Friday September 06 Ag News

 RURAL NEBRASKANS ARE INCREASINGLY PESSIMISTIC ABOUT WELL-BEING, POLL SHOWS

Rural Nebraskans are increasingly pessimistic about their current and future well-being, according to the 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Over the past 29 years, the poll has asked respondents about their current well-being and their outlook on the future. This year, 33% of respondents indicated they are worse off than they were five years ago, the highest level across all years of the study. This increased from 27% last year.

'The increase in pessimism was matched with a sharp decrease in optimism. This year, 36% of those surveyed believe they are better off compared to five years ago, down from 45% last year.  

Rural Nebraskans’ optimism about the future has also trended downward over the past five years, said Becky Vogt, poll manager. This year, 34% of rural Nebraskans surveyed believe they will be better off 10 years from now. This has steadily declined from a high of 52% in 2019. The proportion saying they will be worse off in a decade was about the same as last year (26% this year and 27% last year).

The gap between respondents saying they are better off than five years ago versus worse off has narrowed considerably in the past three years. This year, the gap was within the study’s margin of error. This narrowing gap is also true of future outlook, with 34% of respondents saying they will be better off 10 years from now and 26% saying they will be worse off.

“Nationwide surveys have also shown people are still negative about the economy,” said Brad Lubben, Extension policy specialist. “While the numbers in Nebraska still show more optimism than pessimism, the downward trend is evidence of the growing concerns over the economy.

“Even as some economic numbers show improvement nationally, it can take time for consumer sentiment and confidence to return. With higher consumer prices due to higher inflation rates of the past few years and higher interest rates challenging borrowers, it will take some time for improved economic conditions to improve consumer attitudes.”  

Despite the overall trends, certain groups are more likely to be optimistic about their current situation and their future, according to the Rural Poll. These include younger people, households with higher incomes and households with higher levels of education.

In addition, most rural Nebraskans surveyed describe their mental health or emotional well-being as good (51%) or excellent (27%). However, the poll showed more young people struggling:  
> The youngest rural Nebraskans are least likely to report their mental health as being good or excellent (50% compared to about 80% for age 30 and older).   
> Almost half of young Nebraskans (45%) rate their mental health as only fair.  
> Younger Nebraskans surveyed were also more likely to agree that people are powerless to control their own lives.

The poll also asked about loneliness. A slight majority of rural Nebraskans surveyed say they hardly ever or never experience feelings of loneliness. Slightly more than half said they rarely or never experience the following: feeling isolated from others (56%), feeling that they lack companionship (55%) or feeling left out (51%).  

Certain groups are more likely than others to experience feelings of loneliness. For example:
> 17% of respondents living in or near communities with populations of 10,000 or more say they often feel left out, compared to 5% of those living in or near communities with populations under 500.  
> 26% of rural Nebraskans surveyed who have never married (26%) often feel left out, compared to less than 10% of married or widowed respondents.  
> Nebraskans living in or near larger communities are more likely than those living in or near smaller communities to say they often feel left out.  

Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, an Extension specialist with Rural Prosperity Nebraska, said small communities often foster a sense of connectedness.  

“In smaller communities, you may see the same person at the post office, cafe or at church,” she said. “You get to know them, and they get to know you — it is just easier to feel connected.”  

Policymakers, community leaders and members of the public are invited to learn more about rural Nebraskans’ perceptions of well-being during a free noon webinar Sept. 10. More details and registration are available at https://ruralpoll.unl.edu.  

The Rural Poll is the largest annual poll gauging rural Nebraskans’ perceptions about policy and quality of life. Questionnaires were mailed to more than 5,800 households in Nebraska in late spring and summer, with 1,010 households — representing 86 of the state’s 93 counties — responding. The margin of error for the poll is plus-or-minus 3%. Rural Prosperity Nebraska conducts the poll with funding from Nebraska Extension.



2024 NeFU Fall District Meetings

Monday, September 16, 2024
NeFU District 6 Fall Meeting
6:00 Supper with Meeting to Follow
Andy’s Sports Bar & Grill
14615 W Maple Rd
Omaha, NE 68116
Contact Andrew Tonnies: (402) 590-7096

September 26, 2024
NeFU District 7 Fall Meeting
6:30 pm Supper with Meeting to Follow
Perkins Restaurant
1229 Omaha Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
Contact Keith Dittrich: (402) 990-7570

September 27, 2024
NeFU District 5 Fall Meeting
6:00 Supper with Meeting to Follow
The Garage Sports Bar & Grill
5551 S 48th St, Lincoln, NE 68516
Lincoln, NE 68516
Contact Amy Svoboda: (402) 817-9647



Nebraska Corn Board Now Accepting 2025 Internship Applications

The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) has now opened internship application period for six internship experiences beginning in May 2025. The internships vary in location, focus and scope but are designed to provide students with an overview of Nebraska’s corn industry through real-world professional examples and experiences.

Five of the six internships are summer-long experiences, with four based outside Nebraska. There is a new internship addition in 2025, an agriculture broadcasting and digital communications internship being hosted by the Nebraska Rural Radio Association. Each of the experiences are with cooperating partners of NCB. The position based with the Nebraska Corn office is a yearlong internship.

2025-2026 Internship Opportunities:

Communications and Event Management Internship
Host: Nebraska Corn
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Duration: Summer 2025 and/or 2025-2026 School Year
Application Due Date: October 11, 2024

Communications and Investor Relations Internship
Host: National Corn Growers Association
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Duration: Summer 2025
Application Due Date: October 11, 2024

Public Policy and Analysis Internship
Host: National Corn Growers Association
Location: Washington, D.C.
Duration: Summer 2025
Application Due Date: October 11, 2024

Agriculture Broadcasting and Digital Communications Internship
Host: Nebraska Rural Radio Association and Market Journal
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Duration: Summer 2025
Application Due Date: October 11, 2024

Event Management Internship
Host: U.S. Grains Council
Location: Washington, D.C.
Duration: Summer 2025
Application Due Date: October 11, 2024

Promotion and International Relations Internship
Host: U.S. Meat Export Federation
Location: Denver, Colorado
Duration: Summer 2025
Application Due Date: October 11, 2024

“As we enter our 35th year of recruiting interns, we continue to see the necessity and success of the program,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, NCB chair. “Internships provide hands-on experiences, with the opportunity to gain skills that cannot be learned in the classroom. We see new interests, passions and career goals developed through serving as an intern. This past year alone, we have interacted with past Nebraska Corn Board interns who have become fulltime staff at their host organizations; that helps us define the need and success of internships.”

Nebraska Corn internships are open to all college students, with a preference given to students enrolled in colleges or universities located in Nebraska. The application process can be found online at https://nebraskacorn.gov/internships/. The submission deadline is Friday, October 11, 2024.



Registration Now Open for Annual Siouxland Ag Lenders Seminar on Oct. 30

Agricultural lenders, consultants and farm financial advisors will receive current useful, research-based information during the Siouxland Agricultural Lender’s Seminar on Wednesday, October 30 with registration at 8:30 a.m. and programing from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Dordt Ag Stewardship Center located at 3648 US HWY 75, Sioux Center.

The seminar will present current information to assist attendees in their portfolio management, which is especially important in this era of continued lower farm profits and market variability.

“As farm profitability declines, ag lenders need to understand the current market trends and risks as a necessary part of farm management assistance,” said Fred Hall, Northwest Iowa Dairy Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “And considering that one in three U.S. farmers is over the age of 65, there is a real need to understand how to successfully aid clients in succession planning.”

Lenders who serve agricultural clients - especially those who work with dairymen or forage producers - in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota are encouraged to attend as the seminar will feature insights on right to repair legislation, the used machinery market, farm succession and transitioning, and market outlooks for livestock, grains, and dairy production. Additionally, with more women in both industry roles and as active farmers, we will look at ways to broaden your approach to find success in both internal and external relationships.

The list of nationally recognized presenters for the seminar includes:
    “Right to Repair Legislation” – Jennifer Harrington, Staff Attorney at the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Iowa State University
    “The Ever-Changing Game of the Used Machinery Market: What Goes Up Must Come Down” – Joe Everitt, Owner of Joel’s Tractors and Auction LLC
    “Milk Market Update” – Dr. Leonard Polzin, Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison
    “Family Farm Transitioning and Succession Planning” – Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Specialist, Center for Dairy Profitability, UW-Madison, Wisconsin
    “Through Another Lens: Women in Ag Lending” –Val Weis, Commercial Lending Officer, Farm Credit Services of America.
    “Commodity Market Outlook” – Joseph Lensing, Farm Management Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

“This seminar has proven itself in assisting Siouxland lenders and financial advisors as a local source for current information which they can use as they help producers manage risk,” Hall said.

Preregistration cost for the Siouxland Ag Lenders Seminar is $100 for the first person and $75 for each additional person from the business. Student registration fee is $30. The preregistration deadline is October 25.

Registrations at the door the day of will be $125 and will not guarantee lunch.

To register for the Siouxland Ag Lenders Seminar, preregister online at:

https://go.iastate.edu/24AGLENDERS

or register on the new Ag Lenders website at:

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/ag-lenders-seminars

Preregistration is also available by mail and make checks payable to Sioux County Extension; mail to ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County, 400 Central Ave. NW, Ste 700, Orange City, IA 51041.

For more information, contact Fred Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu.  



Hy-Vee Promotes 'Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon' Campaign
    
The Iowa Pork Producers Association is joining forces with Hy-Vee grocery stores to encourage consumers to ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’. Large displays in 200 Hy-Vee stores across the Midwest featuring the viral NIL promotion with Iowa State Cyclone football players launch this week.

In conjunction with the promotion, Hy-Vee will conduct giveaways of 10 Blackstone Griddles and free bacon for a year to 20 recipients. To qualify, consumers simply need to purchase pork at any of the 200 participating Hy-Vee stores between now and October 31 and scan their Hy-Vee PERKS card at checkout. Hy-Vee operates grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

“Our goal is to promote the pork industry and encourage consumers to buy more pork, and this is a fantastic way to do it,” said Iowa Pork Producers Association President Matt Gent, who is also a pig farmer from Wellman, Iowa. “The football players have been fantastic to work with and helped us shine a spotlight on our industry. Bringing Hy-Vee into the campaign to generate more pork sales will benefit hardworking farmers across the Midwest.”

The ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ promotion launched in September 2023 and quickly went viral across social media. A photo of Iowa State Cyclone football players Myles Purchase, Tyler Moore, Tommy Hamann, and Caleb Bacon strategically posed with a large ham and huge pile of bacon was seen by more than 20 million people on X. The partnership gained national attention, earning the “Best NIL Deal of 2023” award from the Sports Business Journal.

The social media campaign returns for the 2024 season, with more students joining the cast. The first in a series of episodic videos featuring Purchase, Moore, Hamann, Bacon, as well as Cyclones Alec Cook and Zach Lovett, launched Monday, August 26.

In a series of videos to be released every Monday at 10 a.m. for the next several weeks, several other Cyclone student-athletes will participate in tryouts for the campaign, to see if they fit into the ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ mantra. The episodic series will conclude on Monday, October 7, just in time to celebrate National Pork Month, aka “Porktober”.

In conjunction with the NIL (name, image, likeness) partnership, the Iowa Pork Producers Association will donate $1,000 worth of pork to a food pantry chosen by every student that appears in the ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ videos. Those donations will also contribute to Hy-Vee’s 100 Million Meals Challenge to provide hunger relief across the U.S.

“This fun and engaging campaign brings more attention to the offerings we have in our stores and the many ways we support farmers across the Midwest,” said Jason Pride, vice president of meat and seafood at Hy-Vee. “We also appreciate the Iowa Pork Producers Association for supporting our efforts to alleviate food insecurity in our communities. This campaign is a win-win for everyone.”

The ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ videos can be found on the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube channels.



Momentum Continues for U.S. Beef Exports; Record Value to Mexico Fuels Strong Month for Pork

Exports of U.S. beef continued to build momentum in July, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports were also well above year-ago levels in July, led by a value record for shipments to Mexico.

Key Asian markets and Mexico fuel strong month for beef exports
July beef exports totaled 110,419 metric tons (mt), up 7% from a year ago and the second largest of 2024. Export value climbed 12% to $910.9 million, also the second highest this year. July growth was fueled primarily by strengthening demand in Japan, Taiwan, Mexico and the Middle East and ASEAN regions.

For January through July, beef export value increased 6% from a year ago to $6.13 billion, despite a 2% decline in volume (754,152 mt).

“It is very gratifying to see demand for U.S. beef trending upward in Asian markets, with Japan and Taiwan leading the way and an outstanding showing in the ASEAN region,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “U.S. beef has weathered severe headwinds in Asia and especially in Japan, but the outlook for the remainder of the year is encouraging. July was also another impressive month for Mexico, which continues to display excellent demand for an expanding range of U.S. beef cuts and variety meats.”

Record value for Mexico headlines robust month for pork exports
Pork exports reached 241,210 mt in July, up 10% from a year ago. Export value jumped 13% to $710.5 million, fueled in part by a record $244.5 million for leading market Mexico. July exports also trended substantially higher year-over-year in most Latin American markets and in South Korea.

Through the first seven months of 2024, pork exports were 4% above last year at 1.76 million mt. Export value was just under $5 billion – up 6% from a year ago, when pork exports set an annual value record of $8.16 billion.

“Mexico was definitely the pacesetter for U.S. pork again in July, but demand was also outstanding in Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean,” Halstrom said. “Pork exports to Korea also continued to perform well in what is shaping up to be a record year.”

July lamb exports increase in value despite lower volume
July exports of U.S. lamb totaled 173 mt, down 12% from a year ago, but still achieved a 13% increase in value to $1.05 million. For January through July, lamb exports climbed 9% in volume (1,658 mt) and 18% in value ($9.1 million), with shipments trending higher to the Caribbean, Mexico, the Philippines and Canada.



Farm Sector Profits Forecast To Fall in 2024

Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast at $140.0 billion in calendar year 2024, a decrease of $6.5 billion (4.4 percent) relative to 2023 in nominal (not adjusted for inflation) dollars. After adjusting for inflation, net farm income is forecast to decrease $10.2 billion (6.8 percent) in 2024 relative to 2023. Despite this expected decline, net farm income in 2024 would be 15.2 percent above its 20-year average (2004–23) of $121.5 billion but 27.6 percent below the 2022 record high in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Net cash farm income is forecast at $154.1 billion in 2024, a decrease of $12.0 billion (7.2 percent) relative to 2023 in nominal dollars. When adjusted for inflation, 2024 net cash farm income is forecast to decrease by $16.3 billion (9.6 percent) from 2023. In 2024, net cash farm income is forecast to be 6.2 percent above its 2004–23 average of $145.1 billion and 31.0 percent below the 2022 record high. Net cash farm income encompasses cash receipts from farming as well as cash farm-related income (including Federal Government payments) minus cash expenses. It does not include noncash items (including changes in inventories, economic depreciation, and gross imputed rental income of operator dwellings) reflected in the net farm income measure.

Cash receipts from the sale of agricultural commodities are forecast to decrease by $9.8 billion (1.9 percent, in nominal terms) from 2023 to $516.5 billion in 2024. Total crop receipts are expected to decrease by $27.7 billion (10.0 percent) from 2023, led by lower receipts for corn and soybeans. In contrast, total animal/animal product receipts are expected to increase by $17.8 billion (7.1 percent), following increases in receipts for eggs, cattle/calves, milk, and broilers.

Direct Government payments are forecast to fall by $1.8 billion (15.1 percent) from 2023 to $10.4 billion in 2024. This decrease is expected largely because of lower Dairy Margin Coverage Program payments and lower supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance in 2024 relative to 2023. Total production expenses, including operator dwelling expenses, are forecast to decrease by $4.4 billion (1.0 percent) to $457.5 billion in 2024. Feed, fertilizer (including lime and soil conditioners), and pesticide expenses are expected to see the largest declines in 2024.

Average net cash farm income for farm businesses is forecast to decrease 8.9 percent from 2023 to $106,200 per farm in 2024 (in nominal terms). Farm businesses are farms with annual gross cash farm income (GCFI)—annual income before expenses—of at least $350,000, or operations with less than $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income but that report farming as the operator's primary occupation. Six out of nine USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) Farm Resource Regions are expected to see average net cash farm income fall in 2024 relative to 2023, with farm businesses located in the Heartland region expected to see the largest decline. When grouped by commodity specialization, all farm businesses specializing in crops are forecast to see lower average net cash income in 2024 while those specializing in animal/animal products are forecast to see higher net cash farm income in 2024. Farms specializing in wheat are expected to see the largest percentage decline and those specializing in dairy are expected to see the largest percentage increase relative to 2023.

Farm sector equity is expected to increase by 5.3 percent ($186.1 billion) from 2023 to $3.68 trillion in 2024 in nominal terms. Farm sector assets are forecast to increase 5.2 percent ($207.9 billion) to $4.22 trillion in 2024 following expected increases in the value of farm real estate assets. Farm sector debt is forecast to increase 4.2 percent ($21.8 billion) to $540.8 billion in 2024. The debt-to-asset ratio for the sector is forecast to improve modestly from 12.93 percent in 2023 to 12.81 percent in 2024. Working capital is forecast to fall 4.2 percent in 2024 relative to 2023.

Median Income of Farm Operator Households Forecast To Increase in 2024
Median total farm household income decreased slightly in 2023 to $97,984 from $98,015 in 2022. Household income is forecast to increase to $99,683 in 2024; a nominal increase of 1.7 percent relative to 2023, but a decrease of 0.7 percent after accounting for inflation.

Farm households typically receive income from farm and off-farm sources. Median farm income earned by farm households decreased to -$900 in 2023 from -$800 in 2022 and is forecast to increase slightly in 2024 to -$834. Many farm households primarily rely on off-farm income. Median off-farm income in 2023 declined to $79,900 from $82,045 in 2022. In 2024, off-farm income is forecast at $82,796, an increase of 3.6 percent (1.1 percent after inflation) relative to 2023. Since farm and off-farm income are not distributed identically for every farm, median total income will generally not equal the sum of median off-farm and median farm income.



Congress is Failing America’s Farmers

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s net farm income data, which shows a 23% drop in on-farm income since 2022.

"The drop in net farm income is not just an economic hiccup, it’s evidence of an agricultural downturn. High inflation, severe weather and plummeting crop prices should serve as a wake-up call for Congress to finally step up and do the right thing by modernizing the farm bill.

“We've lost 141,000 farms in five years—is Congress going to wait to act until we lose another 150,000 or 300,000? It has been two years of kicking the can down the road when it comes to the farm bill, and there is no road left for some farmers in light of the current economic realities and antiquated safety net programs. Congress is failing America’s families, not just on the farm, but in every home that relies on the safe, affordable food grown by the men and women who work year-round to provide it.

"It’s been more than 100 days since the House Agriculture Committee passed a bipartisan bill that addresses the needs of farm and ranch families. Since then, there has been no action in either chamber. I call on our elected leaders to show they are capable of putting politics aside—as they have in the past—to pass a new modernized farm bill. It can be done. It must be done."

Even when net farm income was higher, more than half of the farms in the U.S. were not profitable, according the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Currently, farmers are paying the highest dollar amount ever on interest, labor and taxes based on today’s USDA report.



Low River Water Levels Return

For much of 2024, the precipitation and river level story has been a noticeable departure from the past two years of drought-stricken areas.

According to the Soy Transportation Coalition, significant rainfall in many areas of the Midwest and Plains states has resulted in water levels on the Mississippi and other navigable waterways being considerably higher than the same period in 2023—especially during the late April through mid-July timeframe. However, as the amount of precipitation has diminished over the past month, water levels on the Mississippi River have unfortunately retreated as well.

STC Executive Director Mike Steenhoek said the river gauge reading in St. Louis is only 4.07 ft. higher than the same time last year. The Memphis level is 1.59 ft. lower.

“We are seeing barge companies respond by announcing limits on draft and tow-size limitations,” Steenhoek said. “This will continue unless additional precipitation reaches the system in the near future.”

For the week ending on Aug. 27, barge rates originating in the Mid-Mississippi (area between the Twin Cities and St. Louis) were $34.15 per ton, which is 9% higher than the same week last year and 42% higher than the three-year average. For freight originating in St. Louis, rates per-ton were $24.62, which is 6% higher than the same week last year and 65% higher than the three-year. Diminished capacity on the Mississippi River is once again resulting in upward pressure on barge freight rates. Those figures are from USDA.

“This development is clearly unwelcome,” Steenhoek said. “Soybean and grain farmers have a number of headwinds confronting the industry. It is therefore essential that our supply chain is a facilitator of profitability, not an obstacle to it.”

Steenhoek added that recent rail challenges, along with retreating water levels on the Mississippi River, are serving as an impediment to farmer profitability.

Shipping by barge is the most economical and efficient mode of transportation for bulk commodities and an option that offers a competitive advantage to U.S. growers.

As a record 2024 harvest season begins, ASA and STC will monitor the situation and provide updates in the coming weeks.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 8/30/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending August 30, ethanol production slowed by 0.9% to an 8-week low of 1.06 million b/d, equivalent to 44.56 million gallons daily. Yet, output was 4.8% more than the same week last year and 8.5% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate ticked down 0.1% to 1.08 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.54 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks shrank 0.9% to 23.4 million barrels. Still, stocks were 8.0% more than the same week last year and 8.5% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned across all regions except the Midwest (PADD 2) and West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, fizzled by 4.0% to a 7-week low of 8.94 million b/d (137.39 bg annualized). Demand was 4.1% less than a year ago and 2.5% below the five-year average.

Conversely, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol strengthened by 0.9% to 933,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.34 bg annualized and the largest volume since May 24. Net inputs were 3.0% more than year-ago levels and 4.2% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 91,000 b/d (3.8 million gallons/day), 37.2% less than the prior week. There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the 50th consecutive week.



Retail Fertilizer Prices Remain Slightly Lower

Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of August 2024 continue to show lower prices. For the sixth week in a row, no fertilizers' price showed a substantial move in either direction. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

All eight of the major fertilizers were lower compared to last month but no fertilizer was down a considerable amount. DAP had an average price of $742/ton, MAP $814/ton, potash $487/ton, urea $492/ton, 10-34-0 $639/ton, anhydrous $676/ton, UAN28 $328/ton and UAN32 $364/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.41/lb.N, UAN28 $0.59/lb.N and UAN32 $0.57/lb.N.

All fertilizers but three are lower compared to one year ago. DAP is 1% higher and 10-34-0 is 5% more expensive and MAP is 11% higher looking back to last year. The remaining five fertilizers are lower. Anhydrous is 1% lower, potash is 6% less expensive, UAN32 is 7% lower, UAN28 is 8% less expensive and urea is 14% lower compared to last year.



ASA Leads Coalition Letter to EPA on Vital Insecticide

Last week, the American Soybean Association led a coalition letter expressing great concern with EPA’s proposed interim decision for the insecticide, dimethoate.

Dimethoate is an organophosphate insecticide registered for use in soybeans and several dozen other specialty and row crops. In soybeans, it is registered to treat loopers, aphids, bean leaf beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, three-cornered alfalfa hoppers, and grasshoppers.

EPA proposes terminating uses of dimethoate in soybeans due to an ecological risk assessment that found it and about a dozen other uses to be too low in benefit relative to the alleged risks they pose.

Dimethoate is an important tool for many U.S. farmers and other users. It is relatively affordable, effective, and is a vital component to the insect management strategy of thousands of farmers and businesses across the country.

In the letter, the groups sound the alarm on EPA conducting a Tier 1 ecological risk assessment, which uses very conservative values and is designed to overstate risks without conducting higher tiered assessments to verify whether those risks genuinely exist. EPA also declined a request from the registrants asking the agency to conduct a higher tiered assessment in public comments, stating the Tier 1 assessment was sufficient.

“We are greatly concerned EPA is arbitrarily proposing to curtail or end uses based on overly conservative ecological models intended for risk screening without doing its due diligence to verify that risks genuinely exist by using higher tiered modeling and using real-world data available to the agency,” the groups state in the letter. “This is even more troubling given that it is the sole justification for restricting uses, as EPA did not identify any risks of concern from the agency’s revised human health risk assessment.”

The letter, signed by 28 organizations, further emphasizes that EPA has an obligation to work with stakeholders and technical registrants to revise uses to address risks before proposing to eliminate them.

ASA will continue to engage with EPA on the importance of dimethoate stands ready to assist the agency during the registration review process.



Vermeer Expands Agricultural Line with Bunning Manure Spreaders

Vermeer has forged an alliance with G.T. Bunning & Sons Ltd, a UK-based leader in manure spreader manufacturing. This partnership integrates Bunning spreaders into the comprehensive Vermeer lineup serving North American hay, forage and livestock producers.

“This alliance with Bunning strengthens our ability to address the evolving needs of agricultural producers,” said Shane Rourke, managing director of Vermeer Forage Solutions. “It’s a natural extension of our commitment to keeping farmers and ranchers productive and efficient. By combining Vermeer forage expertise and dealer network with Bunning’s 40-year legacy in premium spreader technology, we’re positioned to offer producers equipment that truly meets their needs.”

The current Vermeer agricultural equipment range includes self-propelled balers, round balers, mowers, tedders, rakes, bale wrappers, bale processors, vertical mixers and feed wagons. The addition of Bunning spreaders extends the Vermeer equipment lineup, providing more solutions for farm operations of all sizes.

Bunning, with a century-long history, brings valuable experience to the partnership. Both companies share a vision for meeting farmer and rancher needs through ongoing innovation and have parallel histories of quality, innovation and customer-focused solutions.

“This partnership with Vermeer marks a significant milestone for Bunning in the United States and Canada,” said Chris Druce, sales director for Bunning. “This collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to supporting agricultural operations of all sizes with innovative solutions that can help improve productivity and streamline operations.”

The initial product line will feature spreaders from 300 ft3 to 1,400 ft3 (8.5 m3 to 40 m3), catering to operations of various sizes, from small family farms to large commercial operations.

“Farmers can expect the same level of support and expertise for these spreaders that they’ve come to rely on with all Vermeer products,” Rourke added. “It’s about delivering equipment that performs, backed by reliable service. When investing in a Vermeer manure spreader, our customers can be confident they’re getting a top-quality product that combines proven technology with full support from the Vermeer dealer network.”

This partnership aligns with the Vermeer history of pioneering solutions that address the challenges farmers and ranchers face. From introducing the revolutionary large round baler to now expanding into premium manure spreaders, Vermeer continues to help farmers and ranchers work more efficiently.