Monday October 30 Harvest Progress + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 29, 2023, there were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 20% very short, 29% short, 47% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 27% very short, 35% short, 36% adequate, and 2% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn harvested was 76%, near 78% last year, but ahead of 65% for the five-year average.

Soybeans harvested was 92%, near 96% last year and 90% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 6% very poor, 15% poor, 38% fair, 32% good, and 9% excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 95%, near 93% last year, and ahead of 90% average.

Sorghum harvested was 69%, near 72% last year and 68% average.

Dry edible beans harvested was 97%.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 6% very poor, 11% poor, 32% fair, 40% good, and 11% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

Moderate rainfall during the week slowed harvest in some areas as Iowa’s farmers had an average of 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 29, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, completing fall tillage, applying fall fertilizer, baling stalks, and hauling manure.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 12 percent very short, 35 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 25 percent very short, 42 percent short, 31 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Corn harvested for grain reached 77 percent statewide, 1 day ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain remained steady at 17 percent.

Soybeans harvested reached 93 percent, on pace with last year but 8 days ahead of the average.

Pasture condition improved slightly to 20 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as generally good but getting water to pastured cattle continued to be an issue for some producers.



USDA Crop Progress Report: Corn 71% Harvested, Soybeans 85% Harvested as of Oct. 29

Despite heavy precipitation that fell over much of the Plains and Midwest last week, the U.S. corn and soybean harvests overall managed to stay ahead of the five-year averages, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.

CORN
-- Harvest progress: Corn harvest moved ahead 12 percentage points to reach 71% complete as of Sunday. That is 3 percentage points behind last year's pace of 74% but still 5 percentage points ahead of 66% for the five-year average.

SOYBEANS
-- Harvest progress: Soybean harvest progressed 9 percentage points to reach 85% complete as of Sunday. That is 2 points behind last year's 87% but 7 points ahead of the five-year average of 78%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting advanced 7 percentage points last week to reach 84% complete as of Sunday. That is 2 percentage points behind last year's 86% and 1 point behind the five-year average of 85%.
-- Crop progress: 64% of the crop had emerged as of Sunday, 4 points ahead of last year's 60% but equal to the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: In its first condition rating for the 2024 crop, USDA NASS rated winter wheat condition at 47% good to excellent, up from 28% at this time a year ago. Kansas' winter wheat was rated 32% good to excellent.


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NE Corn Board to Meet

The Nebraska Corn Board will hold its next meeting on November 20-21, 2023, at The Cornhusker Marriott (333 South 13th Street) in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Nebraska Corn Board will have a joint meeting with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association on the afternoon of November 20 through the morning of November 21. The board will then address regular board business on the afternoon of November 21.

The meeting is open to the public, providing the opportunity for public comment. A copy of the agenda is available by writing to the Nebraska Corn Board, 245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 204, Lincoln, NE 68521, sending an email to renee.tichota@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2676.



DWFI lands $19 million grant to advance global food security

The University of Nebraska’s Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute has received a $19 million federal grant to coordinate a global network of partner organizations to achieve sustainable irrigation and agricultural mechanization by small farmers in developing countries — a goal crucial to meeting the world’s growing food demand.

The world’s population is heading toward a projected 10 billion by 2050, up from the current 8 billion. Adoption of sustainable irrigation and agricultural mechanization by small farm operators is a key tool for reaching the needed production increase, the World Bank and other international development organizations have said.

In recognition of that need, the U.S. Agency for International Development has selected the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute to lead a global, multi-partner collaboration focusing on smallholder irrigation and mechanization needs. The project will pursue a comprehensive approach encompassing not only direct technical aspects of irrigation and agricultural mechanization, but a set of practical, related issues that must be addressed if developing countries are to achieve long-term success in managing water to enable food security.

Examples of such needs include workforce development for the manufacturing, installation and maintenance of irrigation equipment; efficient collaboration with private-sector companies; public health considerations; and climate sustainability.

A central goal of the initiative is resilience — a producer’s ability to continue operation, and provide food and income, in the face of disruptions such as climate change or economic downturns. The project will look at the range of challenges for smallholder production, for rainfed fields, as well as those with full irrigation, including study of water security and management beyond the field scale, to include watershed conditions.

The project will draw on the relevant expertise from the institute’s 130 faculty fellows across the university system. The Water, Climate and Health program from the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center will be among the partner organizations providing input on public health matters. The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln also provides a resource for climate analysis.

“This project incorporates many urgent issues under the umbrella of irrigation and mechanization, and it is all interconnected,” said Nicole Lefore, who will direct the institute’s Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization created by the grant. Lefore is the institute’s associate director of sustainable agriculture water management.

Women account for a large portion of small farmers in the developing world, and this initiative aims to increase economic opportunity in agriculture and food systems for women and young people.

“From workforce development to watershed/basin management to the changing dynamics of women in agriculture, the relationships are there,” Lefore said.

Nepal, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Honduras and Guatemala will be countries of specific focus initially for the DWFI project, along with the East Africa and Southern Africa regions generally.

World Bank analysis has pointed to the global need regarding sustainable irrigation. Across Africa, “less than 10% of arable land is irrigated, which means little insurance against erratic rains and climate shocks,” the World Bank reports. “Lack of irrigation puts at risk the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers and their families across the continent.”

DWFI’s strengths lend themselves well to such a comprehensive project. The institute’s scientific work on water issues and irrigation is internationally known and respected. The institute has strong international partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies and private-sector companies, and is conducting projects in dozens of countries worldwide. Two of the institute’s current partners, the International Food Policy Research Institute and the International Water Management Institute, will be key participants in this new initiative.

“We have the existing networks and connections, plus the expertise of the university system as a whole,” Lefore said.

DWFI faculty have expertise in a wealth of water management and irrigation issues. Lefore, for example, has longstanding experience on irrigation issues working with academia and the private sector. She is a specialist on irrigation challenges facing smallholder farmers in developing countries, having lived in developing nations for more than 20 years with a focus on these issues. Nebraska’s private sector, meanwhile, has long been a global leader in irrigation.

“Throughout its history, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has focused on meeting producers where they are and collaborating to improve yield, profitability and resilience,” said Mike Boehm, NU vice president and Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute is the piece of UNL that expands this important work and works with producers far beyond Nebraska. DWFI’s work is global, scalable and incredibly producer focused. DWFI is a wonderful fit for this project, and I’m eager to see this work benefit producers and bolster food security.”

The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, with more than 13 years of experience in global water and food security issues, has demonstrated strength in the issues involved in this new project. The funding will now allow the institute to collaboratively scale versions of that work beyond Nebraska and onto the global stage.

“This is an especially significant investment in securing water and increasing productivity in smallholder agriculture around the world and, along with our partners, delivering on our mission of a water- and food-secure world,” said DWFI Executive Director Peter McCornick.

“This is a remarkable achievement for the University of Nebraska and our entire state that demonstrates, yet again, Nebraska’s leadership role in ensuring a food- and water-secure world,” said NU system President Ted Carter. “And it’s further evidence of the impact and success that are possible when we bring the combined strengths of our campuses together. I could not be prouder of the University of Nebraska faculty, staff, students and partners whose commitment and expertise made this award possible, and of the lives that will continue to be transformed for the better because of their work.”

The $19 million is for a five-year period, with a potential to expand the program with more activities up to $40 million. The DWFI project is part of a USAID initiative funding a series of Feed the Future Innovation Labs addressing a range of challenges for global food security and nutrition.

“Feed the Future Innovation Labs are driving novel solutions to the increasingly complex challenges we face today,” said Dina Esposito, Feed the Future deputy coordinator and USAID’s assistant to the administrator for resilience, environment and food security. “Advancing this research is key to equipping small-scale farmers with the tools they need to boost yields, use resources more efficiently and be more resilient to shocks.”



Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Accepting Entries for Fall 2023

When the Iowa Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity began in 1982 in western Iowa, the name was self-explanatory. Much like many other feedout programs of the day, the program covered a local geographical area and producers entered just a few head each. The winner received a $1,000 check and bragging rights for a year.

But early on, Iowa State University extension livestock specialist Darrell Busby and the directing board of cow-calf producers saw greater potential, said current TCSCF manager Catherine Hoffmann.

"The real awakening was after the third year, when one of the board members had won the $1,000," she said. "Darrell said, ‘I think we should give the person in last place the $1,000 so he could go out and buy a better bull.'"

At that point, the program focus shifted to identifying factors that influence profitability. Vaccination and weaning programs may seem standardized now, but they were among the first recommendations to surface from the futurity’s growing database.

Today, more than 40 individual data points are collected on each animal entered. Everything is recorded, from breed type and birth date to temperament and carcass data, allowing for several after-the-fact analyses. This information helps everyone in the beef business.

There is literally no lower limit on consignment size. But as a practical matter, most participants send a stock trailer load or two, ranging all the way up to one ranch that places more than 200 head in futurity feedlots. Everyone gets the same reports and has equal opportunity to make changes in their herds.
 
“That’s really the heart of the program,” Hoffmann said. “Cow-calf producers provide as much detail as they can, the feedlots report their information, and the futurity puts it all together. Then it’s disseminated back to all those parties on an individual level and shared in general terms with the entire industry."
           
TCSCF is not just about the livestock, she said. It’s about people helping each other solve problems, create opportunities and learn that better management pays. It produces healthier, more docile cattle with a lower cost of production, along with higher quality beef that earns a premium for the producer.

"Nobody gets a $1,000-winner check anymore, but many producers who have implemented what they learned are reaping greater rewards," Hoffmann said. "Now it’s in a form more consistent with the real-world feeding environment: premiums paid for their end product."

TCSCF is currently accepting entries for delivery this fall. For more information, visit the program website www.tcscf.com or contact Hoffmann at 712-769-2600.



Pro Ag Outlook and Management Series to Offer Insight into 2024

Farmers and the ag industry will get an in-depth look into 2024 during this year’s Pro Ag Outlook and Management Webinar Series, Nov.13-17 https://www.aep.iastate.edu/proag/.

Five webinars will be offered, designed to provide participants with a concise evaluation of current market conditions, expected trends in crop and livestock income potential, and management implications.

All webinars will run from noon to 1 p.m. Central time, with a live question and answer session following each presentation.

“We are looking forward to the lineup of experts on our webinar series this year,” said Ann Johanns, program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Each speaker brings a unique topic and perspective to the program. Bobby Martens starts our series off focusing specifically on Iowa agribusinesses and issues impacting them going into 2024, and our newest faculty member, Rabail Chandio, will share a detailed analysis of who owns Iowa farmland – and how the state’s ownership structure impacts many facets of this industry.”

In addition to Martens and Chandio, presentations will include “The interaction of USDA programs and carbon payment,” by Alejandro Plastina, extension economist; “Livestock Outlook and profit potential for beef, pork and other Iowa industries,” by Lee Schulz, extension livestock economist; and “Crop markets for 2024 and beyond,” by Chad Hart, extension economist and crop markets specialist.

“This is a great opportunity for agribusiness professionals and producers alike to hear research on issues impacting their businesses across the state in a convenient and timely method,” continued Johanns.

Programs will be available for on-demand viewing the day following the live broadcast. Registration is $20 and includes access to the five live programs and archived recordings. Viewing of live and recorded programs is through a web browser. No additional software downloads are needed.

For more information, Johanns can be reached at 515-337-2766 or aholste@iastate.edu



Women in Ag Leadership Conference Registration Is Live

The seventh annual Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Leadership Conference is Nov. 29-30 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. The conference takes place Nov. 29 from 1-8 p.m. and Nov. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The conference theme, “Cultivating Confidence, Harvesting Happiness,” reflects the dedication of women to the agricultural industry.

“I’m proud of the advisory committee’s work to bring women a conference that reflects the world we live in today,” said Madeline Schultz, ISU Women in Ag program manager. “Our remarkable speakers are ready to share leadership knowledge and skills women can apply to help them succeed,”

The advisory committee designed a powerful program to arm women in agribusiness, farm women, students and others with tools to help them be successful leaders in their agricultural careers, communities, farms and families. Through tours, workshops, panel discussions and more, this year’s event fosters inspiration, mentorship and new skill sets.

Sara Wyant, founder of Agri-Pulse Communications, will keynote the conference. “Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed to have Iowa farm women as my mentors who gave me valuable insight and inspiration that was so helpful,” said Wyant.

Straight from Capitol Hill, Wyant will bring the latest news on the Farm Bill to women in Iowa during her breakout sessions.

The conference opens with Andrea Flemming, a dynamic young farmer and founder of That Fit Agvocate. In this interactive session, she’ll inspire women to cultivate confidence. In her  breakout session, Flemming will focus on building brands. Ruth Hambleton, founder of Annie’s Project – Education for Farm Women, will close the conference with her message on harvesting happiness with 20 years of Annie’s Project.

The luncheon panel brings together talented board leaders from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association and Agribusiness Association of Iowa, to share their leadership journey and the issues important to them. Other panel discussions center on farmland ownership, financing business start-ups and career advice.

Featured speakers include author and professional mediator Kiley Fleming, corporate recruiter Laura Bloome, farmer and experienced cattle and grain marketer Lynn Martz, and other passionate professionals. Refer to the websites below for a comprehensive list of speakers and the complete agenda.

Early bird registration is available through Nov. 10 and saves attendees $20. Regular registration is $140 for adults and $80 for students. Single-day registration is also available.  Register online at www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag. Scholarships may be requested. Farm Credit Services of America is a major sponsor.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Program improves the quality of life in Iowa by providing research-based educational programs to expand agricultural enterprise, improve natural resource management and support the community of women in agriculture. Visit www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag to learn more about the leadership conference and the other women-centered programs offered.



At 2023 Laureate Ceremony, World Food Prize Foundation Announces New $500,000 Prize Amount for Award

At its annual Laureate Award Ceremony, the World Food Prize Foundation surprised 2023 Laureate, Heidi Kühn, with the announcement of a doubling of prize amount to $500,000, up from $250,000 in previous years.

The ceremony, held at the Iowa State Capitol building, is frequently referred to as “the Nobel Prize for Agriculture” and is held in parallel with the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, which drew over 1,300 participants from more than 75 countries this year.

The World Food Prize Foundation announced the increased prize award in recognition of the lifelong impact that Laureates have achieved through their work. The increased cash prize will continue to be awarded to future Laureates.

In receiving the 2023 World Food Prize, Kühn said, “I accept this award on behalf of our Kühn family and farmers and families living in war-torn countries worldwide. Yet, as I stand here today, the ravages of war echo from multiple continents. This is not an award to place on a shelf—but a battle cry for the importance of cultivating peace through agriculture.”

This year's special performer was two-time Grammy award winner and multi-platinum singer Colbie Caillat, who has accumulated over 15 billion streams worldwide with her debut album Coco.

The 2023 World Food Prize was formally awarded to Kühn during the 2023 International Borlaug Dialogue, whose theme "Harnessing Change" focused on the role of innovation, adaptation, and diversification to improve the resilience of food systems, recover from shocks, and sustainably nourish all people.

The event also included high-level speakers from around the world, including the Presidents of Ethiopia and Kosovo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Ministers from Guyana, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia.

Ambassador Terry Branstad, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, said, “Perhaps at no other time in history has there been so much attention focused on our global food system. The decisions and commitments we make today will equip us to rise to the challenge of nourishing a growing global population. It is only by embracing innovation that we can overcome the many challenges facing the sector.”

Kühn, the founder of the non-profit Roots of Peace, was awarded the World Food Prize for her efforts in turning “mines into vines” by demining war torn land and turning it back into prosperous farmland for local agriculture to flourish.

Kühn’s work has supported demining partners in Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Croatia, Israel, Iraq, Palestinian areas, and Vietnam, allowing local farmers safe access to irrigation canals and arable land for cultivation. Most recently, Roots of Peace has partnered with the Rotary Club of Ukraine to begin work in the country, where the UN estimates around 30 percent of the country’s land could be mined as a result of the ongoing conflict.



Branstad, Westman to Receive USMEF Awards

Terry Branstad, former U.S. ambassador to China and longtime governor of Iowa, has been  selected to receive the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s (USMEF) Michael J. Mansfield Award. USMEF established this award in recognition of the U.S. Senate majority leader and ambassador to Japan whose five decades of government service advanced U.S. trade relations throughout the world.

Bill Westman will receive the USMEF Distinguished Service Award. This award honors outstanding figures in the red meat industry who exemplify the exceptional, individual dedication responsible for the federation’s success. Westman had a 29-year career with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), served as senior vice president of international affairs for the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and is now president of William Westman and Associates LLC, a boutique consulting firm specializing in agricultural trade policy, export market development, and strategic planning.

The awards will be presented Nov. 9 at the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference in New Orleans.

In both his role as ambassador and as Iowa’s governor, advancing U.S. agricultural exports was a top priority for Branstad.  

“When given a level playing field, U.S. farmers and ranchers will thrive in the international marketplace,” Branstad said. “This is why it is so important to eliminate trade barriers and give our agricultural producers a fair opportunity to compete. I am proud to have played some role in improving global market access for American products and it has been gratifying to see U.S. agriculture capitalize on these opportunities.”

It was during Branstad’s time heading the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that the U.S. and China entered the Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement, which gave U.S. beef its first meaningful access to the market in 17 years. The agreement also reduced barriers for U.S. pork exports to China.

“Phase One was a critical breakthrough for the U.S. meat industry and I had the pleasure of working with USMEF on some promotional activities right after the agreement entered into force,” Branstad said. “It was exciting to see firsthand how Chinese consumers welcomed the long-awaited arrival of U.S. beef.”  

Westman’s time as an FAS foreign service officer included postings in China, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Germany, Brazil and Venezuela. He also served as interim agricultural attaché for Colombia. Westman said it is gratifying to see the remarkable expansion of U.S. red meat exports to many of these markets as trade barriers were reduced and consumers gained greater access to U.S. products.   

“When I worked in the Caribbean islands, there was a little bit of the hotel restaurant trade but the general markets were pretty much closed and the tourism industry was really just developing in the Dominican Republic,” Westman recalled. “Today the DR and Colombia are tremendous markets for U.S. red meat, and demand is expanding throughout Central America as well. This is the result of great persistence and collaboration, with everyone working together on trade policy, which has really made a difference in expanding the footprint of U.S. red meat internationally.”

Westman said this experience served him well at NAMI, where he continued to identify global growth opportunities and worked to overcome trade barriers.

“Our focus at NAMI was largely trade policy from the Washington perspective, working closely with USTR, USDA and Capitol Hill, and providing information and guidance for trade negotiators,” he said. “We worked very closely with USMEF staff to make sure we had the right information and market intelligence we needed from overseas. That close working relationship was key to our success.”

Westman sees his consulting role as an opportunity to further advance global opportunities for the entire U.S. meat supply chain.

“We're now looking at things from a bit of a different perspective in terms of the nexus between economic and agricultural development in key markets that are the future, as well as opportunities for red meat exports,” he said. “Across Africa, for example, we feel the next 15 years is going to provide tremendous opportunities for U.S. exporters. And we actually came up with an emerging markets program for Kenya, for livestock and meat processing development, because it's been shown that countries that have strong agriculture have strong economies, and they become good markets for our products. So this is really a long-term outlook that has allowed me to keep active in the meat industry and continue to do what I can to help it expand.”



Applications open for 2024 Young Cattlemen’s Conference

Each year, the Angus Foundation supports tomorrow’s beef leaders by sponsoring one individual to represent the Angus breed at the Young Cattlemen’s Conference. The educational event, spearheaded by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, is planned for May 30 to June 6, 2024. Applications for the Angus Foundation’s spot on the trip can be found on the Angus Foundation website and are due Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.

YCC is a program developed for up-and-coming cattle producers who are interested in seeing every part of the supply chain from production to marketing, to Capitol Hill. The primary objective is to develop leadership qualities in young cattlemen and women and expose them to all aspects of the beef industry while building their professional network.

“We’re proud to offer this unique learning opportunity to our Association’s young cattlemen,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “YCC is an incredible experience and allows attendees to grow as beef industry leaders while forming meaningful relationships with their peers.”

The sponsored attendee will have registration and travel costs covered by the Angus Foundation. Applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 50 and in good standing with American Angus Associationâ and a member of NCBA. For more information, visit NCBA at Beefusa.org or the Angus Foundation website.

Gabriel Connealy of Whitman, Nebraska, represented the Angus breed at the 2023 Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC).

“I’m honored and humbled to be able to represent the Angus breed and Angus Foundation at YCC,” Connealy said. “I’d like to give a sincere thank you to the Association and the Foundation for the opportunity. There are many great young people in our breed, and I would encourage each and every one of them to apply for YCC.”

Connealy is well versed in both involvement and history within the Angus breed. Growing up in Nebraska on his family’s Angus seedstock operation, Connealy Angus, he developed a passion for the industry and desire to assist the family business. This led him to obtain his bachelor’s degree in finance and later his master’s degree, with an emphasis in animal breeding and genetics, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). In addition to managing the family herd of 3,000 registered Angus cows, Connealy is a member of NCBA, has served as an Angus Convention voting delegate and played an integral role in the startup of his local Grant County Nebraska Farm Bureau chapter. His hunger for knowledge and dedication to the industry made YCC the ideal learning opportunity. Connealy emphasized the uniqueness of this experience, which allowed him to connect with and learn from fellow cattlemen from a variety of backgrounds.

“Truly, the highlight of the trip was the other participants from around the nation,” Connealy said. “I was exposed to aspects of our industry that I knew little about and made many friends that I hope to keep in touch with and trade lessons with for years to come.”
For more information and to download the application, visit AngusFoundation.org.



FieldView and Combyne platform integration helps farmers better manage grain marketing and build profitability insights

Climate FieldViewTM, the flagship digital farming product from Bayer, has announced a platform integration with Combyne, its recently acquired crop marketing management tool.

Through this new capability, grain farmers in Canada and the United States will be able to connect their agronomic data in FieldView to their marketing data in Combyne, enabling them to make more informed decisions.

Data insights are becoming an important part of modern farming, and FieldView is helping farmers collect and analyze data, providing accurate tracking from seed to harvest so they can better understand crop input performance and overall yield results. Now farmers have the option to transfer accurate seeded acres and yield metrics from FieldView, making it easier to track the total bushels they have to market and associated marketing insights through Combyne, without needing to export, upload, and enter their data twice.

"From crop planning through crop marketing, farmers should be able to connect digital platforms that support their operations,” said Brandon Rinkenberger, Chief Customer Officer for Climate LLC and Digital Farming at Bayer. “The new integration between Combyne and FieldView provides our customers with further capabilities to put their data to work – saving time by eliminating double data entry, increasing confidence when making timely sale decisions, and ultimately improving marketing outcomes for farmers.”

Combyne is a crop marketing record-keeping and decision-making support tool that consolidates key information related to grain storage balances, contracts, deliveries, and settlements across multiple buyers, and net overall marketed positions per crop. Once initiated by a farmer, Combyne’s platform can now incorporate actual in-field data from FieldView for a fuller and more accurate picture of current year harvest totals and projections for future years to easily update crop contract and storage positions, and enable up-to-date crop marketing decisions. Combyne also allows farmers to manage all their grain trade documents in one place so they have a clear view on their contractual commitments, delivery statuses, storage positions, and cash flow projections from grain sales, making it easier to manage contract risk and delivery logistics.

“With accurate bushel quantities populating your marketed positions, you can better manage things like how forward contracted you are, how much of your harvest is already committed, and where things stand when it comes to your storage and deliveries” said Combyne Ag CEO Alain Goubau. “By working with FieldView, delivered grain outcomes in Combyne can eventually be connected back to the fields they originated from and the management choices made on those fields, for better mapping of quality specs such as grade and dockage from delivered loads. This also lays the foundation for field-level profitability insights – mapping actual revenue from sold crops against cost of production per field.”

FieldView is a global, industry-leading digital platform. Through its suite of easy-to-use data visualization and analysis tools, farmers have a single platform to unite data from each piece of their precision equipment and access those insights from anywhere with a smartphone, tablet device or computer, giving farmers a deeper understanding of their fields so they can make more informed operating decisions to optimize yields & maximize efficiency. Contact your local FieldView dealer or visit climatefieldview.ca (Canada) or fieldview.com (United States) for more information.



 Syngenta Group recognized as top agriculture employer for the seventh consecutive year in 2023

Syngenta Group is honored to again be recognized as one of the globe’s top five leading employers in the 2023 Science Careers Top Employers Survey, reflecting its ongoing commitment to its employees, research and development, collaboration, and innovation leadership.

“We are excited that Syngenta Group is again being named as the #1 agricultural employer,” says Trevor Hohls, Global Head of Seeds Development.  “We pride ourselves on the common vision of becoming the most diverse, trusted, and innovative team committed to driving farmer success. This consecutive recognition is an amazing tribute to all our employees who live this mission every single day.”

Syngenta Group employs 59,000 people across more than 100 countries and works everyday towards the ever-challenging goal of feeding the 8 billion people on Earth.

Recently, Syngenta Seeds held a grand opening for its R&D Innovation Center in Malta, Illinois, which joins a connected, modern ecosystem of more than 150 Syngenta R&D and production sites worldwide and exemplifies the company’s $1.48 billion USD annual investment globally.

“A key to the success of this new, and our others, facility will be attracting and keeping top talent,” says Warren Kruger, Head of Field Crops Seeds Development, North America at Syngenta.  “It starts with providing a work environment that is both challenging and rewarding, giving teams access to the latest technology, and providing support from a leadership team that values, promotes, and recognizes innovation.”

“We understand that if we want to be an innovation powerhouse, the effort will be driven by inventors, entrepreneurs, and researchers in both the public and private sectors who want to collaborate with Syngenta and bring new approaches and solutions to each field across the globe,” adds Hohls. “As we synchronize facilities and bring together the world’s best talent, we really are creating a brighter future.”

Investing in innovation and exceptional talent has been a driver of growth for Syngenta Group in recent years and will continue to play a critical role in the future. Syngenta has been exploring developing technologies like AI, machine learning and deep learning, and the value they can bring to agriculture.

“To achieve our goals, our scientific teams must continue to seek better ways to master our craft and hone our skills,” said Hohls. “This is essential as we pursue the advancements and innovations that will be necessary to meet the nutritional requirements of a growing world population and do it in a way that is sustainable for future generations.”

Friday October 27 Ag News

Fischer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Recognize Benefits of Biofuels, Promote Efficient Farming

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, recently co-led the reintroduction of the Adopt Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Act. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all renewable fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Specifically, the bill would require EPA to apply the Argonne National Lab’s GREET Model to any fuel for which EPA has approved a pathway and deemed qualified for the RFS. EPA would then be required to update its modeling every five years or report to Congress to affirm its modeling is current or otherwise explain why no updates were made. U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led the introduction of the legislation.

“The biofuels industry is on the frontlines of innovation, and it’s critical that the EPA’s modeling is updated to reflect the latest science and technology — including in the biofuels industry. Our bipartisan legislation would ensure that the EPA is using the GREET Model to more efficiently and accurately recognize how biofuels can be a source of clean, homegrown energy,” said Senator Fischer.

In addition to Senators Fischer, Thune, and Klobuchar, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

The legislation is supported by Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, POET, the National Corn Growers Association, Gevo, and the National Oilseed Processors Association.

Background:
In June, Senator Fischer co-led the introduction of the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023. The legislation would require the federal government to use the most up-to-date lifecycle emissions models, including the GREET model, for sustainable aviation fuels.

In July, Senator Fischer secured language in the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act directing the EPA to update emissions modeling for biofuels to more accurately capture environmental benefits using the GREET model.



Upcoming Nebraska Agriculture Conventions

Nebraska Farm Bureau Convention (Dec. 3-5)
Nebraska Farm Bureau is excited to announce the dates and venue for its 106th annual state meeting and convention. The event will take place from December 3rd to 5th at the Younes Conference Center South in Kearney. Here's a glimpse of what's in store:

• December 3: The convention kicks off with a Young Farmer and Rancher committee meeting and collegiate fellowship registration. The Young Farmer and Rancher collegiate discussion meet is set to spark lively discussions.

Registration for convention and voting delegates takes place in the afternoon, followed by a special reception for past state board, state committee, and Leadership Academy members in the evening.

• December 4: The excitement continues with morning registration and the start of the trade show. Engage in discussion meet rounds and workshops throughout the day. Don't miss the tentative FBI cyberthreat seminar. After a hearty lunch, the president's annual address awaits, along with a keynote speaker, more workshops, and discussion meet round two. The day concludes with the member benefit recognition reception and the elegant Grower's Gala.

• December 5: The final day of the convention begins with a Farm Bureau breakfast and important sessions for new delegates and young leaders. Voting delegates have their general session in the morning, followed by another session in the afternoon. The grand finale is the annual Farm Bureau Banquet and Silver Eagle presentation in the evening.

For more details, visit nefb.org/convention.

Nebraska Cattlemen Convention (Dec. 6-8)
Hot on the heels of the Nebraska Farm Bureau convention, the Nebraska Cattlemen annual convention and trade show is set for December 6th to 8th at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. This gathering is a must for all Nebraska Cattlemen members and supporters. Here's what to expect:

• Trade Show: Explore a diverse trade show, attend committee meetings, and take part in educational workshops.

• Networking: Connect with fellow industry enthusiasts and contribute to shaping policy direction for the beef industry in Nebraska.

• Fun Together: Enjoy fun activities that strengthen the bonds within the cattle industry community.

To learn more, visit nebraskacattlemen.org.

Nebraska Farmers Union Convention (Dec. 8-9)
Nebraska Farmers Union invites its members to convene at the Divots Convention Center and Norfolk Lodge and Suites in Norfolk, Nebraska, on December 8th and 9th for their 2023 state convention. Here's what's on the agenda:

• Elections: The convention will host elections for various positions, including state president, NeFU board of directors, and National Farmers Union convention delegates.

• Meetings and Speakers: Engage in committee and board of directors meetings, hear from speakers, participate in policy development, and network with fellow members.

The convention begins at 9 a.m. on December 8th and promises enriching experiences for all attendees. For additional information, visit nebraskafarmersunion.org.

Don't miss these upcoming agricultural gatherings, where you can connect with like-minded individuals, gain valuable insights, and contribute to the agricultural community in Nebraska.



USDA Appoints New Members to Food Safety Advisory Committee

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the appointment of 21 new members and nine returning members to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). The purpose of the committee is to provide impartial scientific advice and recommendations to federal food safety agencies that assures the safety of foods.

Members of the committee are chosen based on their expertise in microbiology, risk assessment, epidemiology, public health, food science and other relevant disciplines. One individual affiliated with a consumer group is included in the membership of the committee and five members are federal government employees representing the five federal agencies involved in NACMCF. The activities of NACMCF are carried out, in part, by subcommittees that are focused on specific areas being considered by the full committee.

“NACMCF members bring a wealth of expertise and dedication to the critical mission of ensuring the safety of our nation’s meat and poultry products,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Their contributions will help us continue to strengthen our nation’s food supply and protect the health and well-being of American consumers.”

NACMCF has made important contributions to a broad range of critical food safety issues. The committee reports provide current information and scientific advice to federal food safety agencies and serve as a foundation for regulations and programs aimed at reducing foodborne disease and enhancing public health. Federal food safety agencies involved with NACMCF are USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Department of Defense Veterinary Services.

The newly appointed NACMCF members to serve a two-year term are:
    Dr. Bledar Bisha. University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
    Dr. Heather Carleton. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
    Dr. Anna Carlson. Cargill Protein, Wichita, Kansas
    Dr. Hayriye Cetin-Karaca. Smithfield Foods, Springdale, Ohio
    Dr. Ben Chapman. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
    Dr. Vik Dutta. bioMérieux, Chicago, Illinois
    Dr. Larry Figgs. Douglas County Health Dept., Omaha, Nebraska
    Dr. David Goldman. Groundswell Strategy, Arlington, Virginia
    Dr. Michael Hansen. Consumer Reports, Yonkers, New York
    Dr. Arie Havelaar. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
    Dr. Ramin Khaksar. Clear Labs, San Carlos, California
    Lieutenant Colonel Noel Kubat. Department of Defense, U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, Fort Knox, Kentucky
    Dr. KatieRose McCullough. North American Meat Institute, Washington, D.C.
    Dr. Indaue Giriboni de Mello. Newman’s Own, Westport, Connecticut
    Dr. Eric Moorman. Butterball, LLC, Garner, North Carolina
    Dr. Abani Pradhan. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
    Mr. Shivrajsinh Rana. Reckitt, Parsippany, New Jersey
    Dr. Marcos Sanchez Plata. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
    Dr. Kristin Schill. University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
    Dr. Nikki Shariat. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
    Dr. Abigail Snyder. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

The returning NACMCF members are:
    Dr. Yaohua (Betty) Feng. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
    Ms. Janell Kause. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Washington, D.C.
    Dr. Elisabetta Lambertini. Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Washington, D.C.
    Ms. Shannara Lynn. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Seafood Inspection Laboratory, Pascagoula, Mississippi
    Dr. Maxim Teplitski. International Fresh Produce Association, Washington, D.C.
    Dr. Bing Wang. University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
    Dr. Benjamin Warren. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland
    Dr. Randy Worobo. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
    Dr. Teshome Yehualaeshet. Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama

NACMCF will hold a virtual public meeting of the full committee and subcommittees from November 14, 2023, to November 16, 2023. In addition to welcoming the new members, the committee will introduce a new charge from FSIS on genomic characterization of pathogens and continue working on the response to the FDA’s charge on Cronobacter spp. in Powdered Infant Formula. More details about NACMCF charges are available on the FSIS website. You may also register to attend the NACMCF meeting, on FSIS’ website.



Armstrong Research Farm to Host Cattle Feeders Camp

Building on the continued success of the Iowa Beef Center's Feedlot Short Course, a regional version has been created to provide a similar opportunity for southwest Iowa producers. The Cattle Feeders Camp will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Wallace Learning Center at the Armstrong Memorial Research Farm near Lewis and the nearby JW Freunds Farms feedlot. Registration is $250, and will be capped at 30 participants.

"While this program is not quite as long as the Feedlot Short Course, we're packing a lot of information, activity and discussion into the two days," said Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, presenter and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist. "Plus, our limited size of 30 attendees allows us to provide optimal hands-on opportunities and small group learning."

The program runs from 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, through 2:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1. Weather makeup dates are Dec. 7-8, same times and location.

The event begins with classroom sessions on starting cattle on feed and preparing calves for the feedlot. After lunch is a feed mixing demonstration and presentation on pros and cons of feedlot types, followed by a social hour and dinner. Friday morning features a session on ingredients for a recipe for profitability, research update on feeding beef-dairy steers and farm demonstrations on managing foot health and bunk scoring. Following lunch participants will learn about facility designs and join in discussion about the camp.

This year's presenters are:
    Robbi Pritchard, feedlot consultant, Aurora, South Dakota.
    Dan Thomson, professor of animal science, Iowa State University.
    Dan Loy, animal science professor emeritus, Iowa State University.
    Garland Dahlke, research scientist, Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University.
    Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist, Iowa Beef Center.

More information can be found on the event flyer. Registration is $250 per person and will be closed Nov. 22. This program is limited to 30 participants.

Participants are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements, if needed. A block of rooms is available at the Rock Island Inn & Suites in Atlantic, 1702 SW 7th St. Reservations must be made by Nov. 15 to get the discounted rate ($99 + tax per night). The block is under “Iowa State University Feedlot Meeting." Reserve directly with the hotel at https://www.atlanticrockislandinn.com/

See the short course website for registration information, requirements, and links at https://www.aep.iastate.edu/camp.  

Thursday October 26 Ag News

 State Land Judging Competition Challenges Youth near Broken Bow

Students and instructors from 40 high schools met near Broken Bow to compete in State Land Judging Oct. 25. The Lower Loup Natural Resources District (NRD) partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to host the annual competition.

With foggy skies and damp conditions, students judged on a terraced landscape currently enrolled in the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

“As Nebraska’s largest Natural Resources District, which stretches from the eastern Sandhills in the west to fertile farm ground in the east, the soil types within the Lower Loup NRD are diverse,” said Lower Loup NRD General Manager Russell Callan. “Getting Nebraska’s high school students out onto the landscape is a great way for them to learn about our state’s natural resources. We were honored to host the 2023 Nebraska State Land Judging Contest and congratulate all the students from across Nebraska who took part.”

Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Teams consist of four students from the same FFA chapter, and a few individuals who qualified separate from a team. Each participant learns how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship.

During the competition, students judge four soil pits using an evaluation card to make assessments on: soil depth, surface texture, permeability, slope, thickness of surface and erosion. The evaluation card is scored to determine overall placements for individuals and the team. To compete in the state contest, teams advance from one of the seven regional competitions hosted across the state in October.

2023 State Land Judging Individual Champions:
    Isaiah Neal, Alma
    Isabel Cressler, The Career Academy (Lincoln)
    Brock Niedfeldt, Falls City
    Walker Ott, Wisner Pilger
    Parker Smith, The Career Academy (Lincoln)

2023 State Land Judging Team Champions:
    Falls City: Brock Niedfeldt, Ethan Morris, Kemper Foster, Lathan Richey
    Wisner-Pilger: Walker Ott, Taylor Scholting, Delaney Boyer, Braxton Siebrandt
    Alma: Isaiah Neal, Nolan Pfeil, Wyatt Isaacson, Karsten Bradley
    Bishop Neumann (Wahoo): Jake Rezac, Chisum Wilson, Adam Furasek, Kamber Lechtenberg
    The Career Academy (Lincoln): Isabel Cressler, Parker Smith, Sapphire Guzman, Johanna Roux

These top five Nebraska teams will advance to the national competition hosted in El Reno, Oklahoma, April 30-May 2, 2024. For more information on Nebraska Land Judging, visit www.nrdnet.org.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Urge Action on the Farm Bill, Prop 12, and EPA Herbicide Strategy

The passage of the next Farm Bill is imperative to the continued success of agriculture and is top of mind for producers in Nebraska and across the country. That was one of the key messages Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee members shared with the Nebraska congressional delegation during their annual fly-in to Washington, D.C.

While the Farm Bill often finds itself entangled in political debate, it provides policymakers an opportunity to address issues facing the agri-food value chain. YF&R committee members urged the delegation to protect federal crop insurance without any tie to climate focused practices in the next Farm Bill.

“Protecting federal crop insurance means farmers like my husband and I have a protection plan when disaster strikes,” said YF&R committee member Jill England, a corn and soybean farmer from Hall County. “We are incredibly diligent with how we steward our land and resources to ensure they last for generations to come. Tying federal crop insurance to climate focused practices limits our ability to have a strong safety net and do what is best for the future of our operation.”

The consequences of California’s Proposition 12 also commanded the attention of producers around the country. YF&R members thanked the entire Nebraska congressional delegation for their continued support of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act to rectify the issues caused by Prop 12.

“States and local governments should not be able to dictate production or manufacturing standards of agricultural products or any products for that matter. What a majority of people in one state want should not interfere with the entire nation’s production standards,” said Jaden Melnick, a YF&R committee member from Adams County. “We are disappointed that the Supreme Court did not overturn this decision but have hope that we can fix this legislatively. We must ensure this never happens again.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently changing the process they use to label pesticides as a result of a lawsuit for not complying with the Endangered Species Act. These new labels would require herbicide users to attain “points” by adopting certain runoff reduction practices to use most herbicides. Additionally, it would drastically narrow the drift buffers for ariel and ground application of herbicides and impose new subsurface drainage rules, requiring the channeling of water into retention ponds or saturation buffer zones. These new regulations will make herbicide usage in any capacity near impossible for farmers, ultimately reducing yields and limiting farmers ability to do what is best for their operations.

“It is imperative that EPA edits this proposed rule and finds an alternative to meet the Endangered Species Act obligations. These new labels effectively eliminate producers’ ability to use herbicides which allow us to better use our available water and soil resources to maintain the highest sustainability standards,” said Matthew Erickson, YF&R member. Erickson is a row crop farmer in Johnson County and owns a custom spraying operation with his family.

“It is crucial for our senators and congressmen to hear from producers directly,” said David Schuler, YF&R committee member and cattle rancher from Morrill County. “Giving young producers a seat at the table not only ensures the next generation is well equipped to advocate for the future of agriculture, but also reminds policymakers that agriculture is constantly growing and changing.”

In addition to meeting with all five of Nebraska’s congressional delegates, the group also met with officials from the Environmental Defense Fund, Animal Ag Alliance, the Senate Agriculture Committee, the EPA, and the USDA Chief Economist’s office.

YF&R committee members that participated in the visit to Washington, D.C. included:
    Jaden Melnick, Adams/Webster County Farm Bureau
    Jill England, Hall County Farm Bureau
    David and Christy Schuler, Morrill County Farm Bureau
    Matthew Erickson, Johnson County Farm Bureau

The YF&R committee connects young farmers and ranchers from across Nebraska to develop their leadership skills, engage with their peers, advocate for policy, and serve as the next generation of agricultural leaders.



Ricketts, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Improve Flood Protection & Infrastructure Resiliency

Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act. The bill has three components; it would elevate long-term flood resilience as a priority for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, grant the Secretary of Agriculture discretionary authority to provide an increased federal cost share for EWP grants, and elevate flood protection as a priority in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

“Too often, red tape has prevented states from rebuilding flood protections after devastating natural disasters,” said Senator Ricketts. “These restrictions also make it difficult to make the smart, cost-effective investments needed to rehabilitate aging watershed projects. This bipartisan bill will improve flood protection and infrastructure resiliency and help communities not just recover from disasters but reduce future damage as well.”

“Severe flooding devastated parts of New York this summer and made it clear that we need to make urgent investments in upgrading our water and flood-related infrastructure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill will help do just that, making sure that communities across our state and country are better prepared for future disasters and can recover faster from flooding. I’m proud to be introducing this bill today and look forward to getting it passed.”

The bill has the support of the American Flood Coalition, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Corn Growers Association.

“Flooded fields cost farmers and rural communities billions of dollars in losses every year, which is why Congress needs to prioritize flood solutions in the next farm bill,” said Melissa Roberts, President and Executive Director of American Flood Coalition Action. “We applaud Senators Pete Ricketts and Kirsten Gillibrand for their leadership on the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act, a proactive solution that will strengthen agricultural communities across the country. This bill will help protect watersheds and downstream communities by empowering farmers to lead on innovative flood solutions and conserve resources for future generations.”

“Farmers are dedicated to caring for the land they’ve been entrusted with, which includes reducing the impact of flooding and improving watersheds,” said Courtney Briggs, Senior Director, Government Affairs, American Farm Bureau Federation. “AFBF appreciates the work of Sen. Ricketts and Sen. Gillibrand on legislation that prioritizes flood prevention and mitigation efforts that protect the hardworking families who are committed to ensuring pantries remain stocked across the country.”

“This legislation will help us take key steps to maintain and upgrade vital levee systems and aid in preventing flooding disasters in our heartland,” said Harold Wolle, President of the National Corn Growers Association. “We appreciate this effort from Sen. Ricketts to protect our growers from these unpredictable and potentially devastating events.”

BACKGROUND

The Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act has three main initiatives:
1) Improving EWP’s level of protection above existing water levels at the time of the disaster to not only help communities recover from flood disasters, but also make critical watershed improvements that would reduce repeated damage during future disasters.

2) Granting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary discretionary authority to provide a variable federal cost share of up to 90% in the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, which provides technical and financial assistance for planning, design, and implementation of projects to rehabilitate aging watershed dams.

3) Amending the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program to formally add flood prevention, mitigation, and resiliency to RCPP’s statutory purpose, and enable the program to better assist agricultural producers, communities, and nongovernmental stakeholders in implementing regional and watershed-scale flood solutions.



Iowa farmland values stabilize

Iowa farmland values have plateaued following two years of record highs due to several factors, including rising interest rates, declining profits, and drought. Despite this slowdown, farmland prices in Iowa remain close to record levels, with a 0.6% increase in September compared to the previous year, as reported by the Realtors Land Institute-Iowa Chapter.

The Chicago Federal Reserve also showed a 2% increase in July compared to a year earlier. While the market is no longer experiencing the aggressive double-digit growth observed in previous years, it is described as steady.

In 2022, farmland values increased by 10.4% over 2021 to an average of $13,742 per acre, following a substantial 43.3% jump to $12,450 per acre in 2021 compared to 2020. However, through June of this year, average farmland values decreased by 2.6% to $13,385 per acre compared to the previous year.

Rising interest rates have played a significant role in softening the farmland market, as they are the fastest-growing farm production expense, increasing by 19.1% in 2023 and 33.2% in 2022. Additionally, farm debt is expected to reach record highs this year.

Farmland rents in Iowa have climbed by 17% since 2020, averaging $269 per acre this year, impacting approximately 60% of Iowa farmers who lease cropland.

Iowa farmland values have plateaued, they remain at historically high levels, and the market is described as steady, though not experiencing the rapid price increases seen in previous years. Rising interest rates and increasing farm debt are contributing factors to this stabilization.



Dealing With Dairy Lameness Webinar on November 9

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team’s 2023 Dairy Webinar Series continues Thursday, November 9 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. with a focus on the causes and treatment for lameness in the dairy cow.

“Hoof trimming is a monthly occurrence on dairies around the world and we are now focusing on looking for management that minimizes the expense of lame cows,” notes Iowa State University and Extension Dairy Specialist Fred Hall.

The big points for the program include:
    Cows in the transition period are more prone to lameness a few months after calving.
    Hormones around calving, especially relaxin
    Cow people should make extra sure these cows can lay down as much as possible
    Things that keep these cows from laying down including heat stress and fly pressure

To help producers understand how to manage against lameness we have two presenters on the topic.

Dr. Phillip Jardon graduated from the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine and completed his MPVM and Dairy Production Medicine Residency at UC-Davis.  He has been in private practice and industry for 35 years.  He has particular interest in transition cow diseases. He is currently a Dairy Extension Veterinarian at Iowa State University. He will share the podium discussing Lameness in dairy cows.

Dr. Jan Shearer is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  He was a veterinary practitioner for approximately 5 years before returning to Ohio State to serve as an Assistant Professor in Preventive Medicine. In 1982, he moved to the University of Florida, where he spent the majority of his career as a Dairy Extension Veterinarian.  He is currently a Dairy Extension Veterinarian at Iowa State University, where his interests are in lameness and welfare issues of cattle.

There is no fee to participate in this webinar; however, preregistration is required at least one hour before the webinar. Preregister online at: https://go.iastate.edu/LAME

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist in your area: in Northwest Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu; in Northeast Iowa, Jennifer Bentley, 563-382-2949 or jbentley@iastate.edu; in East Central Iowa, Larry Tranel, 563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu. and statewide contact Dr. Gail Carpenter, 517-204-4957 or acarpen@iastate.edu.



Latin American Delegation Experience South Dakota Ethanol Supply Chain

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council hosted a tour last week to show stakeholders from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama how ethanol blends have been safely, successfully and profitably incorporated in South Dakota as these countries consider implementing ethanol-gasoline blending programs starting in 2024-2025. The delegation was comprised of public officials from the Ministries of Mines and Energy, Environment and Agriculture, and representatives from the private sector and the agricultural industry.
 
The trade mission visited the farm of Ron and Keith Alverson near Chester where they implement conservation practices on the corn they grow; Dakota Ethanol’s 97-million-gallon-per-year plant near Wentworth; and Vollan Oil, a bulk fuel broker, transporter and retailer in Baltic, on day one. The second day started with visits to the NuStar Energy pipeline terminal and a new Get-N-Go fuel station in Sioux Falls, and after touring POET’s 125-million-gallon Chancellor plant, the tour wrapped up at POET headquarters back in Sioux Falls.
 
"Our goal was to show public officials and representatives from agriculture and the private sector in these Latin American countries how ethanol is manufactured, transported, stored and sold in the U.S., and provide opportunities to talk with people who work with ethanol in all parts of the supply chain," said Ron Lamberty, ACE CMO and tour leader. “These delegates' countries have plans to blend ethanol to help reach climate goals and are battling the same ethanol misinformation and fearmongering we've fought for decades. Now, after seeing ethanol in tanks and equipment similar or identical to their home countries, as well as dispelling other myths by asking pointed questions to people who handle and sell ethanol every day, these delegate leaders can return to their countries with confidence and certainty as their nations move forward with ethanol blending programs.”
 
According to Federico Salcedo, USGC’s Regional Ethanol Consultant for Latin America, the South Dakota ethanol field experience was very successful, and delegates returned home with a greater understanding of the U.S. ethanol industry and the opportunities derived from ethanol-gasoline blending in their countries.
 
“During two full days, participants from the private and public sectors learned first-hand about ethanol production's positive impacts on American farmers and the environmental, technical and economic advantages of having cleaner fuels,” Salcedo said. “Reading and hearing about the positive effects of ethanol in multiple stages of the production and marketing chain is one thing. Still, it is something different and quite enriching to live it and experience it directly with those who make this industry a reality.”
 
“We’re proud of our farmers and the ethanol industry that’s developed in South Dakota and very appreciative that the Latin American delegation had the opportunity to view these operations firsthand as a follow-up to the Global Ethanol Summit,” said Chad Blindauer, President of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.
 
Read testimonies from participants on the tour:
 
“We’re trying to implement E5 then move to E10 in Panama next year, so I came to see how everything takes place throughout the value chain,” said Paula Mesé, Hydrocarbons Specialist, National Secretariat of Energy – Panama. “For me, it was very important to see it directly from the people who are the main actors in this supply chain, so we can replicate this in Panama.”
 
“I have been working in the alcohol sector for the last 25 years, and I have been involved from the perspective of sugar mills, alcoholic beverages and now export, but I have never experienced corn-based ethanol,” said Ronald Arias, Operations Manager, Sugar Cane Agricultural & Industrial League – Costa Rica. “I take back with me this conviction that the use of ethanol in gas is very beneficial for everybody — for the planet, the consumers, the producers, the farmers and the industry.”

“It was very enriching for me to talk one on one to farmers who produce corn, to the engineers at the ethanol plants, to the drivers that transport it, and the person at the gas station who sells the product,” said Asdrubal Bolaños, Liquid Biofuels Coordinator, ARESEP Public Utilities Regulatory Authority – Costa Rica. “Even though I’m a chemical engineer, seeing every part of the supply chain was very educational, and what is very important in terms of my country is seeing how pre-blended ethanol with gas is transported to different gas stations and stored already blended.”

Guatemala is in the process of implementing E10 by Jan. 1, 2025. According to a member of the delegation, Guatemala will have 70 million gallons of fuel ethanol demand per year and is currently producing about 65 million gallons of sugar cane ethanol, mainly for export with smaller amounts used in domestic beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

“For us, we very much appreciate this opportunity, because in Guatemala we are in the process of implementing an E10 mandate in our country,” said Ivanova Ancheta, Executive Director, Association of Alcohol Producers of Guatemala. “Seeing the ethanol production process in particular at the plants we toured provide great examples for the producers in Guatemala to learn from this experience and apply it in our country.”

“It’s very inspiring to see everything that’s being done in the U.S. across the whole ethanol value chain and the promising future of ag and biotech companies,” said Rennatto Tible, Head Legal Counsel, Grupo Pantaleon - Guatemala. “This experience is very valuable for our regional governments at this juncture, because we are about to adopt blends with ethanol and gasoline, so a lot of the old myths that have been proven wrong for decades in countries are resurfacing. I hope to have the collaboration between the U.S. Grains Council, our international friends, and other associations, such as ACE, that promote biofuels help us along in this delicate moment for our programs in Central America.”



Helena Launches Two Exclusive Soybean Seed Treatments for the 2024 Growing Season

Helena Agri-Enterprises is expanding seed treatment opportunities for soybean growers in 2024 with the launch of Seed Shield® Select and Enertia®. A multi-fungicide and insecticide combination, Seed Shield Select provides protection from all major soybean seedling diseases and insects while optimizing root health and plant vigor. Enertia is an enzyme-based, biological soybean seed treatment designed to enhance soil health and improve nutrient availability as roots develop. With soybean acres expected to rise across the country next season, the duo not only helps insure valuable seed investments, but it also provides a strong foundation for growth and yield potential.

“In farming, re-planting seed or re-spraying a crop are two of the costliest applications a producer can make,” says Josh Byford, Director of Seed at Helena. “Even though current germplasm and technology packages provide the foundation for a high level of success, the environment can bring about a multitude of yield-limiting factors from planting to full crop establishment. A seed treatment can provide valuable protection, or insurance, to minimize seed and seedling loss.”

Seed Shield Select contains five fungicide active ingredients, an industry-standard insecticide, and Helena’s Asset® Formulation Technology. Out of the five fungicides, picarbutrazox is the latest to enter the market. Its performance raises the bar on control of Pythium and Phytophthora, two of the most notorious challenges for soybean farmers.

“A very good seed treatment should provide broad spectrum seedling disease protection, but a lot of products on the market today are deficient, especially against Pythium,” says Tony Lourens, Brand Manager of Seed Treatments, Fungicides and Insecticides with Helena Products Group. “Our goal with Seed Shield Select is to be more effective on the worst diseases by targeting them with multiple modes of action. We combine that activity with well-rounded insect control and strong root and shoot development to give growers a seed treatment that gets soybeans out of the ground faster, healthier and with a lot of vigor.”

Previewed at the Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida, earlier this year, Enertia takes a natural approach to unlocking soil nutrition. Its patented enzyme technology reacts with soil organic matter to increase microbial activity in the root zone and improve nutrient cycling in the soil. By enhancing soil structure and reducing nutrient loss, soybeans can thrive in a more productive growing environment.

“The big benefit of Enertia is VersaShield® Formulation Technology,” says Mike Powell, Senior Brand Manager of BioScience with Helena Products Group. “Most biological seed treatments become ineffective if you try to mix them with insecticides, fungicides and other common inputs. VersaShield stabilizes the enzymes in Enertia for ease of use, long-lasting activity and consistency.

Seed Shield Select and Enertia are the latest in a line of seed treatments from Helena, featuring inoculants, plant growth regulators, SDS solutions, nematicides and other disease and insect control options. Helena encourages soybean growers to secure their seed treatments now, as supply is limited for the 2024 growing season. Visit HelenaAgri.com to find your local Helena representative and for more information on Seed Shield Select and Enertia.

Wednesday October 25 Ag News

 Nebraska Farm Bureau Awards LEAD Fellow Scholarships

Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded six agricultural professionals scholarships to participate in the Nebraska LEAD program, keeping with the mission of cultivating the future of agriculture.

“These individuals continue to push to make agriculture better across The Good Life,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “We are proud to support these individuals as they make an investment in their future, becoming equipped to better serve their communities and agriculture through the Nebraska LEAD program.”

The LEAD Scholarship awards agricultural stakeholders that participate in the Nebraska LEAD program. The LEAD program improves leadership skills and abilities of Nebraska’s future agricultural leaders through exposure to diverse topics, issues, concerns, points of view, and innovative ideas. The winners of the LEAD Scholarship are current Farm Bureau members that commit to serving in a leadership role with Farm Bureau upon completion of the program.

The six winners are Adam Oldemeyer (Ayr); April Delsing (Hemingford); Dalton Kenning (Wood River); Jake Werner (Lincoln); Jonathan Lechtenberg (Imperial); and Michelle Bose (Arcadia).

The mission of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is to engage youth, educators, and the general public to promote an understanding of the vital importance of agriculture in the lives of all Nebraskans. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information about the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, visit www.nefbfoundation.org.  



Bish Enterprises Unveils World's Largest Folding Corn Header

Bish Enterprises, based in Giltner, Nebraska and a pioneer in agricultural innovation for over 40 years, is proud to announce a groundbreaking achievement with the successful launch of the world's largest folding corn header, boasting an impressive 27-row 20" configuration.

Designed to meet the dynamic requirements of modern agriculture, this cutting-edge corn header is set to redefine efficiency standards for the upcoming 2023 harvest season. With a remarkable 45-foot in-field cutting width (which reduces to 30' when folded) and a substantial weight of over 8 tons, this equipment seamlessly combines efficiency, versatility, and durability.

Andrew Bish, Chief Operating Officer of Bish Enterprises, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Our latest addition transcends mere machinery. It represents our unwavering commitment to continuously empower the farming community with top-tier tools, equipping them to meet the challenges and opportunities of modern farming."

Brad Bish, Owner and CEO, reflected on the company's journey, affirming, "Each Bish product is a testament to our family's enduring dedication to agriculture. This corn header, in particular, stands as a beacon of our commitment to innovation and the farming community."

Key Performance Highlights:
● At a steady pace of 5 mph, the header showcases its prowess by harvesting approximately 6,148 bushels per hour in fields yielding 225 bushels per acre.
● Accelerating to 6 mph, its efficiency peaks at around 7,357 bushels per hour. The proud owner of this state-of-the-art header can look forward to a transformative 2023 harvest season, leveraging its unmatched productivity.

Bish Enterprises wishes to extend its profound appreciation to the dedicated and talented Bish Team members, local farming families, and collaborators who were instrumental in this project's success. The invaluable contributions of the Hoelk, Hunnicutt, and Humphrey families, coupled with the support from Bish Team members and the local AKRS team, have been pivotal.

For those keen to explore more about Bish Enterprises and their array of groundbreaking agricultural solutions, please visit www.bishenterprise.com.



Scholarship Program Empowers Future Ag Leaders

The National Corn Growers Association is thrilled to announce the launch of its annual scholarship program for the 2024 academic year. This program is designed to support students who are passionate about agriculture and making a positive impact in their community.

NCGA will award scholarships to deserving students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and community involvement. The scholarships are open to students attending technical school, undergraduate universities, and pursuing graduate-level studies.

"We believe that education is critical in shaping the future of the agriculture industry, and we are committed to providing opportunities for students to achieve their academic and career goals," said Membership & Consumer Engagement Action Team Chair Dan Nerud from Nebraska. "This scholarship program is just one way we are fulfilling this commitment."

To apply for the scholarship, students must complete an online application. Submissions are now being accepted, and the deadline to complete is January 31, 2024.

All eligible students are encouraged to apply for this exciting opportunity. For more information and to apply, please visit our website at NCGA.com/scholarships.



USDA Cold Storage September 2023 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on September 30, 2023 were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 17 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 6 percent from the previous month but down 20 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 14 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 19 percent from last month and down 19 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on September 30, 2023 were down 1 percent from the previous month and down slightly from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 3 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were down 6 percent from last month but up 7 percent from September 30, 2022.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on September 30, 2023 were down 2 percent from the previous month but up slightly from September 30, 2022. Butter stocks were down 6 percent from last month but up 3 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on September 30, 2023 were up 9 percent from last month and up 1 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 12 percent from last month and up 1 percent from a year ago.



AFBF Congratulates Rep. Johnson on Speaker Election

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the election of Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) to be Speaker of the House.

“AFBF congratulates Rep. Mike Johnson on his election to Speaker of the House. Speaker Johnson has a strong history of supporting America’s farmers and ranchers, which has earned him the ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’ award multiple times.

“America’s families are relying on Speaker Johnson, and Congress, to focus on pressing needs, including completion of fiscal year 2024 appropriations and passage of a farm bill. The farm bill provides certainty to those who grow this nation’s food, fuel and fiber and plays a vital role in ensuring a safe and affordable food supply for everyone.

“We stand ready to work with Speaker Johnson to pass this important legislation. Every family in America is counting on his leadership.”



USDA Publishes New Standards for Organic Livestock and Poultry Production, Promotes More Competitive Organic Market

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today previewed the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) final rule. This new rule establishes clear, strong and consistent standards for organic livestock and poultry production, levels the playing field for organic livestock farmers, ranchers and businesses and promotes fairer, more competitive markets for their products, while providing consumers with more transparency about their purchases.

"USDA is creating a fairer, more competitive and transparent food system. This organic poultry and livestock standard establishes clear and strong standards that will increase the consistency of animal welfare practices in organic production and in how these practices are enforced," said Vilsack. "Competitive markets help deliver greater value to all producers, regardless of size."

This change was driven by strong interest from consumers and the organic industry. USDA encouraged the public to comment and USDA received more than 40,000 written comments, all of which were carefully reviewed to inform drafting of this final rule. USDA also held a listening session on August 2022 to hear public comments on the proposed rule.

OLPS improves uniformity with regard to animal welfare practice requirements for organic livestock and poultry, promoting their well-being and natural behaviors.

The final rule outlines more consistent standards for six key areas, including:
    Outdoor space requirements: OLPS sets minimum outdoor space requirements for organic poultry and requires ready access to the outdoors. Outdoor areas must be at least 75 percent soil and include vegetation to the degree possible.
    Indoor and outdoor living conditions: Shelters must have sufficient space for livestock to lie down, stand up, turn around, fully stretch their limbs or wings and express natural behaviors, such as rooting in pigs and scratching in chickens. Bedding areas must be sufficiently large and comfortable to keep livestock hygienic (for the species), dry and free of lesions.
    Poultry stocking densities: The rule sets specific requirements for indoor and outdoor stocking densities to align with advisory board recommendations, third-party animal welfare standards and public comments from organic stakeholders.
    Preventative health care practices: Producers must maintain preventative health care practices that include sufficient nutrition and comprehensive parasite prevention plans. Animals must be treated with allowed medicines to minimize pain, stress and suffering. All necessary treatment must be administered, even if the animal loses its organic status.
    Physical alterations and euthanasia: Physical alterations are permitted only for identification purposes or the safety of the animals, and certain alterations are prohibited altogether. Alterations must be performed at a young age for the species and in a manner that minimizes the animal’s pain and stress. Humane euthanasia may only be used if treatment is not an option.​
    Transport, handling and slaughter: Operations must describe how organic management and animal welfare will be maintained for transport that exceeds eight hours​. Animals must be fit for transport. The mode of transport must be seasonally appropriate to protect livestock from cold or heat​. Operations must adhere to USDA (FSIS) humane slaughter standards​.

In partnership with USDA-accredited certifiers, USDA’s National Organic Program will oversee the implementation of and enforce compliance with these new, more consistent standards to support the growth of the organic market.

Implementing OLPS will give organic livestock and poultry farmers, ranchers and businesses - including those interested in transitioning to organic - more opportunities to compete fairly in the market. The rule supports ongoing consumer confidence and trust in the USDA organic seal by better aligning the organic standards with consumers’ expectations for animal welfare. Many consumers are willing to pay a premium for organic livestock products, particularly for the organic chicken, egg and meat industry. By increasing consumer trust in the organic label by aligning the organic standard with consumers’ animal welfare preferences, USDA is helping to deliver greater value to producers, and creating a fairer, more competitive and transparent food system.

Today’s announcement supports USDA’s ongoing National Organic Program mission to protect the integrity of the USDA organic seal and maintain strong consumer confidence in the label. USDA-certified organic products are an increasingly important part of American agriculture, and the organic community represents a fast-growing food and farming sector in the United States and the global marketplace.

Earlier this year, the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) previewed the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule. The final rule is the biggest update to the organic regulations since the original Act in 1990, providing a significant increase in oversight and enforcement authority to reinforce the trust of consumers, farmers and those transitioning to organic production.

The final rule will be published in the Federal Register. A preview of the rule is available on the AMS website https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic-livestock-and-poultry-standards.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 10/20/2023

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending October 20, ethanol production climbed 0.5% to a 9-week high of 1.040 million b/d, equivalent to 43.68 million gallons daily. Output was 0.7% more than the same week last year and 1.1% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 0.8% to 1.022 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.67 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks rebounded 1.4% to 21.4 million barrels. Stocks were 4.0% less than the same week last year but 1.3% above the five-year average. Inventories built in the Midwest (PADD 2) and West Coast (PADD 5) but thinned across the other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, declined 0.9% to 8.86 million b/d (135.89 bg annualized). Demand was 0.7% less than a year ago and 3.3% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol eased 0.8% to 908,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.92 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.8% less than a year ago and 0.3% below the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at a 15-week low of 65,000 b/d (2.7 million gallons/day), which is 42.0% less than the prior week. There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the fifth consecutive week.



Anhydrous Retail Price Jumps 6%, Leading Fertilizer Prices Higher

Retail prices of all eight major fertilizers continued to climb in the third week of October, with anhydrous leading the way while farmers continued to hit the fields.

Anhydrous climbed 6% on average to $809 per ton, the only significant jump this week. DTN surveys retail fertilizer sellers weekly to establish price estimates. DTN considers a price change of 5% or higher a significant move. The average price of MAP increased by about 4% to $791 this week. UAN32's price jumped by 3% to $418.

Three fertilizers reported increases of 1% from last month, with urea at $574 per ton, UAN28 at $356 and DAP at $709. There were two fertilizers that showed small gains -- potash at $504 per ton and 10-34-0 at $612.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $1.01/lb.N, anhydrous $1.06/lb.N, UAN28 $1.01/lb.N and UAN32 $1.03/lb.N.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago. MAP is 20% lower, DAP is 24% less expensive, 10-34-0 is 19% lower, urea is 30% less expensive, both UAN28 and UAN32 are 38% lower, potash is 42% lower and anhydrous is 43% less expensive compared to a year prior.
 

 

 

2024 Environmental Stewardship Award Program Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now open for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award. Established in 1991, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the nation.

“Cattle producers across the country are committed to conserving natural resources for future generations,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson. “This award celebrates the innovative efforts our industry is undertaking to protect the environment, engage with communities and remain profitable.”

Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual or business raising or feeding cattle. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, although nominees may be involved in the preparation of the application. Past nominees are encouraged to resubmit applications; however, previous winners may not reapply.

Along with a typed application, one nomination letter and three letters of recommendation highlighting the nominee’s leadership in conservation are required, and the deadline is March 8, 2024. Nominees do not have to be members of NCBA but should support the objectives of their state and national organization.

Award winners are selected by a committee of representatives from universities, cattle production, conservation organizations as well as federal and state agencies. For guidance, the judges consider the management of water, wildlife, vegetation, air, and soil along with leadership abilities and the sustainability of the business.

Regional winners will be recognized at CattleCon25 in San Antonio, Texas, in February 2025, and the national winner will be announced at the Celebration of America’s Land Stewards Event in Washington, D.C., in spring 2025. Travel and registration for these events are provided by ESAP for winners.

The Environmental Stewardship Award Program is an initiative of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and is made possible with generous support from Corteva Agriscience, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, McDonald’s, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information and to download the nomination packet, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.  



Household Food Security in the United States in 2022
USDA Economic Research Service

Most U.S. households have consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living—they are food secure. However, some households experience food insecurity at times during the year, meaning their access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources.

USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs aim to increase food security by providing low-income households access to food for a healthful diet, as well as nutrition education.

A report issued today by ERS, Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=107702, presents statistics from the survey that cover household food security, food expenditures, and use of Federal food and nutrition assistance programs in 2022.

Here are a few key findings from the report:
    In 2022, 87.2% of U.S. households were food secure. The remaining 12.8% (17.0 million households) were food insecure. The 2022 prevalence of food insecurity was statistically significantly higher than the 10.2% recorded in 2021 (13.5 million households) and the 10.5% in 2020 (13.8 million households).
    Children are usually shielded from the disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake that characterize very low food security. However, in 2022, children, along with adults, suffered instances of very low food security in 1% of households with children (381,000 households), statistically significantly higher than the 0.7% (274,000 households) in 2021.
    About 55% of food-insecure households in the survey reported that in the previous month, they participated in one or more of the three largest Federal nutrition assistance programs: SNAP; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the National School Lunch Program.



Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Economic Research Service’s 2022 Household Food Security in the U.S. Report

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Economic Research Service released the Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 report, which examined American households’ ability to access sufficient food last year. The report found that the vast majority – 87.2 percent – of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2022, meaning they had consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living. However, 17 million households were food insecure at some point during the year, including 6.8 million households that reported very low food security. The study also found statistically significant increases across categories from 2021.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement regarding the report’s findings:

“The 2022 Household Food Security in the United States report is a sobering reminder that, while the vast majority of Americans are able to affordably feed themselves and their families, too many of our neighbors struggle to put healthy food on the table. These numbers are more than statistics. They paint a picture of just how many Americans faced the heartbreaking challenge last year of struggling to meet a basic need for themselves and their children, and the survey responses should be a wake-up call to those wanting to further roll back our anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs.

“These findings are unacceptable, yet the report is the latest piece of evidence that as the pandemic began to wane in 2022, another public health concern—food insecurity—increased. The experience of the pandemic showed us that when government invests in meaningful support for families, we can make a positive impact on food security, even during challenging economic times. Just over half of food insecure families reported gaining assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), all of which are currently at risk of reduced funding or restricted access. The uptick in food insecurity also occurred at a time when significant safety net enhancements that helped people through the worst of the pandemic began to end, including the expanded Child Tax Credit, universally free school meals, and, in a number of states, higher SNAP benefits.

“No child should go hungry in America. The report is a stark reminder of the consequences of shrinking our proven safety net, and it underscores the need to deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. That starts with the urgent need for Congress to fully fund WIC and continue the 25-year track record of bipartisan consensus to make sure every eligible low-income mom, infant, and child can get the vital, developmentally appropriate nutrition they need to thrive. We also need a Farm Bill that protects SNAP benefits—because they work to help lift people out of poverty—and for all states to embrace the Summer EBT program to help kids access healthy food during the summer months, when school is out and child food insecurity is highest.



Zinpro® Corporation Expands Manufacturing Operations with New Brazil Plant

Zinpro Corporation, the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of high-performance trace minerals and animal nutrition solutions, has announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art blending facility in Marialva, in the state of Paraná, Brazil.

"This new facility marks an exciting growth milestone for Zinpro,” said President and CEO Rob Sheffer. “But even more important is our ongoing commitment to serving customers in Brazil. We look forward to delivering greater efficiency and flexibility for producers and agribusinesses in this critically important region of the world – especially as the demand for animal proteins continues to increase with the growing global population.”

According to Sheffer, the new plant will give Zinpro increased flexibility to innovate and develop breakthrough solutions for animals and producers. “By delivering products locally, we can increase speed and efficiency while enhancing sustainability.”  

“Through our close partnerships with customers across Brazil, we have discovered a need for innovative nutrition solutions in this market,” said José Francisco Mendes, Zinpro vice president of sales – Latin America. “This new, modern blending facility allows us to offer our proven Zinpro products, solutions and tools more efficiently than ever before. We look forward to working with our customers to enhance animal health and wellbeing and drive better animal performance.”