Wednesday February 21 Ag News

 New virtual Quicken course for farm and ranch record-keeping offered by Nebraska Extension

A new online Quicken course is being offered by Nebraska Extension for farmers, ranchers and agricultural business managers who want to learn more about the program and financial record-keeping.

The course is led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and was first developed by Oklahoma State University. It leads users through hands-on sessions to develop a simple set of financial records and reports using Quicken. Exercises based on scenarios from a case farm allow participants to practice many of the steps that they might use to keep records on their farm or ranch.

The course is available through NU Advance, the University of Nebraska’s non-credit and professional development learning system. Course elements include videos, engaging learning activities, quizzes, a Q&A board as well as access to content experts. The course is divided into seven modules which can be completed at your own pace. The total class time is approximately 3 ½ hours. Participants have 60 days to complete the course.

“Strong financial management is the backbone of any successful farm or ranch,” said Jessica Groskopf, an extension educator with the Center for Agricultural Profitability. “Our course empowers farmers and ranchers with the necessary tools to come away with a strong foundation in Quicken, tailored for the demands of the agricultural industry.”

Course development was funded by a grant from the Southern Risk Management Education Center. To register, visit the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu/quicken.   



“Manure Better” with Land Application Training in 2024

The Nebraska Extension will be hosting seven land application (manure) training workshops throughout February and March at several locations across the state.

These hands-on workshops will focus on turning manure nutrients into better crop yield while protecting the environment.

The sessions include Norfolk on February 29th and West Point on March 5th.

“The workshops will meet the educational requirements for permitted livestock operations laid out by the Nebraska

Department of Environment and Energy’s title 130,” said Leslie Johnson, UNL’s animal manure management coordinator.

Registration is required due to limited seating; register at water.unl.edu/lat.

The sessions cost $75 per operation requiring certification or $25 per person with no expectation of certification.

Participants who attend the day-long (9 am – 4 pm) event will receive NDEE Land Application Training Certification.

The initial land application training certification requires participation in the full day program, which includes lunch.

Attendance at the afternoon session will meet minimum needs for recertification, but participants who only need recertification may choose to attend the full event if they wish for no additional charge.

Anyone is welcome regardless of the need for certification.

Crop farmers and livestock operations will learn useful information to apply to their operations.

“Our workshops have traditionally been focused on livestock producers because they’re required to attend manure training regularly,” Johnson said, “but we’ve made an effort to include the crop farmers that are often the recipients of the manure because the information we share is just as valuable to them and their bottom line.”

Sessions will focus on choosing fields that best utilize manure nutrients and other benefits, as well as an update on regulations and discussions on how to best use manure on cropland.

The workshops are sponsored by the Nebraska Extension Animal Manure Management Team, which is dedicated to helping livestock and crop producers better utilize manure resources for agronomic and environmental benefits.

For additional information on the workshops and other resources for managing manure nutrients, visit manure.unl.edu or contact Leslie Johnson at 402-584-3818 or leslie.johnson@unl.edu.



Fill up for FFA at CVA

During National FFA Week February 17 through February 24, Central Valley Ag (CVA) cooperative will donate 10 cents from every gallon purchased to empower the next generation of leaders through the Nebraska and Kansas FFA Foundations.  

“As FFA invests in growing leaders and getting young people involved in agriculture, CVA is proud to support their mission,” said Jeff Ingalls, SVP of Energy at CVA. “Agriculture needs great leaders, and FFA does a great job of preparing our young people for the challenges ahead.”

Show your commitment by filling up at a CVA fuel site with a CVA card and fuel a brighter future, one gallon at a time.

“Thank you for supporting Nebraska FFA members through the CVA gas promotion campaign during National FFA Week.  Nebraska FFA Foundation and CVA both believe in growing a bright future for agriculture education and FFA in Nebraska and with your support you can help us to grow leaders, build communities and create career connections for over 12,000 Nebraska FFA members,” said Stacey Agnew, executive director of the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

“Kansas FFA is experiencing phenomenal growth. We are excited to share that there are more than 13,000 members and 226 FFA chapters across our state,” said Beth Gaines, executive director at Kansas FFA Foundation

. “We are excited to partner with CVA to help create even more opportunities for our members to grow their leadership skills and prepare to become the next generation of agriculture leaders.”

The Nebraska and Kansas FFA Foundations will receive 10 cents for every gallon of fuel purchased with a CVA fuel card at a CVA fuel site, Feb. 17 through Feb. 24.

“Together, let’s cultivate a brighter future for agriculture, one fill-up at a time,” said Ingalls.



ANNUAL NEBRASKA CHICKEN AND EGGS

Nebraska's layer numbers during 2023 averaged 7.50 million, up 8% from 2022, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The annual average production per layer on hand in 2023 was 298 eggs, up 3% from 2022.

Nebraska egg production during the year ending November 30, 2023 totaled 2.24 billion eggs, up 12% from 2022.

Total number of chickens on hand on December 1, 2023 (excluding commercial broilers) was 10.5 million birds, up 13% from last year.

The total value of all chickens in Nebraska on December 1, 2023 was $56.8 million, up 11% from December 1, 2022. The average value decreased from $5.50 per bird on December 1, 2022, to $5.40 per bird on December 1, 2023.

USDA Chickens and Eggs 2023 Summary
United States Average Layers Up 1 Percent: Layers during 2023 averaged 382 million, up 1 percent from the year earlier. The annual average production per layer on hand in 2023 was 286 eggs, down 1 percent from 2022.

United States Egg Production Down Slightly: Egg production during the year ending November 30, 2023 totaled 110 billion eggs, down slightly from 2022. Table egg production, at 94.2 billion eggs, was down slightly from the previous year. Hatching egg production, at 15.3 billion eggs, was down 1 percent from 2022.

United States December 1 Chicken Inventory: The total inventory of chickens on hand on December 1, 2023 (excluding commercial broilers) was 523 million birds, up 1 percent from last year.

United States Total Value: The total value of all chickens on December 1, 2023 was $3.76 billion, up 11 percent from December 1, 2022. The average value increased from $6.56 per bird on December 1, 2022, to $7.20 per bird on December 1, 2023.



PASTURE LEASING RATES
Shannon Sand, NE Extension Educator

Pasture rental rates are something many have questions about. By looking at changes in the cattle market prices, productivity factors influencing rental rates, stocking rates, expectations for rainfall and other factors we can estimate pasture rates will likely be similar to 2023 or slightly higher depending on the region. Establishing fair pasture rates can be a challenge. The most popular method is using ‘current market rates’ based on average county rental rates for each county or region of the state. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service provides annual average county pasture values each August. In 2023, Nebraska regional rates ranged from $10.50/acre in Northwest to $48.50/acre in Southcentral to $88/ acre in the Northeast. The UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability also provides updated pasture rental values in the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey. Values are provided as cash rental rates along with cow-calf pairs and stocker rates. Preliminary results for the UNL survey come out in March and the final report comes out in June. For 2023 rates, visit the Nebraska Farm Real Estate website at: http://cap.unl.edu/realestate

Those in severe drought impacted regions might consider pricing leases based on grazing animal unit months (AUM’s) OR rent per head per month of grazing; rather than flat rates per acre or cow-calf pair. A clause might be added to cover livestock water in case water sources go dry. Typically, pasture weed control is a landlord expense; but if the pasture was overgrazed due to drought; weed control costs might be shared between landowners and tenants. Finally, stocker or feeder cattle producers might consider a rent per pound of gain method for example, the tenant might pay 50 to 60 cents to the pasture owner for each animal pound gained during the pasture grazing.

More educational resources such as the Nebraska Extension Budget sheets are available online at: cap.unl.edu; cropwatch.unl.edu or beef.unl.edu



175 Grants Awarded to Enhance Agricultural Education for Iowa Students

The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has awarded 175 grants to schools across Iowa to bolster the integration of agriculture into classroom instruction or after-school programs with an academic focus.

The Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Teacher Supplement Grants are designed to help teachers initiate new projects and/or expand upon existing programs that promote agriculture literacy in students. Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips and other projects. Teachers received up to $250 to fund their projects.

Some of the innovative projects launching this spring include farm robotics, culinary and nutrition programs, crop and animal lifecycles, tree propagation, pollinators, ecosystems, renewable energy, aquaponics, farm-to-fork projects, dairy field trips, egg hatching, and agricultural history tours. Successful applicants will use these agricultural experiences to teach language arts, social studies and a variety of other concepts already taught in their classrooms.

Kelly Foss, IALF Executive Director, highlighted the quality and diversity of the applications received, emphasizing how much focus was on incorporating agriculture into science, social studies, math, language arts, nutrition, and career and technical education curriculum. “These grants allow teachers to bring agriculture into their classrooms and connect students to real world applications.”

The grants are made possible through support from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). IFBF’s Community Resources Manager, Ronnette Vondrak, underscored the importance of agricultural literacy in deepening understanding of the value and impact of agriculture. “The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is proud to provide financial assistance to support Iowa teachers in their classrooms. By supporting agriculture education, we are investing in the future of Iowa and the world.”

Grant recipients include:
Janet Freese, Fairview Elementary, Carroll
Amanda Vardaman, Clarinda Community Schools, Clarinda
Laurie Bancroft, Thomas Jefferson, Council Bluffs
Amber Brown, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
Rob Hart, Franklin School, Council Bluffs
Brenda Irwin, Saint Albert Catholic, Council Bluffs
Danielle Philmon, College View Elementary, Council Bluffs
Rachel Shanks, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
Kristen Vonnahme, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
Lauren Wilcox, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Council Bluffs
Aly Jurgensmeier, Hinton School, Hinton
Tejlor Strope, Missouri Valley High School, Missouri Valley
Angela Pape, MFLMarMac, Monona
Sarah Wille, MFL MarMac High School, Monona
Pam Parks, Woodbury Central, Moville
Brooke Doyle, Inman Elementary, Red Oak
Abby Bowden, Fremont-Mills Community School District, Tabor
Michelle Gillespie, Fremont-Mills Elementary, Tabor
Jennifer Bakke, Whiting Elementary, Whiting
Anne Weber, Whiting CSD, Whiting
Karsyn Kinney, Woodbine School, Woodbine
Megan Kuhlmann, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine
Danielle Peckenpaugh, Woodbine Community School, Woodbine

These projects are slated to be completed before the end of the school year, with final reports due by June 9, 2024. For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org.



Life Cycle Assessment Shows U.S. Soy’s Carbon Footprint Has Considerably Decreased

A newly released Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) found the U.S. soybean industry’s global warming potential (GWP) profile decreased considerably in 2021 for whole soybeans, soybean meal, and soy oil compared to previously reported findings in 2015 and 2010. Commissioned by the United Soybean Board (USB) and the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), the study assessed the main drivers of the environmental impact, including soybean cultivation and harvesting (e.g., herbicides, field operations and fertilizer), transportation, and energy usage in processing.

“USB’s mission is to create value for U.S. soybean farmers by investing in research, education and promotion of U.S. Soy,” says Lucas Lentsch, United Soybean Board CEO. “This body of research helps farmers better assess and understand soy’s contribution to the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of the entire soybean value chain. Ultimately this data can competitively position our downstream products such as human foods, animal feeds, biofuels and other industrial applications.”

As a major commodity crop, soybean production continues to increase over time, contributing $124 billion to the U.S. economy. Global output went from fewer than 50 million tons in 1970 to more than 350 million tons in 2020. The U.S. is one of the commodity’s largest producers and is the second-largest exporter. Soybeans also comprise about 90% of U.S. oilseed production in the agricultural sector.

The LCA study, conducted by Sustainable Solutions Corporation (SSC), analyzed soybean cultivation data from 454 farms across 16 states for 2020 and 2021. In addition, it analyzed operations data (for soybean meal, crude soy oil, and refined soy oil) from 52 soybean processors and 27 soy oil refiners across 18 states for 2021. The study found that the soybean industry’s carbon footprint decreased considerably in 2021 for all U.S. Soy commodities compared to 2015, including a 19% decrease for U.S. soybeans, a 6% decrease for U.S. soybean meal, a 22% decrease for U.S. crude soy oil and an 8% decrease for U.S. refined soy oil (from co-located processing and refineries).[1]

“U.S. soybean processors have committed to efficiencies across plant operations, manufacturing and transportation processes to improve environmental outcomes amid skyrocketing output,” says Kailee Tkacz Buller, NOPA president and CEO. “The findings of the study align the industry’s improvements with positive environmental outcomes, demonstrating how soy processing has succeeded and allowing us to engage in new ways to maintain that upward trajectory. We look forward to a continued partnership with the soy supply chain to further enhance our commitment to environmental stewardship and lower carbon intensity in our operations.”

Factors contributing to a decrease in global warming potential, include:
    Land Management: Improving soil health and water quality
    Land Efficiency: Advances and improvements in seed quality have contributed to a 24% increase in yields since 2015
    Pesticide Application and Energy Consumption: Changing farming practices, such as decreased chemical application, implementation of no-till and expanded cover crops
    Manufacturing: Improving technologies and efficiencies at oilseed processing operations, such as switching from coal to natural gas fuel sources

“The results from the LCA conducted for the United Soybean Board and National Oilseed Processors Association demonstrate what can happen when organizations prioritize stewardship and sustainable collaboration,” said Tad Radzinski, president, Sustainable Solutions Corporation. “LCA is a key tool for continuous improvement through identifying and addressing key impact drivers.”



RFA’s Cooper: 2024 Will Be “Pivotal and Consequential Year” for U.S. Ethanol Industry

At the National Ethanol Conference today in San Diego, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper told nearly 1,000 attendees that 2024 will be “one of the most pivotal and consequential years the ethanol industry has ever experienced.”

As part of his annual state of the industry report, Cooper stressed that “several policy decisions expected in next three to six months will shape the future course of the ethanol industry for years—and perhaps decades—to come.”

Specifically, Cooper addressed looming questions about implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and clean fuel production tax credits, year-round E15, light-duty vehicle tailpipe GHG standards, and other important policy issues.

“Since eligibility for the IRA tax credits—and the ultimate value of the credits—is based on the carbon footprint of the fuel, it is imperative that regulators rely on the best available science, modeling tools, and data to determine carbon intensity,” Cooper said. “It’s also crucial that the models used for these tax credits include a broad array of carbon reduction strategies—from climate-smart agricultural practices to carbon capture, use and sequestration.”

Commenting on the Biden administration’s soon-to-be-released SAF carbon footprint model, Cooper said, “The modified GREET model will either help open the door for U.S. agriculture and ethanol producers to participate in the SAF market, or it will lock out the highest-volume, lowest-cost feedstocks and assure the failure of the administration's ambitious SAF goals.”

On EPA’s tailpipe GHG standards, Cooper noted that the agency’s proposal “…would force automakers to dramatically increase the production of battery electric vehicles and strongly discourage them from pursuing other technologies that could achieve the same—or even better—environmental performance at a lower cost to American consumers.”

As EPA prepares to finalize its tailpipe regulation, Cooper said RFA continues to call for a level playing field. “If given the same opportunity and a fair regulatory framework, we are confident that higher ethanol blends—and the vehicles designed to use them—can play an instrumental role in affordable decarbonization of the nation’s auto fleet,” he said.

Cooper also highlighted the importance of year-round E15. “Not only does E15 slash harmful tailpipe pollution, reduce carbon emissions, and lower pump prices, but it gives ethanol a chance for modest growth in an otherwise declining gasoline market,” he said. “It helps us hold the line on demand as other new markets—like aviation, maritime, and heavy-duty—are emerging.”

E15 will not be the stabilizing market force the industry needs until the summertime RVP barrier is permanently removed and the fuel is available year-round, Cooper said: “Securing RVP parity for E15 remains a top priority for RFA and we won’t stop until we’ve accomplished that mission.”

In closing, Cooper underscored that the industry’s success in navigating these uncertainties will depend on continuing to reduce the carbon intensity of ethanol. “Lowering the carbon intensity of ethanol is the single most important thing renewable fuel producers can do to secure an even brighter future for the industry,” he said.

Cooper’s remarks also drew on the theme of this year’s NEC, “Powered by Partnerships.” He reflected on the ethanol industry’s many victories and advancements over the past 50 years and noted that “None of those successes would have been possible without the industry’s valuable partnerships and ability to work together with a diverse group of stakeholders.”



RFA on California LCFS Changes: Drop Certification Program, Allow Low-Carbon E15

In comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board on proposed amendments to that state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the Renewable Fuels Association expressed concerns about a previously undiscussed sustainability certification program and the state’s continued delay in allowing sales of the lower-carbon E15 fuel blend.

“Imposing a third-party verification system for feedstock certification places an extreme audit burden on feedstock suppliers and biofuel producers without any clearly defined benefit,” wrote RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman, who noted that the proposal came from nowhere and with no stakeholder input. “The audit report summaries would need to be designed so that their publication does not result in the disclosure of sensitive or confidential business information.”

He added that the provision does not even define the general term “sustainability” and needs extensive stakeholder engagement and analysis before being considered for inclusion in any amendment to the LCFS program.

He added that the provision does not even define the general term “sustainability” and needs extensive stakeholder engagement and analysis before being considered for inclusion in any amendment to the LCFS program. Were such a program to be implemented, Richman wrote, it should only apply to imports and exclude domestic supplies.

Regarding E15, Richman wrote that California is now the only state that does not allow the fuel, and that RFA and others have been working to ensure CARB has all the information it needs to make an informed decision to allow the fuel. “E15 is the leading opportunity under the LCFS to immediately and significantly further reduce GHG emissions while at the same time reducing criteria pollutant emissions and consumer costs,” he wrote.

The RFA comments also addressed four other provisions in the proposed amendments:
    Allowing the auto acceleration mechanism to be triggered as early as 2026 and to apply to consecutive years would be more effective in supporting a robust LCFS.
    Indirect accounting for low-carbon-intensity hydrogen production through power purchase agreements should be extended to the production of all low- to zero-carbon biofuels.
    Providing credits to companies achieving a lower operational CI for a fuel pathway is reasonable, but the multiplier proposed for exceeding the pathway CI is disproportionate.
    The requirement that verification bodies/individual verifiers be rotated every six years should be revised.



ACE Comments on CARB 2024 Proposed Amendments to LCFS

Today, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) submitted comments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding its 2024 proposed amendments to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The comments submitted by ACE CEO Brian Jennings focused on the proposed “sustainability criteria” for crop-based biofuels, the need to approve E15 use in California and the importance of E85 and flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).
 
“We do not support CARB’s sweeping ‘sustainability criteria’ approach to regulate ethanol producers and farmers,” Jennings stated in ACE’s comments. “The broad and burdensome proposal to require pathway holders to track crop-based feedstocks to their point of origin and obtain independent third-party certification will only serve to discourage participation in the LCFS. Instead, we offer a scientifically driven alternative based on real-world farm practices.”
 
Jennings references the recent announcement of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $25 million investment in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) led by ACE. This USDA RCPP project is designed to unlock corn ethanol access to LCFS markets and new tax incentives based on the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices which reduce GHG emissions.
 
The USDA funding will help farmers adopt reduced tillage, nutrient management and cover crops on nearly 100,000 acres across 167 counties surrounding 13 ethanol facilities partnering with ACE to implement the project in the 10-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The sites were strategically chosen to provide our project’s scientific team with statistically significant data regarding the GHG effect of conservation practices in different soil types and climates.
 
“While we may share CARB’s goal for better understanding the GHG impacts farming practices have on crop-based biofuels, we disagree feedstocks such as corn must be tracked to their point of origin,” Jennings continues. “Rather, some of the models CARB and other regulators use today to penalize corn ethanol for land use change (LUC) and farm-level practices can be improved and modified to assign carbon credits based on climate-smart agriculture practices. Specifically, we believe the GREET model developed by U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory should be used to assign carbon credits from climate-smart ag practices. GREET currently estimates nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer use, contains a module for estimating LUC penalties through the Carbon Calculator for Land Use Change from Biofuels (CCLUB), and features a relatively new Feedstock-Carbon Intensity Calculator (FD-CIC) module estimating soil carbon emissions and sequestration credits for practices such as conservation tillage and cover crops on corn production.”
 
ACE’s comments continue to explain the benefits of allowing E15 use in California. This will help reduce the carbon intensity of the state’s gasoline supply and cut emissions of criteria pollutants. E15 is EPA-approved for nearly all vehicles on the road and offers meaningful cost-savings, but Californians are currently paying more at the pump because CARB has not yet approved E15.
“We must take this opportunity to implore you to once and for all approve the use of E15 in California,” Jennings writes.
 
Along with E15, the comments go into detail on the importance of California’s growing E85 marketplace and availability of FFVs, stating that the number of FFVs declined from 2021 to 2022 by nearly 4 percent.
 
“We urge CARB to work with other state agencies, automakers, and the federal government to incentivize manufacturers to produce more FFVs and convert existing gasoline-operated internal combustion engines to operate on E85,” Jennings concluded.



Proposed California LCFS Updates Leave Biofuels Behind

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, submitted comments today to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding the board’s proposed changes to California’s low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS). Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement in response:

"While California has its sights set on the future, the state continues to overlook a significant challenge that it faces right now: decarbonizing the millions of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the state that will continue to be on the road for decades.

"Despite its commitment to being an environmental leader, the state's recently proposed changes to its LCFS ignore plant-based fuel options that could immediately help the state achieve its climate goals. Instead, the proposals put up roadblock after roadblock that prevent the deployment of crop-based biofuels—one of the only proven, drop-in solutions available today that can significantly lower the emissions of ICE vehicles.

"CARB’s proposed changes to crop-based biofuels’ status in the LCFS defy the program’s commitment to technology neutrality, fly in the face of the state’s administrative rules, and place an unfair burden on bioethanol that isn’t supported by science. This proposal would not only be an enormous missed opportunity for the state to decrease emissions from cars on the road today. It would increase California's already infamously-high gas prices, making an already heavy economic burden on California families even heavier.

"Higher blends of bioethanol have been a keystone of California’s LCFS—they’ve been one of the top credit generators for the program for years. We strongly urge the board to reconsider the role that biofuels can continue to play in lowering carbon emissions, today.”



FFAR Grant Provides Data on Nitrogen Management Practices in the Great Plains

More efficient nitrogen management could reduce greenhouse gas emissions while cutting down on overapplication of nitrogen fertilizer, which is costly and harmful to the environment. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded a $872,560 Seeding Solutions grant to Kansas State University to provide regional data on nitrogen management practices for producers in the Great Plains. Kansas Fertilizer Research Fund, Kansas State University and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program provided matching funds for a total investment of $1,745,125.

Limited data is available that evaluates nitrogen losses and provides producers with the information needed to reduce nitrogen fertilizer application rates for water-limited crops by using climate-smart agriculture practices. Additionally, there are limited opportunities for producers to access data from specific cropping systems on a regional scale, particularly in water-limited environments like the Great Plains.

“The decisions regarding the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices are made at the individual producer level. To motivate and sustain a change in nitrogen management practices, data quantifying the benefits of adopting climate-smart agriculture practices are needed at geographic scales representing various crops and management options relevant to individual producers,” said FFAR Scientific Program Director Allison Thomson.

Kansas State University researchers are examining the key components of the nitrogen cycle in water-limited grain sorghum production under various climate-smart agriculture practices. Specifically, the research team is focusing on ammonia volatilization, nitrogen dioxide emission and carbon intensity as influenced by nitrogen losses and nitrogen use efficiency. This data will allow the researchers to quantify the effect of climate-smart agriculture nitrogen management practices on the nitrogen uptake versus yield relationship and nitrogen use efficiency for grain sorghum. This data is being collected on three dryland sites in central and western Kansas across varying factors including precipitation and temperature.

“This powerful collaboration between United Sorghum Checkoff, the Kansas Fertilizer Research Fund and FFAR will allow us to measure several components of nitrogen management that are not well understood in water-limited cropping systems,” said Dr. Lucas Haag, associate professor at Kansas State University and the principal investigator of this project. “This information will allow better decisions to be made across the sorghum value-chain, from farm level nitrogen management decisions up through assigning proper value to the sorghum crop by end-users.”

Data and analysis from this research can be used to generate improved nitrogen management recommendations for producers.