Tuesday May 21 Crop Progress + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 19, 2024, there were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 15% short, 77% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 5% very short, 20% short, 71% adequate, and 4% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was 79%, behind 84% last year, and near 82% for the five-year average. Emerged was 38%, behind 52% last year and 44% average.

Soybeans planted was 60%, behind 74% last year and 66% average. Emerged was 21%, behind 37% last year and 26% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 19% fair, 63% good, and 13% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 22%, ahead of 14% both last year and average.

Sorghum planted was 14%, near 17% last year, and behind 22% average.

Oats condition rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 40% fair, 48% good, and 9% excellent. Oats planted was 97%, equal to last year, and near 95% average. Emerged was 89%, near 90% last year, but ahead of 83% average. Headed was 5%, near 1% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 1% very poor, 7% poor, 36% fair, 48% good, and 8% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Scattered showers across Iowa allowed farmers 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 19, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers were planting corn and soybeans as well as cutting hay. Some replanting has occurred due to drowned out areas in fields.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 14 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

Seventy-eight percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 8 days behind last year and 4 days behind the 5-year average. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop has emerged, 2 days behind of last year but equal to normal. Sixty-one percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, a week behind last year and 2 days behind the normal. Nearly one-quarter of the soybean crop has emerged, 3 days behind last year but equal to the average. Ninety-one percent of the expected oat crop has emerged, 5 days ahead of normal. Seventeen percent of the oat crop has headed, 6 days ahead of last year and almost 2 weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition remained 76 percent good to excellent.

Ten percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition improved to 72 percent good to excellent. Reports of cleaning out bins and hauling grain to town.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Corn planting progress made a big jump last week to nearly catch up to the five-year average, while soybean planting continued slightly ahead of the average pace, USDA NASS said in its latest weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

CORN
-- Planting progress: Corn planting jumped 21 percentage points last week to reach 70% complete nationwide as of Sunday, May 19. That puts current planting progress at 6 percentage points behind last year's 76% and just 1 point behind the five-year average of 71%.
-- Crop development: 40% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, 6 points behind last year but 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 39%.

SOYBEANS
-- Planting progress: Soybean planting moved ahead 17 percentage points last week to reach 52% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 9 percentage points behind last year's pace of 61% but 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 49%.
-- Crop development: 26% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 5 points behind last year's 31% but 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 21%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop development: 69% of winter wheat was headed as of Sunday. That was 11 points ahead of 58% at this time last year and 12 points ahead of the five-year average of 57%.
-- Crop condition: 49% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 from the previous week but still up considerably from 31% a year ago. The percentage rated very poor to poor held steady at 18%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 79% of spring wheat was planted as of Sunday, 22 points ahead of 57% last year and 14 points ahead of the five-year average of 65%.
-- Crop development: 43% of spring wheat has emerged, 16 points ahead of 27% last year and 10 points ahead of the five-year average of 33%.



Ricketts, Lummis, Sullivan Introduce CRAs to Overturn Biden’s Disastrous ESA Rules

Last week, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to reverse the Biden administration’s overreach on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Biden is working to undo Trump administration reforms that increased stakeholder engagement, defined critical habitat, and ensured species recovery plans were effective. These CRAs will ensure these effective Trump-era reforms stay in place.

“Biden bureaucrats are abusing their authority to push through stifling regulations that will hurt our economy and burden private property owners,” said Ricketts. “These one-size-fits-all rules hurt landowners and refuse to take into account how they will hurt local economies. Americans are tired of ‘Bureaucrats Gone Wild.’ Our bills would overturn these rules and protect private property rights.”

“The Endangered Species Act has been a failed and flawed piece of legislation for more than 50 years. With a less than 2% recovery rate, the Trump-era reforms finally represented a real and meaningful step in the right direction,” said Lummis. “Instead of working with stakeholders out west to improve the ESA, the Biden administration chose to undo what worked and double down on what did not. Instead of placating to radical activists, the Biden administration needs to work with landowners, businesses and workers in Wyoming and throughout the west who will be hurt the most by this big government mandate.”

“The Endangered Species Act was a well-intentioned law, however, the Biden administration is enacting ESA rules to promote a radical environmental agenda, despite the devastating impacts these rules have on our economy,” said Sullivan. “Senator Lummis, Ricketts, and I have introduced three CRAs to undo these rules, rein in this federal power grab, promote science-based decision with local consultation, and halt the relentless Biden-administration war against Alaska and other rural states.”

Other co-sponsors of the resolution include Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Katie Britt (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and John Hoeven (R-ND).

The three Congressional Review Act resolutions aim to overturn a series of new rules put forth by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that undo three key reforms to the Endangered Species Act implemented by the Trump administration in 2019.



April Milk Production in the United States down 0.4 Percent

Milk production in the United States during April totaled 19.1 billion pounds, down 0.4 percent from April 2023. Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,049 pounds for April,
9 pounds above April 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.34 million head, 74,000 head less than April 2023, and 8,000 head less than March 2024.

IOWA: Milk production in Iowa during April 2024 totaled 512 million pounds, up 4 percent from the previous April according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during April, at 243,000 head, was 1,000 above last month and up 4,000 from April 2023. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,105 pounds, up 40 pounds from last April.



Healthy Guts Make Healthy Cattle 
Addie Womack – SDSU Extension Livestock Production and Stewardship Field Specialist

Feed additives are added to beef cattle diets with goals such as improving health and performance or reducing antibiotic use and greenhouse gas emissions. There are medicated feed additives, including antimicrobials, anti-coccidials, and antiparasitics, with many requiring a Veterinary Feed Directive (abbreviated as VFD) for use. There are also nonmedicated feed additives, including probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics. Probiotics and prebiotics are used to improve the animal’s gut health, via the microbes. Postbiotics can often have health benefits for the host animal, such as beneficial impacts on immunity. 

Prebiotics 
Prebiotics are food ingredients added to cattle diets to stimulate the growth and activity of microbes. Prebiotics are not digested in the stomach, but rather fermented in the large intestine. Commonly used as a prebiotic, oligosaccharides provide “food” for the favorable bacteria to grow within the gut. Prebiotics must also benefit the host animal’s health, often improving immunity. 

Prebiotic Selection Criteria* 
    Resistance to digestion in the upper sections of the alimentary tract. 
    Fermentation by the intestinal bicrobiota. 
    Beneficial effect on host(s) health. 
    Selective stimulation of growth probiotics. 
    Stability in various food/feed processing conditions. 

Probiotics 
Probiotics have been defined as “live microbial feed supplements which beneficially affect the host animal by improving its microbial balance.” Cattle GI tracts naturally contain microbes, which aid in the breakdown of feed; when probiotics are used as a feed additive, they can alter this microbial population. This is of benefit to the producer and the animal by improving feed efficiency, feed digestibility, and the fermentation process. Probiotics have been shown to change fermentation end products, resulting in reduced methane production. Probiotics, since they are living, must be able to replicate after passing through the abomasum of the animal but also must remain stable during the feed processing. 

Postbiotics 
Postbiotics are metabolic byproducts of microbes that result in health benefits to the host animal. Postbiotics have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and improve immunity of the animal. When added to the feed, they can potentially enhance nutrient absorption by the animal by promoting certain enzymes involved in digestion. Postbiotics are less susceptible to environmental conditions than probiotics, therefore processing and transportation pose less of a threat to the quality of the additive. So, while postbiotics may be mass-produced easier, they are fairly new to ruminant nutrition. 

Pre-, pro-, and postbiotics can be used individually as feed additives for beef cattle, or a mixture incorporating all three can be formulated. 

Think about it like this, prebiotics are used to feed the already present microbes, probiotics are used to ensure the right microbes are present, and postbiotics are a byproduct of the microbes benefiting the health of the animal. 

The ultimate goal of these additives is to benefit the host animal in such a way that antibiotic use can be reduced. To achieve this goal, researchers are continually looking into the use of and benefits from these additives. 



ASA Backs 2024 Farm Bill: A Boost for Soybean Farmers

The American Soybean Association expressed strong support for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. In a letter addressed to Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson and Ranking Member David Scott of the House Committee on Agriculture, ASA President Josh Gackle, who grows soybeans in Kulm, ND, emphasized the importance of the proposed legislation, which will be considered on May 23.

“We applaud Chairman Thompson for crafting legislation impactful for soybean farmers across our 30 soybean-producing states,” said Gackle. “Strengthening the farm bill is more important than ever, and we believe this legislation will significantly enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of the farm safety net, promote expansion and diversification of markets, and protect vital programs like crop insurance and the soy checkoff.”

Key Highlights from the ASA Support Letter:
    Title I Farm Safety Net Improvements: ASA supports significant improvements to the farm safety net, which include adjustments to the soybean reference price, program calculations, and base acres. These improvements are crucial for addressing the challenges faced by soybean farmers due to high input costs, lower market prices, and continued concerns with the largest export market for soybeans.
    Trade Promotion Resources and Food Aid: ASA supports the doubling of funding for trade promotion programs such as the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development program. These programs are vital for the long-term success of U.S. agriculture abroad. ASA also backs provisions to ensure U.S.-grown agricultural commodities remain central in international food assistance programs.
    Protection of Crop Insurance and the Soy Checkoff: ASA supports protection of crop insurance, a critical risk management tool for soybean farmers. Additionally, ASA supports the continuation of the farmer-led, farmer-funded soy checkoff, which provides a high return on investment for soybean farmers.
    Additional Priority Areas: ASA supports the historic investment in voluntary conservation programs, reauthorization and enhancement of biobased and biofuels programs, and other improvements that support financing, connectivity, and future innovations in agriculture. These measures include credit modernization, precision agriculture, broadband, research, and certainty in crop protection product labeling. The bill also supports the livestock sector, a significant customer of U.S. soy.

ASA looks forward to working with the House Committee on Agriculture to ensure the passage of the 2024 Farm Bill.



House Farm Bill Includes Top Cattle Industry Priorities

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the Farm Bill crafted and released by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA)—the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. The bill includes numerous priorities for America’s cattle producers, strengthens essential USDA programs, and protects farmers and ranchers from emerging threats.
 
“America’s cattle producers don’t ask for much from the federal government, but we do need a few essential programs that protect our industry from foreign animal diseases, reward voluntary conservation, and keep farms and ranches in business after a natural disaster,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “Chairman Thompson’s Farm Bill supports these critical needs for the cattle industry, and I am very grateful that the Chairman listened to groups like NCBA when writing this bill. We strongly support this legislation and urge Congress to pass this bill.”
 
Chairman Thompson’s Farm Bill is the result of months of stakeholder input and dialogue with farmers and ranchers. NCBA members have been involved in these conversations and had the opportunity to weigh in on Farm Bill priorities.
 
“Last summer, I had the chance to talk to Chairman Thompson during a Farm Bill listening session in Virginia. The provisions that cattle producers asked for during the listening session are now in the draft bill, and that’s a testament to Rep. Thompson’s commitment to listening to the producers who rely on the Farm Bill,” said NCBA Vice President Gene Copenhaver, a Virginia cattle producer. “This is exactly how our system should be working with Congress asking questions, listening to feedback, and using that knowledge to craft our laws. I am very pleased with this Farm Bill, and I hope members of Congress from both parties join together and get this bill passed.”
 
The House Farm Bill addresses several key priorities for the cattle industry including:
    Protecting the cattle industry from foreign animal disease.
        Increasing funding for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP), and National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB).
        Strengthening resources for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection “Beagle Brigade” dogs that screen shipments, luggage, and people coming into the United States to prevent the spread of pests and disease.
    Improving disaster relief programs to deliver payments to cattle producers by expanding the Livestock Indemnity Program to cover 100% of the cost of an attack by a federally protected predator and allowing for supplemental payments for the loss of unborn calves.
    Protecting voluntary conservation and eliminating government mandates, while also supporting popular programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
    Recognizing that food is national security by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to review the cybersecurity, foreign dependence, and supply chain risks to American agriculture.
    Upping support for feral swine eradication efforts by providing $150 million of funding for USDA-APHIS and USDA-NRCS.
    Boosting local processing capacity by incorporating the A-PLUS Act and allowing livestock markets to invest in small meatpacking facilities.

The bill also includes numerous other provisions that support cattle producers and strengthen our food and national security.



RFA, Growth Energy Petition Supreme Court to Review Fifth Circuit SRE Decision

The Renewable Fuels Association today, along with Growth Energy, filed a petition in the Supreme Court of the United States requesting review of the Fifth Circuit Court’s recent opinion that it is a proper venue to consider challenges to the Environmental Protection Agency’s adjudication of small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

In a 2-1 decision, the Fifth Circuit concluded in November 2023 that it was an appropriate venue to hear a challenge brought by oil refiners whose SRE petitions had been denied by EPA. RFA, which intervened in the Fifth Circuit case on behalf of EPA, argued that the Fifth Circuit was not an appropriate venue for the challenge, because SREs are nationally applicable and have nationwide scope or effect. Thus, RFA argued, the only proper venue for SRE challenges is the D.C. Circuit Court. Similar challenges brought by refiners were transferred or dismissed in the Third, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts, as those courts all affirmed they were not the proper venue to review a nationwide policy issue. In addition, the dissenting opinion in the Fifth Circuit case, written by Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham, agreed that the Fifth Circuit was an inappropriate venue and that the challenge should have instead been heard in the D.C. Circuit.

“As our petition makes clear, the Fifth Circuit never should have heard this challenge brought by refiners,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “EPA decisions on small refinery exemption petitions are inherently national in scope because the RFS establishes proportional renewable fuel volume requirements for every obligated party in the nation. When an exemption is granted, regardless of where the refinery is located, a nationwide shortfall of renewable fuel blending is created. As underscored by five other Circuit Courts and the dissenting opinion in the Fifth Circuit, the D.C. Circuit is obviously the only proper venue for reviewing EPA’s denial of small refinery exemption petitions. The Supreme Court should overturn the Fifth Circuit’s flawed opinion and ensure that any SRE challenges are considered by the singular D.C. Circuit venue.”



USDA Awards $300 Million to Diversify Export Markets for U.S. Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating $300 million to 66 U.S. organizations, under the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), to build demand for American food and farm exports in high-potential markets around the globe.

Secretary Vilsack launched RAPP in October 2023, authorizing $1.2 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to help U.S. exporters expand their customer base beyond traditional and established markets, focusing on regions such as Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South and Southeast Asia, where consumer demand and purchasing power are growing.

“USDA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration are focused on creating more, new and better markets for U.S. producers and agribusinesses, and exports are a critical part of that effort,” Vilsack said. “By enabling U.S. exporters to expand their footprint in diverse and dynamic new markets, RAPP will help make them more competitive and resilient in an increasingly volatile global trading environment. We know the potential is out there, but it takes time and money to grow new markets. USDA is pleased to be able to provide the start-up capital to help tap into these opportunities, because if we are serious about reversing the decline of small and mid-sized farms, and building wealth that stays in rural communities, it’s crucial that we create and sustain diverse market opportunities abroad as well as at home.”

The initial round of RAPP funding will help recipient organizations carry out hundreds of projects encompassing a wide variety of products and markets. For example:
    The Cranberry Institute plans to conduct trade education seminars and other consumer-focused activities to target export opportunities in India, Brazil, Colombia and Southeast Asia.
    The Southern Forest Products Association is targeting new market opportunities for Southern yellow pine products throughout the Caribbean region through educational seminars and promotional events.
    The Hazelnut Marketing Board will conduct market research and trade missions to facilitate support market development in several African countries.
    The U.S. Dairy Export Council plans to expand its presence in Africa by utilizing RAPP funding to better understand and develop dairy import regulations and regulatory frameworks in many markets.
    The U.S. Meat Export Federation plans to expand its export efforts to new markets in the ASEAN region and throughout Africa, as well as enhance its investment in the convenience store segment in South Korea, Central America and Colombia.
    The Brewers Association will tap into the burgeoning craft beer scene in Southeast Asia, taking part in the region’s premier brewing trade show and festival and also bringing buyers from the region to the top trade shows in the United States.

To view the complete list of organizations that received RAPP funding, please visit the following link: FY 2024 RAPP Funding Allocations https://fas.usda.gov/programs/regional-agricultural-promotion-program/rapp-funding-allocations-fy-2024.