Tuesday January 16 Ag News

More winter management tips for yards
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Beef Systems Extension Educator

A few weeks ago, hardly anybody thought we would be facing below zero temperatures for five straight nights and daytime highs not climbing beyond zero. This is on top of snow totals well above 18” in certain places. As is often the case with weather events, the impact of these events is accentuated because they do not occur frequently, at least not in these latitudes. Thus, I thought it may be wise to add a few more winter management tips for yards (this even includes your own backyard). Although some of these tips will be printed after the fact, there is a good chance for additional precipitation in the form of ice and snow during this winter yet.

Getting around city streets is tough with this weather, but maintenance of farm, ranch or acreage roads is generally the responsibility of the owner or crew. Early in the snow event, the first passes are to simply clear and get through to yards, lanes, offices, shops, and feed mills (lower depth to 1’).

One thing to keep in mind is that as temperatures drop and wind speed picks up, snow freezes hard and forms an outside shell creating the need for greater horsepower to remove it. Therefore, any second or third pass at snow removal must take place as soon as humanly possible.

Long driveways to access equipment present a challenge. Having someone on call close by to push snow away for the first individuals addressing the snow emergency is ideal. In extreme cases, someone may have to access equipment before snow piles higher than one to two feet on driveways. For individuals clearing snow from driveways, an effort must be made to pile snow away from fences onto slopes away from facilities or livestock.

For larger operations, once spring and summer return, owners and managers may consider contracting an outside crew for snow removal during the winter and yard upkeep (weed control and mowing) during the summer. A well-rested crew that is focused on carrying out their chores may be well worth the investment as

facility access, accident-reduction and efficient operation should improve with the extra help. In addition, the crew will be extremely grateful for the outside help.

Clearing snow inside cattle yards is carried out by operations that have been able to address snow accumulation around driveways, at least partially. Inside cattle yards, if possible, remove as much snow as possible, particularly low areas, aprons and around water tanks (if aprons are already ice-covered, leave about 6” of snow for traction).

This is a good opportunity to consider leveling and packing snow to a depth of 1’ to 3’ on high areas such as mounds or on hill sides (south-facing). This is a substitute for concrete at the best possible time: use this spot to blow, shred or simply deliver whole bales for cattle to lay on.

Though temperatures below zero lead to no snow melt under cattle body warmth, temperatures above 10 °F will rapidly melt snow immediately close to the body but not beyond leading to loss of hair and exposing the hide.

If this strategy is adopted, later, when temperatures climb above freezing, bedding will remain on dirt surfaces insulated from humidity by layers of bedding and frozen snow. This should help your “Minnesota concrete” keep cattle comfortable as melting occurs around them.

If you choose to proceed with this option, bed this area again regularly and generously. Temperatures at or below 30 °F at night will help keep the snowpack beneath the bedding frozen.

Because feeding may be the main challenge when snow or blowing snow prevent crews from getting in time to feed, your nutritionist has probably provided an easy ration formulation ready to use if power is out. Corn silage and/or hay, accessible with diesel-powered equipment, should provide much needed nutrients and heat-generating fermentation to keep cattle from losing performance. A fast run through all the pens as soon as it is realized that cattle will not be fed on time delivering about 2% of the animal’s body weight is a good place to start.

For facilities where support structures of leans to, sheds, or barns is failing, watch out for accumulating snow. If it can’t safely be removed (roof rakes), abandon its use (remove equipment or livestock from within).

The weather we experienced was potentially deadly. As much as animal needs must be taken care of, humans cannot ignore their own needs. Proper clothing is absolutely necessary to withstand temperatures and wind chill effect. A warm shop or cab gives the impression that one can handle the weather outside. Any breakdown or accident will leave the individual exposed to frostbite and death if they do not have warm clothing to step outside the vehicle, shop, or office. Any time you leave the warmth of these facilities of vehicles, you must think as if you are out on your own with no access to a warming spot.

Also, make a mental note of what and where you carry in each of your pockets: car keys, equipment keys, cell phone, charger and adapter, walkie talkie, pocketknife, plier, and wallet with identification. Make sure that all these items can be zipped into the pocket they are placed in. It is easy to lose things when moving around in equipment or the snow.

Make sure that your cell phone or walkie talkie battery are at full charge before you leave the house in the morning. Also, keep constant communication between crew members and managers/owners. Informing everyone of each other’s whereabouts will prevent accidents or a delayed response in the event of one.

Lastly, as you work your way back towards buildings (shops or offices), step out with a shovel (or snowblower) and sand to clear out as many of the sidewalks and walkways for safe footing. After this is accomplished, lay sand on the surface. Sand will freeze to the snow and keep good footing until a heavy melt occurs. Be sure to add additional sand as it incorporates into the ice in days to come.

Hopefully, some of the strategies discussed here are helpful to you or inspire additional ones.



2024 Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series Planned

The 2024 Beef Feedlot Roundtable Series is an event that you won’t want to miss! We encourage feedlot owners, managers, employees, and allied industry to join Nebraska Extension February 13-15 as we dive into a series of timely topics covering feedlot management. Highlights from the program include New & Updated Technologies in Feedlot Nutrition, Severe Weather Responses & New Considerations from UNL Research Findings, National Beef Quality Audit 2022 Results, Feedlot Workforce

Development “Exploring Visa Options for Hiring Feedlot Employees”, and Market Outlook with speakers from UNL Extension and producers. Spanish translation will be available for the animal health hands-on portion.

Join us from 12:30 - 5:00 p.m. Cost is $30 online or at the door.
- February 13th in Bridgeport, NE, at the Prairie Winds Community Center
- February 14th in Gothenburg, NE, at the Bayer Water Utilization Learning Center
- February 15th in West Point, NE, at the Nielsen Community Center

Pre-registration is requested and can be completed online at: https://go.unl.edu/2024roundtable.

For more information, contact Dr. Jessica Sperber, Beef Feedlot Extension Specialist; email: jsperber2@unl.edu

We look forward to having you join us!



Private Applicators Need Certification

All farmers who use or purchase any restricted use pesticides on property you own, or rent will need to be certified as a private applicator according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Nebraska Extension is conducting the following training session which is approved for renewal or initial certification. Producers are reminded to bring their NDA (bar-coded) letter with the form at the bottom that they received from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture if they are recertifying.

Each session lasts approximately three hours:
January 25 – Pender Fire Hall, Pender @ 1:30 p.m.
January 26 – Colfax County Fairgrounds, Leigh @ 1:30 p.m.
January 30 – Haskell Ag Lab, Concord @ 1:00 p.m.
February 1 – UNL Extension Saunders County, Ithaca @ 9:00 a.m.
February 1 – Stanton County Fairgrounds, Stanton @ 1:00 p.m.
February 1 – UNL Extension Saunders County, Ithaca @ 6:00 p.m.
February 1 – Stanton County Fairgrounds, Stanton @ 6:00 p.m.
February 6 – Ag Park, Columbus @ 9:30 a.m.
February 7 - Nielsen Community Center, West Point @ 1:00 p.m.
February 13 – Blair Public Library, Blair @ 9:00 a.m.
February 16 – Ag Park, Columbus @ 1:30 p.m.
February 19 – UNL Extension Dodge County, Fremont @ 9:00 a.m.
February 22 – UNL Extension Madison County, Norfolk @ 1:30
March 5 – UNL Extension Dodge County, Fremont @ 6:00 p.m.
March 12 – UNL Extension Madison County, Norfolk @ 1:30 p.m.
March 20 – Wayne Fire Hall, Wayne @ 9:00 a.m.
March 20 – Wayne Fire Hall, Wayne @ 1:00 p.m.
April 11 – UNL Extension Madison County, Norfolk, 1:30 p.m.

For other local training dates, check the website at https://pested.unl.edu/.

Pre-registration is requested by contacting the Nebraska Extension office in Cuming County at 402/372-6006 or UNL Extension in the county you plan to attend



Nebraska Soybean Farmers Encouraged to Apply for Candidacy

This year, the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) will be seeking farmer-leaders to represent fellow soybean farmers in Districts 1, 3 and 6. The candidacy petition period began on December 1 and concludes on April 15.

The following districts are up for election this year:
District 1: Antelope, Boyd, Cedar, Holt, Knox, Madison and Pierce
District 3: Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington
District 6: Filmore, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Seward and Thayer

"Farmer leadership is crucial to NSB and submitting a candidacy petition is a powerful way for farmers to actively shape the future of our soybean industry,” said Andy Chvatal, NSB executive director. “District directors contribute directly to the decision-making processes, ensuring a collective and impactful representation of our industry.”

Qualified candidates include those who are a resident of Nebraska, are at least 21 years old, reside in the district where the election is being held, have been a soybean farmer in Nebraska for at least the previous five years and have submitted an NSB candidacy petition.

To apply for candidacy in Districts 1, 3 or 6 you must:
    Obtain an NSB candidacy petition by contacting NSB’s executive director, Andy Chvatal, at 402-441-3240 or andy@nebraskasoybeans.org.
    Complete the petition and collect the signatures of 20 soybean farmers in your district.
    Return such petition to the NSB office on or before April 15, 2024.

District directors’ roles and responsibilities include:
    Manage and conduct the business of the Nebraska Soybean Board.
    Uphold the core values of integrity, leadership, collaboration, adaptability and innovation.
    Attend five annual board meetings (typically held in September, November, January, March and June/July). These meetings are required and are one to two days in length.
    Participate in trade missions, work with the media, represent NSB at events, meetings and more.
    Serve on two of the four NSB committees each year. These committees provide strategic direction regarding board decisions.
    Serve a three-year term that would begin October 1, 2024.

Soybean farmers who reside in counties that are up for election in 2024 will receive ballots and candidate information regarding NSB’s election process via direct mail.

About the Nebraska Soybean Board: The nine-member Nebraska Soybean Board collects and disburses the Nebraska share of funds generated by the one-half of one percent times the net sales price per bushel of soybeans sold. Nebraska soybean checkoff funds are invested in research, education, domestic and foreign markets, including new uses for soybeans and soybean products.



Governor Pillen & Senators Push Back Against Foreign Adversaries

Today, Governor Jim Pillen joined state senators in introducing two bills aimed at pushing back against foreign adversarial influence in Nebraska.

At the request of the Governor, Senator Barry DeKay (District 40) introduced legislation to modernize laws related to foreign-owned agriculture land. Among the bill’s aims, continuing the state’s prohibition on foreign persons or foreign-owned companies from owning agricultural land. Additionally, it tightens existing exemptions on industrial use and ownership by foreign adversaries in areas near critical military installations. The bill directs the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) to review land purchases and sets forth a process for divestment of entities determined to be violating the law.

“Since last summer, I made it a priority to protect Nebraskans from foreign adversaries owning farmland,” said Sen. DeKay. “My staff and I have worked diligently to craft legislation that allows the Legislature to look at laws dating back to 1889. The world has changed and so must our state statutes. I am thankful for the support of Gov. Pillen and the collaboration with senators Brian Hardin, Steve Halloran and Elliot Bostar on this important policy that will protect our economic engine – agriculture.”  
Sen. Bostar introduced additional legislation at the request of Gov. Pillen requiring the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to audit all critical procurements of the state to determine what affect a conflict in the Pacific would have on state supply chains.

“We all experienced the supply chain disruptions that followed the global shutdown during the pandemic. Nebraska needs to be proactive in preparing for other supply chain disruptions that may come with political escalations,” said Gov. Pillen.

Sen. Bostar’s proposed measure also restricts public entities from contracting with companies owned by foreign adversaries with specific regard to communication technologies.

“We need to ensure Nebraska is prepared against foreign-owned companies,” said Sen. Bostar. “I am thankful for Gov. Pillen’s support on preventing overreliance on communication technology from our foreign adversaries.”

“I am proud to work with a bipartisan group of senators on both of these priorities to help protect Nebraskans against our foreign adversaries,” added Gov. Pillen.



 2024 Brings Resilient Ag Land Market

Despite increasing pressure from declining commodity markets, rising interest rates and inflation, the land market seems to be moving into 2024 maintaining the value increases it has built during the past three years.

The sharp increase in land values from a year ago that was primarily driven by strong commodity markets has slowed, but those values are being maintained, which is evidenced in Farmers National Company sale results logged in the past six months. Buyer demand remains strong for good quality cropland across the Midwest, while the supply of land for sale remains limited.

“These factors further play into the dynamics of the supply/demand scenario and remain a large factor in supporting current values in early 2024,” said Paul Schadegg, senior vice president of real estate operations, Farmers National Company.

Who are the buyers?
Successful farmland buyers continue to be local farmer/operators in nearly 80 percent of transactions. Available cash has played a significant role in how aggressive buyers are able to bid at land sales within the past several years.

“Current market operator’s equity positions have narrowed over the past year and lending has increased as outlined in the most recent Ag Credit Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City,” Schadegg said.

Along with the increase in lending comes the expense from interest, which will cut into potential net farm income in the coming year for farm operators.

What continues to motivate land buyers?
Buyer motivation varies between a farm operator and a land investor in that a farm operator is typically interested in land that will fit well into their operation, is adjacent to other owned land, or has historical ties. The land investor typically looks for return on investment, a diversification to their investment portfolio, or potential hedge against inflation.

“One common motivation between these two types of buyers is that land has proven to be a valuable asset due to the historic appreciation in ag land values. Over the past 25 years, average land values have experienced steady growth following the 1980s farm crisis. Under a strong ag economy, Farmers National Company expects that trend to continue,” Schadegg said.

What dynamics will affect land values?
Commodity markets and input costs will impact land values in the short term. As farm operators make cropping plans for 2024 and buying decisions for expansion of their operations, the key word will be profitability. Easing interest rates and reduced inflation across the country will bring some positive light to balance sheets.

However, the current world conflicts, geopolitical events, and U.S. political processes have the opportunity to create both positive and negative impacts on the ag economy and subsequent land values.

Company statistics remain above 5-year averages. Operationally, Farmers National Company completed nearly 700 transactions across the Midwest in 2023 accounting for $600 million dollars of sales volume.

“More than 55 percent of these transactions were conducted through the company’s auctions, providing true market exposure. While this is off the extraordinary pace set in 2021 and 2022, it remains above the five-year company averages. These strong sale results are a true testament to our professional agents and managers in the field and their commitment to achieving our client’s goals in marketing agriculture properties,” said Schadegg.

REGIONAL LAND VALUE REPORT
Overall, across all regions of Farmers National Company’s trade area, staff saw land values hold steady over the past six months. There were a few exceptional sales above the market along with a few lower quality offerings that sold slightly below the market. But in every region, sales managers report that the land market is currently holding strong at values levels set during the past year.

West Central Region: Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa
Land values in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for the most part have stayed steady, according to Chanda Scheuring, Farmers National Company Area Sales Manager.

“There has been plenty of conversations in the agriculture community surrounding the rise of interest rates over the past year and how this may soften the market. But there still seems to be plenty of cash buyers willing and able to add to their land portfolios at current values, especially when it has been in a desired location close to their current operations. This was seen at a recent sale in Cedar County when a quarter section of dryland went for $14,800 per acre and another recent sale of 73 acres of irrigated ground in Dodge County that was put under contract at $17,500 per acre,” Scheuring said.

Moving into 2024.
Farmers National Company’s pipeline has been filling up with both land auctions and listings at a volume very typical for the start of a new year. Many landowners are making the decision to take advantage of the current land value strength and sell into a market with a large pool of motivated buyers.

At the same time, other landowners have contemplated the current appreciated value of their land assets and determined there is no better investment outside of land. These landowners are making the decision to retain ownership and further limit the available properties coming into the market.

“Farmers National Company, our agents, and managers market agricultural real estate assets across 29 states in the U.S. Real estate activity, values, and expectations vary across these regions but overall are experiencing stable land values that are expected to continue into 2024,” Schadegg said.



HUSKER STUDY FINDS AQUIFER DEPLETION THREATENS CROP YIELDS

Three decades of data have informed a new Nebraska-led study that shows how the depletion of groundwater — the same that many farmers rely on for irrigation — can threaten food production amid drought and drier climes.

The study found that, due in part to the challenges of extracting groundwater, an aquifer’s depletion can curb crop yields even when it appears saturated enough to continue meeting the demands of irrigation. Those agricultural losses escalate as an aquifer dwindles, the researchers reported, so that its depletion exerts a greater toll on corn and soybean yields when waning from, say, 100 feet thick to 50 than from 200 feet to 150.

That reality should encourage policymakers, resource managers and growers to reconsider the volume of crop-quenching groundwater they have at their disposal, the team said, especially in the face of fiercer, more frequent drought.

“As you draw down an aquifer to the point that it’s quite thin, very small changes in the aquifer thickness will then have progressively larger and larger impacts on your crop production and resilience,” said Nick Brozovic, director of policy at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. “And that’s a thing that we don’t predict well, because we tend to predict based on the past. So if we base what’s going to happen on our past experience, we’re always going to underpredict. We’re always going to be surprised by how bad things get.”

The team came to its conclusions after analyzing yields, weather and groundwater data from the High Plains Aquifer, which, as the largest in the United States, underlies portions of eight states — including nearly all of Nebraska. Some areas of the aquifer, especially those beneath Texas and Kansas but also the Cornhusker State, have diminished considerably over the past several decades, pumped for the sake of irrigating land that would otherwise stand little chance of sustaining crops.

“In terms of things that let you address food security under extreme conditions — in particular, drought and climate change — we really can’t do without irrigation,” said Brozovic, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “If we want to feed the world with high-quality, nutritious food and a stable food supply, we need to irrigate.”

Brozovic and Husker colleague Taro Mieno had already constructed plenty of models, and run plenty of simulations, on how the High Plains Aquifer responds to drought and dry conditions. But talking with farmers revealed that the models were not addressing their primary concern: well yield, or the amount of groundwater that growers can expect to continuously draw when trying to buffer their crops against drought.

“Everybody’s interested in how aquifer depletion affects the resiliency of irrigated agriculture in the region,” said Mieno, an associate professor of agricultural economics and lead author of the study, which was published in the journal Nature Water.

So the researchers consulted annual estimates of the High Plains Aquifer’s thickness, which date back to 1935, along with county-level yields of corn and soybean from 1985 through 2016. Meteorological data, meanwhile, allowed the team to calculate seasonal water deficits, or the difference between the water gained from precipitation and the amount that crops lost via evaporation and transpiration.

When the latter exceeds the former, farmers often turn to aquifers for help in making up the difference, the researchers knew. What they didn’t know: Under what conditions, and to what extent, would an aquifer’s depletion make pumping its water too difficult or expensive to undertake? And how much would the resulting decisions — to reduce the amount of irrigation per acre, to cease irrigating certain plots all together — influence corn and soybean yields?

Farmers fortunate enough to be growing corn and soybean above the most saturated swaths of the High Plains Aquifer — roughly 220 to 700 feet thick — continued to enjoy high irrigated yields even in times of extreme water deficits, the team found. By contrast, those depending on the least saturated areas — between 30 and 100 feet — saw their irrigated yields begin trending downward when water deficits reached just 400 millimeters, a common occurrence in Nebraska and other Midwestern states.

In years when the deficit approached or exceeded 700 millimeters, irrigated fields residing above the thickest groundwater yielded markedly more corn than those sitting above the thinnest. The results were starker during a 950-millimeter water deficit, which corresponds with extreme drought: Fields atop the least saturated stretches of aquifer yielded roughly 19.5 fewer bushels per acre.

“Because of the way that aquifers work, even if there’s a lot of water there, as they deplete, you actually lose the ability to meet those crop water needs during the driest periods, because well yield tends to decline as you deplete an aquifer,” Brozovic said. “That has an economic consequence and a resilience consequence.”

The study captured another telling link between the water residing underground and that applied at the surface. When atop groundwater roughly 330 feet thick, farmers irrigated 89% of their acres dedicated to growing corn. Where the aquifer was a mere 30 feet thick? Just 70% of those acres received irrigation. That’s likely a result of lower well yield driving farmers to irrigate only some of their fields, Taro said, or even give up on irrigation.

To better understand how that reduced irrigation was contributing to agricultural losses amid dry conditions, the researchers then factored in yields from both irrigated and non-irrigated fields, the latter of which rely on precipitation alone. That analysis pegged yields as even more sensitive to even smaller water deficits, suggesting that the decline in irrigated land was compounding the losses endured on still-irrigated plots.

And it illustrated the runaway threat posed when an aquifer’s average thickness drops below certain thresholds. At a water deficit of 950 millimeters, reducing an aquifer’s thickness from roughly 330 to 230 feet was estimated to initiate an average loss of about 2.5 corn bushels per acre, what the authors called a “negligible difference.” The same absolute decrease, but from 230 to 130 feet, led to an estimated loss of 15 bushels per acre.

“As a consequence, your resilience to climate decreases rapidly,” Mieno said. “So when you’re operating on an aquifer that is very thick right now, you’re relatively safe. But you want to manage it in a way that you don’t go past that threshold, because from there, it’s all downhill.

“And the importance of aquifers is going to increase as climate change progresses in the future, for sure. As it gets hotter, you typically need more water. That means you need more irrigation, and you’re going to deplete the aquifer even faster, and things can get worse and worse.”

Nebraska is lucky, Brozovic said, in that it sits above such a massive reservoir and has established a governance system designed to conserve it at a local scale. But most regulations focus on mandating how much and when groundwater gets pumped, not safeguarding the aquifer’s saturation level or the corresponding ability to extract water from it.

Brozovic conceded that convincing policymakers to consider revising those parameters now, when much of the state still boasts sufficient groundwater, is “perhaps a tough sell.” He’s hopeful that the new study can at least help put that conversation on the table.

“Once you have a problem — once well yields are already declining and the aquifer’s really thin — even if you put in policies, you still get a lot of the (negative) impacts,” he said. “So the time to really put in meaningful policies is before things have gone off the cliff.

“First, you have to understand, you have to measure, you have to educate. You have to understand what you’re preserving, and why. The more you can provide the quantitative evidence for why it’s worth going to the trouble of doing all of this, and what’s at stake,” he said, “the easier that conversation is.”

Brozovic and Mieno authored the Nature Water study with the University of Manchester’s Timothy Foster and the University of Minnesota’s Shunkei Kakimoto. The researchers received support in part from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.



Frontier Coop Announces 2023 FFA Chapter Grant Recipients

Frontier Cooperative has donated to the Nebraska FFA Foundation to directly support local FFA chapter needs. Seven FFA chapters received a grant to enhance their FFA chapter or classroom.

Grant Recipients:
    Central, Veterinary Science Curriculum
    East Butler, UNL Mobile Ag Lab and Vet Science Tools
    Humphrey, Plant Models
    Lakeview, Ag Literacy Books for Elementary
    Osceola, FFA Farm Fence Supplies
    Palmyra, Livestock Supplies for Animal Science Shop
    Weeping Water, Grow Tower and Ear Simulator

Frontier Cooperative Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Wilhelm said, “We are proud to support these chapters and the young men and women who have an interest in agriculture. It is a small way that we can give back to the communities that support Frontier Cooperative and a way to support the future of agriculture.”

“The Nebraska FFA Foundation financially supports growing leaders, building communities and creating career connections with Frontier Cooperatives help to area FFA programs to achieve that FFA vision. Thank you Frontier Cooperative for helping provide resources to the chapters in your area,” said Stacey Agnew, Nebraska FFA Foundation Executive Director.



NDA’S ANNUAL POSTER CONTEST HIGHLIGHTS NEBRASKA AGRICULTURE

With abundant natural resources, a diverse landscape, and innovative farmers and ranchers leading the way, Nebraska is home to some of the nation’s best agriculture. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s (NDA) annual poster contest highlights and celebrates Nebraska agriculture. NDA’s poster contest is open to all Nebraska students in first through sixth grades. This year’s theme, Nebraska Agriculture: Ready, Set, Grow, applies to everything in Nebraska from livestock to crops. The deadline to submit posters is March 1, 2024.

“Outreach in agriculture education is an important part of the work we do at NDA, and our annual poster contest is a good way for parents and teachers to connect with students and talk about agriculture,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “We’re looking forward to seeing the students’ creativity as they share their ideas of what Nebraska agriculture and this year’s “Ready, Set, Grow” theme looks like to them.”

NDA will announce the winners during National Agriculture Week, March 17-23, 2024, the perfect time to highlight agriculture and celebrate Nebraska’s number one industry. National Ag Week highlights the diversity of agriculture and celebrates the food, fuel, and fiber that farmers and ranchers provide every day. NDA will feature winning entries from this year’s contest on its website and in promotional materials and publications.

NDA’s poster contest is divided into three age categories for judging purposes: first and second grade students; third and fourth grade students; and fifth and sixth grade students, in any Nebraska public, private or home school. All posters must be exclusively student created. Entries must be received at NDA’s office by March 1, 2024.

Poster contest rules and official entry forms are available online at nda.nebraska.gov/kids. For more information, contact Christin Kamm at 402-471-6856 or by email at christin.kamm@nebraska.gov.

“NDA’s poster contest reminds all Nebraskans that agriculture positively impacts all of us, from the food we eat, to the fuel for our cars, to the clothes we wear,” said Vinton. “Last year, we received a record 2,000+ entries in our annual poster contest, and we’re hoping for even more this year.”



InternNE, Powered by Aksarben, Addresses Nebraska’s Brain Drain Crisis

In a groundbreaking collaboration between the Aksarben Foundation and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, InternNE, Powered by Aksarben, was launched in October 2023 to combat Nebraska's alarming "brain drain" trend. This initiative aims to create opportunities for college graduates, high school students, and nontraditional learners, ultimately strengthening Nebraska's workforce and retaining young talent in the state.

InternNE, Powered by Aksarben, addresses the pressing issue of college-educated individuals leaving Nebraska for opportunities elsewhere. The "brain drain" phenomenon has seen a more than fourfold increase over the last decade, posing a significant challenge to the state's economic growth and future prosperity. Nebraska's brain drain is currently among the highest in the nation, with only North Dakota and New York experiencing greater losses by percentage.

The program, under the leadership of Governor Jim Pillen, received a two-year grant totaling $20 million to scale up its efforts. Applications for the first grant cycle opened on October 1, 2023, and closed on November 30, 2023. Ninety-five business applications were awarded representing $3,373,500 in grant funding. This amounts to 614 internship opportunities throughout 18 communities all across the state.

InternNE, Powered by Aksarben, is dedicated to connecting students and young professionals with high-quality internship opportunities across the state. Through partnerships with TeamMates Mentoring Program, community colleges and universities, and Chambers of Commerce, including the Nebraska State Chamber, Greater Omaha Chamber, Lincoln Chamber, Norfolk, and the Midlands African Chamber.

Sandra Reding, President of the Aksarben Foundation, highlighted the importance of workforce development and the competition for young, tech-savvy talent, stating, "The competition across the country for talent is fierce. We need to do all we can to connect our talent to the opportunities that exist in Nebraska.”

InternNE, Powered by Aksarben, aligns with the ongoing efforts to address Nebraska's workforce challenges. Governor Jim Pillen established a working group to brainstorm solutions to the state's workforce issues. The initiative also focuses on growing high-tech jobs within Nebraska, increasing internship opportunities, and enhancing the state's appeal to young professionals.

As communities across Nebraska are making strides to become more attractive and dynamic, the program seeks to offer a compelling narrative about the careers and lifestyles available within the state. Internships play a crucial role in showcasing the opportunities Nebraska has to offer to young talent.

“Across rural and urban Nebraska, we need to invest in creating a strong and vibrant middle class,” said Governor Pillen. “InternNe will ensure kids have the skills and training that will allow them to have great careers, right here in our state.”

“Survey data confirms that a majority of Nebraska’s youth want to live in a community similar to where they grew up,” said K.C. Belitz, Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. “Yet more than half of students cite the inability to find a career opportunity as the top reason they would move elsewhere. As a state, we must do better at connecting students to a job in their hometown. Aksarben is leading the way forward. Through Intern Nebraska, they’re equipping businesses to send a clear message to our youth: the job you want exists right here in Nebraska and we want you on our team.”

The Aksarben Foundation, in collaboration with local chambers and educational institutions, has been at the forefront of addressing the brain drain challenge, supporting initiatives like InternNE, Powered by Aksarben, to bridge the gap and promote economic growth.

"As a state we have such an opportunity to expand internship opportunities for young people and show them that there is a place for them here,” says Sandra Reding, President of the Aksarben Foundation.

“InternNE aims to demonstrate that Nebraska is not just a place to learn but also a place to live, work, and grow professionally," adds Shonna Dorsey, Executive Director of InternNE, Powered by Aksarben.

For more information about the Aksarben Foundation, visit www.aksarben.org.



Acceligen Announces Innovative Scientific Paper on Breeding PRRSV Resistant Pigs

Acceligen, the leading Precision Breeding company for food animals, today announced publication in Antiviral Research of their groundbreaking work on breeding PRRSV resistant pigs.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, also known as PRRSV, is a virus which results in substantial economic harm to pig farms on a global scale. Causing as extensive as $664 million in direct losses in the United States and reaching up to 1.5 billion Euros annually in Europe. Additionally, the animals may exhibit clinical signs inclusive of a phase of reduced appetite, fever, lethargy, depression, and possibly respiratory distress or vomiting.

Effective treatments are currently unavailable and modified-live vaccines offer only partial protection from a rapidly spreading infection. There are various mitigation strategies if a swine operation is infected, including herd closure or complete depopulation. Both options can incur expenses and raise concerns about the well-being of the animals.

Here at Acceligen, we believe that animals that nourish us deserve the best in health and well-being.  The publication shows that Acceligen is meeting this challenge by uniquely breeding pigs resistant to PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2.

A link to this paper will be posted on our website, Acceligen.com

Professor Raymond (Bob) Rowland at the University of Illinois, a senior author on the paper and a world-recognized expert on PRRSV said, "It is very rare in swine disease research to have an idea evolve from a concept outlined on a piece of paper to a new product that will help producers eliminate a dreaded disease.  None of this would have been possible without the partnership with Acceligen."

Dr. Tad Sonstegard, co-author and CEO of Acceligen said, "The results of this research demonstrate that Acceligen's approach to breed PRRSV resistant pigs opens an alternative avenue for making this trait available to the entire industry."

"The economic impact of utilizing PRRSV-resistant pigs may be positive and significant for the pork industry, eliminating the need for severe mitigation strategies and costly care. Ultimately, a healthier pig population contributes to a more sustainable and economically viable swine industry," commented Rocco Morelli, CEO Recombinetics Inc.

Acceligen primarily functions in the livestock gene-editing industry, providing livestock improvements for animal health and well-being that in turn empower farmers to increase sustainable production.



Iowa State University Study Shows Preventing Common Swine Disease Could Dramatically Reduce Demand for Antibiotic Use in Pork Production

As concerns about antimicrobial resistance grow, large investor groups are putting increased pressure on major food service organizations to reduce antimicrobial use in their protein supply chains[1]. In response, food companies are making antibiotic stewardship pledges and looking to their protein suppliers to help achieve these commitments.

“Consumers are interested in learning where their food comes from and how it is produced. They expect high standards of animal care, antimicrobial stewardship and sustainable production practices,” said Banks Baker, Global Director of Product Sustainability at PIC. “The food system can deliver on these expectations, but we need innovative solutions and new technologies to do it.”

Gene editing is one example of a new technology that is being used in food and agriculture, and it’s making headlines because of its successful human healthcare applications. The technology shows tremendous potential to help treat and prevent human diseases, including HIV, sickle cell anemia and a variety of cancers, according to the World Health Organization[2].

Gene editing can be used to provide similar disease-resistance benefits to improve animal health. If gene editing can help reduce the overall amount of disease in a swine herd, it can help reduce the need to use antibiotics in pork production.

Using Gene Editing to Protect Pigs from the PRRS Virus 
For more than 30 years, pork producers around the world have battled the devastating Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS) virus, which negatively impacts pig health and welfare and creates pork supply and sustainability challenges. The PRRS virus also suppresses[3] pigs' immune systems making them more susceptible to secondary infections that may need to be treated by antibiotics.

“PRRS is a viral disease with immunosuppressive effects on swine that can worsen the clinical impacts of bacterial co-infections. As a result, veterinarians need to use additional antibiotics to care for the affected animals,” said Isadora Machado, a graduate research assistant at Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine.

Machado recently led a research project at ISU to quantify how much a PRRS outbreak impacts antibiotic use on a pig farm. The study found that injectable and water antimicrobial use in groups of nursery pigs increased 379 percent during the 15-week epidemic phase after the farm became PRRS-positive. The use of injectable antibiotics also increased 274 percent in older pigs, closer to market weight[4]. While both groups showed a significant increase in antibiotic use following a PRRS outbreak, there is a greater impact on nursery and grower pigs because their immune systems are less developed than finisher pigs.

PIC developed a solution to protect pigs from the PRRS virus. Using gene editing technology, PIC deleted a very small portion of the pig's DNA that encodes a protein that the virus uses to enter and infect the pig's cells. With this small gene edit, the pig is resistant to PRRS, as the virus is unable to enter the cells and replicate. Like humans inherit traits from their parents, the pig’s offspring will inherit the PRRS-resistant trait.

“Adopting the PRRS-resistant pig can have secondary benefits, including improving the overall health of the herd and reducing the need to use antibiotics,” said Lucina Galina, DVM, Ph.D., technical project director at PIC. “This is one way PIC is supporting antimicrobial stewardship in animal protein production, and helping food system stakeholders meet animal welfare and antibiotic reduction goals.”

PIC is working to secure approval for the PRRS-resistant pig in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and Brazil along with other pork-producing countries. Each country has a unique regulatory system and biotechnology policies that will affect the approval process and timeline. PIC anticipates a series of regulatory decisions over the next few years, including a determination from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The government of Colombia recently issued a favorable regulatory determination for the PRRS-resistant pig.

For more information about PIC’s PRRS-resistant pig and the benefits it will provide to the food value chain, visit picprrsresistantpig.com.

1] Uribe, Alice. Wall Street Journal. Investor Group Takes Aim at Antibiotics, Demanding Changes from Fast-Food Companies. July 11, 2023. https://www.wsj.com/articles/investor-group-takes-aim-at-antibiotics-demanding-changes-from-fast-food-companies-9a9ed0bf

[2] WHO issues new recommendations on human genome editing for the advancement of public health. July 12, 2021. WHO.int. https://www.who.int/news/item/12-07-2021-who-issues-new-recommendations-on-human-genome-editing-for-the-advancement-of-public-health

[3] Dee S, Guzman JE, Hanson D, Garbes N, Morrison R, et al. (2018) A randomized controlled trial to evaluate performance of pigs raised in antibiotic-free or conventional production systems following challenge with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. PLOS ONE 13(12): e0208430. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208430

[4] Machado, I., Petznick, T., Poeta Silva, A. P., Wang, C., Karriker, L., Linhares, D. C., & Silva, G. S. (December 2023). Assessment of changes in antibiotic use in grow-finish pigs after the introduction of PRRSV in a naïve farrow-to-finish system. Iowa State University Digital Repository. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/105655.



RFA Calls on California to Expand Flex Fuel Vehicles for Lower Costs, Cleaner Air

In comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the Renewable Fuels Association called on the state to promote the sale of more flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) capable of running on up to 85 percent low-carbon ethanol.

“While electrification of the LDV fleet is expanding rapidly, significant volumes of liquid fuels will continue to be used for decades to come, and carbon neutrality can only be achieved by displacing a substantial share of those with low- and zero-carbon liquid fuels,” wrote RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman in the comments, which were submitted in response to the agency’s Nov. 15 Advanced Clean Cars Workshop.

Richman pointed out that E85 is proving popular with drivers in the Golden State, with sales topping 100 million gallons in 2022, up from roughly 60 million gallons in 2021. He also noted that the number of E85 retail stations in the Golden State has increased rapidly. There are currently over 400 stations offering E85 in California, with approximately another 200 in the permitting or planning process.

“E85 has consistently sold for a discount to California reformulated gasoline of between $1.50 and $2.00 per gallon, which provides a strong incentive for consumers with flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) to purchase the product,” Richman wrote. “This is evidenced by the rapid growth of E85 sales even as the number of FFVs in California has remained relatively stable or even declined.”

Likewise, the emissions reduction seen with ethanol is important. On average, the carbon intensity of ethanol sold in the state is approximately 40 percent less than the California gasoline baseline, with some ethanol sold in California approximately 70 percent lower.

In the final analysis, Richman wrote, CARB should require all new vehicles with internal combustion engines sold in the state to be flex-fuel capable, beginning as early as model year 2026.

“The recent growth in E85 sales is a prime success story of California’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions while simultaneously reducing criteria pollutants, displacing petroleum, and offering consumers an affordable, practical, and equitable option in complementing the state’s electrification goals. As part of potential amendments to the ACC regulation, a policy to require flex-fuel capability in new ICE vehicle sales in California is necessary to build on this success and can be a significant component in the state’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and beyond.”



NGFA urges federal agencies to revise bank capital proposals

In comments submitted today to federal banking agencies, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) said recent proposals to overhaul bank capital rules would increase costs for accessing cleared derivatives markets.

“NGFA’s members and their customers depend on derivatives markets to hedge their risks and central clearing provides agricultural hedgers with confidence that they can trade contracts without fear of loss if their counterparty defaults,” noted NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert in comments submitted to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). “U.S. banks are major contributors to the clearing system, and we are concerned a contraction in the availability of clearing services will have a disproportionate impact on agriculture.”

In September 2023, the Board, the FDIC, and OCC proposed a rule to increase the capital requirements applicable to large banking organizations and those with significant trading activity. The Board also issued a separate proposal that identifies and establishes risk-based capital surcharges for global systemically important bank holding companies (GSIBs).

“If the proposals are implemented as currently drafted, NGFA is concerned GSIBs will cease providing futures commission merchant (FCM) services,” NGFA noted.   

“The FCM capacity GSIBs bring is necessary for hedging risk and we strongly urge the Board to modify the proposals to remove the impact on derivatives and risk management tools that end-users rely upon,” NGFA concluded. “We urge you to modify the proposals so that they do not disincentivize banks from providing this important service to their customers.”

NGFA and several other agricultural groups submitted comments in December outlining their concerns as an industry. They noted that the strength of central clearing depends on the participation of banks and other institutions as members of clearinghouses. The proposals could reduce the already low number of firms available to provide clearing services to agricultural end-users.