Farmers and Ranchers Celebrate Agriculture at Lincoln Children’s Museum
Discovering the wonders of farming, ranching, and all things agriculture, Nebraska's farmers and ranchers gathered Lincoln Children’s Museum to celebrate National Agriculture Day with families in the Lincoln area. Here We Grow, the newly opened Lincoln Children’s Museum exhibit, offers a wide range of entertaining and educational activities for children to explore the world of agriculture. In honor of National Agriculture Day on March 19, 2024, the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation provided free admission to the museum and invite visitors to learn more about agriculture.
The event featured farm and ranch volunteers from the Nebraska Farm Bureau Promotion and Education (P&E) and Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) committees. More than 650 were able to interact with farmers and ranchers, plant their own seeds, ask questions about how food is grown, discover how natural resources are protected, and much more at the agriculture day celebration.
“It’s not every day that a tractor or a cow find their way to downtown Lincoln,” said Andra Smith, NEFB P&E Committee Chair and Blaine County Farm Bureau member. “Providing an opportunity for our urban communities to interact with agriculture creates a lasting impact. We are excited to continue to build a community that understands agriculture through opportunities like this.”
The Lincoln Children’s Museum provided an interactive space for families to learn and explore. Here We Grow is the newly developed exhibit dedicated to helping visitors of all ages learn about agriculture. The exhibit includes a water table with a center pivot and water cycle simulation, “Careers in Agriculture” costume section, life-size steer and pig, and a hands-on egg sorting game.
“This event was a wonderful opportunity for families to learn more about Nebraska agriculture and the people that live it every day,” Courtney Shreve, senior director of outreach education with the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation said, “As cities continue to grow, people move further away from where their food comes from. Thanks to the Lincoln Children’s Museum newly developed exhibit, children can play and parents can learn more about Nebraska’s number one industry: agriculture.”
Getting the most value from your manure resource
Nebraska Extension provided a successful series of workshops aimed at turning manure nutrients into enhanced crop yields while safeguarding the environment. The Nebraska Extension Animal Manure Management Team spearheaded the workshops with the aim of assisting livestock and crop producers in leveraging manure resources for both agronomic and environmental advantages.
Led by Leslie Johnson, the UNL animal manure management coordinator, the workshops were designed to provide learning opportunities on best practices for utilizing manure effectively on cropland. The sessions took place across the state in February and March.
Participants who attended the day-long workshops received NDEE Land Application Training Certification, essential for both initial certification and recertification requirements for permitted livestock operations as outlined by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s title 130. The workshops covered a range of topics, including updates on regulations, discussions on optimal manure utilization, and field prioritization exercises to maximize manure nutrients and associated benefits. Those attending had the opportunity to engage in practical activities, such as ranking fields based on various criteria like transportation cost, soil health, and water quality.
Due to interest, one more workshop has been added on Tuesday, March 26 in Norfolk
- register at https://water.unl.edu/lat.
For those interested in further information on managing manure nutrients or upcoming events, visit manure.unl.edu or reach out to Leslie Johnson at 402-584-3818 or leslie.johnson@unl.edu.
NE Extension Cover Crop Field Day
Come and learn about selecting fall-planted cover crops for different management goals! We will tour plots with rye, triticale, wheat, barley, oats, hairy vetch, brassica varieties, and several mixes.
The field tour will also include 1) cereal rye cover crop demonstration to determine fertilizer N equivalence values at the 39 years long-term tillage and crop rotation plots, and 2) integrated nutrient management efforts to improve water quality in the manure vs. commercial nitrogen fertilizer management plots.
This free program will be held April 30, from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Haskell Ag Lab at 57905 866 Road Concord NE 68728. Refreshments will be provided.
Nebraska Ethanol Board’s Statement on New EPA Tailpipe Emissions Standards
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rule implementing new multi-pollutant emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles of model years 2027 through 2032. The rule creates a regulatory framework that the EPA projects will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). According to the provisions of the rule, approximately two-thirds of annual sales of new light-duty vehicles will need to be EVs by the year 2032.
“Under the language of this rule, EVs are considered zero emissions. This methodology is inherently flawed, especially when considering electricity used to power an EV may come from a multitude of sources from coal-fired power plants to wind farms. Lifecycle emissions associated with the production of a given fuel, whether it is a liquid fuel or electrons, must be assessed appropriately,” critiqued Reid Wagner, executive director of the Nebraska Ethanol Board.
A 2023 study supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and conducted by researchers at the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, examined the lifetimes of U.S. light-duty vehicles. The research found that by 2020 median expected lifetimes already ranged from 17 years for passenger cars and 20 years for SUVs and vans to about 25 years for pickup trucks.
Estimates compiled by the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicate that the number of light-duty vehicles registered in the U.S. has increased year-over-year since 2016, surpassing 283 million in 2022. The number of EV registrations was estimated to have surpassed 2.4 million in 2022, representing less than 1% of all light-duty vehicle registrations, while gasoline-powered light-duty vehicle registrations surpassed 241 million.
“The increasing lifetime of the hundreds of millions of vehicles already on U.S. roads today make a crystal-clear case that we must take a technology-neutral approach to lowering emissions,” Wagner continued. “According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ethanol is already 43% lower in lifecycle emissions than conventional gasoline, and technological advancements occurring at ethanol facilities are continually improving this percentage. The use of higher blends of low-carbon ethanol in gasoline such as E15 and E30 will be able to rapidly, and significantly, reduce carbon emissions in both the legacy fleet and engines of the future.”
Congressman Flood: Final Auto Rule Threatens the Future of Biofuels, Rural Communities
Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood issued a statement following the announcement that the Biden Administration has finalized their auto emissions rule to push more Americans to purchase electric vehicles (EVs).
“Time and again, the Biden Administration has used the power of the federal government to realize the dreams of environmental activists. This new rule, which uses the power of government to try and push consumers towards electric vehicles, is a threat to America’s energy independence in two ways. First, EVs are highly dependent on rare earth metals – the vast majority of which are produced by China. Second, Nebraska is the second largest producer of ethanol in the nation. Using government coercion to phase out internal combustion engines in American cars would effectively kill the biofuels industry, which has helped grow our ag economy. If ethanol goes away, billions of dollars in annual economic for Nebraska will vanish along with thousands of jobs in our rural communities. We can’t let this happen – I will work with my colleagues in the House to overturn this rule and protect our way of life from President Biden’s government overreach.”
Smith Statement on EPA's Tailpipe Emissions Rule
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of its final tailpipe emissions standards rule for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 and later.
“Let’s face it: the EPA’s finalized tailpipe rule is a radical EV mandate which will quash access to affordable vehicles while increasing our reliance on a supply chain from China. This out-of-touch regulation is unworkable for the Third District, across rural Nebraska, and beyond because of our winter weather and expansive driving distances. And the fact its timeline was delayed reveals the problem with forced adoption of electric vehicles and lack of consumer confidence. It’s unacceptable for the Biden administration to put a radical special interest above the needs of American families who continue to be harmed by his policies.”
Fischer Statement on Final EPA Rule on Tailpipe Emissions
Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its finalized rule for light-duty and medium-duty vehicle emission standards.
“The Biden administration’s revised standard responds to a slowdown in sales as Americans realize not just the cost and unreliability of electric vehicles, but also the dirty truth behind this supposedly ‘clean’ technology. Continuing to force EVs on automakers and the public will only exacerbate their serious environmental, safety, and human rights concerns. Instead of delaying these standards, President Biden should abandon this attempt to appease climate activists and allow the market to take its course. More practical, market-driven changes—like allowing the year-round sale of E15 ethanol—would help achieve environmental goals for America’s vehicle fleet,” said Senator Fischer.
Nebraska Corn Growers Association Statement on The EPA’s New Tailpipe Standard
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) has voiced direct displeasure with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final 2027-2032 emissions standards for sedans and light- and medium-duty trucks. The plan relies almost exclusively on the use of electric vehicles, requiring automakers to produce 67% of the vehicles by 2032. A decision of this magnitude will have long-lasting negative implications for corn demand because it ignores the benefits of ethanol.
Nebraska has been at the forefront of the issue, voicing farmers' concerns. Economists Jeffrey Stokes and Jim Jansen, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, noted this magnitude of structural loss in corn demand could lead to a permanent 50% decrease in the price of corn causing the top five corn-producing states (Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Indiana) to collectively lose well over $100 billion in farmland value from corn acreage alone. The authors noted that such a decline would have profound implications for the financial viability of Midwestern farming operations and the nation’s food supply.
“NeCGA is not satisfied with the EPA and the chosen decision to deliberately ignore the academic research and facts, “said Chris Grams, president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. “This choice begins a spiral of detrimental implications. From corn farmers to rural communities, the goals set forth to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from light and medium-duty vehicles without looking at biofuels does not have any successful outcome.”
Corn Growers: EPA’s New Tailpipe Standard Will Hurt Family Farms
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) expressed grave concern and disappointment today with the Environmental Protection Agency’s final 2027-2032 emissions standards for sedans and light- and medium-duty trucks.
The plan still relies almost exclusively on the use of electric vehicles, requiring that a majority of the specified fleets are electric in less than a decade. A decision of this magnitude will have long-lasting negative implications for the rural economy because it ignores the benefits of ethanol.
“We are deeply concerned and disappointed that EPA has chosen to force a one-size-fits-all solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ignore the readily available solution that biofuels like ethanol bring to the table,” said NCGA President Harold Wolle. “This decision will not only severely hamper the administration’s ability to reach its own climate goals, but it will also hurt family farms and rural communities that rely heavily on the sale of biofuels. On top of that, it will remove consumer choice from the market.”
Given that for the past 15 years more than one-third of the corn produced each year has been used in ethanol, Wolle’s concerns are shared by many experts.
Economists Jeffrey Stokes and Jim Jansen, writing for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, recently noted this magnitude of structural loss in corn demand could lead to a permanent 50% decrease in the price of corn causing the top five corn-producing states (Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Indiana) to collectively lose well over $100 billion in farmland value from corn acreage alone. The authors noted that such a decline would have profound implications for the financial viability of Midwestern farming operations and the nation’s food supply.
Corn growers have been on the forefront of the campaign to lower emissions. For example, NCGA has urged Congress to pass the Next Generation Fuels Act, which would set a new, cleaner standard for fuel that capitalizes on American-grown biofuels. The organization has also pushed for consumer access to higher blends of ethanol at the pump.
Currently, around one percent of the cars on the road are electric vehicles. Increasing that number significantly will require major infrastructure developments and improvements in a short amount of time, something concerning to a majority of consumers, as shown in a recent survey, sponsored by NCGA and conducted by Morning Consult.
Results from a recent survey showed that Americans have concerns on a range of issues involving electric vehicles, including the accessibility of charging stations, and 72 percent say vehicles that are compatible with biofuels should remain available to consumers.
Farmers have pointed to California to illustrate the difficulties that come with an overreliance on electric vehicles. The state, one of the most prominent in the push for electrification, has spent years at the forefront of the transition to EVs, spending enormous political capital and billions of dollars to encourage its citizens to embrace electric vehicles. Yet, by the end of 2022, only 2.6% of the state’s light-duty vehicles were electrified.
NFU Statement on EPA Tailpipe Emissions Standards
Following the 2027-2032 tailpipe emissions standards released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew issued a statement addressing the need for immediate reductions to greenhouse gases and the role that ethanol can play in those reductions:
“We share EPA’s mission to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but today’s finalized tailpipe emissions rules are a missed opportunity for the immediate benefits that ethanol can provide. NFU will continue to advocate for higher level blends like E30 and we look forward to continued conversations with EPA on how family farmers can step in to provide cleaner burning liquid fuels for our existing consumer vehicle fleet.”
Information from NE Dept. Of Ag Regarding dairy health concerns in Texas
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) will be working to provide you a daily update about the Texas dairy situation – with the most current information we have available to us so you can stay informed and be proactive in maintaining your herd health.
3-20-24 Situation Update
Nebraska has no reported cases.
Texas has not provided the number of herds or numbers of animals impacted at this time.
New Mexico has 2 herds that match the description of the Texas dairy cattle.
Kansas is investigating a possible case in the southwest region of the state.
States surrounding Nebraska have not put restrictions on animal movements from Texas as of 9 a.m.
Idaho is the only state that has shut down imports (of all cattle) from Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas.
Multiple industry partners are currently assisting in diagnosis and epidemiology.
Information indicates that so far, only affects multiparous, lactating adult dairy cattle are impacted. No mortalities are being reported, and it appears to be no lateral spread to feedlots/calf ranches surrounding the affected herds in Texas.
NDA is currently recommending that you adhere to strict biosecurity practices and quarantine new animals into the herd for 30 days if possible.
If you notice and of the following health issues in your herd, please contact your veterinarian or the Nebraska Department of Agriculture immediately at 402-471-2351. NDA is continuing to monitor the situation closely and working to assess rumor versus fact.
Decreased herd level milk production.
Acute sudden drop in production with some severely impacted cows experiencing thicker, concentrated, colostrum like milk.
Decrease in feed consumption with a simultaneous drop in rumen motility.
Abnormal tacky or loose feces.
Experienced NE farmer talks cattle, cover crops and regenerative agriculture
newsservice.org
The Nebraska Department of Energy and Environment recently submitted its Priority Climate Action Plan to the Environmental Protection Agency. Proposals include increasing the use of "regenerative agriculture" practices such as cover crops, no-till farming and decreased use of fertilizer to increase soil's ability to sequester carbon. A longtime Nebraska farmer who was certified organic shares how cattle and cover crops can help. Dennis Demmel is a semi-retired farmer from Perkins County and president of the Center for Rural Affairs board of directors.
One of the goals included in Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy’s Priority Climate Action Plan recently submitted to the E-P-A is to increase the use of regenerative agricultural practices in the state. The plan identifies “cover crops, no-till, and reduced reliance on chemical fertilizer” as important practices to improve soil health, which increases its ability to sequester carbon. Dennis Demmel is now semi-retired after farming 18-hundred acres in Perkins County. He was a certified organic farmer from 2007 to 2016, and says cover cropping and no-till farming have greatly improved the state’s soil health. He says the changes “really accelerated” when people began to bring in livestock. "I think of them as walking composters almost. They convert residue into manure, which also includes microbes coming from the rumen in the cattle and going into the soil to activate additional microbiology activity in the soil."
Letting cattle graze for just the right amount of time has also been shown to increase the ability of water to penetrate the soil. Demmel says improvements in technology such as cross-fencing make it easier to rotate cattle more often and prevent overgrazing. He doesn’t raise cattle himself but has an arrangement with a nearby buyer, whose cattle graze on his perennial grasses and legumes.
Demmel says it can be a mutually beneficial arrangement. "When it gets hot and dry in August, we may be out of grass. And if there was a neighbor that was growing cover crops for a year, you could go move cattle over to that. It brings about cooperation between neighbors – bringing cattle back into the operation from one farm that has cattle and the other one doesn’t. "
In addition to contributing to greenhouse gases, fertilizer runoff has led to high nitrate levels in ground, surface and well water in parts of Nebraska, which have been linked to pediatric cancers. Demmel says farmers reluctant to reduce their fertilizer application because it will reduce their yield might be surprised at how organic and regenerative practices actually impact their "bottom line." "For example, in organic farming, we would have yields that were maybe substantially lower than conventional methods. But when we looked at the bottom line, well, we were getting a better price for our crop."
Demmel explains that with organic farming, the microbes fix the nitrogen, so there’s less need for fertilizer, thereby reducing costs. And since cover crops help the soil retain water, irrigation costs may be reduced as well.
February Milk Production in the United States up 2.2 Percent
Milk production in the United States during February totaled 18.1 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent from February 2023. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,941 pounds for February, 60 pounds above February 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.33 million head, 89,000 head less than February 2023, but 10,000 head more than January 2024.
IOWA: Milk production in Iowa during February 2024 totaled 478 million pounds, up 4 percent from the previous February according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. However, adjusting production for the additional day due to the leap year causes February milk production to be up less than 1 percent on a per day basis. The average number of milk cows during February, at 240,000 head, was unchanged from last month and unchanged from February 2023. Monthly production per cow averaged 1,990 pounds, up 75 pounds from last February.
Naig Awards 26 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 26 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants to Iowa farmers, small businesses and non-profits in 22 counties totaling $463,000. Those grants will help leverage a total investment by grant awardees of $1,993,190.47. The Choose Iowa announcement was made as part of Iowa Ag Week during an event at Cortum Farm and Co. outside of Indianola, one of the 2024 grant awardees.
Choose Iowa is the state’s signature brand for Iowa grown, Iowa raised and Iowa made products. These cost-share grants, which match up to $25,000 per project, were created to assist Iowa farmers, businesses and non-profits increase or diversify their agricultural product offerings, expand markets and shorten supply chains.
This year’s grants will support a wide variety of projects including delivery and cold storage for direct-to-consumer meat sales, fruit production and processing, vegetable processing, packaging equipment, cider and wine canning and bottling, farm store and food hub construction, honey production, culinary herb, lavender and cut flower production, warehouse capacity, cover crop seed distribution, and agritourism opportunities, and much more.
“Consumers are continually looking for more Iowa food, beverages, and ag products to enjoy and these Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants will help Iowa farmers, small businesses, and non-profits build that supply,” said Secretary Naig. “We are so pleased to provide these Choose Iowa cost-share investments because they will enhance the availability of Iowa products while creating positive economic activity in communities, big and small, across our state.”
Grant funding, for example, could be used to add new processing, packaging or sales techniques that add value to crops, livestock, and other products. For example, a farmer may invest in an on-farm store or cold storage to sell meat, eggs or produce direct to consumers, or a produce grower may upgrade their commercial kitchen to process larger quantities of seasonal produce. Grant funding could also be used for employee training and continuing education. Meat processing and dairy processing projects were not eligible for Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants as separate dedicated grant funding programs are available for both.
Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants awarded Wednesday include the following 26 projects, listed in alphabetical order:
Acorn Bluff Farms, Inc | Columbus Junction | $15,432.00
Expand cold storage capacity for direct-to-consumer pork sales. Total project budget: $30,865.00
Blueberry Bottom Farm | Brighton | $13,072.00
Enhance blueberry production via the transition to moisture retaining to fabric mulch and add day-neutral strawberry production. Total project budget: $29,399.00
Breda Ag Solutions | Carroll | $25,000.00
Increase seed and grain packaging capacity with new palletizing and specialty bagging equipment to reach new export markets. Total project budget: $954,350.84
Calyx Creek | Oxford | $19,586.00
Improve lavender and specialty herb processing with specialized debudding and distillation equipment to enable value-added culinary-grade lavender and essential oil production. Total project budget: $39,173.00
Champion Steaks LLC | Creston | $25,000.00
Add on-site cold storage and refrigerated transportation for value-added cattle feed to produce premium-grade beef. Total project budget: $99,250.00
Cortum Farm and Co. | Indianola | $25,000.00
Renovate historic barn for on-site farm store, farm market, farm-to-table dinners and diversified event space. Total project budget: $51,340.00
Deal's Orchard | Jefferson | $25,000.00
Transition cider packaging with new a canning line to increase processing capacity and reach new markets. Total project budget: $52,805.00
Ebersole Cattle Co. | Kellerton | $25,000.00
Develop a new food hub in Southwest Iowa and offer home deliveries of beef, pork and poultry. Total project budget: $60,000.00
Engelbrecht Farm | Waverly | $25,000.00
Add processing and storage space, including dedicated cold storage, to increase cut flower production. Total project budget: $50,568.17
Golden Outdoors LLC | Adel | $25,000.00
Customize an existing building for aquaculture and add infrastructure to raise Pacific white shrimp. Total project budget: $70,000.00
Honey Hollow Apiary and Gardens LLC | Indianola | $8,473.00
Improve honey harvest with commercial extraction equipment to efficiently scale up production. Total project budget: $16,946.25
HoQ Restaurant | Des Moines | $25,000.00
Add cold storage and workspace to increase retail product production and distribution. Total project budget: $58,732.59
Long Walk Farm | Council Bluffs | $25,000.00
Construct an on-farm store to increase sales of Iowa ag products and build market access for multiple Iowa farms. Total project budget: $68,948.22
Luna Valley Farm Kitchen LLC | Decorah | $25,000.00
Expand warehouse and storage capacity and add an on-farm store to offer additional locally grown products. Total project budget: $81,467.00
Marcellus Orchards LLC | Batavia | $4,000.00
Procure specialty equipment for use in a new Southeast Iowa freeze-dried fruit processing plant to add value to locally grown fruit. Total project budget: $8,381.00
Oak and Olive Flowers | Decorah | $2,328.00
Expand specialty cut flower production with new outdoor workspace and specialized equipment. Total project budget: $4,656.00
Olathea Creek Winery | Bettendorf | $25,000.00
Increase production capacity and product availability by adding specialized bottling and processing equipment. Total project budget: $54,705.00
One Farm LLC | Logan | $3,590.00
Expand frozen and refrigerated retail display space to offer additional local ag products. Total project budget: $7,180.00
Purple Ribbon Beef LLC | Britt | $24,324.00
Convert a warehouse to a commercial kitchen and a new on-farm store to increase and diversify product availability. Total project budget: $48,647.00
Rhubarb Botanicals | Springville | $6,973.00
Scale up medicinal and culinary herb and flower production by acquiring automated walk-behind harvesting equipment to meet growing wholesale demand. Total project budget: $13,946.00
Sennert Farms | Linn Grove | $25,000.00
Construct a cover crop seed cleaning and fulfillment facility to expand into wholesale cleaned seed production. Total project budget: $52,875.00
Sweet Season Farm | Calmar | $15,805.00
Convert an existing machine shed into an on-farm vegetable processing facility with specialized processing equipment and cold storage. Total project budget: $31,611.40
Tailwind Acres LLC | Cresco | $2,418.00
Expand on-farm infrastructure for cold storage and retail sales of florals and mushrooms in addition to products from other farms. Total project budget: $4,836.00
Treasure Acres | Blairsburg | $3,762.00
Construct an indoor bee overwintering facility to improve colony management and survival success rates. Total project budget: $7,524.00
Vintage Beef by Gress Family Farms | Charter Oak | $20,000.00
Convert a historic railroad depot into a community farm store with cold storage, packaging and retail space. Total project budget: $49,130.00
Wills Family Orchard | Adel | $22,927.00
Convert a portion of an existing warehouse into cold storage to extend the seasonal availability of apples. Total project budget: $45,854.00.
Individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that are currently living or operating in Iowa were eligible to apply and preference was given to small to medium-sized entities. This year, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received 63 eligible grant requests totaling $1,130,139.00. The grant program remains highly competitive, given that requests far exceed the available funding of $463,000.
Since the launch of the grants in 2022, $1,173,690.00 in Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants have been awarded to 67 projects which has leveraged a total investment of $4,268,099.19.
Naig Presents Ag Leader Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Iowa Agriculture
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week recognized two organizations and one Iowa business that have made exceptional contributions to the state’s agriculture community. Ag Leader Awards were presented to the Iowa Barn Foundation for Leadership in Community, Ducks Unlimited for Leadership in Conservation and Plantpeddler for Leadership in Agriculture Education. The honorees received their awards during the 12th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner held on March 19 in Ankeny. The event was held on National Ag Day and was part of the state’s weeklong Iowa Ag Week celebration.
“Hundreds of Iowans from across the state gather every year for the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner to recognize outstanding organizations and inspiring individuals who are making a tremendous impact,” said Secretary Naig. “This year’s awardees - the Iowa Barn Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and Plantpeddler - have all made significant and positive impacts on our state. They are deserving of recognition for their leadership in conservation, agriculture education and community betterment.”
Leadership in Community – Iowa Barn Foundation
Founded in 1997, the Iowa Barn Foundation is dedicated to preserving Iowa’s rural agricultural buildings. The all-volunteer statewide organization has a primary mission to educate the public about the architectural significance and importance of Iowa’s barns. The group also raises money to provide barn rehabilitation or restoration matching grants to help property owners restore and preserve their historic barns.
Leadership in Conservation – Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited constructs, conserves, restores and manages wetlands and other habitats for waterfowl in North America. Ducks Unlimited works closely with numerous individuals, landowners, partners and agencies, including the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, to complete wetland projects on private lands. Because of Ducks Unlimited’s sustained efforts to steward Iowa’s rich natural resources, we are enhancing and protecting wildlife habitat while also improving water quality. This enduring work will benefit not just the Iowans of today, but generations of Iowans yet to come.
Leadership in Agriculture Education – Plantpeddler
Plantpeddler is a wholesale greenhouse business located in Cresco that grows and distributes plants and horticulture products throughout the United States. In August of 2023, Plantpeddler held its first “Educate the Educator” horticulture workshop, which brought dozens of ag educators to Northeast Iowa. This one-of-a-kind event provided teachers with new ideas, resources and information, and inspired them to teach about horticulture. Plantpeddler’s passion and out-of-the-box thinking created a unique experience for ag educators, therefore preparing and challenging them to educate and encourage their students – the ag leaders of tomorrow.
The annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner is hosted by Secretary Naig, organized by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and funded by the Iowa Economic Development Foundation.
Conservation Reserve Program - Transition Incentives Program-Iowa
Center for Rural Affairs
Passing land on to the next generation of farmers and ranchers can be critical to the success of an operation. As the average age of landowners and operators continues to rise, transition planning becomes increasingly important. One mechanism to assist with this transfer is the Conservation Reserve Program-Transition Incentives Program (CRP-TIP).
What is CRP-TIP?
Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA), CRP-TIP assists landowners with expiring CRP contracts by incentivizing land transfer to an underserved or beginning farmer who will return the land to sustainable agricultural production. Land is enrolled in CRP with conservation benefits such as wildlife habitat, soil health, and water quality—in mind. CRP-TIP emphasizes the continuation of conservation through sustainable grazing practices and farming methods by the new operator. In the last two years of a CRP contract, the landowner will establish an approved conservation plan. The new operator will commit to conservation and land improvements according to the plan.
The landowner must agree to sell, have a contract to sell, or agree to long-term lease (at least five years) the land enrolled in an expiring CRP contract to the new operator. The incentive for participating in CRP-TIP is two additional years of CRP rental payments after the contract expires.
Weekly Ethanol Production for 3/15/2024
According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending March 15, ethanol production stepped up 2.1% to 1.05 million b/d, equivalent to 43.93 million gallons daily. Output was 4.9% more than the same week last year and 5.8% above the five-year average for the week. Still, the four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.8% to 1.05 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.11 billion gallons (bg).
Ethanol stocks grew 0.9% to 26.0 million barrels. Stocks were 0.7% less than the same week last year but 6.0% above the five-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the West Coast (PADD 5). East Coast (PADD 1) stocks were the largest since May 1, 2020.
The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, slid 2.6% to 8.81 million b/d (135.04 bg annualized). Demand was 1.7% less than a year ago and 0.3% below the five-year average.
Conversely, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol climbed 0.6% to 885,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.57 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.5% more than a year ago and 1.1% above the five-year average.
Ethanol exports were estimated at 134,000 b/d (5.6 million gallons/day), or 8.1% above the prior week. There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the 26th consecutive week.
Urea Leads Prices for All Eight Fertilizers Higher
For the first time in several months, average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers were higher than they were a month ago in the second week of March 2024, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.
Just one fertilizer saw a significant price move, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. Urea was 7% more expensive than last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $566 per ton.
The remaining seven fertilizers were all slightly higher in price. DAP had an average price of $771 per ton, MAP $817/ton, potash $505/ton, 10-34-0 $622/ton, anhydrous $789/ton, UAN28 $355/ton and UAN32 $397/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.48/lb.N, UAN28 $0.63/lb.N and UAN32 $0.62/lb.N.
All fertilizers except two are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago. MAP is 1% lower, DAP is 7% less expensive, urea is 11% lower, 10-34-0 16% less expensive, UAN28 is 17% lower, potash is 23% less expensive, UAN32 are 24% lower and anhydrous is 26% less expensive compared to a year prior.
Dairy Market Report: Key Dairy Statistics Reveal Continued Production Decline
Sluggish U.S. milk production is showing up in other key dairy industry statistics, including scant milk solids production growth, flat to declining production of major dairy products and a general drawdown of product inventories.
The modest level of stock drawdowns and stagnant milk and dairy product prices indicates that the market is currently broadly balanced, with lower milk production, flat milk solids production and growth in overall domestic use, offset by continued weakness in exports, resulting in flat growth in total use.
Stronger total demand and/or further reductions in milk production will be needed to bring higher milk prices faster.
View Full Report - https://www.nmpf.org/key-dairy-statistics-reveal-continued-production-decline/
U.S. Grains Council Releases 2023/2024 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report
The average aggregate quality of U.S. corn samples tested for the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 2023/2024 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report released this week was better than or equal to U.S. No. 2 on all grade factors and represented an improvement on the five-year average (5YA) of previous crops on several fronts.
“The Council is committed to furthering global food security and mutual economic benefit through trade,” said Brent Boydston, USGC Chairman. “In doing so, it offers this report to assist buyers in making well-informed decisions by providing reliable and timely information about the quality of U.S. corn destined for export.”
The report is based on 433 yellow commodity corn samples collected from export shipments as they underwent inspection and grading processes performed by the federal grain inspection service or other licensed inspectors.
The 2023 U.S. growing season endured low rainfall during the pollination period followed by extended periods of heat and drought, but a rapid maturation period ensured a timely harvest and contributed to the 2023 corn crop’s high overall quality.
Average test weight, which came in at 58.1 pounds per bushel, was higher than in 2022/2023 and the 5YA. Chemical analysis indicated an 8.9 percent protein concentration, up from 8.7 percent last year and above the 5YA. All samples tested below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration action level for aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol.
The export cargo quality report is a companion to the 2023/2024 Corn Harvest Quality Report, published last fall. The new report provides information about the quality of the most recent U.S. corn crop at harvest as it enters the international merchandising channels.
Both reports provide reliable information on U.S. corn quality from the farm to the customer based on transparent and consistent methodology, offering an early view of grading factors established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, moisture content and other characteristics not reported elsewhere. The reports identify any noticeable changes occurring between these two time periods caused by shipping and logistics.
The Council will roll out the new results in a series of crop quality seminars in the coming months, including events in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and South Korea. These outreach activities help establish clear expectations with buyers and end-users regarding the quality of corn this marketing year.
You can read and download the 2023/2024 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report and the 2023/2024 Corn Harvest Quality Report here https://grains.org/corn_report/corn-export-cargo-quality-report-2023-2024/.
Soy Growers, Still Bruised by 2018 Trade War, Talk China Before House Ag
For U.S. soybean farmers, the trade war with China that began more than five years ago does not seem so distant—especially with tit-for-tat tariffs levied during that time technically still in place. Josh Gackle, who grows soybeans in North Dakota, was invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture during a March 20 hearing entitled “The Danger China Poses to American Agriculture.” Gackle is the current American Soybean Association (ASA) president and was a board member during that time; he represented fellow industry members in sharing the stakes for soy if trade relations with China are not delicately maintained.
Gackle cited two distinct considerations the House Agriculture Committee and Congress must weigh as they discuss the complex relationship the nation has with China, saying, “There is a geopolitical relationship that affects national security and includes issues such as data privacy, human rights, and intellectual property; and there is the economic, commercial trading relationship. Our strong appeal is that careful consideration be given to maintain, rather than alienate, the economic relationship when discussions move forward in addressing geopolitical and other significant issues.”
Soybeans are the country’s #1 agriculture export: In marketing year 2022/2023, the U.S. soybean export value totaled approximately $32.6 billion. China accounted for more than $18.8 billion, with the next destination trailing at around $3.3 billion. China’s demand for soybeans accounts for more than 60% of global soy imports, with one in three rows of soybeans grown in the U.S. destined for China.
In the summer of 2018, soybeans were the prime casualty when the U.S. imposed tariffs on Chinese imports. China quickly responded with retaliatory tariffs including on U.S. soybeans, a move that essentially halted soy exports to the country overnight. Gackle explained the industry experienced not only an instant loss in market share in its largest export market but also an immediate price drop of two dollars per bushel. USDA’s Economic Research Service issued a report showing a 76% reduction in the value of U.S. exports to China from 2017 to 2018 and estimating the trade war cost U.S. agriculture over $27 billion: Soybeans accounted for 71% of those annualized losses.
ASA and its farmer leaders had worked 40 years to develop the China market from the ground up; tariffs that reached up to 27.5% during the height of the trade war immediately strained those relationships, altered global soy trade by opening the door for competitor countries—namely Brazil—to claim market share, and placed a reliance on short-term aid. Shipments have since resumed through a tariff exclusion mechanism included in the China Phase One Agreement signed Jan. 2020, but the waiver process that reset tariffs back to pre-trade war levels could be suspended by China any time.
“This environment (ambiguity of waiver procedure), anti-China rhetoric from Congress, the continued threat of tariffs from both the U.S. and China, and the lack of a roadmap for long-term resolution of these challenges combine to increase uncertainty for U.S. farmers and exporters. There is substantial risk that more unanticipated tariff action will undermine investments, export prices, and farm income,” Gackle testified. He explained that U.S. soy’s reputation as a reliable source of soy and soy products (meal, oil) in global markets also was shaken by the trade war.
The North Dakota soy farmer said in his testimony there is one point he cannot emphasize enough: “Even as the United States considers actions to protect our national security interests, we must also maintain and protect our economic and trade interests as well. Soybean growers need predictability and certainty that we will retain market access in China.”
ASA made specific policy recommendations that Gackle shared with the committee, including the following:
1. Rejecting legislative attempts to repeal or modify China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.
2. Passing a comprehensive farm bill in 2024 that meets the needs of U.S. agriculture.
3. Exercising congressional oversight authority to press the administration to reengage in negotiations for bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTA).
Testimony from the soy representative concluded with Gackle stating, “The scars of the 2018 trade war are still fresh—and ongoing—for our farmers. Market access is one of the most important issues for U.S. soy, and we need certainty that access to our largest trading partner will remain, despite ongoing geopolitical issues.”
Scientists Collaborate to Study the Cause and Development of Liver Abscesses in Cattle
To effectively prevent liver abscesses in cattle, it is crucial to gain a complete understanding of the development of this condition and the bacteria responsible for causing the infection.
A collaborative effort between scientists from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Texas Tech University, Kansas State University, and West Texas A&M University work on reliable and repeatable liver abscess models to learn the triggers for this costly condition in cattle that not only negatively impacts animal well-being but also causes liver condemnations and may lead to increased carcass trimming and an overall decrease in profitability.
The first successful model study, recently published in the Journal of Animal Science, is part of a series of studies conducted at the USDA-ARS Livestock Issues Research Unit in Lubbock, Texas, that aim to find solutions to a problem of concern for animal well-being that is costing the industry millions of dollars.
Cattle with liver abscesses can experience health problems and reduced growth and feed efficiency. However, cattle with liver abscesses don’t show clinical signs and are generally identified too late –at harvest. The economic losses associated with this condition in cattle can be as high as 400 million dollars annually. The knowledge gained from these models will help develop preventive interventions.
"After decades of studies, researchers haven't found an accurate way to predict nor diagnose liver abscesses, because of the complexity of the disease," said Rand Broadway, a research scientist with the Livestock Issues Research Unit. "Our study is a huge collaborative effort between USDA and academic partners to develop a liver abscess model in cattle that can help us better understand how liver abscess formation begins. We are constantly learning about the causes and development of these abscesses."
This model consistently showed a 50 percent prevalence, which is important for researchers to study liver abscess development and prevention strategies, particularly in calves entering the beef supply chain from dairy origin. In addition, the model continues to be improved in an effort to mimic “real-world” disease etiology while examining the physiological changes in the animal to better understand root causes of the disease.
Currently, the primary treatment to prevent liver abscesses in cattle has been in-feed antibiotics. However, antibiotics have come under more scrutiny by the general public, and alternatives to antibiotics are being sought.
"We are trying to ensure this model is effective and applicable to test non-antibiotic interventions in the future," added Broadway. "We seek to use the knowledge gained from these models to develop different alternative interventions, such as nutrition management strategies."
In the study, scientists work with dairy and ‘beef-dairy’ cross steers, the population of cattle that most commonly suffer from this infection. They tested two diets (a high grain-based and forage-based) and three bacteria commonly found in liver abscesses [Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. necrophorum, Trueperella pyogenes, and Salmonella enterica serovar Lubbock]. The results from the high-grain diet model were found to be more reliable, leading scientists to focus more on this model.
Most people associate liver abscesses in cattle with a high-energy diet. The theory is that when cattle are fed elevated grain levels, highly fermentable starch in the rumen is rapidly fermented by bacteria, causing a drop in rumen pH. This acidity causes damage to the rumen lining, allowing bacteria to travel into the blood, reaching the liver and other organs where they can cause infection. However, it is still unknown with accuracy the exact route that these bacteria take to cause infection or injury to the liver.
Scientists discovered that the bacteria associated with liver abscesses in cattle may not always originate from the rumen. An alternative route may be bacterial travel from the lower gastrointestinal tract. The research showed that in some cases, when these bacteria were not detected in the acidic rumen environment caused by a high-grain diet, no liver abscesses were detected. However, when scientists introduced bacteria directly to the rumen, they observed the formation of liver abscesses and were able to isolate the bacteria from the infected sites.
The study confirms that an acidotic diet, combined with bacterial inoculation in the rumen, can be used as a model to induce liver abscesses. However, further research is being conducted at USDA to determine the consistency of the model before it can be used to evaluate new interventions to prevent this complex infection.
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