Friday March 08 Ag News

Finalists Named for Nebraska LEAD Program Director

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has selected three finalists in its search for Nebraska LEAD Program Director. The candidates will participate in public presentations beginning March 8.

The candidates will spend time with university administrators, faculty, staff and stakeholders. UNL faculty, staff, post-docs, and students, along with members of the public, are invited to attend the public presentations and provide feedback.

The finalists are:

Kurtis Harms
    Candidate Seminar: Mar. 8, 1:30-2:30p
    Great Plains Room B, Nebraska East Union and streamed online https://ianrmedia.unl.edu/live-2

Kurtis Harms is the director of marketing for Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics. Through this role, Kurtis oversees the marketing strategy and external communication efforts to build and maintain customer relationships for the swine genetic portion of the business. He also ensures consistent internal communication initiatives directed at all 1,200 team members of the two pork companies under the Pillen umbrella.

Additionally, Kurtis has taught (and continues to teach) college courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) as a faculty member and adjunct faculty member, including multimedia design, videography, podcasting in agriculture and natural resources and an introduction to agricultural communications.

Prior to these roles, Kurtis Harms was the director of communications with the Nebraska Corn Board. Through his role, Kurtis helped the Nebraska Corn Board achieve its mission of “promoting the value of corn by creating opportunities.” He worked to achieve this goal by identifying key audiences and reaching these groups with strategic messaging through various outreach initiatives. He managed the board’s diverse portfolio of communication, promotion and education campaigns.

Before coming to the Nebraska Corn Board, Kurtis worked for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) for nearly 10 years. At the University, he was the executive producer of “Market Journal,” a 30-minute weekly agricultural television program for farmers and ranchers across the state. Through this role, Kurtis was responsible for most aspects of the program, including content generation, videography, editing, lighting, sound, distribution and promotions.

Kurtis earned a bachelor’s of science degree in agricultural journalism with an emphasis in broadcasting and public relations from UNL. He then completed a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications from UNL. His master’s thesis focused on the media usage habits of Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers and their role when making agricultural business decisions.

Kurtis is a member of the Nebraska Ag Builders and is a graduate of Nebraska LEAD Class 40. He is native of Dodge, Nebraska.

Kimberly Clark
    Candidate Seminar: Mar. 14, 1:30-2:30p
    Great Plains Room B, Nebraska East Union and streamed online https://ianrmedia.unl.edu/live-2

Dr. Kim Clark is an assistant professor of agricultural science at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. In her role, Dr. Clark continues to build the agriculture science program by recruiting students, developing and implementing curriculum for the program, and teaching undergraduate agriculture science and agribusiness students. A believer in developing individuals into leaders, Dr. Clark uses the transformational leadership approach to guide students to effectively communicate and become culturally competent leaders in their communities and within their careers. Dr. Clark organizes and leads domestic and international study tours as one component of leadership development.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Clark was employed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a statewide Extension Dairy Educator for six years where she planned, implemented, and delivered Extension programs statewide, across the Midwest, and internationally. She founded the Extension Dairy Advisory Committee and served as the chair of the I-29 Moo University, a five-state consortium of Extension Dairy Educators and Specialists.

Dr. Clark earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2006, a Master of Agriculture degree with a minor in Agriculture Economics in 2009, and a Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a focus on Leadership Studies in 2023. Her Ph.D. focused on how perceived leadership skills developed during global experiences are used in Extension.

She earned the Ag Achievement award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents in 2020 and the Dairy Person of the Year award from the Nebraska State Dairy Association in 2022. You may find Dr. Clark hiking outdoors or enjoying a good book in her spare time.

B. Lynn Gordon
    Candidate Seminar: Mar. 26, 1:30-2:30p
    Great Plains Room B, Nebraska East Union and streamed online https://ianrmedia.unl.edu/live-2

Dr. B. Lynn Gordon has an enthusiastic passion for the agricultural industry with experience in leadership development, education, and communications.

Lynn’s path included earning her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Communications from North Dakota State University, followed by her master’s degree in Business and Marketing Education from the University of Minnesota.

She began her career working for the University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension Service and then pursued roles as an education and communications director for state and national beef industry organizations. While working as Director of Agricultural Promotion for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Gordon pursued her doctorate in Leadership Studies at the University of Nebraska where her research focused on the path to leadership for beef industry leaders.

Upon earning her Ph.D., Dr. Gordon joined South Dakota State University first in a Regional Beef Extension Specialist role and later as an Assistant Professor and Extension Agricultural Leadership Specialist. Gordon reflects that one of her career highlights was teaching a study abroad course and traveling with SDSU college students to learn first-hand about agriculture in Argentina and Uruguay. She is a Class VII graduate of the South Dakota Agricultural Rural Leaders Program (SDARL), where she garnered first-hand experience with a state agricultural leadership program.

Driven by a commitment to fostering leadership, Dr Gordon established LEADER Consulting, LLC., offering training and presentations at industry events and contributing editorial content to regional and national agricultural publications. More recently she has also held pivotal roles in developing marketing strategies for prominent food and agricultural companies.

She was raised on a registered beef cattle and grain operation in Manitoba, Canada and her entire family is still actively involved in agriculture. Her contributions to beef industry communications earned her the 2022 Beef Improvement Federation Ambassador Award and multiple Livestock Publications Council awards. Notably, Dr. Gordon also represented the media at the World Angus Conference in Uruguay in 2019 and the Czech Republic in 2023. She has served on several leadership and agricultural committees and boards and continues to support livestock youth and 4-H programs.

Dr. Gordon currently resides in Grand Island, Nebraska, where her ongoing endeavors focus on enriching the agricultural industry.



HUSKER FACULTY, NASA PURSUE PARTNERSHIPS ON MIDWEST CLIMATE RESILIENCE

A Husker conference co-sponsored with NASA has kickstarted the effort to create multi-institution partnerships to help the Midwest address climate-related concerns such as drought, extreme wind events and floods.

Scientists from multiple states and NASA met at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for the Harnessing the Heartland conference Feb. 26-28 to hear from a range of Midwest stakeholders about their climate-related concerns. Attendees then brainstormed ways that universities, NASA and the private sector can work together to promote climate sustainability in the region.

Conferees followed up with sessions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to develop ideas to address climate-related environmental health needs.

The initiative aims to “bring together the best and brightest from across all sectors to help gather around the topic of climate resilience research, to produce actionable information and inform decision-making at all levels,” said Robert Swap, associate division director for mission planning for NASA’s Earth Science Division. “Improving people’s livelihoods and the understanding of the weather” is another key focus.

“It's incredibly important to work across the region on areas that are of critical importance,” said Jeanette Thurston, executive director of the North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experimental Station Directors. “By working across institutions, this effort can leverage their different expertise and resources to produce products and solutions to the problems we’re facing in the heartland due to climate change.”

The initiative isn’t a top-down approach, Swap said, but instead develops its strategies from input from Midwest residents, communities and institutions.

Eric Hunt, a Nebraska Extension educator focusing on agricultural meteorology and climate resilience, was co-originator of the conference with Swap. Presentations and networking at the conference created encouraging possibilities for innovative partnerships, Hunt said, as conferees learned about each other’s climate research and data collection projects.

Larkin Powell, head of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Natural Resources, also pointed to the collaborative opportunities.

“There is an increasingly keen need to make better decisions to manage soil, water and biodiversity resources in our working landscapes in the face of climate shifts and extreme weather events,” he said. “The potential to collaboratively harness the diversity of amazing platforms for data collection from ground-based, drone-based, aircraft-based and satellite-based systems is driving the conversations for this project.”

The School of Natural Resources was one of the institutional sponsors for the conference, along with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and NASA.

Craig Allen, director of the university’s Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, spoke on a conference panel that discussed collaborative possibilities to integrate data collection and bolster climate modeling.

The Nebraska Mesonet network of weather-data stations has promising opportunities to partner with NASA on data validation and climate modeling, said Ruben Behnke, a Husker climatologist and manager of the Mesonet.

“When NASA satellites are measuring temperature or how much water vapor is in the air, or wind speed, we can validate that data with our stations,” he said.

The initiative should include attention to climate-related concerns for vulnerable communities, said Husker climatologist Michael Hayes.

“That’s where I’m really interested in making those connections and trying to get access to some of these communities and how they might use all this data,” he said.

Hayes is among the Husker faculty participating in a federally funded Midwest collaboration to promote climate resilience through outreach to native tribes and women owning farmland.

The university shows foresight in supporting climate science resilience listening sessions and stakeholder engagement, Swap said. The university’s Office of Research and Economic Development is providing an $80,000 planning grant, for example, that a multi-disciplinary faculty group will use to develop the Great Plains Community Climate Resilience Institute.

Although NASA is best known for its space missions, the agency’s Earth Science Division pursues a wide range of major projects, said Hunt, who has partnered with NASA on projects during his climatology career. Nebraska “has a very strong history of working with earth scientists at NASA,” he said.

Recent NASA connections include a 2022 tour that NASA Earth Science representatives made of Nebraska farms and the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center, and presentations Husker faculty made in collaboration with NASA in 2023 at the national Commodity Classic event, explaining the importance of innovative technology and data-driven practices for modern agriculture.

“Our teaching, research and community engagement teams and platforms have put the University of Nebraska in position to be a significant part of this conversation on climate resilience,” Powell said. The Harnessing the Heartland initiative “gives us the opportunity to collaborate with others and our federal partners. That has pushed our faculty, staff and students to imagine what can be done in the very near future.”



Pasture Preparation and Renovation Meetings Scheduled for March

Have drought conditions and overgrazing left your pastures in rough shape? Join Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist Chris Clark at one of two in-person workshops, or join Clark and other specialists in a webinar to discuss the topic.

Each session will focus on strategies to meet your herd’s nutritional needs and optimize pasture productivity in the current growing season. All events are in March and are free to attend, with registration requested.

After another year of dry growing conditions, many central Iowa pastures are likely somewhat stressed and overgrazed. Although there is only so much that can be done, it is important to be thoughtful and proactive in terms of pasture management, to get as much as possible from grazing acres.

With this in mind, the Iowa Beef Center team has prepared some thoughts about strategies that might be helpful this summer.

"Thoughtful pasture management is really important for profitability and productivity. And it becomes even more critical during prolonged drought," he said. "We will discuss several strategies to help with preparation and renovation of pastures for this growing season.”

Potential topics of discussion include delaying pasture turnout, fertilization, weed control, rotational grazing and incorporation of summer annuals.

Pasture meetings
    March 12, 1-2:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Marshall County office, 2608 S 2nd St., Marshalltown. RSVP to Chelsea Llewellyn by email at chelsea@iastate.edu or call 641-752-1551 or text 515-344-3756.
    March 20, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Clarke County Fairgrounds and Events Center, 2070 W. Mclane St. Osceola. RSVP to Carolyn White by email at white2@iastate.edu or call 641-342-3316.
    March 27, from noon to approximately 1 p.m. via webinar. Use the following link to register: https://go.iastate.edu/TFXGFI. This webinar will feature three speakers. Chris Clark will set the stage and discuss some basics about pasture conditions and nutritional needs of lactating cows. Clarabell Probasco, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will discuss interseeding, pasture renovation, weed control and soil fertility. Shelby Gruss, extension forage specialist, will discuss using summer annuals as alternative/supplemental forage crops.

All beef producers and landowners are encouraged to attend. See the program series flyer for details https://iowabeefcenter.org/events/PasturePrepPrograms0324.pdf. For more information, contact Clark at 712-250-0070.



Enhanced Swine Traceability Resolution Adopted at National Pork Industry Forum
 
Today, U.S. pork producers approved a resolution to enhance the country’s live swine traceability system during the 2024 National Pork Industry Forum hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

“Traceability is a priority for the industry and has been for decades,"said Lori Stevermer, incoming NPPC president and Minnesota pork producer. "These standards will improve our ability to control the spread of a foreign animal disease and lessen the economic impact of an outbreak should one occur."
 
In 2022, a producer-led task force brought together stakeholders throughout the pork supply chain to identify and address current gaps in the live swine traceability system. This task force offered a series of comment periods for producers to provide input on the enhanced standards. That process resulted in the following recommendations:
    All swine owners would need to register for a premises identification number (PIN).
    High-risk swine (from a traceability perspective), including cull breeding stock and show/exhibition stock, would be required to be tagged with an AIN (animal identification number) RFID (radio frequency) tag.
    Producers would be asked to record consistent data points, including PIN of origin, PIN of destination, date of movement, animal type, and any official identification that is present. Producers would be asked to record this data electronically within three business days.
    Movement data would be reported to a centralized database following the detection of a trade-limiting disease.
    Semen would require a label with the PIN of the source herd.
    Cull markets and packing plants would use tattoo numbers unique to each facility.

“Industry delegates at Pork Forum took a proactive step to protect animal health and producers’ livelihoods. An outbreak of a foreign animal disease in the United States, such as African swine fever or foot-and-mouth disease, would result in the immediate suspension of pork exports from the U.S., which totaled over $8.2 billion in pork and pork products last year,” said Scott Hays, NPPC president.
 
The approved standards will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for inclusion in the regulations mandating live swine traceability. To view the enhanced standards or learn more, visit nppc.org/trace.



NPPC Elects New Officers and Board Members to Spearhead Advocacy Efforts
 
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) proudly announces the induction of new officers and the election of members to its board of directors.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome these accomplished individuals to NPPC’s board of directors," said NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys. "Their diverse backgrounds and proven track records will provide valuable perspectives and strategic insights as the pork industry navigates the challenges and opportunities ahead."
 
The 2024-2025 NPPC board officers are as follows:

Lori Stevermer of Easton, Minnesota, was elected NPPC president.
    Stevermer, co-owner of Trail’s End Farm, has a rich history of advocating for the pork industry at local, state and national levels, previously serving on the executive board of the Minnesota Pork Producers Association. During her year serving as NPPC president-elect, she exemplified her leadership and unwavering commitment to the industry by testifying before Congress, driving a legislative solution on California Proposition 12 and represented the industry at international trade conferences.

Duane Stateler of McComb, Ohio, was elected as president-elect.
    Stateler, a fifth-generation pork producer, co-operates Stateler Family Farms with his son Anthony, overseeing a comprehensive operation that manages 15,600 head annually and oversees 1,600 acres of crop production of corn, soybeans and wheat. Duane actively represents producers on national committees and engages in various agricultural associations in Ohio.

Rob Brenneman of Washington, Iowa has been selected as the new vice president.
    Brenneman owns and operates Brenneman Pork with operations that include approximately 50,000 sows and markets around 1.5 million pigs annually. Elected to the NPPC board of directors in 2021, Brenneman has served numerous organizations, including the National Pork Board, Iowa Pork Producers Association and Washington County Pork Producers.

Scott Hays of Monroe City, Missouri, will serve as NPPC immediate past president.
    Hays is a fifth-generation pork producer and has been involved in many aspects of production. Hays also represents producers on various state and national committees, most recently it was announced he will serve as executive director of the Missouri Pork Association.

With gratitude and appreciation, the NPPC thanks two esteemed departing board members, Terry Wolters and Craig Anderson. Their unwavering commitment, strategic insights and invaluable contributions have significantly shaped and advanced NPPC’s mission.
 
Newly elected NPPC board members, serving up to two consecutive three-year terms:
    Edward Reed, Three Rivers, Michigan
    Neill Westerbeek, Clinton, North Carolina

Current NPPC board of directors:
    Francis Forst, Lamar, Missouri
    Pat Hord, Bucyrus, Ohio
    Bob Ivey, Goldsboro, North Carolina
    Todd Marotz, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
    Dwight Mogler, Lester, Iowa
    Dr. Jeremy Pittman, Waverly, Virginia
    Jeb Stevens, Osgood, Indiana
    Russ Vering, Howells, Nebraska
    Craig Edsill, Hatfield, Pennsylvania, Packer Processor Industry Council representative
    Steve Malakowsky, Mankato, Minnesota, Alliance representative

NPPC’s nominating committee for a two-year term:
    William Knapke, Fort Recovery, Ohio
    Jason Propst, Toledo, Illinois

Elected at the pork industry’s annual business meeting, the National Pork Industry Forum, the board members will collaborate closely with the existing leadership team to steer NPPC toward achieving its strategic goals and enhancing membership value.



NPPC Unveils Annual Scholarship Winners at National Pork Industry Forum
 
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) proudly announced 12 scholarship winners today at the 2024 National Pork Industry Forum. The Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry and the Neil Dierks scholarships recognize outstanding university students pursuing careers within the U.S. pork industry.
 
“Highlighting the remarkable dedication of these scholars to the U.S. pork industry is significant,” said Scott Hays, outgoing NPPC president. “By offering awards such as the Lois Britt and Neil Dierks scholarships, we're paving the way for the next generation of industry leaders and visionaries.”
 
"We want to congratulate and commend this year’s scholarship winners for their hard work and commitment to the U.S. pork industry, which plays a key role in the global food system," said Derek Sammann, senior managing director and global head of commodities, options and international markets at CME Group. "CME Group is so pleased to support these scholarships as part of our long-standing partnership with the NPPC to help advance future food production leaders."
 
The 2024 winners of a $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship are:
    Ethan Baldwin, Purdue University
    Chloe Calhoun, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Kirby Cook, Iowa State University
    Jenna DeRouchey, Iowa State University
    Halle Evans, Iowa State University
    Lydia Johnson, Iowa State University
    Kaley Pieper, Texas A&M University
    Addison Randall, Iowa State University
    Jackson Sterle, Iowa State University
    Joshua Wiley, Iowa State University
 
The Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship program, sponsored by CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF), is awarded to undergraduates in a two-year swine program or a four-year college of agriculture program. The scholarship program was introduced in 1990 and later renamed in 2006 in honor of Lois Britt, a former NPPC board director. A lifetime supporter of agriculture, Britt spent 34 years with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and finished her career after 15 years with Murphy-Brown LLC (now Smithfield) doing public and government relations. She was inducted into the NPPC Pork Industry Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Pork Council Hall of Fame and was awarded the North Carolina 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other achievements.
 
The 2024 winners of a $5,000 Neil Dierks Scholarship are:
    Abigail Jenkins, Kansas State University
    Jeremy Perez, Iowa State University

The Neil Dierks Scholarship, founded in 2021 and sponsored by NPIF, is awarded to current or applied-for-acceptance graduate students in a swine program. Dierks served as the NPPC’s CEO for 20 years. Retiring in December 2021 after 31 years with the NPPC, Dierks made countless lasting contributions to the U.S. pork industry and established the NPPC as a top-tier advocacy organization and the global voice of the U.S. pork industry. He was inducted into the NPPC Pork Industry Hall of Fame in 2022.
 
Scholarship applications for 2025 will open in September 2024. To learn more about the application process, please visit: https://nppc.org/get-involved/education-programs/.



January U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Exports Remain Healthy Despite Lower Volumes
Ann Lewis, Senior Analyst, Renewable Fuels Assoc.

January U.S. ethanol exports ebbed 4% to a still-robust 150.0 million gallons (mg). Canada was our largest destination for the 34th consecutive month, hastened by a 32% jump in volume. Shipments totaled 57.7 mg and accounted for 38% of global sales. The U.S. exported 33.0 mg to India, up 61% to a three-year high. An elevated share of denatured fuel ethanol exports to both countries (totaling over 76 mg) helped mark January as the second-largest monthly denatured shipments on record. Other large and expanding ethanol export markets included South Korea (+32% to 11.0 mg), Colombia (+74% to 7.8 mg), and Mexico (+24% to 5.5 mg). However, declining volumes to the European Union (-2% to 15.9 mg, despite record volumes to Latvia) and the United Kingdom (-47% to 13.9 mg) put the brakes on the overall January total. Brazil again was notably absent from the market.

There were no U.S. imports on record in January, according to the monthly data.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, slipped 9% to 902,376 metric tons (mt) on mixed markets. Shipments mounted 57% to Mexico, helping our neighbor regain its role as our top DDGS customer on a 26-month high of 249,582 mt (equivalent to 28% of January exports). Exports also rallied to Vietnam (+11% to 70,718 mt), Japan (doubled to 57,401 mt), Colombia (doubled to 45,286 mt), and China (+10% to 25,105 mt). These gains were largely offset by lower shipments to several larger markets, including South Korea (-16% to 146,439 mt), Indonesia (-19% to 71,647 mt), Turkey (slight downtick to 65,238 mt), and Canada (-7% to 64,983 mt).



House Ag Committee Offers Solutions to Farm Labor Crisis

The House Committee on Agriculture today laid out a roadmap to relieve labor shortages that have seriously impacted America’s farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Labor Working Group (ALWG) released its final report on how to improve the H-2A guest worker program. It includes more than 20 recommendations to streamline the program and make labor more affordable for farmers.

“We are losing farms in America at a rapid pace and there is no question that our broken workforce system is partly to blame,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “This report makes it clear, once again, that there is bipartisan agreement on the need to improve the H-2A program to better serve America’s agriculture sector. This working group of the House Agriculture Committee spent months studying and discussing this issue and now delivers important bipartisan solutions for America’s struggling agricultural labor force.

“I am grateful to committee leaders for making this a priority when they could have looked the other way. That’s what leadership is all about and I hope this work is followed by action. America’s farmers and ranchers are counting on Congress to address this issue before more farms go under.”

The ALWG consisted of Democrats and Republicans, with 15 recommendations receiving unanimous approval. While the recommendations from the ALWG do not address all the labor challenges facing farmers, they do offer needed solutions, including:
    Streamlining the recruiting and hiring of H-2A employees;
    Expanding the H-2A program to meet year-round needs;
    Paying employees based on duties performed for the majority of their day; and
    Reforming wage calculation standards to provide stability in farmworker pay rates.

Out of control wage rate increases have taken a toll on America’s farms. A recent Market Intel shows that the mandatory base wage rates for H-2A workers increased almost 41% from 2018 to 2024. This growth in the Department of Labor-calculated agricultural wage rate is almost 60% higher than the growth in the overall U.S. Employment Cost Index.

The report includes several weather-related worker protection recommendations. Farmers and ranchers are committed to ensuring the health and safety of their employees, and Farm Bureau looks forward to working with policymakers to ensure that any heat-related labor regulations do so while also accounting for the diversity of weather conditions and labor duties.



NAWG Responds to the State of the Union Address

Last night, President Joseph Biden delivered his third State of the Union remarks to Congress. NAWG CEO Chandler Goule provided the following statement in response:

“While the President addressed many issues of importance to the American people – such as inflation, food prices, and food security – the costs of on-farm inputs and equipment remain high and concern many farmers. Currently, we are operating under a one-year farm bill extension, and coming off NAWG’s annual meeting, passing a long-term farm bill that supports farmers is one of our priorities and is at the top of our wheat growers' minds. The 2018 farm bill was a high watermark for bipartisanship. As Congress and the Biden Administration continue to work on a long-term farm bill, we must build upon the 2018 Farm Bill by strengthening the farm safety net, enhancing our trade promotion programs, and supporting the voluntary conservation programs that work for wheat growers.

“NAWG will continue to work with Congress and the Biden Administration on policies that support farmers and recognize the uniqueness of wheat.”



Highlights of FY24 Minibus
American Soybean Association

Congress is on track to approve a six-bill appropriations package, which will fund some federal government agencies (including USDA and EPA) through September 30. Enactment will prevent a partial government shutdown this weekend. Congressional focus will then shift to completion of the remaining six appropriations bills by March 22. The following items are highlights of interest to ASA:

    Regional Agriculture Promotion Program (RAPP): ASA engaged to urge opposition to a policy rider that would have prevented implementation of RAPP for trade promotion by USDA. The provision was not included in the final package. This is a significant victory and should allow USDA to continue implementing RAPP unimpeded.

    Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS): Language was included in the final package to make the USDA Secretary a member of CFIUS with respect to covered transactions involving agricultural land, biotechnology, and industry, and it directs the Secretary to report to CFIUS agricultural land transactions that may pose a risk to national security under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA). The bill provides USDA an additional $3.5 million to carry out these functions.

    Endangered Species Act (ESA): ASA supported language that was included in the final package to direct EPA in its pesticide program to use real-world data when conducting ESA reviews, including pesticide usage data, existing conservation practices, real-world studies on spray drift, ground and surface water concentrations, and sub-county species maps. Language was also included to direct Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to create sub-county level species range maps moving forward.

    Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP) Funding: The final package includes an ASA-supported $300,000 increase for USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP), a 20% increase over FY23.

    Plant Incorporated Protectants (PIP): The final package directs EPA to provide Congress a briefing within 90 days of enactment on whether revisions are needed to the agency’s flawed PIPs rule to ensure products are regulated based on environmental or human health risk as opposed to the method by which they were created. ASA supports revisions to the PIPs rule and development of a more science- and risk- based approach for products of gene editing.

    Waterways: The final package includes record funding for waterways, critically important for soybean transportation and infrastructure. Specifically, inland waterways projects received a record $456 million, which could fund three of the six active construction projects to completion. Funded projects include Three Rivers, Chickamauga Lock, and the Navigation & Ecosystems Sustainability Program (NESP).



NCBA Welcomes Landmark Habitat Conservation Bill

In a letter submitted to the House Natural Resources Committee, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urged members of Congress to support the recently introduced America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (H.R. 7408). The landmark conservation bill, led by Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), was considered yesterday in a Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee hearing. The legislation would invest in state-led conservation projects, push the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to delist species that are recovered, and provide regulatory certainty for landowners who participate in voluntary species conservation agreements.

“We cannot effectively support the conservation and recovery of beloved wildlife species without the foundation of open, green, healthy habitat. Chairman Westerman’s legislation puts an appropriate focus on controlling what we can control, and conserving our nation’s prime habitat,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “This bill puts the people who are closest to the land and closest to the issues in the driver’s seat, by prioritizing state and tribal leadership. We appreciate Chairman Westerman’s support for conservation on working lands, and his effort in this bill to protect the voluntary investments that farmers and ranchers make in wildlife conservation.”
 
Despite the best original intentions of Congress, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) over the last half-century has become a bureaucratic nightmare that stifles voluntary conservation work, provides endless ammunition for frivolous litigation, and imposes unnecessary restrictions on farmers and ranchers.
 
H.R. 7408 would address many of these challenges by:
    Codifying Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCAs) and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). The bill would prevent farmers and ranchers who are already doing habitat conservation work through a CCA or CCAA from being subject to a future critical habitat designation.
    Prioritizing funding for projects led by states and tribes, rather than funneling more money into implementing top-down, one-size-fits-all federal species management plans.
    Requiring USFWS to set clear benchmarks for recovery when issuing 4(d) rules and to delist when those goals are met.
    Fixing the disastrous Cottonwood (2015) decision that has bogged the U.S. Forest Service down in ESA consultation and prevented crucial fire mitigation work from moving forward.
    Extending Good Neighbor Authority to USFWS, to allow the agency to work with public and private partners, across fence lines, to conserve contiguous habitat.

The legislation now awaits a full committee hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives.



Walmart Announces New Milk Processing Facility in Robinson, Texas, Opening in 2026
Press Release

Walmart announced the planned opening of its third owned and operated milk processing facility in Robinson, Texas. The new facility is slated to open in 2026 and will create nearly 400 new jobs in the Robinson community.

“We’re excited to be able to provide Texas and its surrounding states with high-quality milk sourced primarily from Texas dairy farmers,” said Bruce Heckman, vice president of Manufacturing at Walmart. “This new facility continues our commitment to building a more resilient and transparent supply chain and ensuring our customers’ needs are met for this everyday staple.”

Leaders across the state praised the retailer for its investment in local jobs.

”Walmart’s new processing facility in Robinson is exciting news for Texas, creating millions in investment for the local economy and hundreds of new, good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans in Central Texas,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “World-renowned companies like Walmart continue to choose Texas because of our unmatched business climate, lower business operating costs, and highly skilled, diverse and growing workforce. This major investment is a testament to the promise of economic success in Texas, and I thank Walmart for choosing McLennan County as the location for its important new facility."

The new facility will allow Walmart to meet the growing demand from customers for high-quality milk, while providing transparency about where its products are sourced and making the supply chain more resilient. The facility will process and bottle a variety of milk options, including Gallon, Half Gallon, Whole, 2%, 1%, Skim, and 1% Chocolate Milk for Walmart’s Great Value and Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark brands. The products from the facility will serve more than 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs throughout the South including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and parts of Arkansas and Mississippi.

“As the proud mayor of Robinson, I am thrilled to announce a groundbreaking addition to our beloved city's industrial sector,” said Bert Echterling, mayor of Robinson. “Today marks a momentous occasion as we welcome Walmart, a pioneering industry leader, to our community. This monumental investment is the first of its kind in both size and value, signaling a transformative era for Robinson. The decision of Walmart to establish its roots here is a testament to the strength of our local economy, the dedication of our workforce and the strategic advantages that our city offers. This landmark development not only promises job creation and economic growth but also underscores Robinson's position as a hub for innovation and progress.”

“We are proud to welcome a company, which tops the Fortune 500, to McLennan County,” said Judge Scott M. Felton, of McLennan County. “Great appreciation goes to the Robinson City Council, its city manager, Craig Lemin, and McLennan County Commissioner Jim Smith for working hand-in-hand with Walmart to ensure the necessary needs were met. This project is another example of how cities throughout McLennan County can participate in economic development. McLennan County is excited that our region has been named one of the top regions for food and beverage manufacturing businesses and this project reinforces our strength in this area.”

Walmart has been working across its food offerings to deliver increased transparency about where products come from and ensuring surety of supply for grocery essentials. It opened its first milk processing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2018, and its second facility in Valdosta, Georgia, is expected to open in 2025. Additional investments include opening its first case-ready beef facility in Thomasville, Georgia, and building a second case-ready beef facility in Olathe, Kansas, as well as making equity investments and long-term commercial agreements with Sustainable Beef LLC and vertical farming company Plenty.

The Robinson facility marks an important step to providing customers in yet another part of the nation with increased access to high-quality milk at the Every Day Low Prices they rely on.

Walmart remains dedicated to job growth and community support through our Investing in American Jobs initiative. We have pledged $350 billion over a decade to invest in products made, sourced, grown or assembled here in the U.S.



University of Kentucky Study Finds 11 Bushel Higher Corn Yield with Pivot Bio Microbial Nitrogen

The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, a leading land-grant institution, recently found that replacing 40 pounds of synthetic nitrogen with Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 can increase corn yields while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizer. This recent study contributes to an esteemed collection of over 400 university-led and on-farm trial locations in 2023, making it one of the most significant research endeavors focused on microbial nitrogen to date.

Higher yields also suggest that applying microbial nitrogen in furrow can help bridge the nitrogen gap that can occur in fields with cover crop rotations. This occurs because the nitrogen is delivered directly to the roots, avoiding competition with cover crop residue.

“Despite limited rainfall during critical growing stages, the in-furrow application of PROVEN 40 stood out as a game-changer on my farm this year,” said Richard Preston, a Kentucky farmer who collaborated with the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment on the study. “Like all farmers, I care about protecting and preserving our natural resources for generations to come. In addition to no-till and cover crop practices, PROVEN 40 has helped me lower my environmental impact and increase yield — two key factors for meeting my sustainability goals.”

Preston employs both no-till and cover crop practices in addition to Pivot Bio’s microbial nitrogen. The study showed an average corn yield of 195 bushels per acre across nitrogen rates, and plots treated with PROVEN 40 yielded an average of 11 bushels per acre more than the control plots.

The increase is particularly noteworthy given the use of cereal rye cover crops and the lack of rainfall during various parts of the growing season. Under normal conditions, cereal rye competes with corn for available nitrogen.

For the study, corn was planted at a rate of 32,000 seeds per acre under no-till and cover crop conditions with PROVEN 40 applied in furrow, along with additional nitrogen treatments of 140 and 180 pounds per acre. Corn yields were similar across both nitrogen fertilizer rates; however, PROVEN 40 applied in furrow increased corn yields across both nitrogen rates.

Similarly, studies at North Carolina State University found that replacing 40 pounds of synthetic nitrogen with PROVEN 40 resulted in increased nitrogen and potassium uptake, resulting in greater biomass. Other results from the studies indicated higher corn yields.

“The study’s findings underscore the potential of microbial nitrogen fertilizer to maintain and even increase crop yields while reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers,” said Clayton Nevins, senior agronomic scientist for Pivot Bio. “Not only are you replacing 40 pounds of synthetic nitrogen, but you are also delivering nitrogen straight to the roots, boosting plant health earlier in the season.”