Monday August 14 Crop Progress + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 13, 2023, there were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 11% very short, 26% short, 59% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 16% very short, 32% short, 49% adequate, and 3% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 5% very poor, 11% poor, 23% fair, 44% good, and 17% excellent. Corn dough was 69%, ahead of 61% last year, and near 68% for the five-year average. Dented was 21%, ahead of 15% last year and 16% average.

Soybean condition rated 5% very poor, 11% poor, 26% fair, 42% good, and 16% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 94%, near 98% last year and 96% average. Setting pods was 76%, behind 85% last year and 82% average.

Winter wheat harvested was 97%, near 98% last year, and equal to average.

Sorghum condition rated 2% very poor, 3% poor, 23% fair, 46% good, and 26% excellent. Sorghum headed was 71%, ahead of 61% last year, but behind 81% average. Coloring was 14%, ahead of 9% last year, and equal to average.

Oats harvested was 89%, behind 96% last year and 95% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 1% very poor, 7% poor, 31% fair, 53% good, and 8% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 90%, equal to last year. Setting pods was 54%, near 53% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 30% fair, 49% good, and 13% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Central and Southeast Iowa were the recipients of above average precipitation which limited days suitable for fieldwork to 4.7 during the week ending August 13, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting and baling hay as well as harvesting oats. Continued precipitation has helped alleviate further crop stress although conditions remain relatively dry.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 13 percent very short, 34 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 20 percent very short, 43 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in the dough stage reached 78 percent this week, 5 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Twenty-three percent of the corn crop was dented, 5 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Corn condition rated 58 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans setting pods reached 87 percent, 1 week ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the average. Some reports of soybeans starting to turn color were received this week. Soybean condition improved to 58 percent good to excellent.

Oats harvested for grain reached 95 percent. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 68 percent complete, 17 days ahead of last year and 13 days ahead of the average.

Pasture condition improved slightly to 24 percent good to excellent. Livestock producers have continued to supplement with hay in the prolonged dry conditions, but overall livestock conditions have been decent with the lower-than-average temperatures this week.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Another week of mostly beneficial weather boosted national crop condition ratings for both corn and soybeans for a second week in a row, USDA-NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop progress: 96% of corn was silking as of Sunday, Aug. 13, 3 percentage points ahead of 93% last year but now equal to the five-year average. Corn in the dough stage was pegged at 65%, 5 percentage points ahead of last year and 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 63%. An estimated 18% of corn was dented, 3 points ahead of last year but equal to the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: Nationally, corn was rated 59% good to excellent, up another 2 percentage points from 57% the previous week and now slightly above 57% a year ago at this time.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop progress: 94% of soybeans were blooming, 2 percentage points ahead of 92% last year and 2 points ahead of the five-year average of 92%. Soybeans setting pods were pegged at 78%, 6 percentage points ahead of last year's 72% and 3 points ahead of the average of 75%.
-- Crop condition: Soybeans were rated 59% good to excellent as of Sunday, up 5 percentage points from 54% last week and now slightly above 58% a year ago at this time.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Winter wheat harvest inched along last week, moving ahead another 5 points to reach 92% completed as of Sunday. This year's harvest is now equal to the five-year average pace.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: The spring wheat harvest picked up speed, moving ahead 13 percentage points last week to reach 24% completed as of Sunday. That was 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 28%.
-- Crop condition: USDA said 42% of the spring wheat crop was rated good to excellent as of Aug. 6, up 1 percentage point from last week's 41% but still below 64% a year ago.

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Legal Aid of Nebraska Receives $497,000 For Natural Disaster Recovery
 
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that it is awarding $497,564 to Legal Aid of Nebraska (LAN) to improve legal services for low-income people impacted by natural disasters.
   
LAN is one of 14 organizations around the country receiving grants for this purpose. LSC, the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, received $20 million of supplemental funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 passed by Congress to support this widespread natural disaster response.
 
After extreme weather events, victims often require immediate legal assistance to file for FEMA and insurance benefits, deal with landlord/tenant issues, access unemployment, or apply for replacements of important documents needed for education and medical benefits. Legal issues caused by disasters can persist for years. Cases involving FEMA appeals, bankruptcy, public housing and domestic violence can emerge, and disaster victims are vulnerable to predatory scams and fraud.   
   
“Disaster response involves so much more than physical repairs, as millions of Americans find out each year when their home or family is impacted by one of these devastating events,” said LSC President Ron Flagg. “Legal aid providers are integral in helping low-income families access vital services and resources that set them on the path to recovery.”
   
LAN established its Disaster Relief Project (DRP) in 2015 as an initial recipient of LSC disaster funding. This new funding will allow LAN to mentor other legal services providers via its Disaster Relief Mentorship Project. The project’s goal is to support the creation of additional disaster relief projects and enhance legal aid capabilities to better serve survivors.   
 
Representative Don Bacon (NE-2) commended LAN on the grant and its vital disaster relief work.
 
 “I have seen firsthand the needs of families and small businesses during a disaster. I am glad to see resources being directed to local communities to get them the assistance they need in a timely fashion.” Said Rep. Bacon “This funding will be instrumental in helping Legal Aid of Nebraska guide vulnerable constituents during a time of crisis.”



Register Now for the 2023 Nebraska Water Conference

The registration price for the 2023 Nebraska Water Conference is increasing this week on August 16! Do not miss this opportunity for early bird pricing!

The Nebraska Water Conference is October 3 and 4 in Omaha, Nebraska. This year’s theme is “Managing water resources in urban Nebraska: Learning from the past to prepare for the future.” As Nebraska’s metro areas continue to grow, unique management strategies will be necessary to provide enough resources to support future populations. This interactive conference will discuss solutions to the changing use of Nebraska’s natural resources with the feedback of interdisciplinary experts on how to approach the future of water management in eastern Nebraska.  

Registration is open until September 15.
    Early bird (now until August 15): $350
    Regular registration (August 16 to August 31): $450  
    Late registration (September 1 to September 15): $500

Registration includes all sessions and meals, as well as the Tuesday evening reception and the tours on Wednesday.

There is still time to register! Do not miss this opportunity to learn about crucial water issues impacting urban Nebraska. For more information about the conference, speakers and registration, visit go.unl.edu/waterconference. 



2023 NeFU Fall District Meetings

Monday, September 18, 2023
NeFU District 6 Fall Meeting
6:30 Supper with Meeting to Follow
Graham Christensen’s house
5653 S 186th Ave
Omaha, NE 68135
Contact Graham Christensen: 402-217-5217
Or Paul Poppe: 402-380-4503

Tuesday, September 19, 2023
NeFU Districts 3 & 1 Fall Meeting
Noon—2:00 pm
The Blue Fork Kitchen (North side)
3609 Cimarron Plaza Suite #180
Hastings, Nebraska 68901
Contact Richard Corman: 402-364-3080

Tuesday, September 19, 2023
NeFU District 4 Fall Meeting
6:00 Supper with Meeting to Follow
Gayland & Marcia Regier Home
25762 SW 45th Road
Beatrice, NE 68310
Contact Gayland Regier: 402-520-1094

Wednesday, September 20, 2023
NeFU District 5 Fall Meeting
5:30-8:30 pm Supper with meeting to follow
Lee’s Chicken
1940 West Van Dorn
Lincoln, NE 68522
Contact Justin Orem: 402-570-8512

Thursday, September 21, 2023
NeFU District 7 Fall Meeting
6:30 pm Supper with meeting to follow
Perkins Restaurant
1229 Omaha Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
Contact Keith Dittrich: 402-990-7570

Friday, September 22, 2023
NeFU District 2 Fall Meeting
11:00 am-1:30 pm
Sweet Shop, 605 Howard Avenue
St. Paul, NE 68873
Contact Lynn Belitz:  308-550-0859



UPDATED - NEW LOCATION!
Platte Valley Cattlement August Outlook Meeting
Braden Wilke, President

Change of plans! The August 21st Outlook meeting is going to be at Wunderlich’s, Columbus, NE.  Same time, same presentation. Sorry about the inconvenience.

It’s time for our annual Outlook meeting on Monday, August 21st at Doernemann’s Barn in Clarkson.  Social hour at 6:00 and meal at 7:00 pm. Our guest speaker is Brodie Mackey from Consolidated Beef Producers (CBP). Consolidated Beef Producers is a cooperative of innovative cattle producers working to elevate the fed cattle marketing opportunities for their members.

We would like to thank Pinnacle Bank for sponsoring the social hour and Don Johnson Angus Bulls/Dan and Linda Egger for sponsoring the meal.

We look forward to seeing you on August 21st at the Barn.



ACE Calls on Biden to Intervene on Midwest E15 Waiver Rule to Get it Over the Finish Line at EPA

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) today called on U.S. President Joe Biden to ensure the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promptly finalizes its proposed regulation to eliminate the 1-pound per square inch (psi) Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver for gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol (E10) in eight states.
 
In a letter to President Biden, ACE CEO Brian Jennings outlined how “what should have been a straightforward undertaking by EPA to approve a petition submitted by eight governors on April 28, 2022, allowing retailers in their states to sell E15 year-round, has unfortunately turned into a sixteen-month odyssey.”
 
ACE thanked President Biden for directing EPA to invoke its emergency authority this summer and in 2022 to issue temporary fuel waivers allowing continued sales of E15 to prevent fuel supply shortages which could have raised prices at the pump for millions of Americans. However, the letter caveats, we also need EPA at long last to approve the Governors’ petition, so emergency steps are not needed in the future, and motorists in the eight states can benefit from uninterrupted E15 availability in time for the 2024 summer driving season.
 
The letter referred to EPA’s multiple delays during the regulatory process of this rule. EPA was required to act by July 27, 2022 by law, but didn’t issue a proposed rule until March 6, 2023 – 249 days after the legal deadline. “EPA issued a proposed rule to grant the Governors’ petition but also used its own tardiness to postpone sale of E15 year-round until April 28, 2024,” Jennings said in the letter. “An additional 161 days have passed, and EPA appears no closer to complying with the law and approving the Governors’ request.”
 
Jennings also mentioned Iowa and Nebraska Attorney Generals’ lawsuit to compel the Agency to take final action, adding we are 410 days into a 90-day deadline. “States should not have to resort to suing EPA to do its job,” the letter stated.
 
The letter concluded by underscoring the benefits of E15 year-round, noting the Governors provided EPA with empirical documentation that allowing E15 sales year-round would reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality in their states, as well as how last summer, consumers filling up on E15 saved an average of 16 cents per gallon compared to regular gas, and in some parts of the U.S. the savings approached $1 per gallon.
 
“While we continue to work on legislation to permanently provide these benefits to all Americans, the eight states deserve immediate action by EPA,” Jennings wrote. “We respectfully encourage you to intervene and ensure this matter is resolved expeditiously.”



Enroll Now: Farmers for Soil Health Offers Financial Assistance for Cover Crop Adoption

The farmer-led, farmer-driven initiative offers cost-share programs and technical assistance to farmers in 20 states who plant cover crops for three years.

Farmers in 20 states can now enroll in cost-share programs through Farmers for Soil Health. This corn, pork and soy commodity initiative, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, establishes financial and technical assistance for corn and soybean farmers who adopt cover crops. The focus is to bring money directly back to farmers, where sustainability is happening at the farm level.

Participating farmers who plant cover crops will receive payments to help transition totaling $50 (spanning three years) per new acre of cover crops planted. These payments of $2 per acre are available for up to 600,000 acres of existing cover crops. Eligible farmers will participate in measurement, reporting, and verification to highlight progress toward the goal of expanding adoption of cover crops.

“NCGA is excited to offer this opportunity in partnership with our state partners and affiliated organizations,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “This is just one more way for growers to continue their soil health and conservation journeys, and now with the opportunity to tap into technical and financial support as they implement new practices.”

Farmers can enroll at farmersforsoilhealth.com. Farmers in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin are eligible for enrollment.

A hallmark of the program is the simplicity of enrollment and monitoring. Farmers will be able to enroll quickly and easily through the online enrollment platform, and all the monitoring/verification is done remotely via satellites.

“As farmers continue to experience and adjust to extreme weather swings, they can, through the Farmers for Soil Health initiative, adopt conservation measures like cover crops to increase crop resiliency,” said Ben West, Farmers for Soil Health executive director.  “Through regional technical assistance led by the state corn, pork, and soy commodity organizations, U.S. farmers will strengthen their best management practices as they feed and fuel an expanding population while protecting the environment.”

Farmers for Soil Health is a collaboration between the National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Board and United Soybean Board. Its goal is to advance conservation practices to improve soil health across the U.S., including doubling cover crop acres in the U.S. to 30 million acres by 2030. The primary purpose is to deliver examples-based, science-focused initiatives recognizing farmers nationwide. For more information on Farmers for Soil Health, visit farmersforsoilhealth.com.



Graduate Students Encouraged to Apply for Scholarship to Advance Beef Industry

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007, the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal agriculture.

Two $15,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and are committed to the advancement of the beef industry. Scholarship recipients recognize that the program not only benefits their work but also the entire industry.

“This scholarship is giving me the opportunity to holistically investigate some of the greatest challenges and opportunities for future agriculturalists and to expand my knowledge of livestock systems and the innovations that will support future agri-food supply chains,” said 2022 recipient and Colorado State University graduate student Ashley Schilling.

Graduate students must apply online by submitting a cover letter, curriculum vitae, description of applicant’s goals and experience, a short essay, statement of belief in the industry, as well as a review of the applicant’s graduate research and three letters of recommendation by September 22, 2023. The 2023 scholarship recipients will be recognized at CattleCon 2024 in Orlando, January 31-February 2.

The scholarship honors the successful career of the late W.D. Farr, a third-generation Coloradan, pioneer rancher, statesman and banker who was known for his extraordinary vision. His dedication to improving agriculture, livestock and water development resulted in significant changes in farming methods that have influenced the practices of ranchers and farmers throughout the nation. Farr was the first president of the NCF and served as president of the American National Cattlemen’s Association, which would later become the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Farr died at age 97 in August 2007.

The NCF advances the future of the beef industry by assisting in the education of the next generation of beef industry professionals. For more information and to apply for the scholarship, visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org.



Training Modules Available to Help Producers Better Manage Phosphorus Losses

A series of online training modules is now freely available to farmers, engineers, environmental consultants and others interested in designing on-farm systems to remove phosphorus from field runoff or subsurface drainage.

Available on the Internet, the modules comprise seven narrated videos, starting with a basic overview of the need for phosphorus removal systems followed by how to design, build and install them, as well as how to properly dispose of or recycle the absorbent materials used to help capture the nutrient in drainage water and runoff.

“These videos explain the basics, and then get into all the details necessary for designing and constructing phosphorus removal structures,” said Chad Penn, an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) agricultural engineer who coordinated the modules’ development. “The goal is to disseminate this conservation practice throughout the country and world”—helping producers strike an optimal balance between crop productivity and environmental stewardship.  

Phosphorus is a critical nutrient for optimal plant growth, health and yield, added Penn, with the ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory in West Lafayette, Indiana. However, phosphorus that leaves agricultural fields in runoff or drainage water can accumulate in bodies of surface water, like rivers and lakes, compromising their quality and triggering the growth and decay of algal blooms that can imperil aquatic life and recreational activities.

Management practices and engineered systems that prevent phosphorus loss are vital to maintaining environmental quality.

However, deciding which system is best for a specific farm operation or crop field configuration can be challenging. Fortunately, the modules can help users navigate their way through the process, as well as provide “lessons learned” from the field, said Penn, who has conducted extensive field research on phosphorus removal systems.

The modules include lessons on using the P-Trap ("Phosphorus Transport Reduction"), a software program that Penn and collaborators developed to help users calculate specifications for building the structure based on the data that’s entered, including expected water-flow rates, annual volume, dissolved phosphorus concentration, drainage ditch depth and slope, pipe diameter and target removal goals.

Penn noted that regardless of design, phosphorus removal structures are intended for use on fields with a legacy, or long history, of phosphorus application in fertilizers or animal manures that has resulted in an accumulation of soil phosphorus to concentrations greater than crops need. The structures’ uses are not a replacement for nutrient management practices but rather a complement to them, he added.

In addition to creating the P-Trap software, Penn also designs, installs and field tests phosphorus removal systems in collaboration with Kevin King of ARS's Soil Drainage Research Unit in Columbus, Ohio; Jay Martin of The Ohio State University, Jessica D'Ambrosio of the Nature Conservancy, Jeremy Freund of Outagamie County Conservation and Santina Wortman of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The team lent their technical expertise to the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (ASABE), which developed the training modules with support from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.



Heat Stress and Drought Can Impact Yield

During the dog days of summer, when corn is pollinating and temperatures exceed 90 degrees, heat stress can impact yield potential. Heat, combined with dry conditions during this critical time, can cause plant stress during pollination and reduce the number of kernels a plant can set. Even if stress is temporary and the plant recovers, yields can suffer.

Corn plants are most sensitive to heat and drought stress two weeks before silking until two weeks after silking. Heat stress can reduce yield by inhibiting successful pollination and reducing net photosynthesis. Both of these mechanisms can increase the chance of kernel abortion and reduce the number of kernels on the ear.

“Corn is a domesticated crop that came to us from Central America,” said Carl Joern, Pioneer Field Agronomist. “It can handle the heat a lot better than you or I can. It can even handle up to 110 degrees without many problems. However, the biggest thing to note is the duration of the high heat.”

Prolonged exposure to temperatures above 90 degrees has been shown to dramatically reduce pollen germination (Herrero and Johnson, 1980). Temperatures above 95 degrees depresses pollen production and can desiccate exposed silks, especially when accompanied by low relative humidity (Hoegemeyer, 2011). Temperatures above 100 degrees can kill pollen (Nielsen, 2020).

“The longer a heat wave endures, the greater impact it has on the corn crop,” said Joern.

Higher temperatures cause the transpiration rate of plants to increase, placing a greater demand on soil water supply and potentially accelerating the onset of drought stress. Field research and crop modeling studies indicate that a greater yield impact likely comes through the interaction of heat and water stress. Damage caused by extreme heat and drought can be partially mitigated by irrigation, but not eliminated.



Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Struggle to Maintain Early Momentum

U.S. consumers remain interested in plant-based meat alternatives, but higher prices have led many prospective return consumers to taper off their purchases. The price of plant-based meats is often several dollars a pound higher than for equivalent meat and poultry products. Beyond cost, lingering negative perceptions surrounding taste, value and versatility are also obstacles the category has yet to overcome.

According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the market for plant-based meats has likely reached a tipping point as the initial period of exceptional sales growth appears to be over.

Plant-based meat sales peaked in 2020 when consumers had more discretionary income and were curious about broadening their food spend in the wake of pandemic-era food shortages. But fewer than half of Americans who tried the products at the time repeated their purchase, per data from consumer research firm Mintel.

“Whatever their reason for purchase, plant-based offerings appear to have fallen short of consumers’ expectations in terms of either cost or performance,” said Billy Roberts, senior food and beverage economist for CoBank. “Market participants should be able to address the cost issues with greater economies of scale and minimized supply chain expenses. However, innovation around taste, texture and mouthfeel will be essential to capture more mass-market consumers.”

Sales of meat alternatives have fallen steadily since 2021 and more sharply over the last year. Volume sales dropped 20.9% for the 52-week period ending July 2, 2023, according to consumer behavior research firm Circana.

Key to a higher consumer conversion rate will be a greater diversity of formats for plant-based meats, an area where the category has made some progress over the past year. Though still dominated by frozen and refrigerated options, category participants have thrown considerable investment into shelf-stable varieties, which grew by 82% in 2022. Those products include plant-based versions of tuna, ham and chicken that provide the benefit of convenience missing from some other options.

Due to the typically higher price point, plant-based consumers tend to be from higher-income households, limiting the category's household penetration to the range of roughly 10%. Those income levels may attract certain supermarkets, but larger growth will require new products and technologies that can add diversity to category offerings and scale-up existing product lines.

Consumers have consistently cited health as a top reason for purchasing plant-based offerings. However, shoppers who initially sought plant-based meats thinking these were healthier options would later voice doubts about the healthfulness of the products, specifically as it relates to their typically complex ingredient legend. Innovation in plant-based proteins will need to focus on replacing highly processed varieties with healthier alternatives.

The environmental benefit of plant-based alternatives is another primary driver of consumer interest, particularly among younger demographics. However, while the environmental and health benefits of plant-based solutions play a role in the products’ appeal, the key to plant-based success will be speed, convenience, cost and familiarity.

“Lower price points and quality improvements in the category will resonate with a large portion of consumers interested in a more flexitarian approach to eating, whether due to environmental concerns or an interest in health,” said Roberts. “These consumers will not abandon animal-based meats entirely but augment their diets with plant-based options as occasions warrant and the products can meet their needs.”