Tuesday December 31 Ag News

 Nebraska Extension to Host “Leaving a Lasting Legacy” Program

A multi-state extension workshop series for women in agriculture will offer strategies to evaluate and improve farm estate and transition plans.

“Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women: A Succession Planning Series,” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Central time on Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 at sites across Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana. The series is being produced through a collaborative effort by extension programs at Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University.

Topics covered will include motivation for succession planning, communicating with family, the financial aspects of estate and transition plans, and the legal aspects of putting a plan in place. A keynote speaker will be simulcast to every workshop location during each meeting, with time for questions and a hands-on activity for participants. A meal will be provided on each date.

Nebraska Locations include
Columbus    Columbus Chamber Office    753 33rd Ave.
Concord    UNL Haskell Ag Lab    57905 866 Rd
Neligh    Ag Building at Antelope County Ag Society    707 E. Hwy 275

The registration fee for in-person attendance is $60 before Jan. 13 and increases to $75 on or after Jan. 13. A virtual option is available for $75. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions.  Details and registration can be found here:  https://wia.unl.edu/succession25/.  

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number2023-70027-40444.



Saunders Co. Livestock & Ag Association to host separate events, Annual meeting and Annual banquet
Dan Kellner, President, Saunders County Livestock & Ag Association

As we welcome the New Year, I extend my best wishes to each of you. I would like to take this opportunity to inform you about some important upcoming events.

We encourage all members to actively participate in the Association by attending our regular meetings, annual meeting and banquet. Membership dues for the upcoming year are as follows: $75 for local membership; $105 Nebraska Cattlemen; $170 for NCBA. Dues are payable now and are required to vote and participate as a member for 2025. You can also purchase raffle tickets for $20.00 from any of the Directors.

1. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held as follows:
Tuesday January 7, 2025, Saunders County 4 H Building, Wahoo, Nebraska
6:00 PM Social Hour
6:30 PM Dinner
Frontier Cooperative sponsor and presentation – Frontier is a full-service cooperative located primarily in Eastern Nebraska serving customers since 1915. Frontier prides itself on being a progressive leader in today’s agriculture world.

Annual Business Meeting Agenda
Approval of 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes
2024 Treasurer’s Report
2025 Board of Directors Election
Adjourn

RSVP is due on or before December 31, 2024
Dan Kellner – 402-480-8778
Pudge Donahue – 402-525-6262
Jordan Nelson – 402-540-7556
Dave Vrana – 402-840-0116

This year, the annual meeting will be held in advance of the Annual Banquet to allow the Association to focus on recognition of our 4-H participants and their achievements and to enjoy the entertainment.

2. The Annual Banquet will be held as follows:
January 25, 2025, at Starlight Event Center
Entertainment – Cole Woita Band
5:30 p.m. Social Hour
6:30 p.m. Banquet
$35.00 advance tickets – Purchase from Directors
NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR

3. Scholarships are available to graduating seniors who are children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Association members. Applicates must be from Saunders County or bordering counties. Call Cheyenne Chromy at 402-547-7107 or email Cheyenne.Chromy@gmail.com for an application. Applications are due on or before March 1, 2025.

REMINDER: for further correspondence, especially dues, please DO NOT SEND to ENREC. Please mail Saunders County Livestock & Ag Association P.O. Box 134, Wahoo, NE 68066 or to Dave Vrana 2448 Co. Rd. 30, Prague, NE 68050

Please join us for both events!



Summit Contracting Donates Res-Q-Tube to Central Valley Ag Coop for Grain Safety Education

Summit Contracting, a premier agricultural construction service provider in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa, is proud to announce its donation of a Res-Q-Tube, a specialized grain rescue device, to Central Valley Ag Coop (CVA). This vital equipment will enhance CVA’s ability to conduct first-hand demonstrations and training sessions focused on grain safety.

CVA is committed to improving grain safety across rural communities in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa through its grain engulfment demonstration trailer. This mobile training unit allows CVA to bring in-person demonstrations to the agricultural communities they serve, raising awareness of the hazardous environments created by grain bins.

The training program offers volunteers a unique opportunity to experience how quickly a person can become engulfed in grain, emphasizing the importance of safety awareness. CVA has scheduled several events aimed at training first responders and educating youth and agricultural communities about preventing grain entrapment. These events will also provide training on the correct procedures for handling grain entrapments in emergency situations.

Since the introduction of their demonstration trailer in May 2024, CVA has been borrowing a grain rescue tube from a local fire department. This arrangement has left the fire department without the necessary equipment for potential emergencies. Recognizing this need, Summit Contracting has partnered with CVA to provide them with their own Res-Q-Tube, enabling more effective and consistent grain entrapment education opportunities.

“Having the proper equipment to continue our grain safety education efforts is crucial,” said Joel Wochner of CVA. “This donation from Summit Contracting allows us to enhance our training programs and ensure that local communities can respond effectively in the event of a grain entrapment.”

Jerad Hutchens, President of Summit Contracting, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Raising awareness about the dangers of grain entrapments is vital to prevention. By providing CVA with the Res-Q-Tube, we are helping equip our communities with the knowledge and resources needed to stay safe and respond appropriately to potential hazards.”

Grain entrapments can occur in both farm and grain elevator settings when grain that appears to be stationary suddenly begins to flow, trapping individuals and making it difficult for them to escape. Summit Contracting urges farmers and employees who work with grain to remain vigilant and adhere to established safety protocols to prevent such incidents.



CAP Webinar: Weaned Calf Risk Protection Insurance
Jan 9, 2025 11:00 AM
Elliott Dennis, Associate Professor and Livestock Economist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Shannon Sand, Agricultural Economist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The USDA-RMA's Weaned Calf Risk Protection Insurance product focuses on protecting total weight gain of feeder cattle post-weaning. It is available to be purchased but has a one-time sign-up deadline of January 31st to purchase the insurance product. In this webinar, we review what the product is, how it works, things to consider when choosing coverage levels, and how it fits within the broader portfolio of livestock insurance products publicly and privately available to producers.

Register for the webinar here:  https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.



Registration for Feedlot Forum 2025 closes January 6

Heads up! The registration deadline for Feedlot Forum 2025 is quickly approaching! The Forum will be Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center, and the registration deadline is Jan. 6.

"This year’s Forum will be a double header for those involved in cattle feeding," said Beth Doran, Iowa State University extension beef specialist.

The morning segment features these timely production topics: health and carcass quality of dairy-beef steers, the economics of heavier cattle, and pricing feeder cattle according to genetic merit.

The focus in the afternoon is on tools to manage financial risk and market outlook for cattle and grains, she said. because the big unknown is "how high will feeder and fed cattle prices go?"

Registration, which is $25 per adult and $10 per student including lunch and materials, may be made online at https://go.iastate.edu/FF2025. If unable to register online, please mail the name and address for each person attending along with a check to ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County, 400 Central Ave. NW, Suite 700, Orange City IA 51041. Registration must be received by Jan. 6.

For more information, contact Doran at doranb@iastate.edu or phone 712-737-4230.



Iowa Forage and Grassland Council Conference set for Feb. 3

The 2025 Iowa Forage and Grassland Council annual conference is set for Feb. 3 in Ames. The event will be held at Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd., just to the southwest of Jack Trice Stadium.

After a number of years of drought conditions across the state, this year’s conference is focused on improving forage productivity and exploring alternative options that best meet your production goals.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome and introductions at 10 a.m. Two presentations are on tap for the morning session, and lunch will be followed at 12:45 p.m. by the IFGC annual meeting. The two afternoon sessions run from 1:15 to 3 p.m.

Conference topics and speakers are:
    The Right Alfalfa for Your Farm, Dr. Scott Newell, Alfalfa Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin.
    Iowa Forage Research Update, Dr. Shelby Gruss, Forage Extension Specialist, Iowa State University.
    Market Outlook for Forage and Beef Cattle, Dr. Christopher Pudenz, Economics and Research Manager, Iowa Farm Bureau.
    Important Considerations for Forage Weed Management Decisions, Dr. Wesley Everman, Extension Weed Specialist, Iowa State University.

This year, a tradeshow will be incorporated in the annual conference to encourage building relationships and brand awareness between producers and forage industry stakeholders across the state. Current IFGC industry memberships will have the option of having a booth free of charge. If you’re interested in having a booth at the annual conference, contact Iowa State University Extension and Iowa Beef Center beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk at ellundy@iastate.edu.

The conference is open to the public for $45. IFGC members pay $30 and those who have not yet paid dues can do that during the online registration process. Preregistration is encouraged to allow for adequate meal count.

See the agenda, registration form, and map to Reiman Gardens on the IFGC conference website.

The IFGC organization is led by a board of directors composed of agricultural producers, industry stakeholders, and educators to advance forage production in the state. IFGC hosts or supports a variety of forage-focused meetings throughout the year, including its annual meeting generally held in February. Regardless of membership, all who have a vested interest in Iowa’s forage production are invited to attend. To learn more about the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council including how to join the organization, visit iowaforage.org.



NFU Remembers President Jimmy Carter

National Farmers Union (NFU) today expressed condolences to the Carter family on the passing of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.

Carter, the most recent farmer to occupy the White House, was a strong supporter of family farms and notably appointed Farmers Union member and organizer Bob Bergland Secretary of Agriculture.

"President Carter's agricultural roots prepared him to serve this country with grace and compassion through a difficult time and continue his humanitarian efforts for the remainder of his life,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “The fact that a humble peanut farmer from Georgia can hold the highest office in this country is a testament to the strength and value of the voice of family farmers and ranchers everywhere. We send our condolences to the Carter family and join the rest of the nation in remembering this great man.”

In 1992, NFU presented Carter with the Meritorious Service Award to Humanity, the highest honor given by Farmers Union.



Farm Bureau Comments on Passing of President Jimmy Carter

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter.

“Farm Bureau joins the nation in remembering President Jimmy Carter. From his humble start on a small farm in Georgia to his election to the nation’s highest office, his life is a testament to the potential within every American.

“We appreciate the perspective his rural roots brought to the White House and his post-presidential work to fight food insecurity and teach modern farming practices to developing countries. We express our condolences to his family, while celebrating the life of a man dedicated to public service.”



Weekly Ethanol Production for 12/20/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending December 20, ethanol production inched up 0.4% to 1.11 million b/d, equivalent to 46.49 million gallons daily and a 4-week high. Output was even with the same week last year and 7.9% above the five-year average for the week. Still, the four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.3% to 1.09 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.76 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks expanded 1.9% to 23.1 million barrels, the largest level since the end of September. Stocks were 1.9% less than the same week last year but 1.8% above the five-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the East Coast (PADD 1) and Rocky Mountains (PADD 4).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, rose 0.9% to a 6-week high of 9.01 million b/d (138.47 bg annualized). Still, demand was 1.7% less than a year ago and 0.6 below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol improved 1.9% to an 8-week high of 920,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.14 bg annualized. Net inputs were 1.5% more than year-ago levels and 3.7% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports increased 1.8% to an estimated 166,000 b/d (7.0 million gallons/day), the largest level since the start of September. It has been 66 weeks since imports of ethanol were recorded.



NCBA Statement on New Temporary Relief from the Corporate Transparency Act

Saturday, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus issued a statement following the latest court development that has once again put the Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements temporarily on hold:

“In a new decision, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a previous ruling they issued before Christmas and has instead decided to uphold the injunction blocking the Corporate Transparency Act from taking effect. This means that cattle producers have another temporary reprieve from filing beneficial ownership information with the U.S. Treasury. These court rulings have gone back and forth and continue to add to confusion. NCBA urges all cattle producers to consult with their attorney and/or tax professional for the latest information.

“On Christmas Eve, NCBA sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen urging a delay in enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act. NCBA is also continuing to urge Congress to pass legislation that will permanently protect cattle farmers and ranchers from this burdensome mandate.”

Background
On December 3, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily halted enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act. The U.S. government appealed the ruling and on December 23, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned the injunction. After that ruling, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that the deadline for beneficial ownership report filing was January 13, 2025. On December 26, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed their previous decision, and the Corporate Transparency Act is once again temporarily on hold. FinCEN has suspended enforcement and will accept voluntary reports.



Court Ordered Whiplash: Farmers Granted Reprieve – Again – From Legal Filing

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the ping pong of court orders that ended with a court-ordered reprieve from Treasury Department reporting requirements for many small businesses.

Earlier this month, a federal court halted the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated the Jan. 1, 2025, deadline. In a third about-face, late last night, the court reversed that order until arguments can be heard, delaying the reporting requirement indefinitely.

“Farm Bureau appreciates the court’s recognition that a last-minute reinstatement of reporting requirements caused an unwelcome scramble for small businesses, including more than 230,000 farmers. The latest court decision to postpone the filing requirement is the right thing to do, but the legal back and forth created a stressful holiday season for many farm families. Lack of guidance and poor public outreach from the government have left many farmers in the dark about whether they’re expected to file.”

Under the BOI requirement, businesses that fail to file or do not update records when needed could face criminal fines up to $10,000 and additional civil penalties of up to $591 per day. Failure to file could also lead to felony charges and up to two years in prison.