Monday September 11 Crop Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending September 10, 2023, there were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 30% very short, 33% short, 36% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 31% very short, 37% short, 31% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 11% very poor, 16% poor, 22% fair, 38% good, and 13% excellent. Corn dented was 90%, ahead of 84% for both last year and the five-year average. Mature was 41%, ahead of 34% last year and 28% average. Harvested was 2%, near 1% both last year and average.

Soybean condition rated 12% very poor, 17% poor, 25% fair, 36% good, and 10% excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 54%, ahead of 40% last year and 35% average.

Winter wheat planted was 8%, near 4% last year, and equal to average.

Sorghum condition rated 3% very poor, 8% poor, 29% fair, 36% good, and 24% excellent. Sorghum coloring was 85%, ahead of 72% last year and 79% average. Mature was 16%, near 13% last year and 14% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 32% fair, 55% good, and 6% excellent. Dry edible beans setting pods was 95%, near 94% last year and 98% average. Dropping leaves was 43%, near 44% last year. Harvested was 3%, near 7% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 10% very poor, 16% poor, 38% fair, 33% good, and 3% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Another week of above average temperatures and below average precipitation resulted in 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork for Iowa farmers during the week ending September 10, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included chopping corn silage as well as cutting and baling hay. A few reports of corn and soybean harvest were received.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 37 percent very short, 42 percent short, 21 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 35 percent very short, 43 percent short, 21 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in the dent stage or beyond was 90 percent this week, 6 days ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Thirty-eight percent of the State’s corn crop has reached maturity, 1 week ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Corn condition declined 3 percentage points to 46 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 67 percent, 6 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the average. Soybeans dropping leaves was 25 percent this week, 1 week ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition fell 5 percentage points to 44 percent good to excellent.

The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 98 percent complete, 15 days ahead of last year and roughly 3 weeks ahead of the average.

Pasture condition rated just 15 percent good to excellent. Getting water to livestock was a challenge for producers this week, with reports of some producers selling livestock due lack of water and having to feed hay.



USDA Crop Progress Report: US Corn Harvest Kicks Off at Slightly Ahead-of-Average Pace

The 2023 U.S. corn harvest is slightly outpacing the five-year average so far as the crop continues to reach maturity ahead of normal, USDA NASS stated in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday. Soybeans, too, continue to reach maturity ahead of the five-year average.

CORN
-- Crop progress: NASS said 97% of corn was in the dough stage and 82% was dented, both ahead of the five-year average pace. Thirty-four percent of the crop was mature, 10 percentage points ahead of last year and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 28%.
-- Harvest progress: In its first national corn harvest report of the season, NASS estimated that 5% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, equal to last year but slightly ahead of the five-year average of 4%.
-- Crop condition: USDA said 52% of the corn crop was rated good to excellent as of Sept. 10, down 1 point from 53% last week and 1 point lower than a year ago.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop progress: USDA said 31% of the crop was dropping leaves, 11 percentage points ahead of last year and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 25%.
-- Crop condition: USDA said 52% of the soybean crop was rated good to excellent, down 1 point from 53% last week and below 56% last year.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: USDA said spring wheat harvest was 87% complete as of Sept. 10, 4 points ahead of last year and now equal to the five-year average.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting advanced 6 percentage points last week to reach 7% complete as of Sunday. That is 2 points ahead of last year but equal to the five-year average.



Unique Heifer Development Program Offered by SDSU and UNL

Cattle producers in the region have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into heifer development through a research program jointly administered by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the South Dakota State University Extension.

Producers can submit an application this fall to have their heifers entered into the Great Plains Heifer Development Center, which is housed at the UNL Haskell Beef Lab close to Concord, Nebraska. Producers from Nebraska and South Dakota will be given preference, participants from neighboring states will be admitted if space allows.

The program offers enrolled producers custom heifer development data that can help them fine-tune their operations and promote the long-term health and productivity of their cow herds. Heifers are assessed for temperament, performance, and reproductive qualities, with an emphasis on keeping track of their diet and weight.

To participate, heifers must meet specific program criteria, including being in good health, having a known sire, and having individual, permanent identification through a brand or tag. Heifers can be either commercial or registered.

Interested parties should visit beef.unl.edu/great-plains-heifer-development-program-haskell for a detailed list of program requirements.

Those wishing to join the program are encouraged to reach out to the following contacts:

Kiernan Brandt, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, at 605-882-5140 or Kiernan.Brandt@sdstate.Edu; Connor Biehler, UNL Beef Assistant Extension Educator, at 402-624-8007; Rick Rasby, UNL professor and Extension Beef Specialist, at 402-472-6477; or heiferdev@unl.edu.

Later this fall, details on fees and registration deadlines will be available.

Cattle producers can benefit from this unique opportunity to enhance their heifer development practices and contribute to the long-term success of their cattle operations.



Northeast Nebraska Fifth Graders Discover Agriculture Hands-On

Fifth graders from six schools in Northeast Nebraska explored the many facets of agriculture during the seventh annual Growing Potential Agriculture Festival in Coleridge, Neb. on Sept 7.

From corn to cows and everything in between, 220 students interacted with producers to learn about where their food, fiber, and energy come from. The annual festival is hosted by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation and the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers to promote agricultural literacy.

Taylor Nelson, vice president of the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers, helped lead the charge to organize the event, stressing the importance of exposing kids to agriculture.

“We want to build a foundation of agricultural literacy that is hands-on, positive, and interactive, so as students hear, think, and learn about different things moving forward, they can look back and think about this experience and build on it,” said Nelson.

Students rotated through nine stations throughout the day, exploring planting, agricultural technology, ethanol, egg production, irrigation, agronomy, beef cows, harvest, and careers in agriculture. Teachers were excited to have their students learn as they experienced agriculture hands-on. Fifth grade teacher at Holy Trinity Elementary in Hartington, Neb., Sierra Beckman, loved watching connections between agriculture and their lives form for her students.

“My students were fascinated to learn how all of the different parts of the cow can be used for all types of different things: glue, pasta, clothing,” said Beckman. “It was very shocking for them to see how one thing can turn into so many products.”

Schools from across Northeast Nebraska attended the event including St. Mary’s School (Wayne), Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Middle School, Wayne Elementary, Holy Trinity Elementary ­(Hartington), Wisner-Pilger Elementary, and Wakefield Community Schools.

The surrounding community sees great value in students engaging with agriculture. In addition to Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation and Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers hosting the event, several companies also sponsored the festival. Big Iron, Grossenburg Implement, Titan Machinery, Allegient, Axis Seed, Becks, Channel, Croplan, Dekalb, CHECK, Dynagrow, Golden Harvest, Hefty, Hoegemeyer, Pioneer, and Wyffels served as sponsors for the event, ensuring it was free for all students to attend.



ICGA Announces 30-Day Harvest Weight Proclamation Effective Immediately

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation today granting a temporary 30-day weight limit exemption for trucks operating on Iowa roads to support the haul of this year’s crop during harvest. The proclamation will be effective immediately. The 2023 Harvest Weight Proclamation specifically increases the weight allowable for shipment of corn, soybeans, hay, straw, and stover, by 12.5 percent per axle (up to a maximum of 90,000 pounds) without the need for an oversize/overweight permit.

The 2023 proclamation again applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the federal interstate system. Trucks cannot exceed the truck’s regular maximum by more than 12.5 percent per axle and must obey the posted limits on all roads and bridges.

“On behalf of Iowa’s farmers, we extend our gratitude to Governor Reynolds for approval of this proclamation as it is a tremendous help for Iowa’s corn farmers,” said Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida Grove. “With the extended weight, a 500-acre Iowa corn farmer would require 12 fewer truckloads and a 1000-acre Iowa Corn farmer would require 25 fewer truckloads, which is both a time saver and a fuel saver.”

The proclamation directs the Iowa Department of Transportation to monitor the operation of the proclamation and assure the public’s safety by facilitating the movement of the trucks involved. Farmers who are transporting grain are also required to follow their vehicle safety standards on axle weights.

The exemption will be granted for 60 days beginning September 11, 2023, to October 11, 2023.



Jardon Named New Dairy Extension Veterinarian

The newest dairy specialist on the dairy extension team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach brings veterinary and real-world dairy experience to the position.

Phil Jardon, who began working at Iowa State University in July as a clinical associate professor, is the newest dairy extension veterinarian.

Jardon grew up on his family’s diversified and small dairy farm in southwest Iowa, and spent time with Elanco Animal Health as a technical consultant, before coming to Iowa State. He has teaching experience at UC-Davis, where he was a resident and then a clinician of dairy production medicine.

“I love the dairy industry, partly because I grew up in it and I just love the products,” said Jardon. “I earned my veterinary degree from Iowa State in 1986 and I have a high regard for this institution.”

Jardon will continue his teaching duties and is looking forward to working with the other members of the extension dairy team – Gail Carpenter, Jenn Bentley, Fred Hall and Larry Tranel.

Jardon is also excited to work with the other Iowa State food animal extension veterinarians: Jan Shearer, dairy; Chris Rademacher, swine; Grant Dewell, beef; and Yuko Sato, poultry.

“We have a great team committed to the Iowa dairy industry, and our state offers a lot of diverse opportunities in dairy, including large and smaller farms, milk goats and on-farm processing,” he said.

Jardon said the dairy standards keep getting higher in the industry on almost every aspect. Some of his passions are helping with metabolic diseases of cows, especially mineral metabolism issues.

“I welcome Phil to the team,” said Gail Carpenter, state dairy specialist at Iowa State. “His years of dairy experience and interaction with the industry make him a great fit for his role as extension dairy specialist.”

Said Jardon, “I look forward to working with the team and supporting Iowa’s dairy industry.”

Phillip Jardon lives with his wife, Denise Jardon, in Huxley, and the couple have three children: Derek, Grace and Wyatt Jardon.

He can be reached at 515-294-7424 or pjardon@iastate.edu.



Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm Conference Registration Now Open  

Today, U.S. EPA Region 7, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa announced that registration is now open for the upcoming conference titled Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm – Optimizing Environmental and Economic Outcomes for Rural Communities and Beyond.

EPA and the universities will host the conference Nov. 6-8, 2023, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. A full conference agenda and registration information are available on EPA’s conference webpage https://www.epa.gov/ia/forms/anaerobic-digestion-farm-conference.

The conference will feature presentations, exhibits, and discussion panel sessions covering a variety of anaerobic digestion topics. The conference will also include virtual tours of anaerobic digestion facilities and a poster session. EPA, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa are accepting submissions for the poster session until Sept. 22, 2023. Please see the conference webpage for details.

Several keynote speakers, including Marcelo Mena-Carrasco, Rudi Roeslein, and Jamie Burr, will headline the conference. Additional keynote speakers may be announced in the future.

Marcelo Mena-Carrasco is CEO of the Global Methane Hub, an international alliance for developing and implementing global methane reduction solutions. In 2021, he launched the Global Methane Pledge with over 110 countries, including the U.S., signing on to reduce methane emissions by more than 30% by 2030. Previously, Mena-Carrasco served as climate change advisor and practice manager for the World Bank, as minister and vice minister for the environment in Chile, and as co-chair for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

Rudi Roeslein is founder and CEO of Roeslein & Associates (1990) and sister company Roeslein Alternative Energy (2012). Roeslein and RAE develop and operate renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks, into renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products.

Jamie Burr is the chief sustainability officer for the National Pork Board. He has served on several state and national policy workgroups and industry committees, including EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Burr is currently a commissioner with the Natural Resources Division of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

Anaerobic digestion is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials in a sealed reactor without oxygen. Organic inputs may include a variety of materials, such as animal manure, dedicated grassy biomass, food waste, and wastewater biosolids. Outputs include methane-rich biogas and digestate, which may be used to make a variety of products, such as soil amendments, fertilizer, animal bedding, electricity, heat, and vehicle fuel.




BEEF PROMOTION OPERATING COMMITTEE APPROVES FISCAL YEAR 2024 CHECKOFF PLAN OF WORK

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will invest approximately $38 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications during fiscal 2024, subject to USDA approval.

In action at the end of its September 6-7 meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 12 “Authorization Requests” – or grant proposals – for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023. The committee, which includes 10 producers and importers from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen’s Beef Board approval of a budget amendment to reflect the split of funding between budget categories affected by their decisions.

Nine contractors and three subcontractors brought 15 Authorization Requests worth approximately $49 million to the BPOC this week, approximately $11 million more than the funds available from the CBB budget.

“We’re consistently impressed with the proposals that our contractors bring forward each year, and choosing which initiatives to fund is a real challenge,” said Jimmy Taylor, CBB and BPOC chair. “Our budget amounts to slightly less each year because of inflation. To put it in perspective, a dollar in 1985 is worth just 35 cents1 today. That means we simply don’t have the buying power that we had when this program first started.

“As we expected, the Authorization Requests we reviewed this week were full of new ideas and innovative approaches supporting the Checkoff’s core programs of research, promotion, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and producer communications. Our committee did a great job of balancing our budget and distributing our limited funds in what we believe is the most optimal way possible. I personally thank our contractors and committee members for all their hard work, and I look forward to future Checkoff successes throughout FY24.”

In the end, the BPOC approved proposals from eight national beef organizations for funding through the FY24 Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget, as follows:
    American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture - $800,000
    Cattlemen’s Beef Board - $1,800,000
    Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education - $500,000
    Meat Import Council of America / Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative - $900,000
    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association - $25,405,000
    National Institute for Animal Agriculture - $60,000
    North American Meat Institute - $330,000
    United States Meat Export Federation - $8,150,000

Broken out by budget component – as outlined by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 – the FY24 Plan of Work for the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board budget includes:
    $9,275,000 for promotion programs, including beef and veal campaigns focusing on beef’s nutritional value, eating experience, convenience, and production.
    $8,300,000 for research programs focusing on pre- and post-harvest beef safety, scientific affairs, nutrition, sustainability, product quality, culinary technical expertise, and consumer perceptions.
    $7,600,550 for consumer information programs, including Northeast influencer outreach and public relations initiatives; national consumer public relations, including nutrition-influencer relations and work with primary- and secondary-school curriculum directors nationwide to get accurate information about the beef industry into classrooms of today’s youth. Additional initiatives include outreach and engagement with food, culinary, nutrition and health thought leaders; media and public relations efforts; and supply chain engagement.
    $2,819,450 for industry information programs, including dissemination of accurate information about the beef industry to counter misinformation from other groups, as well as funding for Checkoff participation in the annual national industrywide symposium about antibiotic use. Additional efforts in this program area include beef advocacy training and issues/crisis management and response.
    $8,150,000 for foreign marketing and education, focusing on 13 regions, representing more than 90 countries around the world.
    $1,800,000 for producer communications, which includes investor outreach using national communications and direct communications to producers and importers about Checkoff results. Elements of this program include ongoing producer listening and analysis; industry collaboration and outreach; and continued development of a publishing strategy and platform and a state beef council content hub.

The full fiscal 2024 Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget is approximately $42 million. Separate from the Authorization Requests, other expenses funded include $270,000 for program evaluation; $640,500 for program development; $200,000 for Checkoff education resources; $550,000 for USDA oversight; $205,000 for state services; $270,000 supporting services and litigation; and $2.0 million for CBB administration. The fiscal 2024 program budget represents a decrease of slightly less than 1.6% percent, or $605,000, from the $38.6 million FY23 budget.

For more information about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety, contact the Cattlemen’s Beef Board at 303-220-9890 or visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.



New Tool from The SCN Coalition Reveals the Pest’s Financial Toll

Have you ever taken a closer look at your spending and been shocked by how much you pay for subscription services? The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) can be a similar drain on your finances, flying under the radar and chipping away yield potential as years pass. The SCN Coalition’s new SCN Profit Checker tool works like a budget audit, laying bare just how much yield and money SCN is costing you.

New tool is backed by extensive research
Data from more than 25,000 Iowa State University field trial plots with SCN-resistant soybean varieties revealed a significant direct relationship among SCN egg numbers, reproduction of SCN populations on PI 88788 resistance and yield loss.1

That relationship was used to create an algorithm for estimating SCN’s economic impact by field. The algorithm is the engine behind SCN Profit Checker, a simple calculator that estimates how much SCN costs a farmer in any soybean field.

Simple inputs for the tool
To use SCN Profit Checker, a farmer, agronomist or crop advisor provides the state name and the following field-specific information:
    SCN egg count
    SCN female index on PI 88788
    Sand content of the soil
    Soil pH

University experts have provided default female indexes on PI 88788 for most states to use as a starting point if a farmer does not know that detail for the SCN population in a specific field. But ideally, a farmer would work with his or her agronomist or crop advisor to get an HG Type test that provides the female index for the SCN population in the field of interest. The more specific the information provided in the calculator, the more accurate the estimate.

The tool also takes into account sand content and pH of the soil in the field because of the direct relationship with SCN reproduction.

Driving change
The dynamic tool uses information about the field along with the farmer’s yield expectation and targeted soybean price to calculate a yield and profit hit estimate from SCN.

“By defining and personalizing the economic toll of SCN, the new tool from The SCN Coalition generates needed attention on the pest,” says Matt Gast, United Soybean Board Supply Action Team Chair and farmer from North Dakota. “Management starts with awareness, which is why the USB funded the development of this tool that makes a business case for SCN management.”

“Demonstrating to farmers the financial burden of SCN in dollars and cents makes it real. In doing so, The SCN Coalition hopes to motivate more farmers to actively manage the pest,” explains Iowa State University Nematologist Greg Tylka, who ran the SCN field trials used to develop the tool and is a leader of the coalition. “They can use this information to be more strategic when developing an active SCN management plan with their trusted crop advisor.”

SCN management goes beyond an individual farmer
Controlling SCN will be critical in the years ahead, with annual global soybean consumption expected to climb roughly a third by 2035, according to Mac Marshall, vice president, market intelligence for USB.

To meet that growing soybean demand, Jack Cornell, director of sustainable supply at USB, says the best way for farmers to maximize profitability and production is to increase yields on existing acres. “When farmers think about increasing profits the focus is on creating more bushels on land that is already utilized for production,” he says. “That includes recouping bushels lost to pests like SCN. Doing so will go a long way toward meeting global demand and ensuring a more sustainable soybean future.”

The new tool is available now, putting the power of information in the hands of farmers and their crop advisors as they prepare for fall SCN soil testing. Visit thescncoalition.com/profitchecker today.



Farmers Union Kicks Off 2023 Legislative Fly-In

Today, 300 Farmers Union members from across the country joined together in Washington, DC to advocate for family farmers as part of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Fall Legislative Fly-In. Over the course of the week, Farmers Union members will attend hundreds of Congressional meetings and meet with fifteen federal agencies.

“Our legislative fly-in comes at a pivotal time for agriculture and food policy as the 2023 Farm Bill is imminent,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “We don’t just need a farm bill – we need the right farm bill. We know that when family farmers and ranchers speak out, decision makers listen.”

For the opening session of Fly-In, Farmers Union members heard from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, along with a variety of panels featuring speakers from USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Farm Production and Conservation mission areas.  

In his remarks to Fly-In attendees, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed farm bill programs, along with the importance of USDA programs that are working to stem the loss of family farms.  

Farmers Union members are prioritizing their support for Fairness for Farmers legislation in the 2023 Farm Bill, which includes a competition title so that family farmers, ranchers, and our communities have access to fair, open, and competitive markets. Additionally, members are advocating for a strong farm safety net and climate change policies that support farmers and ranchers.

Since 1909, Farmers Union members have traveled to Washington, DC as part of the organization’s grassroots policy and advocacy work. For more information on NFU’s policy priorities, visit nfu.org/fly-in.



USDA Announces Milk Loss Assistance for Dairy Operations Impacted by 2020, 2021 and 2022 Disaster Events

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced Milk Loss Program (MLP) assistance for eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed, without compensation, from the commercial milk market due to qualifying weather events and the consequences of those weather events that inhibited delivery or storage of milk (e.g., power outages, impassable roads, infrastructure losses, etc.) during calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022. Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), signup for MLP begins Sept. 11 and runs through Oct. 16, 2023.

“Frequent and widespread weather-related disasters over the past three years have impacted U.S. dairy. These producers continue to face supply chain issues, high feed and input costs, labor shortages, and market volatilities,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “The reality for dairy producers is that cattle are milked at least twice a day, producing on average, six to seven gallons of milk per cow, per day. That milk must go somewhere, and when it can’t get where it needs to go and can’t be stored due to circumstances beyond a producer’s control we need to help. The Milk Loss Program will help offset the economic loss by producers left with no other choice but dumping their milk during disasters.”

Background 
On Dec. 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43), providing $10 billion for crop losses, including milk losses due to qualifying disaster events that occurred in calendar years 2020 and 2021.  Additionally, the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) provides approximately $3 billion for disaster assistance for similar losses that occurred in calendar year 2022.   

Eligibility
MLP compensates dairy operations for milk dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to qualifying disaster events, including droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), and smoke exposure that occurred in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 calendar years. Tornadoes are considered a qualifying disaster event for calendar year 2022 only.   

The milk loss claim period is each calendar month that milk was dumped or removed from the commercial market. Each MLP application covers the loss in a single calendar month.  Milk loss that occurs in more than one calendar month due to the same qualifying weather event requires a separate application for each month.   

The days that are eligible for assistance begin on the date the milk was removed or dumped and for concurrent days milk was removed or dumped. Once the dairy operation restarts milk marketing, the dairy operation is ineligible for assistance unless after restarting commercial milk marketing, additional milk is dumped due to the same qualifying disaster event. The duration of yearly claims is limited to 30 days per year for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

How to Apply
To apply for MLP, producers must submit:
    FSA-376, Milk Loss Program Application
    Milk marketing statement from the:
        Month prior to the month milk was removed or dumped.
        Affected month.
    Detailed written statement of milk removal circumstances, including the weather event type and geographic scope, what transportation limitations occurred and any information on what was done with the removed milk.
    Any other information required by the regulation.

If not previously filed with FSA, applicants must also submit all the following items within 60 days of the MLP application deadline:
    Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.  
    Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.   
    Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).   
    Form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs (if applicable).   
    Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, (if applicable).
    A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the MLP producer and applicable affiliates.  

Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms already on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms can contact their local FSA county office.  

MLP Payment Calculation
The final MLP payment is determined by factoring the MLP payment calculation by the applicable MLP payment percentage.  

The calculation for determining MLP payment is:  
    ((Base period per cow average daily milk production x the number of milking cows in a claim period x the number of days milk was removed or dumped in a claim period) ÷ 100) x pay price per hundredweight (cwt.).

For MLP payment calculations, the milk loss base period is the first full month of production before the dumping or removal occurred.

The MLP payment percentage will be 90% for underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers and ranchers and 75% for all other producers.     

To qualify for the higher payment percentage, eligible producers must have a CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, form on file with FSA for the 2022 program year.  

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations do not apply to MLP, however the payment limitation for MLP is determined by the person’s or legal entity’s average adjusted gross farm income (income derived from farming, ranching and forestry operations). Specifically, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, cannot receive, directly or indirectly, more than $125,000 in payments under MLP if their average adjusted gross farm income is less than 75% of their average AGI or more than $250,000 if their adjusted gross farm income is at least 75% of their average AGI.  



NMPF Applauds Long-Awaited Assistance for Dairy Farmers Hard-Hit by Natural Disasters

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) applauded today’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide critical, long-awaited financial assistance for dairy farmers affected by natural disasters.

The Milk Loss Assistance program administered by the Farm Service Agency will compensate eligible dairy farms and processors for milk dumped due to qualifying disaster events in 2020, 2021 and 2022, including droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms and smoke exposure.

“On top of the challenges created by wild price gyrations and the COVID-19 pandemic, dairy farmers since 2020 have also faced an inadequate federal mechanism for addressing unforeseen weather catastrophes, further straining finances at a time when strains have been hard to bear,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “NMPF never accepted that situation, and we’re very appreciative of USDA’s diligent work over several months to finalize the compensation plan that will address this backlog of disaster assistance. We thank Congress for providing this necessary funding, and we encourage both Congress and USDA to find ways to address future natural disasters more quickly. We also urge farmers affected by these disasters to sign up, and we stand ready to assist them as they go through this process.”

As producers of a highly perishable product that’s created 24/7, 365 days a year, dairy farmers have been—and continue to be—uniquely challenged by disaster events. The Milk Loss Program will help farmers and, in certain cases, cooperatives, recover losses previously overlooked by disaster assistance.

Dairy farmers and cooperatives can sign up for the Milk Loss Program beginning Sept. 11 and running through Oct. 16, 2023. Affected producers are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.



Are Droopy Ears A Sign of Premature Ear Declination?
Pioneer

Ear drooping in corn is quite common and is often nothing to worry about. Drooping ears prior to black layer, however, could be a sign the plant experienced severe late-season stress and grain fill is shutting down.

Stressors like late-season drought can lead to structural failure in the ear shank. If the shank is severely pinched, it can restrict the flow of carbohydrates to the developing ear. As the plant reallocates resources, it struggles to fill the ear with grain. The weakened shank will eventually collapse under the force of gravity on the ear – the dreaded droop.

An ear shank that collapses prior to physiological maturity will likely cause premature black layer development in the grain. Black layer formation is related to the ability of plants to maintain a continuous sucrose supply to developing kernels. Any disruption of this supply that causes the flow of sucrose to drop below a minimum threshold can trigger early black layer formation.

The yield impact of early grain fill termination depends on the kernel fill stage when it occurs. If grain fill were totally shut down at the full dent stage, yield loss may be higher than if grain fill were shut down at the late dent stage. The earlier ear declination occurs in the kernel-filling process, the greater the likelihood of yield impact.

Fields that have experienced drought or heat stress should be closely monitored as they are at a greater risk of ear declination and ear drop prior to harvest. Fields with drooping ears should be a priority and harvested first to maximize yield.