Tuesday July 15 Ag News - Crop Progress - LENRD Meeting recap - Grassland CRP sign-up - CHS Earnings - Trump Sues over Prop 2/12 - and more!

 USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The condition of the U.S. corn crop remained steady last week while soybean conditions increased for the first time in several weeks, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 34%, 5 percentage points behind of last year's 39% but 1 percentage point ahead of the five-year average of 33%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 7%, steady with last year and slightly ahead of five-year average of 5%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 74% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week and 6 points ahead of last year's 68%. Five percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week and lower than 9% last year. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans blooming was pegged at 47%, 2 points behind last year's 49%, but consistent with the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 15%, 2 points behind last year's 17% and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 14%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 70% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, up 4 percentage points from 66% the previous week and 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 68%. Five percent of soybeans were rated very poor to poor, 2 percentage points lower than 7% from the previous week and 3 percentage points below last year's 8%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 10 percentage points to reach 63% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 7 points behind of last year's 70% and 1 point behind of the five-year average pace of 64%. 

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: 78% of spring wheat was headed, 4 percentage points ahead of last year's 74% and 3 points ahead the five-year average of 75%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 54% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, up 4 percentage points from 50% the previous week and 23 points down from 77% last year.



Nebraska Crop Progress Report
for the week ending July 13

Topsoil Moisture: 8% surplus - 60% adequate - 26% short - 6% very short 
Subsiol Moisture: 4% surplus - 53% adequate - 33% short - 10% very short 
Corn Silking: 27% - 10% LW - 32% 5YA 
Corn in Dough: 5% - 1% LW - 2% 5YA 
Corn Condition: 21% excellent - 56% good - 19% fair - 3% poor - 1% very poor 
Soybeans blooming: 40% - 15% LW - 58% 5YA 
Soybean setting pods: 9% - 0% LW - 15% 5YA 
Soybean Condition: 15% excellent - 56% good - 25% fair - 3% poor - 1% very poor
Winter Wheat Harvested: 35% - 22% LW - 43% 5YA 
Pasture & Range Conditions: 2% excellent - 22% good - 39% fair - 27% poor - 10% very poor



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Rain on and off throughout the week limited farmers to 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 13, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Wet conditions made field activities difficult.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus.

Corn silking reached 36 percent, 1 day behind last year, but 1 day ahead of normal. Five percent of Iowa’s corn reached the dough stage. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 58 percent good and 27 percent excellent. 

Soybeans blooming reached 54 percent, 3 days ahead of last year but equal to the five-year average. Eighteen percent of soybeans were setting pods, 4 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 59 percent good and 20 percent excellent. 

Ninety-six percent of Iowa’s oat crop was headed and 71 percent of oats were turning color. Oats harvested for grain reached 19 percent complete. Oat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 71 percent good and 15 percent excellent.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 66 percent complete while 7 percent of the third cutting was completed. Hay condition rated 83 percent good to excellent. 

Pasture condition rated 75 percent good to excellent.



Recap from the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District June Board of Directors Meeting

On Thursday, June 26th, LENRD Directors met for the monthly Board Meeting. The agenda included numerous items ranging from projects and programs, water resources, and administrative. This article includes a recap of topics including: a request from the Village of Nickerson to move to the Design Phase of the Maple Creek WFPO Project; the Administration Plan for the LENRD Instream Flow Appropriation; a request from Loess Hills RC&D for financial assistance for household hazardous waste collections; and an update on the opportunity for an expansion of the Logan East Rural Water System.

Nickerson Ready to Move to Design Phase of WFPO Project
The Village of Nickerson has requested to move forward to the Design Phase of the Maple Creek Watershed Flood Prevention & Operations Plan. The Village sent a letter to the Lower Elkhorn NRD stating their interest and commitment to proceed with the proposed dike project. LENRD Directors voted to allow staff to begin working with the Nebraska USDA-NRCS to request funding for the next phase of the project.

The Maple Creek WFPO Plan focused on flood reduction in the communities of Clarkson and Nickerson. The preferred alternative for Clarkson is improvements to an existing levee system while the preferred alternative for Nickerson was the construction of a dike structure. The estimated cost of the Nickerson Dike project is approximately $543,600.00, with the Village willing to contribute 50% of the local costs of the project up to a maximum of $91,250.00. The design phase could potentially take around two years depending on the size of the project, permitting, and available funds.

Administration Plan for LENRD Instream Flow Appropriation on Elkhorn River Approved
The staff recommended administration plan for the LENRD Instream Flow Appropriation on the Elkhorn River was approved by Directors. The adopted administration plan will allow the Lower Elkhorn NRD to call for water when the measured flow at the Waterloo gage falls below the approved instream flow amounts under the application, and there are no other calls from senior appropriators. Having an adopted plan for how to utilize the appropriation is important to ensure the water in our basin remains protected. If the appropriation goes unused, it could result in the revocation of the water right.

Instream flows can be held by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPS) and Natural Resources Districts (NRD). Having the appropriation allows the governing body, either NRD or NGPC, to put a call on water if the level drops below what is necessary to maintain recreation and fish and wildlife needs. The LENRD’s instream flow appropriation has a priority date of December 22, 2017. 

Directors Consider Financial Support for Household Hazardous Waste Collections at the Loess Hills RC&D
The Nebraska Loess Hills Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council received grant funds from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to hold three household hazardous waste collections in the RC&D service area. The service area covers communities in both the Lower Elkhorn and Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources Districts. The collections are being planned for Dakota City, Tekamah, and Bancroft in October this year. The RC&D Council also received a grant for E-Waste collection which is being planned in Scribner.

The RC&D is seeking additional financial assistance to help with the two collections. The Papio-Missouri River NRD has committed to provide $10,000 in funding for the events, two of which will be held in the Papio-Missouri District.  LENRD Director Gary Loftis, Subdistrict #7, serves on the Loess Hills RC&D Board.

Logan East Rural Water System Expansion
Directors received a status update from General Manager, Brian Bruckner, regarding an opportunity for expansion of the Logan East Rural Water System (LERWS). LERWS is considering a proposal from the City of Oakland to purchase 1/3 capacity of the City’s new water project for a capacity fee of approximately $3 million. Having the additional capacity from the City of Oakland would allow LERWS to purchase and use up to 200,000 gallons of water per day. This could also help the Village of Craig resolve their need for a new water source. There would be other costs involved as well, such as a fee per 1,000 gallons of water used, but LERWS would not have to bear the costs of maintenance on the system. A Special Meeting was conducted on May 25, 2025, to review the estimated costs to hook up to the system.

Additionally, Directors received reports from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Services, RC&D, Bazile Groundwater Management Area Project, and Administrative. Directors also approved staff’s recommendation for a 3.5% cost of living increase and performance driven step-in-grade changes for LENRD employees.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our digital newsletter. The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, July 24th, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live. 



Nebraska GDP Falters 

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) indicated Nebraska’s inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter was $144.4 billion, down 6.1% on an annual basis from the fourth quarter of last year. The first quarter decline followed an annual growth rate of 0.4% in 2024. Nebraska’s dismal performance was matched by Iowa as the worst among states. But Nebraska and Iowa were not alone, real GDP decreased in 39 states. South Carolina led the states with 1.7% growth. U.S. GDP was down 0.5% for the quarter.

Agriculture was the primary contributor to the decline in Nebraska’s GDP. Agriculture’s contribution to state GDP shrunk 3.85% compared to the fourth quarter of last year. Other sectors experiencing declines were utilities, finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing. Sectors seeing growth were information, state and local government, retail, and construction sectors.

In contrast, the BEA said the state’s personal income rose 6.1% in nominal terms in the first quarter. Sectors showing the largest gains were state and local government and construction. Farm earnings in Nebraska grew 0.06%. 

In other good news, Nebraska’s unemployment rate in May was 3.0%, one of the lowest in the country. The national rate in May was 4.2%. However, the good unemployment news is tempered somewhat by announcements of layoffs by businesses in Omaha, Lincoln, Alliance, and Kearney due to the slowing economy.

Mixed signals abound concerning Nebraska’s economy. The decline in GDP and job layoffs signal a slowdown. A low unemployment rate and strong income growth suggest full steam ahead. Most likely growth for the rest of the year will be modest. And any growth will likely come from non-farm sectors and not agriculture. The uncertainties surrounding the global and national economies and trade policies and struggles of the crop sector suggest as much.



Producers and Landowners Can Now Enroll in USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Monday announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). The sign-up runs from today, July 14, to Aug. 8, 2025. Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices.

Grassland CRP emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, and grasslands and land with shrubs and forbs under the greatest threat of conversion.

“Through the conservation of America’s essential grasslands, Grassland CRP supports continued agricultural productivity while at the same time prioritizing private lands stewardship,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “By offering landowners the best of both worlds — economic viability and working lands preservation — Grassland CRP provisions support USDA’s commitment to Farmers First.”



CHS reports $232.2 million in fiscal 2025 third-quarter net income

CHS Inc., the nation’s leading agribusiness cooperative, today released results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2025. The company reported net income of $232.2 million and revenues of $9.8 billion for the quarter that ended May 31, 2025, compared to net income of $297.3 million and revenues of $9.6 billion in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, the company reported net income of $401.2 million and revenues of $26.9 billion compared to net income of $990.5 million and revenues of $30.1 billion in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024.

Key highlights for third quarter fiscal year 2025 financial results:
    Ag segment earnings were stronger than the same period last year due to higher volumes and margins for wholesale and retail agronomy products.
    Planned major maintenance at the CHS refinery at McPherson, Kan., led to lower production of refined fuels.
    Equity method investments continued to provide solid contributions to CHS income.

"CHS was well positioned to meet our owners' planting needs with products, services and local expertise during the favorable spring weather, resulting in a strong third quarter for our agronomy and retail businesses," said Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS Inc. "Our employees remain committed to maintaining a high level of customer service while driving efficiency improvements. Working together with our valued partners, we will continue positioning the cooperative system to best navigate the current challenging agriculture and energy markets."

Energy
A pretax loss of $50.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 represents a $147.9 million decrease versus the prior year period and reflects:
    Planned major maintenance conducted at the McPherson refinery led to lower production of refined fuels and drove reduced Energy earnings, despite higher sales volumes
    Increased costs for renewable fuel credits

Ag
Pretax income of $151.0 million represents a $42.5 million increase versus the prior year period and reflects:
    Higher volumes and margins for wholesale and retail agronomy products due to favorable market conditions
    Decreased margins for grain and oilseed and oilseed processing product categories, primarily the result of the timing impact of mark-to-market adjustments and global market conditions

Nitrogen Production
Pretax earnings of $54.6 million represent a $2.2 million increase versus the prior year period, primarily due to favorable market conditions for urea.

Corporate and Other
Pretax earnings of $103.3 million represent a $52.2 million increase versus the prior year period, mostly reflecting strong results from the Ventura Foods joint venture.



Trump Administration Sues California Over Farm Production Mandates

The Trump administration is suing California over state laws it says have contributed to the high price of eggs nationwide.

The administration’s lawsuit targets:
    California Proposition 2, a 2008 ballot initiative that set welfare standards for egg-laying hens, sows, and veal calves
    Assembly Bill 1437, which prohibited the sale in the state of eggs for human consumption that do not meet the Prop. 2 standards
    Proposition 12 ballot initiative in 2018, which set specific space requirements for hens, sows, and veal calves and banned in the state the sale of products from those animals – including the progeny of sows – if they were raised anywhere in housing that fails to meet the Prop. 12 standards.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the suit argues that regulating eggs is solely within the federal government’s purview under the 1970 Egg Products Inspection Act. That law set nationwide standards for eggs and egg products and prohibited states from imposing additional or different regulations on eggs.

The administration also argues that “Proposition 12 alone has caused a significant increase in egg prices and therefore led to a sizeable reduction in consumer surplus.”

“NPPC appreciates the Trump administration’s actions to make food affordable again,” said National Pork Producers Council CEO Bryan Humphreys. “Tackling high food prices, especially for animal protein that nourishes healthy American diets, is essential to making America healthy again. Similar to the impact on eggs that this lawsuit seeks to address, Prop. 12 has resulted in grocery store prices for pork in California skyrocketing, with the price of some essential cuts rising over 40 percent since Prop. 12 took effect. NPPC will continue to encourage lawmakers to provide a federal solution for the imminent patchwork of conflicting state laws – not only for the sake of certainty for American pork producers but for lowering food prices as well.”

NPPC has led the charge to get Congress to fix the problems caused by Prop. 12, encouraging lawmakers to approve a federal solution for the imminent patchwork of conflicting state laws regulating farm production practices.



Secretary Rollins Applauds Voluntary Removal of Artificial Dyes from Ice Cream

While scooping ice cream on the steps of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Headquarters, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins congratulated the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announcement on the dairy industry’s commitment to eliminate artificial food dyes from their ice creams. This is a voluntary, proactive pledge to eliminate the use of Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from ice cream and other frozen dairy desserts by 2028.

“I appreciate IDFA members for spearheading this new initiative and finding ways to promote President Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda. Each one of these endeavors helps families make better choices and pursue healthier lives,” said Secretary Rollins.

“I applaud the International Dairy Foods Association for stepping up to eliminate certified artificial colors,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The American people have made it clear—they want real food, not chemicals. Together with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, we’re holding the food industry accountable and driving a nationwide effort to Make America Healthy Again.”

“I am proud of ice cream makers and dairy foods companies for stepping up for American families by making this voluntary commitment to provide ice cream and frozen dairy treats without certified artificial colors,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). “Americans are passionate about their ice cream, and the IDFA Ice Cream Commitment will ensure wholesome, indulgent ice cream products made with real milk from American dairy farmers remain a special part of our lives as state and federal policies evolve.”

Secretary Rollins was joined by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Food and Drug Administrator Dr. Marty Makary for the IDFA announcement outside of USDA. Rollins, Kennedy, and Makary met with leadership at IDFA and dairy farmers while scooping ice cream.