Wednesday July 31 Ag News

 Heat stress factor tradeoffs
Alfredo DiCostanzo, NE Extension Beef Systems Educator

Sometime ago, Dr. Terry Mader University of Nebraska Professor (retired from Haskell Lab), developed a Cattle Comfort Index (CCI) that is based on temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and solar radiation. This index is used in the United States and other countries as a measure of the stress the environment is imposing on cattle. It resulted from several years of work both at Concord, NE and in Australia, where cattle also experience heat stress.

Index values are expressed on the temperature scale and are transformable between degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit. Cattle Comfort Index above 95 degrees represent severe heat stress while indices between 86 and 94 degrees represent mild heat stress.

I recently had the opportunity to study this index and work with it to test a database that is maintained at the University of Nebraska. It gave me the opportunity to create a few possible scenarios cattle may experience in high temperature and high humidity environments common to Northeast Nebraska.

For this exercise, I fixed solar radiation at the maximum, no cloud cover, and permitted relative humidity to vary from 50% to 99% at temperatures between 75 and 95 °F (5-degree increments) with wind speeds changing from 2 to 16 miles per hour. Using the threshold for severe heat stress index (95 °F), I set out to determine tradeoffs between these factors to prioritize heat stress abatement strategies.

· Heat stress will become severe at 85 °F when wind speeds are below 8 mph even at low humidity. Blocking 66% (or 66% cloud cover) or more solar radiation will permit air cooling from wind speeds below 8 mph.

· When temperatures are at or above 90 °F with wind speeds even as high as 16 mph and 50% humidity, heat stress will be severe if no solar radiation is blocked.

· At 70% humidity with temperatures in the 90’s under shade or 100% cloud cover, wind speeds of 6 mph or better reduce CCI below the severe threshold. Under shade or cloud 100% cover at 95 °F, however, wind speeds must be faster than 10 mph to reduce CCI below the severe threshold.

Prioritizing use of shades reduces radiation protection while breezy days and nights contribute to cooling cattle even at single digit speeds.

Using this approach, one can also prove how high nighttime temperatures prevent cattle from cooling from the effects of daytime temperatures, particularly in still nights.

· A 75 °F still night with 85% humidity keeps the CCI within the moderate stress range by preventing cattle from cooling themselves before facing another hot day.

This is when alternative management approaches may be used. Wetting concrete surfaces, such as bunk aprons or slopes may help cattle cool faster at night when temperature and humidity are high in still nights.

I am grateful that this information was generated, in our own backyard by one of our scientists, to be able to devise and discuss strategies to minimize heat stress. This approach is straightforward and requires no access to experimental animals or facilities.

It is my sincere hope that you and your crew have had an uneventful heat event. Please reach out to me if you have any additional questions.



ADDING GRASS TO THINNING ALFALFA
- Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Pasture & Forage Specialist

Do you have a thinning and low producing alfalfa stand; but are not quite ready to do a complete reseeding?  These stands can be rejuvenated by interseeding grasses to increase hay production in subsequent years or to convert them to pasture.

Most alfalfa fields start to lose stand and production potential after cutting hay for several years.  Orchardgrass is the grass most commonly interseeded into alfalfa, but other grasses like endophyte-free tall fescue, smooth or meadow brome, festulolium, and wheatgrasses also can be used.  If the field will be used as pasture, a mixture of several grasses may be best since it adds diversity to your animals' diet.

Whether irrigated or dryland, interseeding after a mid-August to early September hay harvest can be excellent timing.  There is always some risk for dryland fields because several rains will be needed to start the new grass seedlings.  The seeding should be done as sone as that August or early September harvest Is complete. If your alfalfa is relatively thick, you probably will need to take another cutting in about four weeks, or as soon as the alfalfa starts to form a full canopy.  This allows sunlight to continue to reach new grass seedlings below the alfalfa.

The seeding rate of the grasses will vary depending on the species that is used and how thick the existing alfalfa is.  With orchardgrass for example, as little as 3 lb/acre might be adequate in a relatively thick alfalfa stand or up to 6 lb/acre in a very thin alfalfa stand.

Next spring you will need to judge how well established the new grasses have become.  If they seem a little weak, cut hay early to open the canopy for better light penetration.  



BEEF Showcase Educational Sessions at HHD

Here is a sneak peek of what we have in store for beef producers at the new BEEF Showcase. You can find these sessions and more in the BEEF Building, located in the Northwest Quadrant off West Avenue.

Daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. | Cattle Chute Demos Experience live demos first-hand and get your questions answered as industry experts show the latest in chute tech and techniques.

Tues. Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. | Coaching Cowboys Hosted by Chad Engle, United States Meat Animal Research Center. In this session, Engle will discuss ways to build, manage and ensure the success of a team in a livestock operation setting.

Wed. Sept. 11 at 12:30 p.m. | Where’s the Cattle Market Headed? | Sponsored by Ever.Ag. Hosted by Dr. Lee Schulz and Dr. Dan Thomson, Iowa State University. Join us as Dr. Schulz, associate professor and one of the most prominent ag economists in the livestock sector, along with Dr. Thomson, professor emeritus of animal science, talk cattle markets with a look at what’s likely ahead.

Tues. Sept 10 and Wed. Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. | Low-Stress Cattle Handling | Sponsored by Arrowquip Hosted by Steve Langrell, Arrowquip. This presentation will shed light on how livestock think and what motivates and demotivates their behavior. Learn how to work with your cattle, rather than against them, which will produce a better-finished product in the end.

Details about Husker Harvest Days 2024 can be found online at www.huskerharvestdays.com.  



‘Fearless Farm Finances’ selected for Nebraska Women in Agriculture Book Club

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program and Annie’s Project have announced “Fearless Farm Finances: Farm Financial Management Demystified,” as the choice for their third quarter Book Club, which will conclude with a virtual discussion on Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. Central time.

“Fearless Farm Finances,” written by Jody Padgham, Paul Dietmann and Craig Chase, presents the complex subject of farm financial management in a straightforward and readable style, with numerous tips and examples from working farms. The content is relevant for both small- and large-scale operations and includes sample farm data sets, which highlight how equations, formulas and analysis are done. Discussions about financial ratios, pricing strategies and ways to assess and improve profitability can help farmers improve the sustainability of their operations.

The book club discussion will be led by Dietmann, one of the book’s co-authors. He is an emerging markets specialist with Badgerland Financial, a member-owned rural lending cooperative and Farm Credit System institution serving southern Wisconsin. Dietmann leads the coop’s beginning farmer program and its Emerging Markets Loan Program, which provides loans to farmers who are marketing their products direct to consumers. Before joining the staff at Badgerland, Dietmann served as Wisconsin’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture in 2010. In 2004 he was selected as the national winner of the Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management Award presented by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.

Registration is free and can be found on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu, or by clicking here. The first 20 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of the book mailed to them.  



Carbon Intensity Calculator Can Help Farmers Determine Their CI Score

Farmers who want to gain a better understanding of their Carbon Intensity Score can take advantage of a simple calculator developed by an economist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The calculator relies on just five input numbers, according to Alejandro Plastina – corn acres, nitrogen use and corn yield with current farming practices, change in nitrogen use and change in yields under new farming practices.

See the calculator here: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/articles/plastina/PlaJul24.html.

The score is a calculation of how much carbon is used per bushel of crop production and is an important measurement used for selling grain to certain ethanol plants that plan to participate in the federally incentivized Carbon Intensity Score program.

Beginning in 2025, certain participating ethanol plants will receive tax credits for accepting crops produced with less carbon, according to Plastina. Some may also offer incentives to farmers for delivering lower-carbon crops.

The tax credit that grain buyers will receive is called the Federal Tax Credit 45Z, or the “Clean Fuel Production Credit.” It consolidates and replaces several fuel-related credits scheduled to expire at the end of 2024.

Plastina hopes farmers will take advantage of the calculator to understand their current score – and ways they could make changes that result in a lower score.

“The farmer could potentially get an extra payment if the carbon intensity score is lower than the buyer’s threshold,” he said. “We don’t yet know how much, if any, of the credit will pass through to the producer, but the potential is there.”

Plastina explains the significance of the score and his calculator in a recent article in the Ag Decision Maker. Although private calculators exist, he said this one is free to use and convenient.

Plastina said the calculator gives farmers a good understanding of where they’re at today, and what they need to do differently in the future if they want to obtain a lower score.

However, he reminds farmers that the rules and the model for the program will not be finalized until 2025, and that final decisions could affect how the calculation is determined.

For more information, Plastina can be reached at 515-294-6160 or plastina@iastate.edu



Officers elected to lead Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Program

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer Advisory Committee elected officer positions for 2024-25:
    Chair: Zac Preston, Warren County
    Vice Chair: Megan McAllister, Dubuque County
    Secretary: Mitchell Sievers, Buena Vista County
    Public Relations Co-Chairs: Alyssa Preston, Warren County and Ashley McEnany, Story County

Together with the committee, the officers plan the Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer annual conference, which brings together 500 attendees from across Iowa for learning and networking. Additionally, they organize educational opportunities and family-friendly events in their local communities.

Zac and Alyssa Preston raise corn and soybeans. Zac is a shop manager for Reynolds Ag Solutions in Indianola. He is the Warren County Farm Bureau board president and an Iowa Farm Bureau Ag Leaders Institute graduate. Alyssa is a district field manager for Iowa Corn. The Prestons have two children and enjoy being involved in their community, particularly the county fair.

Mitchell Sievers grows corn and soybeans, raises hogs and does custom work for a local co-op. His wife, Bradi, is a teacher at a local elementary school, and together they have three children. Sievers is an Ag Leaders Institute graduate, has held various positions on the Buena Vista County Farm Bureau board and served on Iowa Farm Bureau's Swine Advisory Committee.

Megan McAllister raises dairy cattle with her husband, Ted. She is active on the Dubuque County Farm Bureau board and with state and local dairy promotions. She is an Ag Leaders Institute graduate and a 2021 Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Leadership Award recipient. The McAllisters also enjoy using social media to connect with people on animal care.   

Ashley McEnany raises cow-calf pairs and direct markets beef with her husband, Michael. She works for Iowa State University and at Whatcha Smokin,’ a popular barbecue destination located in Luther. She serves on the Story County Cattlemen’s board and supports the local food pantry through yearly produce donations from her garden.



Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters Introduces New Menu Items

The Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters, a beloved staple at the Iowa State Fair, is excited to announce the addition of two menu items for this year’s fair: the Salt Beef Bagel and the Brisket Burnt End Link.

Salt Beef Bagel
Featuring tender, slow-cooked corned beef sliced thick and layered generously on a fresh bagel. Accompanied by crisp sweet pickles and a dollop of tangy mustard, this sandwich promises a savory experience that perfectly balances flavor and texture.

Brisket Burnt End Link
For those craving something smoky and satisfying, this creation offers convenience in a delectable treat that captures the essence of barbecue in every bite. Grilled to perfection and paired with a tangy, crunchy, sweet pepper slaw – a must-try for meat lovers.

“The Cattlemen's Beef Quarters has been a favorite at the Iowa State Fair for years, known for its commitment to quality and its passion for showcasing delicious beef dishes,” said Kylie Peterson, spokesperson for the Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters. “These new additions are expected to be a big hit among fairgoers, adding to our already diverse and delicious offerings.”

Visitors can savor these new items from August 8 to August 18, 2024, at our iconic location. Located north of the Horse Barn and east of the Walnut Center, look for the black steer on the roof. Our hours of operation are 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Breakfast is served daily until 10 AM. The Salt Beef Bagel is only available during breakfast. Learn more about the Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters and find a full menu at www.cattlemensbeefquarters.com.



U.S. Pork Producers’ Biosecurity Practices Virtually Eliminate Trichinella, Proving Safety of Pork
 
At the urging of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), a newly published U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study found zero Trichinella positives in more than 3.2 million pork samples, demonstrating to domestic and global consumers the safety of U.S. pork.
 
“USDA scientists have confirmed that U.S. pork producers’ rigorous biosecurity efforts to keep pigs healthy are working,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minn. “Because of decades of pork industry research and hard work on the farm, consumers can continue to be confident that the pork on their dinner table is safe to eat.”
 
U.S. pork producers participate in the robust Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus) certification program for continuous improvement, including biosecurity practices to prevent on-farm exposure to wildlife and rodents, the main sources of Trichinella in pigs.
 
Trading partners have long restricted access for U.S. pork because of Trichinella concerns, as the U.S. did not have surveillance data to prove there was a negligible risk for Trichinella in the domestic swine herd. As a result of NPPC’s persistence over the past decade, this USDA study validates the safety of U.S. pork.
 
USDA conducted the first comprehensive survey of pigs produced under the PQA Plus program. USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) surveyed 3,208,643 samples of pork from 12 processing plants in 23 states over 54 months.
 
Key takeaways include:
    PQA Plus biosecurity measures are effective mitigations of risk for Trichinella in U.S. pig herds.
    Results are consistent with international guidelines for having a negligible risk to public health.
    Findings permit NPPC to leverage this data with trading partners using Trichinella as a barrier to trade, allowing for trade without extensive testing and further processing.
    U.S. pork is safe to eat.

This study was conducted by USDA ARS and the Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.



Council’s Summer Meeting Continues Tuesday with Focus on Sorghum and Barley Outlooks and Agricultural Sustainability

The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 64th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT, continued Tuesday with commodity sector meetings, panels regarding sorghum and barley market outlooks and the Council’s efforts to promote U.S. agriculture’s sustainability practices.

The day began with attendees splitting into sector meetings based on the industries they represent: agribusinesses, barley, corn, general farm organizations and sorghum.

The morning wrapped up with a general session that included a sorghum panel moderated by USGC Vice President Cary Sifferath; an update on the Council’s sustainable corn exports (SCE) platform from USGC Director of Global Sustainability Carlos Suárez; and the latest news on geopolitical factors affecting agricultural markets from Lloyd Day of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.

“One of the big drivers that we are seeing today [in sustainability] is government regulations and you’ll see that it’s becoming a criteria for market access,” said Suárez. “Regulatory bodies are demanding more scrutiny of sustainability claims that a corporation makes on the package of the product or within their financial statements, and they want to have more visibility into their emissions that a particular company is saying that they have.”

The afternoon’s general session featured a panel on U.S. barley production and use applications moderated by USGC Senior Director of Global Strategies Kurt Shultz and a deep dive on market factors in Mexico from AGON Partner Kenneth Smith Ramos.

“You see that people want to buy from people and want a relationship,” said barley panelist Nathan Boll of the North Dakota Barley Council and USGC barley sector director. “You see what that does for trade, especially for barley. Seeing people working all over the globe and the dynamics of what it takes to make trade happen is mind-blowing.”

The meeting concludes today with elections for USGC officer, Advisory Team (A-Team) and sector leadership positions.



Pasture and Rangeland Condition Update
Will Secor, Ph.D.
Extension Livestock Economist
University of Georgia

Pasture and rangeland conditions in the U.S. remain close to year-ago levels this week. Approximately 30 percent of pasture and rangeland are in poor to very-poor conditions. However, these conditions are not uniform across the U.S. Drought gripped the Southeast U.S. starting in June and has continued into July. More than 60 percent of the Southeast (AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, and VA) is experiencing drought. These drought conditions have hurt pasture and rangeland conditions in the Southeast. According to the USDA in mid-July, about 30 percent of the pasture in the Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) are in poor or very poor condition.

Some drought conditions exist in other areas of the country, as well, including approximately half of Texas, 60 percent of Oklahoma, 70 percent of Tennessee, and over 90 percent of Wyoming and Montana. Approximately 25 percent of Oklahoma and Texas pasture and rangelands are in poor or very poor condition. The Great Plains states are in better condition with around 20 percent of pasture and rangelands in the same condition.

These stable pasture and rangeland conditions year-over-year set the groundwork for a rebuild. With improved forage availability and lower feed costs, the ability of producers to expand their herds profitably increases. However, there are many factors that will play a key role in these rebuild decisions on an operation-by-operation basis, including expected future profitability, interest rates, land availability and other input cost changes.

Drought in certain areas and improved conditions in other areas creates uncertainty to the feeder cattle and calf price outlook for this fall. If drought incentivizes producers to bring more calves to market compared to normal, calf prices may see a more pronounced seasonal dip this fall in those areas, while still remaining high compared to recent history. However, in areas with good conditions, calf supplies may remain tight this fall, pushing prices higher than expected.



FFA Student Leaders Convened in Washington D.C. for the Future of Agriculture

FFA State Officer leaders from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands convened in Washington, D.C., July 22-26 to advocate for agriculture at the federal level during the National FFA State Officer Summit.

State Officer Teams met virtually with their representatives to share the importance of agriculture and agricultural education while advocating for the extension of funding for FFA through the Farm Bill and inviting legislators to join the Congressional FFA Caucus.

The National FFA State Officer Summit took place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The five-day training focused on serving as an advocate for agriculture and FFA, as well as developing clear and consistent messages related to agriculture and FFA.

INVITATION TO JOIN THE CONGRESSIONAL FFA CAUCUS
When meeting with their state legislators, FFA student leaders shared about the Congressional FFA Caucus and invited them to become a member. The bi-partisan caucus was founded and is co-chaired by Representatives Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) in the House of Representatives and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator John Boozman (R-AR). It has representation from both sides of the aisle from the House and Senate and advocates for strong career and technical education legislation, maintaining a youth perspective in agriculture and nutrition policy, and strengthening relationships between Congress and agricultural education teachers and FFA members. Elected officials interested in joining can reach out to a Caucus co-chairs’ offices for further information.

ADVOCATE FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP GRANT IN FARM BILL
FFA Members also asked for the reauthorization of a grant in 7 U.S.C. 7630(d)(2) that supports youth organizations including National FFA, the National 4-H Council, Boy Scouts of America, and Girls Scouts of America as part of the U.S. Farm Bill. National FFA asks for support in extending the sunshine date of this grant to coincide with the next reauthorization of the U.S. Farm Bill.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the industry of agriculture contributes more than $1.5 trillion to America’s gross domestic product, and funding will provide consistent support for organizations working to prepare the next generation of global leaders in agriculture.

Tuesday July 30 Crop Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending July 28, 2024, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7% very short, 30% short, 54% adequate, and 9% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 6% very short, 27% short, 58% adequate, and 9% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 16% fair, 47% good, and 27% excellent. Corn silking was 92%, ahead of 86% last year and 83% for the five-year average. Dough was 37%, ahead of 18% last year and 20% average. Dented was 1%.

Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 18% fair, 55% good, and 20% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 92%, ahead of 83% last year and 81% average. Setting pods was 55%, ahead of 45% last year and 47% average.

Winter wheat harvested was 95%, well ahead of 64% last year, and ahead of 78% average. Sorghum condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 17% fair, 61% good, and 19% excellent. Sorghum headed was 36%, ahead of 28% last year, and near 32% average. Coloring was 1%, equal to both last year and average.

Oats harvested was 82%, well ahead of 53% last year, and ahead of 67% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 9% very poor, 7% poor, 25% fair, 46% good, and 13% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 40%, behind 54% last year and 58% average. Setting pods was 19%, near 18% last year and 17% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 8% very poor, 12% poor, 27% fair, 40% good, and 13% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Scattered rainfall allowed Iowa farmers 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 28, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and applying fungicides.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.

Corn silking hit 85 percent this week, 2 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Thirty-four percent of the corn crop has reached dough stage or beyond, 1 day ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of average. Two percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage. Corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent.

Eighty-three percent of soybeans were blooming, 4 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of normal. Soybeans setting pods reached 43 percent, 2 days behind last year. Soybean condition was 76 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-six percent of oats were turning color or beyond. The oat harvest for grain reached 67 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the five-year average.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 87 percent complete, 4 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 16 percent, 6 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent.  

Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent. Heat stress in livestock was reported.   



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The condition of the nation's corn crop rose slightly last week, while soybean conditions fell slightly, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.  NASS also reported that the winter wheat harvest continued slightly ahead of the five-year average pace, while the spring wheat harvest kicked off slightly behind average.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 77%, 2 percentage points behind last year's 79% but 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 76%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 30%, 5 points ahead of last year's 25% and 8 points ahead of the five-year average of 22%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 68% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, back up 1 percentage point from 67% the previous week and still well ahead of last year's 55%. Nine percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, down 1 point from 10% from the previous week and still below 15% last year.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans blooming were pegged at 77%, 2 points behind last year's pace of 79% but 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 74%. Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 44%, 2 points behind last year's 46% but 4 points ahead of the five-year average of 40%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 67% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 point from 68% the previous week but still above last year's rating of 52% good to excellent.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 6 percentage points to reach 82% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 5 points ahead of last year's 77% and 2 points ahead of the five-year average pace of 80%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: 94% of spring wheat was headed, 2 percentage points behind last year's 96% and 2 points behind the five-year average of 96%.
-- Harvest progress: In its first spring wheat harvest report of the season, NASS estimated that just 1% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 1 point behind last year's 2% and 2 points behind the five-year average of 3%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 74% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 3 points from 77% the previous week. That remains well ahead of last year's rating of 42% good to excellent.



Legislative Update: Special Session
    
Last week Governor Pillen officially called the special session with a limited focus on addressing property taxes. Over the course of 3 days, 81 bills and 24 constitutional amendments were introduced. Hearings began Monday for a group of early introduced bills. LB1, LB2 and LB3 were introduced on behalf of the Governor and outline various exemptions to be repealed, transfer of funds and other funding mechanisms.  
NeCGA Opposes Transfer Proposal
Within LB3, Governor Pillen is proposing to transfer $300,000 per year from the Nebraska corn checkoff program – a proposal that the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and other ag groups are strongly opposing. Chris Grams, NeCGA president, will be testifying on Tuesday against this provision and we encourage growers to also submit their opposition to the transfer.



Rough First Quarter for Nebraska's GDP
NeFB Newsletter

Nebraska’s real gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter, $144.9 billion in inflation adjusted dollars, shrank 3.1% compared to the fourth quarter of last year according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The decline follows a growth of 5.2% in 2023, sixth-highest in the nation. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia experienced GDP growth in the first quarter. Nebraska was joined by Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota with declines between 3-4%. Missouri was the only state in the Plains region to see growth, 1.6%.

Agriculture’s struggles were a leading reason for the decline in Nebraska’s GDP. Agriculture’s contribution to the state’s GDP in the first quarter was - 4.43 percent (Figure 4). Clearly, declining incomes in agriculture is being reflected in the state’s overall economic performance. Positive contributions from the finance, construction, wholesale and retail trade sectors were positive and helped mitigate agriculture’s struggles.

There are positives for Nebraska’s economy despite the first quarter doldrums. Personal income in the quarter grew 3.1%. The unemployment rate is still low. And job openings continue to increase. The latest Leading Economic Indicator from the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln rose 0.26%, suggesting the economy will see modest growth late in the year. Increases in manufacturing hours and strong demand for food products were the leading positive contributors to the index. Business expectations were positive too. Businesses expect to increase sales and employment over the next six months. All signs that the state will see economic growth to finish out the year.



NE Corn Board to Meet

The Nebraska Corn Board will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at Wayne State College (1111 Main St.) in Wayne, Neb.

The meeting is open to the public, providing the opportunity for public comment. The board will conduct regular board business.

A copy of the agenda is available by writing to the Nebraska Corn Board, 245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 204, Lincoln, NE 68521, sending an email to renee.tichota@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2676.



NeCGA is Expanding the Team

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association is seeking a director of public policy to join our team-oriented office. The successful candidate for this full-time position will be an energetic self-starter who will lead our state and federal policy advocacy efforts on behalf of the state’s largest corn organization. Additional responsibilities include monitoring, communicating and drafting responses to regulations and proposed rules that affect Nebraska corn farmers and are in line with our policies. This position will also engage with members and local associations.

Ideal candidates would have an agriculture background with a bachelor’s degree in a related field and 3+ years of post-graduate experience and the ability to work independently and with fellow teammates. State and national travel will be part of the job. Competitive salary based on experience and benefits package available.

Submit a cover letter and resume to Brenda Zanga (bzanga@necga.org) by August 23, 2024.



I-29 Moo University webinar On August 22 To focus On Advances in Colostrum Management For Dairy Farms

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series continues Thursday, August 22 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT.

In this webinar Dr. Sandra Godden will review the basic tenants of a successful colostrum management program, as well as discuss recent advancements. Topics discussed will include but not be limited to, harvesting high quality colostrum and quality testing on farm, strategies to reduce bacterial contamination including heat-treating colostrum, proper storage to maintain quality, managing colostrum inventory during seasonal changes, and benefits of extended feeding of colostrum or transition milk.

Dr. Godden points out, “While U.S. dairy farms have made impressive gains in colostrum management in recent decades, additional opportunities exist on a majority of farms”.

Dr. Godden is a 1993 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. After working for two years as an associate veterinarian in mixed practice in Eastern Ontario, she returned to Guelph to complete a DVSc degree specializing in dairy production medicine.  From 1998 to present she has been a member of the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota where she is involved with professional DVM student teaching, applied research and outreach activities in dairy production medicine.  Sandra is a Past President of both the National Mastitis Council and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. Her major academic interests currently include applied research in mastitis control, colostrum and calf health management.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, registration is required at least one hour before the webinar. Register online at: https://go.iastate.edu/COLOSTRUM24

For more information, contact: in Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota, Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; or in South Dakota, Patricia Villamediana, 605-688-4116.



Seed Laboratory Offers Cover Crop Seed Testing Services

One of the most important factors that can determine the success of a cover crop is the quality of the seed itself.

Farmers and the seed industry need to know what they’re putting into the planter will germinate, and that the seed is pure.

Terry Basol, a field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, encourages those who plant or sell cover crop seed to take advantage of the testing services offered by the Seed Laboratory at Iowa State University.

The lab provides a wide array of seed testing services, including those required by federal cover crop programs, and for selling cover crop seed.

Samples can be submitted in bags issued by the lab, or in quart-size plastic bags, with the type of seed and date of harvest clearly marked. The lab will send out up to 10 sample bags free of charge upon request.

Kim North, a seed analyst at the lab, said the harvest date is important because recently harvested seeds – those harvested within the past 6-9 months, require a prechilling period to break the seed’s dormancy.

When information is missing, the lab contacts whoever sent the seed, and the testing process can be delayed by several days. The prechilling process itself takes five days or more to complete.

The Seed Lab provides a Cover Crop submission form for producers to complete on their website, which includes the test options, the date of harvest and the contact information.

Costs for testing vary depending on the type and quantity of tests the producer wants. Basol said the cost is minimal compared to the peace of mind in knowing the seed will perform.

“When you get results from the lab, you know everything was evaluated according to a standardized process,” he said. “A lot of farmers rely on word of mouth for their cover crop seeds, but the test helps provide some certainty.”

Basol said farmers who are planning to save and replant cover crop seed that they’re harvesting should double-check to make sure it’s not patented and/or licensed, as this would cause them to be in violation of patent rights and seed agreements of the seed company, and risk a patent infringement lawsuit. Although many cover crops can legally be replanted, it’s important to check with the supplier or seed company to be certain.

Information about how to package seed samples and send them to the lab is available on the Seed Lab Website. Seed can be mailed to the lab, or dropped off in person during business hours, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The lab also has a drop box, available for 24-7 delivery.

For more information, the Seed Lab can be reached at 515-294-6826 or email seedlab@iastate.edu.



Agriculture Recovery Center to be in Sioux County, July 30

State, federal and local agencies, in conjunction with farming industry groups, will host a one-day Agriculture Recovery Center in Sioux County on Tuesday, July 30, noon to 8 p.m., to help Iowans recover from flooding and storm damage.

The walk-through event, designed as a resource fair, will provide information on addressing agricultural or rural needs that are not covered by standard programs offered by FEMA or the state of Iowa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Iowa Insurance Division and other government agencies are working with industry organizations such as Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa Soybean and Iowa Cattlemen to ensure unmet needs are identified and resources are shared.

This event on Tuesday, July 30, from noon to 8 p.m., will be held at:
Sioux County
Dordt University – Agriculture Stewardship Building
3648 US-75,
Sioux Center, Iowa 51250                                                     

Download the Iowa Disaster Agriculture Resource Guide here: https://www.iowa.gov/resources-0/agricultural-resources

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. For Spanish, press 2. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.



USDA Extending Comment Period for the Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets Proposed Rule

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is extending the deadline for comments on the proposed rule, Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets (89 Fed. Reg. 53886), for an additional 15 days, from Aug. 27 to Sept. 11, 2024. Comments may be submitted anonymously at www.regulations.gov. USDA will publish a notice of the extension in the Federal Register.

The Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets proposed rule would define unfair practices as conduct that harms market participants and conduct that harms the market. Combined, these comprehensively define the contours of “unfair practices” under the P&S Act.

View the webinar https://youtu.be/KTbgyItoNfI to provide background information and an overview of the proposed rule.



USDA Extends Comment Period for Sweeping Packers and Stockyards Rule by Only 15 Days

Monday, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymer released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture extending the 60-day comment period for their latest Packers and Stockyards proposed rule, "Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets," by only 15 days:

"Cattle markets are immensely complicated and USDA is planning to make sweeping changes to those markets with only 75 days of public input. While today's extension is welcome, it is not nearly enough time to properly solicit public comment and review a rule that will have such an overarching impact on the cattle industry. The proposed rule is already a direct attack on producer profitability and now USDA is running down the clock to prevent meaningful input from cattle producers."



ACE 2024 Conference to Feature Targeted Tracks on Carbon, Leadership & Management and Technology

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 37th annual conference coming up August 14-16 in Omaha offers a variety of breakout sessions covering the latest in technology updates, strategic planning advice, and ways to make ethanol plants more profitable while reducing carbon emissions. The breakout sessions will be held concurrently in three rounds on the afternoon of Thursday, August 15, following the morning general session panels.

This year’s breakouts are split into three tracks: Carbon, Leadership & Management and Technology. Breakout sessions include:

Carbon Track – Developments to Lower Carbon Intensity (CI)

Navigating CCS from Permitting to Pathway Verification
    Experts will explore the federal and state incentives to encourage adoption of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and the strategies to successfully navigate the environmental permitting process.

Leveraging and Quantifying Farm-Level CI Reductions
    This session will highlight companies working to help farmers implement climate-smart farming practices that could eventually reap financial benefits for the producer and ultimately help decarbonize the ethanol production supply chain.

Technology Innovations to Lower Your CI Score
    This session will highlight specific cutting-edge, carbon-reducing technologies available to the ethanol industry, as well as how to leverage the metrics and models to determine the best CI reduction strategies based on facility specific advantages and challenges.

Leadership & Management Track – Techniques for Improving Operational Efficiency

Golden Opportunities to Create New Markets and Revenue Streams
    This panel will feature some innovative companies, from those developing new technologies for green methanol and hydrogen production, to advancements in the established distillers grains and animal feed market.

The New Normal for Managing Forecasts and Cashflow
    In this presentation, learn about the three steps needed for effective forecasting and cash flow management and how to increase the accuracy of plans made.

Workforce Evolution: Succession Planning, Board Member Training, Employee Retention
    This session will cover all things dealing with today’s and tomorrow’s workforce, diving into how to hire and retain good employees, navigating generational differences and transitions of leadership, as well as board training and planning.
 
Technology Track – Enhancements for Optimizing Producer Operations

Getting the Most Out of Your Corn Oil Yield
    How much corn oil gets recovered is a product of good operating conditions, equipment efficiency and proper enzyme application. While facilities have come a long way in increasing corn oil yields, there is still room for improvement, and this session will highlight systems and technology in place to enhance oil recovery.

Targeting Solutions to Maximize Efficiency, Conserve Resources
    This panel will showcase case studies that present targeted solutions to fouling and explore the optimization of ethanol production through an integrated tank cleaning strategy.

What All Plants Need to Know About Fiber Ethanol
    Consulting firms will speak about the important considerations plants must know about coproducing corn starch ethanol and fiber ethanol.

To register for the event and learn more about these sessions and others, visit ethanol.org/events/conference.



USGC Members Arrive in Utah for 64th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting

U.S. Grains Council (USGC) members are gathered in Salt Lake City, UT for the organization’s 64th Board of Delegates Meeting, held July 29-31.

USGC Chairman Brent Boydston welcomed attendees with a summary of the Council’s work over the past year and a preview of the meeting’s upcoming content.

“My theme this year, Growing the Future, reflects both the opportunities and challenges of the current environment,” Boydston said. “At this meeting, we gather to discuss issues facing our industry and explore future demand for feed grains and ethanol around the world.”

The conference officially kicked off with an address from Utah Senior Advisor of Community Outreach and Intergovernmental Affairs Matt Mower and an inspirational speech from motivational speaker Matt Booth. Staff from the Council’s ethanol department participated in a panel discussion on non-road applications of biofuels and Council leadership discussed future opportunities as a result of incoming funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s regional agricultural promotion program (RAPP).

“We are ready, willing and able to do the hard work it takes to keep established markets open, open new markets and keep trade going strong as we head into a bright future beyond today, this year and for years to come,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC president and CEO.

In the afternoon, attendees spent time in one or more of seven Advisory Team (A-Team) meetings. Each A-Team has a specific focus: Asia, ethanol, innovation and sustainability, Middle East/Africa/South Asia, trade policy, value-added and Western Hemisphere. These meetings allowed members to offer input and set priorities to determine the Council’s course of action over the coming year.

On Tuesday, programming will feature an outlook on global sorghum markets; the latest on the Council’s corn sustainability assurance protocol (CSAP); news on geopolitical developments affecting the international grain industry; a panel on U.S. barley quality and versatility; and an in-depth look at factors affecting U.S. agriculture trade with Mexico.

The meeting will conclude on Wednesday with the election of members to the 2024/2025 Board of Directors and the appointment of new A-Team leaders.



RFA Urges Flex Fuel Vehicles for California Emissions Goals

In comments to the California Air Resources Board in response to a late June workshop on potential amendments to the state’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, the Renewable Fuels Association urged CARB to require that all new vehicles with internal combustion engines sold within the state be flex-fuel capable, to achieve California’s carbon emissions goals.

“With the substantial portion of legacy vehicles that will still be on the road after 2035 when new ZEV [zero-emission vehicle] requirements take full effect, and with the twenty percent allowance for PHEVs [plug-in hybrid electric vehicles] under those rules, it is critical to maximize greenhouse gas reductions in both the legacy fleet and new PHEVs sold after 2035,” wrote RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman.

Citing new independent research, Richman said that expanding and sustaining the benefits of E85 utilization in California through a flex fuel requirement represents a unique opportunity for maximizing greenhouse gas benefits while lowering costs to the consumer under the state’s Advanced Clean Cars program. Click here for the June 2024 study, Future Scenarios for E85 in the U.S.

Additionally, based on E85prices.com data, E85 in California sold for an average discount of $1.81 per gallon compared to regular gasoline in 2023. As a result, RFA estimates that California consumers saved $94 million in 2023 by utilizing E85, adjusted for fuel economy. Moreover, if all the 1.3 million flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) on the road in California today were running on E85, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 2.7 million metric tons per year.

“Since our January comments, the availability of E85 has continued to increase, with an estimated 500 retail fueling stations now offering E85 according to discussions with E85 fuel retailers,” Richman wrote. “For this growth to continue, it is important for the market to be confident of future E85 demand growth potential; a FFV requirement will provide that market signal.”




USDA Announces Changes to Enhanced Coverage Option Insurance Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options to additional crops as well as increasing premium support to make the policy more affordable for producers.

“The Risk Management Agency is continually responding to producer needs and adapting our insurance coverage options to give producers more choices when it comes to managing their risks,” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “This expansion is part of RMA’s larger effort to provide more options for specialty crop producers.”

ECO is currently approved for 36 crops and RMA is expanding coverage options to almonds, apples, blueberries, grapes, and walnuts for the 2025 crop year and to citrus crops where the Supplemental Coverage Option is currently available in California and Arizona for the 2026 crop year.

Additionally, RMA is increasing premium support for all crops covered by ECO to 65% to make the policy more affordable.

ECO provides additional area-based coverage for a portion of a producer’s underlying crop insurance policy deductible. ECO can be purchased as an endorsement to Yield Protection, Revenue Protection, Revenue Protection with the Harvest Price Exclusion or Actual Production History. ECO offers producers a choice of 90 or 95% trigger levels. Trigger is the percentage of expected yield or revenue at which a loss becomes payable.

ECO coverage is unaffected by participation in USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage program for the same crop, on the same acres. Producers may select ECO regardless of FSA farm program election.

Monday July 29 Ag News

 Southern Rust Spreading in Eastern Nebraska
Tamra Jackson-Ziems - Extension Plant Pathologist

In recent days, southern rust has been confirmed in more than a dozen counties in eastern Nebraska. Southern rust is patchy at local levels in affected counties. Meaning it’s easy to find across some fields, but seemingly not present (yet?) in other nearby fields within a handful of miles. This distribution pattern is common for southern rust early after it moves into the state. If weather conditions remain favorable, southern rust will likely continue to worsen within fields and continue to spread within and between fields and to more counties. This year it is especially important to scout corn fields for disease and monitor spread of potential disease threats.

There are few notable elevated risk factors for southern rust damage this year:
    Southern rust development and presence in several eastern Nebraska counties during the week of July 15 was earlier and more widespread than documented in recent history. Southern rust has rarely developed in northern Nebraska during July historically, so it may be unexpected in northern Nebraska and some other areas.
    This year, there is a wide range of planting dates with many Nebraska corn acres planted later (or replanted) due to the wet conditions this spring. Later planting and cooler growing conditions have slowed crop growth and development in some parts of the state, where some corn is still in vegetative growth stages. Development of southern rust in these fields, especially those that are pre-tassel or in early grain fill stages, creates increased risk for impact on yield later if disease severity continues to increase.
    Favorable disease conditions. Recent and frequent rainfall and high relative humidity are optimal for most fungal pathogens, like the one causing southern rust, Puccinia polysora. Average temperatures around 80°F are also optimal for the fungus and are expected to continue.

Southern rust may be confused with common rust, that is also present in many Nebraska corn fields this year. Common rust is of lesser concern and rarely requires treatment in dent corn because of a natural level of resistance that is common in commercial hybrids. But differentiating common rust from southern rust can be difficult due to similarities in their appearance. The color of some common rust pustules  appeared more orange than the typical brick red/brown, making them appear more similar to southern rust this year and more difficulty to differentiate.

Management
Unfortunately, only a few commercially available corn hybrids are resistant to southern rust. However, some foliar fungicides can provide good disease control if their application is well-timed. The publication “Fungicide Efficacy Ratings for Control of Corn Diseases” summarizes product ratings by disease based on research results conducted at universities for several years. These fungicide efficacy ratings are also summarized in the disease management section of the Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska (EC130), distributed to those with the Nebraska pesticide applicator license.

Most foliar fungicides provide maximum protection for about three weeks following application. Thus, applications made prior to disease development may mean that the window of protection is lost or diminished before disease develops. However, the products are also less likely to provide adequate control and economic return if waiting to apply until after disease is already widespread and severe. Thus, regular scouting of fields is strongly recommended this year to familiarize yourself with the disease(s) that are present, their spread, and increasing severity.

The Crop Protection Network now provides the Corn Fungicide ROI Calculator as a guide to estimate return on investment (ROI) with application of several commercially available products based on disease severity, product costs, commodity price and other parameters.  



2023 FARM PRODUCTION EXPENDITURES DOWN 1%

Farm and ranch production expenditures for Nebraska totaled $28.5 billion in 2023, down 1% from a year earlier, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Livestock expenses, the largest expenditure category, at $7.59 billion, increased 11% from 2022. Feed, the next largest total expense category at $3.45 billion, decreased 24% from 2022. Rent, the third largest expense category, at $2.74 billion, decreased 7% from 2022.

Livestock expenses accounted for 27% of Nebraska's total production expenditures. Feed accounted for 12, rent 10, and farm services 8%. The total expenditures per farm or ranch in Nebraska averaged $632,556 in 2023, down 2% from 2022. The Livestock expense category was the leading expenditure, at $168,667 per operation, 5.72 times the national average. The average feed expenditure, at $76,667, was 1.81 times the national average. Rent expenditures, at $60,889 per operation, were 3.31 times the national average. Farm services expenditures per operation, at $52,000, were 1.80 times the national average.

These results are based on data from Nebraska farmers and ranchers who participated in the
Agricultural Resource Management Survey conducted by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Producers were contacted in January through April to collect 2023 farm and ranch expenses.

IOWA: Iowa farm production expenditures totaled $37.9 billion in 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Farm Production Expenditures 2023 Summary report. This was $2.69 billion above the 2022 total expenditures. Feed expense, up 10 percent to $8.04 billion, represented the largest single production expense in Iowa in 2023, accounting for 21 percent of the total. Livestock, Poultry, and Related Purchases, up 5 percent to $5.00 billion, was the second largest expense and accounted for 13 percent of total expenditures. Rent expense was up 5 percent to $4.37 billion and accounted for 12 percent of the total. The largest percentage increases from last year were for Miscellaneous Capital Expenses (up 100 percent), Tractors and Self-Propelled Farm Machinery (up 51 percent), Interest (up 27 percent), and Trucks and Autos (up 26 percent). The largest percentage decreases from last year were for Fuel (down 12 percent), and Fertilizer, Lime, and Soil Conditioners (down 5 percent).

2023 United States Total Farm Production Expenditure Highlights
Farm production expenditures in the United States are estimated at $481.9 billion for 2023, up from $452.5 billion in 2022. The 2023 total farm production expenditures are up 6.5 percent compared with 2022 total farm production expenditures.

The four largest expenditures at the United States level total $238.7 billion and account for 49.6 percent of total expenditures in 2023. These include feed, 16.6 percent, livestock, poultry, and related expenses, 11.6 percent, farm services, 11.3 percent, and labor, 10.1 percent.

In 2023, the United States total farm expenditure average per farm is $255,047, up 12.4 percent from $226,885 in 2022. On average, United States farm operations spent $42,340 on feed, $29,479 on livestock, poultry, and related expenses, $28,844 on farm services, and $25,669 on labor. For 2022, United States farms spent an average of $41,917 on feed, $24,669 on farm services, $22,563 on livestock, poultry, and related expenses, and $21,109 on labor.

Total fuel expense is $16.5 billion. Diesel, the largest sub-component, is $10.9 billion, accounting for 66.1 percent. Diesel expenditures are down 4.4 percent from the previous year. Gasoline is $2.8 billion, down 5.7 percent. LP gas is $1.8 billion, down 15.5 percent. Other fuel is $1 billion, unchanged.

The United States economic sales class contributing most to the 2023 United States total expenditures is the $1,000,000 to $4,999,999 class, with expenses of $172 billion, 35.7 percent of the United States total, up 15.6 percent from the 2022 level of $148.7 billion. The next highest is the $5,000,000 and over class with $147.6 billion, up 9.4 percent from $134.9 billion in 2022.

In 2023, crop farms expenditures increased to $252.5 billion, up 8.2 percent, while livestock farms expenditures increased to $229.4 billion, up 4.7 percent. The largest expenditures for crop farms are labor at $36.1 billon (14.3 percent), farm services at $32.1 billion (12.7 percent), fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners at $31.0 billion (12.3 percent), and rent at $29.7 billion (11.8 percent). Combined crop inputs (chemicals, fertilizers, and seeds) are $75.1 billion, accounting for 29.7 percent of crop farms total expenses. The largest expenditures for livestock farms are feed at $77.7 billion (33.9 percent of total), livestock, poultry, and related expenses at $53.6 billion (23.4 percent), and farm services at $22.4 billion (9.8 percent). Together, these line items account for 67.1 percent of livestock farms total expenses. The average total expenditure for a crop farm is $298,017 compared to $220,113 per livestock farm.



Hands-on Solar Design and Installation Workshop Set for Aug. 15-16

In partnership with Dixon Power Systems, Nebraska Extension is hosting a solar design and installation workshop on Thursday, Aug. 15 and Friday, Aug. 16.

Open to the public, the workshop will cover basic solar design, installation and economic analysis of grid-connected behind the meter solar PV systems. Additionally, there will be a brief introduction to battery systems. Both classroom and hands-on sessions will step through the process of evaluation through installation. This workshop will be valuable for people interested in exploring a DIY project or gaining knowledge to evaluate the feasibility of having a project installed at their home.

The workshop will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT each day at 102 Splinter Labs, UNL East Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Those interested in attending should register online by Friday, Aug. 2. https://web.cvent.com/event/931ec47d-a852-4d77-82aa-392c7375986a/summary  The workshop is $250 for an individual, $350 for a married couple, and $220 for students.

For more information, contact F. John Hay at (402) 472-0408.



Free Farm and Ag Law Clinics Set for August 2024

Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state in August. The clinics are one-on-one in-person meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. These are not group sessions, and they are confidential.

The attorney and financial advisor specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial and business planning, transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, debt structure and cash flow, agricultural disaster programs, and other relevant matters. Here is an opportunity to obtain an independent, outside perspective on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.
Clinic Dates

    Wednesday, Aug. 7 — Fairbury
    Wednesday, Aug. 28 — Norfolk
    Wednesday, Aug. 29 — Valentine

To sign up for a free clinic or to get more information, call the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.

Funding for this work is provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska.



ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team webinar on August 21 will be an alfalfa update and overview

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

Amber Friedrichsen with Hay & Forage Grower will give an overview of alfalfa growing conditions, harvest conditions, and forage test results so far this year. She will discuss how rainfall, temperatures, and pest management have affected alfalfa yield and quality throughout the growing season and summarize accounts from area farmers, custom forage harvesters, and forage consultants.

Amber Friedrichsen is the new managing editor of Hay & Forage Grower magazine. She grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University in 2023 with degrees in agricultural communications and agronomy. While in college, Friedrichsen served as the editorial intern for Hay & Forage Grower for two summers and was an associate editor before assuming her current position.

Producers, dairy consultants, and industry representatives are encouraged to attend the free webinar from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on August 21 by registering at least one hour prior to the webinar at https://go.iastate.edu/ALFALFA2024.

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist in your area: in Northwest Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu; in Northeast Iowa, Jennifer Bentley, 563-382-2949 or jbentley@iastate.edu; in East Central Iowa, Larry Tranel, 563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu; in Ames, Dr. Gail Carpenter, 515-294-9085 or ajcarpen@iastate.edu.



Biofuel Leaders Respond to Court Decision on Small Refinery Exemptions

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today issued an order vacating most of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2022 denials of petitions for small refinery exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard obligations, and remanding those petitions to EPA for further proceedings. The court’s opinion remains under seal and is unavailable for public review.

The following is a joint statement from the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol, all of whom intervened on EPA’s behalf in the litigation:

“We are extremely disappointed in today’s decision to vacate and remand EPA’s denial of dozens of small refinery exemption petitions. EPA’s decision in 2022 to deny the petitions was well-reasoned, based on sound economic analysis, and consistent with both the Clean Air Act and the objectives of the Renewable Fuel Standard. We will evaluate our next steps, which may include seeking further review of today’s decision. Our coalition remains resolute and committed to protecting and defending the proper implementation of the RFS.”



NFU ENCOURAGED BY SENATE PROGRESS TO STRENGTHEN DOJ ANTITRUST DIVISION ACCESS TO RESOURCES

The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday passed its Fiscal Year 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) funding bill, which included robust funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division and restored a critical component of the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act (MFFMA) that had been rescinded in the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill.  

NFU is leading the fight to ensure the DOJ Antitrust Division has the resources it needs to promote fair and competitive markets in agriculture and across the American economy.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew expressed appreciation for the legislation: “We commend Chair Jeanne Shaheen and Ranking Member Jerry Moran for moving forward legislation that fully reinstates the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act and provides strong funding for the DOJ Antitrust Division. Corporate monopolies have been squeezing family farmers, ranchers, and our communities for decades, and we need a strong DOJ Antitrust Division that can fully enforce our nation’s competition laws. NFU looks forward to continuing to work with the Senate Appropriations Committee to empower the Antitrust Division to take on rampant monopoly power in agriculture and throughout our economy.”

The partisan FY25 House CJS Appropriations bill cuts funding for the DOJ Antitrust Division and fails to restore the MFFMA. In contrast, the bipartisan FY25 Senate CJS Appropriations bill did the opposite, strengthening funding for the division and restoring MFFMA to its originally intended purpose. NFU will continue advocating for Congress to adopt the Senate’s approach and fully fund the DOJ Antitrust Division and restore the MFFMA.  

Background:
Earlier this year when Congress passed legislation to keep the government open, the funding bill included a damaging policy rider that would hamper the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division’s ability to enforce our nation’s antitrust laws and promote fair, open, and competitive markets. The rider unraveled a key component of the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act (MFFMA), legislation that Congress passed in 2022 with overwhelming bipartisan support.  

Unfettered mergers and acquisitions in agriculture over the last several decades have squeezed American family farmers and ranchers. The MFFMA restructured premerger filing fees, raised fees for the largest mergers, and was intended to strengthen enforcement of our antitrust laws by providing additional funding to the DOJ Antitrust Division through increased access to the merger filing fees. The government funding bill in the spring of 2024 rescinded some of DOJ’s access to those filing fees, hampering DOJ’s antitrust efforts.

In recent years, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division had fewer employees than it did in 1979. Funding for federal antitrust agencies has failed to keep pace with overwhelming corporate consolidation in our economy, which harms family farmers, ranchers, and our communities. Under the Biden-Harris Administration and under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, the DOJ Antitrust Division is taking aggressive action to promote fair and competitive markets across many sectors of the American economy, including in agriculture. The MFFMA recission and inadequate funding would erode the important work happening at DOJ.

Friday July 26 Ag News

Failure to Modernize Farm Bill Has Measurable Consequences

The very real and damaging consequences of Congress’ failure to pass a modernized farm bill are brought to light in a new analysis by American Farm Bureau Federation economists. It provides a clearer picture of major impacts of relying on the antiquated 2018 farm bill, including the likely loss of more family farms in the U.S., all of which impact the country’s ability to produce the food, fuel and fiber America’s families rely on.

The Market Intel highlights five specific impacts of the failure to pass a new farm bill: a weakened farmer safety net, less future funding for sustainability efforts, a gap in coverage for dairy farmers, further erosion of U.S. leadership in public agricultural research as China takes the lead, and reduced overall economic and national security.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “If Congress fails to pass a new and improved farm bill, they will be responsible for leaving farmers in a lurch at a time when we’ve lost more than 140,000 family farms in just five years. When the current farm bill was drafted in 2018, the agricultural landscape was drastically different. Policy that pre-dates a global pandemic, historic inflation, skyrocketing supply costs and geopolitical uncertainty just won’t cut it today or next year. Congress must not put farmers, ranchers and America’s families on the back burner. The House Agriculture Committee has done its part so far. It's now time for the Senate Agriculture Committee to move this process forward.”

Reference prices, the point at which federal programs compensate farmers when markets bottom out, need to be modernized. The Market Intel states that while a few commodities’ reference prices have increased due to a price escalator added in the 2018 law, all lag significantly behind increases in cost-of-production.

Once a global leader, America has fallen far behind China in publicly funded agricultural research. China spends more than $10 billion a year on agricultural research, double the spending in the U.S. In fact, China's research investments nearly match the combined investments by the U.S., India and Brazil. "Supporting the productivity of U.S. agriculture is critical to our competitiveness in the larger world market; it is fundamental to building our capacity to contribute to environmental sustainability; and it is absolutely necessary to supporting the health and nutrition of the world’s population."

The current farm bill extension will expire in September. The nearly seven-year-old law never anticipated a global pandemic, global unrest, record-high inflation and supply chain issues. The people who rely on crucial farm bill programs recognize the need for action now. Five hundred and thirty organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, this week sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to come together and pass a bipartisan farm bill.



All-Time Record Low Veal Production in June

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.27 billion pounds in June, down 6 percent from the 4.55 billion pounds produced in June 2023.

Beef production, at 2.14 billion pounds, was 9 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.54 million head, down 12 percent from June 2023. The average live weight was up 44 pounds from the previous year, at 1,382 pounds.

Veal production totaled 3.1 million pounds, 21 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 15,800 head, down 33 percent from June 2023. The average live weight was up 48 pounds from last year, at 331 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.12 billion pounds, down 4 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.92 million head, down 5 percent from June 2023. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 287 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.4 million pounds, was down 6 percent from June 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 176,700 head, 2 percent below last year. The average live weight was 116 pounds, down 5 pounds from June a year ago.

By State            (miillion lbs.  -  % of June '23)
Nebraska .........:     631.0             96       
Iowa ...............:     701.7            100       
Kansas ............:     468.1             93       

January to June 2024 commercial red meat production was 27.2 billion pounds, down slightly from 2023. Accumulated beef production was down 2 percent from last year, veal was down 12 percent, pork was up 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up slightly.



NEW STUDY SHOWS IOWA AGRICULTURE EVEN STRONGER

Iowa’s 86,911 family farms continue to be a key driver of Iowa’s economy, contributing 32 percent more to the state economy than in 2017, according to a new study commissioned by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF). The study shows that more than 22 percent of Iowa’s total economic output came from Iowa agriculture in 2022.

The study analyzed data from the 2022 UDSA Census of Agriculture, USDA/NASS datasets, the IMPLAN modeling system, and the 2022 IMPLAN dataset to determine the contributions of Iowa agriculture.

The agriculture industry goes beyond just impacting the total economic output of the state. Nearly one in every five Iowans are employed due to agriculture and ag-related industries, accounting for more than 385,000 jobs.

“This study underscores how productive and innovative farmers continue to be, despite some very challenging times during Covid,” said Spencer Parkinson; of Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS) who conducted the study. “Infact, since the first report of this nature was completed by DIS in 2009, the labor income finding its source in agriculture and related industries has more than doubled, increasing from $12.6 billion to $25.8 billion in 2024 – these earnings benefit more than just those in agriculture, they support all Iowans.”

Even with this growth, Iowa’s farmers maintain their roots. More than 96 percent of farms in Iowa are family owned and operated with farm size averaging 345 acres.

“The agriculture industry remains a vital part of Iowa communities,” said Brian Waddingham, CSIF Executive Director. “We see this every time we host an open house with livestock farmers. It’s common to see hundreds of community members attend to celebrate what a new barn means to their community: jobs, kids in school and a boon to local businesses.”

Waddingham noted that livestock farming, and related industries account for $20.4 billion in value-added contributions for the state, up nearly $5 billion from 2017. It also accounts for nearly 170,000 jobs across Iowa.

“It’s a testament to the tenacity of livestock farmers, in particular, who have persevered through a global pandemic, low commodity prices, tariffs and Mother Nature to actually see an increase in economic output related to livestock in the state. There’s no question that the livestock industry is a critical piece to Iowa’s overall economy,” said Waddingham. “It’s also key to keeping farm families living and working on the land.”

“In the 20 years since the Coalition was formed, we’ve assisted more than 5,300 farm families wanting to responsibly grow their farms and bring young people back to rural Iowa. Diversification seems to be a key component to Iowa’s thriving livestock industry, from established livestock farmers to crop farmers adding livestock for the first time. Calls to CSIF for assistance remain high as farmers want to discuss which options are best for their farms. Whether it’s a new and beginning farmer or an existing and well-established farmer calling us, there is a great deal of optimism about adding livestock to the farm,” he added.

Waddingham noted that the calls for assistance include concerns over DNR and EPA inspections, neighbor relations, siting new livestock and poultry barns as well as raising shrimp. There are many opportunities in Iowa’s livestock industry today which will continue to evolve to provide farmers additional opportunities in the future. “As agriculture evolves so will CSIF and the services we provide to ensure the success of livestock agriculture in our state,” he said.

The study also noted that crop farming and processing account for 99,271 jobs, and $16.2 billion in value-added contributions to Iowa, up from $11.1 billion dollars in 2017.

For more information on the study and a county-by-county break out, visit http://www.supportfarmers.com/resources/county-map/

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was created by farmers to help farmers raise livestock successfully and responsibly. It’s a joint partnership involving the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation, Midwest Dairy and the NC Poultry Association.



USDA Cold Storage June 2024 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers were down 2 percent from the previous month and down 2 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 3 percent from the previous month and down slightly from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 2 percent from the previous month and down 3 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 16 percent from last month and down 14 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on June 30, 2024 were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 8 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 13 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 5 percent from last month and up 2 percent from June 30, 2023.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on June 30, 2024 were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 6 percent from June 30, 2023. Butter stocks were down 2 percent from last month but up 7 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks were up 12 percent from last month and up 17 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down slightly from last month and down 2 percent from a year ago.



IRFA Urges USDA to Decouple Climate Smart Agriculture Carbon Credits from Physical Grain

Thursday, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) submitted comments to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to a request for information on potential future rulemakings to facilitate climate smart agriculture practices (CSA). IRFA urged that any rulemaking should decouple CSA carbon credits from physical bushels of grain in order to unleash the full potential of clean fuels in current and future markets.

“Requiring full supply chain traceability for every bushel produced using CSA practices is impractical, costly, and counter-productive to the goals of 45Z [the new clean fuel production tax credit],” IRFA stated in the comments. “Decoupling the CSA carbon credits from the physical bushel through a book and claim system unlocks numerous benefits for both farmers and clean fuel producers – and maximizes the carbon reductions made possible by 45Z tax credits.”

IRFA also agreed with other groups in asking the USDA to recognize several more CSA farming practices, less “one size fits all” mandatory bundling and ensuring farmers receive full credit for the carbon reduction of each practice.

“While we recognize that there is uncertainty in some CSA modeling, we urge the Department to adopt the best available science and to update any regulations as better science becomes available in a continuous cycle of improvement...The only thing that is certain is that if adopting a CSA practice does not provide a return-on-investment to the farmer, adoption will be much slower than if it did,” stated the comments.

 

RFA to USDA: Embrace Book-and-Claim Accounting for Climate Smart Agriculture Feedstocks

The Renewable Fuels Association yesterday submitted comments urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement the use of a “book-and-claim” accounting framework for tracking and transferring the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices through the biofuels supply chain.

The comments were filed in response to USDA’s request for information (RFI) on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the GHG benefits of CSA practices. The RFI is expected to inform the U.S. Treasury’s upcoming proposed rule for implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean fuel production credit, otherwise known as the “45Z credit.”

“Clean fuel tax credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provide an unprecedented opportunity to position U.S. agriculture and crop-derived biofuels as immediate solutions for reducing emissions and combatting climate change,” RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said. “But in order to capture this extraordinary decarbonization opportunity, regulators must allow for flexible supply chain management approaches. Our goal is to maximize CSA adoption and minimize market disruptions.”

According to RFA’s comments, “Decoupling CSA attributes from the physical feedstock and allowing the renewable fuel producer to use book-and-claim accounting would encourage widespread adoption of CSA practices by growers and broad incorporation of CSA emissions improvements into biofuel lifecycle carbon intensity values. At the same time, book-and-claim accounting will allow the grain market to continue operating rationally and efficiently for all participants.”

The benefits of adopting a book-and-claim system for CSA are many, according to RFA. Such an approach:
    Allows farmers who are not in close physical proximity to ethanol, SAF, or other biofuel facilities to be rewarded for adopting CSA practices;
    Allows the grain market to continue operating rationally and efficiently by facilitating the flow of grain to natural buyers based on location, logistics and other market factors; and
    Allows farmers and producers of ethanol, SAF, and other biofuels to better manage market and weather risk.

RFA also encouraged USDA to analyze and quantify a much broader range of “unbundled” CSA practices, rather than relying on the one-size-fits-all approach taken to CSA under the 40B sustainable aviation fuel tax credit.



ACE Urges USDA to Rely on its Established Expertise and GREET for Climate-Smart Agriculture Credits

Thursday, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings submitted feedback to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) request for information on procedures for quantifying, reporting and verifying the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops.
 
“We strongly support USDA requesting information which can lay the foundation for policies to bring economic benefits to rural and farm communities while also combating climate change, and we are grateful to Secretary Vilsack for his leadership in working to create opportunities for biofuel policies to reward biofuel producers and farmers for so-called climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices,” Jennings stated in the comments.
 
ACE’s comments begin by documenting the progress ACE has been making to monetize CSA practices and ensure corn ethanol is part of the climate solution through its USDA-funded Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects, followed by responding to five topical areas addressed in the request for information, with an emphasis on not re-inventing the wheel in developing procedures for quantifying GHG reductions from biofuel feedstocks.
 
Selected priorities from ACE’s overall comments are summarized below:
     USDA and other federal agencies should rely on the Department of Energy’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model to quantify emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) credits associated with the production of agricultural commodities used as biofuel feedstocks. While no model can fully replicate real-world activities, GREET is considered the global gold standard and represents the best available science.

    GHG credit values for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices should routinely be updated by incorporating the best available science and results from real-world activities such as the two USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Programs (RCPPs) currently being led by ACE. These projects are specifically designed to address the perceived need for more empirical data on the GHG benefits of CSA practices and help improve the accuracy of the GREET model.

    USDA has a long track record of stewarding federal taxpayer funds for commodity and conservation programs, ensuring that participating farmers meet necessary requirements to receive federal funds. If existing USDA protocols are sufficient for verifying distribution of billions of taxpayer dollars for commodity and conservation programs, USDA protocols are equally sufficient for verifying the same practices for federal tax incentives such as 45Z. The Treasury Department should rely on existing USDA assets in the reporting and verification for the 45Z tax credit, and we encourage USDA to directly engage Treasury with respect to its expertise and experience in this area.
 
ACE additionally submitted soil organic carbon studies and a carbon intensity calculator tool to further expand upon and demonstrate points made in the comments.

Thursday July 25 Ag News

 New Format for Nebraska Soybean Management Field Days

The 2024 Soybean Management Field Days will take place from August 13 to August 16. This year, the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) and Nebraska Extension introduce a new format, providing a unique opportunity for farmers to enhance their knowledge of soybean production, explore the new Soybean Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) contest and network with fellow growers.

Throughout the four-day event, attendees will be able to participate in two different formats, one occurring in the evening and the other during the day. The evening meetings, held on August 13 through August 15, will feature presentations on locally relevant topics and engage participants in interactive discussions. To conclude the week on August 16, a field day starting mid-morning will highlight the Soybean Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) contest with a plot tour and interactive discussion. Participants at both formats will also gain insights into the Nebraska Soybean Board's research, marketing and education efforts supported by checkoff dollars. University specialists and educators will lead discussions at each location.

“Keeping relevance and profitability at the forefront of the field days is important for the Nebraska Soybean Board,” said Andy Chvatal, NSB executive director. “Changing up the format to include evening sessions and the addition of the soybean TAPS competition this year provides an exciting new way for farmers to engage and learn from each other.”

Soybean Management Field Days is free to attend thanks to support from the Nebraska Soybean Board. Complimentary meal and refreshments will be provided. To help with a meal count, please pre-register two days in advance of each field day at enreec.unl.edu/soydays or by calling (402) 624-8030.

Evening programs (Registration - 5:30 p.m., Program from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) dates and locations are:
    August 13 – Holdrege, NE (Blake Johnson farm) with information on the soybean TAPS competition, dectes stem borer and irrigation
    August 14 – Neligh, NE (Kenny Reinke farm) with information on the soybean TAPS competition, white mold and irrigation
    August 15 – Ulysses, NE (Scott Reichert farm) with an in-field tour of on-farm research plot on biological seed treatments for soybeans and discussion on the soybean TAPS competition

Morning program (Registration - 10:00 a.m., Program from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) date and location is:
    August 16 – Mead, NE (UNL Eastern NE Research, Extension & Education Center) with TAPS plots tour, discussion on participant decisions, Ag Olympics and soybean gall midge research plot tours

“Our team from Nebraska Extension looks forward to having an interactive discussion about Nebraska soybeans,” said Aaron Nygren, Nebraska Extension Water & Cropping Systems Educator. “Come join us in the evening on Tuesday to Thursday for a quick update on soybean issues or Friday for a more in-depth dive into what we’ve learned already from the inaugural soybean TAPS competition at ENREEC.”

Furthermore, University of Nebraska-Lincoln agronomists, plant disease experts and insect specialists will be available to address participants' inquiries, and attendees can bring unidentified crop problems for complimentary identification.

For additional information about the field days, including maps to the event sites, visit enreec.unl.edu/soydays, or contact the Nebraska Soybean Board at (402) 441-3240 or Nebraska Extension at (402) 624-8030.



Nebraska to be awarded $307 million by EPA, largest ever received by NDEE

Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) have announced the receipt of a sizeable grant that will help accelerate the state’s realization of value-added agriculture and the bioeconomy initiative. The grant, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) totals $307 million – the largest federal grant ever awarded to NDEE.

“Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers are among the most innovative and sustainable in the world. These federal funds will help more farmers make more money by supporting the continued implementation of best management practices, establishing mechanisms to reward those practices, and expand investment in others that will protect our environment.” said Governor Jim Pillen.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grant will be administered by Nebraska’s ONE RED Program (Opportunity for Nebraska: Reducing Emissions and Decarbonization). In 2023, Governor Pillen endorsed the grant planning process, which enabled NDEE to develop a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) for Nebraska. Nebraska’s plan proposed high-impact, readily deployable, voluntary measures and incentives to reduce emissions and promote energy efficiency across the state. Selected measures from the PCAP formed the basis for Nebraska’s successful application for the Implementation grant the state received today.

NDEE will use the new grant funds to implement voluntary programs to bolster all sectors of Nebraska’s economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Projects may include efficiency measures to reduce energy costs, incentives for sustainable agriculture practices, and advanced livestock waste management, among others.

“This award provides exciting opportunities for our state,” said Thad Fineran, interim director for NDEE “By implementing the measures outlined in Nebraska’s priority action plan, we can reduce emissions, create high quality jobs, support rural and urban communities, and bolster our economy sustainably.”

The success of Nebraska’s application was made possible by the extensive public input from a broad range of partners and stakeholders across the state, including state and local government departments, public power districts, agricultural stakeholders, subject matter experts, and Nebraska’s citizens.

"The widespread input we received across Nebraska was instrumental to the success in this highly competitive grant application process,” said Gov. Pillen. “We are grateful for the investment in our state’s agricultural and energy projects that will make an incredible impact now and for future generations.”

Over the next few weeks, NDEE will negotiate a final grant agreement and workplan with the EPA. The Department will then begin work to implement the funded incentive programs. Work will also continue under the original planning grant to develop a Comprehensive Action Plan to address emission reductions through 2050. That plan is due in August 2025.



Summit Carbon Solutions CEO Lee Blank to Keynote the ACE Conference in Omaha

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) welcomes Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions, as a keynote speaker during its 37th annual conference taking place August 14-16 at the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District. Blank’s keynote will provide an update on the latest advancements in the Summit Carbon Solutions' pipeline project.

"Now, more than ever, the world is changing, and we must act decisively to seize new opportunities,” said Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions. “Summit Carbon Solutions' CCS pipeline is pivotal in opening access to new markets for ethanol, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This is our chance to lead the way and meet the growing demand for decarbonized energy solutions. We are excited to engage with industry professionals at ACE to discuss the immense potential and the positive impact this project will have on our future.”

“Several ACE-member ethanol plants are partnering with Summit to utilize proven and safe technology to capture and sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) to secure the long-term economic viability of their businesses,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “We look forward to hearing an update on this important project during our event in a few weeks.”

Spanning approximately 2,500 miles, this pipeline will connect 57 ethanol facilities across five states to an injection site in North Dakota. Here, the CO2 collected from these plants will be safely and permanently stored underground. Summit Carbon Solutions' CEO will discuss recent progress, key milestones, and the next steps as the company strives to launch the largest CO2 pipeline project in the world.

Blank’s keynote will take place during the August 15 morning general session. More event and agenda details are available at ethanol.org/events/conference.



Learn How Plant Disease Prediction Tools Can Inform Your Fungicide Needs

Crop farmers do not yet have a crystal ball for predicting the kinds of disease pressure they will face during the growing season, but they do have the National Predictive Modeling Tool Initiative, also known as NPMTI.

This multi-year project uses plant disease data and pathogen spore counts collected from farms in the Midwest to develop research-based data that will help forecast incidences of diseases and mycotoxins that affect crops grown in the United States.

Supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Risk Service, the program relies on samples of pathogen spores that are sent to designated laboratories for testing, and disease severity data from field trials in 10 states, to develop disease prediction models that are used to inform U.S. growers.

Alison Robertson, professor in plant pathology and microbiology and extension specialist at Iowa State University, will demonstrate how the tool works at the Farm Progress Show Aug. 27-29 near Boone.

She will have spore traps, as well as petri dishes with live pathogens, and also diseased plants on display in the Iowa State University exhibit. She will explain how spores are collected and counted and disease severity is measured.

Secondly, show attendees will learn how this information is used for predicting the likelihood of disease issues such as tar spot, grey leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight.

Applying fungicide
If plant diseases are expected, farmers can respond by applying fungicide. If no disease is predicted, farmers can skip applying fungicide and save time and money.

“Our goal is to develop disease prediction tools that enable farmers to farm more sustainably, by predicting the kinds of diseases they will face, and giving them more clarity on whether a fungicide is going to be necessary,” she said.

The information is currently available for tar spot. There is an app available called the “Tarspotter,” which uses GPS coordinates to determine if weather has been favorable for the development of tar spot during the growing season, in a specific field. Models in the app use temperature, dewpoint, humidity and precipitation to predict favorable conditions for corn growing regions. Farmers can use the app on their cell phones.

The app will soon be available for other diseases of corn such as gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, southern rust, Curvularia leaf spot and vomitoxin. Additional apps are in development for disease prediction in wheat, cotton and pulses.

“These apps can help tell you if your field is at risk for a disease, and if it’s at risk, then you can apply a fungicide. But if there’s no risk of disease, then that $20-30 per acre on a fungicide application is unnecessary,” she said.

The disease triangle
Robertson reminds farmers that just because a particular pathogen is found in the spore traps does not necessarily mean there will be a disease during the growing season.Tar spot and gray leaf spot.

“You need to have the right climate, a susceptible hybrid, plus the pathogen, to get the disease,” she said. “This is the ‘disease triangle,’ and each side must be present in order to have disease.”

The NPMTI project was established in 2020, and operates under the auspices of USDA-ARS. It is funded by a congressional appropriation. Each year that additional data are entered, the model and the tool become even stronger.

Similar trials are being conducted across the country, making the tool useful for those who farm anywhere in the United States.

In addition to the live disease specimens, Robertson plans to show what plant disease looks like, and she will be working alongside a team of graduate students and specialists who can answer common questions.

“I’m looking forward to being at the show and interacting with producers and anyone else who is interested in what these tools can do,” she said. “We need to get the word out that this national predictive model exists and is improving, so farmers can have the tools they need to manage crop diseases more effectively, efficiently and sustainably.”

The Iowa State University exhibit space can be found at the corner of 7th Street and Central Avenue.

Robertson can be reached at alisonr@iastate.edu or 515-294-6708.



Enjoy a Weekend of Iowa Barnstorming September 14-15

If you are looking for something different to do on a September weekend, consider taking a self-guided tour of Iowa’s historic barns.

The Iowa Barn Foundation is holding its annual All-State Tour on Saturday and Sunday, September 14-15, featuring a record 92 barns across the state that will be available for visiting inside and out from 9-5 both days. Iowa is proud to host the largest barn tour the country!

The fall tour highlights barns that have received a restoration grant from the foundation and those that have received an Award of Distinction or Preservation Award for restoration funded by the owner. Many of the owners will be on hand to share their memories and regard for the structures and answer your questions.

Stops on the 2024 fall tour include barns near Sergeant Bluff, Pisgah, Harlan, Manning, Holstein and a round barn near Le Mars.  

The Foundation is especially excited to have a record eleven round barns included in the tour this year. Of the approximately 200,000 barns built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, only 250 were round - including some octagonal and multi-sided.

There are a record eleven round barns on the fall tour this year, six of which are on the fall tour for the very first time this year. These barns feature some of the most amazing design and architecture you will find in any building in the state of Iowa.

The self-guided fall tour is free and open to the public, made possible by member donors. An online tour guide can be found on at iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tours. Member donors receive the foundation’s spring and fall magazines in their mailboxes filled with barn photos and stories as well as a printed guide to our spring and fall barn tours. Learn more about membership at iowabarnfoundation.org/product/membership. Questions can be emailed to iowabarnfoundation@gmail.com.

As a volunteer-led non-profit, the Iowa Barn Foundation’s goal is to maximize member donations to provide restoration grants to save the state’s historic barns. Since being founded in 1997, the foundation has given out $2.3 million dollars in grants to help save nearly 300 barns. Member donors receive our spring and fall magazines in their mailboxes filled with barn photos and stories as well as a printed guide to our spring and fall barn tours.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 7/19/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending July 19, ethanol production tapered 1.0% to 1.10 million b/d, equivalent to 45.99 million gallons daily. Output was 0.1% more than the same week last year and 7.0% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate rose 1.2% to 1.08 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.60 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks scaled 2.4% to a 9-week high of 23.7 million barrels. Stocks were 2.1% more than the same week last year and 4.0% above the five-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the Rocky Mountains (PADD 4).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, rebounded 7.7% to a 37-week high of 9.46 million b/d (145.36 bg annualized). Demand was 5.8% more than a year ago and 3.1% above the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol also recovered, gaining 3.7% to 918,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.11 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.5% more than year-ago levels and 0.9% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 57,000 b/d (2.4 million gallons/day), 33.7% less than the prior week and the lowest volume in over a year. There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the 44th consecutive week.



Retail Fertilizer Price Declines Slow in Third Week of July

Average retail prices for most fertilizers continued to decline in the third week of July 2024, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. But for the first time in five weeks, no fertilizer price saw a significant move, which DTN designates as 5% or more.

Prices for seven of the eight major fertilizers were slightly lower than last month. DAP had an average price of $756 per ton, MAP $821/ton, potash $503/ton, urea $506/ton, anhydrous $696/ton, UAN28 $339/ton and UAN32 $377/ton. The price of one fertilizer, 10-34-0, was unchanged from last month. The starter fertilizer's price remained at $642/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.55/lb.N, anhydrous $0.42/lb.N, UAN28 $0.61/lb.N and UAN32 $0.59/lb.N.

All fertilizers except one are lower compared to one year ago. MAP is 1% more expensive looking back to last year. Anhydrous is 2% less expensive, DAP is 6% lower, 10-34-0 is 11% less expensive, UAN28 is 12% lower, urea is 15% lower, potash is 17% less expensive and UAN32 is 18% lower in price compared to a year prior.



Clean Fuels Applauds Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Timely Rules on Production Tax Incentive
 
Today, Clean Fuels Alliance America applauded a bipartisan, bicameral letter signed by 16 Senators and 36 Representatives, urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to publish proposed rules for the §45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit and safe harbor guidance by September 1, 2024, and complete the final rulemaking no later than November 1, 2024.

“Lack of regulatory certainty is already putting thriving businesses at risk as fuel producers are unable to make important business decisions regarding their fuel,” the letter states. “Capital investment remains uncommitted, threatening certain projects and expansion plans, including the administration’s stated goals to support new markets like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and low-carbon transportation fuels.”

Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Reps. Brad Finstad (R-MN), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) led the letter.

Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels, added, “Clean Fuels applauds the bipartisan effort of Senators and Representatives to call for timely action from Treasury. Biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel producers are already annually producing nearly 5 billion gallons of advanced biofuels that could qualify for this credit. They need policy certainty immediately to make the transition to the producer credit and maintain growth in the industry.”



Growth Energy Welcomes Bipartisan Push for Swift Action on 45Z

Growth Energy today praised a bipartisan letter from 52 House and Senate lawmakers, led by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), calling for “effective, timely, and scientific implementation” of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A clear market signal, they write, will unlock critical investments and unleash the “innovation and ingenuity of America’s farmers and biofuel producers.”

“America’s biofuel producers and our farm partners stand ready to fast-track new investments in low-carbon fuels, but we need regulatory certainty to move forward,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We applaud Senator Ernst and all our rural champions in Congress for reminding the Treasury that swift implementation of 45Z based on the best available science is the key to unlocking exponential growth in rural America through the enhanced production of biofuels. We urge the administration to maximize the impact of the 45Z credit by signaling to the market that Treasury intends to follow Congress’ intent by recognizing and rewarding the full suite of carbon-smart practices happening at the plant and on the farm.”

Passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the 45Z tax credit is intended to incentivize production of low-carbon fuels in transportation on the ground and in the air. If implemented properly, Growth Energy’s own research demonstrates that the credit would add $21.2 billion to the U.S. economy, generate nearly $13.4 billion in household income, support more than 192,000 jobs across all sectors of the national economy, and provide farmers with a 10 percent premium price on low-carbon corn used at an ethanol plant.



NCBA and PLC Praise Passage of House Interior Appropriations Bill

Wednesday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) issued statements following the House passage of H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025:

“This Interior appropriations bill protects the rights of public lands grazing permittees, reels in overreaching BLM regulations, addresses Endangered Species Act challenges, defends local communities against Presidential land grabs under the Antiquities Act, and recognizes the important role of ranchers—America’s original conservationists—in the stewardship of our nation’s public lands,” said Public Lands Council President and grazing permittee Mark Roeber. “The Public Lands Council is very thankful for the work of key partners on the House appropriations Committee, House Natural Resources Committee, and Western Caucus for crafting this legislation that supports our western ranchers.”
 
“Whether you’re a cattle producer on public lands or private lands, overregulation from the federal government is a serious challenge,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher. “The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is extremely pleased with this Interior appropriations package that supports American agriculture, protects farms and ranches from burdensome rules, and protects the rights of public lands ranchers, who represent an important part of the cattle industry and a driving force in rural economies. We appreciate the House passing this critical bill and we urge the Senate to back this legislation and send it to the President’s desk.”