Wednesday April 30 Ag News

 Governor Pillen Proclaims May as “Beef Month” in Nebraska

Governor Jim Pillen has officially proclaimed May as “Beef Month” in Nebraska, recognizing the essential role that the beef industry plays in the state’s economy, communities, and agricultural heritage. The proclamation was signed in Lincoln on April 29 at The Single Barrel restaurant, with Governor Pillen joined by Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton, Nebraska Beef Council board chairwoman Rosemary Anderson, and Nebraska Cattlemen president Dick Pierce.
 
Governor Pillen praised the hard work of Nebraska’s beef producers, processors, and exporters. “Nebraska beef is the gold standard, and it continues to power our economy, support our communities, and feed the world,” said Governor Pillen. “Beef Month is an opportunity to honor everyone involved in this world-class industry.”
 
According to US Department of Agriculture statistics, Nebraska processed more than 6.8 million head of cattle in 2024 and ranked #1 in beef and veal exports, shipping more than $2 billion in high-quality products to international markets. The state ranks second nationally in all cattle and calves, with 6.05 million head, and second in cattle on feed, with 2.7 million head.
 
“As beef cattle producers, we are proud of our renowned reputation for providing the safest and highest quality beef products in the world," said Pierce who ranches near Miller, Nebraska. "We thank Governor Jim Pillen and our friends at the Nebraska Beef Council for bringing us together to kick off Beef Month as we celebrate hardworking beef producers.”
 
Rosemary Anderson emphasized the perfect timing of Beef Month as Nebraskans head into the spring and summer grilling season.

“What a wonderful time to enjoy a flavorful, nutritious beef meal,” said Anderson. “As summer approaches, Nebraskans will be firing up the grill for backyard barbecues, family gatherings, and holiday celebrations. Beef is always at the heart of great meals and great memories.”
 
Cattle production is the largest segment of Nebraska’s number one industry—agriculture. The state’s unique combination of resources, from abundant feed and water to dedicated producers and processors, continues to make Nebraska a global beef powerhouse.
 
In addition to the Beef Month proclamation, Governor Pillen also recognized The Single Barrel restaurant as one of the featured locations on the 5th annual Nebraska Beef Passport. Developed by the Nebraska Beef Council, the beef passport program features nearly 60 restaurants and meat shops across the state offering premier beef products. Participants with a beef passport can earn points by visiting the featured locations, enjoying their favorite beef products, and then using their points to redeem prizes from the Nebraska Beef Council. Passports are free and available now at www.GoodLifeGreatSteaks.org.



SPRING FLASH GRAZING
Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

As pastures green up this spring, there may be an opportunity for producers to get some early forage and manage weeds, flash grazing. This can be particularly beneficial for early weeds like cheatgrass or downy brome. Especially problematic in the western parts of the state, cheatgrass greens up early, outcompete native species, and create fine fuels that increase wildfire risk.

Targeted flash grazing—short-duration, high-intensity grazing—can suppress cheatgrass if timed right. The best window is during the elongation phase, just before seed set. This is when animals prefer it, nutritional value is fairly high, before it robs your pastures of moisture and nutrients, and most importantly, before it reseeds itself for the next year.

Flash grazing doesn’t have to be limited to cheatgrass. In eastern Nebraska, pastures hit by drought last year can expect a flush of spring and summer weeds. Flash grazing offers a chance to control those weeds while providing valuable early forage—especially if you're delaying full pasture turnout to allow for regrowth.

Similarly in native pastures being invaded by cool season introduced species like smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass, flash grazing can be a useful tool. Turn out early, before warm season species begin their growth (before late-May) and graze hard.  The cool season grasses will be targeted, and warm season natives will have a chance to better compete for resources later.

Strategic spring grazing won’t solve every weed problem, but it can jump-start your pasture’s productivity.



USDA TO MAIL 2025 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SURVEY

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is collecting data from approximately 4,100 Nebraska farmers and ranchers for its annual Agricultural Resource Management Integrated Screening Survey (ARMS). The survey looks at all aspects of U.S. agricultural production, the well-being of farm households, farm finances, chemical usage, and various farm production characteristics. The survey also collects detailed information on production practices, costs, and returns for different commodities on a rotating basis. In 2025, the survey will take a closer look at cotton and potato production in the United States.

“The annual data from ARMS are used to gauge the financial health and resource use of today’s producers,” said NASS Northern Plains Regional Director, Nicholas Streff. “The information gives us an annual snapshot of the role of the farming industry in the U.S. economy.”

The information producers provide through the survey will inform national and state policy decisions. In addition, ARMS data are used to calculate the farm sector portion of the Gross Domestic Product, which is an important measure of the U.S. economy.

The survey is conducted in three phases from May 2025 through April 2026. The current (first) phase screens participants to ensure they have the commodities of interest that are needed to accurately represent the entire U.S. farm sector. During the second phase, NASS will collect information on production practices and chemical use for specific commodities. In the final phase, NASS will survey producers on farm income and production expenditures.

“We strongly encourage every producer contacted for ARMS to participate, as their response represents not just their own farm but many other similar operations across the country,” added Streff. “For maximum convenience, producers should complete the survey online at agcounts.usda.gov with the survey code mailed to them. Online reporting is fast and secure. Producers may also mail or fax their completed questionnaire to us.”

All information from respondents is kept confidential, as required by federal law, and reported so that no individual operation or producer can be identified. For more information on how NASS protects information, visit www.nass.usda.gov/confidentiality.

ARMS is a joint effort between NASS and USDA’s Economic Research Service. For more information about the survey, visit nass.usda.gov/go/ARMS. For information on how these data are used, or if you have any questions about this survey, please call the NASS Nebraska Field Office at (800) 582-6443.



Flood Testifies Before Ag Appropriations Subcommittee in Support of Precision Ag Research

Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood testified before the House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. During his testimony, Congressman Flood highlighted the growing partnership of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) at the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture.

Chairman Harris, Ranking Member Bishop, members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to share exciting updates about an important project to my district and to the next generation of United States agriculture.

Specifically, I would like to call to your attention to, a project that should be very familiar to the Subcommittee, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture. This co-located facility at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and adjacent public-private ag-tech accelerator will anchor a national network comprised of ARS and land-grant universities committed to addressing one of the most critical science gaps to advancing innovation in American agriculture.

I want to begin by thanking the Subcommittee for their support of this project in the previous appropriations packages. I was extremely pleased to see the Subcommittee meet the full funding ask and recognize the important need for investments in cutting-edge agriculture. Now, we must keep up the momentum to secure significant construction funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 in light of prior continuing resolutions and as inflationary escalation costs continue to rise.

Congress appropriated $11.2 million for planning and design in FY 21, $20 million for construction in FY 22, $25 million for construction in FY 24, and an addition $16 million was included in FY25. The first phase of construction, slated to begin in Spring 2024, will build 15,000 square feet of greenhouse and 10,000 square feet of headhouse space and connect with the existing Greenhouse Innovation Center. The second phase of construction, which will commence when Congress appropriates all funds, will go towards constructing a 120,000-square-foot, four-story laboratory and office building on the Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. ARS will utilize these new facilities for scientists and staff in the two existing Research Units on Agroecosystem Management and on Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage and two new research units on Water, Climate, and Resilience and on Precision Production. Ultimately, USDA expects to double its science and support staff presence in Lincoln at this new complex.

Last May, the University of Nebraska hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase One of the National Center at the Nebraska Innovation Campus. USDA leadership, members of the Nebraska Congressional delegation, University leadership, stakeholders and producers across the state and region will be there in support of this new facility.

Precision agriculture is a key piece of Nebraska’s agricultural fabric, and it makes sense that this project has found its home in the Cornhusker State. A January 2024 GAO report showed Nebraska is at the forefront of utilization and adoption of precision ag technology and practices. The report showed Nebraska is second in nation in the use of precision agriculture practices by U. S. farms with 55% of Nebraska producers using precision ag tools.

I want to thank the Subcommittee for their past support. This was started by my predecessor, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, and it was very important to him. By virtue of his efforts and leadership on this, I wanted to continue this and see it through.



Meat Animals Production, Disposition, and Income 2024 Summary

Total 2024 production of cattle and calves and hogs and pigs for the United States totaled 86.5 billion pounds, up slightly from 2023. Production increased 2 percent for cattle and calves but decreased 2 percent for hogs and pigs.

Total 2024 cash receipts from marketings of meat animals increased 9 percent to $139 billion. Cattle and calves accounted for 80 percent of this total and hogs and pigs accounted for 20 percent.

Cattle and Calves: Cash receipts from marketings of cattle and calves increased 11 percent, from $101 billion in 2023 to $112 billion in 2024. All cattle and calf marketings totaled 59.3 billion pounds in 2024, up 1 percent from 2023.

Cattle & Calves Gross Income
Nebraska ....:  $17,820,824,000
Iowa ..........:    $6,216,229,000

Hogs and Pigs: Cash receipts from hogs and pigs totaled $27.3 billion during 2024, up slightly from 2023. Marketings totaled 43.3 billion pounds in 2024, down 1 percent from 2023.

Hogs & Pigs Gross Income
Nebraska .......:    $1,017,655,000   
Iowa .............:    $9,021,029,000   

The 2024 gross income from cattle and calves and hogs and pigs for the United States totaled $140 billion, up 9 percent from 2023. Gross income increased 11 percent for cattle and calves and increased slightly for hogs and pigs from previous year's gross income.



Milk Production, Disposition, and Income 2024 Summary

Milk production decreased 0.2 percent in 2024 to 226 billion pounds. The rate per cow, at 24,178 pounds, was 61 pounds above 2023. The annual average number of milk cows on farms was 9.34 million head, down 42,000 head from 2023.

Cash receipts from marketings of milk during 2024 totaled $50.7 billion, up 10.5 percent from 2023. Producer returns averaged $22.56 per hundredweight, 10.7 percent above 2023. Marketings totaled 225 billion pounds, down 0.2 percent from 2023. Marketings include whole milk sold to plants and dealers and milk sold directly to consumers.

Cash Receipts from marktings by State
Nebraska .....:     $285,660,000          
Iowa ...........:     $1,313,124,000          

An estimated 985 million pounds of milk were used on farms where produced, 1.1 percent less than 2023. Calves were fed 92 percent of this milk, with the remainder consumed in producer households.



Sorghum Forage: A Resilient Option with Smart Management

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has published a new resource for livestock producers, “Management Strategies of Prussic Acid Toxicity in Sorghum.” Sorghum is a fast-growing and reliable forage crop for livestock.

“As weather extremes challenge consistent forage production, sorghum offers livestock producers a reliable, high-yielding alternative — especially during drought or delayed planting,” said Shelby Gruss, assistant professor and extension forage specialist at Iowa State University.

While sorghum presents several benefits, prussic acid toxicity (hydrogen cyanide) in sorghum is a serious concern, particularly after frost or when plants are young or over fertilizing, said Gruss. According to the publication, cattle death can occur within two hours of ingesting prussic acid poisoned sorghum. Cattle grazing on sorghum

Strategies for managing prussic acid through different feeding options include proper grazing, silage and baleage.

“Silage and baleage production offer the safest choice for sorghum forage with high dhurrin accumulation. Dhurrin content can be reduced by 50% or more through chopping and fermentation,” said Gruss.

Key takeaways from the publication include:
    Avoid grazing young plants under 18 inches and monitor regrowth.
    Remove livestock from fields for at least one week after frost.
    Avoid over-fertilization with nitrogen.
    Test forage when in doubt to ensure safe feeding.

Livestock producers are encouraged to download the full resource, available at no cost, through the Extension Store https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/17238.



Soybean Growers Disappointed in ITC Vote on 2;4-D Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties

The International Trade Commission has voted in favor of imposing final anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of 2;4-D from China and India.

Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and a soybean farmer from Kentucky, said, “The announcement of these final duties on imports is disappointing to soybean growers across the country who depend on imports of generic 2;4-D in combination with other herbicides for burn-down purposes to kill weeds before planting, particularly in no-till and minimum-till operations.”

Earlier this month, Ragland joined NCGA President Kenny Hartman to testify in front of the ITC regarding the negative impact additional duties would have on soybean and corn farmers.

“For soybean farmers, times are already tough. Production costs are nearing record highs. The prices of soybeans have decreased more than 40% in the past three years. Our herbicide options are becoming increasingly limited. Imports of 2,4-D products do not compete at all with Corteva’s 2,4-D choline product that is required by law and by contract to be used with Corteva’s Enlist soybeans—and which have a 60% market share that continues to increase every year. New duties on 2,4-D would make things even harder, further disrupting our access to reliable herbicide tools in our toolbox,” Ragland noted in his statement before the ITC.

2,4-D is an herbicide active ingredient that contains carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and oxygen. Products containing 2,4-D derivatives, like the salt and ester forms, are blended with other active ingredients, chemicals and/or water to create end-use crop protection products. Over 1,500 herbicide products contain 2,4-D as an active ingredient.

ASA remains concerned with the rising costs of inputs for U.S. soybean growers. Duties imposed because of this vote could not come at a worse time for farmers, as tariffs and trade uncertainty, coupled with the rising cost of inputs, continue to place financial pressure on U.S. agriculture. The Department of Commerce will determine and issue final duty rates for these imported products.



NCGA: Disappointed by Trade Commission Decision on Critical Herbicide

Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association expressed disappointment today with a decision by the International Trade Commission affirming that Corteva Agriscience was harmed by imports of a critical herbicide, called 2,4-D. This decision means that duties will be placed on imports of the herbicide at a final rate determined later by the Department of Commerce.

“We are concerned and alarmed by this ruling,” said Illinois farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “Corn growers should not be forced to rely exclusively on one domestic supplier. Today’s decision threatens to cause availability shortages for 2,4-D that will hamper the work of our farmers, who are facing a tough environment due to a prolonged period of high input costs and low prices.”

The herbicide 2,4-D is a growth regulator that targets broadleaf weeds—which is a particularly problematic weed for corn growers to manage. The herbicide has  minimal impact on grasses, making it useful for corn growers.

Corteva Agriscience filed the petition in 2024 calling for antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of the herbicide from certain foreign suppliers.

The U.S. Department of Commerce will now determine and issue final duty rates.



EPA Releases Strategy to Better Protect Endangered Species from Insecticides Using Commonsense Practices, Provides Flexibilities to States and Growers

Tuesday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Insecticide Strategy that identifies practical protections for federally endangered and threatened species from the use of insecticides, while providing flexibility for pesticide users and growers. The Strategy identifies mitigations aimed at protecting more than 900 species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that EPA considers when it registers a new insecticide or reevaluates an existing one.

“Today’s action is another example of how protecting our environment and safeguarding our economy can go hand in hand,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “We have found commonsense ways to keep endangered species safe that won’t place unneeded burden on the growers who rely on these tools for their livelihood, and which are necessary to ensure a safe and plentiful food supply. We are committed to ensuring the agriculture community has the tools they need to protect our country, especially our food supply, from pests and diseases.”

“American agriculture demonstrates that production and stewardship go hand in hand,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “Thank you to Administrator Zeldin for working towards unleashing regulatory burdens for American farmers & ranchers with the release of this final insecticide strategy today. This strategy provides much needed improvements that will undoubtedly better protect U.S homegrown crops from pests and diseases. We look forward to continued partnership with EPA to ensure our growers continue to have the crop protection tools and flexibility needed to feed, fuel, and clothe our nation and the world.”

Earlier this year, Administrator Zeldin announced his Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative to advance the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment while energizing the American economy. Specifically, this Strategy advances Pillar Three: “permitting reform, cooperative federalism and cross-agency partnership.” The final Strategy is the culmination of continued communication between EPA, its federal partners including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FWS, and other stakeholders.

EPA will continue to work with stakeholders to modify and update these documents as additional information becomes available. In addition, EPA anticipates continued engagement with stakeholders, including our federal and state partners, to ensure effective implementation of the Strategy.

Background
The draft Insecticide Strategy was released in July 2024 and was followed by a 60-day public comment period during which more than 26,000 comments were received, with over 230 unique comments. In response to information provided through the public comments, EPA made several changes in the final Strategy, supported by scientific analyses, to provide greater flexibility and options for the agricultural community, while ensuring that endangered species are protected. Some of the science-based modifications include:
    Reducing buffer distances across all application methods;  
    Providing credit for any reduction in the proportion of a treated field for ground applications;  
    Developing a process to qualify conservation programs that will give growers more credit for being part of a conservation program than initially proposed;  
    Developing a process to qualify external parties that would assess a grower’s farms and determine the existing mitigation points that could be achieved by practices a grower already has in place;  
    Updating key data sources and identification of invertebrate species that may occur on agricultural fields; and
    Adding a Pesticide Use Limitation Area (PULA) group for generalist species that reside in wetlands to reduce mitigations applied outside of wetland habitats.   

Read the final Insecticide Strategy. The Insecticide Strategy and accompanying support documents, including a Response to Comments document and an updated Ecological Mitigation Support Document describing mitigations and supporting data that inform implementation of both the herbicide and insecticide strategies, will be available on Regulations.gov in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0299.

What They Are Saying
“Farmers are dedicated to responsibly using pesticides, and frequent updates to the pesticide strategies are important to ensure the health and safety of America’s families. EPA understands there cannot be an effective conservation strategy as a nation without a meaningful partnership with farmers and ranchers. As we evaluate the final strategy in full, we urge EPA to continue to refine and improve upon the plan to enable farmers to grow healthy food for the nation while caring for, and improving, the natural resources they’ve been entrusted with,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.

“The American Soybean Association appreciates EPA for incorporating common sense improvements into its Insecticide Strategy, especially with little time to do so before its court deadline. These enhancements will help make Endangered Species Act implementation easier for U.S. farmers; however, more work remains to be done, including reforming how EPA assesses risks to species to ensure the process is using the best available science. ASA thanks EPA for its progress to date and looks forward to working with the agency to advance additional improvements in the days ahead,” said American Soybean Association President and Kentucky Soybean Farmer Caleb Ragland.

“We are appreciative of the EPA's efforts to identify commonsense ways of protecting endangered species from insecticides,” said National Corn Growers Association President and Illinois Farmer Kenneth Hartman Jr. “Our growers support the agency's approach to providing mitigation relief through enhanced conservation processes that give growers more credit for their participation than was initially proposed. We look forward to continued dialogue with the EPA as we move forward on the path to protect species as well as the food, feed and fuel supply.”



USTR Calls Out Misuse of Geographical Indications as Major Trade Barrier

The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) said they appreciated the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to spotlight protection of common food names in the agency’s 2025 Special 301 Report released today.

The annual report outlines major global intellectual property concerns. It highlighted the European Union’s persistent campaign to monopolize common names—such as “parmesan” and “feta”— through protectionist geographical indication (GI) policies. These efforts restrict the use of widely recognized food and beverage terms to only specific European producers and effectively cut U.S. producers out of certain key markets.

"The European Union’s approach to geographical indications is entirely unacceptable. It intentionally crowds out fair competition by restricting market access for U.S. and international producers," said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. "Too many trading partners have been coerced into imposing trade barriers for products using common food and beverage names. We appreciate USTR’s ongoing recognition of this issue but urge the U.S. government to stop trading partners to succumbing to European pressures and imposing trade barriers on U.S. products.”

"Europe’s misuse of geographical indications is nothing more than a trade barrier dressed up as intellectual property protection,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “It not only unfairly strips American producers of the right to use common, widely understood terms, but significantly handcuffs commercial export opportunities. We welcome USTR’s focus on this issue and appreciate the administration’s dedication to protecting U.S. market access rights."

"Last year, the United States imported nearly $3 billion more in dairy products from the European Union than we exported to Europe. Europe’s abuse of the GI system is a significant reason for that deficit,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “EU GI schemes create a two-tiered system that benefits European producers and stamps out competition. We appreciate that USTR is addressing this unfair practice and look forward to continuing to work together to level the playing field for U.S. dairy producers."

CCFN submitted comments to the agency in January, which broke down the many markets where U.S. dairy producers’ common name rights are being threatened. NMPF and USDEC filed supporting comments noting the urgency for action to address this pressing trade barrier. CCFN Senior Director Shawna Morris built on those comments at a Feb. 19 USTR hearing, where she underlined how the EU misuses geographical indications and why it’s imperative for the U.S. government to match the EU’s efforts on common names.