Thursday November 16 Ag News

 NDA Announces 2023-24 Nebraska Ag Youth Council Members

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) develops and supports the next generation of ag leaders through the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council (NAYC). NAYC is a group of college students working together to share their passion and knowledge about agriculture with young people across the state. NDA is proud to sponsor NAYC and announce the 2023-2024 Council members.  

“NAYC has a long-standing tradition of leadership excellence in Nebraska agriculture,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “NAYC members are skilled, talented, and knowledgeable. They are committed to learning as much as they can about Nebraska agriculture and sharing their knowledge and passion with others. I look forward to working with these Council members as they grow their leadership skills.”

NAYC members coordinate and participate in a wide range of ag-focused activities and events throughout the year. They visit elementary schools to talk about where food comes from, take students on farm tours to experience life on a farm, and visit with high school students about career opportunities in agriculture. The primary focus of NAYC is to coordinate the annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI), a five-day summer conference with speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities for high school juniors and seniors.

NAYI is in its 53rd year and is the longest running event of its kind in the nation. It is made possible through the donations of many generous sponsors.

Here is a list of the 2023-2024 NAYC leadership and their hometowns:
• Head Counselors: Levi Schiller (Scribner); and Kaleb Senff (Axtell);
• President: Madison Kreifels (Syracuse);
• Secretary: Logan Hafer (Long Pine);
• Vice President of Communications and Social Media: Jessie Lamp (Ashland);
• Vice President of Alumni Relations: Emma Snoberger (Aurora);
• Vice President of NAYI Improvement and Promotions: Kailey Ziegler (Waco);
• Vice President of Youth Outreach: Seth Wert (Hordville); and
• Vice President of Sponsorship: Jenna Knake (Syracuse).

Additional NAYC members include: Laura Albro, Bayard; Brie Bruns, Pender; Caleb Burnside, Stapleton; Vickie Ference, Ord; Ben Kamrath, Columbus; Ethan Kreikemeier, West Point; Kendra Loseke, Blair; Caleb Most, Ogallala; Kendall Prior, Imperial; Conner Snyder, McCook; Evan Svanda, Nehawka; and Carleigh Tietz, Norfolk.

“Teaching youth about the value of agriculture is an important part of our work,” said Christin Kamm, NDA Director of Communications and NAYC Advisor. “The student leaders who serve on NAYC are some of the best and brightest in the industry. They are dedicated to promoting Nebraska agriculture and providing valuable insight and advice to young Nebraskans about the many different careers available in the ag industry.”

To learn more, visit NAYC’s website at https://nda.nebraska.gov/nayi/nayc.html or search for Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute on Facebook.



Rural Mainstreet Economy Slumps to Lowest Level in Three Years

For a third straight month, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below growth neutral, according to the November survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

Overall: The region’s overall reading for November fell to 40.4 from 44.4 in October and 49.5 in September. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.

“This is the weakest recorded reading in more than three years, or since June 2020, shortly after the beginning of the pandemic, and points to weaker farm and non-farm economies,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.

Farming and ranching land prices: The region’s farmland price index climbed to 66.7 from October’s 55.6. “Creighton’s survey continues to point to solid, but slowing, growth in farmland prices as farm commodity prices weakened,” said Goss.

Farm equipment sales: The farm equipment-sales index for November increased slightly to a weak 49.5 from October’s 48.0. “This is the fifth time the past 6 months that the index has fallen below growth neutral. Higher borrowing costs are having a negative impact on the purchases of farm equipment,” said Goss.

According to the International Trade Administration, the export of agriculture products from the region declined from $9.8 billion for the first nine months of 2022 to $8.6 billion for the same period in 2023 for a 12.7% slump.

Below are the state reports:
Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for November fell to 39.7 from 44.3 in October. The state’s farmland-price index for November climbed to 64.1 from 54.3 in October. Nebraska’s November new-hiring index slumped to 47.6 from October’s 49.8. According to the International Trade Administration, the export of agriculture products from Nebraska declined from $981.4 million for the first nine months of 2022 to $470.0 million for the same period in 2023 for a 52.1% slump.

Iowa: Iowa’s November RMI slumped to 32.4 from 43.5 in October. Iowa’s farmland-price index for November soared to 62.0 from October’s 45.9. Iowa’s new-hiring index for November increased to 45.1 from 44.2 in October. According to the International Trade Administration, the export of agriculture products from Iowa declined from $1.7 billion for the first nine months of 2022 to $1.2 billion for the same period in 2023 for a 29.8% slump.

The survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. The index provides the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former Chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey and launched it in January 2006.



Upcoming Nebraska Farmers Union Convention Agenda and Highlights Announced
December 8-9, 2023
Divots Conference Center, 4200 W. Norfolk Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701

"Proudly Serving Family Farm, Ranch, & Rural Families Since 1913" is the theme for the 110th annual Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) state convention.  John Hansen, NeFU President said, “We have a solid meat and potatoes program with 20 speakers addressing a wide range of topics.

We will hear from two of our states top USDA officials Friday morning. USDA NRCS State Conservationist Rob Lawson will report on the unprecedented additional funding that is available for conservation programs from the “Inflation Reduction Act.”  Tim Divis, USDA NE FSA Executive Director and Roy Stoltenberg, Chairman of the State Committee will report on FSA programs, challenges, and opportunities.

Friday noon Mayor Josh Moenning will provide the “Welcome to Norfolk” and Aaron Shier, NFU Government Relations Director will report on National Farmers Union (NFU) legislative issues.

Friday afternoon, members will hear from Chad Spohn about the exciting new “Norfolk Crush Plant” soybean processing facility. Dr. Eric Hunt, Climate Resilience Extension Educator will report on new climate-based tools that can be used for agricultural decision making. Aaron Lapointe, Senior Director of Business Operations for Ho-Chunk Inc. will discuss Nebraska Tribal agricultural initiatives.   

Jeff Kippley, NFU Vice President and Tom Giessel, NFU Amateur Historian will keynote the Friday evening banquet. This year’s President’s Award will be presented to Kay Walter and Tim Rinne of Lincoln for their pioneering efforts in urban agriculture.

Saturday morning programs includes a report from NeFU Vice President Vern Jantzen, a report from John Liewer, Lead Wind Energy Technology Instructor from Northeast Community College about their Wind Energy Technology training program, and remarks from John Berge, USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs.

The final morning program will be “Unscrambling the Extended Farm Bill” with NFU Vice President Jeff Kippley, NFU Government Relations Director Aaron Shier, and USDA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs John Berge.

NeFU President John Hansen will present his State of the Union report Saturday noon. Schedule permitting, Rep. Mike Flood is invited to provide noon luncheon remarks.

Hansen noted, “Delegates will set our NeFU state policy, elect our state president, elect two members to our NeFU Foundation Board, two NeFU Board of Directors, and three delegates to National Farmers Union Convention to be held next March 10-12 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our organization first started organizing farmer owned cooperatives in 1911 in Antelope County.  We are excited to be back in northeast Nebraska for our convention.”

NeFU Vice President Vern Jantzen will chair the 2023-2024 NeFU policy day that will be held Thursday, December 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the Divots Conference Center, and policy consideration Saturday afternoon.   

Registration is $35 and begins at 8:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday mornings.  Meals are separate. Convention begins at 9:00 a.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday.  As always, all members and the public are welcome.  More information is available at:  www.nebraskafarmersunion.org or call (402) 476-8815.

For room reservations at the Norfolk Lodge & Suites, call (402) 379-3833. The NeFU Convention block room rate is $125 per night plus taxes and includes a complimentary hot continental breakfast. The NeFU convention block reservation registration deadline is November 22th. Room rates after the deadline may vary.



PROJECT TO ASSEMBLE GLOBAL AG DATA ON POTASSIUM DEFICIENCIES

Deficiencies in potassium, an essential nutrient for plants, may be hampering many cropping systems around the world. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the International Fertilizer Association have therefore begun a joint initiative to fill in the knowledge gap about the extent and severity of potassium deficiency. The two-year project will compile and analyze a comprehensive inventory of global data on potassium for major crop systems around the world.

With that data and analysis in hand, countries will be better able to understand and address their potassium-related crop challenges, which remain poorly understood in many crop-growing regions. That progress can help advance the crop yields needed to meet the world’s growing food demand.

“This collaborative project will provide essential input to national agricultural research and extension programs on how to improve crop production through better nutrient management and fertilizer recommendation,” said Patricio Grassini, professor of agronomy and horticulture at Nebraska and one of the project’s principal investigators. “The project ultimately can bring benefits to a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, policymakers and the agri-food sector.”

Walter Carciochi, a postdoctoral research associate in agronomy and horticulture at Nebraska, is coordinating the project’s outreach to a wide range of leading researchers in multiple countries to compile the needed data.

“The current project will use a variety of methods to diagnose potassium deficiencies, including on-farm nutrient balances, soil and plant analyses, and potassium omission trials,” Carciochi said. “Initially, the project will focus on main cropping systems in South and North America, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. We suspect that we will find potassium to be limiting to crop yield and quality in many of these regions.”

Grassini said: “It does not happen every day that a wide range of researchers from the public and private sectors collaborate under the umbrella of a global project.”

As the data are assembled in a consistent format, Grassini said, one possibility is development of a “traffic light” guidance strategy, indicating the general level of potassium deficiency for individual countries or regions. Red would indicate the highest level of potassium concern; yellow, a lesser level; and green, minimal concern.

“IFA is very excited to collaborate with the UNL team led by Dr. Grassini on this global assessment of potassium limitation,” said Achim Dobermann, chief scientist with IFA, co-principal lead of the project, and a former professor of soil science and nutrient management at Nebraska. “This initiative starts not only from our interest as agronomists to help increase crop yields globally, but also as an opportunity from the fertilizer industry to identify new markets for potassium.”

Over the long term, Dobermann is concerned that the depletion level could result in the soil no longer meeting the potassium required by crops, necessitating the addition of fertilizers containing this essential nutrient. The research project is supported by seven major fertilizer companies: Nutrien, Mosaic, K+S, ICL, Anglo American, BHP and Arab Potash.

Grassini said that “this collaboration provides the opportunity for a helicopter view of the whole situation on potassium limitation, and where it is important to prioritize our investments in R&D in both the public and private sectors to overcome this limitation.”

The project is in its initial stage, with researchers gathering information to build the database, Carciochi said.

“We plan to create a thematic database on potassium in crop production to store all the information collected throughout our project and make it available via the Crop Nutrient Data platform,” he said.

The researchers are inviting colleagues at other universities, research institutes, analytical labs and companies to collaborate with the initiative by sharing any potassium-related data they may have — including farmer data, fertilizer trials, and soil and plant analyses.

“By putting all the data together, we will be able to determine if and when potassium is becoming the next barrier to increase crop yields,” Carciochi said.



NeCGA Call for At-Large Candidate Nominations

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association is seeking candidates for two at-large positions to serve on the board of directors. The at-large positions serve for a 3-year term. If you have an interest in furthering your service to Nebraska’s corn industry and are a current member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, you should consider this position.

As a candidate, your name will be placed on the ballot for delegates of the association to vote from during the upcoming Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2024 in York, Neb. at the Holthus Convention Center (3130 Holen Ave, York, NE 68467). Candidates will have an opportunity to address the delegates with a short introduction of themselves and why they want to be active on the board of directors, thus plan to attend the Annual Meeting.

If elected to serve, the board of directors usually meet in person 2-3 times per year, with 2-3 conference calls as needed to conduct and address business of the board. The board of directors will meet following the Annual Meeting and lunch/speakers the same day – January 22.

If you have questions, or are interested in being a candidate, please call or email NeCGA Chairman Andy Jobman by January 16, 2024.  His number is (308) 529-0758 and email is jobman.agronomics@gmail.com.



Congressman Flood Announces 2023 Congressional App Challenge Winner

Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood announced Adam Khattak, a Lincoln Southwest High School student, as the Congressional App Challenge (CAC) winner for Nebraska’s First Congressional District.

For the challenge, Khattak coded an app called “AI Corn Disease Detector.” The application allows users to upload pictures of crops, and then the app would detect if they had any diseases.

“The CAC is meant to challenge middle and high school students to code and pursue careers in computer science, but it also brings forth great apps that can truly be helpful,” Rep. Flood said. “I’m very impressed with Adam’s work. Agriculture is Nebraska’s top industry, and applications like this one can be beneficial not only to our ag producers here but to farmers around the world.”

“It was an honor to participate in and to be named the winner for the First Congressional District App Challenge,” said Adam Khattak. “There’s a lot of cool innovation being done in ag technology, which inspired me to focus in this area. My app has a very practical purpose, and I hope to build on this success as I dig deeper into the field of coding for ag producers.”

“The corn disease detection application is an excellent and promising tool that can assist farmers and potentially manage different crop diseases. Adam has done a fantastic job and created something that can have an immediate impact,” wrote a member of the review committee. “It is so refreshing to see these young people being creative and innovative with something benefits the agriculture community.”

Adam’s submission was reviewed by a committee of professionals working in the start-up and digital community from the First Congressional District. Applications submitted through the contest are generally not immediately commercially available.



Gruss Named Forage Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach

Shelby Gruss has joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as the state forage specialist.

Gruss will help educate Iowans about the value of forage production and address issues related to forage management, pests and diseases.

She grew up on her family’s row crop farm in northeast Indiana and earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Gruss earned her Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics from Purdue University in 2021 and completed her post doctorate at Michigan State last year.

"I look forward to helping Iowa farmers utilize forages in the best way that they can," she said. "There are so many different species that are classified as forages, and so many uses for forages, so no day will ever look the same."

Gruss also has teaching and research duties and said she looks forward to the many interactions she will have across campus and out in the field. She will work closely with the extension crops team and also the extension livestock specialists.

“I see forages playing a role in almost any type of farming system,” she said. “They can help build soil health, help reduce soil erosion, and help with water quality, and they’re a feed source for livestock.”

Josh Michel, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, said he’s pleased to welcome Gruss as she fills an important role for Iowa producers.

“As the state forage extension specialist, she will be able to collaborate with field specialists across the state to deliver forage-related programs and content to farmers and producers. This is something that field specialists have been looking forward to for quite some time and we’re very eager to work with her,” said Michel. “Her diverse background and experience will be extremely valuable as she begins to identify priority areas in forages across the state.”

While she has a passion for forages, Gruss is also an accomplished wheelchair basketball athlete, having played for the University of Illinois and the U.S. Women’s National Team.

She is currently the athlete representative for the U.S. Paralympic women’s basketball team, and is an avid fan of basketball in general.

She can be reached at sgruss@iastate.edu or 515-294-1360.



Registration Now Open for Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2024 Annual Conference

Practical Farmers of Iowa invites all farmers, landowners and friends of farmers to come together for two days of learning and networking at the PFI 2024 Annual Conference, taking place Jan. 19-20 at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Registration for the conference – one of PFI’s longest-running and most popular farmer-led events – is now open.

"I've been thrilled to see the growing interest in our annual conference,” says Liz Kolbe, PFI’s farmer-led education director. “Last year, we had a record-breaking crowd with over 1,000 farmers, landowners and friends of farmers who gathered to learn and discuss what matters most to them. We're excited to move to a bigger space in Des Moines where we can provide attendees an even better experience.”

Since PFI’s founding, the annual conference has been a keystone event for thousands of farmers to share knowledge, build connections and celebrate agriculture in Iowa. Attendees can look forward to 60-plus sessions and 80-plus exhibitors covering a range of agricultural topics, along with locally sourced snacks and meals throughout the conference.

New this year, PFI is offering a full track of Spanish-language sessions. “This will be a valuable networking and info-sharing event for Spanish speakers who farm, raise animals or are interested in growing food,” says Valeria Cano-Camacho, PFI’s Latino engagement coordinator.

Additional conference highlights:
• A Friday keynote by Keith Berns, one of the cover crop pioneers over the past 15 years. Keith will lay out the case for how soil health practices affect the bottom-line profitability of a farming operation.
• Session topics that span the agricultural spectrum, including conventional and organic field crop systems, livestock, fruit and vegetable production, conservation, on-farm habitat, urban farming, business planning, beginning farmers, farmland ownership and more.
• Three optional pre-conference short courses: “Grazing Intensive With Greg Judy”; “Soil Health and Fertility for Horticulture Production”; and “Getting Started With Organic Transition.” All courses begin Thursday, Jan. 18 in the afternoon and end the morning of Friday, Jan. 19 before the conference starts.
• An afternoon of storytelling by PFI farmers sharing skillfully narrated true stories.
• Presentation of PFI’s 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award.
.
Long-time conference attendee Hannah Breckbill, who operates Humble Hands Harvest in Decorah, Iowa, finds the connections she makes to be her favorite part of the conference. “The people and network are what I love most,” she says.

Those who register by Dec. 8 will be entered in a drawing to win two free nights at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown hotel during the conference. PFI strives to keep the conference affordable for attendees and offers special rates for members and students.

To register and for pricing details, visit practicalfarmers.org/2024-annual-conference. For questions about the conference, or help registering, please call the office at (515) 232-5661. For full conference details, visit practicalfarmers.org/pfi-annual-conference.

Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2024 Annual Conference is supported by several major sponsors, including: ADM re:generations; Grain Millers Inc.; Niman Ranch; Sunderman Farm Management Co.; and Choose Iowa | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship




NCGA to Congress: Farm Bill Extension Provides Certainty for Growers but Full Reauthorization Still Needed

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said today that it is pleased that the House and Senate passed a continuing resolution that extends the 2018 farm bill for one year, but the association said the extension is no substitute for a fully reauthorized farm bill.

“Growers are already making decisions for the 2024 crop year based on markets, growing conditions and risk calculations,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “This extension provides us with much needed certainty around the commodity title and other important USDA programs. But we continue to advocate for a full reauthorization of the farm bill as soon as possible.”

The 2018 farm bill, which expired on September 30, authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm and food programs.

Late Tuesday night, the House of Representatives bundled the farm bill extension with a continuing resolution to fund the government through early next year. The Senate signaled its support soon after resulting in a vote late Wednesday night.

NCGA and our state partners continue to work closely with policymakers to ensure that corn growers’ key priorities are included in the final bill.



Cattle Producers Praise Farm Bill Extension, Urges for Swift Passage

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) praised Congress for passing a government funding package that includes a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill through September 30, 2024, and extends the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program until January 19, 2024.
 
“NCBA is thankful for Congress passing legislation extending critical programs that farmers and ranchers across the country depend on. These extensions give much needed certainty to cattle producers and NCBA will continue engaging with Congress and the Biden Administration as they work to deliver a long-term Farm Bill, as well as a clean reauthorization of Livestock Mandatory Reporting,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “With so much work still left to do, I urge President Biden to swiftly sign this continuing resolution.”



NFU Encouraged by Farm Bill Extension, Urges Timely Passage of Five-Year Bill

Today, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew issued the following statement regarding the one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill recently passed by Congress:

“NFU is encouraged by the strong bipartisan support for an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. Now we urge Congress to channel that success toward getting a new farm bill done in a timely fashion. Family farmers and ranchers must have clarity about the status of farm programs to make informed planting and business decisions heading into the next growing season, and an extension accomplishes that in the short term. We will continue working to craft and pass a five-year farm bill that provides strong support for family farmers, ranchers, and our communities.”



AFBF Appreciates Farm Bill Extension, Urges New Bill

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the passage of a stopgap spending bill by both the House of Representatives and Senate, which includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. Farm Bureau sent a letter to all members of Congress Tuesday urging passage of the continuing resolution that included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill.

“We are grateful Congress passed a farm bill extension to avoid serious program disruptions and we encourage President Biden to sign it. However, we urge both the House and Senate to stay focused on a new, modernized farm bill that recognizes the many changes and challenges of the past five years.

“The current farm bill was written before the pandemic, before inflation spiked, and before global unrest sent shock waves through the food system. We need programs that reflect today’s realities. So much work has been done by the agriculture committees in both the House and Senate over the past 18 months to prepare to craft a smart and effective farm bill. Congress must keep that momentum going.

“While an extension is necessary, they're running out of time to write a new bill. We need a new farm bill in early 2024. The farm bill affects every American by helping to ensure a safe, stable and affordable food supply. Let’s make sure we get it right in 2024.”



USDA announces 2022 Census of Agriculture data release details, preliminary return rate, and upcoming special studies

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release the 2022 Census of Agriculture data on February 13, 2024. NASS concluded the data collection this summer with a preliminary national return rate of 61%. The ag census, conducted once every five years, was mailed to more than 3 million producers across the United States and Puerto Rico late last year. NASS plans to release the data from the 2022 Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture in summer 2024. Early next year, NASS will conduct the Census of Agriculture in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

            “On behalf of everyone at USDA, I would like to thank the millions of producers who gave their time and effort to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “Ag census data will inform decisions about policy, farm and conservation programs, rural development, research, technology development, ag education, and more over the next several years. These data will have a very real impact on producers, their farming operations, and communities.”

The ag census data will be available at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus and in NASS’s searchable database, Quick Stats. Publication dates for the various ag census data products can be found on NASS’s online 2024 Agricultural Statistics Board Calendar. Like all NASS data, ag census data will be available in aggregate form only, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.

“NASS staff are currently doing extensive analyses of each response,” said NASS’s Census and Survey Division Director Barbara Rater. “We use trusted statistical methods to account for nonresponse, under-coverage, and misclassification to continue to produce accurate data down to the county level. Per usual, these methodologies will be published in the final report.”

In addition to the U.S. territory ag census data collection, two ag census special studies that will provide more in-depth information on certain industries will be conducted this fall and winter: the 2023 Census of Aquaculture and the 2023 Irrigation and Water Management Survey. These questionnaires will be mailed to the producers who reported these activities in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. For more information about these upcoming special studies, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.

The Census of Agriculture provides the only source of impartial and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. Watch for additional news about the ag census at @usda_nass on X (formerly known as Twitter).



 Council Releases New Study Highlighting Superior Performance Of U.S. Corn In Poultry Feeds

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently released Year 2 of its Corn Origins Report, funded by the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council, North Dakota Corn Utilization Council and South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, that explores the performance of U.S. corn against other origin corn in poultry diets.

There are numerous advantages to buying U.S. corn, including higher levels of available starch for animal digestibility, lower levels of mycotoxins and larger kernel size, and the Council’s original study confirmed the origin of corn used by feed millers worldwide has an impact on the financial performance of their feed industries and, ultimately, the growth of their livestock.

In the newly published study, commercial corn samples were collected from the warehouse of an international feed company in Colombia – U.S., Argentinian and Brazilian corn. This corn was re-exported to the United States and sent to Auburn University to run feeding trials in poultry to assess growth performance, carcass traits and nutrient digestibility.

The study found that birds fed diets with U.S. corn consumed less feed throughout the entire grow-out phase compared to those fed Argentinian or Brazilian corn. The lower feed conversion rates (FCR) in the poultry fed U.S. corn translated to significant long-term cost savings. These savings, depending on the number of poultry produced annually, translated into significant cost savings.

“When the Council originally started this study, we were hoping to address our international customers concerns around the fragility of U.S. corn and the breakage that occurs during the export process,” said Kurt Shultz, USGC senior director for global strategies. “So, we went to the warehouses of our customers to get corn at the end of the export channel, in the process of conducting the study, we found that U.S. corn despite its fragility, outperforms other origins in terms of digestible starch. These benefits are not immediately apparent in an individual chicken, but when you look across a flock of millions of birds per year, which is typical in commercial poultry operations, it leads to hundreds of thousands of dollars of additional profitability against South American corn.”

“International buyers have a choice when choosing which origin they buy their corn from, however, those regularly buying U.S. corn have a competitive advantage, in terms of profitability, than those using other origins,” Shultz said.

Moving forward, the Council is planning the next stage of the study which will be to conduct commercial trials with two to three international feed companies. The Council will conduct milling trials to benchmark the energy and milling costs of various origins and their performance in commercial poultry operations to drill down and measure animal performance. This data will lead to total costs of production based on the origin of the corn. Ultimately, the study will highlight the performance benefits of U.S. corn and how it improves the competitive advantage and profitability of customers in an increasingly competitive environment.



USDA Announces Planned Trade Missions for 2024, Shares Next Steps for Regional Agricultural Promotion Program

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced next steps in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to bolster U.S. agricultural trade, including the department’s planned trade missions for 2024 and the opening of a public comment period for the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). These efforts will help to support further growth in U.S. agricultural exports and introduce high-quality U.S. agricultural products to new markets.

“Market diversification is an important tool for maximizing growth opportunities for U.S. agriculture, as well as hedging the risk of market contraction and general volatility in the global marketplace,” said Secretary Vilsack. “USDA is committed to promoting export opportunities in non-traditional markets and ensuring that U.S. agricultural commodities and products are available to diverse consumer groups around the world.”

In October, Secretary Vilsack announced that USDA will use $1.3 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation funds to establish RAPP, to bolster and diversify U.S. agricultural export opportunities, and strengthen support for specialty crop industries. This investment will enable American exporters to enter new markets and expand market share in current and growth markets. On Friday, Nov. 17, USDA will publish regulations for RAPP, which will be open for public comment for 30 days.

U.S. agricultural exports totaled a record $196 billion in 2022, following a record setting year in 2021. USDA export promotion programs support efforts to continue market expansion for U.S. food and agricultural products. These programs are just one tool that USDA utilizes to ensure market access. The Department has tallied numerous trade policy wins during the Biden-Harris Administration that provided new opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers, including:
    Vietnam opening its market for U.S. grapefruit exporters;
    India dropping the retaliatory tariffs on apples, chickpeas, lentils, almonds and walnuts. The Indian government also reduced tariffs for turkey, duck, blueberries and cranberries;
    Canada approving legislative recognition of U.S. biofuels, maintaining the largest and most dependable export market for U.S. ethanol and biodiesel;
    Mexico granting market access to U.S. potatoes following more than 20 years of engagement;
    Japan renegotiating beef safeguard levels under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, reducing tariffs and generating growth opportunities for $150 million in beef exports; and,
    Brazil agreeing not to change import certification requirements, ensuring continued exports of U.S. milk, beef, and seafood to this important market.

USDA plans to build on these successes and highlight export opportunities in additional markets through a robust agribusiness trade mission schedule next year. USDA will lead trade missions to the following markets in 2024:
    Seoul, Korea – Week of March 25, 2024
    New Delhi, India – Week of April 22, 2024
    Vancouver, Canada – Week of June 17, 2024
    Bogota, Colombia – Week of July 29, 2024
    Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (with buyers from Thailand) – Week of September 9, 2024
    Casablanca, Morocco (with buyers from Senegal and Francophone West Africa) – Week of December 2, 2024

For more information about RAPP and agribusiness trade missions, visit www.fas.usda.gov.