Tuesday June 18 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending June 16, 2024, there were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1% very short, 18% short, 71% adequate, and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2% very short, 22% short, 69% adequate, and 7% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 15% fair, 53% good, and 28% excellent. Corn emerged was 98%, near 97% last year and 96% for the five-year average.

Soybean condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 18% fair, 56% good, and 23% excellent. Soybeans emerged was 90%, behind 95% last year, but near 89% average. Blooming was 1%,
near 2% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 25% fair, 40% good, and 32% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 97%, ahead of 92% last year and 90% average.

Sorghum condition rated 0% very poor, 0% poor, 17% fair, 72% good, and 11% excellent. Sorghum planted was 92%, near 91% both last year and average. Headed was 1%, equal to
average.

Oats condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 26% fair, 55% good, and 16% excellent. Oats headed was 70%, ahead of 57% last year and 62% average.

Dry edible beans planted was 94%, well ahead of 70% last year. Emerged was 49%, ahead of 41% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2% very poor, 8% poor, 27% fair, 54% good, and 9% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Despite some isolated rain showers, warm temperatures and mostly dry weather resulted in 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 16, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Primary field activities were finishing up corn and soybean planting and re-planting. Other field activities included cutting hay and spraying crops.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 14 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

Corn emergence is nearing completion at 95 percent. Corn condition rated 74 percent good to excellent.

Eighty-six percent of the soybean crop has emerged, almost 2 weeks behind last year and 1 day behind the 5-year average. Soybean condition rated 74 percent good to excellent.

Oats headed reached 74 percent, 2 days behind last year but 1 week ahead of the average. Nineteen percent of oats were turning color, 6 days ahead of last year and 13 days ahead of the 5-year average. Oat condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.

The State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay reached 89 percent complete, 6 days behind last year. Hay condition rated 80 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 75 percent good to excellent. Some cattle feedlots remain muddy.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Good-to-excellent condition ratings for both corn and soybeans dropped 2 percentage points last week, but ratings for both crops remain well above last year, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Monday.

Development of both crops continues to run slightly ahead of normal, and the U.S. winter wheat harvest is also running ahead of its average pace, NASS said.

CORN
-- Crop development: 93% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, 2 points behind last year's 95% but 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 92%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 72% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, down 2 points from 74% the previous week but well ahead of last year's 55%. Five percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week and lower than 12% last year.

SOYBEANS
-- Planting progress: Soybean planting moved ahead 6 points last week to reach 93% complete as of Sunday. That was 4 percentage points behind last year's 97% but 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 91%.
-- Crop development: 82% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 8 points behind last year's 90% but 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 79%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 70% of soybeans that had emerged were in good-to-excellent condition, down 2 points from 72% the previous week but well above 54% last year.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop development: 94% of winter wheat was headed as of Sunday. That was 1 point ahead of 93% at this time last year and 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 91%.
-- Harvest progress: Harvest picked up speed last week, moving ahead 15 percentage points to reach 27% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 14 points ahead of last year's 13% and 13 points ahead of the five-year average pace of 14%.
-- Crop condition: 49% of the crop remaining in fields was rated in good-to-excellent condition, up 2 points from 47% the previous week and still up considerably from 38% a year ago.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: 95% of spring wheat had emerged, 1 point behind 96% last year but 2 points ahead of the five-year average of 93%. Four percent of the crop was headed, 4 points behind 8% last year and 3 points behind the five-year average of 7%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 76% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, up 4 points from 72% the previous week. That is still ahead of last year's rating of 51% good to excellent.



UNL Feedlot Innovation Center nears completion thanks to industry support

The chute slides shut with a thud, not a clang, safely catching the steer so it can be vaccinated. The steer behind him waits quietly, looking ahead at the alleyway that will take him back to his pen. The only sounds are cattle shifting against the alleyway and the quiet voices of the workers vaccinating the cattle.

The steer is released and the next takes his place, the process repeated hundreds of times a day in feedlots.

There’s no shouting, no slamming chutes, no cattle trying to turn around in the alleyway or bolt from the chute.

“Something as seemingly small as an improper capture in a squeeze chute can have a significant impact over the life of the animal,” said Ruth Woiwode, assistant professor of animal behavior and well-being at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. In one group of cattle, animals that were improperly captured in a chute one time were 25 pounds behind the other animals in the study after 200 days—a cost of nearly $50 a head at today’s prices.

Low-stress animal handling, which has been shown to improve both animal health and productivity, will be one of the research focuses at the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center, set to open this summer at University of Nebraska — Lincoln's Eastern Nebraska Research, Education and Extension Center near Mead, Nebraska.

New UNL feedlot research facility
The KFIC will be one of the only commercial-scale feedlot research centers in the world, and will include a processing barn that features two separate, but side-by-side alleyway and chute systems, with an elevated classroom so observers can watch the animals being processed without interfering with the systems.

One of those alleyway and chute systems was donated by Arrowquip, a North American cattle handling equipment manufacturer that sees the value in promoting safe, low-stress cattle handling, and supporting research that helps them continue to improve their products and the industry. The donation included a 3E BudFlow Cattle Tub, The General Hydraulic Chute and Easy Flow Adjustable Cattle Alley.

“Arrowquip’s core values include a dedication to innovation, quality and safety of cattle handlers and livestock,” said Mark Firth, Arrowquip CEO. “This donation aligns with our commitment to advancing the cattle industry and promoting safe, low-stress cattle handling through equipment that is designed to work with cattle behavior. By partnering with educational institutions like the University of Nebraska — Lincoln, we are positioning Arrowquip as an industry leader that is invested in the development and success of future ranchers and industry professionals.”

Woiwode said Arrowquip’s donation, along with a cattle handling system donated by Daniels Manufacturing Company in Ainsworth, Nebraska, and many other donations that funded the project, show the industry supports continual improvement in animal handling processes.
“We are extremely grateful for Arrowquip putting their trust in us,” Woiwode said. “It creates an opportunity for us to do some wonderful things that are at the heart of what we’re doing at the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center.”

The future of cattle handling
The Arrowquip system is a Budflow design, which is based on a “Bud box,” named after Bud Williams, one of the pioneers in low-stress cattle handling. The system uses the tendency of cattle to want to return to the last place they were, to reduce the stress of sending them through an unfamiliar facility.

“We know the least about this system,” Woiwode said. “I look forward to seeing it in action with the number of animals we’ll be able to observe and study.”

One of the most impressive parts of the chute in particular, Woiwode said, is how quiet it is. “These things really matter in a processing barn. When an animal enters a barn for the first time you want it to have a good experience. The more aversive their first experience is, the more difficult they can be to handle in subsequent events. Arrowquip takes feedback from vets and cattle producers, and we look forward to being part of the refinement process they have a track record of.”

Arrowquip is also looking forward to collecting that information and making those changes.
“This partnership provides a great opportunity for us to gain valuable insights into how our products are being used while providing the university with access to cutting-edge innovation in cattle equipment,” said Steve Langrell, part of Arrowquip’s Innovations team. “We are interested in understanding how Arrowquip’s equipment can increase efficiency and productivity in a real-world feedlot setting while reducing stress for both the livestock and operators. This partnership will help foster a learning environment that can help us with future innovations and enhancements to cattle equipment to continuously move the industry forward.”

Woiwode said this facility and the equipment in it will provide unprecedented opportunities for cattle handling research, especially in the feedlot sector, which has implications for most cattle in the United States.

“I’m most excited about having two systems side-by-side and essentially compiling a longitudinal database to make recommendations to the industry so they can make design changes based on perhaps the number of employees or types of animals they’re processing,” Woiwode said. “There’s so much we anticipate learning and much we don’t know. For as long as we’ve handled cattle in this environment, there’s a surprisingly small body of research that looks at behavior and handling related specifically to facilities.”

One of the objectives at the KFIC is to develop training resources for cattle industry employees, creating guidelines and best practices for low-stress cattle handling and worker safety, and this equipment and research is key to providing that to the industry, Woiwode said.

The KFIC is a $7.4 million facility that includes open-air and covered pens, a 240-head feeding facility, plus the cattle-handling facility with an enclosed classroom. The KFIC is funded in large part by donations from the cattle industry, including John and Beth Klosterman; JBS USA; Greater Omaha Packing; Farm Credit Services of America; Dennis and Glenda Boesiger; and the Klopfenstein Fund, which includes gifts from a number of UNL alumni, colleagues and industry partners who knew and worked with Terry Klopfenstein.



Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in a Sioux County Dairy
 
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a herd of dairy cattle in Sioux County, Iowa.

List of Confirmed Cases
As HPAI detections are confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, those cases are added to tracking websites located on the USDA APHIS website.



National Forage Week Is June 16-22

With the first hay crop harvested, summertime for forage growers is in full swing. In addition to being the primary feed source for ruminants, forages bring many values to farms and surrounding communities.

To celebrate the many benefits of the forage industry, the American Forage and Grassland Council will host the 10th annual National Forage Week June 16-22.
What is the significance of forage?

Forages play many roles ecologically and economically.
    Forages capture and recycle vital nutrients, enhancing soil fertility.
    Well-rooted forages improve soil structure, increase water infiltration and reduce erosion.
    Forages act as a natural filtration system for water, trapping sediment and pollutants and improving the water quality of rivers, streams and aquifers.
    Forages help support diverse ecosystems by providing habitats for other plants and animal species. Increasing biodiversity helps keep an ecological balance.
    Forages help remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
    For most livestock, forages are their primary feed source, providing nutrients like protein and fiber. Because of this, forages also indirectly supply the globe with a vital protein source.
    Forages are the foundation of many agricultural economies and support producers and rural communities through livestock production and related industries.

Forages in Iowa
    In 2023, Iowa ranked seventh nationally for hay production and fourth for corn silage acres.
    Iowa harvests over 11 million tons of forage annually, ranging from alfalfa to corn silage, which is estimated to have an economic value of $1.2 billion.
    There are over 2.1 million acres in pasture and rangeland in the state.
    Iowa is home to over 37 million head of beef and dairy cows with a high percentage of their diet sourced from forage alone. It takes approximately 10 pounds of forage to produce one pound of beef.

AFGC and IFGC
The American Forage and Grassland Council has 22 affiliate councils, including the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council. Both the AFGC and IFGC organizations are dedicated to promoting the sustainable use and profitable production of forages and grasslands in the state.

The IFGC organization is led by a board of directors compromised of agricultural producers, industry stakeholders and educators to advance forage production in the state. IFGC hosts or supports a variety of forage-focused meetings throughout the year, including its annual meeting generally held in February. Regardless of membership, all who have a vested interest in Iowa’s forage production are invited to attend.

To learn more about the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council including how to join the organization, visit iowaforage.org.



USDA Proposes to Adjust Membership of the United Soybean Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments on a proposal to reapportion the United Soybean Board’s member representation by adding a member from New York and removing a member from North Dakota. The proposed adjustment is necessary to reflect shifts in soybean production levels occurring in each state since the last board reapportionment in 2021 and as required by the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act (Act).  

Membership on the board is reviewed every three years and adjusted, if necessary, as required by the Act. The changes would be included in the Soybean Promotion and Research Order and would be effective for the 2025 board appointment process. The reapportionments would not affect the total number of Board membership, which would remain at 77 members.

The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2024. Comments must be received by July 17, 2024. Comments received before the deadline will be posted online and made available for public review. All comments should include docket number AMS–LPS–23–0079, the date of submission and the page number of the issue of the Federal Register.

Comments may be submitted online at Regulations.gov or sent to:
Research and Promotion Division,
Livestock and Poultry Program, AMS, USDA
Room 2092-S, STOP 0249
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-0249

For more information, contact Jason Julian at (202) 731-2149 or jason.julian@usda.gov. More information about the board is available on the USDA United Soybean Board’s page and on the United Soybean Board’s website.



USDA Recognizes National Pollinator Week

During the week of June 17-23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing and celebrating National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States.

“Our nation’s farmers depend on a vibrant ecosystem to feed and fuel communities, and pollinators are an important part of that ecosystem,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This week and every week, it is critically important that we protect pollinators and their habitats. Healthy pollinator populations are essential to the continued success and well-being of agricultural producers, rural America and the entire U.S. economy because without them, many of our nation's crops wouldn't be able to produce as many fruits, nuts or vegetables.”

USDA supports the critical role pollinators play in our food system through research, data collections, diagnostic services, pollinator health monitoring, pollinator habitat enhancement programs, pollinator health grants, and financial assistance programs. As part of USDA’s commitment, USDA established a Pollinator Subcommittee earlier this year that will identify annual USDA strategic pollinator priorities and will make pollinator health-related recommendations to strengthen USDA pollinator research efforts in support of USDA’s Science and Research Strategy.

USDA is keen to understand the collective set of stressors that impact pollinators, including pests and pathogens; pollinator habitat; and climate change. This requires that we better understand pollinator needs around climate adaptation and the entire agricultural ecosystem.

USDA will host a Pollinator Expo on Friday, June 21, 2024 (no rain date), from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on the Jaime L. Whitten lawn, on Jefferson Drive, SW (next to the Smithsonian Metro Station), in conjunction with the USDA Farmers Market. The event is an opportunity for the public to explore and learn about pollinator health and how these powerhouses help bring food to your table.

Learn more about USDA pollinator work at www.usda.gov/pollinators.



ASA Seeking Nominations for Annual Soy Recognition Awards

The American Soybean Association would like to recognize exceptional soy volunteers and leaders and requests your help with candidate nominations. During the 2025 Commodity Classic, individuals will be honored for state association volunteerism, distinguished leadership achievements, and long-term, significant contributions to the soybean industry. The nomination period is open through Oct. 25.

ASA Recognition Awards categories include:
Outstanding State Volunteer Award: Recognizes the dedication and contributions of individuals who have given at least three years of volunteer service in any area of their state soybean association’s operation.

ASA Distinguished Leadership Award: Visionary leadership within ASA or a state soybean association is recognized by this award, which is presented to either a soybean grower-leader or association staff leader with at least five years of leadership service.

ASA Pinnacle Award: An industry-wide recognition of those individuals who have demonstrated the highest level of contribution and lifetime leadership within the soybean family and industry.

For more information and to submit nominations, click here https://soygrowers.com/about/awards/asa-recognition-awards/.

All nominations must be received online no later than Friday, Oct. 25. Nominations by telephone, email, or other means will not be accepted. A judging committee will make final selections. Awards will be presented to the winners at the 2025 Commodity Classic, March 1, in Denver.

 

Farm Service Agency Seeking Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local County Committees

Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2024.    

“Serving on a Farm Service Agency county committee is your chance to ensure that other producers who share your interests, your production practices, and your perspective are represented. County committee service is a unique opportunity in the federal government for citizen stakeholders to participate in the implementation of policy and programs at the local level,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Nominations are now open, and elections will begin in November; don’t miss this chance to help FSA serve all producers.”   

Elections for committee members will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.  

Customers can locate their LAA through a geographic information system locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections and determine if their LAA is up for election by contacting their local FSA office.  

Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they:
    Participate or cooperate in a USDA program.
    Reside in the LAA that is up for election this year.   

A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits.   

Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority, women, urban and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office.  

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster recovery, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as making decisions on county office employment and other agricultural issues.



BEEF CHECKOFF’S INVESTMENT IN CONSUMER RESEARCH PROVIDES INVALUABLE PROMOTIONAL ROADMAP
By Jeri Hanson, Comfrey, Minnesota. Member of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the Beef Checkoff's Consumer Trust and Evaluation Committees

Cattle have always been a part of my life. My three older sisters and I grew up on a dairy farm. I’ve worked as a veterinary medical technician, spent almost six years as a dairy herd improvement supervisor, and for the past 18 years, I’ve worked beside my husband, tending our cattle herd near Comfrey, Minnesota.

It’s no surprise, then, that the beef industry is also very important to me. I’m truly passionate about it. I’ve been involved in the industry for many years on the local and state levels, and now as a member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), which administers the national Beef Checkoff program. It’s allowed me to help an industry I love continue to thrive. As a part of the CBB’s Consumer Trust Committee, I work with other members and our contractors to help consumers feel good about choosing beef. In my role on the Checkoff Evaluation Committee, I help gauge the effectiveness of Beef Checkoff programs and whether they’re achieving our goals.

Much of our work on the CBB boils down to ensuring we’re promoting beef in ways that resonate with consumers. Years ago, I had the privilege of working in a sales department for a promotional products company. There, I learned that to sell something, you must be passionate and knowledgeable about your product, and perhaps even more importantly, you must understand your customers. What are they looking for? What do they need? What drives their behaviors?

These sales principles also apply to  the beef industry, and that’s where Checkoff-funded consumer research comes in. Without research, we could only guess at what today’s consumers are looking for at the grocery store or on the restaurant menu. We wouldn’t have insight about their shopping habits, recipe trends or nutritional needs. By researching today’s consumers, we can obtain that data and reach out to consumers with specific messages that encourage them to purchase beef, whether it’s for a family dinner at home or a celebratory meal out on the town. Consumer research helps us invest Checkoff dollars in ways that will drive beef demand, which is our ultimate goal.

For example, we’re currently entering the peak of summer grilling season, when around 30 percent of all beef products are sold annually in the U.S. Recent research tells us, however, that increasing food costs, a decreased ability to save and a decline in consumer sentiment may cause consumers to focus more on value in 2024 than in previous years. While 96 percent still plan to grill this summer, they are more likely to buy cheaper cuts like ground beef, use more coupons and look for deals. So, it makes good sense to promote less expensive beef cuts and develop new recipes for those cuts this summer. That information has manifested into a widely distributed press release on National Beef Burger Day and recipes for “Beef on a Budget,” along with grilling tips at Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.com.

Something else to watch for this summer is Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner’s partnership with Little League baseball. Little League is a great “brand fit” with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., and it hits on known consumer demand drivers that we’ve uncovered with Checkoff-funded research, like health, nutrition and convenience. The Little League regional championships happen from June to August, right during the heart of summer grilling season. Furthermore, this partnership will allow us to communicate beef’s benefits to one of our core audiences – parents – in all 50 states.

Grocery shopping research also reveals that approximately 57 percent of consumers currently purchase at least some of their groceries online. To reach those consumers, the Beef Checkoff has initiated e-commerce partnerships with national grocery chains across the U.S. Through these partnerships, the Checkoff’s Channel Marketing team can track a consumer from when they see a beef ad to when they purchase beef, showing a direct return on investment. In 2023, every $1 invested in these e-commerce campaigns resulted in $47 in beef sales, a tremendous ROI.

Other examples of Checkoff-funded research include a study about evolving consumer behavior and preferences related to the growing movement toward sustainability and environmental stewardship. That research has led to promotions like “Rethink the Ranch,” an interactive map with links to stories about how beef producers are implementing their own environmental efforts, as well as a video series and a press release. There’s also been a publicity push for the Beef Quality Assurance program called “The Right Way Is the Only Way” to show consumers how farmers and ranchers are caring for their animals and their land.

Clearly, without consumer research, investing Checkoff dollars would be like going on a trip with no destination or plan in mind and no roadmap. By investing in consumer research, we can uncover emerging trends, educate consumers and gain their trust in beef, develop effective promotions and squeeze more from every producer dollar. I see research as key to keeping the beef industry strong for future generations – along with the dedicated producers who make it all happen.