Wednesday August 07, 2024

Extension ag land management, leasing workshops to cover leasing practices, succession and more

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability will present a 2024 landlord/tenant cash rent workshop at seven locations in central and eastern Nebraska between Aug. 13 and Sept. 4.

The workshop will cover current Nebraska cash rental rates and land values, best practices for agricultural leases, and other contract considerations. The meeting will also include financial considerations for farm succession and transition and offer an opportunity for those in attendance to have their leasing questions answered.

Agricultural economists Anastasia Meyer and Jim Jansen will lead the presentation. Both are with the Center for Agricultural Profitability.

The meetings are free to attend and will include refreshments or a meal. Registration is required.

Dates and Locations:
Aug. 13 in Grand Island: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at the office of Nebraska Extension in Hall County, College Park, 3180 U.S. 34. Register by Aug. 12 at 308-385-5088. Sponsored by Farmers National.

Aug. 15 in Fremont: 1-4 p.m., at the office of Nebraska Extension in Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd St. Register by Aug. 14 at 402-727-2775. Sponsored by People’s Company.

Aug. 20 in Nebraska City: 1-4 p.m. at Kimmel Orchard, 5995 G Road. Register by Aug. 19 at 402-269-2301. Sponsored by Peoples Company.

Aug. 22 in Lincoln: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the office of Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A. Register by Aug. 21 at 402-441-7180. Sponsored by Farmers National.

Aug. 27 in Columbus: 1-4 p.m. at the office of Nebraska Extension in Platte County, 2715 13th St. Register by Aug. 26 at 402-563-4901. Sponsored by Zag Land Company.

Aug. 28 in Fairbury: 1-4 p.m. at Heartland Bank, 423 5th St. Register by Aug. 27 at 402-729-3487.

Sept. 4 in Omaha: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the office of Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties, 8015 W. Center Road. Register by Sept. 3 at 402-444-7804. Sponsored by Peoples Company.

More information about cash rental rates, leasing and farm and ranch transition can be found on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu/land25.



DG Fuels selects Nebraska for its first Midwest sustainable aviation fuel plant

DG Fuels, a U.S.-owned sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) company, in cooperation with the Nebraska BioEconomy has selected Phelps County, Nebraska for its first Midwest production facility. The plant will produce 193 million gallons of zero or low CO2 lifecycle emissions SAF per year and meet ASTM fuel standards. Production is expected to begin in 2030.
 
The DG Fuels’ manufacturing process uses cellulosic biomass in the form of lower value agricultural by-products such as corn stover as its carbon feedstock along with various forms of clean hydrogen feedstock to produce near zero carbon fuel. “DG Fuels’ baseline process differs from other systems by having little or no environmental emissions either to the atmosphere or waters, while at the same time providing a significant economic value to the agricultural communities and farmers that we partner with,” said Michael C. Darcy, chief executive officer of DG Fuels.
 
The Phelps County, Nebraska region known for its consistently productive farm ground and abundant yields, stands to generate millions of dollars per year in additional on-farm income by converting corn stover into a high value SAF. The partnership will provide 650 quality careers, offset aquifer demand by railing in water required for production, a local community coordinator and a comprehensive multi-million- dollar community benefits package that will directly benefit the County’s infrastructure, quality of life and local strategic plan. “Adding value to our region’s farm economy is a top priority and fits perfectly within Phelps county’s wheelhouse,” said Ron Tillery, Executive Director of Phelps County Development Corporation (PCDC).
 
“The Nebraska BioEconomy strategic plan focuses on delivering value at every level to Nebraskans, our aquifer and the next seven generations who will call our great State home. This project is expected to deliver nearly $55 billion of economic impact across the State over the next 30 years” stated Governor Jim Pillen. “This project sets the tone for the types of partnerships Nebraska can and will continue to pursue” continued Julie Bushell, who leads the Nebraska BioEconomy initiative.
 
“Our relationship with DG Fuels fully aligns with PCDC’s targeted industry strategy while protecting our County’s most valuable resources: the next generation of family farmers and our aquifer” said Shane Westcott, President, Phelps County Development Corporation. “DG Fuels’ willingness to listen and address our most critical interests exemplifies the quality of activity we hope to attract to our region. We’re open for business.”



USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase Financial Freedom, Resilience and Profitability for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announces changes to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving farm profitability through farm loans designed to provide important financing options used by producers to cover operating expenses and purchase land and equipment.

“USDA recognizes that Farm Service Agency’s loan making and servicing activities are critical for producers, especially in tough times. Providing borrowers the financial freedom to increase profits, save for long-term needs and make strategic investments is the best way to ensure the nation’s farmers and ranchers can build financial equity and resilience,” said Zach Ducheneaux, FSA Administrator. “Implementing these improvements to our Farm Loan Programs is the next step in our ongoing commitment to removing lending barriers that may prevent access to credit for borrowers, especially those who need it most.”

Farm loan policy changes outlined in the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, are designed to better assist borrowers to make strategic investments in the enhancement or expansion of their agricultural operations.

The three most notable policy changes include:
    Establishing a new low-interest installment set-aside program for financially distressed borrowers. Eligible financially distressed borrowers can defer up to one annual loan installment per qualified loan at a reduced interest rate, providing a simpler and expedited option to resolve financial distress in addition to FSA’s existing loan servicing programs.
    Providing all eligible loan applicants access to flexible repayment terms that can increase profitability and help build working capital reserves and savings. By creating upfront positive cash flow, borrowers can find opportunities in their farm operating plan budgets to include a reasonable margin for increased working capital reserves and savings, including for retirement and education.
    Reducing additional loan security requirements to enable borrowers to leverage equity. This reduces the amount of additional security required for direct farm loans, including reducing the frequency borrowers must use their personal residence as additional collateral for a farm loan.

Additional Farm Loan Program Improvements
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA’s FSA has embarked on a comprehensive and systemic effort to ensure equitable delivery of Farm Loan Programs and improve access to credit for small and mid-size family farms. FSA has also included additional data in its annual report to Congress to provide information that Congress, stakeholders, and the general public need to hold USDA accountable on the progress that has been made in improving services to underserved producers. This year’s report shows FSA direct and guaranteed loans were made to a greater percentage of young and beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as improvements in the participation rates of minority borrowers. The report also highlights FSA’s microloan program’s new focus on urban agriculture operations and niche market lending, as well as increased support for producers seeking direct loans for farm ownership in the face of increasing land values across the country.

FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate the Farm Loan Program customer-facing business process. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a direct loan application annually, FSA has made several impactful improvements including:
    The Loan Assistance Tool that provides customers with an interactive online, step-by-step guide to identifying the direct loan products that may be a fit for their business needs and to understanding the application process.
    The Online Loan Application, an interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet, and build a farm operating plan.
    An online direct loan repayment feature that relieves borrowers from the necessity of calling, mailing, or visiting a local USDA Service Center to pay a loan installment.
    A simplified direct loan paper application, reduced from 29 pages to 13 pages.

USDA encourages producers to reach out to their local FSA farm loan staff to ensure they fully understand the wide range of loan and servicing options available to assist with starting, expanding, or maintaining their agricultural operation. To conduct business with FSA, please contact your local USDA Service Center.



USDA NASS TO COLLECT 2024 SMALL GRAIN PRODUCTION AND STOCKS DATA

During the first two weeks of September, growers of small grains around the country will be contacted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The agency is taking a comprehensive look into the 2024 production and supply of small grains, which include wheat, oats, barley, and rye.

“The small grains industry is important to Nebraska agriculture, and it is crucial for everyone to have accurate data about this key sector of the economy,” said NASS’ Northern Plains Regional Director, Nicholas Streff. “We will contact more than 3,100 producers in Nebraska to accurately measure 2024 acreage, yield, and production for small grains and the quantities of grains and oilseeds stored on farm. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, businesses, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others who use the survey information in making a wide range of decisions that benefit the producer.”

The data collected from this survey, along with additional information, will be used to help set small grain acreage, yield, and production estimates which will be available on the NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov and in NASS’s Quick Stats database at quickstats.nass.usda.gov.

“NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified,” stated Streff. “We recognize that this is a hectic time for farmers and ranchers, but the information they provide becomes useful data for decision-making on the farm, for federal farm programs, and the markets. I urge them to respond to this survey and thank them for their time and cooperation.”

Survey results will be published in several reports, including the annual Small Grains Summary and the quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on September 30. These survey data also contribute to USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov. For more information call the NASS Nebraska Field Office at 800-582-6443.



Help NC Support our Troops

As Americans, we are forever indebted to our veterans and military service members who make the freedoms we relish every day possible. As a way to thank them for their service and sacrifice, Nebraska Cattlemen is proud to support our troops through our annual Beef for Troops event.

Since 2009 the Nebraska Cattlemen Farmer Stockmen Council has sponsored beef drafts for military members on Veterans’ Appreciation Day at the Nebraska State Fair. The Farmer Stockman Council will again honor veterans and active-duty service members in the Beef Pit at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair during the Veteran’s Day Celebration.

As we come together to honor our military veterans and service members, they need your help! NC will be accepting cash donations through August 16, 2024. These donations are used to purchase beef drafts, which are given randomly to our veterans and active-duty service members who eat at the Nebraska Beef Pit at the Nebraska State Fair.

Please mail your donations to:
Nebraska Cattlemen
4611 Cattle Drive
Lincoln, NE 68521
*Please note your donation is for Beef for Troops

They appreciate your support of Nebraska Cattlemen, but more importantly, they appreciate your support of our military personnel. Your name will be listed on the beef draft envelope to thank you for your donation.

Questions can be directed to Bonita Lederer at (402) 450-0223 or blederer@necattlemen.org.



NE Prism CLP: A Nebraska-developed wheat variety supplied by NU Horizon Genetics

Nu Horizon Genetics, the supplier of University of Nebraska – Lincoln – developed small grain seed varieties, including released its latest wheat variety, NE Prism CLP, earlier this year.

NE Prism CLP is the first 2-gene Clearfield variety developed by UNL. The variety is known for its moderate resistance to fungal disease, including stem rust, stripe rust and fusarium head blight, which became prominent in the panhandle during the 2023 growing season.

Leon Kriesel is a certified seed dealer from Gurley, Nebraska, who grows and processes Prism wheat seed for his customers at Kriesel Certified Seed. “We have grown Prism for a couple years and are really satisfied with the way it looks in the fall.” Kreisel said.

“Prism is an even, medium-height wheat that is easy to harvest. The protein, milling and baking scores are very good.” Kreisel said.

Weather is an unpredictable factor that impacts producers’ crops throughout the growing season. “We had hail, (wheat streak) mosaic, frost and drought. Prism is a wheat that is tolerant to the weather in Nebraska, especially in the western part.” Kreisel said.

Kriesel is also a member of the Board of Directors for Nu Horizon Genetics, which was established in 2021. NU Horizon Genetics supplied its first variety, Epoch, a hard red winter wheat variety suited for irrigated production and intensive management. Since its release, Epoch has excelled in yield and test weight data and still plays a significant role in Nebraska’s wheat production today.

Nu Horizon Genetics is dedicated to collaborating with producers to identify the most suitable variety based on their specific geography, climate, soil conditions and farming practices.

Seed dealers interested in obtaining the UNL varieties for certified seed sales can contact NU Horizon Genetics at nuhorizongenetics@gmail.com and (402) 540-9359.

Producers interested in adding NU Horizon Genetics varieties to your rotation can find their local seed representative at https://nuhorizongenetics.com/nhg-seed-reps/.



KANSAS GRAIN DEALER NO LONGER LICENSED IN NEBRASKA

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) wants to ensure grain producers are aware that NORAG, LLC, of Stilwell, Kansas can no longer do business as a Grain Dealer in Nebraska.

“For more than a year, the PSC grain department has works to bring this grain dealer into compliance,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. “At this time, the company has chosen not to renew its license and therefore cannot do business as a grain dealer in our state.”

By choosing not to renew, NORAG, LLC, is no longer a licensed grain dealer in Nebraska and cannot do business as such.

Commissioner Watermeier said, “We want to make sure producers are aware of this development as harvest season gets underway.”

A list of licensed Grain Dealers in Nebraska can be found on the Grain Department page of the PSC website < https://psc.nebraska.gov/grain >.



Congressional Letter to Commerce Questions Tariffs on Popular Herbicide

Eighteen members of Congress sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo yesterday saying they are concerned that tariffs on imports of a widely used herbicide – called 2,4-D – could compromise reliable, affordable access to agricultural inputs. The effort was led by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.).

“Agricultural producers already face record high input costs while competing in a volatile market and prices for all crops are forecasted to decline over the next several years,” the representatives said.  “Without careful consideration of the facts during these preliminary investigations, new tariffs will result in difficulties for producers who rely on this critical input. This will only exacerbate their economic challenges.”

The National Corn Growers Association supported the congressional effort.

“Duties on 2,4-D imports would intensify what is already a difficult period for many growers as key input costs continue to increase,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “The tariffs could make these products hard to acquire and more expensive for farmers. We applaud these members of Congress for pushing this issue with Commerce and we hope the administration will listen.”

In May, The U.S. International Trade Commission agreed to advance a petition by Corteva Agribusiness to place anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of the herbicide 2,4-D shipped from two Asian countries.
 
Growers have said America’s farmers cannot rely upon a sole domestic supplier of 2,4-D to meet nearly all the market’s needs, a sentiment echoed in today’s letter.

“Given that there is only one domestic source of 2,4-D, with limited capacity to meet domestic demand, American agricultural producers rely on imports to supplement their management plans,” the letter said. “Changes in the duties owed on these products could have far-reaching impacts on producers as they plan their expenses for the crop year.”

The Department of Commerce is slated to release preliminary duties by September 10th, though that deadline could be extended. The final rate will not be published until next year.



Iowa Beef Center to host fencing and grazing clinic at Western Research and Demonstration Farm

It's easy for pasture infrastructure improvements to quickly fall behind on the to-do list. However, it is always advantageous to actively consider potential improvements and make plans to implement improvements in slow seasons. The 2024 Fencing and Grazing Clinic at the Western Research and Demonstration Farm can help.

The clinic, hosted by Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is set for Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the farm near Castana. This event is rescheduled from the original June date, and has updated timely info for attendees.

The clinic will be located at 436515 Hwy E3 in Castana, and with five different sessions throughout the day, some with hands-on learning experiences, as well as a noon lunch, all at no charge.

IBC extension program specialist Beth Reynolds said, “This clinic is designed to help improve the infrastructure to execute an efficient grazing plan.”

ISU extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk said participants can also expect “A mix of hands-on, classroom style, and peer learning to keep the day interactive."

Clinic topics and presenters are:
    New tools in fencing: Brad Ketchum, Gallagher
    Building your paddocks: Lundy-Woolfolk and Reynolds
    Research farm tour
    Weather outlook: Madelynn Wuestenberg, ISU extension agricultural climatology specialist
    Planning for weather resilience: Shelby Gruss, ISU extension forage specialist

Event sponsors Gallagher, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, and Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program make the program possible.
Preregistration is required to attend and should be made by Sept. 16. To register, email Reynolds at bethr@iastate.edu or Lundy-Woolfolk at ellundy@iastate.edu.



UI spearheads $6M multistate NSF grant to help Midwest agricultural communities better manage extreme weather

The University of Iowa has been awarded a $6 million, four-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to lead a multistate collaboration with universities, local governments, health care providers, and other experts on a project that will help Midwest agricultural communities grappling with effects of severe weather, such as floods, droughts, and heat waves.

A network of small, low-cost sensors invented by UI researchers will be placed in local fields and neighborhoods across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Arkansas to gather measurements of soil temperature and moisture, air temperature, relative humidity and surface pressure, and other weather and soil data points. These measurements will be used to produce model forecasts of weather that will be delivered in real time to individuals in ag-communities via phone apps and interactive on-demand virtual systems.

Through local partnerships and data training, the hyper localized forecasts will help individuals and communities in a variety of ways:
    Manage water usage and agricultural field operations.
    Recognize when and where environmental factors such as heat waves or smoke from wildfire are harmful to health.
    Strategically use resources to mitigate heat stress, such as by building greenspaces.  
    Grow the local workforce by instilling technical skills and demand for data analytics, operation of unmanned arial vehicles, irrigation systems, and elements of precision agriculture intended to create more economically resilient communities.

“This significant NSF award underscores the University of Iowa’s role in creating engineering solutions to address critical issues facing our rural communities. Through collaborations such as these we can continue to raise the bar in transformative research, benefiting all Iowans,” says Ann McKenna, dean of the UI College of Engineering.

The project, called Data-Advanced Research and Education (DARE), is under the guidance of Principal Investigator Jun Wang, UI’s James E. Ashton Chair of Engineering, departmental executive officer of chemical and biochemical engineering, and the assistant director for the Iowa Technology Institute.

 “Ag-based communities in the central U.S. are disproportionally affected by climate change,” Wang says. “The DARE project, in partnerships with various state and local stakeholders, will strengthen communities’ resilience and grow the next generation workforce to tackle the impacts of severe weather and climate change.”

Faculty and staff from 10 departments and schools across the UI Colleges of Engineering, Medicine, and Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Graduate College are contributing to the study.

The NSF funding is part of a $77.8 million national investment in the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), which aims to leverage interdisciplinary research teams across regions to develop climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, expand STEM opportunities, and drive economic growth in disproportionately affected communities nationwide.

The project team comprises 29 experts from various sectors, and includes the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Arkansas, and Kansas State University. The team’s expertise spans engineering, journalism, urban planning, sociology, medicine, sustainability sciences, agronomy, geosciences, agribusiness, and more



McEars Makes His Way to Des Moines for the Governor’s Charity Steer Show

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board® (ICPB) is proud to sponsor McEars, the corn-fed steer, at this year’s 42nd Annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. This year’s steer will be accompanied by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board® (ICPB) President Stan Nelson, a corn farmer from Middletown, Iowa, and Ryan Brenner, son of Matt and Corey Brenner and Junior at Maple Valley – Anthon Oto Community Schools.

“The Governor’s Charity Steer Show provides kids like me an opportunity to help families that utilize Ronald McDonald House Charities, and I think that is really important because it teaches us the value of community service to others,” said Ryan when asked about being selected to show. “Not only am I able to make a positive impact while learning about responsibility and compassion, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to be on this stage with other great cattle."  

As a 4-H member and active member of the MVAO FFA Chapter, Ryan has seen the value raising livestock can have and the benefits of supporting non-profit organizations. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show allows youth and our communities to come together and contribute to a meaningful cause.

“Iowa Corn is excited to provide this opportunity for Ryan while promoting and supporting our livestock customers,” shared Stan Nelson, Iowa Corn Promotion Board President. “The Governor’s Charity Steer Show has been a longstanding tradition, and we value our involvement to support such a remarkable organization like Ronald McDonald House Charities.”

McEars will be sold at auction concluding the show. All proceeds of the show go directly to the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa and the families in need at the facility. To donate on behalf of Ryan and Iowa Corn visit https://donorbox.org/gcss2024 and mention Ryan or Iowa Corn in the notes. 



Fertilizer Prices Continue Downward Trend

The average retail price of all eight fertilizers tracked by DTN continued to decline during the first week of August 2024, according to sellers surveyed by DTN, although none of the prices experienced a significant move, which DTN designates as 5% or more.

Anhydrous led the way down with a 4% drop compared to last month, falling from $705 per ton to $676. That was followed by UAN32 with a 3% decline from $389 per ton to $376. DAP recorded the third-biggest drop of 2% from $760 per ton to $744. The price of UAN28 saw a decline of about 2%, from $345 to $338.

The remaining four fertilizers were all down fractionally. Potash came in at $503 per ton, down from $506. MAP fell from $821 per ton to $819, urea declined from $506 to $504, while the price of 10-34-0 also fell slightly from $642 to $640.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.55/lb.N, anhydrous $0.41/lb.N, UAN28 $0.60/lb.N and UAN32 $0.59/lb.N.

Six of the eight fertilizers were lower compared to one year ago. Both anhydrous and MAP are 6% more expensive compared to last year. The prices of the remaining six fertilizers were lower compared to last year at this time, including potash at 13%, urea at 12%, UAN28 at 11%, 10-34-0 at 10%, UAN32 at 9% and DAP at 3%.



Krantz and Miller Join SHIC Board of Directors; Schwartz, Ruen, and Bang elected officers

The Swine Health Information Center welcomed two new board members during their meeting held on July 29-30, 2024. Seth Krantz, DVM, Tosh Farms, and Jay Miller, DVM, The Maschhoffs, began their terms. Founding board member Daryl Olsen, DVM, AMVC, and Russ Nugent, PhD, concluded their service. Nugent joined the SHIC Board of Directors in 2021 and served as president for the year just completed. He was honored for his service with a plaque during SHIC’s June board meeting.

The new SHIC Board of Directors held an election of officers as well. Mark Schwartz, Schwartz Farms, was chosen to lead the SHIC Board as its chair. Paul Ruen, DVM, Fairmont Veterinary Clinic will be the vice chair for the organization and Kent Bang will again serve as secretary/treasurer. Other board members are Joseph Dykhuis, Gene Noem, Jeremy Pittman, DVM, and Pete Thomas, DVM. Megan Niederwerder, DVM, PhD, is SHIC’s executive director and Lisa Becton, DVM, MS, DACVPM, serves as associate director.



Public Health and Animal Agriculture Leaders Convene for One Health

The National Pork Board (NPB) partnered with the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) to convene a group of public health, animal health and swine professionals in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to build relationships and explore opportunities for One Health collaborations. The event was sponsored by the Pork Checkoff with the support of several state pork associations and producers from Minnesota and South Dakota.

The One Health farm to fork experience spanned all phases of swine production, a feed mill, truck wash and processing plants in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. The educational tour focused on biosecurity, animal wellbeing and sustainability to create a dialogue between human health, animal health and food safety professionals.

“This Checkoff investment is evidence of our holistic approach to connecting directly with our colleagues in the public health sector,” said Heather Fowler VMD PhD MPH DACVPM, director of producer and public health at NPB. “The We Care® Ethical Principles and Pork Quality Assurance® Plus training our producers abide by are proof that we are committed to people, pigs and the planet. It was inspiring to talk directly with the event attendees about how on-farm practices contribute to a healthy community and the health of the people we are proud to feed.”

The following organizations were represented:
           Association for State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
           The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
           FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
           Illinois Department of Public Health
           Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
           Iowa Pork Producers Association
           Minnesota Department of Health
           Minnesota Pork Board
           National Pork Board (host)
           NIAA
           PIPESTONE
           South Dakota Department of Health
           South Dakota Pork Producers Council
           U.S. Food and Drug Administration
          Wisconsin Department of Health Services

“Observing and learning about swine production from farrow to finish highlighted the need of these systems to have the highest rigor of biosecurity and production practices to protect herd health,” said Alexandra Medley DVM MPH, Associate Director for Antimicrobial Resistance for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases. “In turn, we learned how maintaining a healthy herd can directly and indirectly affect animal, crop, and public health, including enhancing food safety and preventing, within their part of the One Health spectrum, the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AR).”

Next month, animal agriculture leaders from multiple species sectors will host a reversal of the previous farm tour experience with a meeting in Atlanta at the CDC campus. This meeting will support CDC delegates as they provide informed One Health information including perspectives and practical applications from experts and professionals in the animal agriculture sector.

“By sharing our respective priorities and challenges as swine producers and public health scientists, we hope that the takeaway is that CDC is eager to collaborate on identifying and furthering efforts to advance human, environmental and animal health and address the threat of AR,” continued Medley. “We are grateful to the producers and companies that graciously brought us into their world to foster learning and discussion across a diversity of topics.”



June Marks Another Strong Month for U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Exports

U.S. ethanol exports hit a record high for the month of June, reaching 145.9 million gallons (mg), though this marked a 6% decline from May. Shippers targeted just thirteen markets, with the largest share heading to Canada for the 39th consecutive month. Our neighbor imported 44.7 mg (93% denatured fuel), which is 25% less than May and the lowest volume for the year. Exports to the United Kingdom accelerated, increasing by 144% to 25.8 mg (64% denatured fuel). Other significant markets included the European Union (16.7 mg, +17%), India (14.7 mg, up from nearly zero), Colombia (12.2 mg, +52%), the Philippines (9.3 mg, -42%), and Mexico (8.2 mg, +55%). U.S. ethanol exports for the first half of 2024 total 962.8 mg, a remarkable 41% increase compared to the same period last year.

The U.S. did not record any imports of foreign ethanol in June. Total imports for the first half of the year stand at 1.4 mg.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, decreased 7% to 945,592 metric tons (mt). Mexico, our largest DDGS market for the sixth straight month, imported 200,900 mt (up 1% from May). Exports also rose to South Korea (116,222 mt, +2%), Indonesia (100,967 mt, +19%), and China (52,511 mt, +31% and the largest volume since January 2022). These gains were offset by reduced shipments to Vietnam (66,755 mt, -15%), the European Union (54,258 mt, -50%), Canada (46,096 mt, -17% to a 14-month low), Colombia (30,973 mt, -23%), and Japan (28,011 mt, -13%). The remaining share of DDGS shipments were distributed to 30 countries. U.S. exports for the first half of 2024 total 5.87 million mt, surpassing last year’s shipments during the same period by 15%.