Tuesday April 23 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending April 21, 2024, there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 12% very short, 33% short, 51% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 11% very short, 39% short, 46% adequate, and 4% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was 6%, near 8% last year and 5% for the five-year average.

Soybeans planted was 2%, near 3% last year, and equal to average.

Winter wheat condition rated 2% very poor, 3% poor, 27% fair, 52% good, and 16% excellent.

Oats planted was 71%, ahead of 63% last year and 60% average. Emerged was 36%, ahead of 20% both last year and average.



Iowa Crop Progress Report

Although the week began with above normal temperatures, multiple storm systems brought cooler temperatures and much-needed rain, which only allowed Iowa farmers 3.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 21, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Corn, soybean and oat planting continued this week when field conditions allowed. Topsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 27 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 19 percent very short, 36 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Corn planted reached 13 percent complete, 3 days ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Eight percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 4 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the average. Seventy-eight percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 1 week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Thirty-four percent of the oat crop has emerged, 10 days ahead of last year.

Pastures and hay ground continue to green up due to much-needed rain. No reports of cattle turned out onto pasture yet.



Crop Progress: Corn 12% Planted, Soybeans 8% Planted; Winter Winter Condition Drops 5 Points

The winter wheat crop's good-to-excellent condition rating dropped 5 percentage points nationwide last week, likely due to dry conditions and possible frost damage in some areas, USDA NASS said in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday. Meanwhile, corn and planting progress continued ahead of their five-year average paces last week.

CORN
-- Planting progress: Corn planting moved ahead 6 percentage points last week to reach 12% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That's now equal to last year's progress and 2 points ahead of the five-year average of 10%.
-- Crop development: 3% of corn was emerged as of Sunday, 1 point ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 2%.

SOYBEANS
-- Planting progress: 8% of soybeans were planted nationwide as of Sunday. That is equal to last year's pace and is 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 4%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop development: 17% of winter wheat was headed as of Sunday. That is 1 point ahead of 16% at this time last year and 4 points ahead of the five-year average of 13%.
-- Crop condition: 50% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 5 points from 55% the previous week but still up from 26% a year ago. Sixteen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, down from 41% a year ago.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 15% of spring wheat was planted as of Sunday, 11 points head of 4% last year and 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 10%.
-- Crop development: 2% of spring wheat was emerged, 1 point ahead of 2% last year but 1 point behind the five-year average of 3%.



Hejny has shown vision in directing LEAD Program's 'transformational' mission

For the past 17 years, Terry Hejny has regularly traveled Nebraska, from the Missouri River to the Panhandle, on an important mission. As director of the Nebraska LEAD Program, he spearheads activities and experiences that help LEAD fellows understand the breadth of the state, preparing them for future leadership in agriculture and agribusiness.

“I always say that LEAD is a transformational travel and experiential development program. It’s full of experiences and opportunities,” said Hejny, who grew up on a diversified crop and livestock farm in Seward County and has headed the program since 2007.

The two-year LEAD experience includes detailed looks at Nebraska’s agriculture, economics, health care, education, community development and government, and includes travel to Washington, D.C., and overseas.

“We have something for everyone,” Hejny said. “We help them become passionate about issues and where they want to put their advocacy as they go through this program.”

LEAD, a part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has been in place since 1981. Over the decades, its alumni have gone on to provide important leadership in production agriculture and agribusiness, including on grower associations and commodity boards, as well as on town councils, school boards, natural resource district boards and the State Legislature.

LEAD’s 12 in-state seminars over two years are “the building blocks of the program,” Hejny said. The sessions take LEAD fellows to every region of the state and help them understand Nebraska’s diversity in topography, climate, economics and culture. Those experiences encourage an important sense of connection and understanding among Nebraskans.

“That is a key thing that has made our program successful,” Hejny said. “We connect people.”
Hejny, who was a member of LEAD 20 class during 2000-02, will retire from his LEAD director position at the end of June. He also will retire as president and chief operating officer of the nonprofit Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, which governs the LEAD program in cooperation with IANR and support from 13 other institutions of higher education throughout the state.

A retirement reception for Hejny will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. May 9 in the Nebraska East Union, in the third-floor Prairie Suite. Husker faculty, staff and students, as well as LEAD graduates and anyone else who would like to wish him well, are invited to attend.

Hejny’s greatest satisfaction has been working with so many talented Nebraskans over the years and seeing LEAD Fellows develop their leadership skills.

“I’ve been blessed to have those experiences to see that personal and professional development happen,” Hejny said. “It’s a beautiful process.”

The decades of support from IANR have been particularly important for the program, he said.
Hejny, who earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from UNL, feels a strong connection to LEAD’s tradition due to his ties both to the program’s founding director, James Horner, and his successor, Allen Blezek. Both were faculty members in UNL’s Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication.

Horner’s class on program development helped Hejny understand principles he’s used throughout his career as a high school agriculture teacher in Geneva, Extension educator in Fillmore and Cass counties, and LEAD program director.

Similarly, he said, “I learned everything I needed to know about how to teach from Professor Blezek.”

After becoming LEAD director in 2007, Hejny earned a doctorate in human sciences with a specialization in leadership studies. What are the elements of constructive leadership? It’s a long list, Hejny said, but five key components are integrity; trustworthiness; instilling a sense of ethics; fairness; and ensuring transparency.

“Leaders have to model those behaviors,” said Hejny, who also was a high school coach. “They always represent high standards, high expectations.”

LEAD stands out for the breadth of support it receives from institutions, communities, corporations and individuals across the state.

“That’s what makes me feel very blessed,” Hejny said. “That support means that people have ownership of the program, which means they want it to succeed.”

Mark McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, said the LEAD Program “stands as a top leadership development initiative in the state for agricultural stakeholders, fostering well-informed, ready and enthusiastic leaders from various sectors of the agriculture industry across Nebraska.”

The farm bureau has long been a steadfast supporter of the program, McHargue said.

“I appreciate Dr. Hejny’s guidance in steering this vital program over the last several years,” he said. “His legacy will endure through the service and leadership of LEAD graduates from across Nebraska for years to come.”

Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, said Hejny “has continued to build upon the foundation of his predecessors in expanding the LEAD program into the premier leadership program across the state. It is a model for other states to build upon.”

As his retirement from LEAD approaches, Hejny is working with the program’s staff members Shana Gerdes and Irene Malzer to enable a smooth transition for his successor.

“Dr. Blezek had it ready to roll when I took over,” Hejny said, “and I’m going to do the same thing for the next person.”



NEBRASKA MILK PRODUCTION

Milk production in Nebraska during the January-March 2024 quarter totaled 314 million pounds, down 8% from the January-March quarter last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of milk cows was 51,000 head, 4,000 head less than the same period last year.

January-March Milk Production up 0.1 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 56.9 billion pounds, up 0.1 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.33 million head, 16,000 head less than the October - December quarter, and 85,000 head less than the same period last year.

March Milk Production down 0.9 Percent
Milk production in the 24 major States during March totaled 18.8 billion  pounds, down 0.9 percent from March 2023. February revised production, at 17.4 billion pounds, was up 2.9 percent from February 2023. The February revision represented an increase of 82 million pounds or 0.5 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Adjusting February production for the additional day due to leap year causes February revised production to be down 0.7 percent on a per day basis.

Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,115 pounds for March, 3 pounds below March 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.88 million head, 71,000 head less than March 2023, and 7,000 head less than February 2024.

Iowa: Milk production in Iowa during March 2024 totaled 520 million pounds, up 2 percent from the previous March according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during March, at 242,000 head, was unchanged from last month but up 2,000 from March 2023. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,150 pounds, up 20 pounds from last March.



NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS

Nebraska egg production during March totaled 206 million eggs, up from 173 million in 2023. March egg production per 100 layers was 2,493 eggs, compared to 2,514 eggs in 2023. All layers in Nebraska during March 2024 totaled 8.28 million, up from 6.90 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

IOWA: Iowa egg production during March 2024 was 1.15 billion eggs, up 1 percent from the previous March, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of all layers on hand during March 2024 was 44.2 million, down 1 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for March was 2,599, up 2 percent from a year ago.

March Egg Production Up 1 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.29 billion during March 2024, up 1 percent from last year. Production included 7.99 billion table eggs, and 1.30 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.20 billion were broiler-type and 101 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during March 2024 totaled 379 million, down 1 percent from last year. March egg production per 100 layers was 2,455 eggs, up 2 percent from March 2023.
                                    
Total layers in the United States on April 1, 2024 totaled 379 million, down 1 percent from last year. The 379 million layers consisted of 313 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 61.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.90 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on April 1, 2024, averaged 79.5 eggs per 100 layers, up 2 percent from April 1, 2023.



Secretary Naig Thanks Governor Reynolds, Legislature for Strong Support of Iowa Agriculture

Following the conclusion of another strong and successful legislative session, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today thanked Governor Reynolds and the members of the Iowa Legislature for their steadfast support of Iowa agriculture:

“It’s hard to imagine a strong Iowa without a strong agriculture. The work accomplished during the 2024 legislative session will ensure that Iowa continues to be a great place to live, work and play, and our state’s top industry will continue to grow and thrive. I appreciated the opportunity to work alongside the Governor and our legislators to protect Iowa’s farmland, develop markets and build processing capacity, enhance Iowa’s soil and water, support Iowa’s livestock industry and build our future workforce, which will positively benefit Iowans for many years to come.

I want to extend my gratitude to Governor Reynolds, Leader Whitver and Speaker Grassley for yet another successful and productive legislative session. I also want to specifically thank the Co-Chairs of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Dan Zumbach and Representative Norlin Mommsen, for their continued investment in priorities that are important to Iowa’s agriculture community.”

The following represent a sampling of successes for Iowa agriculture during the 2024 session:

Responsive Government that Serves Iowans

Lower Taxes for Iowans
    Hard-working Iowans will keep more of their money following the tax reform that will reduce Iowa’s flat tax to 3.8 percent. These changes will save taxpayers billions of dollars over the next several years, allowing Iowans to invest more in their families and businesses.

Conservative and Responsible Budget
    Iowa has consistently been ranked as one of the most fiscally responsible states in the nation. Iowa's budget will continue to spend conservatively and invest in programs and priorities that help our economy grow, all while maintaining full reserve accounts and a healthy surplus.

Efficient Government
    Numerous technical changes were incorporated throughout various bills that will help streamline existing programs and processes at the Department, all of which will help us more efficiently and effectively serve Iowans.

Protecting Iowa’s Farmland

Foreign Ownership of Farmland Law
    With the additional enforcement, deterrence and disclosure tools and requirements that are incorporated through legislation, Iowa’s prohibition on the foreign ownership of farmland will continue to be a model for other states.

Developing Markets and Building Processing Capacity

Choose Iowa
    A Butchery Innovation Program was authorized within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Previously, the program existed under the purview of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and provided grants to expand and revitalize small-scale meat processors and lockers.
    The Choose Iowa program received additional funding to continue promoting our state’s signature brand for Iowa grown, Iowa raised and Iowa made products
    Choose Iowa’s Value-Added and Dairy Innovation grant programs received funding to continue to broaden the availability of Iowa grown, Iowa raised and Iowa made products.
    A new food purchasing incentive program was authorized within Choose Iowa that will connect Iowa farmers to food banks and schools. This will create markets for farmers as we provide nutritious meals to our students and help to alleviate food insecurity for our neighbors in need.

Small-Scale Poultry Processing
    Pending federal authorization, small-scale poultry processing establishments will be able to perform both official inspected and custom-exempt processing at the same facility. The change aligns poultry processing with existing standards for red meat processing.

Greater Access to Biofuels
    Drivers save money when they can access lower cost and lower carbon biofuels like E15. Continued funding for the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, a successful longstanding program, will help more gas stations install infrastructure to offer higher blends of biofuels.
    Fuel retailers will also be given greater flexibility and more options to upgrade their fueling infrastructure to offer higher biofuel blends. This will accelerate the expansion of lower cost E15 availability for Iowa consumers and reduce compliance costs for Iowa fuel retailers.

Enhancing Iowa’s Soil and Water

Continued Investment in Water Quality and Soil Conservation
    Iowa is continuing to set records for water quality and soil conservation adoption and continued support for long-term dedicated funding will allow for further acceleration and momentum.

Iowa Nitrogen Initiative
    Farmers depend on the best science when making decisions about crop production, including nutrient management, crop inputs and conservation practices. The Iowa Nitrogen Initiative leads to tools that farmers can utilize to optimize nutrient management, boost profitability and protect our natural resources.

Supporting Iowa’s Valuable Livestock Industry

Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness
    Iowa’s livestock farmers are continually threatened by foreign animal diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Foot and Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever. The Department received additional funding to support ongoing preparedness and response activities that help to protect Iowa’s valuable livestock industry.

Food Labeling Integrity
    Consumers deserve to know what goes into their food. Legislation passed this session will require the transparent labeling of lab-grown, plant-based and insect-based proteins to ensure that consumers are well-informed of what they are buying to feed their families.

Tax Relief for Livestock Farmers
    Livestock farmers that own breeding stock will receive tax relief from legislation that eliminates capital gains taxes on that livestock. The bill is retroactive to 2023.

Building Iowa’s Future Workforce

Agriculture Education
    High school students can use agricultural education instruction to meet a portion of the requirements related to science. They can also use curriculum from applied sciences, technology, engineering, or manufacturing to meet a portion of the unit requirements related to mathematics.



On Feed
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

Last week’s Cattle on Feed report was difficult to decipher. After February had leap day, the end of March had some potential Easter holiday effects. The on-feed total of 11.8 million head was slightly below trade expectations. The components were less consistent. Before the report, the trade expectations were a little unusual. Placements, which are always difficult to predict, had a very narrow range of estimates, 89-95% of a year ago. Sales of feeder and stocker cattle, nicely compiled by LMIC, had total receipts in March down 28% from a year earlier. Thus, there was a large amount of uncertainty in placements that was not accounted for. The actual placements came in at only 88% of last March, below and outside the range of trade expectations. Marketings also presented a surprise, coming in at 86% of last March and outside the range of trade expectations.

Placements were relatively low in Texas, while being relatively high in Nebraska. Compared to last year, the weight breakdown revealed lower placements for cattle weighing less than 900 pounds. The placements of cattle weighing 900 pounds or more was unchanged. Marketings were also relatively high in Nebraska compared to other large feedlot states. Texas and Kansas had relatively low marketings. Nothing else major really stood out from a spatial perspective. If just the placements had been low, it would have clearly supported feeder cattle prices. With the maketings also lower than expected the impact on makets is unclear.

Once a quarter NASS collects a breakdown of the heifer mix on feed. The latest mix of heifers to the total, at 38.5%, is down from both last quarter and last year. A lower heifer mix would suggest fewer heifers on feed. However, the absolute number of cattle on feed is higher than a year ago and the breakout shows both more steers and more heifers on feed. In addition, heifer slaughter has been running ahead of the 5-year average year-to-date while steer slaughter has been running behind the 5-year average. These aspects counter the lower mix and suggest heifers continue to be pulled from the replacements pool and run through feedlots. The mix is generally cyclical, putting in a low on April 1. A sustained mix below 36.0% would likely be needed to signal widespread retention of heifers for breeding.

NASS has announced that they will not be collecting the July Cattle report in 2024. The absence of this report would likely have an adverse effect on efficiency in the market. The July numbers have only been at the national level for several years, but still provide a snapshot by weight categories for all cattle. Having an objective measure of replacement heifers at mid-year helps reconcile heifer mix and slaughter trends. The mid-year estimate of the calf crop is the only chance to gauge feeder supplies before the large fall runs of calves. July also gives inventories of all feedlots (not just the largest lots).



FARM Program, NMPF Celebrate Dairy Conservation Efforts on Earth Day

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program released findings from its Conservation Practice Questionnaire highlighting the leading stewardship of dairy farmers as FARM and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) observe Earth Day.

The questionnaire, a voluntary addition to the FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) Program, highlights some of U.S. dairy farmers’ conservation efforts, including practices and technologies that show effective water, energy and other resource stewardship.

FARM ES launched the questionnaire in August 2022 after significant stakeholder feedback and on-farm piloting. More than 450 of them have been completed on dairy farms across 20 states since its launch, with respondents ranging in milking herd size from 17 cows to more than 15,000. The completed questionnaires offer a lens into the natural resource stewardship of the dairy farmers who participate.

As of March 2024, questionnaires indicate that:
    79% of participating dairy farmers reuse or recycle water on their farm: 76% reuse plate cooler water to flush the barn, as drinking water, or for other uses; 14% capture rainwater for cleaning or other use; and 29% reuse water for irrigation;
    90% of participating farms report implementing field conservation practices;
    68% of participating farmers use recycled manure, recycled sand or byproducts as bedding for their cows; and
    More than 97% of participating dairy farmers use energy saving technologies and practices.

“Dairy farmers have long been early adopters of sustainable practices and good stewards of the land,” Nicole Ayache, NMPF’s chief sustainability officer, said. “The findings from our Conservation Practice Questionnaire underscore the U.S. dairy industry’s commitment to continuous improvement and finding new ways to be even more sustainable.”

To further support dairy farmer efforts to implement conservation practice and technologies, the FARM Program launched a searchable database of technical and financial resources. Farmers and their technical advisers may use the new resource to identify support suitable to the farm’s conservation goals.

The database contains information from government, non-profit, extension, state planning tools, and many other relevant financial or technical assistance providers and resources. Financial resources include grants, cost-share, loan programs and other incentives available. The database’s first areas of focus are on resources for cover cropping, conservation tillage, energy efficiency, nutrient management, and pollinator habitat.



AGI Kicks-Off Fourth Annual Safety Week with Worldwide Call to Action

Every year, an estimated 340 million occupational accidents happen in the global workplace, according to the International Labour Organization. Ag Growth International (“AGI”) is on a mission to create a zero-harm work environment by making safety a core guiding principle and driving best practice awareness during its fourth annual One AGI Safety Week, April 22-26, 2024.

“Today, I am extremely pleased to kick off our 2024 One AGI Safety Week celebrated globally across our organization,” says Paul Householder, AGI President & CEO. “The week reinforces the tremendous safety strides we made last year in reaching an all-time low for recordable and lost time injury rates. This year’s theme, Safer Acts and Safer Conditions, is a call to action for our team to continue to be vigilant, look out for one another, and never compromise on the high safety standards we have set.”

AGI recognizes facilities with one of its highest designations – the AGI Safety Standout Award – for earning one, three, five and even 10 years of no lost time incident records. To date 18 AGI sites worldwide have made milestone achievements including those teams specially honored for earning year-over-year, long-term records: (10 years) Olds, AB and (3 years) Joplin, MO; Nobleford, AB; and Marshall, IL.

“Our employees’ commitment and diligent adherence to safety procedures have enhanced our work environment and ensures that we all return home safely each day,” says Householder. “We aim to make AGI a beacon of safety excellence.”

Throughout the week, employees will engage in activities designed to reinforce a strong safety culture and share best practices that further their commitment to a zero-harm workplace. According to Harsha Bhojraj, AGI Vice President of Manufacturing and Safety Lead, the week also begins employee nominations for AGI’s annual Safety Awards that acknowledge individuals, teams and locations for exemplary safety best practices and performance.

“Our employees are AGI’s safety champions. The nomination process gives them the opportunity to shine a spotlight on colleagues, who they believe go above-and-beyond to embody a safety priority. We want to tell and reward their stories of excellence,” says Bhojraj.

Categories include:
    The Outstanding Performance Award, celebrating an individual, team, or location that has demonstrated exceptional safety performance or implemented a significant safety innovation.
    The Progress in Safety Award, recognizing a location or team that has shown remarkable improvement in safety metrics over the past year.
    The Safety at a Customer Site or Project Award, honoring a project where safety was not just a plan, but a well-executed reality.

Nominations end in October with awards to be announced in the first quarter of 2024. To learn more about AGI’s Safety culture, visit aggrowth.com.