Monday September 18 Crop Harvest + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending September 17, 2023, there were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 29% very short, 31% short, 39% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 32% very short, 33% short, 34% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 11% very poor, 16% poor, 23% fair, 39% good, and 11% excellent. Corn dented was 95%, near 92% for both last year and the five-year average. Mature was 57%, ahead of 50% last year and 46% average. Harvested was 7%, near 5% both last year and average.

Soybean condition rated 11% very poor, 17% poor, 25% fair, 37% good, and 10% excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 72%, ahead of 62% last year and 59% average. Harvested was 4%, equal to both last year and average.

Winter wheat planted was 22%, ahead of 16% last year, but near 25% average.

Sorghum condition rated 5% very poor, 8% poor, 26% fair, 31% good, and 30% excellent. Sorghum coloring was 95%, ahead of 90% last year, and near 91% average. Mature was 27%, near 23% last year, and equal to average. Harvested was 2%, near 3% last year, and equal to average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 3% very poor, 6% poor, 28% fair, 52% good, and 11% excellent. Dry edible beans dropping leaves was 57%, behind 69% last year. Harvested was 20%, near 23% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 12% very poor, 19% poor, 37% fair, 24% good, and 8% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS REPORT

The southern tier of Iowa received above average rainfall this week leading to 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending September 17, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting corn and soybeans. Some farmers were also working on their fourth cutting of alfalfa hay.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 34 percent very short, 45 percent short, 20 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 37 percent very short, 43 percent short, 19 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in the dent stage or beyond was 96 percent this week, 6 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. Sixty-three percent of the State’s corn crop has reached maturity, 8 days ahead of both last year and normal. Corn harvested for grain reached 5 percent statewide, roughly 1 week ahead of both last year and the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was at 22 percent. Corn condition improved slightly to 48 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 86 percent, 6 days ahead of both last year and the average. Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond was 52 percent this week, 6 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Three percent of the soybean crop has been harvested. Soybean condition also rose slightly to 47 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 15 percent good to excellent. Getting water to livestock continued be a challenge for producers this week, with reports of livestock taken off pastures where ponds and creeks have dried up.



USDA Crop Progress Report: Corn 9% Harvested, Soybeans 5% Harvested

Both the corn and soybean harvests continued ahead of the average pace last week as mostly dry conditions over much of the country swiftly pushed crops to maturity, USDA NASS stated in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop progress: NASS said 90% of corn was dented, 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 87%. Fifty-four percent of the crop was mature, 16 percentage points ahead of last year's 38% and 10 points ahead of the five-year average of 44%.
-- Harvest progress: NASS estimated that 9% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, up 4 points from the previous week and now 2 percentage points ahead of 7% for both last year and the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: NASS said 51% of the corn crop was rated good to excellent as of Sept. 17, down 1 point from 52% last week and 1 point lower than a year ago. The current rating is the lowest for this time of year since 2012.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop progress: USDA said 54% of the crop was dropping leaves, 15 percentage points ahead of last year's 39% and 11 points ahead of the five-year average of 43%.
-- Harvest progress: In its first national soybean harvest report of the season, NASS estimated that 5% of the crop had been harvested as of Sunday, 2 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 4%.
-- Crop condition: USDA said 52% of the soybean crop was rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week but below last year's rating of 55%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: USDA said spring wheat harvest was 93% complete as of Sept. 17, equal to both last year and the five-year average.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting advanced 8 percentage points last week to reach 15% complete as of Sunday. That is 4 points behind last year's 19% and 1 point behind the five-year average of 16%.



POLL: RURAL NEBRASKANS ARE INCREASINGLY PESSIMISTIC ABOUT PRESENT, FUTURE

Rural Nebraskans are increasingly pessimistic about their current and future well-being, according to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Over the past 28 years, the Rural Poll has asked respondents about their current well-being and outlook on their future. This year, 27% of respondents indicated they are worse off than they were five years ago, up from 21% last year and 11% in 2021. This is the highest level since 2009, when 28% believed they were worse off.

The increase in pessimism was matched with a decrease in optimism. This year, 45% of rural Nebraskans surveyed believe they are better off compared to five years ago, down from 50% last year.

Rural Nebraskans’ optimism about the future has also trended downward over the past four years. Thirty-nine percent of respondents believe they will be better off 10 years from now. This has steadily declined from 52% in 2019, the highest proportion across all years of the study. Similarly, the proportion stating they will be worse off in a decade increased from 22% last year to 27% this year.

Despite increasing pessimism, more respondents believe they are better off compared to five years ago than say they are worse off (45% compared to 27%). This is also true of their long-term outlook: 39% say they will be better off 10 years from now, compared to 27% who believe they will be worse off.

“Although I was expecting more positive trends in optimism as we continue to move on from the disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, these results would indicate that’s not the case,” said L.J. McElravy, associate professor of agricultural leadership, education and communication at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “Rural Nebraskans are more pessimistic and less optimistic about the future in comparison to previous years. However, I still see signs of hope, as we continue to see higher levels of optimism in relation to pessimism.”

Certain groups are more likely to be optimistic about their current situation and future. Younger people, as well as those with higher household incomes and levels of education, are most likely to believe they are better off compared to five years ago and will be better off 10 years from now, according to the Rural Poll.

In addition, most rural Nebraskans surveyed describe their mental health or emotional well-being as good (55%) or excellent (28%). While income was also related to positive reports of mental health, the age trends were opposite of those for well-being. People aged 40 and older are more likely than younger people to report their mental health as being good or excellent, according to the poll.

“Rural Nebraskans’ assessments of their mental health are slightly better than those of all Americans,” said Becky Vogt, Rural Poll manager. “While the proportion rating their mental health as excellent was about the same as those found in a nationwide Gallup poll, more rural Nebraskans rated their mental health as good. And the age and income differences we see here in rural Nebraska are also present across the nation. Although our younger persons are less likely than older persons to rate their mental health as good or excellent, they still reported higher assessments of their mental health when compared to the nationwide younger population.”

The trend toward pessimism might stem from perceptions of the economy. While many rural Nebraskans are not optimistic about the economy in the next year, they are less pessimistic than they were last year. This year, 70% or more of respondents indicated they expected grocery prices, inflation, housing costs and interest rates to rise. However, only about a quarter of respondents said they expected significant increases in prices, inflation and interest rates, compared to nearly half of respondents in 2022.

When looking at workforce issues, most respondents are confident that completing an apprenticeship program, having an associate’s degree or certification, or having a bachelor’s degree are all paths to a good job. However, 90% agreed that completing an apprenticeship program could lead to a good job, while 70% agreed that an associate’s or bachelor’s degree could lead to a good job.

“While there have been some improvements in the labor supply, this is still a tight market with employers focused on recruiting high-performance employees,” said Steve Schulz, associate professor of logistics and supply chain management at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “In general, apprenticeship programs are focused on new entrants to the workforce, with the goal of improving productivity with the workforce that becomes available. Training, education and experience will all be needed to develop the workforce of the future. A high-skilled workforce will be the key to success for many organizations in rural and urban areas.”

The Rural Poll is the largest annual poll gauging rural Nebraskans’ perceptions about policy and quality of life. Questionnaires were mailed to more than 6,000 households in Nebraska in late spring and summer, with 1,100 households representing 86 of the state’s 93 counties responding. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3%. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics conducts the poll with funding from Nebraska Extension. For the full report, visit https://ruralpoll.unl.edu.  



August Milk Production in the United States down 0.2 Percent

Milk production in the United States during August totaled 19.0 billion pounds, down 0.2 percent from August 2022. Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,021 pounds for August, 1 pound below August 2022. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.39 million head, 16,000 head less than August 2022, but no change from July 2023.

IOWA:  Milk production in Iowa during August 2023 totaled 509 million pounds, up 3 percent from the previous August according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during August, at 243,000 head, was 1,000 above last month and up 5,000 from August 2022. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,095 pounds, up 25 pounds from last August.



Grain Safety Shorts: Grain Handling Equipment Safety

Harvest season can be hectic, but it is well worth taking the time to consider safety when operating grain handling equipment. Hazards abound when handling grain, such as equipment entanglement, grain entrapment and engulfment and dust explosions, among others.

Agricultural confined-space related cases of injuries and fatalities saw a dramatic rise in 2022, including grain entrapment cases that rose nearly 45%, based on Purdue University’s annual report. Iowa had more cases of grain entrapment than any other state at nine total in 2022.

Nearly all of these cases involved grain flow issues due to grain spoilage, which means that improved grain management could prevent cases in the future. This series aims to provide useful information to help farmers keep their grain in good condition and keep them and their families safe around grain.

This fall, lower your risk of injury by using a safety checklist.
    Check that all exposed moving machinery parts have guards, shields or cages installed and are in good condition to prevent entanglement, including auger flighting, conveyers, belts and power-take-off (PTO) components.
    Don’t wear loose or baggy clothing, tie back hair and remove dangling drawstrings and jewelry that could get pulled into moving parts.
    Lock-out the power to augers, conveyers, belts and PTO components before performing maintenance or replacing parts so they can’t be accidentally turned on.
    Stay clear of flowing grain, which can trap a person knee-deep in a few seconds and can completely submerge them in less than 20 seconds.
    Work from outside of the bin whenever possible and use the buddy system and safe bin entry procedures when a bin must be entered.
    Check that everyone knows how to de-energize grain loading and unloading equipment and lock-out the power sources so that grain moving equipment can’t be turned on while someone is inside of a bin.
    Use hazard signage and teach kids and unexperienced people to stay out of stored grain, including bins, piles and grain transport vehicles.
    Keep the grain vacuum nozzle away from the area below your feet and keep an eye on the angle of the grain surface as you are removing grain. To prevent grain flow, the grain angle should be less than the grain’s angle of repose, which is around 21 degrees for corn and 23 degrees for soybeans.
    Check that fire extinguishers are easily accessible at the grain storage site. Grain handling facilities naturally collect dust, which can lead to explosions given the right conditions.
    Clean off dust accumulated in grain legs, elevators, service bearings, belts and motors regularly. Just a paper-thick layer of dust is combustible in a confined space. Overheated equipment parts or static electricity can be an ignition source.
    Recheck combine settings as grain condition changes to reduce kernel damage and collection of fines and trash. Dry conditions across Iowa may cause overly dry and brittle grain or uneven conditions across farms, making regular combine adjustments important.
    If excess fines and broken kernels are collected, either clean the grain before it goes into the bin or core the bin multiple times during filling to remove fines accumulated in the center of the bin. Removing the center core of fines and broken grain will improve aeration in the bin and reduce the risk of grain spoilage and unloading issues down the road.



Robotic Milker Litigation: Second Class Settlement Secured for U.S. Dairy Farmers

Following last year's $55M settlement with DeLaval Holding AB, DeLaval International AB, DeLaval Inc., and West Agro, Inc., Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP, Cullenberg & Tensen PLLC, and Perrone Law PLLC have achieved another historic settlement against a manufacturer of allegedly defective milking robots.

On September 1, 2023, the Court granted final approval of the settlement for the Lely A4. The settlement provided class members with the option to replace their existing robot with Lely's newer A5 model or to receive cash relief. Nearly all of the approximately 400 class members participated, and the relief selected is worth approximately $121,956,000.

In approving the settlement, the Court called it an "excellent result," noting that it provides "outstanding relief" and received "overwhelming," "unprecedented" support from the class: "Participation in the claims process was unprecedented with nearly 100 percent participation, which far exceeds the average claims rate."

Achieving this result on the heels of the DeLaval settlement last year, firm partner Patrick Stueve said:
"This is another historic nationwide class settlement that will provide extraordinary financial and operational relief to farmers who purchased the Lely A4."

The terms of the settlement were agreed upon after nearly three years of litigation. During the claims process, class members had the option to choose between two separate benefits:

    A share from a cash fund established by Lely, with individual payout amounts varying based on the number of robots purchased, as well as an additional cash payment of $1,000 per A4 and the choice between a four-year Extended Warranty or additional $7,000 cash per A4 Robot; or
    The option to trade in their A4 for Lely's newer A5 for a substantially reduced payment of $40,000.

Based on the claims submitted and options chosen, the cash fund is approximately $51M and those opting for trade ins will receive approximately $71M in value for trading in their A4s for new A5s.

The Fight Continues on behalf of Farmers Using the DeLaval V300
On May 9, 2022, Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP, Cullenberg & Tensen PLLC, and Perrone Law PLLC filed a new lawsuit against DeLaval Holding AB, DeLaval Holding BV, DeLaval International AB, DeLaval Inc., and West Agro, Inc., as well as Tetra Laval International SA, alleging that their new milking robot, the VMS V300, suffers from the same or similar defects as the original robot covered under the prior settlement.

The case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. More information is available on their website at https://litigation.stuevesiegel.com/RoboticMilkerFailure.



STUDY SHOWS FIRST YEAR MANAGEMENT PRACTICES CRITICAL TO MAXIMIZING ALFALFA YIELD

Why is the reported average yield of alfalfa for US farms well below the potential of what growers could actually produce? This is not only a question asked by many alfalfa farmers, but many researchers as well – and one which the Alfalfa Checkoff-funded study, “Closing the Alfalfa Yield Gap While Improving Soil Fertility and Health” sought to answer.

The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance established the Alfalfa Checkoff, also known as the U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative (USAFRI), to facilitate a farmer-funded program to advance industry research. NAFA’s Alfalfa Checkoff funds alfalfa-related research to help drive innovation and profitability in the alfalfa industry and to support public research into alfalfa and alfalfa forage systems.

“The goal of our project was to identify critical relationships between alfalfa yields, management practices, and soil fertility and health indicators, through a management survey that identified farms with high alfalfa yields and the production practices they used,” said Principal Investigator Nicole Tautges, Agroecology Program Director at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. “We felt a better understanding of common management practices, especially on high-yielding operations, and key differences among alfalfa farms, could help to reverse the recent declining trends of alfalfa production and reinvigorate the perception of alfalfa as a highly productive and efficient crop.”

After the analysis of all the variables associated with higher productivity of alfalfa, the study found the management practices that maximized alfalfa yields most in this study were a greater number of cuts per season, manure application, and the use of potassium (K) and sulfur (S) in the first year, suggesting that nutrient application in the establishment year is positively associated with greater alfalfa yields throughout the life of the stand.

Additionally, strong positive relationships emerged between soil carbon pools (soil organic matter and permanganate oxidizable or active carbon) and critical soil components for alfalfa growth, including pH, K, S, calcium, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Furthermore, soil microorganisms showed potential positive associations with SOM, highlighting their role in maintaining healthy soils.

Tautges added, “Overall, these findings highlight the significance of maintaining a good nutrient supply to ensure higher alfalfa yields throughout the stand's life and suggest that a fertile and healthy soil condition characterized by balanced nutrient availability, active microbial communities, and positive interactions among soil components, can provide a favorable soil environment for alfalfa productivity.”



USDA Seeks Nominations for Membership on the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a call for nominations to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. First established in 1992, the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (ACBFR) advises the Secretary of Agriculture to enhance USDA’s goals for new farming and ranching operations. Members of the public are invited to submit nominations for themselves or other qualified experts by October 10, 2023.

“New and beginning farmers – whether they come from farm families or are beginning their careers in agriculture – face unique challenges in accessing the land, credit, and training they need to succeed,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA is committed to helping the beginning farmer, the young farmer, access and make use of USDA programs.”

USDA is soliciting nominations from interested organizations and individuals from among ranching and farming producers, related state and tribal agricultural entities, academic institutions, commercial banking entities, trade associations, and related nonprofit enterprises. An organization may nominate individuals from within or outside its membership. Interested candidates may also nominate themselves.

Nomination packages should include a cover letter describing the nominee’s interest, a resume that documents the nominee’s background and experience (five pages or less), and a completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background Information Form (AD-755 (PDF, 2.1 MB)). Nominees may also provide links and samples of published writings related to matters affecting new farmers and ranchers and letters of endorsement—both of which are optional. Nomination packages must be received by October 10, 2023, and may be sent by email to acbfr@usda.gov or by first-class mail to: USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0601, Room 524-A, Washington, DC 20250. For more information, contact R. Jeanese Cabrera, Designated Federal Officer, at acbfr@usda.gov or visit the Advisory Committee on Beginner Farmers and Ranchers website https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/advisory-committee-on-beginning-farmers-and-ranchers.



Will Red Crown Rot in Midwestern Soybeans Impact Yield?

Prior to 2017, soybean red crown rot was not something Midwest farmers worried about. However, in the years since, the soil-borne disease has spread across Illinois and into Kentucky. Fields with low-lying and poorly drained areas are most susceptible, as are areas with warm soil temperatures – especially between 77°F and 86°F.

Red crown rot is often detected after the R3 stage with the appearance of yellowing on the leaves. However, root and stem rot can occur without producing any foliar symptoms. Severely affected plants will deteriorate, or senesce, prematurely, with the leaves staying attached to the plant. Another key distinguishing characteristic is the presence of perithecia, or tiny red balls, on the crown and roots just below the soil line.

“Late in the season you’ll find root rot on your soybeans,” said Matt Montgomery, Pioneer Field Agronomist. “It’s identified by red cankers that turn into red fruiting structures. Not too long after the rot takes hold, the plants tend to die away.”

In southern states, such as Louisiana and Mississippi, where red crown rot has been well established, yield losses of up to 30% have been documented. Red crown rot typically only affects patches within a field, but severely infected areas can be significantly impacted.

“Just last year in Illinois we had examples of 60-to-70-bushel fields historically that dropped down to 16 bushels due to red crown rot infestation,” Montgomery said.

Unfortunately for growers, management options for red crown rot are limited. No rescue treatments are available to mitigate plant damage and yield impact once infection has been detected.

Delayed spring planting can help reduce the severity of infections. Additionally, crop rotation out of soybean for at least two years can reduce disease-causing inoculum. Farmers may also want to manage pathogenic nematodes, which damage roots and create access points for soil-borne pathogens like red crown rot.

Lastly, improving drainage in areas where pooling is problematic and avoiding excessive organic matter in soils can help reduce red crown rot issues.



Sabanto Releases Fendt 700 Vario Tractor Support

Sabanto, Inc. announces Fendt 700 Vario tractor compatibility for Steward™, a cutting-edge technology platform that transforms tractors to work autonomously. This addition allows Fendt 700 owners to redeploy their time and energy to the most important aspects of their operation.

Automating field operations promises to be a major development in addressing the labor problems throughout the industry, as it allows for continuous tractor operations while freeing up staff to perform other critical work on the farm. Automation will allow the industry to continue moving forward by doing more with less labor.

"Today's release of the Fendt 700 Vario aftermarket autonomous system operating within the Steward™ platform exemplifies Sabanto's mission to deploy autonomy agnostically," said Craig Rupp, CEO and founder of Sabanto. "We believe your next-generation tractor is already sitting in your machine shed. We've created an autonomy platform that can be easily installed on a farmer's existing tractor, allowing them to maximize the value of their current capital."

"This technology is the answer for farmers throughout Wisconsin dealing with their lack of labor," said Mark Vanderloop of Vanderloop Equipment in Brillion, Wisconsin. "We've already demonstrated controlling multiple machines autonomously in a given field operation, thereby halving a farmer's labor requirements."

Sabanto has proven, through extensive field testing, its ability to automate a variety of field operations over significant acres. Leveraging a fleet of tractors, the company has autonomously tilled, planted, seeded, weeded, applied, and mowed across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and California. The company's Steward™ autonomy platform has been pivotal in deploying multiple systems for multiple days of non-stop operation.

Sabanto is committed to providing the very best customer experience. To serve customers at the local level, Sabanto has built and continues to expand an elite network of dealer partners who have all been working in the ag technology solution space for decades, ensuring that customers experience world-class purchasing guidance and technical support.

Visit sabantoag.com to learn more about the company, the technology behind its autonomy kits and to keep up with news as the company expands its dealer network and product offerings throughout North America.



Shell Rotella® Celebrates National Farmer’s Day with Third Annual SuperTractors Competition

Shell Rotella is hosting the third annual SuperTractors virtual tractor beauty contest to celebrate National Farmer's Day. SuperTractors began in 2021 to recognize and honor hardworking farmers and encourage them to showcase their great-looking tractors. SuperTractors has its roots in Shell Rotella SuperRigs®, which recently celebrated its 41st year of honoring the best-looking trucks in North America.

Farmers throughout North America will have the opportunity to register their unique farm equipment from September 18-29 for a chance to win $250 and 10,000 MyMilesMatter points as part of the SuperTractors competition. Farmers who wish to participate can submit a picture explaining why their tractor should be selected as the winner at super-tractors.mymilesmatter.com/peopleschoice.

Fans can vote for their favorite tractor once a day from September 30 through October 10 at mymilesmatter.com/supertractors/peopleschoice. The contestant who receives the most fan votes will be contacted directly by an authorized representative. Farmer Grayce will announce the news via Shell Rotella social media channels on National Farmer's Day – October 12.

"Farmers inherently understand hard work, investing immeasurable hours to cultivate the crops that nourish people across North America," said Julie Wright, North American brand manager, Shell Rotella. "To honor these agricultural heroes in the weeks leading up to National Farmer’s Day, we aim to highlight the immense pride they take in their work and machinery through our annual SuperTractors contest.”

Key Dates:
    •  Participants can enter the competition during the following time frame:
          o    Start date: September 18 - 12:00 p.m. CT
          o    End date: September 29 - 5:00 p.m. CT
    •  Consumer voting will last for ten days:
          o    Start date: September 30 - 10:00 a.m. CT
          o    End Date: October 10 – 8:00 a.m. CT

Shell Rotella is committed to supporting the dedication of farmers. Shell Rotella SuperTractors seeks to recognize the importance of hardworking people who help keep North America moving forward.

For the full Shell Rotella SuperTractors terms and conditions, visit mymilesmatter.com/supertractors/rules. For more information about Shell Rotella products, visit www.rotella.com. Be sure to follow Shell Rotella on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional updates and photos from the competition. Join the conversation using the hashtag #SuperTractors.



Smithfield Employees Donate More Than 25,000 Pounds of Food to Support Feeding America During Hunger Action Month

Smithfield Foods’ U.S. employees collected more than 25,000 pounds of food to support hunger relief during Hunger Action Month, Feeding America’s annual nationwide campaign to inspire conversation and drive passion for the issue of hunger. The equivalent of more than 21,000 meals, these donations will support food banks and hunger relief programs in Smithfield’s local communities across the Unites States.

“Feeding the hungry is at the core of our philanthropic efforts,” said Jonathan Toms, senior community development manager for Smithfield Foods. “Each year, our Smithfield team members demonstrate through our Hunger Action Month food drive that they believe in our mission to fight hunger and food insecurity. It is remarkable to see how passionately they give back to support the communities we call home.”

“We are incredibly thankful to Smithfield and their team members for their generous contributions, both during Hunger Action Month and throughout the year,” said Joe Weeden, senior director, commodity foods for Feeding America. “Our efforts to feed our neighbors facing food insecurity would not be possible without our partners like Smithfield. These donations of nonperishable food items, along with Smithfield’s frequent donations of protein, go a long way in helping the Feeding America network address hunger across the country.”

Feeding America estimates approximately one in six people turned to charitable food assistance for additional support in 2022. A recent Feeding America survey found that 80% of network food banks reported either increased or steady demand for emergency food services in June 2023.

Smithfield supports Feeding America’s network of food banks throughout the year with its signature hunger-relief initiative program, Helping Hungry Homes®. Since 2008, the program has provided hundreds of millions of protein servings to fight hunger in all 50 U.S. states, as well as in Poland, Romania and Mexico. In 2022, Smithfield donated nearly 25 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs across the U.S. and has pledged to donate 200 million servings of protein by 2025.