Monday July 22 Ag News

Soybean Gall Midge Update
UNL-ARDC

In east-central Nebraska, a significant increase in adult emergence was observed at several locations from the current year’s soybean field over the last 7-10 days. This was followed by an increase in larval number per plant at those same locations. Plant injury from soybean gall midge has varied considerably between locations. Some locations are holding at around 10% wilting or dead plants while other sites have experienced a sharp increase of up to 50% which is partly due to the hot weather last week.

Past studies have shown that peak larval numbers for the season typically occur in late July and early August. These large numbers of larvae often raise questions about management at this point in the season. Managing soybean gall midge this late in the season isn’t recommended for several reasons. First, adult emergence cages in the current year’s soybean field in east-central Nebraska have shown that adults are emerging almost daily from now until late-August. Second, the larvae are hidden within the stem, and as a result, foliar insecticide applications are unlikely to reach them. Lastly, a field study conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center over the last couple of years showed that soybean gall midge was unable to cause a significant impact on soybean yields when infestations occurred after R2.

Although management isn’t recommended, the next few weeks are a good time to scout soybean fields for the presence of larvae. Soybean fields do not have to show signs of wilting or dead plants to have a significant infestation of soybean gall midge. To scout a field, you should look at the base of a soybean plant between the first two rows that are adjacent to a field that was soybean the previous year. There are several videos on the “Scouting for Soybean Gall Midge” webpage.

Additional information on adult emergence, distribution maps, and scouting tips can be found at soybeangallmidge.org.



CAP Webinar: Family Business Meetings
Jul 25, 2024 12:00 PM
With Jessica Groskopf, Extension Educator and Agricultural Economist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Anastasia Meyer, Extension Instructor and Agricultural Economist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

This webinar will discuss effective strategies for conducting fruitful meetings for farm and ranch businesses. This webinar will review types of meetings, meeting ground rules, decision-making strategies, and more. Gain insights and practical tips to enhance communication and productivity in your family-run operation.

Get more information and register here: https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.  



Nebraska State Fair planning for dairy cattle amid H5N1 concerns

The Nebraska State Fair Board announced Friday that despite recent concerns regarding the dairy strain of the H5N1 virus, impacting lactating dairy cattle, the Fair will proceed with the species while adding in precautionary protocols.

There are currently no reports of a positive case in Nebraska, but surrounding states, including Colorado, Kansas and Iowa, have recently reported cases and have implemented similar measures at their state fairs.

To mitigate any potential risks associated with the H5N1 virus, Nebraska State Fair Board Chair Jeff Kliment says officials are implementing the following precautionary measures as recommended by Dr. Roger Dudley, State Veterinarian, and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture:

Mandatory Testing: All lactating dairy cattle must test negative (milk test) for the H5N1 virus within seven days prior to their arrival at the Fair. This measure is crucial to ensure lactating dairy cattle are not at risk of transmitting the virus.

Enhanced Signage: Additional signage will be prominently displayed throughout the grounds, especially in barns, to remind visitors and handlers to wash their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with animals.

"Our team has kept a vigilant eye on the H5N1 virus and are taking proactive steps to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone attending the Fair," said Jaime Parr, Executive Director of the Nebraska State Fair. "We understand as much as the dairy farmers do that the health and safety of our participants and animals is paramount, and we are confident these measures will allow us to proceed with the inclusion of lactating dairy cattle without compromising safety."

Parr said the Fair’s beloved Milking Parlor as well as dairy cattle competitions will remain on the schedule as planned. Fair officials are closely monitoring this illness and will continue to update their biosecurity plan as recommended by state partners.

“This virus is something fairs across the nation are combating. We don’t want to take this special show out of the Fair completely, so hope our proactive measures will ensure exhibitors and their dairy cattle can come compete and enjoy the event as they do every year,” said Kliment.

For more information about the Nebraska State Fair and the measures they are taking to ensure safety, please visit their website at www.statefair.org or call 308-382-1620.



Deadline Approaches to Register for Ag and Economic Development Summit
 
Governor Jim Pillen is issuing a reminder about the deadline to register for this summer’s Ag & Economic Development Summit: One Nebraska. Registrations should be submitted online at govsummit.nebraska.gov by Friday, July 26.
 
This year’s event covers three days and includes breakout sessions on talent attraction, housing and childcare solutions, manufacturing, stewardship of water resources, the emerging bioeconomy and more.  
 
“The key to our success is working together as one Nebraska to grow our state,” said Gov. Pillen. “At this summer’s Summit, we’ll unite around a shared vision to create great opportunities for our kids and grandkids. We have the most sustainable ag supply chain on the planet, and we’re sitting on our pot of gold—the Ogallala Aquifer. The potential is sky high for Nebraska to be a hub for advanced fermentation, biomanufacturing, and production of next-generation biofuels.”
 
Summit events will take place Aug.  7-9 at Younes Conference Center North in Kearney. A complete rundown of activities and breakout topics can be found on the website.
 
On Aug. 7, the Nebraska Diplomats will host the opening reception and banquet. Awards will be presented to leaders, businesses and communities that have made key contributions to the state’s economic success in the previous year.
 
In addition to remarks from Gov. Pillen, Summit speakers include Jack Hubbard, executive director for the Center for Environment and Welfare and Athletic Director Troy Dannen from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln on Aug. 8.  
 
The Summit is hosted in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). For agenda and registration information, go to govsummit.nebraska.gov.




New Members Selected to Serve on NCGA’s Board

The National Corn Growers Association elected four new farmers to its corn board last week. The organization also re-elected a farmer currently serving on the board.

Those elected were Jon Miller of Pleasantville, Ohio; Jason Lewis, of Henderson, Neb.; Dan Nerud, of Dorchester, Neb.; and Jay Schutte, of Benton City, Mo. Randy DeSutter, of Woodhull, Ill., was re-elected to the board.

“I was thoroughly impressed with the caliber of candidates who threw their hats in the ring during this board election,” said NCGA President Harold Wolle. “These new board members have a breadth of experience in agriculture, a long history of working to advance the goals and objectives of NCGA and are uniquely positioned to help take the organization to great heights as we implement our new strategic plan.”

The terms for the board members begin on October 1, which is the beginning of the organization’s new fiscal year. The delegates at Corn Congress, held this week in Washington, D.C., cast their votes in the election.

Board members represent the federation of state organizations, supervise the affairs and activities of NCGA in partnership with the chief executive officer and implement NCGA policy established by the Corn Congress. Members also act as spokespeople for NCGA and enhance the organization’s public standing on all organizational and policy issues.



Iowa Corn Farmers Take Priorities to Corn Congress

Iowa Corn Growers Association® (ICGA) farmer-leaders attended the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Congress meetings this week to advocate for key agricultural issues and priorities.

During Corn Congress, ICGA farmer-leaders met with representatives from Iowa Congressional Delegation offices including Senators Ernst and Grassley and Representatives Feenstra, Miller-Meeks and Nunn. In addition to the Iowa offices, ICGA farmers met with other congressional offices from across the country who do not have an established corn grower organization they can connect with to share how corn and ethanol impact their state and our country.

During their visits Iowa corn farmers expressed the need for a comprehensive Farm Bill this year and shared the value corn brings economically to our country through ethanol. They reiterated the need for year-round E15 nationwide and the input of Brazil ethanol tariffs to keep Sustainable Aviation Fuel access for corn growers across the country. They also touched on the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which would increase funding for waterway transportation.

"One of the key benefits of being a member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association is advocating for sound agricultural policy that affects our farms. While much communication happens locally in Iowa, meeting staffers on the Hill is highly beneficial in getting to understand their processes and abilities to make change," said ICGA President Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida Grove, Iowa. "At Corn Congress in D.C., we not only meet with our Iowa legislative offices to discuss federal policy priorities like the Farm Bill, but also engage with staff and congressional members from across the country who may not have the same connection to farmers. This allows us to make a significant impact while in the nation’s capital."

While in D.C. Corn Congress attendees also had meetings with the Department of Energy, White House, USDA and the Federal Trade Commission. Iowa farmers also met with other state and NCGA farmer leaders to discuss policy they would like to see the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) implement and establish at the federal level. During the policy session, delegates passed policy on carbon tax credits and protecting current tax exemption rates on the estate tax, which would benefit Iowa’s corn farmers and corn farmers across the country.

For more information on Iowa Corn Growers Association policies, visit iowacorn.org.



USTR’s McKalip Talks Mexico Corn Dispute, New Markets, at Corn Congress

The U.S. has made a strong case in the dispute with Mexico over genetically engineered corn under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a top official in the Biden administration told farmers this week during remarks at the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Congress meeting in Washington, D.C.

“This is something we will not rest until we get done,” said Ambassador Doug McKalip who serves as the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “I know this is critically important, not just for corn growers, but frankly, farmers of all kinds. They say ‘we cannot allow trading partners to play loose with the science. If they can do it with corn, they can do it with anything.’”

McKalip said both U.S. and Mexican officials were given questions in writing by the panel considering the matter and both have responded. He said a decision is expected this fall.
 
McKalip said USTR is working on addressing unfair trade practices with Brazil and, that it has addressed burdensome tariffs from governments in South Asia.

“We have continued to be frustrated by the 18% tariffs that Brazil has placed on ethanol,” McKalip noted. “Today, we still do not have one U.S. biofuel company that has qualified for the Brazilian program.”

McKalip said USTR values trade with China but is also focused on diversifying its Asian trade portfolio. He said the U.S. is looking at cultivating markets in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, among other countries.

Corn growers have worked closely with Ambassador McKalip and USTR. After Mexico announced its intent to block imports of genetically engineered corn, NCGA and corn grower leaders sounded the alarm. USTR worked with corn growers as it filed a dispute settlement case on the issue under the USMCA.

Corn Congress meets every summer in the nation’s capital to vote on policy positions, elect new board members and to hear from the nation’s top leaders.



SDSU Program Designed for Beginning Producers

South Dakota State University Extension’s Elevate Ewe program is designed for beginning sheep producers who want to develop or improve a full or part-time sheep operation. Participation in Elevate Ewe is a great opportunity to increase knowledge of all aspects of the sheep industry and improve skills needed to be successful shepherds.

The program is open to people with 10 years or less of management experience in sheep production, and the deadline to apply is Aug. 30. If not currently involved in sheep production, participants must show a strong desire to manage a sheep operation in the future. The program will run from September 2024 through August 2025.

Program delivery will feature a combination of workshops, webinars, hands-on field days and networking opportunities. Throughout the course, participants can expect to receive hands-on experience working with sheep and a step-through process of developing a personalized business management plan. Whether a participant has 10 or thousands of sheep, this course is designed to help mitigate risk and increase overall success in raising sheep. Participants can also expect additional assistance through personalized, one-on-one consultation visits to their own operation.

Click Here to learn more... https://extension.sdstate.edu/elevate-ewe.



Coppa-Style Pork Steaks Campaign is a Smokin’ Success

Recently, select Walmart stores started selling a new pork cut, the Coppa-Style Steak. This cut, a boneless pork steak cut from the money muscle of the pork shoulder, is available at 151 locations across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky. During the promotion, the National Pork Board partnered with Chicory, an online platform that places advertising within recipes on sites like Food Network, Taste of Home and the Kitchn, to serve ads to consumers near the select store locations.

Campaign Results:
    During the 4-week promotional period in April, Walmart saw a 6.65% increase in Coppa-Style Steak sales dollars and 8.73% increase in unit sales compared to March.
    In May, dollar sales were 3.97% higher and unit sales were 4.18% higher than in April.
    June sales results for the Coppa-Style Steak have held steady with the performance in May.  
    The Coppa-Style Steak will be expanded to an additional 150 stores for a total of 300 stores.

The digital campaign brought awareness to this new item at Walmart and more importantly drove demand for a premium, value-added pork cut!

Feast Your Eyes on Walmart’s Pork Buying Guide
Looking for some inspiration for your next pork meal? Check out the latest update to Walmart’s Pork Buying Guide, now featuring mouth-watering food photography! NPB teamed up with Walmart’s e-commerce operations and merchandising team to bring consumers beautiful lifestyle images that will help make pork an appealing choice when shopping online.

Now, when browsing for a specific cut of pork, a delectable pork dish is shown first. Once the image is clicked the shopper will be directed to the product page, where all the pork cut details can be found.

Take a look... https://www.walmart.com/cp/pork-buying-guide/2543738?povid=976759_LHNCP_9569500_FeaturedShops_ThePorkShop_ShopAll_Mar_12.



National FFA Organization Names 2024 American Star Finalists

The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2024 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.

The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. The award recognizes FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies by completing a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program. A required activity in FFA, an SAE allows members to learn by doing. Members can own and operate an agricultural business, intern at an agricultural business, or conduct an agriculture-based scientific experiment and report the results.

Other requirements to achieve the award include demonstrating top management skills; completing key agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements; and earning an American FFA Degree, the organization’s highest level of student accomplishment.

The finalists are:

American Star Farmer
Larahmy Blakley from the Oologah FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
Paul Oliver from the Tattnall FFA Chapter in Georgia
Ty Steffen from the Newark FFA Chapter in Illinois
Jacie Wolfinger from the Sumner-Eddyville-Miller FFA Chapter in Nebraska

American Star in Agribusiness
Austin Archer from the Cookeville FFA Chapter in Tennessee
Allyson Arthur from the Chickasha FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
Landon Haney from the Arcanum-MVCTC FFA Chapter in Ohio
Maggie McDonald from the Magnolia FFA Chapter in Arkansas

American Star in Agricultural Placement
Ethan David Lulich from the Mauston FFA Chapter in Wisconsin
Arturo Madriz from the Madera FFA Chapter in California
Wylie Schwebach from the Moriarty FFA Chapter in New Mexico
Gage Slagell from the Hydro-Eakly FFA Chapter in Oklahoma

American Star in Agriscience
Audrey Bishop from the Van Alstyne FFA Chapter in Texas
Lizzie Catherine Schafer from the Taylorville FFA Chapter in Illinois
Rylee Smith from the Oologah FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
Garren Thomas Hamby from the Eagleville FFA Chapter in Tennessee

Visit FFA.org/Stars for more information about the American Star Awards.

A panel of judges will interview the finalists and select one winner from each award category for the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.

Cargill, Case IH, John Deere and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program and the American Star Awards.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 945,000 student members as part of 9,163 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.



Statement from Secretary Tom Vilsack on Pres. Biden's decision not to seek re-election  

Sunday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement:

"In the 38 years that I have known President Biden, he has consistently and selflessly put our country first—and today is no exception. As a result, he will go down in history as one of our most consequential American presidents.

"He has led us out of the pandemic and revived our struggling economy to achieve record job growth, real wage increases, record-breaking new business creation, and a record stock market. He avoided an economic collapse and is still taming inflation while creating millions of jobs, without causing a crippling recession. His leadership has led to a strengthened and expanded NATO while also supporting Ukraine’s fight for democracy, and he forged alliances to push back against China’s assertions. Finally, he brought to fruition a vision of a new and dynamic American economy built around clean energy and climate-smart and resilient industries, including the agriculture sector. I am immensely proud to play a role in the Biden-Harris Administration, under which USDA has advanced food and nutrition security for tens of millions, invested in new, better and more markets to create a fairer and better marketplace for all farmers, improved the health and resilience of our national forests and grasslands, made our food safer, and centered equity in all that we do.

"This is an administration that embraces hope, optimism, and a forward-looking view for America—and our work is not done."