Wednesday March 13 Ag News

Managing calf growth pre-weaning, Part II
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Beef Systems Extension Educator

Managing calf growth was the focus of the last column, where I also indicated I would eventually be discussing utilization of growth-promotion implants pre-weaning. In that column, I added that this issue has become a matter of discussion among producers and industry professional groups. Some argue that selling calves at the sale barn claiming they are not implanted commands a greater price. Others argue that implanting or not makes no difference in price unless cattle are going to specific programs where growth-promoting implants are not permitted. Regardless, the practice of implanting calves pre-weaning is declining: USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System surveys indicated that the proportion of operations in which calves were implanted declined from 18% in 1992 to under 10% in 2016.

Before I dive into the economics of this issue, which should be one of the main considerations by each individual interested in making an informed decision on this issue, it is important to introduce other factors that easily distract from this issue: 1) existing biases about use of growth-promoting implants, 2) access to adequate facilities (and timing) to properly administer an implant, and 3) managing the influence of information drawn from social media, internet, and printed material be it magazines or promotional brochures.

Existing bias. A long time ago, at a producer meeting where calf management practices were discussed, a cow-calf producer that marketed their calves at weaning emphatically announced that they would never use a growth-promoting implant because they felt hormones in implants were contributing to health issues or early puberty in young people. Determination of effects of hormones used and their concentration on human safety is the responsibility of the company that manufactures the product with oversight by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Documents used by FDA to ensure the safety of humans consuming products derived from cattle implanted with growth-promoting implants contain results of hormonal concentration, toxicology, and tissue residue studies. Freedom of Information (FOI) summaries hosted at the FDA website (https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/views/#/search) contain detailed information provided by growth-promoting implant manufacturers in support of their application for FDA approval. Incidentally, the FDA also requires manufacturers of these products to provide an assessment of the environmental impact of the manufacture or utilization of these products; this information is also available under the FOI summaries.

Access to facilities. Having access to adequate facilities to sort and walk calves through a single alley ending at a squeeze chute where a calf’s head and body can be easily and safely secured may not be common. Sometimes, although the facility may be accessible, timing of calf implanting may not be easy. Branding time or equivalent (where branding laws do not apply) may be the best timing for a cow-calf operator to implant calves. Yet, the safety of calf and operator and efficacy of resulting implant will be compromised in a rope-and-tie situation.

Information management. The scientific literature contains many reports on the effects of implanting suckling calves on growth and on calf value. Studying the effects of implanting on calf growth is easy. Studying the effects of labeling calf lots as “non-implanted” or otherwise on calf price at sale barns is extremely difficult.

Calf lots selling at a sale barn, regardless of implant or any other status, are immediately associated with owner (reputation), size, origin, nutritional background, health history, appearance, breed or cross, previous performance, season, stage of the cattle cycle, buyers present and their number, size of sale, weather, etc. Attempting to control all these factors without creating a serious statistical mess in the analysis is not easy. Firstly, a researcher would need data from many lots and the knowledge and application of serious statistical procedures to control bias in the samples.

Lastly, there is the confusion of natural or non-hormone treated cattle (NHTC) program labels and their requirements. Excluding comparisons where affidavits are produced for natural or NHTC cattle, when evaluating effects of labeling calf lots as having been implanted or not in datasets where load lots are traded, there are no differences in calf price. Similarly, a publication describing factors affecting price of North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana feeder calves released in 2007 confirmed this observation. In that study, there were 3,342 lots with 1 to 5 calves, 1,113 with 6 to 10 calves, 885 lots with 11 to 20 calves, and 911 lots with more than 20 calves. Of these lots, 286 were sold as having been implanted and 5,966 as not having been implanted. The price difference was not statistically significant. This observation concurs with data from load lot studies.

Recently, a study with fewer lots (327) conducted in Mississippi contains an interesting interpretation: buyers like the opportunity to customize the growth objective for the lots they buy. In other words, when the seller backed either claim: “cattle received no implant” or “cattle were implanted with such and such product,” buyers offered more money than when the seller either could not or would not substantiate the claim that a calf lot was implanted or not.

Does this approach settle the argument that implanting status makes a difference in calf price? Likely not; not for the market you choose. So, what is left to consider? Economics and your own market.

At an average calf gain of 20 lb in response to an implant that costs under $2.00 with calf prices at $3.50/lb, the return to the investment in calf implants is 35:1.

Before you reach for that gun (implant gun!), please conduct your own market research. Likely you market calves on a given week of the year at a given sale barn.

Study the trends locally. Ask questions of cattle buyers, the sale manager, and other producers. Do you need an affidavit to access premiums for non-implanted calves? Are there specific sales for non-implanted calves? Are there specific buyers for non-implanted calves? If there are signs that premiums exist for marketing non-implanted calves, what types of premiums may calves be receiving for not being implanted in late 2023 or early 2024?

If these questions are leading you to consider not implanting calves, then for a year like this one, the premium for non-implanted calves should be between $0.10 and $0.15/lb.



Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program announces 2024-25 scholarship recipients

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has announced the recipients of scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. The one-time scholarships will be awarded to over 100 students totaling $189,000 for the ensuing academic year.

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program was established in 2010 as a gift from the Paul and Virginia Engler Foundation. The mission of the program is to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. The program offers an academic minor while serving as an intersection in which students from a diverse array of majors and business interests can come together in pursuit of the American Dream.  

Incoming Freshman Scholarship Winners:
Amherst:  Breanna Bosshamer
Aurora:  Morgan Bonifas, Marshall Humphrey
Beatrice:  Kaden Van Winkle
Blair:  Rylan Blattert, Alexis Warner
Blue Hill:  Libby Macklin
Bridgeport: Demetria Lapaseotes  
Chambers: Claire Woeppel
Columbus:  Matthew Kinnison, Isaac Stromberg
Deshler:  Colton Isernhagen
Elwood:  Drew Knoerzer
Fairbury:  Alexis Mau
Glenwood, IA:  Katelyn Plambeck
Gothenburg: Braeden Anderson, Elissa Foley
Harrison:  William Skavdahl
Kearney:  Gage Fryda, Alyvia Shultz-Ramer
Lincoln:  Austin Kamm
Morse Bluff:  Nolan Williams
North Platte:  Ceidan Childears
Oakland:  Isabella Benne
Ord:  Adam Knapp
Osmond:  Reagan Choat
Richland:  Gunnar Wolfe
Roseland:  Ashley Bonifas
Spalding:  Colton Bernt
St Paul:  Abigail Hirschman
Syracuse:  Emily Holz
Waco:  Cora Hoffschneider
Weeping Water:  Brooklyn Ahrens
West Point:  Sydney Hutchinson, Gavin Kreikemeier

Continuing Student Scholarship Winners:  
Adams:  Trevor Parde, sophomore
Ainsworth:   Libby Wilkins, junior
Albion:  Braden Benes, Carson Maricle, juniors
Ashland:  Jessie Lamp, junior
Avoca:  Jenna Knake, junior
Azle, TX:  Kaytlynn Lemley, junior
Bassett: Brooklyn Buell, sophomore; Jaya Nelson, junior; Jillian Buell, senior
Bayard:  Laura Albro, junior
Belvidere:  JessaLynn Hudson, sophomore
Berthoud, CO:  Kace Thoren, senior
Brainard, MN:  Addison Hillman, junior
Broadwater:  Lexi Harding, junior
Bruning:  Easton Weber, sophomore
Burwell:  Jaci Larsen, sophomore
Cedar Rapids:  Paul VanDeWalle, senior
Colon:  Teresa Quinn, junior
Cozad:  Sarah Treffer, sophomore
Eddyville:  Adilyn McFarland, sophomore
Firth: Erin Oldemeyer, junior
Franklin:  Kristen Herrick, senior
Fremont:  Evan Hartman, sophomore; Adelaide Witte, junior
Ft Lupton, CO:  Dominic Gittlein, senior
Genoa:   Alicia Weeder, sophomore; Samantha Weeder, senior
Gooding, ID:  Charlotte Brockman, senior
Gothenburg:  Gage Andersen, Jake Burge, sophomores; Savannah Jensen, junior
Hamilton, MI:  Nate Freyhof, sophomore
Julian:  Abigail Hodges, sophomore
Kearney:  Logan Greeno, junior
Lemoyne:  Sheridan Wilson, senior
Lincoln: Allison Walbrecht, junior
Long Pine:  Logan Hafer, senior
McCook:  Charlie Bortner, sophomore
Minden:  Molly Burchell, junior; Kaleb Senff, senior
Morse Bluff:  Hannah Williams, senior
Murdock:  Nathan Lockman, junior
North Bend:  Paige Bunn, sophomore
Oakland: Anna Karnopp, junior
Ogallala:  Caleb Most, sophomore
Omaha: Naidaly Gonzalez-Miranda, junior
Oneill:  Emma Wrede, sophomore
Orchard:  Karter Otte, sophomore
Ord: Vickie Ference, senior
Pender:  Brieann Bruns, sophomore  
Petersburg:  Seth Wright, senior
Rising City:  Alexa Carter, sophomore
Scotia:  Treaven Scheideler, senior
Scribner:  Levi Schiller, junior
Seward:  Crayton Koranda, sophomore; Emma Kuss, senior
Springfield:  Gage Schram, junior
St Paul:  Madison Hirschman, junior; Zach Hirschman, sophomore
Stapleton:  Caleb Burnside, Lance Jones, sophomores
Sumner: Mattison Beattie, junior
Syracuse:  Madison Kreifels, senior
Unadilla:  Sydney Wellsandt, senior
Waco:  Kailey Ziegler, senior
Waverly: Emelia Rourke, junior
Wisner:  Cameryn Bellar, sophomore
Wood Lake:  Ty Schlueter, junior
Wray, CO:  Jaden Dodsworth, junior
York:  Keeley Conrad, senior

For more information, contact program director Tom Field at 402-472-5643 or tfield2@unl.edu.



Ricketts: University of Nebraska “Uniquely Positioned to Advance Water Management for Greater Food Security”

Recently, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) highlighted the impact of the University of Nebraska’s Daughtery Water for Food Global Institute in developing sustainable solutions to global water and food security challenges.

“Water and food security are two of the most pressing issues facing the world today,'” Ricketts said. “With a growing population, growing demand for resources, and increasing disruptions to water and food systems, it is vital to find sustainable and practical ways to overcome these challenges. The University of Nebraska’s Daughtery Water for Food Global Institute is uniquely positioned to advance water management for greater food security. By leveraging the world-class research at the University of Nebraska, the state’s expertise in agricultural and water resource management, and private sector partnerships, the institute is making progress on a more water and food-secure future.”

Ricketts made the comments during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations focused on global food security. Witnesses included Ms. Dina Esposito, Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Dr. Cary Fowler, Special Envoy for Global Food Security at the State Department.

BACKGROUND:
The University of Nebraska hosts the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, addressing the need for irrigated food production to increase by 50 percent by 2050 to feed the world. In October of 2023, the institute received a $19 million grant from USAID to lead a global collaboration aimed at developing irrigation and mechanization for small farmers in developing countries. This partnership focuses on the technical aspects of irrigation and issues crucial to long-term success, such as workforce development, installation, maintenance, and more.



NARD Elects 2024 Officers

The voting members of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Board of Directors elected new officers during their board meeting March 11, 2024.

The NARD Board consists of representatives from each of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). The board meets five times throughout the year and helps guide the association and NRDs in decision making that protects lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. The NARD Risk Pool Board governs the health insurance program for NRD employees.

Marty Graff, NARD President (Ainsworth, Nebraska)
Marty Graff of the Middle Niobrara NRD was elected president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. Graff has served on the Middle Niobrara NRD Board 29 years and on the NARD boards since 2018. He farms with his wife, Brenda, and sons near Ainsworth. Off the farm, Graff serves on the East Woodlawn Cemetery Board (Johnstown, Nebraska) and is active in the Elks Club helping with youth baseball and wrestling.

Ryan Reuter, NARD Vice President (Minatare, Nebraska)
Ryan Reuter of the North Platte NRD was elected vice president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. Reuter, a sales manager with Betaseed and ACH Seeds, has served on the North Platte NRD and NARD boards since 2018. Reuter and his wife Amie have two daughters, Avery and Addison.

Mason Hoffman, NARD Secretary-Treasurer (Juniata, Nebraska)
Mason Hoffman of the Little Blue NRD was elected secretary-treasurer of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. He farms outside of Hastings and has served on the Little Blue NRD Board since 2016 and on the NARD boards since 2021. Hoffman and his wife Michelle have three children, Mara, Natalie and Theodore (Tate).

Dr. Orval Gigstad, NARD Past President (Syracuse, Nebraska)
Dr. Orval Gigstad from the Nemaha NRD serves as past president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. He served as president from 2022-2024 and has been on the boards since 1996. Gigstad has served on the Nemaha NRD Board since 1993 and serves as chair of the National Association of Conservation Districts Northern Plains Region. A practicing veterinarian for more than 45 years, he operates the Arbor Valley Animal Clinic in Syracuse. Gigstad and his wife Carolyn have two children, Grady and Amber, and grandchildren, Quincy and Amelia.

In addition to the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and past president, the NARD Board executive committee includes Terry Martin, Legislative Committee chair representing the Upper Republican NRD, and Bob Hilger, Information and Education Committee chair representing the Lower Platte North NRD.

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts Managers Committee
On March 6, the NRD managers elected J. Scott Sobotka, general manager of the Lower Big Blue NRD, as chair of the Managers Committee; and Wade Ellwanger, general manager of the Lower Niobrara NRD, as vice-chair of the Managers Committee.

J. Scott Sobotka, Lower Big Blue NRD
J. Scott Sobotka was promoted to general manager of the Lower Big Blue NRD in January 2022. He has served the district for 22 years as a land resources specialist and most recently as assistant manager. Sobotka lives near Tobias with his wife Wendee and daughters Jaicee, Josiee and Jaylee.

Wade Ellwanger, Lower Niobrara NRD
Wade Ellwanger was promoted to general manager of the Lower Niobrara NRD in March 2023. Prior to his promotion, he served the district for six years as a water resources coordinator and assistant manager. He also has more than 20 years of production management experience in the ag industry. Ellwanger earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a Class IX graduate of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. He is a native of Butte, Nebraska, and has six children and six grandchildren.

The Managers Committee includes managers from all 23 Natural Resources Districts. The committee meets five times a year to coordinate NRD activities with state and federal agencies, conservation partners and other parties to protect Nebraska’s natural resources.



First-Round Matchups Underway for Pulled Pork Madness
    
With March Madness kicking off next week for the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball teams, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has launched its own bracket challenge: Pulled Pork Madness. The organization is asking the public to decide the state’s best pulled pork sandwich. The 16 contenders were posted late Monday.

In its seventh year, Pulled Pork Madness follows a bracket-style narrowing process similar to the NCAA tournament. Fans nominated their favorite restaurants earlier this month, and the bracket is divided by region. IPPA received about 850 nominations for nearly 70 Iowa restaurants, and seeding was based on the two restaurants with the most votes in each of the organization’s eight districts.

“Iowa leads the nation in pork production, so residents definitely know good pulled pork!” said Hannah Spurr, IPPA’s consumer outreach director. “This contest highlights both mainstays and up-and-coming restaurants across the state, and it always generates fun camaraderie from those who are passionate about their favorite spots.”

Pork lovers have until 10 a.m. Friday to whittle the list down to eight. Those restaurants then compete in the next round of voting that ends March 20 to decide the final four, and the deadline to choose the championship bracket is March 25. The title round ends March 29, with the winner announced later that day.

The public can vote through IPPA’s Facebook page or on the Pulled Pork Madness webpage during each round. Folks can also keep up with the contest on social media using the #PulledPorkMadness hashtag.

First-round matchups are:
    District 1: Iowa Barbeque Company, Le Mars, vs. The Roadhouse, Orange City
    District 2: Birdies, Burgers, & Brews, Graettinger, vs. Smoke N Firehouse No. 20, Ringsted
    District 3: Whiskey Road Tavern & Grill, Cedar Falls, vs. The Blue Bird Bar & Grill, Elma
    District 4: Backwoods Bar and Grill, McGregor, vs. Brady’s Bar & Grill, Edgewood
    District 5: Barrel Smoke BBQ, Templeton, vs. Junction Cafe, Bedford
    District 6: Chuckwagon Restaurant, Adair, vs. Bett & Bev’s BBQ, Jefferson
    District 7: Bubba-Q’s, Ottumwa, vs. Five Hawgs BBQ, Agency
    District 8: Skinny’s BBQ, Muscatine, vs. Cynful Smokehouse and Creamery, Wapello

At stake is a $250 cash prize and Pulled Pork Madness plaque.

Previous winners include The Flying Elbow, Marshalltown (2023); Starbeck’s Smokehouse, which has since relocated to Waterloo (2022); Smokin’ Butt Barbeque, Davenport (2021); Whatcha Smokin? BBQ + Brew, Luther (2020); Warehouse Barbecue Co. + Brewhouse, Ottumwa (2019); and the now-closed Moo’s BBQ, Newton (2018).



A New Direction for Cover Crops: Developing Perennial Ground Cover for Corn Systems

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free virtual field day on Thursday, March 21 at 1 p.m. Central time. Join for a live discussion with D. Raj Raman, Morrill Professor of agricultural  biosystems engineering at Iowa State University, and Daniel Andersen, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State.

RegenPGC stands for Regenerating America’s Working Landscapes to Enhance Natural Resources and Public Goods through Perennial Groundcover. The vision of RegenPGC is to make year-round groundcover on working lands the norm for Midwestern U.S. agriculture and beyond. Central to the approach is developing and de-risking perennial groundcover systems, where a perennial cover crop is planted once and then persists for multiple years alongside annual crops such as corn and soybean.

This project started nearly two decades ago, with Ken Moore, distinguished professor of agronomy, and RegenPGC educational theme leader, and his team exploring ways of planting a perennial cover between rows of corn. Early successes led to funding from the Sun Grant program, INRC and others, and eventually to USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Systems Coordinated Agricultural Projects program. RegenPGC was formally started in September 2021 as a five-year transdisciplinary project combining research, extension, education and commercialization efforts.

“One of our goals is finding a perennial ground cover that is paired in both space and time within the corn phase of the system,” said Andersen. “One species that is showing promise is Kentucky bluegrass, similar to what most people have in their lawns.”

In this system, the grass is growing between the rows with a strip-till zone for the corn plant. These species are complementary to each other – when the corn is active, the grass isn’t and when the grass is active the corn isn’t. There are different teams working on breeding for both corn and perennial ground cover, as well as methods to encourage senescence to reduce competition. An additional team is also focused on quantifying the ecological benefits of the system from reduced erosion and nitrogen leaching, as well as impacts on weed pressure and insects.

Virtual field day access instructions
To participate in the live virtual field day at 1 p.m. CT on March 21, to learn more, click this URL, https://iastate.zoom.us/j/98608335082, or visit https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/events-1.
    Or, join from a dial-in phone line. Dial 309-205-3325 or 312-626-6799; meeting ID 986 0833 5082.

The field day will be recorded and archived on the Iowa Learning Farms website so that it can be watched at any time.

Participants may be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit. Information about how to apply to receive the CEU (if approved) will be provided at the end of the event.



RFA Thanks House Members for Supporting Year-Round E15

The Renewable Fuels Association today thanked a large, bipartisan group of 31 lawmakers who asked House leadership to advance a legislative solution that would allow the voluntary sale of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 year-round nationwide.

“We thank Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Nikki Budzinksi, Adrian Smith and Mark Pocan for their leadership, along with the dozens of others who are part of this effort,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “E15 reduces fuel costs for American families while also lowering emissions. Allowing year-round availability of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 should be an easy lift. We urge Speaker Johnson to work with the bipartisan House Biofuels Caucus to move commonsense legislation forward quickly, so families on the road this summer can enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of E15.”

In their letter, addressed to Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, the lawmakers noted how “governors, agriculture producers, ethanol refiners, oil refiners, retailers, and the automotive industry have all recognized the need for permanent law which provides needed certainty for producers and consumers in every state.”

“We urge you to support bipartisan legislative efforts to ensure that E15 can be voluntarily sold year-round and avoid potential fuel supply issues that will occur if E15 is only allowed in certain states,” they concluded. “Addressing these two issues will provide much-needed certainty to entities looking to make investments in lower carbon fuels and to the broader fuel value chain. Most importantly, this legislative fix is needed to ensure consumers have access to lower cost, consistently available, fuel during the summer months.”



 Two Southeastern Colorado Farmers Sentenced to Federal Prison and Will Pay Over $6.5 Million for Defrauding Federal Crop Insurance Programs

U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan announced last month that Patrick Esch and Ed Dean Jagers of Springfield, Colorado, have agreed to pay over $6.5 million to resolve allegations that they defrauded federal crop insurance programs by tampering with and damaging rain gauges.

One way the United States Department of Agriculture supports farmers and ranchers is by providing federal funding for crop insurance programs that pay indemnities when there is less than the usual amount of precipitation.  Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers concocted a scheme to defraud these insurance programs by making it appear that there was less precipitation in their area than there actually was.  To carry out that scheme, the members of the conspiracy, including Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers, tampered with and damaged rain gauges in southeast Colorado between July 2016 and June 2017 to prevent those gauges from accurately measuring rainfall.  Some of the rain gauges that were tampered with belonged to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and were operated by the National Weather Service.

The conspirators used various means and methods to tamper with the rain gauges. Mr. Esch covered gauges in southeastern Colorado with agricultural equipment and used other means as well, such as filling gauges with silicone to prevent them from collecting moisture, cutting wires on the gauges, or detaching and then tipping over the bucket that collected precipitation. Mr. Jagers typically used an agricultural disc blade to cover up a rain gauge in Lamar, Colorado. This tampering created false records making it appear that less rain had fallen than was the case.

The United States investigated Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers using civil tools, including the False Claims Act, which imposes civil penalties for certain types of fraud on the federal government, and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act, which imposes civil penalties for a variety of misconduct, including knowingly making any false statement or report for the purpose of influencing in any way the action of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.  The United States alleges that this conduct violated both statutes.  Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers have agreed to pay a combined $3.5 million to settle these civil allegations.

The United States also indicted Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers criminally for their roles in the conspiracy.  Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers both pled guilty and were sentenced to pay a combined $3.1 million in restitution.  Mr. Esch was also sentenced to be imprisoned for a term of two months.  Mr. Jagers was sentenced to be imprisoned for a term of six months.  The criminal action is United States v. Esch, 23-cr-00259-CNS (D. Colo.).

“Hardworking farmers and ranchers depend on USDA crop insurance programs, and we will not allow these programs to be abused,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan.  “This case also shows the full measure of justice that can be achieved when our office uses both civil and criminal tools to protect vital government programs.”

“The OIG works steadfastly to uphold the integrity of Federal programs, and we’ll relentlessly investigate those who defraud the American taxpayers and the Federal Government,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General.  “We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for pursuing justice until the conspirators were held accountable for tampering with government equipment for the purpose of exploiting the Federal Crop Insurance Program to fraudulently receive funds they were not entitled to receive.”

“The Department of Commerce OIG is dedicated to working with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to curb fraud, waste, and abuse.  We continue to vigorously investigate those individuals who seek to compromise the integrity of National Weather Service equipment and data in an effort to defraud the Federal Government.  We greatly appreciate the cooperation and effort of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in ensuring justice is served in this matter,” said Jeffrey Lysaght, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General.”

“These defendants orchestrated a scheme to defraud the federal government.  Holding them accountable would not have been possible without assistance from our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Colorado and the Offices of the Inspector General at U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Commerce,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.  “The FBI will continue to track down opportunists who try to cheat the system for personal benefit.”

The claims resolved in the civil settlements are allegations.  In agreeing to settle, Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers did not admit liability except to the extent admitted in their guilty pleas.

The civil settlements also resolve qui tam allegations against Mr. Esch and Mr. Jagers brought in federal court by private party.  The qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act allow a private party known as a “relator” to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery.  In this case, the relator has passed away, and the relator’s estate will receive approximately $500,000.  The qui tam action is United States ex rel. Fox v. Esch, 20-cv-03744-MDB (D. Colo.).

The investigations into this crop insurance fraud scheme were a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.  The criminal matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Fields.  The civil matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jasand Mock.