Friday April 5 Ag News

Nebraska FFA honors outstanding contributions through VIP, Distinguished Service and Cornerstone Awards

The Nebraska State FFA Association recognizes those who have dedicated themselves to doing their part to better the organization and the assisting the chapters and students in it. At the 96th Nebraska FFA State Convention, April 3-5, individuals and organizations have been awarded the following honors at various sessions:

The VIP and Distinguished Service Award recipients exemplify service to the FFA Association. The VIP Award is given to an individual, and the Distinguished Service Award is presented to a company or organization. The 2024 recipient of the VIP Award is Steve White of Grand Island. The 2024 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award is Frontier Cooperative.

The Cornerstone Awards are sponsored by Cornerstone Bank and are given to school administrators who offer support and invest time into their agricultural education programs and FFA Chapters. The 2023 recipients of the Cornerstone Award are:
● Daniel Sievert of Lutheran High Northeast - Norfolk (Principal)
● Josh Jones of Lincoln (Career Academy Director)
● Brandon Marquez of Elm Creek (Principal & Athletic Director)
● Dr. Joseph Lefdal of Schuyler (Principal)



Bishop Neumann FFA Advisor Kurt Heideman Receives Award

The Nebraska FFA Foundation has awarded Mr. Kurt Heideman, Bishop Neumann FFA advisor, with the 2024 Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award. Heideman, FFA advisor for the Bishop Neumann FFA chapter, was nominated for the award with support from his students, Bishop Neumann administration, and other community members. Mr. Heideman has been the agriculture educator at Bishop Neumann since 2020.

In his nomination, principal at Bishop Neuman High School, John Kreikemeier wrote, “Mr. Heideman exemplifies the quality of kindness, and his disposition is to always do good. He shows this quality with his FFA chapter officers, community, and school.” Kreikemeier continues, “Mr. Heideman has been instrumental in working with community benefactors in order to provide more opportunities for students to learn and grow.”

Another nominator wrote, “Kurt works hard to foster relationships between the public school, Wahoo High, and the private school where he teachers. The public-school students are part of his program, and he has welcomed and integrated the two groups beautifully.”

“Many of us whom he taught when we were younger have now since become officers and have grown a lot in our FFA journey. We could not have done a lot of it without him in the beginning!” Wrote the Bishop Neumann FFA officer team in a letter of support for Heideman.

Heideman’s service goes above and beyond the school and community. He is a sergeant in the Nebraska Army National Guard. He spent the last eleven months serving his country when he was deployed with the A, 2-134th Infantry Battalion to Africa from April 2023 to February 2024.

The Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award recognizes a Nebraska agriculture teacher or FFA advisor for what he or she has done in helping others, specifically in the school and community outside of agriculture education and FFA. As a recipient of the award, Heideman receives a plaque and a $500 cash award from the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

“The Foundation Board is honored to present this award to Mr. Heideman. He exemplifies many qualities that defined Gary Scharf’s life – commitment, self-sacrifice, and genuine kindness,” says Stacey Agnew, Executive Director, Nebraska FFA Foundation.

The annual award is named for Gary Scharf, who was a victim of an Omaha mall shooting in December 2007. Scharf grew up on a family farm outside of Curtis, Nebraska, and worked in the agricultural chemical industry. He made a significant contribution to Nebraska’s agricultural and FFA community through his years of service on the Nebraska FFA Foundation Board, including a year as Board President in 2002-2003.



Six Nebraska Agricultural Teachers Named Finalists for Golden Owl Award

Educators devote limitless time, and often their own resources, to helping students pursue their passions. To recognize the contributions of Nebraska’s leading agricultural teachers, the Nebraska FFA Foundation, Nebraska Agricultural Education Association (NAEA) and Nationwide are honoring six exceptional teachers as finalists for the Golden Owl Award.

From October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, nominations were collected for the state’s top agricultural teachers from local students, parents, fellow teachers and community members across Nebraksa.

Nebraska’s 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award finalists are:
● Boyd Bowder, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at St. Paul
● David Gibbens, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at West Holt
● Dana Hall, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at McCool Junction
● Doug Babbitt, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Perkins County
● Stephanie Mann, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Crofton
● Abby Hitchler, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Boone Central

Each finalist was presented with an individualized plaque in front of fellow teachers and students and received a $500 check to support future educational efforts. Next, they’ll be entered into a final selection stage for the chance to be crowned as Nebraska’s Ag Educator of the Year, earning an additional $3,000 Nationwide-funded check and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy.

Nationwide supports the future of the agriculture community through meaningful sponsorships of national and local organizations. In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is donating $5,000 to the Nebraska FFA Foundation to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers, and advisors alike.

“As the need grows for more ag educators across the nation, we are proud to thank and honor these hardworking agricultural teachers for their dedication,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “These educators play a crucial role in preparing students for successful careers in the industry.”



Nebraska FFA awards Honorary State FFA Degrees to outstanding teachers, friends, and supporters

A select group of people were awarded the Honorary State FFA Degree at the 96th Annual State FFA Convention, hosted in Lincoln April 3-5. The Honorary State FFA Degree recognizes those who have helped advance agricultural education and their FFA chapters through outstanding service. Honorary degrees are bestowed on a variety of farmers, school superintendents, principals, members of boards of education, chapter advisors, teachers, and staff members, businesspeople and others who have dedicated themselves to helping further FFA and its members.

Friends and supporters of Nebraska FFA receiving their Honorary Degree are:
· Trevor Anderson of Kimball
· Erin Anderson of Hastings
· Linda Barret of Kimball
· Glenn Baumert of Wahoo
· Britt Bolte of Bassett
· Taylor Collins of Lincoln
· Les Denning of Central City
· Matthew Dolch of Lincoln
· Molly Dudley of Lincoln
· Karen Foster of Lincoln
· Randy Gangwish of Shelton
· Chase Healey of Lincoln
· Rachel and Thomas Hermansen of Central City
· Rebecca Hodges of Grand Island
· Mike Hofstetter of Daykin
· Eric Miller of Wallace
· Joel Ferguson of Wallace
· Bob Braithwait of Wallace
· Jay Knapp of Ord
· Jerry Lentfer of Firth
· Lena Luck of Lincoln
· Chuck Markley of North Platte
· Tammi Naber of Geneva
· John and Pat Perry of Kimball
· Sherri Pitchie of Lincoln
· Jeff & Jeanne Pope of Ravenna
· Nicole Sorensen of Gering
· Tucker Soundy of Grand Island
· Charles Tilson of Elwood
· Jordan Tol of Fairmont
· Kate Wolf of North Loup



Investing in Future Leaders for Careers in Nebraska Agriculture

Ten Nebraska FFA Chapters were recognized at the I Believe in the Future of Ag Forum hosted by the Nebraska FFA Foundation on April 4, 2024. The Johnson County Central, Litchfield, and Pleasanton FFA Chapters were named the top three I Believe in the Future of Ag chapters based on receiving at least $500 and participating in the sponsor engagement contest. These chapters gave brief remarks at the I Believe Forum at the DelRay 817 and received a banner during the fourth convention session in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign serves as an outlet for local FFA chapters to receive donations for innovative projects in their classrooms, leadership programming, community service projects, and field trips to advance agriculture education in their schools. Donors to the I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign chose which chapter they support, and 100% of each local donation was sent back to the designated chapter. Over $404,000 was donated to local FFA chapters this year.

This year AKRS Equipment, Aurora Cooperative, BigIron, Central Valley Ag, Chief, CHS Foundation, CoBank, Constellation, Country Partners Cooperative, CPI, Farm Credit Services Of America, Farmers Cooperative, Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, FNBO, Frenchman Valley Coop, Frontier Cooperative, Graham Tire, LivestockMarket.com, Nationwide Insurance, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, Nebraska Soybean Board, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Pinnacle Bank, Pioneer, Producers Livestock, Syngenta-NK Brand, Union Bank & Trust, and Valley Irrigation sponsored the I Believe campaign to provide resources for an education campaign and matching funds for the local chapters.

Nebraska FFA Foundation sponsor, Frontier Cooperative, knows the value of investing in Nebraska FFA chapters. Sophia Svanda, Frontier Cooperative Communications Manager said, “Agricultural education and FFA play a major role in developing the next generation of ag leaders. We proudly support the Nebraska FFA Foundation because it is a small way that we can provide resources to local FFA chapters, help create opportunities for students, and give back to the communities that support us.”

The I Believe Forum took place April 4 at the DelRay 817 at 5:00 pm, and the Top I Believe Chapters and sponsor recognition happened at 7:00 pm in Pinnacle Bank Arena.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation Announces 2024 FFA Advisors of the Year

This week Nebraska’s State FFA Convention brought hundreds of FFA students and their advisors from across the state to Lincoln. Each year the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation selects two recipients for their FFA Advisor of the Year award. This award honors FFA advisors for outstanding work in their local communities.

David Gibbens from West Holt Public Schools and Kris Rut from Arthur County Public Schools were honored at the Nebraska State FFA Convention on Thursday, April 4, in Lincoln. The winning advisors received a plaque and a $1,000 donation to their FFA chapter.

The teachers were nominated by their students and chosen based upon their school and community involvement, leadership development in their classroom, and their ability to keep their students involved in agriculture.

“The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is proud to support these exceptional educators. They go above and beyond for their students and the industry they love, and the future of Nebraska agriculture is bright thanks to their work,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation.

Gibbens is the FFA Advisor for the West Holt FFA Chapter. The West Holt community describes Gibbens as “the guy on top of things.” Gibbens strives to help students find success in and out of the classroom. He has helped students created five school-based businesses, led countless career development event teams to states and nationals, and has helped grow chapter membership to the highest it has been in 30 years. Gibbens commitment to developing students into capable leaders in order to better the community is unmatched.

“'I am humbled to be named the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation Advisor of the year. FFA Advisors across the state put in countless hours and work to develop members into future leaders of our communities and state. I am honored to receive this honor when so many are deserving,” said Gibbens.

Rut is the FFA Advisor for the Arthur FFA Chapter. Rut is incredibly integrated into her FFA chapter and community. She pushes her students to serve others through community outreach and stretch themselves professionally by trying new opportunities. While Rut has led many career development event teams to success, her students truly value that she defines success in unique ways: when they correctly dissect a calf, or decorate a Christmas tree for veterans, or restoring a community Mother-of-the-Year garden. Her commitment to bettering her students and community is evident.

“I am incredibly honored to be nominated by the Arthur County FFA members and recognized for this award. I am grateful to work in a field where exposing students to the diversity of agriculture and the traditional and non-traditional ways to be involved in the industry are top priorities. This is possible thanks to support from administrators, communities, and organizations who recognize the significance of Agriculture Education and FFA in our schools.

I am blessed to have awesome students and grateful for the many wonderful FFA Advisors throughout Nebraska! I appreciate the Farm Bureau’s investment in our students and programs by sponsoring this award and other programs, such as the Connecting Chapters Program and Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom,” said Rut.



Brooks selected as Agricultural Economics Department Head

Kate Brooks has been selected as the next head of the Agricultural Economics Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her appointment will be effective May 1.

Brooks joined the department in 2013, as an assistant professor, working first as an Extension Specialist, then moving into a teaching and research role in 2016. She has served as the interim associate department head since April 2023.

As she steps into the permanent department head role, Brooks is passionate about growing opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as fostering collaboration within the department and with other UNL departments, alumni and other potential partners.

The department has strong partnerships with the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, the Nebraska Water Center, and the Clayton Yeutter Institute for International Trade and Finance, all of which foster opportunities for student experiential learning, graduate and undergraduate research and collaborative faculty research. Additionally, the department has a strong statewide Extension platform, including the Center for Agricultural Profitability, which offers online tools, webinars, and more geared at helping producers make sound financial decisions.

“I’m really excited for this opportunity to help lead a department I have been a part of for the last decade,” Brooks said. “The department has amazing faculty and staff, and I look forward to working together in developing our shared vision for the future as we build upon our already excellent programs.”

During her time with the department, Brooks has taught the agribusiness management sequence as well as a sophomore level class on the food marketing system. She has received multiple teaching excellence awards.  Her research interests span throughout the livestock industry as well as research on impacts of agribusinesses in the United States.

Brooks has served on various committees at UNL both at the department and college level, holding various leadership roles within these committees.  She has also served in leadership roles on committees within agricultural economics professional organizations.  Brooks has contributed to the institutional culture of inclusive excellence by integrating inclusive practices in her research, teaching, and leadership. She was a co-founder of the CASNR Inclusive Classrooms Community of Practice.

“Dr. Brooks brings positive energy, a collaborative spirit, a strong student focus and a track record of excellence across research, teaching and Extension to this important position,” said Mike Boehm, NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “I am thrilled she will serve as the next department head, and I look forward to seeing the department’s strong momentum in the coming months and years.”

Brooks received her undergraduate degree in agribusiness from Kansas State University, her master’s degree in agribusiness from Illinois State University, and her doctoral degree in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University. Prior to joining UNL, she was a faculty member at West Texas A&M University.

Larry Van Tassell served as the department head from 2010-2023, with Agricultural Economics Professor Wes Peterson serving as the interim department head during the time Brooks served in the interim associate role.

For more information about the Agricultural Economics Department, visit agecon.unl.edu.



The Nebraska Range Short Course and Grazing School team up in 2024

The 2024 Nebraska Range Short Course is teaming up with the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition (NGLC) Grazing School on June 25 – 27, 2024 at the Spring Lake Ranch south of Gordon, Nebraska to host an event that will give individuals an opportunity to increase their skills with grazing, rangeland management, and livestock production.

The three-day, in-person course will be taught through classroom and field sessions focused on the underlying principles of grazing and rangeland management. “The goal of this event is to provide up-to-date, applicable information and training for the efficient and sustainable use of rangelands for livestock production and multiple ecosystem services,” said Mitch Stephenson, associate professor and range management specialist with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Course topics include setting appropriate stocking rates, improving grazing returns, rangeland inventory and monitoring, grazing for healthier soils, managing for diversity, and plant identification.

“The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition is excited to partner with Nebraska Extension to bring the summer Grazing School and the Range Short Course together in an event for livestock producers, agency representatives, and anyone interested in improving grazing lands,” said Leah Peterson, executive director of the NGLC. “Healthy grazing lands are essential to all, and this opportunity to improve upon those practices is packaged into a hands-on learning experience in the Nebraska Sandhills.”

Presenters include Bart Carmichael and Pat Guptill of Principled Land Management, LLC, ranchers who have been using diverse grazing management strategies for soil health, NRCS specialists, and Nebraska Extension rangeland specialists.

“A healthy ecosystem benefits livestock, the environment, wildlife, and ultimately, producers’ bottom lines,” Stephenson said. “In this course, we’ll use research and experiences from skilled grazing managers to show that.”

Registration is $200 and includes monitoring tools, meals, and interactive class materials.
The short course can be taken for university credit, which is an additional cost. Applications are due June 1 and enrollment is limited. For more information contact Leah Peterson (director@nebraskagrazinglands.org) or Mitch Stephenson (mstephenson@unl.edu). Visit the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition website (nebraskagrazinglands.org/Events) to enroll in this event.



NCGA Leader Warns International Trade Commission Against Placing Duties on Imports of Key Herbicide

Saying growers need reliable access to essential farming tools, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Harold Wolle warned the U.S. International Trade Commission today of the consequences for America’s farmers if the agency grants a petition to levy tariffs on imported 2,4-D, an often-used herbicide that has been on the market for decades.

“The scenario under consideration has the potential to limit imports of an important product, raise its price, and create a supply shortage, all while raising the cost of production in an already tight market,” Wolle said. “Farmers are price takers, not makers in selling our commodities, and closely managing our production costs is crucial to our success. Thus, tariffs on these products would create an even more difficult economic scenario for me, my family, and the farmers I represent.”

Wolle’s testimony comes after Corteva Inc. filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions with the ITC on March 14 over India and China’s trade practices involving the herbicide.

Herbicides are one of the most significant inputs for raising crops, and 2,4-D-based products are widely used herbicides for corn and soybeans.

NCGA, citing data showing that the bulk of imported 2,4-D comes from Asia, said the duties on these products could place a hardship on America’s growers who may struggle to gain access to the herbicide or see prices for the product become virtually unaffordable.

The petition couldn’t come at a worse time, Wolle noted, as the price of corn has declined by more than 40% over the last two years, and the average cost of producing corn was higher than the average selling price of corn in 2023.

Farmers are expecting that margin of loss to be even worse in 2024—even before taking this new trade case into account.

NCGA noted companies like Corteva Inc. provide valuable innovations to farmers but that it is important that growers have access to imported products as well.  

“We are thankful companies like Corteva have invested in new technologies, including seed traits and herbicides, that allow us to continue producing more effectively and efficiently every year,” said Wolle. “However, farmers simply cannot rely upon a sole supplier for nearly all of our 2,4-D needs. That will undoubtedly lead to shortages and delays in an industry that must have timely delivery.”

Within the next 45 days, the ITC will determine if there is a reasonable indication that the imports are injuring or threatening to injure the U.S. industry. If the ITC finds that this standard is met, the cases will move to the Department of Commerce, which will calculate the preliminary anti-dumping and countervailing duty margins.



Hefty Volumes of U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Shipped in February
Renewable Fuels Association Senior Analyst Ann Lewis

February U.S. ethanol exports slipped 7% to a still-robust 139.0 million gallons (mg), largely influenced by fluctuations in our five largest markets (representing 77% of total shipments). Canada was our largest destination for the 35th consecutive month despite a 17% shave from January. Denatured fuel ethanol accounted for 93% of the 47.9 mg crossing the border. Exports surged to the United Kingdom (up 53% to 21.2 mg) and Colombia (up 93% to 15.0 mg) but volumes tempered to India (down 59% to 13.4 mg) and the European Union (down 39% to 9.7 mg). Escalating exports to other larger markets helped curb the slippage, including Singapore (6.0 mg, +501%), Mexico (5.8 mg, +5%), Peru (5.7 mg, +133%), and Jamaica (4.0 mg, +1040%). Notably, exports to Japan marked a 4-year high of 1.7 mg following concerted efforts to enlarge the market, while Brazil was again absent. Year-to-date ethanol exports totaled 289.0 mg, a whopping 30% ahead of last year at this time.

For the sixth consecutive month, the U.S. did not log any meaningful imports of foreign ethanol (Brazil shipped 70,282 gallons of undenatured fuel ethanol).

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, rebounded 9% to 986,337 metric tons (mt) on mixed markets. Shipments to Mexico, our largest customer for the second straight month, climbed 4% to 259,658 mt—the nation’s second-largest monthly imports on record. South Korea imports of U.S. DDGS slipped 10% to 132,457 mt while volumes rallied to Indonesia, up 20% to 86,304 mt. The remaining half of February exports shipped to forty countries, including significant yet declining volumes to Vietnam (65,146 mt, down 8%), Japan (51,051 mt, down 11%), Canada (49,588 mt, down 24%), and Colombia (33,477 mt, down 26%). Year-to-date DDGS exports totaled 1.89 million mt, which is 23% more than last year at this time.