Friday October 20 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 2%

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.42 million cattle on feed on October 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 2% from last year. Placements during September totaled 610,000 head, up 3% from 2022. Fed cattle marketings for the month of September totaled 450,000 head, down 6% from last year. Other disappearance during September totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.



Iowa Cattle on Feed  

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 640,000 head on October 1, 2023, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 3 percent from both September 1, 2023, and October 1, 2022. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 475,000 head on feed, up 7 percent from last month and up 2 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,115,000 head, up 5 percent from last month and up 3 percent from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during September 2023 totaled 88,000 head, up 17 percent from August and up 4 percent from September 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 64,000 head, up 33 percent from August and up 45 percent from September 2022. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 152,000 head, up 24 percent from August and up 18 percent from September 2022.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during September 2023 totaled 67,000 head, down 9 percent from August and down 8 percent from September 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 30,000 head, down 60 percent from August and down 47 percent from September 2022. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 97,000 head, down 35 percent from August and down 25 percent from September 2022. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 5,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent
    
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on October 1, 2023. The inventory was 1 percent above October 1, 2022. This is the second highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 6.95 million steers and steer calves, up slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.64 million head, up 1 percent from 2022.

On Feed, by State  (1,000 hd - % Oct 1 '22)
Colorado ......:                   990             93        
Iowa .............:                   640           103    
Kansas ..........:                 2,500          106       
Nebraska ......:                 2,420           98        
Texas ............:                 2,850          101   

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.21 million head, 6 percent above 2022. Net placements were 2.15 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 460,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 355,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 485,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 521,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 290,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.

Placements by State (1,000 hd - % Sept '22)
Colorado ......:                  195            93         
Iowa .............:                   88           104          
Kansas ..........:                  505           113          
Nebraska ......:                  610           103        
Texas ............:                  465           113          

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.66 million head, 11 percent below 2022. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during September, 8 percent above 2022.

Marketings by State (1,000 hd - % Sept '22)
Colorado ......:                  150            91          
Iowa .............:                   67            92         
Kansas ..........:                  405            89           
Nebraska ......:                  450            94           
Texas ............:                  340            85          



Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District is Named in Federal Lawsuit

On October 17, 2023, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District received notice that it had been named in a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.  The complaint, filed on behalf of Subdistrict #3 Director Melissa Temple lists the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District as the Defendant and seeks Preliminary and Permanent Injunction, Damages, and Declaratory Relief.

In response to this filing, General Manager Brian Bruckner responded by stating, “Given the sensitive nature of this matter, along with the fact that there is active litigation being pursued on behalf of Director Temple against the District, we will simply acknowledge receipt of the court filing and that we are consulting with our legal counsel to assess our options to defend the District.  That being stated, we will have no further comment on the matter until new details become available.”



It’s the Season for Controlling Soybean Cyst Nematode

October is known as soybean cyst nematode (SCN) action month because this is the best time to get out and soil sample for SCN. The end of a soybean season is when SCN levels will be at their highest in the soil. Currently, the Nebraska Soybean Board is sponsoring soybean cyst nematode sample analysis for samples from any Nebraska field.

Whether you have verified yield loss from SCN, or not, there is a good chance that the parasite has a presence in some of your fields (Figures 1 and 2). SCN is a small roundworm that has slowly spread across the Nebraska production region since being identified in the state in 1986. As of Oct. 1, 2023, SCN has been identified in 59 Nebraska counties (Figure 3).

This pest is the number one yield-limiting biotic agent of soybeans in North America, estimated to cost U.S. producers $1.5 billion a year. The reason this pest is so insidious is because SCN can cause up to 30% yield loss with no significant aboveground symptoms.

The pest is typically introduced into new fields by soil movement on field equipment and is often distributed in pockets throughout the field. For this reason, keep an eye on your yield monitor during harvest to identify unexplained low-yielding areas. The most accurate way to verify SCN presence in a field is soil sampling. To take advantage of this program, request a shipment of free soil sample bags online or contact your local extension office and submit soil samples using the following procedure.

Sampling Procedure
Collect SCN samples with a 1-inch diameter soil sampling probe or spade. Collect at least 15 to 20 soil cores in a zigzag pattern from across the field. Samples should be collected from the root zone at a depth of about 6-8 inches across about 10 to 20 acres. Break up the collected soil cores and mix them well in a bucket. Place at least 2 cups of the composite soil sample in a bag and submit for SCN testing. A sealable plastic bag works great to prevent samples from drying, or use marked SCN sample bags available at your local Nebraska Extension office or the UNL Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic.

While sampling, keep in mind that anything that can move soil can move soybean cyst nematode. For this reason, there are several areas with increased SCN introduction risk. Below is a list of high-risk areas that you should consider sampling.

Areas of the field where soybean crops yielded less than expected:
    Areas of the field where soybean plants appeared stunted, yellow, and/or defoliated earlier than the rest of the field
    Low spots in fields
    Previously flooded areas of fields
    Field entryways
    Along field borders
    Areas where sudden death syndrome (SDS) or brown stem rot (BSR) developed

Submit samples to:
UNL Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic
448 Plant Sciences Hall
P.O. Box 830722
Lincoln, NE 68583-0722

Learn more about the program and management techniques at: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2023/its-season-controlling-soybean-cyst-nematode.  

 

Virtual workshop series to cover tax basics, strategies for Midwestern women in ag

An upcoming virtual workshop series for Midwestern farm and ranch women will teach the basics of tax planning for agricultural operations. Hosted by women in agriculture extension programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kansas State University, and Purdue University, the three-part series will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Central time on Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.

A comprehensive range of tax topics relevant to agricultural producers in Nebraska, Kansas and Indiana will be covered, including an introduction to income taxes, completing Schedule F forms, claiming deductions, tax strategies to shift income and lower tax bills and compliance requirements.

The first session will focus on tax fundamentals, with an overview of income tax brackets, qualifying as a farm for tax purposes, cash vs accrual accounting, and documentation.

Session two will dig into Schedule F specifics, including choosing an accountant, common farm deductions, and other ways to lower taxable income beyond Schedule F.

The final session will cover advanced tax minimization tactics, such as pre-paying expenses, accelerated depreciation, income averaging, and loan forgiveness. Reporting requirements like 1099s will also be reviewed.

Participants are encouraged to attend each workshop.

“Whether you are new to filing farm taxes or looking to deploy advanced strategies, this virtual workshop will provide actionable information to put more money back in your pocket,” said Jessica Groskopf, an educator with Nebraska Extension and director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program.

There is a $30 fee to register, which is required by Nov. 27, on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu/taxes. Zoom videoconferencing access and a stable internet connection are required to participate.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number FSA22CPT0012189.



Mark Spurgin of Paxton appointed to Nebraska Wheat Board

Governor Jim Pillen recently appointed Mark Spurgin of Paxton as director for District 7 vacated term on the Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB).

Spurgin was elected to the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association executive board in December of 2014. He has served as the association President and is currently on the board. Mark owns Spurgin
Inc. which is involved in cattle feeding and raising crops including wheat, corn, soybeans, and feed crops.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska, the Colorado School of Banking in Boulder, and the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks. Spurgin has been a member of the West Central District and Keith County Farm Advisory Committee, the Keith County Planning and Zoning Board, served on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission representing District 7, the Nebraska Beef Council, the Nebraska Cattlemen, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association. Spurgin also traveled with the Governor and the US Meat Export Federation on trade missions to Japan, China, Mexico, and Cuba. He is also a member of the American Legion Post 303.

Spurgin will the remainder of the vacated term that will conclude June 30, 2025. As District 7 director he will represent the entire state of Nebraska.



NextGen: A win-win for landowners and beginning farmers. Deadline to apply is November 1, 2023.

Did you know that Nebraska was the first state to enact a Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Act?
 
It can be difficult for beginning farmers to find land or other agricultural assets to lease. NextGen is a tax incentive program that benefits landowners and beginning farmers wanting access to agricultural land that can be difficult to find.
 
As of 2022, 590 beginning farmers have accessed 199,300+ acres of land through Nebraska’s NextGen program. It’s a win-win for landowners and beginning farmers.
 
The deadline to apply for 2023 tax credits and the personal property tax exemption is Nov. 1.
 
Find FAQs, testimonials, and applications at nextgen.nebraska.gov.



Consider Corn Challenge IV Winners Bring Forward the Next Generation of Biobased Materials

At yesterday’s Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership 2023 Conference in San Francisco, Calif., the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced the winners of the Consider Corn Challenge IV. Four winners were chosen, each with a unique way to improve a product or process using feed corn to produce biobased materials.

“The Consider Corn Challenge fosters innovative collaborations between corn farmers and industry, which paves the way for new products, chemicals and applications. This year’s winners have continued to demonstrate corn’s adaptability,” said NCGA’s Director of Market Development Sarah McKay. “And corn’s unique versatility can be witnessed in the showcase of their diverse approaches and applications. This contest continues to highlight the fact that U.S. corn is an extremely flexible feedstock suited for biobased products.”

The four winners for the Consider Corn Challenge IV are Bluestem Biosciences Inc., based out of Omaha, Neb.; Pennsylvania State University, located in the state’s University City; Nexceris, headquartered in Lewis Center, Ohio; and Maizly, whose U.S. office is located in Phoenix, Ariz.

Bluestem Biosciences, Inc. has developed novel yeast biology for the sustainable anaerobic bio-production of 3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), a chemical intermediate for the acrylates chemical family, a $25B total addressable market. This strategic platform molecule serves a variety of consumer end markets, like personal care products, paints and coatings. Bluestem will leverage its novel yeast biology through the retrofit of underutilized existing shuttered ethanol production facilities across the U.S. Bluestem’s anaerobic biology is intended to mimic ethanol production, creating numerous economic benefits while supporting the rural Midwest bioeconomy and agricultural communities. Additionally, Bluestem’s technology reduces dependence on petroleum for feedstock currently used in chemical production and relies on corn as the primary feedstock, while reshoring supply chains back to the United States.

Pennsylvania State University's technology utilizes both corn starch and corn oil for applications in energy storage in lithium batteries. Corn starch will be evaluated for conversion into both hard and soft carbons; corn oil will be evaluated for conversion into a soft carbon. The carbon materials will be characterized for structure by a suite of material characterization methods, including transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy.

Nexceris has developed a new sugar-to-chemicals process that uses renewable dextrose to make industrial chemicals, instead of oil or gas, and can cut CO2 emissions by greater than 85%. Sugar2X uses state-of-the-art reactors and a new catalyst design to operate continuously on a dextrose, a domestic, renewable feedstock, with established rail transport, and clean H2 from electricity. The technology also strongly benefits American farmers and rural communities by converting sugars to renewable chemical products that can be cost-competitive with existing fossil-based processes, allowing market forces to improve commodity corn prices and demand that drives this value stream.

Maizly has developed the world’s first corn-based milk alternative, called Maizly Original.
Not only does Maizly Original look like dairy milk, but it has a similar mouthfeel to dairy milk
and a complementary taste profile so as not to impact the flavor of the underlying beverage or cereal. Not only can Maizly Original froth for your cappuccino and white your tea or coffee, but it is also perfect for baking with. Maizly Original contains less sugar yet more calcium, as well as vitamins A, D and E, and added chickpea protein. Being lactose-, gluten-, and allergen-free, Maizly Original is "Available to All."

“Finding new uses for corn is a key priority for NCGA,” said Ohio farmer and Market Development Action Team Vice Chair Dennis Vennekotter.  “The Consider Corn Challenge provides a unique opportunity to harness the potential of corn as a versatile, sustainable feedstock. It not only showcases the ingenuity of participants but also fosters vital collaborations between industry and corn producers, paving the way for innovative, market-driven solutions.”

The total prize pool for the fourth iteration of the contest was U.S. $250,000. Each of the four winners received $62,500.  



NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS

Nebraska egg production during September totaled 203 million eggs, up from 153 million in 2022. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,516 eggs, compared to 2,356 eggs in 2022. All layers in Nebraska during September 2023 totaled 8.07 million, up from 6.49 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Iowa Chickens & Eggs
Iowa egg production during September 2023 was 1.13 billion eggs, up 16 percent from the previous September, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of all layers on hand during September 2023 was 45.5 million, up 18 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for September 2023 was 2,491, down 2 percent from a year ago.

U.S. September Egg Production Up 3 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.16 billion during September 2023, up 3 percent from last year. Production included 7.88 billion table eggs, and  1.28 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.19 billion were broiler-type and 94.5 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during September 2023 totaled 387 million, up 3 percent from last year. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,367 eggs, up slightly from September 2022.
                                    
Total layers in the United States on October 1, 2023 totaled 389 million, up 3 percent from last year. The 389 million layers consisted of 322 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 63.4 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.73 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on October 1, 2023, averaged 78.9 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from October 1, 2022.



IRFA Statement Regarding Navigator CO2 Carbon Capture Pipeline Project Cancellation

Today Navigator CO2 Ventures announced the cancellation of their proposed Heartland Greenway Project that was set to span across the Midwest. The project would have connected ethanol plants across several states and transported CO2 to underground sequestration sites, meeting goals for a low carbon future and boosting agriculture markets. In response to this announcement, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:

“IRFA support CCS projects as the best way to align ethanol production with the increasing demand for low carbon fuels both at home and abroad. CCS is the essential key to unlocking the 100-billion-gallon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market for agriculture, in the long term. If realized, the SAF market would trigger the largest rural economic boom since the introduction of corn hybrids. It is not an overstatement to say that decisions made over the next few months will likely place agriculture on one of two paths. One would lead to 1990s stagnation as corn production exceeds demand, and the other opens new market opportunities larger than anything we’ve ever seen before. IRFA will fight for a prosperous farming future.

“Over the last year, we have been disappointed with the amount of disinformation that has been spread among the public and the regulators across multiple states. That does not happen by accident. Rather, it is being pushed by groups who oppose modern agriculture and whose stated mission is to destroy farming as we know it. While we respect Navigator’s decision, IRFA will continue to support multiple other CCS projects and we expect ultimate success.”  



Growth Energy Statement on Navigator CO2 Project Cancellation

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement regarding Navigator CO2's decision to cancel its pipeline project.

"While CCUS projects are critical for many of our member biorefineries to compete in a low-carbon bioeconomy, they are also vital to our nation’s overall quest to reach net-zero by 2050 and keep rural economies moving. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure jurisdictions across the country see the value in low-carbon biofuels and appreciate our industry’s important contributions in both growing markets across rural communities and reducing emissions."



HPAI Case Confirmed in a Commercial Turkey Flock in Buena Vista County

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Buena Vista County, Iowa.

The affected site is a commercial turkey flock.

As Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reiterated last week in an alert about the reemergence of HPAI, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, working jointly with USDA and industry partners, remains ready to swiftly respond to any case that may emerge in Iowa.

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

About HPAI
HPAI is a highly contagious viral disease affecting bird populations. HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. The virus can spread through the droppings or the nasal discharge of an infected bird, both of which can contaminate dust and soil.

Signs of HPAI may include:
•           Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
•           Lethargy and/or lack of energy and appetite
•           Decrease in egg production
•           Soft, thin-shelled and/or misshapen eggs
•           Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
•           Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
•           Difficulty breathing
•           Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
•           Stumbling and/or falling down
•           Diarrhea

For additional information on HPAI, please visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.