important questions when a well is not functioning properly. All new wells are required to be registered with the State of Nebraska at: https://dnr.nebraska.gov/groundwater, and if you have an older well that is unregistered, it would be wise to get it properly registered.

If you want to learn more about how you can help preserve our groundwater, check out these great resources!:
https://www.epa.gov/watersense
https://www.ready.gov/drought  

The LENRD has the responsibility to develop, manage, utilize and conserve groundwater and surface water wisely. “It’s important to adopt the mindset that the current dry cycle could be part of a multi-year weather pattern,” said Bruckner. “There’s value in preparing ourselves for what’s ahead and conserving our groundwater to help resolve present and future water quantity issues, protecting all groundwater users.”



Congressman Flood Co-Introduces the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023

Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood, alongside Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023. This bipartisan bill aims to bring integrity to the standards required to meet the definition of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). SAF is a renewable fuel used to power aircrafts that have similar properties to conventional jet fuel but with a fraction of its carbon footprint.

“The U.S. is the largest producer of biofuels in the world, which contributes to our domestic economy, creates jobs, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Growing, sourcing, and producing SAF from renewable and waste resources can create new economic opportunities in farming communities, improve the environment, and boost aircraft performance,” said Rep. Flood “The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act brings integrity to the definition of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and ensures that more Americans reap the benefits of a robust SAF.”

“Expanding our use of sustainable aviation fuel is an opportunity to cut harmful emissions, support family farmers and reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources,” said Congresswoman Budzinski (IL-13). “Today, I’m proud to join Congressman Mike Flood to introduce bipartisan legislation that would give our biofuels producers the clear guidelines and regulatory certainty they need to bring aviation fuel into the future.”

The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023 is supported by:
    Growth Energy
    Clean Fuels Alliance of America
    American Soybean Association
    National Corn Growers Association
    Renewable Fuels Association
    Gevo
    LanzaJet
    United Airlines
    Green Plains, Inc.

This act has a Senate companion bill led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

Support for the Sustainable Aviations Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023
“Clean Fuels welcomes this bipartisan legislation to set consistent regulatory standards for sustainable aviation fuel. As the SAF industry gets off the ground, U.S. producers must be able to rely on a carbon lifecycle model that is consistently updated with accurate, real-world data; the Department of Energy’s GREET model is the gold standard.” - Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs, Clean Fuels Alliance America

“Farmers and biofuels producers continue to innovate and decarbonize, and it is imperative that we use the latest and best life cycle modeling to recognize progress already made while properly incentivizing continued innovation at both the farm and biorefinery. American agriculture has a critical role to play in producing new fuels like SAF, and Green Plains is grateful for the efforts of Congresswoman Budzinksi and Congressman Flood to ensure that we are a part of that future.” - Green Plains Inc. President and CEO Todd Becker.

"America's biofuels producers will play a critical role in any successful effort to meet our nation's goals when it comes to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). All they're looking for is regulatory certainty, and that's exactly what the SAF Accuracy Act would provide. Growth Energy’s member companies have already committed to producing more than 600 million gallons of SAF by the Administration's 2030 deadline. If this bill were to become law, it would potentially unleash more investments and more commitments to produce biofuels that help decarbonize the aviation sector. We thank Reps. Flood and Budzinski for bringing the bill to the House and we urge every lawmaker to support it and send it to the President's desk." - Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor

“Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the single greatest opportunity the aviation industry has to decarbonize over the coming decades. As a sustainable aviation fuel company, LanzaJet is grateful to Representatives Flood and Budzinksi for their leadership in introducing the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act. This legislation will help support the advancement of the SAF market by outlining clear definitions of and sustainability criteria for SAF, including state-of-the-art carbon intensity modeling. As the SAF industry continues to grow in the U.S., it will support domestic energy security and generate economic development across rural America. We’re grateful to be a part of that process, and bills like this go a long way to enable that transition.” - Jimmy Samartzis, CEO, LanzaJet

“Introduction of this bill is an important step toward ensuring that the federal government takes an accurate and consistent approach to assessing sustainable aviation fuels from all feedstocks, including fuels using agricultural products. We are deeply appreciative of Reps. Mike Flood and Nikki Budzinski for working in a bipartisan way to advance this legislation.” - Tom Haag, National Corn Growers Association President

“Recognizing the importance of using the most robust and accurate lifecycle GHG model, this legislation would ensure America’s farmers and renewable fuel producers are able to contribute to the future growth of domestic SAF production. We thank Reps. Flood and Budzinski for working together on this important legislation that is critical to the advancement of SAF production and use.” - RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper



RFA Welcomes Bipartisan House Bill to Clarify SAF Definition

The Renewable Fuels Association thanked a bipartisan group of House members who introduced legislation to clarify the definition of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and specify additional lifecycle greenhouse gas methodologies for the sake of federal SAF regulation.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023, introduced by Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), specifies that the Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model is an allowable methodology for determining SAF lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. A companion Senate bill was introduced in June. RFA has long argued that the Argonne GREET model is scientifically superior to other lifecycle GHG methodologies, including the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) model. RFA remains concerned that the ICAO model relies on outdated and inaccurate information that could result in severely constraining the supply of qualifying feedstocks for SAF.

“Recognizing the importance of using the most robust and accurate lifecycle GHG model, this legislation would ensure America’s farmers and renewable fuel producers are able to contribute to the future growth of domestic SAF production,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We thank Reps. Flood and Budzinski for working together on this important legislation that is critical to the advancement of SAF production and use.”

In a 2021 letter to congressional leadership, RFA and allies pointed out that the GREET model has been the state-of-the-art model used globally to measure life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, and that Congress should be using a U.S.-based lifecycle emissions model when determining U.S.-based tax incentives.



ADM Expands Regenerative Ag Program in Nebraska

Now in its second year, ADMÒ is expanding its already thriving re:generationsÔ regenerative ag program, allowing more Nebraska farmers to earn more income while making a positive impact on the environment and their soil’s health.

ADM will expand the program with the support of a USDA Climate Smart grant by providing 18 states and three Canadian provinces financial incentives and technical support for implementing practices including cover cropping, improved nutrient management and conservation tillage, helping achieve its overall sustainability goal of enrolling 2 million acres by the end of the year. It is the only federal Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program that is returning 100-percent of the grant back to participating producers.

Local farmers can learn more about the program from ADM representatives and enroll at a community meeting on Monday, Aug. 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo, NE. Timing is ideal as farmers consider their cover crop plan for the fall and planting decisions for the spring of 2024. Guests can RSVP here.

Most producers are earning up to $25 an acre per year depending on their regenerative ag practices. Key to the program in Nebraska is a partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa to provide growers technical assistance, collect data and report program results.

“Although we are working to significantly reduce our environmental footprint globally, its producers on a state-by-state, county-by-county level that are making a positive difference for our environment and our collective futures,” said Keith Koch, ADM’s re:generations’ Nebraska program manager. “We’re honored to be able to partner with farmers on a very grassroots level while implementing the USDA grant to grow the program’s overall reach and the benefits it provides participating producers.”

Compared to other regenerative programs, ADM designed re:generations for ease of use, including a short-term one-year contract, fewer requirements and localized support from program managers and trusted environmental groups.



NDA SEEKS IDEAS TO STRENGTHEN NEBRASKA’S FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is asking the public for help to find ways to strengthen the state’s food supply chain after harvest. NDA will host virtual listening sessions on Aug. 1 to identify funding priorities for a $3.3 million cooperative agreement with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. For those unable to attend, an online survey is available.

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program develops and administers state coordinated initiatives to help build resilience across the middle of Nebraska’s food supply. USDA funds will support expanded capacity for food crops for activities that happen post-harvest and prior to the arrival at a retail market. Activities like gathering, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distributing locally and regionally produced food, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for eating, aquaculture, and other food products. These funds exclude meat and poultry products because those products are funded through other USDA programs.

“Listening sessions and surveys are great ways to get constructive feedback from a lot of different people interested and involved in agriculture,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “Our goal with these sessions is to gather ideas and consider priorities to fund proposals and projects that will help strengthen Nebraska’s food supply.”

NDA will work in partnership with USDA to make competitive subaward infrastructure grants to Nebraska food and farm businesses and other eligible entities, including nonprofits, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions such as schools and hospitals. Information on the competitive infrastructure grant proposal process will be released this fall.

Virtual listening sessions will be held through WebEx on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Register here:
10 a.m. session: https://tinyurl.com/RFSI-10a
1 p.m. session: https://tinyurl.com/RFSI-1pm

For those unable to attend a session, a public comment survey is available here: https://tinyurl.com/RFSI-Survey

For more information, visit nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/rfsi/index/html or contact Holle Evert at holle.evert@nebraska.gov or 402-471-6861.



Three NCGA Members Honored with Organization’s Prestigious Award for Advocacy

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) awarded three of its members with its inaugural “Corn Advocate of the Year” award at this year’s Corn Congress, held in Washington, D.C. Recipients include Andy Jobman of Gothenburg, Neb.; Matt Mulch of Burlington, Colo.; and Jolene Riessen of Ida Grove, Iowa.

“Advocacy continues to move the ball down the field for us and its importance to this organization and our policy priorities can’t be overstated,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “In 2023 alone, it helped us move the United States Trade Representative to issue a dispute settlement under USMCA against Mexico’s decree banning biotech corn; it helped us secure E15 through the summer driving months; and it helped us keep e-RINS out of the RFS volume proposal for 2023-2025.”

NCGA members are chosen for the honor based on several factors, including their participation rate in calls-to-action, their involvement in NCGA leadership development opportunities, membership in the association’s PAC and their engagement with Capitol Hill.



Ricketts Backs Fischer Bill to Stop Biden Regulation of Routine Ag Emissions from Cow Manure

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) co-sponsored fellow Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-NE) bill to eliminate the reporting requirement for emissions from animal waste. Biden’s EPA rescinded the 2019 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know-Act (EPCRA) which exempted reporting of air emissions from animal waste. The bill would clarify EPCRA is not intended to regulate manure emissions, which pose no threat to public safety. It would also ensure that emergency first responders are not inundated with unnecessary reporting.

“The Biden administration’s efforts to regulate routine agriculture emissions shows once again how detached from reality these EPA bureaucrats are,” Ricketts said. “What really stinks here is how Biden’s rule will drive up costs for anyone that enjoys meat or dairy as farmers and ranchers are forced to comply with yet another ridiculous regulation. I am proud to support this bill to defend farmers and ranchers, consumers, and our first responders who would be overburdened with these redundant reports.”

“The last thing producers need are more government regulations. And first responders, who deal with real public safety emergencies every day, don’t need to be inundated with irrelevant reports,” said Senator Fischer upon introducing the bill. “My bill would make permanent the previous administration’s reporting exemption under EPCRA for animal waste emissions. Rural America doesn’t need Washington bureaucrats pushing through more rules that burden producers and provide no value to local emergency planning commissions.”

In addition to Senator Ricketts, the bill is also supported by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).



PSC REINSTATES KANSAS COMPANY’S GRAIN DEALER LICENSE

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC), Tuesday, July 25, issued an Order (GDC-455/GD-3032) entering into a stipulated agreement, dismissing the complaint and reinstating the grain dealer license of NORAG, LLC, of Stilwell, Kansas.

On June 13, the Commission temporarily suspended the grain dealer license of NORAG, for being in violation of Title 291 Neb. Admin. Code, Chapter 8, § 003.01 for failing to meet and maintain a minimum of allowable net worth of $10,000 and Title 291 Neb. Admin. Code, Chapter 8 § 003.01 for failing to maintain suitable working capital.

The PSC and NORAG, have entered into a stipulated agreement resolving its issues. As part of the agreement, the company will file a satisfactory Operating Line of Credit (OLC) with the PSC grain department, on or before November 1, 2023. The company has also agreed to submit its financial statement in accordance with the PSC grain department’s Rules and Regulations.

“Our grain department and legal team have worked closely with the company to reach this resolution,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier.  “The stipulated agreement brings the company into compliance while providing producers the protections they deserve.”

The Order reinstating the grain dealer license of NORAG, LLC, of Stilwell, Kansas takes effect immediately.



USDA Cold Storage June 2023 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on June 30, 2023 were down 6 percent from the previous month and down 14 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 3 percent from the previous month and down 20 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 8 percent from the previous month and down 9 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 14 percent from last month but up 33 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on June 30, 2023 were up 5 percent from the previous month and up 10 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 3 percent from the previous month and up 11 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 9 percent from last month and up 6 percent from June 30, 2022.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on June 30, 2023 were up 1 percent from the previous month and up slightly from June 30, 2022. Butter stocks were down 6 percent from last month but up 5 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on June 30, 2023 were up 2 percent from last month and up 3 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 1 percent from last month but up 5 percent from a year ago.



Farmers and Ranchers Reject Rep. Victoria Spartz’s Anti-Checkoff Amendment

Today, the producer-led organizations representing several of Indiana’s top commodities announced their joint opposition to an amendment introduced by Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) that attacks commodity checkoff programs. The amendment was introduced to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024, the legislation that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA): “Rep. Spartz’s amendment targets programs like the Beef Checkoff and is a direct attack on America’s farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA Policy Division Vice Chair Tim Schwab, an Indiana cattle producer. “The Beef Checkoff conducts critical nutrition and food safety research, strengthens consumer demand for beef, and helps farms and ranches stay in business. I hope Rep. Spartz withdraws her amendment and sides with Indiana agriculture over animal rights activists.”

American Soybean Association (ASA): “We were surprised to learn of Congresswoman Spartz’s amendment. Just 708 of our nation’s 500,000-plus soybean farmers requested to vote on whether to continue the soybean checkoff during the most recent request for referendum back in 2019. That’s just over 1/10th of one percent of soybean farmers. That means hundreds of thousands of farmers continue to support the Soy Checkoff. They understand the significant role the checkoff plays in developing and protecting markets for their crops, conducting research and promotion to sustain their livelihoods and the environment, and keeping U.S. soy available domestically and competitive globally,” says Daryl Cates, ASA president and Illinois soy farmer. “I am pleased to have served on the United Soybean Board, which administers the Soy Checkoff (with rigorous USDA oversight), and have seen firsthand both how the checkoff functions and its ongoing benefits for farmers and others. I hope Rep. Spartz will reconsider her amendment and support the checkoff, which is backed by the overwhelming majority of soybean farmers in Indiana and around the nation.”

National Pork Producers Council (NPPC): “Pork producers overwhelmingly support their checkoff and understand the immense value it brings to pig farmers across the country,” said NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys. “The checkoff provides critical research and market promotion that are critical to producers’ success and livelihood.”

National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF): “The Dairy Research and Promotion Program, founded and governed by dairy farmers, continues to yield meaningful benefits to producers like me today. Independent analysis has found that the checkoff has increased demand for dairy here at home and abroad,” said NMPF Board Member and Indiana dairy producer Brian Rexing. “Today, the dairy checkoff is supporting dairy farmers as we seek to further our environmental stewardship gains while providing nutrition to global customers. I urge members of Congress to reject any misguided amendments that would prevent farmers from continuing to lead these important self-help initiatives.”

Indiana Beef Cattle Association (IBCA): “As a 4th generation cattle producer, I see the critical role that checkoffs play in driving demand and better prices for all commodity producers,” said IBCA Executive Vice President Brian Shuter. “It's concerning when a representative takes a personal position and chooses not to represent their constituents and attacks a program that a large percentage of our Indiana producers support.

Together, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Soybean Association, National Pork Producers Council, and National Milk Producers Federation represent farmers that account for $5.45 billion of Indiana’s agricultural products. Additionally, soybeans, beef, pork, and milk account for three of Indiana’s top five agricultural commodities.

Background
The Spartz amendment would prohibit USDA from using any tax dollars to administer commodity Checkoff programs. This legislation is completely frivolous and wastes congressional time because no taxpayer dollars are being used to administer Checkoff programs. Instead, these programs are funded entirely by those who pay into them, not American taxpayers.  USDA oversees 22 commodity Checkoff programs that boost demand for products like beef, eggs, lamb, cotton, blueberries, honey, mangos, peanuts, mushrooms, watermelons, dairy, cotton, popcorn, and even Christmas trees. Farmers and ranchers invest in these programs and that funding supports agricultural research and promotional efforts.



Mid-Year Cattle
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

The trade was expecting continued contraction of cattle inventory levels prior to last Friday’s Cattle and Cattle on Feed reports. There were very few analysts offering predictions of the inventory report. The actual estimate for all cattle and calves on July 1 was 95.9 million head, a level at the low end of expectations and 97.3 percent of a year ago. The beef cow and replacement inventories, while showing declines, were not quite as low as expected. The dairy cow and replacement inventories were not quite as high as expected. There is not a state-level breakdown so there is no clear indication of changes by location. There are very few “other heifers”, indicating little flexibility to switch into expansion mode in the short run.

The smaller inventory level of “other heifers” can be combined with smaller inventory levels of steers and calves to get a full supply of potential feeder cattle. The smaller inventory of all cattle on feed is then subtracted to arrive at 34.4 million head of feeder cattle outside of feedlots. The current inventory is slightly above the level on July 1 of 2014. Thus, even with fewer cattle on feed, there are not many feeder cattle to replace them. While the Cattle report was not full of surprises, the tight supplies indicated above would be supportive of prices in general.

The trade had a narrow set of expectations about the Cattle on Feed levels, expecting lower placements and lower marketings compared to a year ago. The actual estimate for the number on feed in large feedlots was 11.2 million head. The actual placements were at 102.7 percent of a year ago or at the very high end of expectations. In contrast, the actual marketings were at 95.0 percent of a year ago or at the very low end of expectations. As a result, the actual number on feed is slightly above the level expected, which should give a little support to feeder cattle futures prices and may be slightly negative for nearby live cattle futures prices.

The placements were lower in Texas and higher in Nebraska and Kansas. Across weight categories there were more placed at lighter weights and fewer placed at heavier weights compared to a year earlier. The marketings were lower in Kansas compared to other major feedlot states. The heifer mix, or share of cattle on feed, had fallen slightly as of the beginning of the last quarter. As of July 1, the heifer mix was 39.9 percent of cattle on feed, which is up sharply from last quarter and higher than a year ago. The heifer mix is consistent with placement patterns and aggregate inventory levels. This suggests that producers have not yet been able to start any rebuilding. The feed situation will need to improve to allow producers to perhaps consider holding back heifers this fall for potentially entering the breeding herd. As the early runs start, the mix in sales volume would be an indication of that happening.



USDA Sets Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Pricing Provisions of all Eleven Federal Milk Marketing Orders

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public hearing beginning Wednesday, August 23, 2023, to consider proposals seeking to amend the uniform pricing formulas applicable in all 11 Federal milk marketing orders (FMMOs). The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET at the 502 East Event Centre, 502 East Carmel Drive, Carmel, Indiana, 46032.

Proponents contend that the uniform FMMO pricing formulas should be amended, as significant changes in the dairy industry and milk marketing have occurred since their adoption in the early 2000s. Forty proposals were submitted by stakeholders for consideration. Of those, 21 directly impact the uniform pricing formulas and will be considered at the hearing. The proposals contained in the hearing notice seek to amend the milk composition factors, commodity product prices, Class III and Class IV formula factors, base Class I skim milk, and Class I and Class II differentials.

The hearing notice was published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2023. Copies of the notice, guidelines for how to participate, the hearing schedule, and the corresponding hearing record will be made available on the Hearing Website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/dairy/hearings/national-fmmo-pricing-hearing. Copies also may be obtained from USDA/AMS/Dairy Program; STOP 0225 - Rm. 2530; 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0225.

Those interested in participating in the hearing should notify a USDA official upon arrival at the hearing. For additional information, contact Erin Taylor, Director, Order Formulation and Enforcement Division, USDA/AMS/Dairy Program, Stop 0225-Room 2530-S, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0231; (202) 720-7311; e-mail address: Erin.Taylor@usda.gov.



Growth Energy Sides with EPA, Calls Out Oil Industry in RFS Case Brief

Growth Energy, the nation's largest biofuels trade association, recently filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in The San Antonio Refinery, LLC, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case pertains to a group of refineries seeking to avoid complying with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires oil refiners to blend a specific amount of biofuels into their fuel each year.  

The petitioning refineries allege that the EPA's "Alternative RIN Retirement Schedule for Small Refineries"—an adjustment made to allow refineries to meet their RFS obligations over an extended period of time—did not go far enough and should have allowed the refineries not to comply with the RFS at all.

Growth Energy’s amicus brief reiterates the fact that the oil industry continues to look for ways to avoid complying with the RFS. Across a range of cases, the industry has argued that EPA should not be allowed to enforce the RFS because the industry simply doesn’t want to comply, even with relaxed obligations.  

“This case is no different than so many others brought by the oil industry,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Every time EPA denies an exemption, its decision is backed by reams of data that show the supposed economic hardship that refiners face for complying with the RFS is a fiction. They almost always recover whatever it costs them to blend biofuels into their fuel mix.”  

“Rather than fault EPA for failing to minimize the supposed hardship to the oil industry from the RFS – especially here, when EPA gave them even more time to comply – the oil industry should stop playing the victim and get on board with the most successful climate policy enacted to date,” Skor added.



USDA introduces geospatial data product to show crop rotation patterns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled a geospatial product called Crop Sequence Boundaries (CSB) that offers public access to national-scale visual crop rotation data for the first time. The new tool was developed by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Economic Research Service (ERS), two of the department’s statistical scientific research agencies.

CSB is a cutting-edge map of agricultural fields that provides crop acreage estimates and historical planting decisions across the contiguous United States. The open-source product uses satellite imagery and other public data to allow users to analyze planted U.S. commodities, enhancing not only agricultural science and research, but providing producers an innovative resource to help make farming decisions.

“CSB gives farmers a chance to look at area farmland and see how remote sensing is capturing planting decisions,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “Farmers will be able to use eight years of historical crop rotations to enhance their farm records or look at the management history of land that they might have recently started operating. They can also look at how their planting decisions compare in their regions.”

New farmers or farmers considering renting land could also use CSB to decide which crop to plant based on past rotations, such as corn to soy, and researchers can conduct analyses at the field level, such as studying conservation practices for a particular field. The tool fills a gap between existing data sources, offering a more comprehensive picture and data in one place that is not provided by most other field level products.

CSB incorporates technological advances in satellite imagery and high-performance cloud computing with Google Earth Engine. It is one of several tools that NASS and its partners have developed over the years to support agricultural analyses and to make data more accessible and valuable to the public.

Kevin Hunt, a senior geographer at NASS, said having a representative field to predict crop planting and acreage for the upcoming season based on common historical crop rotations is beneficial as a supplement to producer-supplied data. ERS Economist Maria Bowman noted that ERS is using the product to study changes in farm management practices, such as tillage or cover cropping, over time. This will help USDA agencies understand the impacts of conservation programs that provide financial support for these practices.

This product represents an automated and repeatable method for estimating fields from public data. “For researchers, CSB is useful because many farm decisions are made at the field level.” said ERS Administrator Dr. Spiro Stefanou. “CSB represents an advancement in agricultural research by using high performance cloud computing to promote competitiveness by making information on planting decisions more accessible to everyone.”

The CSB data sets for 2015 to 2022 are available for download https://www.nass.usda.gov/Research_and_Science/Crop-Sequence-Boundaries/index.php and can be viewed at the state and county-level using an interactive map https://www.nass.usda.gov/Research_and_Science/Crop-Sequence-Boundaries/Viewer/index.php.

This new tool supports strategies outlined in USDA’s recently released Science and Research Strategy, including improving and expanding new tools for understanding crop production to supplement other USDA spatial tools like COMET – Planner Global. USDA science is envisioning new ways to look at old challenges and everyday decisions to support our nation’s farmers and ranchers.



FFA Student Leaders to Advocate for Agriculture on Capitol Hill

This week FFA members from across the country will learn how to advocate for agriculture at the federal level during the National FFA State Officer Summit. State officer teams will share with their elected officials the importance of extending the youth organization grants in the Farm Bill and invite them to join the Congressional FFA Caucus.

The National FFA State Officer Summit occurs July 24-28, 2023, in Washington, D.C., at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel. The five-day training will focus on serving as an advocate for agriculture and FFA, as well as developing clear and consistent messages related to agriculture and FFA. State Officers will put their training into practice on Wednesday, July 26, when they do legislative visits from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Capitol Hill.

INVITATION TO JOIN THE CONGRESSIONAL FFA CAUCUS
When meeting with their state legislators, FFA student leaders will share about the Congressional FFA Caucus and invite them to become a member. The caucus was founded and is co-chaired by Representatives Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) in the House of Representatives and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator John Boozman (R-AR). It has representation from both sides of the aisle from the House and Senate and advocates for strong career and technical education legislation, maintaining a youth perspective in agriculture and nutrition policy, and strengthening relationships between Congress and agricultural education teachers and FFA members. Elected officials interested in joining can reach out to a Caucus co-chair’s office for further information.

ADVOCATE FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP GRANT IN FARM BILL
FFA Members will also ask for the extension of a grant in 7 U.S.C. 7630(d)(2) that supports youth organizations including National FFA, the National 4-H Council, Boy Scouts of America, and Girls Scouts of America as part of the next reauthorization of the U.S. Farm Bill. The students will ask that the $3 million grant program be transitioned from discretionary funding to mandatory funding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the industry of agriculture contributes an estimated $1.26 trillion to America’s gross domestic product, and funding will provide consistent support for organizations working to prepare the next generation of global leaders in agriculture.

 The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,823 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.



Four facilities management tips to help minimize the impact of flies on cattle
Elanco Animal Health

Fly season is upon us and as a cattle producer, it can seem like it will never end. These external pests are not only a nuisance, but they can also negatively impact the productivity and profitability of your herd if not controlled properly. Choosing fly control products to fit your operation is important, but proper facilities management and product rotation and application are even more crucial for effectively controlling fly populations. Here are four tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your fly control program this year.

1. Figure out where the flies are
The more you know about where flies live, breed and rest, the more effectively you can target your fly control tactics and spend fly control dollars as efficiently as possible. The first places to check? The edges on your operation and near water sources. The following areas are a good place to start your investigation:
    Fence lines where manure can mix with wet soil and accumulate.
    Edges of feeding aprons, potholes, pen corners, gates, stored silage, hay or manure and around gates.
    Wet areas such as around water troughs, pen drainage channels or the edges of holding ponds.
    Anywhere stale food accumulates such as underneath feed bunks or in the corners of feed bunks.
    Anywhere manure accumulates such as under fences, animal handling areas or corral facilities.
    At the edge of silage and haylage or damp areas under bales.

2. Implement regular sanitation protocols
Proper sanitation is a key to controlling several fly species, particularly house and stable flies, because it helps to break up the cycle of egg production. For best results, implement these tactics regularly:
    Remove spilled feed.
    Clean barns every 7-10 days.
    Minimize water spillage. Remember, flies prefer to lay their eggs in moist areas. Plus, excess moisture leads to potentially increased food spoilage, giving flies more breeding areas.

3. Review feed bunk management strategies
Following best practices for feed bunk management is for more than just nutrition, it can also help decrease fly populations. Take a look at your existing protocols and consider the following:
    Several species of flies can develop in plant material, including old silage, around feed troughs or near trench silos. Clean up wet feeds and minimize the amount of time wet feeds are near bunks.
    Uneaten, moist hay can create a suitable environment for fly breeding. Spread out uneaten hay to help it dry more quickly or haul it away.
    Monitor feed troughs and storage bins on a regular basis and clean up any uneaten grain in or around those areas.

4. Manage vegetation growth
Keeping with the principle that flies cannot develop in dry materials, managing vegetation around your operation can also improve fly control methods. This includes:
    Practicing proper tiling to help reduce wet barnyards.
    Controlling weeds and managing excess plant growth around facilities can also cut down on odors.
    Keep your grass short around the operation to reduce hiding and breeding spots for flies.

In addition to facilities management, we can’t talk about controlling flies without talking about resistance management. Flies can develop reduced susceptibility to an active ingredient over time. Rotating chemical classes and modes of action (MOA) can help avoid fly resistance to insecticides. It’s important to implement a strategy of rotating about every year and remember to rotate between different MOA groups, not just brands or active ingredients in the same chemical class.

In addition, producers may consider the following rotation-related tips:
    Rotate late in the season to cut down on resistant overwintering flies.
    Avoid using two different long-acting MOAs at the same time.
    Discontinue using insecticide ear tags as soon as horn fly numbers decline in the fall to minimize the flies’ exposure time to the insecticide and help ensure fly populations that proliferate later in the season remain susceptible.
    Rotate MOA classes between applications when applying insecticides more than once per season or year.

Limiting fly exposure to any one insecticide MOA helps sidestep the potential impact of cross-resistance and helps reduce selection pressure for resistance by any mechanism, minimizing the emergence of new resistant pest populations.

Reading and following label instructions and applying products at the right time, in the right way, for the right pest will further add to product effectiveness and overall success of your fly management plan.