Unveiling Insights at the 2i Conference – A Fusion of Information and Innovation
Nutrient Advisors, Summit Ag, and The Agronomic Consulting Group are proud to host the 7th biennial 2i Conference. Mark your calendars for the 7th biennial 2i Conference, hosted by Nutrient Advisors, Summit Ag, and The Agronomic Consulting Group on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024. The conference will be held at the Nielsen Community Center in West Point, Nebraska, starting at 10:00 AM and ending at 7:00 PM.
The day kicks off with registration and tradeshow at 10:00 AM, providing a platform to interact with leading businesses in the agricultural industry. At 11:00 AM, a complimentary lunch will be served.
Our keynote speakers include Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech, who will discuss the current state and future of agriculture. Sam Bachman, Analytic Financial Consultant from Uncommon Farms, will delve into the topic of "Cookie-Bite Profits". The afternoon will feature an Ag Expert Panel with our keynote speakers, and a Ladies Breakout Session led by Hannah Guenther and Miletta Vista Winery. The tradeshow will reopen at 5:00 PM, accompanied by a social hour with snacks and drinks until the conference concludes.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit our website at: www.2iconf.com. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from industry leaders and network with peers. Join us at the 2i Conference!
Nebraska Beef Council Seeks Director Candidates
The Nebraska Beef Council is seeking candidates in 5 districts to serve on the board of directors in 2025. Directors volunteer their time to represent fellow beef producers while overseeing Beef Checkoff collections and investments on the state, national, and international level. The Board’s major responsibility is to oversee checkoff expenditures by determining promotion, research and education programs for checkoff investments. The term is four years and will begin on January 2, 2025.
Producers interested in becoming a beef council director are encouraged to visit with current and past directors to learn more about this valuable experience and its commitment.
“Beef producers who are strong leaders and want to help us achieve our mission of strengthening beef demand in the global marketplace are encouraged to seek more information about our director openings,” said Ann Marie Bosshamer, executive director of the Nebraska Beef Council.
Election packets are available beginning on February 1, 2024 and can be obtained by calling the NBC office at 308-236-7551. All candidate materials contained in the election packet must be completed and mailed to the third party office, postmarked by June 15, 2024.
Districts hosting an election in 2024:
District 1- Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux
District 3- Burt, Cedar, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Madison, Pierce, Stanton, Thurston, Wayne
District 5- Buffalo, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Hall, Howard, Sherman, Valley
District 7- Butler, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Sarpy, Saunders, Washington, York
District 9- Dawson, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, Phelps, Red Willow
For additional information, log onto www.nebeef.org or contact the Nebraska Beef Council office at 308-236-7551.
USDA Awards Biofuel Infrastructure Grants in Nebraska; More Funds Available
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $19 million worth of Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants in 22 states, benefiting 16 Nebraska retail locations across the state.
Launched in July 2023 with a $450 million budget, HBIIP aims to boost sustainable fuel markets by supporting ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure improvements. The current application window closes on March 31, 2024. Additional application windows will follow until funds are exhausted. Check out the Nebraska Ethanol Board’s HBIIP 101 at ethanol.nebraska.gov for application deadlines, resources for grant writing and technical support, webinars, and tips on making the application process easier.
The USDA encourages fuel retailers of all sizes to apply, sharing costs for biofuel-related infrastructure development. The program has a targeted assistance goal of 50% of funding going toward those owning 10 or fewer stations. Priority will be given to applications who meet geographic diversity points, such as being the only station within a one-mile radius and/or stations located within one mile of the interstate that are easily accessible.
Biofuels are vital for energy security, air pollution reduction, and rural economic development. According to the USDA, about 96 percent – roughly 220 million – of the vehicles on U.S. roads today may legally use E15. This includes vehicles with model year 2001 and newer that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved. Additionally, one in 10 Nebraskans driving flex fuel vehicles can use higher blends up to E85. B20, a biodiesel blend which ranges from 6% to 20% biodiesel with petroleum diesel, is compatible with all diesel vehicles.
HBIIP significantly increases the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. Since the current program’s 2020 debut, USDA has invested more than $77.8 million in projects expected to increase biofuels sales by 1.2 billion gallons annually. Additionally, the Nebraska Higher Blend Tax Credit Act offers a meaningful tax incentive for retailers offering higher ethanol blends. Retailers can receive a tax credit in the amount of 8 cents per gallon sold of E15 and 8 cents per gallon sold of blends containing 25% ethanol and above for calendar year 2024. The credits in varying amounts last through 2028.
The expansion of biofuel infrastructure broadens the availability of renewable fuels like E15, E85, and B20, which helps Nebraskans save money at the pump while reducing carbon emissions and harmful tailpipe pollution. Expanded use of higher blends of biofuels in Nebraska also supports corn and soybean farmers and contributes billions to the state’s annual GDP.
NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS
All layers in Nebraska during December 2023 totaled 8.22 million, up from 6.80 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Nebraska egg production during December totaled 215 million eggs, up from 161 million in 2022. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,612 eggs, compared to 2,371 eggs in 2022.
IOWA: Iowa egg production during December 2023 was 1.10 billion eggs, up 5 percent from the previous December, 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 December 2023 was 42.6 million, up 4 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for December 2023 was 2,582, up 1 percent from a year ago.
December Egg Production Up 3 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.45 billion during December 2023, up 3 percent from last year. Production included 8.14 billion table eggs, and 1.31 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.21 billion were broiler-type and 97.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during December 2023 averaged 384 million, up 2 percent from last year. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,462 eggs, up 1 percent from December 2022.
All layers in the United States on January 1, 2024 totaled 379 million, up 1 percent from last year. The 379 million layers consisted of 312 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 63.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.83 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on January 1, 2024, averaged 79.3 eggs per 100 layers, up 2 percent from January 1, 2023.
Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator Course to Be Offered in February
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa Central Community College are offering a four-day workshop that will prepare attendees to become certified as Commercial Pesticide Applicators.
This course will focus on materials needed to take the Iowa Core Manual Exam and Categories 1A (Ag Weed Control), 1B (Ag Insect Control) and 1C (Ag Disease Control). In addition, this material will cover local context and real-life application of insect, weed and disease management. Course information will be presented by ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomists.
The course will take place from Feb. 19-22 at the Iowa Central Community College East Campus located at 2031 Quail Ave., Fort Dodge, from 8 a.m. to noon each day.
“Agribusiness retail outlets are in need of a certified workforce to meet the seasonal demands of pesticide applications” said Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “This course will help develop that workforce for future employment.”
The curriculum and supporting materials are offered in the form of PowerPoints, worksheets, demonstrations and activities. Participant engagement will provide a variety of learning opportunities through activities, hands-on demonstrations and real-life scenarios.
Tuition for the class is $749 and includes the Core, 1A, 1B and 1C manuals. To register, contact Iowa Central Community College at 515-574-1293 or noncredit@iowacentral.edu
18 Groups Call for Investigation into Koch Industries’ Iowa Fertilizer Company Acquisition
Today Farm Action and the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), joined by 16 other organizations, sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ), calling on the agencies to investigate “and, if evidence warrants, to take action against” Koch Industries’ planned acquisition of OCI Global’s Iowa Fertilizer Company (IFCO).
The letter noted the vast local, state, and federal investment into IFCO in anticipation of its ability to lower costs for farmers, create jobs for the community, and challenge the market dominance of the very corporation now acquiring it.
“Should the acquisition be allowed to proceed, taxpayers will have effectively subsidized the expansion of Koch’s control over a critical and heavily concentrated sector of our agricultural economy,” the letter said.
The letter articulated the agencies’ interest in this deal, citing language from the recently updated merger guidelines pertaining to mergers that increase concentration in highly concentrated sectors and that entrench dominant market positions.
“Fertilizer is one of the most highly consolidated sectors in American agriculture, with the top four firms collectively controlling 75% of fertilizer markets,” the letter said. “Koch Industries is in fact one of these four fertilizer firms, in addition to being one of the largest privately held companies in the country.”
Emphasizing the stakes of the investigation, the letter said that “[t]o safeguard our economy and indeed our democracy, our enforcers must prevent dominant firms from capitalizing on investments made with public resources.”
Signing the letter were R-CALF USA,
National Farmers Union, 20/20 Vision, American Economic Liberties
Project, American Grassfed Association, Campaign for Family Farms and
the Environment, Family Farm Defenders, Farm Action, Farm and Ranch
Freedom Alliance, Food and Water Watch, Iowa Citizens for Community
Improvement, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Institute for
Local Self-Reliance, National Family Farm Coalition, Open Markets
Institute, Revolving Door Project, Sooner Food Group and Union of
Concerned Scientists.
Barn Owl Precision Agriculture Wins Ag Innovation Challenge
The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, now in its 10th year, provides opportunities for Farm Bureau members to showcase business innovations being developed for agriculture. Barn Owl Precision Agriculture is the winner of this year’s competition. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, announced the winner from among four finalists at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention.
Barn Owl Precision Agriculture received a total of $50,000 to grow the business. Sarah Hinkley and Bryan Stafford, Colorado Farm Bureau members, are team leads for the company, which manufactures a fully autonomous robot that supports farmers as they plant crops, control weeds and collect soil samples.
Udder Ways was named runner-up in the contest and received a total of $20,000. Zachary Neal and Jody Neal, New York Farm Bureau members, are team leads for the company, which developed an innovative device that improves sanitation and enhances milk flow as dairy cattle are milked.
Secret Garden Bees, one of the 10 semi-finalist teams, won the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by public vote, and received $5,000 in additional prize money. Jim Hartman, a North Carolina member, is team lead for the company, which is a veteran-owned and operated honey farm that helps train veterans seeking to enter agriculture.
Appanoose Manufactured Products of Iowa, team lead Marck Mendick; and ReproHealth Technologies of Indiana, team leads Jim Donahue and Michael Whitt, also reached the final four round of the competition.
The final four teams were selected on Friday from the 10 semi-finalist business owners who presented to a panel of three industry judges: Will Hileman, president & CEO, Farm Bureau Bank; Trey Davis, state policy & advocacy lead, Bayer CropScience; and Jarrod McGinnis, division customer support manager, John Deere.
Each of the semi-finalist teams was awarded $10,000; the final four teams were awarded an additional $5,000 each.
“The hardworking entrepreneurs we’re recognizing today are the driving force behind the resilience and ingenuity of American agriculture,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We commend their commitment to helping rural communities and supporting farmers and ranchers in their mission to provide the food, fuel and fiber we all rely on.”
The Ag Innovation Challenge winner was selected by a three-person judging panel: Angela Bailey, president, Oregon Farm Bureau; David G. Brown, president and CEO, Western AgCredit; George Gough, state policy & advocacy lead west, Bayer CropScience.
Farm Bureau is proud to recognize these innovative businesses, in partnership with sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile. Learn more about the competition at fb.org/challenge.
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