Tuesday February 18 Ag News

Nebraska Beef Council Hosts Heart Month Presentations

February is often associated with hearts, but not always in the context of heart-healthy diets. This month, the Nebraska Beef Council is collaborating with the Nebraska Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Network to emphasize the inclusion of lean beef cuts as part of a heart-healthy diet during "Heart Month."

As part of this initiative, the Nebraska Beef Council’s Director of Nutrition and Education, Mitch Rippe, is traveling across the state to visit, present, and prepare heart-healthy beef recipes at various cardiac rehabilitation facilities. Stops on this year’s tour include Gothenburg, Fremont, Grand Island, and multiple facilities in Omaha, among others.

During these visits, Rippe engages with both patients and healthcare providers to discuss research showing the benefits of incorporating beef into heart-healthy diets. The sessions conclude with hands-on cooking demonstrations that emphasize preparing beef-based meals in accordance with doctors' recommendations. The focus is on creating meals that are both nutritious and accessible, ensuring that they can be easily replicated at home.

A significant aspect of these sessions is addressing misconceptions about beef and heart health. Consumer market research from NCBA, a contractor of the Nebraska Beef Council, indicates that 64 percent of consumers intend to maintain their current level of beef consumption, 14 percent plan to eat more, and another 14 percent plan to eat less. Among those reducing consumption, health and nutrition concerns rank among the top reasons.

“There has been a strong interest from participants in learning about different cuts of meat, how to select them, and ways to incorporate them into home cooking,” said Rippe.  “With consumer trends showing an increased preference for at-home meals, it’s important that consumers know how to prepare meals that are both satisfying and nutritious.”

Rippe also emphasizes that practical application is a key component to his presentations. A cuts chart is used to help participants identify lean beef options that fit within a heart-healthy diet. The sessions also explore unique preparation methods that align with dietary guidelines while maintaining flavor and variety.

“All of the recipes used for the cooking demonstrations adhere to the American Heart Association’s standards for sodium, fat, cholesterol, and saturated fat,” said Rippe. “This ensures that they are suitable for cardiac rehabilitation-approved dietary plans.”

For more information on beef and Heart Month, visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.



Nebraska Seedstock Producer Elected Region VII Vice President of the Federation of State Beef Councils

Mark Goes of Odell, Nebraska, was elected Region VII vice president of the Federation of State Beef Councils during CattleCon 2025, held Feb. 4-6, in San Antonio, Texas. Goes will represent Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota during his three-year term.
 
The vision of the Federation of State Beef Councils is to build beef demand by inspiring, unifying and supporting an effective and coordinated state and national Checkoff partnership. It provides a voice for producers and qualified state beef councils (QSBCs) to collectively give direction to the Beef Checkoff.
 
“Serving as Region VII Federation vice president allows me to further my lifelong goal of positively impacting the beef industry,” said Goes. “I hope my practicality and ability to see the big picture help bring fellow producers to the table to guide the work of the Federation and the Beef Checkoff.”
 
Among other duties, the regional vice president works closely with state beef councils, coordinates regional activities, facilitates Federation Division regional elections and champions Checkoff efforts within the region, especially state beef council engagement in the Federation.
 
A fifth-generation cattle producer, Goes and his wife, Patty, own and operate M&P Gelbvieh Seedstock, marketing breeding sires and females across the United States. With a focus on conserving natural resources, Goes utilizes a grazing management system that encourages regeneration of the tallgrass prairie in southeastern Nebraska. A committed volunteer, Goes has served in a variety of leadership roles for local, state and national organizations including the Nebraska Beef Council, Nebraska Cattlemen and the American Gelbvieh Foundation.
 
For more information about the work of the Federation of State Beef Councils and the Beef Checkoff, visit www.beefboard.org.



Tallgrass and Bold Alliance announce significant progress on Community Benefits Agreement milestones

Signed in March 2024 and endorsed by nearly a dozen statewide agricultural and trade associations, the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) outlined commitments along three pillars: public safety, landowner rights, and long-term community investment.  

Kyle Quackenbush of Tallgrass added, “We’re proud that our work not only supports the Midwest biofuels industry but drives value across the entire supply chain – from the tens of thousands of family farms that grow the feedstocks that supply these facilities to the livestock and pork producers who rely on ethanol coproducts to enhance their operations.”

Public Safety: Tallgrass provided over $400,000 to local first responders, which was distributed by the Nebraska State Volunteer Fire Association. The Association conducted a robust, multi-month grant process that provided funds to over 120 first-responder organizations across the state.

Additionally, in 2024, Tallgrass facilitated over 25 CO2 pipeline training events for first responders, engaging the Refinery Terminal Fire Company, the largest nonprofit industrial firefighting group in the U.S., to provide best-in-class instruction.

Landowner Rights: Tallgrass made nearly 200 changes to its project based on community input, negotiated over 1,000 voluntary easement agreements, and acquired 100% of the right of way required to connect the plants coming online this year – representing the potential to decarbonize more than one billion gallons of Nebraskan biofuels – all without a single eminent domain filing.

Additionally, Tallgrass updated its easement agreements to address the pipeline’s eventual decommissioning, providing landowners with the option to safely abandon the asset in place or have it removed. Negotiated in the CBA, and to demonstrate respect to landowners, Tallgrass provided over $100,000 to landowners who granted survey permission but whose property was ultimately not expected to be included in the project.

Long-term Community Investment: Tallgrass and Bold are positioned to launch the community investment fund ahead of schedule, with the initial $500,000 investment expected this year. As outlined in the agreement, additional annual contributions over the next decade will amount to $0.10 per ton of CO2 transported on the system.

“Ethanol is a critical energy source in our state, and we are leading the country in providing America an alternative to traditional fossil fuel energy. The community benefit agreement means not only is the ethanol industry benefiting, but the community is putting more money in their pockets, and the first responders are prepared for any emergencies that may arise with the new carbon pipelines. Bold remains committed to protecting property rights and ensuring when projects are built that, the community benefits and landowners’ rights are protected in writing, not just words. We thank Tallgrass for continuing to honor the community benefit and dividend agreement, and we hope more corporations follow their lead,” noted Jane Kleeb of BOLD Alliance.



Registration now open for the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference

Registration is now open for the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference, held by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska. Themed, “A Resilient Future: Water and Food for All,” it will center around working to solve one of the world’s most pressing issues - feeding a growing planet while preserving our precious natural resources.

The five-day conference boasts its location in Lincoln, Nebraska as a living laboratory of agricultural and water research atop the vast Great Plains Aquifer. Held April 28 - May 2, 2025 at Nebraska Innovation Campus, the event convenes 400 leading experts and organizations from around the globe to explore research, expand technologies and share relevant knowledge in water and food security.

Join a global conversation with leading experts as we explore:
    Water management for high-productivity commercial agriculture
    Smallholder agricultural water management
    Environmental and human health in agricultural systems

Participating organizations include the African Union Commission, Bayer, Catholic Relief Services, CIMMYT, the International Food Policy Research Institute, the International Water Management Institute, LI-COR, Mercy Corps, the National Drought Mitigation Center, NOAA, Scoular, Valmont Industries, Lindsay Corporation, the Nebraska Corn Board, Midwest Dairy Association, The Combine, The Nature Conservancy, UNCCD, the World Bank and several universities.

Experts and practitioners in global food and water security will share research results, case studies and perspectives on how to achieve improved water use in agriculture and increase productivity at a variety of scales. In addition to engaging seminar sessions, the conference also includes field visits and research site tours for attendees to meet local producers and researchers and experience the knowledge firsthand.

Register for either in-person or virtual attendance at: https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/explore-our-conferences/2025-water-for-food-global-conference/registration



Apply Now for 2025 ISU Landowner Education Program

Iowa landowners may apply to participate in the 2025 Landowner Education Program offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The application window is open until April 4. Program events will take place in June and July.

The program is intended for landowners who are interested in learning about soil health and conservation, and whose land is dedicated primarily to row crops. The program consists of two online workshops and five in-person events in the Ames-Ankeny area of central Iowa. There is no cost to participate, thanks to program sponsorships, but space is limited.

The Landowner Education Program brings together Iowa State experts on conservation, agronomy, economics and law, noted Catherine DeLong, water quality program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach.

“There are many steps between interest in conservation practices and implementation,” DeLong said. “This can include discussing with family members or other land beneficiaries, speaking with a lawyer to adapt or create a written lease, discussing practices with a tenant including cost-share of any expenses, equipment needs, etc. Hearing from the experts can help landowners navigate the agronomic, legal, financial and relational aspects to managing their land for soil health.”

“The Landowner Education Program also includes a survey to understand what the participating landowners would like to learn about. We take that into account as we develop the program and create a curated educational plan that uses the landowners’ time thoughtfully,” said Julia Baker, natural resource program specialist, who co-leads the program with DeLong.

The program also provides the opportunity for interactive learning and networking with fellow landowners. Carolyn Harryman was a member of the program’s 2024 cohort.

“As I worked with other members of the group, I feel there are many landowners in Iowa that may not have been directly working with the family farming operation until more recently, as is my situation,” Harryman said. “The array of topics covered was outstanding and greatly helped me improve my farming knowledge.”

The online application for the 2025 program is available from the Landowner Education Program webpage https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/programs/landowner-education.



Projected Revenue Insurance Prices

The month of February is important for growers in the key Corn Belt states who purchase revenue-based crop insurance policies. It's when the projected prices for those policies are set.

The average as of Feb. 14, 2025, is $4.70 per bushel for corn, $10.58 per bushel for soybeans and $6.55 per bushel for HRS wheat.

The average spring prices in 2024 were: Dec Corn - $4.66;  Nov Soybeans - $11.55;  Sept HRS Wheat - $6.84.



RFA Analysis Shows Ethanol Industry Made Strong Contribution to the U.S. Economy in 2024
    
The ethanol industry’s contribution to the U.S. economy remained “robust” last year, as record-setting production offset the impact of lower commodity prices, according to an analysis released today by the Renewable Fuels Association.

In 2024, the industry directly supported 56,000 U.S. jobs, along with an additional 258,000 indirect and induced jobs across all sectors of the economy. The industry created $28.3 billion in household income, contributed $53 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product, and generated more than $10 billion in tax revenues at the federal, state and local levels. Returns over operating costs averaged an estimated $0.26 per gallon, 40 percent lower than the average operating margin in 2023.

“Our nation’s ethanol producers worked overtime in 2024 to set a new production record and ensure American families could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner, lower-cost domestically produced fuel option,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “And they are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead this year, with a renewed focus on American energy security and bolstering the farm sector.”

Cooper stressed 2024 was also a year that saw record ethanol exports of 1.91 billion gallons to countries around the world, with exports alone supporting 11 percent of the industry’s employment. Domestic consumption also increased slightly over 2023’s levels.

The 2024 economic impact report also shows that the industry spent $30 billion on raw materials and other goods and services to produce ethanol last year. Corn purchases alone accounted for $23 billion, as the industry continued to support America’s farming communities.

“The use of ethanol has multiple benefits, including enhancing America’s energy security, supporting agricultural markets, and cutting emissions of greenhouse gases and tailpipe pollutants,” the report concludes. “The industry’s significant economic impact is apparent to those involved in ethanol production and the agriculture sector, and it has been felt most profoundly in rural America. And the industry’s contribution can continue to grow, given the increasing availability of mid- and high-level blends, prospects for further development of export markets, and new uses such as sustainable aviation fuel on the horizon.”



RFA Releases 2025 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide
    
The Renewable Fuels Association released its 2025 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide today as a kickoff to the 30th annual National Ethanol Conference, taking place this week in Nashville. The annual publications serve as the go-to source of ethanol industry information, facts, and statistics, and follow the NEC theme of “Back to Our Roots.”

In 2025, RFA will join with ethanol producers and farmers across the country to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard, the most transformative and influential public policy in our industry’s long and storied history, notes RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper in his introduction to the report.

“But we’ll do more than simply commemorate the successes of the RFS over the past two decades,” he said. “We’ll also use this opportunity to remind a new administration and new Congress that the health and welfare of America’s family farms is directly and inextricably tied to the health and welfare of America’s biofuels industry. We’ll share the lessons learned from our rich history. We’ll go back to our roots. … It’s time to turn to renewable fuels once again to lift up rural America and secure our energy future.”

Since 2001, the annual Outlook publication has provided policymakers, regulators, consumers, the media, and renewable fuel advocates with key statistics, trends, insight, and analysis on the latest developments in the U.S. ethanol industry, as well as commentary on what to expect in the coming year. The publication is recognized worldwide as the go-to source for ethanol industry facts, while also featuring a detailed fold-out listing of every fuel ethanol plant in the country, along with production capacity. The Pocket Guide to Ethanol contains much of the same information as the Outlook, but in an abbreviated format and smaller size for ease of use.