Thursday September 11 Ag News - NE Farm Bureau @ HHD - New NE BQA Director - Biochar Field Day - Importance of Combine Calibration - and more!

 Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers Share Struggles, Farm Bureau Offers Solutions at Husker Harvest Days

While the nation’s largest outdoor farm show is known for showcasing the latest technology, the conversation inside the Nebraska Farm Bureau building at Husker Harvest Days focused on the stark realities facing farm and ranch families today.

Nebraska’s beef industry may be holding steady, but across the countryside, producers say they are being squeezed by higher input costs, lower commodity prices, and rising interest rates. At a producer roundtable hosted by Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB), those challenges came to life in the voices farm and ranch families.

“Margins are extremely tight. The costs for fertilizer, seed, and fuel have increased, along with interest rates, but the prices for corn and soybeans keep dropping,” said Chad Neinhueser, a farmer from Adams/Webster County. “We’re running just to stand still, and that’s not sustainable for family operations like mine.”

NEFB economist Abygail Streff underscored his concerns with hard numbers. Her analysis shows farm equipment parts have increased 69% over the past five years. Cedar County, which is the county with the highest irrigated acre rental rate in Nebraska, experienced a 26% increase in rates from 2020 to 2025. Soybeans saw a 61% increase in fertilizer costs per acre from 2020 to 2025. Corn under the same assumptions saw an over 44% increase in fertilizer cost per acre. “Those increases add up quickly and put incredible pressure on the bottom line for producers,” Streff explained.

Yet while challenges dominate the short-term picture, the group also discussed pathways to strengthen Nebraska agriculture in the years ahead. One of the clearest opportunities: growing markets.

“Expanding livestock production is one of the best ways to add value to Nebraska-grown grains,” said Bruce Williams of Saunders County. “But too many producers are hitting walls when it comes to getting approvals for livestock expansion. We need a smoother process if we want to keep that value in our state.”

In addition to livestock growth, NEFB is pushing for permanent year-round E-15 ethanol sales, defending livestock producers from costly and burdensome regulations, and advocating for fair and open trade agreements.

“Export markets are vitally important to Nebraska farmers and ranchers with agricultural exports typically accounting for 30% of their annual income,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB President. “Given that the majority of this world’s consumers live outside of our borders, it is vital the Trump administration makes finding new markets for agricultural products a top priority, however efforts must be made to ensure farm and ranch families don’t bear the brunt of any prolonged trade war.”

Alongside its push for stronger trade opportunities, NEFB pointed to a major policy win that offers longer-term certainty for farmers and ranchers navigating rising input costs, volatile markets and weather uncertainty. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act strengthens core safety net programs, enhances risk management tools, and locks in important tax provisions for family farms. However, the property tax burden continues to be one of the largest costs to Nebraksa businesses and that includes farms and ranches.

“Farmers and ranchers are facing real pressures, and it’s our job to advocate for solutions that work and will grow our economy,” said McHargue. “That means continuing to push for lower property taxes, sound fiscal and regulatory policy, and that includes ensuring agriculture has a seat at the table for the Make America Health Again discussion. Nebraska agriculture is resilient, but it deserves a policy environment that helps, not hinders, our farm and ranch families.”

As farmers and ranchers left the roundtable and drifted back into the crowd of thousands exploring the show grounds, one message lingered: Nebraska agriculture remains strong, but its future depends on policies that protect family operations, and open new doors for growth.



Meet the New Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Director, Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead

The Nebraska Beef Council is excited to welcome Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead as the new Director of the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program. A native of Blue Hill, Nebraska, Waechter-Mead has deep roots in agriculture, as her children are the fifth generation to grow up on the family farm. 

After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University in 2008, Waechter-Mead entered mixed animal practice in central Nebraska, where she spent more than a decade caring for both large and small animals. In 2020, she transitioned into academia at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center, where she taught senior veterinary students and worked extensively in extension education. For the past three years, she has served as a regional extension educator, specializing in animal health and livestock systems. 

Her extensive background made stepping into the BQA role a natural fit. Waechter-Mead began serving as interim director in April before officially accepting the position this summer. She says the program aligns perfectly with her passion for animal health and producer education. 

“I truly believe in BQA. It’s about ensuring we raise the best quality beef possible, while helping producers be both responsible stewards and profitable,” she shared. 

Since assuming the role, Waechter-Mead has conducted producer trainings across the state, supported Nebraska’s network of more than 80 certified trainers, most of whom are veterinarians, and strengthened relationships with other state coordinators through the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. 

She notes that much of her work extends beyond in-person trainings, including assisting producers with certification questions, managing program resources, and maintaining Nebraska’s BQA website. 

Outside of work, Waechter-Mead and her husband raise Red Angus cattle and Southdown sheep. She also enjoys gardening, knitting with wool from her flock, and supporting her three children in livestock shows and school activities. 

“BQA is about more than certification, it’s about building consumer trust and pride in Nebraska beef,” Waechter-Mead said. “I’m excited to continue sharing the value of this program with producers across the state.”

BQA trainings can be found at bqa.unl.edu/events.



Biochar field day to showcase Nebraska research, redcedar management

Nebraska researcher Michael Kaiser has been studying how converting removed eastern redcedar into biochar provides a dual benefit — controlling eastern redcedar encroachment while creating a valuable soil amendment.

“When added to soil, biochar improves water and nutrient retention and increases organic carbon content, enhancing soil health,” said Kaiser, an associate professor of agronomy and horticulture. “All these agronomic benefits are relevant for long-term, sustainable crop productivity in corn-soybean systems.”

Eastern redcedar, an invasive/aggressive species, disrupts native grassland ecosystems, decreases forage availability and raises wildfire risks — particularly near urban areas.

“So why not use this unwanted biomass to produce biochar — a multipurpose material?” Kaiser said.

Biochar is a carbon-rich, porous material made through pyrolysis, a process that heats organic matter in a low-oxygen environment. Research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln shows biochar can improve soil structure, increase crop yields, reduce organic waste and help prevent groundwater pollution — and it isn’t just for agricultural soil.

“It can be used in urban settings, such as yards and vegetable gardens,” Kaiser said. “Research at Nebraska also shows biochar’s benefits for concrete and as a filtration medium.”

In spring 2024, the Nebraska Biochar Initiative was launched to promote biochar education, identify funding sources, facilitate collaborations between state and local governments and the biochar industry, and develop additional biochar production facilities throughout the state.

With this in mind, a biochar field day will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 22 near Seward, Nebraska.

The event is hosted by the Nebraska Forest Service and Blue Heron Tiospaye, a Lincoln-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving the spiritual, ceremonial and ecological teachings of Indigenous peoples. The field day is organized in collaboration with the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research and the Nebraska Biochar Initiative.

The field day will take place on Blue Heron Tiospaye land in Seward County, near 182nd Street and Fletcher Road — an area actively struggling with eastern redcedar encroachment.

Participants should register here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRS3e_VwQTmQZU8rIynnrkztYU4IDrqLGDhrqfcxONdOxFKA/viewform.

The event will demonstrate how to produce biochar from removed eastern redcedar. Landowners, farmers and land managers will learn how biochar improves soil health and increases water retention. Experts from the Nebraska Biochar Initiative will share their experiences regarding biochar’s ability to reduce odors, filter pollutants, and serve as a versatile tool for environmental management and urban farming.

The Nebraska Forest Service will demonstrate how to produce biochar on-site using an Oregon Kiln and provide information about the necessary equipment, with experts overseeing the process, providing guidance and education.

Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes or boots and bring leather gloves, water, a 5-gallon bucket and an optional lawn chair. A light lunch will be provided.

“This field day is another great opportunity to engage with the community about biochar’s benefits and bring stakeholders together,” Kaiser said.



Clean Fuels Thanks Senators for Considering Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act
 
Clean Fuels Alliance America thanked Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) for examining the Renewable Fuels for Ocean-Going Vessels Act (S. 881) in a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing. The bipartisan bill – introduced in March by Ricketts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) – would open new markets for U.S. farmers and biodiesel renewable diesel producers by allowing them to preserve RFS credits for fuel used in marine markets.

“This commonsense legislation will remove a regulatory roadblock and enable U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to keep RFS credits when their fuel is used in U.S. ports to supply cargo, tanker, and passenger ships,” said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels. “When ships arrive in U.S. ports, they’ve often filled up overseas with renewable fuels but can’t do so here. This bill will encourage U.S. producers and farmers to meet that growing demand and maintain America’s energy dominance.”

Under RFS rules, biomass-based diesel producers and blenders must retire RINs when the fuel is used in ocean-going vessels. The legislation would designate such fuel as an “additional renewable fuel” eligible for credit under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Clean Fuels, American Biogas Council, California Advanced Biofuels Alliance, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, Iowa Biodiesel Board, Maritime Innovation Coalition, Minnesota Biodiesel Council, Nebraska Soybean Association, North American Renderers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, and the U.S. Grains & Bioproducts Council sent a letter to Senator Ricketts in support of the legislation to be incorporated for the record during the hearing.

“Biofuels benefit energy consumers, agricultural producers, and the environment. This legislation would expand agricultural marketplaces, enhance American energy security, and create parity for maritime fuels with over-the-road and aviation fuel types in the Renewable Fuel Standard,” the groups write.



Cedar Ridge Distillery Named Iowa’s Top Craft Whiskey at the 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition

The 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition, a blind craft whiskey judging competition supervised by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), made its return for its fifth edition highlighting the finest spirts from across the U.S. The biannual annual event highlights the role of corn in crafting the best whiskeys in the world while also highlighting the farmers who grow and distill them.  

This year, Cedar Ridge Distillery’s Double Barrel Bourbon Whiskey was judged Iowa’s best craft whiskey. The competition, sponsored in part by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB), drew entries from across the U.S. with only those entries containing corn in their mash bill eligible to enter, and only entries from sponsored states eligible for Best-of-State. Cedar Ridge Distillery is located near Cedar Rapids in Swisher, Iowa. 

“The Iowa Corn Promotion Board is proud to be a sponsor of the 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition,” said Joe Roberts, ICPB President and farmer from Wright County, Iowa. “Our sponsorship allows us to help highlight the diversity of corn and the over 4,000 products it is used for. We would like to congratulate Cedar Ridge Distillery for this prestigious honor and encourage all Iowans to try their award-winning whiskey made from Iowa grown corn.” 

Judges were chosen by ACSA for their expertise in craft whiskey. The day-long competition required that judges evaluate each spirit within its category (Bourbon, Rye, etc.). Best-of-State trophies were awarded to those products that earned the highest scores in their respective states, regardless of category. 



Why Combine Calibration Matters in 2025
Doug Houser, ISU Digital Agriculture Extension Specialist 

When harvest season arrives, every bushel matters—not just in the grain tank, but in the data you capture. Yield data has become one of the most valuable tools for decision-making on the farm. Fertility planning, hybrid selection, and variable-rate planting all depend on the quality of information you gather at harvest. But there’s a catch: your data is only as good as your calibration.

In 2025, with technology-packed combines rolling through fields, yield monitors are more advanced than ever. Yet their accuracy still hinges on some basic but essential steps. Let’s walk through yield fundamentals, why calibration matters, and how to keep your system running at peak performance this fall.

Yield Monitor Basics
Your combine’s yield monitor measures both moisture and grain flow, which together determine your yield. Here are the main system components at work:
    Moisture Sensor – A small portion of grain is pulled from the clean grain elevator, passed across the sensor, and augured back into the grain flow.
    Mass Flow Sensor – Measures the impact of grain as it flows up the clean grain elevator.
    Documentation Hardware – From the feeder house lift switch to camera lenses, keeping components clean and free of debris ensures consistent flow and recording.

Hardware Checks Before Harvest
Before you pull into the first field, it’s worth checking over your monitor hardware:
    Elevator Chain Tension – Loose chains throw off grain flow measurements. Properly tensioned chains keep readings consistent.
    Feeder House Lift Switch – Clear of obstructions to ensure documentation accuracy.
    Sensor and Camera Lenses – Clean from haze, dust, and debris for both yield monitoring and automation.

Why Calibration is Non-Negotiable
Calibration ensures your monitor reflects the actual yield and moisture conditions in the field. Think of it this way: yield maps are like soil tests—you wouldn’t trust a soil test that wasn’t pulled properly, so why trust a monitor that isn’t calibrated?

The benefits of proper calibration include:
    Yield Mapping Accuracy – Calibration is the difference between meaningful data and misleading maps.
    Better Decisions Later – Fertility programs, hybrid choices, and VR prescriptions are built on harvest data.
    Capturing Field Variability – From dry hilltops to wetter river bottoms, calibration allows adjustment for changing conditions. Without proper calibration we do not capture the field yield variations. 

Here's the link to the full article, which includes several methods of calibration... 
https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/post/power-accurate-yield-data-why-combine-calibration-matters-2025.  



Iowa Organic Conference to Hold 25th Anniversary

“Nourishing Community through Organic Agriculture: The 25th Anniversary” is this year’s theme for the Iowa Organic Conference. The conference will return to Iowa City, Monday, Nov. 17, for a full day of all things organic, headlined by organic pioneer and “king of kamut” Bob Quinn.

Quinn, a Montana organic farmer and director of the Quinn Institute, will address conference attendees in a talk titled “Nourishing the Organic Community throughParticipants attend the Iowa Organic Conference Enriched Soils, High Biodiversity and Nutritious Crops.” He will highlight the important role small grains play in organic production.

Following the keynote address at 8:30 a.m., breakout sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. and include information on transitioning to organic farming, weed management, organic livestock production, robotic weeders and specialty crops. Other sessions include marketing, organic vegetable production and tips for the new organic farmer. More than 30 vendors, from organic seed and equipment dealers to certifiers and nonprofits, will fill the vendor hall.

Lunch will be made using local and organic produce, meat and dairy products and crafted into a gourmet meal by Chef Anne Watson and the University of Iowa dining team. A highlight of the conference, lunch is included in conference registration.

“We are thrilled to celebrate 25 years of the Iowa Organic Conference,” said Kathleen Delate, professor and extension organic specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “It is a celebration of organic agriculture in Iowa and a testament to the resilient systems-based approach organic production provides to over 950 farms in Iowa. We look forward to the next 25 years of celebrating organic agriculture in Iowa!” 

The cost to register is $100 through Nov. 2 and $150 after that date. Conference registration is available online https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/iowaorganic/register/.  Hotel rooms are available at the Graduate Hotel in Iowa City.



DAP Price Up 5%, Leads Half of Fertilizer Prices Higher

Average retail fertilizer prices were evenly mixed during the first week of September 2025, with prices for half of the eight major fertilizers higher and prices for the other half lower.

For the first time in four weeks, one fertilizer saw a significant price jump from last month, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. The average retail price of phosphorous fertilizer DAP was $860 per ton, up 5% from last month.

Three other fertilizers had slightly higher prices. MAP had an average price of $913 per ton, potash $487/ton and anhydrous $767/ton.

Prices for the remaining four fertilizers were slightly lower than last month. Urea had an average price of $632/ton, 10-34-0 $667/ton, UAN28 $415/ton and UAN32 $481/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.69/lb.N, anhydrous $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 $0.74/lb.N and UAN32 $0.75/lb.N.

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier. The last holdout, potash, is now 1% higher. 10-34-0 is 5% more expensive, MAP is 12% higher, anhydrous is 14% more expensive, DAP is 16% higher, UAN28 is 27% more expensive, urea is 29% higher and UAN32 is 32% more expensive looking back to last year.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 9/5/2025

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending September 5, ethanol production expanded 2.8% to a 12-week high of 1.11 million b/d, equivalent to 46.41 million gallons daily. Output was 2.3% more than the same week last year and 7.6% above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 0.3% to 1.08 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.60 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks climbed 1.2% to 22.8 million barrels. Stocks were 3.7% less than the same week last year but 1.2% above the three-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the East Coast (PADD 1) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3), which dropped 8.7% to a 48-week low.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, sank 6.7% to an 8-week low of 8.51 million b/d (130.78 bg annualized). Yet, demand was 0.4% more than a year ago and 1.0% above the three-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol contracted 3.8% to 880,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.53 bg annualized and an 8-week low. Net inputs were 1.3% less than year-ago levels and 1.7% below the three-year average.

Ethanol exports increased 36.0% to an estimated 121,000 b/d (5.1 million gallons/day). It has been more than a year since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.



NCBA and PLC Deliver Repeal of the BLM Public Lands Rule

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) this week started the process to rescind the illegal, Biden-era “Public Lands” rule. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) challenged the rule in a 2024 lawsuit because it violated the multiple use mandate and would have paved the way for the federal government to remove family ranching operations and other uses from these working lands.

“NCBA fought back hard against this misguided rule, that was a dream for radical activists across the country looking to remove cattle from American rangeland, tear apart family ranches, and upend generations of legal precedent,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “Cattle producers were blindsided with this rulemaking two years ago and were not asked to give any input until the rule was already drafted. This was not a rulemaking to improve daily life for Americans, it was a shot across the bow of an entire industry, and we responded in kind. Thank you to the Trump administration and new BLM leadership for listening to producers and rescinding this grossly misguided rule.”

Multiple stakeholders voiced their concerns that this rule clearly violated the multiple use mandate under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) but the Biden administration continued to break the law by finalizing this rule almost a year ago.

“The last administration turned their back on ranchers and land conservation when they developed this rule and cut us out of the planning process for lands that we have managed for generations. It is well known that public lands grazing supports a healthy ecosystem and reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires,” said PLC President and Colorado grazing permittee Tim Canterbury. “As permittees, we saw the rule’s clear intent: to remove us from our allotments and turn these lands into an unmanaged, unhealthy, unproductive liability. Ranchers across the West are thankful for the commonsense approach of the Trump administration to delete this rule from federal law and bring certainty back to ranchers and rural communities.”

NCBA and PLC originally sued BLM over this rule in July of 2024 and were joined in this suit by the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Exploration and Mining Association, American Forest Resource Council, American Petroleum Institute, American Sheep Industry Association, National Mining Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Natrona County Farm and Ranch Bureau, Western Energy Alliance, and Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation. 



Rollins Announces Reinvigorated Farm to School Grants Supporting American Farmers and Children

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is delivering on its commitment to support child health and American agriculture by opening applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants. Through this grant opportunity, USDA will invest up to $18 million in farm to school projects that connect farmers to USDA’s child nutrition programs through local food procurement, agricultural education, school gardens, and more.

New this year, USDA reimagined the Farm to School Grant program, implementing several improvements, including streamlining the application, removing barriers to innovation, and emphasizing partnerships to give small family farms the best chance at success.

“Yesterday at the MAHA Report announcement, alongside Secretary Kennedy, we announced one of the key actions USDA has already taken to contribute to making our children healthy again – Farm to School Grants. These initiatives are one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “These grants will open new doors for small family farms, expand access to healthy food in schools, and inspire the next generation of Great American Farmers. Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is proud to streamline this program, so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation. Putting America’s Farmers First starts with putting our children first.”

Since the Farm to School Grant program’s inception in 2013, USDA has awarded a total of $100 million to more than 1,200 Farm to School Grant projects across the country. This year’s grants represent the largest total amount USDA has offered in Farm to School Grants in a single year.

Farm to School Grants support projects that:
    Incorporate more unprocessed, locally sourced foods into meals served at school, summer sites, and/or by child care providers;
    Provide producers training on procurement requirements and food safety standards to protect child health;
    Integrate agricultural education into career and technical programs to support the longevity of America’s agricultural legacy;
    Encourage increased consumption of fresh, whole fruits and vegetables; and more.

This grant opportunity is open to state and local agencies, Tribes, child nutrition program operators, small- to medium-sized agriculture producers, groups of agricultural producers, and nonprofits. Detailed information about eligibility and application requirements can be found in the request for applications. Applications close on December 5, 2025.