Friday January 19 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 2%

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.56 million cattle on feed on January 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 2% from last year. Placements during December totaled 435,000 head, down 7% from 2022. Fed cattle marketings for the month of December totaled 440,000 head, down 6% from last year. Other disappearance during December totaled 15,000 head, up 5,000 head 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 630,000 head on January 1, 2024, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 2 percent from December but up 2 percent from January 1, 2023. Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 83,000 head, down 6 percent from November and down 1 percent from last year. Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 92,000 head, down 5 percent from November but unchanged from last year. Other disappearance from feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head in Iowa totaled 1,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 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 11.9 million head on January 1, 2024. The inventory was 2 percent above January 1, 2023. The inventory included 7.20 million steers and steer calves, up 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.74 million head, up 2 percent from 2023.

by State  -  Jan 1 '24  (1,000 hd - % Jan 1 '23)
Colorado .......:               1,020           98            
Iowa .............:                 630             102               
Kansas ..........:               2,480           104             
Nebraska ......:               2,560            98              
Texas ............:               2,860           103            

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.70 million head, 4 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.64 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 440,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 410,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 380,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 279,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 110,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.

by State      -      (1,000 hd  -  % Dec '22)
Colorado ......:              135            93            
Iowa .............:               83            99              
Kansas ..........:              395            91             
Nebraska ......:              435            93            
Texas ............:              330            94               

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.73 million head, 1 percent below 2022. Other disappearance totaled 60,000 head during December, 11 percent above 2022.

by State      -      (1,000 hd  -  % Dec '22)
Colorado ......:          140           100           
Iowa .............:          92           100            
Kansas ..........:          405           111            
Nebraska ......:          440            94            
Texas ............:          365            96               




New NebGuide: Sulfur Management in Agricultural Systems of Nebraska

In recent years, soil sulfur (S) availability has declined worldwide. Factors contributing to S deficiencies include lowered S concentration in the atmosphere, the reduction of soil organic matter content — which contains most of the total S in the soil — and increased S removal in harvests with greater soil S extraction. While current assessments of agricultural systems in Nebraska generally indicate low to no need for S, instances of S deficiency are becoming more common, particularly as crop S requirements increase and soil S levels deplete over time. Therefore, it is crucial to assess S needs using a systems approach and then look for the most effective S management strategy to address this emerging issue and overcome S deficiencies without over-applying S.

A new NebGuide from Nebraska Extension, “Sulfur Management of Agricultural Systems of Nebraska” (G2360) https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/9000033475344/sulfur-management-in-agricultural-systems-of-nebraska/, describes how to properly manage sulfur in agricultural systems, with a focus on the 4Rs of S fertilization — right rate, right source, right place and right time — the sulfur cycle, and sulfur concentration within the state of Nebraska.

NebGuide G2360 is free and available online in both PDF and webpage formats.



Bazile Groundwater Management Area Winter Meeting

Nebraska Extension, Upper Elkhorn Natural Resource District (NRD), Lower Niobrara NRD, Lewis and Clark NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD and Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy are sponsoring the Bazile Groundwater Management Area winter meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 at Orchard Community Center (Old Orchard Public School Gym) in Antelope County. We are excited to host this face-to-face winter meeting to discuss nitrogen management and soil health.

The winter meeting will be held at Orchard Community Center (407 E. Fourth St), Orchard, Nebraska. Registration for the meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. and conclude around 2 p.m. with lunch provided. Participants will be able to receive NRD nitrogen certification and Certified Crop Advisor hours are available.

Presentation and discussion include:
    The Ins and Outs of the Vadose Zone — Dr. Dan Snow, UNL.
    Informal ‘Farmer to Farmer’ discussion.
    Soil health — Robert Noonan, Northeast Community College.

Register online https://forms.gle/4bNkCQ4GnYsZugwG7 by Thursday, Jan. 25 or contact Lisa Lauver at 402-371-7313.



Chemigation Training in 2024
Jennifer Weisbrod – Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator, Extension Educator

Nebraska Extension is gearing up to train new and recertifying chemigators in 2024. Applying agrichemicals through an irrigation system (“chemigation”) can be advantageous — it offers a high degree of application uniformity, allows chemicals to be easily incorporated into soil, and causes less soil compaction than ground sprayer applications. However, this practice also comes with risks to health and the environment, especially our water resources. It is because of this that in Nebraska, a person must be trained and certified to chemigate. Any person wishing to chemigate must have a license and cannot chemigate under the license of another person.

Chemigation training is offered at face-to-face events and online. Either option can be utilized, regardless of whether you are seeking certification for the first time or renewing your certification. Both training formats include an exam that you must pass to become certified (or recertified).

Chemigation certification lasts for four years. You can check your certification status online.

Dates, locations and registration information for 2024 face-to-face chemigation training sessions are listed online https://edmedia.wufoo.com/reports/2024-chemigation-training-dates-copy/. Please note that additional training sessions may be added to this list as time goes forward.

Over the past year or so, a team of extension educators and specialists has been working to update the curriculum for chemigation training. A new manual has been implemented and new videos are currently being developed to enhance the training.



Private Pesticide Applicator Training Course Offered in Spanish for 2024
Jennifer Weisbrod – Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator, Extension Educator

The Pesticide Safety Education Office with Nebraska Extension is pleased to announce its new Spanish pesticide safety online training course will be offered again in 2024 for individuals who speak Spanish as their first language. This training will adequately cover all required materials so that individuals can get a private applicator license for restricted use pesticides. This training is also adequate for individuals wish to recertify.

For questions, call 402-472-1632 or email pested@unl.edu. This information can also be located at the Pesticide Safety Education Office website https://pested.unl.edu/.

Accessing Training
Access the training here https://advance.nebraska.edu/browse/unl/courses/espaol--private-pesticide-safety-2024. Training is $60 and can be paid through the link. Once payment has been submitted, the individual will receive two emails. It is important the individual uses an email they can access to register. Once registered, a form is required to be filled out and a photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID) must be uploaded with the name and photo visible next to the individual taking the training.

Once forms are submitted, the individual will watch a training video that is in Spanish and then submit another applicant form.

After Training
Training is completed when the final form has been submitted. Once this is completed, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) will receive and process the information and then mail a postcard. The postcard will have directions to pay for the license. Once the license has been paid for, the NDA will issue the license to the address that was listed during the training on the applicant form.



USDA Launches Pilot to Help More Processors Access High-Value Beef Grading

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a pilot program to allow more cattle producers and meat processors to access better markets through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) official beef quality grading and certification. The Remote Grading Pilot for Beef, developed by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), matches simple technology with robust data management and program oversight to allow a USDA grader to assess beef carcass characteristics and assign the official quality grade from a remote location, reducing costs and location as barriers to participation in voluntary grading services.

Secretary Vilsack announced the new pilot during a panelist discussion with livestock producers and independent meat processing business owners in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. In addition to the pilot, Secretary Vilsack highlighted USDA programs in the West that create economic prosperity for farms, ranches and rural communities by supporting on-farm conservation, bolstering new markets, creating jobs, and keeping farming and ranching viable for the next generation. Today’s announcement builds on USDA’s comprehensive approach to increase competition in agricultural markets, create a fairer playing field for small- and mid-size farmers and ranchers, and provide producers more options to market their products.  

“On average, a beef carcass that grades as USDA Prime is valued at hundreds of dollars more than an ungraded carcass, but costs for this voluntary USDA service often prevents smaller scale processors and the farmers and ranchers they serve from using this valuable marketing tool,” Secretary Vilsack said. “This remote grading pilot opens the door for additional packers and processors to receive grading and certification services allowing them to access new, better, and more diverse marketing opportunities.”

Consumers as well as buyers and sellers of beef rely on USDA quality grades, including Prime, Choice, and Select, as a clear and standardized way to indicate quality. Everyone involved in the beef supply chain, from cattle producers to beef consumers, benefit from the greater efficiency permitted by the application of official U.S. grade standards.

USDA offers these services to packers and processors on a user-fee basis. While over 90% of America’s fed beef supply is officially graded by USDA, most users are large beef packing operations. USDA’s meat grading and certification services are significantly underutilized by small, independent processors, in large part due to the expense of paying for a highly trained USDA grader to travel to their facility to perform service in-person for a relatively small number of cattle that may not require a full day of the graders’ work.  Experience with remote grading so far has shown it dramatically reduces travel-related expenses, which makes the service more accessible to smaller processors.

In this pilot, trained plant employees capture specific images of the live animal and beef carcass. These images are submitted electronically to a USDA grader already stationed elsewhere in the U.S., likely located in another rural community, who reviews the images and accompanying plant records and product data, assigns the USDA Quality Grade and applicable carcass certification programs, and communicates the official grade back to the plant to be applied to the carcass.  Plants can then use this information in their retail marketing and transmit carcass performance information back to producers.

The pilot will build on lessons-learned during AMS’ feasibility study of a “remote grading” process conducted during the second half of 2023. AMS will expand its testing by engaging a larger and more diverse number of beef packers to participate in the development of this procedure. Through the pilot, AMS will gather additional information on actual cost and the level of in-person surveillance needed to ensure program consistency and integrity to formalize this innovative service option as part of the USDA Quality Grading Service.

The Remote Grading Pilot for Beef is limited to domestic beef slaughter facilities operating under federal inspection and producing product that meets the eligibility criteria for the USDA grading program.

For more information about the Remote Grading Pilot for Beef, visit www.ams.usda.gov/remote-beef-grading or email AskLP@usda.gov.

USDA will host a webinar Thursday, Jan. 25 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time to provide additional information about the program. To register, click here https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_S8qAFDWPRSar7wROwkTtRA#/registration. A recording will be made available.



NCBA Welcomes USDA Pilot Program to Expand Remote Grading for Beef

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that the agency is pursuing a Remote Grading Pilot Program for beef. The pilot program will allow a USDA meat grader to assign grades from a remote location, increasing the grading options available to producers who sell into smaller, local processing facilities.

“The USDA quality grades of prime, choice, and select are instantly recognized by consumers and an important way for cattle producers to be rewarded for raising high-quality beef,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “NCBA is glad that USDA is launching this Remote Grading Pilot Program and expanding opportunities for meat grading to occur in smaller, local processing facilities. This will increase marketing opportunities for cattle producers and help them capture more value from their product.”

The USDA quality grades have become recognized by consumers as important indicators of beef quality, flavor, and eating experience. While many large meat processing plants provide this grading, the costs of maintaining a USDA grader on-site are often too high for smaller, local, and regional processing facilities. This pilot program will help ensure that smaller processors have access to USDA grading too, which in turn benefits the cattle producers who sell to these smaller processors by ensuring that their beef receives a quality grade as well.

NCBA looks forward to working with USDA to implement and evaluate this pilot program.  




American Farm Bureau Convention Sunday Preview: Remarks from President Zippy Duvall, Ag Innovation Challenge Final Four and More

The American Farm Bureau Federation Convention continues with an action-packed day of programming Sunday, focused on the hottest topics and most pressing issues for farmers, ranchers and consumers in 2024.

Sunday’s slate of activities includes two general sessions, 12 workshops, the live pitch competition for the final four Ag Innovation Challenge teams and the Sweet 16 round of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet. AFBF President Zippy Duvall will deliver his keynote remarks during the opening general session at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time, and the coveted state award winners will be announced.

The mid general session, which begins at 4 p.m. Mountain Time, features an informative and motivational keynote address from global futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich. The Farm Dog of the Year and Distinguished Service Award winner will be announced during this session as well.

Sunday’s workshops will focus on opportunities and challenges facing U.S. agricultural trade, an analysis of the 2024 elections, a panel discussion on hot topics in agricultural policy and more. Cultivation Center Stage presentations include a Ted-style talk from farm fitness influencer Amanda Nigg (known as FarmFitMomma), perspectives from the next generation of agriculture leaders and a demonstration of a new national mental health resource available for farm and ranch families.

Start times, locations and descriptions of all workshops are available here. Learn more about Cultivation Center Stage events here.

Though the Convention fully opens Sunday, plenty of exciting programming took place today. From tours of Utah agriculture to the opening of the trade show and Cultivation Center Stage, Saturday had plenty to offer for attendees.

Top agriculture influencers Tara Vander Dussen and Natalie Kovarik recorded a live episode of their podcast “Discover Ag,” where they talked about trending topics in the food and ag space. Portions of the episode will be available on all podcast platforms on Thursday, January 25.

Later, a panel of leaders representing food processors and retailers came together to discuss opportunities for collaboration between food companies and retailers and the restaurants they supply.

Cultivation Center Stage programming wrapped with announcements of the Sweet 16 round of YF&R Discussion Meet and the Achievement Award Top 10. Winners of both contests will be announced during the closing general session on Monday.



Biden Offers Nominee for Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
 
President Joe Biden last week nominated Nelson Cunningham for the post of deputy U.S. trade representative. The trade consultant was a special adviser to the president in the Office of Special Envoy for the Americas during the Clinton administration.
 
Cunningham has been a longtime supporter of comprehensive trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). TPP was championed by NPPC before the United States dropped out of the 12-nation trade deal in Jan. 2017.
 
Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, which will consider Cunningham’s nomination before sending it to the full Senate, seem to be split on his appointment.
 
Having a deputy U.S. trade representative who will maintain an active trade agenda will benefit America’s pork producers and the U.S. economy.



Tax Bill Would Increase Deductions for Farmers
 
U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) this week introduced a tax reform bill that would benefit families, farmers, and business owners.
 
The “Tax Relief Act for American Families and Workers Act of 2024” increases the refundable amount of the child tax credit, changes write-offs for research and development to allow for immediate expensing and restores interest deductions. It includes a provision to allow 100% bonus depreciation for certain assets — including qualified property with as long as a 20-year recovery period — placed into service between Sept. 27, 2017, and Jan. 1, 2026, and extends the depreciation deduction for qualified property with longer recovery periods placed into service between Sept. 27, 2017, and Jan. 1, 2027.
 
Additionally, the tax measure increases the amount that can be expensed for the 2024 tax year under the Section 179 deduction to $1.29 million, up from $1 million, for qualifying depreciable business assets. The phaseout threshold for this deduction would also increase from $2.5 million to $3.22 million. (For tax year 2023 there are no changes, the deduction was and remains $1.16 million phasing out on purchases over $2.89 million.) Both the deduction amount and the phaseout would be indexed for inflation.