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.”
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