Thursday March 28 Ag News

 Northeast education compact to boost student learning, workforce development

A northeast Nebraska educational partnership that includes the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is honing strategies to boost students’ learning opportunities. The initiative is also strengthening ties with private-sector companies to enhance workforce development in agricultural and natural resources fields.

Representatives of member institutions met March 19 for the compact’s annual planning summit, held this year at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. Twenty-one school districts in northeast Nebraska participate in the compact along with a set of higher education institutions and three Educational Service Units.

A key focus of the March 19 session was strengthening communication with industry to introduce students early to career possibilities and make the best use of apprenticeships and other opportunities. Interaction with private-sector companies can help educational institutions make sure their instructional offerings meet private-sector needs, attendees said.

The compact is well positioned to be a “connector” between schools and employers to meet the wide range of students’ needs, said Tara Smydra, dean of science, technology, agriculture and mathematics at Northeast Community College.

“Students can go in lots of directions” in terms of their career interests and instructional needs, “so it’s important to make sure we have clear pathways that give them all the opportunities they need,” Smydra said. “The compact has multiple high school connections and the ESUs, so this is a perfect group to work together to do that.”

Conversations with private-sector companies can help the compact’s two- and four-year educational institutions make instructional adjustments and hone accreditation processes to meet industry needs and promote a long-term talent pipeline, said Ron Loggins, dean of Wayne State College’s School of Science, Health and Criminal Justice.

This regional initiative, the Northeast Nebraska Agricultural Science and Natural Resources Education Compact, began in 2019 and expanded in membership in 2022. It is a first-of-its-kind regional educational partnership for the state.

The group’s March 19 conference was led by Tammy Mittelstet, statewide education and career pathways coordinator for the university’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The meeting included breakout sessions on four topics: teacher and student experiences pathways; compact procedures; workforce development; and expanding the experiential learning opportunities at the university’s Haskell Ag Lab in Concord.

Haskell, a 550-acre site 15 miles north of Wayne, includes extensive cropland, farming and ranching facilities, an arboretum, pollinator gardens and beehives. The compact hosts an annual teacher conference there to coordinate on Haskell-based learning opportunities for students.

Conferees agreed that the compact’s member organizations are doing a good job offering a large set of worthwhile events for students such as career days and field trips. CASNR provides a newsletter that helps compact members understand available resources among the partner organizations, along with events.

Conferees discussed possibilities for communications planforms, such as a listserv, that could strengthen the interaction among the compact’s teachers.

“Our goal, as far as teacher and student experiences, is that we need to determine a way to make connections with the teachers and let them know about opportunities that can support them, such as curriculum, school activities and field trips,” said Monty Larsen, a lecturer with the university’s Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication Department who provides outreach support for agricultural and skilled technical science educators.

The compact’s original membership from 2019 consisted of CASNR, Little Priest Tribal College, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Nebraska Indian Community College, Northeast Community College, Wayne Community Schools and Wayne State College.

In 2022, the compact’s membership expanded to include Educational Service Units 1, 7 and 8 along with these school districts: Ainsworth, Allen, Battle Creek, Boone Central, Crofton, Elkhorn Valley, Emerson-Hubbard, Homer, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, Neligh-Oakdale, O’Neill, Ponca, South Sioux City, Stanton, Summerland, Umonhon Nation, Walthill, Winnebago, Winside and Wisner-Pilger.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Backs Property Tax Relief Measure

The Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is backing legislation that would provide significant tax reform and major property tax relief for Nebraskans. Legislative Bill (LB) 388 is a key piece of a broader tax reform package working its way through the Nebraska Legislature.

“Whether you own a home, farm, or business, Nebraskans have been vigilant in asking the Legislature to provide property tax relief. LB 388 is a critical part of doing just that. We appreciate the leadership that’s been demonstrated to move this bill and the broader package forward. As floor debate nears, we wanted to be very clear that Nebraska Farm Bureau and its members support this effort and we fully expect the members of the Legislature to do the same,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.

LB 388 achieves many of the objectives long sought by the organization to rebalance Nebraska’s three-legged tax stool. Today, property taxes levied in Nebraska have topped $5 billion, while sales tax collections account for just over $2 billion. The bill would help deliver property tax reductions by replacing property tax funds with sales taxes dollars generated through elimination of some sales tax exemptions, with the potential for an increase in the state’s sales tax rate through a trigger mechanism based on state revenues. The bill also includes provisions that seek to slow property tax collections by political subdivisions while still maintaining and respecting local control.

“We want Nebraska to grow. For that to happen we need to fix our tax policy that’s allowed property tax to be a major cost of doing business in the state. Addressing property taxes is also part of the solution to our state’s workforce issues, as property taxes are clearly driving up the costs of home ownership for our current and potential workforce. LB 388 and the work being done on the broader tax package to fix our property tax problem will raise the tide for all ships in Nebraska; rural and urban. We look forward to working with the Legislature to make historical changes for the betterment of all Nebraskans,” said McHargue.



Saunders County Livestock & Ag Association
Pre-planting meeting
Meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 2nd
Saunders County 4-H Building, Wahoo
6:30 Social
7:00 Supper



Farm Custom Rate Survey Shows What Iowans Are Charging and Paying in 2024

Farmers who depend on custom work or provide custom services can review rates charged by others across the state in the latest Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.

The 2024 report was published in the March edition of Ag Decision Maker (https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a3-10.html) and includes 130 responses and 2,805 custom rates provided by Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers.

Farm tasks in the report include everything from planting to harvest, with cost data that reflect the average, median and range for each task.

The rates in the report are expected to be charged or paid in 2024, and they include fuel and labor (unless otherwise noted). The average price for diesel fuel (highway-retail including taxes) was assumed to be $3.92 per gallon (as projected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in early February 2024). Rental rates for some machinery items are shown in the last section of the report, along with a worksheet for estimating rental rates for other items.

Ann Johanns, program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and editor of Ag Decision Maker, said this year’s numbers seem more in line with the current farm economy.

“We’ve seen increases in rates the past two years (3% to 10% and 10% to 15%),” said Johanns. “The steady to slight decline in rates generally seen across the 2024 survey is closer to changes observed prior to the last two years.”

While the projected fuel price increased, production challenges and crop prices seem to have impacted custom rates as well.

Johanns said it’s important for custom operators to know the market for custom farming and to know their costs.

“If the custom operator isn’t covering their costs, they are operating at a loss,” she said. “If they don’t have a good handle on their cost to operate, there are helpful resources on Ag Decision Maker.”

New for 2024 is additional insight into who responded to each operation shown. Of the 2,468 who responded with usable rates: 48% are service providers, 32% are service users, 8% are both service providers and users, and 12% are unknown. The sources of the 69 rates reported for machinery rentals are: 38% machinery owners, 35% machinery renters, 11% machinery owners and renters, and 12% unknown. The sources of the 108 rates reported for wages are: 81% employers, 7% employees, 2% employer and employee, and 9% unknown.

The rate survey is intended only as a guide. Actual custom rates may vary according to availability of machinery in a given area, timeliness, operator skill, field size and shape, crop conditions and the performance characteristics of the machine being used.

“Ultimately, the Custom Rate survey is a starting point in discussions, but any custom rate charged, or paid, should cover the operator’s cost of owning and operating the machinery being used,” said Johanns. “Just using the results of the survey alone might not be the right answer for an individual operation.”



Weekly Ethanol Production for 3/22/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending March 22, ethanol production increased 0.8% to 1.05 million b/d, equivalent to 44.27 million gallons daily. Output was 5.1% more than the same week last year and 8.8% above the five-year average for the week. Yet, the four-week average ethanol production rate declined 0.6% to 1.05 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.02 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks nudged up 0.3% to a 53-week high of 26.1 million barrels. Stocks were 2.2% more than the same week last year and 6.2% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned across the East (PADD 1) and Gulf (PADD 3) Coasts but built across the other regions, including the second-largest weekly reserves on record in the Midwest (PADD 2).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, lowered 1.1% to 8.72 million b/d (133.60 bg annualized). Demand was 4.7% less than a year ago but 3.0% above the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol pared back 2.7% to a five-week low of 861,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.20 bg annualized. Net inputs were 3.0% less than a year ago but 4.3% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 84,000 b/d (3.5 million gallons/day), or 37.3% below the prior week. There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the 27th consecutive week.



Urea, UAN28 Lead Retail Fertilizer Prices Higher

Retail fertilizer prices remain mostly higher compared to last month, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the third week of March 2024.

Two fertilizers were up a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more. Urea was 8% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $574/ton. UAN28 was 6% higher in price looking back a month and had an average price of $358/ton.

Five fertilizers were slightly higher compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $778/ton, MAP $823/ton, 10-34-0 $628/ton, anhydrous $793/ton and UAN32 $402/ton.

One fertilizer was slightly lower in price. Potash had an average price of $506/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.48/lb.N, UAN28 $0.64/lb.N and UAN32 $0.63/lb.N.

Most fertilizer prices are lower compared to one year ago but one fertilizer is now slightly higher. MAP is 1% higher looking back a year. The remaining fertilizers are lower. DAP is 5% less expensive, urea is 8% lower, 10-34-0 15% less expensive, UAN28 is 17% lower, both potash and UAN32 are 22% less expensive and anhydrous is 23% lower compared to a year prior.



Mexico Temporarily Postpones Glyphosate Ban Until Substitute Found

Mexico is holding off imposing a ban on herbicides containing glyphosate that was set for the end of this month until a substitute can be found in order to maintain its agricultural production, the government said Tuesday.

The government added that the search for alternatives continued. A statement from Mexico's government said the Presidential Decree from February 2023 had set a March 31, 2024, deadline for the glyphosate ban and included the condition that alternatives had to be available.

"Since conditions haven't been reached to substitute the use of glyphosate in agriculture, interest in safeguarding the country's food security must prevail," it said.

According to the 2023 decree alternatives can include other agrochemicals considered safe for health, and weed control mechanisms that don't involve the use of herbicides.

The government cited studies stating that glyphosate has adverse effects on the health of humans and some animals.

The decree also includes a ban on genetically modified corn for human consumption and calls for the gradual phasing out of genetically-modified corn used for animal fodder or in industrial processing. Mexico says the ban is also aimed at protecting native varieties of corn.

The U.S. has challenged the ban on GMO corn -- most U.S.-grown corn is genetically modified -- which it says undermines the market access agreed to in the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement, or USMCA. In August the U.S. Trade Representative's office requested a USMCA dispute settlement panel after both countries failed to reach an agreement during a period of consultations. Most of the corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mexico imported $5.4 billion worth of U.S. corn last year, making it the top destination for U.S. exports of the grain.



U.S. Soy Selects Winner for Inaugural NEXTILE: Soy in Textile Design Challenge

U.S. Soy selected Kasandra Wright from the University of Arkansas as the national innovative winner of its first-ever NEXTILE: The Soy in Textiles Design Challenge. In its inaugural year, design students across the country were invited to leverage their creative and problem-solving skills to produce the next sustainable innovation in textile design. The catch? Students must create their products using one versatile ingredient — soybeans.

Each participating individual or team received a design kit including seven sustainable, soy-based materials: soy thread, soy leather, soy French Terry, organic pigment and other soy products. Project submissions leveraged one or more of these ingredients to produce new textile threads, dyes, paints, designs and more. Judges from the United Soybean Board, Levander Design, Springs Creative Products Group, and Modern Meadow selected the winner and runner-up.

“It’s been incredible to see how our soybeans come to life in the creative hands of these talented students,” said Carla Schultz, Michigan soybean farmer and United Soybean Board director, who served as a judge of the competition. “I’m so impressed with their designs — they were artful, progressive and captivating. I’m beyond excited by the creative thinking we saw in the inaugural NEXTILE Challenge. I’m excited for the future of each competitor who participated and for the future of soy.”

The winner, Wright, created a stunning moth design textile sample, symbolizing transformation, survival and new beginnings. As the winner, Wright will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

“Throughout this experience, I learned about the importance of what soy-based products can provide in the apparel and textile industry,” Wright said. “Soy fiber has an excellent drape and is a beautiful alternative to protein fibers as a sustainable material for apparel.”

Judges awarded second-place runner-up Anna Stuffelbeam of North Carolina State University a $500 scholarship for her foliage appliqué sample inspired by the plants that made up her fabric’s materials — soy, pomegranate and madder.

U.S. Soy has long been a critical ingredient for product innovation, going all the way back to Henry Ford, who used soy-based paints, textile materials and plastics for automobile design. Soy is used in every industry. Farmers can find their products in the streets they drive on, the shoes they wear and the biofuels for their vehicles. The possibilities are endless. There are more than 1,000 soy-based products currently on the market — from tires and dust suppressants to fabrics and turf. You name an industry, and U.S. Soy is almost always an essential component.

U.S. soybean farmers and industry partners consistently push the limits of innovation to discover and deliver solutions to the most significant challenges our world faces, such as food security and climate change. NEXTILE was created to put sustainable soy materials into the hands of the brightest young minds in design to create the next generation of eco-friendly textile solutions.

The national winner was chosen from a pool of students who advanced past the first round of judging. The six participating schools included: the University of Arkansas, North Carolina State University, Kansas City Art Institute, Pratt Institute, Savannah College of Art and Design, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Learn more about NEXTILE, the participating schools and students, and the next round of soy-based sustainable innovation at www.ussoy.org/nextile.



Robotics industry to hit $218 billion in 2030; will help agri sector tackle climate change and labor shortages, says GlobalData

The global agriculture sector faces various challenges, including the impacts of climate change and labor shortages. Robotics can help agriculture companies tackle these challenges by automating machines and supporting vertical farming. Against this backdrop, the robotics industry is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% from $63 billion in 2022 to to $218 billion in 2030, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData's latest Thematic Intelligence report, “Robotics in Agriculture,” reveals how robotics is helping to achieve precision agriculture and support workers in a new agricultural revolution. Precision agriculture involves using agrochemicals in a prescriptive manner to minimize waste and pollution. It is particularly important given the simultaneous issues of increased demand for food and rising labor and agricultural input prices.

Holly Anness-Bradshaw, Associate Thematic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Robots can carry out the strenuous and monotonous tasks that lead to injuries and fatigue. The agriculture industry is investing and innovating in many parts of the robotics industry, including drones, field robots, and robotics intelligence. Robots can be found on vineyards, with Burro’s robots helping workers carry up to 500 pounds of crops around fields and back to sorting houses.”

The future of agriculture will be underpinned by robots that augment the industry’s workforce. Robots will assist workers in the agriculture sector, not replace them.

Anness-Bradshaw continues: “Traditional agricultural companies like John Deere and Cargill, as well as agricultural startups, are all hiring and innovating in robotics. The agricultural sector is becoming increasingly aware of the potential and need for robotics to support labor and increase agricultural productivity. Traditional companies are forming partnerships with startups, like that between John Deere and Blue River Technologies, which led to the launch of the See & Spray. The See & Spray is a robot that uses sensors and AI to target weeds and spray pesticides precisely. Robots will support human workers by automating repetitive and strenuous tasks, such as tilling, but will also learn crop health and growing patterns.”

Robots are learning the growing patterns of specific produce. With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with agricultural robots, this data is used to improve farm management strategies.

Anness-Bradshaw concludes: “Companies like Dogtooth are aiming to fully automate the lifecycle of strawberries to alleviate the pressure of labor shortages that lead to excess food waste so crops do not go unpicked. Dogtooth is a strawberry-picking robot arm, which is integrated with sensors, cameras, and AI. The robot can navigate rows of strawberries, determine whether they are ripe, delicately pick the berries, and then package them into punnets.”



 Chick-fil-A to drop ‘no antibiotics ever’ policy on chicken

Chick-fil-A is reversing course on a decade-old policy to only serve chicken that is free of antibiotics.

The company will start to loosen its purchasing standards for chicken this spring, allowing for animal antibiotics in cases where poultry become sick. The new “No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine” policy clarifies the chain won’t use medicines to treat people.

Chick-fil-A said on its website that the shift from a “no antibiotics ever” policy is necessary “to maintain supply of the high-quality chicken you expect from us.” The restaurant chain announced its far-reaching antibiotics ban in 2014.

A company spokesperson added it’s become more difficult to procure large amounts of antibiotic-free chicken, according to a statement to media outlets including the New York Times.

“As we looked to the future, the availability of high-quality chicken that meets our rigid standards became a concern,” Chick-fil-A said.

The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, and didn’t specify in its announcement what kind of supply headwinds it anticipates for antibiotic-free birds. Last year, major poultry-producing states struggled with bird flu outbreaks, though it has largely affected egg production.

Last year, chicken processing giant Tyson Foods announced it would also move away from a “no antibiotics ever” pledge. In 2022, Chick-Fil-A settled an antitrust lawsuit with Tyson that claimed the chicken processor conspired to drive up prices shortly after the restaurant chain first announced its antibiotics-free policy.