Wednesday September 10 Ag News - Pillen wraps up Japan trade mission - Harvest Safety - CVA Joins AgRogue - Alfalfa last cutting - CHS retuns $120 mil to patrons - and more!

 Pillen Promotes Nebraska Ethanol, Concludes Successful Trade Mission to Japan 

Tuesday, Governor Jim Pillen wrapped up a highly productive trade mission to Japan. The mission included meetings with key importers of Nebraska beef and pork; opportunities to promote Nebraska-made biofuels; and high-level discussions to strengthen the state’s longstanding commercial, cultural, and educational ties to Japan.

“Japan is a top customer of Nebraska’s value-added agricultural products, and there is tremendous potential for our trade relationship to grow,” said Gov. Pillen. “In particular, there are gigantic opportunities for our state to meet Japan’s increasing demand for ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel. With the ability to produce the lowest-carbon corn ethanol on the planet, Nebraska is well-positioned to expand its presence in the Japanese market.”

On Monday afternoon, Gov. Pillen highlighted Nebraska’s advantages as a biofuels supplier during remarks to a gathering of ethanol buyers in Tokyo. The event was organized by the U.S. Embassy in Japan and the U.S. Grains Council. Now is an especially strategic time to promote Nebraska ethanol to Japan. In November 2024, the Government of Japan announced its intent to introduce higher ethanol blends into its fuel supply — with a target of having 10% ethanol in gasoline supplies by 2030 and 20% ethanol by 2040. This policy would significantly increase the country’s ethanol use, as Japan blended less than two percent of ethanol with gasoline in 2024 — one of the lowest percentages in the developed world. George Glass, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, also spoke at the ethanol buyers event. He emphasized the Midwest’s robust capacity to support clean energy development in Japan. The Nebraska Corn Board and Union Pacific also presented at the conference. Respectively, they underscored Nebraska’s sustainable agricultural practices and the state’s strategic location at the heart of the nation’s coast-to-coast transportation network.

Earlier on Monday, Governor Pillen touted Nebraska’s strengths in agriculture and manufacturing during a speech at the Midwest-Japan Association conference. The annual event, which alternates between being held in the U.S. and in Japan, provided a platform for the state to showcase the benefits it can offer Japanese customers and investors.
 
Tuesday, the final day of the trade mission, the state’s delegation met with leaders from Kawasaki to thank them for investing in Nebraska. Kawasaki has operated a major manufacturing facility in Lincoln since 1974. It produces all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, recreation utility vehicles, personal watercrafts (such as Jet Skis), and passenger railcars. The company’s footprint in Lincoln has grown to nearly 1.3 million square feet of manufacturing, office, and warehouse space. In 2018, Kawasaki landed a $1.4 billion contract to build 535 next-generation subway cars for the New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Since then, MTA has upped its order multiple times (most recently in February 2025), increasing the value of the contract to $4.5 billion for 1,610 railcars.
 
Japan has the world’s fourth largest economy. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Nebraska’s exports to Japan totaled $699 million in 2024. Nebraska opened its first international office in Japan in 2006 (Nebraska Center Japan). It serves as the main point of contact for Japanese companies looking for business opportunities in Nebraska.



Nebraska Beef Council September Board Meeting

The Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors will conduct their regular board meeting virtually on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. CDT. During the meeting, the board will review & discuss a draft of the FY 2025–2026 Marketing Plan.

For more information, please contact the Nebraska Beef Council office at 308-236-7551.



Nebraska Corn: Safety First, Avoid the Worst

As harvest season approaches, the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) are reminding farmers, rural communities and motorists to prioritize safety during National Farm Safety and Health Week, September 21-27. This year’s theme, “Safety First, Avoid the Worst,” highlights the importance of taking proactive steps to prevent accidents during one of the busiest and most dangerous times of the year in agriculture.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Nebraska’s economy, with one in four jobs tied to the industry. But farming continues to rank among the most hazardous occupations in the United States. Fatigue, stress, heavy equipment and unpredictable conditions all contribute to the risks faced by farmers and rural residents alike.

“Harvest is a season that brings families together across generations, but it also requires us to be more vigilant than ever,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, chairman of NCB. “Taking a few extra moments for safety, whether in the field, on rural roads or around equipment, can save lives and help us avoid the worst.”

Nebraska Corn encourages both farmers and the public to keep these safety reminders top of mind this fall and beyond:

Equipment and Roadway Safety
    Make sure equipment is properly maintained before heading to the field.
    When approaching harvest equipment, do so from the front to ensure the operator sees you.
    Motorists should slow down and use caution when sharing the road with farm machinery, which often travels well below highway speeds.

Health and Wellness
    Fatigue and stress can impair decision-making, schedule breaks and get adequate rest.
    Pay attention to mental health needs, and don’t hesitate to reach out for support when stress builds during harvest.

Generational Safety
    Teach youth safe habits early, including the importance of staying away from running equipment.
    Assign age-appropriate tasks and ensure children are supervised around harvest activity.

Confined Spaces and Grain Bin Safety
    Never enter a grain bin while equipment is running.
    Always have a harness and lifeline and never work in a bin alone.
    Keep children away from grain storage areas.

ATV/UTV Use
    Always wear helmets and seatbelts where applicable.
    Avoid carrying extra passengers unless the vehicle is designed for them.
    Operate off-road vehicles only in appropriate areas, not on public highways.

Nebraska Corn also reminds those traveling through rural areas to be patient during harvest traffic and be aware of Nebraska’s updated move-over law. The updated measure requires drivers to slow down and move over for stopped vehicles and vulnerable road users which now includes agricultural vehicles and equipment. Slowing down and staying alert can prevent accidents and help avoid the worst.




CVA joins Land O'Lakes, Inc. and Radicle Growth to participate in AgRogue Growth Partners to find, fund and scale the future of ag

At a time when public funding for ag research is falling behind, Central Valley Ag is investing in the discovery and adoption of technologies to support farmers. 

Central Valley Ag (CVA) announced its participation in the newly launched AgRogue Growth Partners, a bold initiative aimed at fast-tracking promising agricultural technologies. 

The platform is managed by Radicle Growth, a global ag tech investment firm tasked with sourcing, evaluating and guiding startup companies that are positioned to reshape agriculture. CVA, Land O'Lakes, Inc. and a coalition of ag retailers across the country will then work to fund and scale promising new technologies. The group will invest up to $7 million into each of 10-15 early-stage companies focused on ag innovation - including crop inputs, data-driven tools, supply chain improvements and new business models. 

"At Central Valley Ag, our responsibility is to ensure our member-owners have access to the tools and innovations that will strengthen their operations today and for the future," said Nic McCarthy, President/CEO of CVA. "Now is the right time to engage in this platform because agriculture is at a critical inflection point - farmers need solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability and profitability, and they need them faster than ever before. By partnering through AgRogue Growth Partners, we can help accelerate the right innovations, grounded in the trust farmers already place in their local cooperative." 

Through this initiative and in connection with Radicle Growth, CVA, Land O'Lakes and the other partners will work together to: 
    invest in and scale breakthrough technologies that deliver real impact for farmers
    pool capital and expertise to uncover innovations often overlooked by traditional investment models
    accelerate adoption by leveraging the deep trust between local ag retailers and their farmer-customers 

"Right now, we're seeing a wave of necessary innovation stall before it reaches the farm gate - often lacking the local trust and infrastructure needed to succeed," said Brett Bruggeman, chief operating officer and executive vice president of ag business at Land O'Lakes, Inc. "As one of the largest farmer and retailer-owned cooperatives in the U.S., we know our retail-owners are uniquely positioned to bridge that gap and get proven innovation into farmers' hands faster." 



LAST ALFALFA CUTTING 
- Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator 

Timing the last fall alfalfa cutting can be a difficult thing to plan for and varies among growers.  A balance between stand health, yield and quality must be maintained.

For much of the state first week of October is the average first killing frost (28°F) for alfalfa, so targeting Sep. 1 as the last alfalfa cutting would allow plants 6 weeks to store root carbohydrates prior to the killing frost.

This is important as last cutting timing decisions will potentially impact your crop’s winter survival and vigor next spring. For example, in five-cutting irrigated system, research has shown that the next spring first cutting yield will be lowered by approximately the same amount as the yield from a late-fall last cutting.

During dry weather, cutting schedules can be pushed back or more forage may be needed. In these cases, what may be the risk if these producers seek yet another cutting during this growing season?

If the first fall frost occurs earlier than normal, then winter injury is a risk. However, conditions vary from year to year; and plant winterizing generally begins about three weeks before the first frost date with the “ideal” being six weeks of uninterrupted growth in the fall to become well winterized.

Winter survival of later cuttings will improve with younger stands (except new stands); winterhardy varieties and disease-resistant varieties. For those needing extra cash or forage this fall, the higher dairy quality forage values may off-set the financial risk of needing to re-establish alfalfa stands next year which winterkill.

For most producers, the best strategy is to avoid harvesting alfalfa (Sep. 1 to Oct. 15) during the critical fall period 6 weeks before the first killing frost. This allows plants to enter winter with higher root carbohydrates.



Nebraska Sorghum launches delivery map to support growers

Nebraska Sorghum unveiled a new interactive delivery map during its annual Field Day on Monday, providing farmers with an easy way to locate buyers, elevators and processors accepting sorghum across the state. In today’s challenging economic times, farmers need reliable tools to make informed marketing decisions.

This interactive map offers a clear and user-friendly way to view delivery points and access relevant information and addresses. It will be updated as new delivery points become available, and farmers who know of additional locations can easily share them through the website’s “Submit a Location” feature.

“As a sorghum grower, I know how important it is to have reliable market information,” said Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board Vice Chair Tyler Bose, a farmer from Arcadia, Neb. “This map puts delivery options at our fingertips and makes it easier for farmers across the state to connect with buyers and plan their marketing more effectively.”

Nebraska Sorghum Executive Director Kristine Dvoracek-Jameson emphasized the checkoff’s commitment to supporting growers statewide. “Our mission is to expand opportunities for sorghum producers, and this delivery map is one more way we’re helping. By providing a central, easy-to-use tool, we’re making it simpler for growers to find purchasers and make informed decisions for their operations.”

The interactive map is available now at https://www.nebraskasorghum.org/delivery-locations/.  



Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Offers New ‘Homegrown Lifestyle’ Online Series

Small-scale producers, homesteaders, hobby and beginning farmers can access new resources available through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

A field with trees and a sunsetThe Homegrown Lifestyle series, developed by the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development Program, offers three online courses designed to help small farm owners grow their own food, raise livestock and preserve their land.

Each course, Acreage Management, Fruits and Vegetables, and Livestock, provides flexible, research-based learning tailored to the needs and interests of beginning producers, retirees and families focused on self-sufficiency.

“It can be challenging to manage all the aspects of a property, no matter the size,” said Christa Hartsook, small farms program coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Producers are learning soil types and water management methods, growing fruit and vegetable crops, establishing pastures and getting started with livestock.”
What to Expect

Each course is available for purchase through the ISU Extension Store, with participants receiving:
    Flexible format. Access the courses at any time and complete them on your time.
    Research-backed information. Learn from subject matter experts in each course topic.
    Engaging, practical lessons. Follow easy-to-understand course modules with ready-to-implement insights.
    Post-completion credentials. Obtain a certificate for completing training requirements and enhancing personal growth.

Course Overviews
Acreage Management
The Acreage Management course contains information related to responsibly caring for the land and water resources while growing food. Select course topics include:
    Soil management and sampling
    Water conservation techniques
    Incorporating trees and windbreaks
    Supporting wildlife and conserving land quality

Fruits and Vegetables
Those eager to grow their own produce can learn best practices from the Fruits and Vegetables course. Select course topics include:
    Vegetable families and crop planning
    Recommended fruit cultivars for Midwest climates
    Harvesting and storing crops

Livestock
Raising livestock is a rewarding experience, and the Homegrown Lifestyle’s Livestock course offers a practical guide to getting started. Select course topics include:
    Raising chickens, sheep and goats
    Composting manure
    Renovating pastures
    Sustainable and ethical livestock care

“All the course options start from a beginner perspective,” said Hartsook. “They’re not only beneficial if you're just starting out — they’re also a great resource if you are considering adding an enterprise to your acreage.”

For more information on the Homegrown Lifestyle series, visit Homegrown Lifestyle on the ISU Extension Store https://shop.iastate.edu/extension/more-resources/featured/homegrown-lifestyle/ or contact Christa Hartsook at hartc@iastate.edu.



CHS announces plans to return $120 million to owners

CHS Inc., the nation’s leading agribusiness cooperative, has announced it intends to return $120 million in cash patronage and equity redemptions to its owners in calendar year 2026. The planned distribution demonstrates the company’s commitment to sharing profits with its owners and strengthening rural communities.

Based on business done with CHS in fiscal year 2025, which ended on Aug. 31, 2025, the CHS Board of Directors has elected to return $30 million in cash patronage and $90 million through equity redemptions to CHS owners.

CHS owners are member cooperatives and farmer-owners in communities across rural America. When the planned distributions are complete, CHS will have returned nearly $2.6 billion to owners over the past five years.

“As cooperative owners, we build strength by working together,” said Dan Schurr, chair, CHS Board of Directors. “CHS is committed to sharing the financial strength we generate as the largest cooperative in the U.S. with our owners – the farmers, ranchers and cooperatives who make up rural America.

“We are focused on meeting the needs of our owners, customers and communities amid the volatile cycles inherent in agriculture, while investing in capabilities and efficiency that will drive future growth as we work to fulfill our purpose of creating connections to empower agriculture.”

Final financial results for fiscal year 2025 are expected to be announced in November 2025. Patronage-related details will be available at that time, including the amount of fiscal year 2025 patronage equity certificates that will be issued to CHS members.



MAHA Commission Unveils Sweeping Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again

The Make America Healthy Again Commission Tuesday released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a sweeping plan with more than 120 initiatives to reverse the failed policies that fueled America’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. The strategy outlines targeted executive actions to advance gold-standard science, realign incentives, increase public awareness, and strengthen private-sector collaboration.

Chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Commission is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with a focus on childhood chronic diseases.

“The Trump Administration is mobilizing every part of government to confront the childhood chronic disease epidemic,” Secretary Kennedy said. “This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history—realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science to protect America’s children and families. We are ending the corporate capture of public health, restoring transparency, and putting gold-standard science—not special interests—at the center of every decision.”

“Today’s MAHA Commission report is another historic milestone for our country and a testament to President Trump’s leadership and commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “America’s farmers and ranchers are at the heart of the solution — alongside doctors, parents, and communities - to fight chronic disease and protect future generations. Under this Administration, we are not just talking about healthy outcomes; we are delivering them by securing voluntary commitments to remove artificial food dye from major brands, providing technical assistance to states interested in restricting junk food and soda from SNAP, and providing growers with new tools to maintain and improve soil health, including the introduction of a regenerative farming practice pilot program. Together with our partners at HHS and EPA, we are charting a new course, strengthening the health of our families, and ensuring the United States leads the world with the safest, strongest, and most abundant food supply.”
Key Focus Areas of the Strategy

Restoring Science & Research: Expanding NIH and agency research into chronic disease prevention, nutrition and metabolic health, food quality, environmental exposures, autism, gut microbiome, precision agriculture, rural and tribal health, vaccine injury, and mental health.

Historic Executive Actions: Reforming dietary guidelines; defining ultra-processed foods; improving food labeling; closing the GRAS loophole; raising infant formula standards; removing harmful chemicals from the food supply; increasing oversight and enforcement of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising laws; improving food served in schools, hospitals, and to veterans; and reforming Medicaid quality metrics to measure health outcomes.

Process Reform & Deregulation: Streamlining organic certification; easing barriers to farm-to-school programs and direct-to-consumer sales; restoring whole milk in schools; supporting mobile grocery and processing units; modernizing FDA drug and device approval; and accelerating EPA approvals for innovative agricultural products.

Public Awareness & Education: Launching school-based nutrition and fitness campaigns, Surgeon General initiatives on screen time, prioritizing pediatric mental health, and expanding access to reliable nutrition and health information for parents.

Private Sector Collaboration: Promoting awareness of healthier meals at restaurants, soil health and land stewardship, and community-led initiatives, and scaling innovative solutions to address root causes of chronic disease.

With this strategy, the MAHA Commission leads the most ambitious national effort ever to confront childhood chronic disease and Make America Healthy Again.

Today’s MAHA Commission press event included: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., DPC Director Vince Haley, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill, NEC Director Kevin Hassett, CEA Vice Chair Pierre Yared, and OSTP Director Michael Kratsios.



Statement by Mark McHargue, President, Regarding the Make American Healthy Again Report

“From day one, Nebraska’s farm and ranch families have shared the President’s goal to ensure a safe and nutritious diet for all Americans including our nation’s children. At the same time, the initial Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report was lacking in terms of science, including the targeting of important crop protection products.”

“Today’s released MAHA policy recommendations, instead, represent a significant improvement and offers commonsense recommendations Nebraska Farm Bureau has long supported. From needed support of voluntary conservation programs to an improved pesticide approval process and support for precision agriculture, it is clear the Trump administration and the MAHA Commission heard the concerns from the agricultural sector. We look forward to continuing to review the report and working with the administration to shape the many broad recommendations included in this newly released report.”



MAHA Report Recognizes Solutions Within Agriculture

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy.”

“Farmers and ranchers share the goal of improving health outcomes in America, and they are dedicated to growing safe, nutritious and affordable food for America’s families. Healthy meals start with healthy farms, and we appreciate the report’s recognition of the vital role farmers play in the food supply chain.

“A renewed focus on American-grown fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, along with reintroducing whole milk into the school meal programs can help provide a foundation for a lifetime of smart choices. Reducing or streamlining regulations in smart ways can allow farms operating on very thin margins to innovate, diversify and respond to consumer demand. Prioritizing voluntary conservation efforts for farmers and ranchers and optimizing EPA’s already robust pesticide regulatory process to accelerate innovation are welcome recommendations.

“We appreciate the commission’s willingness to meet with farmers across the country, hear our concerns and develop smart solutions. Those of us involved in the food system look forward to being fully engaged with the commission, and policymakers at all levels, to ensure a full understanding of the scope and intention of the recommendations and impact on our food supply chain.

“Our food system has evolved and innovated over time to provide healthy and nutritious food to meet the diverse needs and preferences of American families; and we look forward to further innovations to improve health outcomes in America while ensuring farmers and ranchers can stock America’s pantries.” 



NCGA Responds to MAHA Recommendations

Today the Make America Healthy Again Commission released its policy recommendations geared toward addressing chronic childhood disease.  

The report reflected NCGA’s recommendation of reinforcing the Environmental Protection Agency’s robust, globally respected pesticide review process. 

 In response to this development, Illinois farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr., released the following statement: 
 
“The policy recommendations related to crop production, released today by the MAHA Commission, appear to be a reasonable and science-based approach for achieving its objectives. We are encouraged that when the commission engaged with agricultural stakeholders and followed the science, it reaffirmed what we already know: EPA is the appropriate agency for regulating crop inputs. We are also delighted to see precision agriculture, soil health and land stewardship prioritized, as these are areas in which corn farmers have led the way for many years. We look forward to working with the administration and Congress as they turn to the implementation of the report.”  



ASA Statement on Release of ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy’

The American Soybean Association expressed cautious optimism following the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s release of the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy and thanked the administration for increasing engagement with agricultural stakeholders since the May report.

The strategy acknowledges the Environmental Protection Agency’s robust, science-based pesticide approval process, a welcome shift from earlier critiques, and highlights the benefits of precision agriculture while proposing policies to expand access to these tools.

“Soybean farmers are thankful the MAHA Commission recognized EPA’s approval process as the global gold standard,” said ASA President Caleb Ragland. “Between the May report and today’s strategy, the Commission was accessible and open to learning more about modern farming practices. We truly felt like we had a seat at the table, and for that, we are incredibly appreciative.”

However, ASA remains concerned about the misinformed rhetoric from some Commission members around edible soybean oil. Not only is soybean oil backed by decades of science confirming its safety and nutritional value for consumers, but it is also a vital domestic market. We urge careful consideration of any upcoming rulemakings that could negatively impact U.S. farmers and the public.



American Beef is a Perfect Fit with the Second MAHA Report

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the release of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s second report. In May, the MAHA Commission’s first report highlighted the positive role beef plays in a healthy diet. Today, the second report expanded on the benefits of high-quality protein like beef and the critical role cattle producers play in helping make America healthy again.  
 
“From every angle, it is tough to beat American beef. Our farmers and ranchers raise the best beef in the world, providing a healthy, fresh protein option to millions of families every day,” said NCBA President and cattle producer Buck Wehrbein. “We responsibly steward millions of acres of land, water, and wildlife habitat, including some of America’s most cherished landscapes and species. We pump lifeblood into the local economies of tens of thousands of communities across the rural American heartland. No matter how you look at it, American beef is the perfect fit for the MAHA Commission’s goals.” 
 
The second MAHA report takes a holistic approach to the health, safety, and security of our food supply chain. Highlights from the report include:
    Stressing the need for a diet high in whole, unprocessed foods like fresh beef, fruits, and vegetables to support Americans’ health at every age and stage of life. 
    Encouraging innovation that helps American agriculture stay at the leading edge of safe, healthy, nutritious food production.
    Jumpstarting gold-standard scientific research to answer targeted questions on the connection between diet, other lifestyle choices, and health outcomes. 
    Exploring ways to boost consumption of fresh, healthy, locally produced foods.

“This report confirms the science-based recommendation that making America healthy again has to start with safe, nutritious, fresh, whole-ingredient and American beef hits the target on all of the above,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “As this administration has pointed out before, beef is the crown jewel of American agriculture. Millions of American families build a healthy plate around our product every week. We will continue working with President Trump’s administration to keep the supply chain moving and keep the safest, highest quality beef in the world on grocery store shelves.”   
 
Years of peer-reviewed research, including clinical trials—the gold-standard for research—have proven that beef plays a key role in a healthy, balanced diet for Americans of all ages. A single 3-ounce serving of lean beef provides half of Americans’ daily protein needs with 10 essential nutrients, in fewer than 170 calories. To receive the same amount of protein from most plant sources, you would have to eat at least twice as many calories. The nutrients in beef, including protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins, are critical for strengthening muscle, fueling a healthy metabolism, supporting cognitive development, and ensuring healthy living. As a source of nourishment and satisfaction in balanced diets, beef can help build and sustain healthy eating habits from childhood through adulthood. 



MAHA Strategy Report Takes Heed of Pork Producers’ Concerns, More Education Still Needed
 
The MAHA Commission has released its “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy, which aims to address childhood chronic disease but also has potentially heavy impacts on farmers, sound science, and healthy food. These impacts remain a concern, but the strategy shows signs of progress from the initial “Make America Healthy Again” report released in May. 
 
“While agriculture’s voice was widely unheard in the initial MAHA report, we thank the administration for listening to our concerns before releasing the ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again’ strategy. We all want to help our children be healthy, yet there is still more work and understanding for this goal to best be accomplished,” said NPPC President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio.  
 
“America’s pork producers need the administration’s continued partnership and receptiveness to agriculture and food industry education,” Stateler explained. 
 
The strategy incorporates a range of initiatives that risk stigmatizing modern farming while deviating from President Trump’s directives related to food security, safety, and affordability. And, the regulatory expansion outlined in the report could lead to increased litigation against American businesses, including food and agriculture. 

NPPC's recommendations to the MAHA Commission leading up to the strategy’s release included:
    A fair and workable definition for “ultra-processed food” 
    Protection of the use of food additives that enhance food safety, shelf life, and nutritional availability 
    Exclusion of animal feed from reforms to the “generally recognized as safe” standard, to protect animal health  
    Adoption of a risk-based approach – versus hazard-based – for determining the safety of technologies used in food production  

When the initial MAHA Commission report was released in May, NPPC warned against the dangerous language used to describe the work of farmers feeding our nation, and NPPC has offered to partner in transparent, risk-based research to further public health.



NMPF Statement on the ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy’
NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud: 

“The MAHA Commission’s Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy recognizes what the latest science indicates and what we’ve long been saying: that getting whole milk back into schools and boosting dairy in diets helps meet America’s nutritional needs, and that it is critical to improving the health of our nation’s children.  

“We appreciate the commission’s attention to our nation’s public-health needs, and we are excited that scientific evidence showing the benefits of dairy at all fat levels is finally gaining appropriate recognition. We are hopeful that the upcoming Dietary Guidelines will also reflect the overwhelming evidence that NMPF has shared for years: dairy, including whole and reduced-fat, is an excellent source of nutrients in American diets. And we look forward to working with the administration on furthering the health of American children. 

“To further assist in dairy’s positive contributions to a healthier nation, we also urge Congress to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would provide schools the opportunity to serve the nutritious whole and 2% milk that school kids love and codify into law the endorsement given in the administration’s report.”  



NAWG Responds to Second Draft of MAHA Report

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) today issued a response to the second draft of the MAHA Commission report, emphasizing the essential role of crop protection tools in sustainable wheat production and reaffirming the nutritional value of enriched and refined grain products in the American diet.
 
"American wheat farmers rely on safe and effective crop protection tools to ensure a stable and abundant supply of wheat, a cornerstone of our nation's food security. These tools are essential for managing pests, diseases, and weeds, which directly impact yield and quality. Without them, our farmers would face significant challenges in meeting the demand for wheat, ultimately affecting consumers through higher prices and reduced availability,” said Pat Clements NAWG President. “We urge the MAHA Commission to recognize the critical balance between agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship, and to support policies that enable farmers to continue producing the food, fuel, and fiber our country needs. Farmers are stewards of the land, and we need the flexibility to use the best tools available to meet growing demand while preserving natural resources.”

NAWG also addressed concerns raised in the Commission’s framing of enriched and refined grains as "ultra-processed," cautioning against broad generalizations that misrepresent their value in a healthy diet.

“Enriched and refined grains—like bread, pasta, and cereals—are important sources of fiber, iron, folic acid, and other essential nutrients for millions of Americans,” said Clements. “These foods are often fortified to help fill key nutrient gaps, especially in underserved populations. The evidence simply does not support the idea that these grain products, when consumed as part of a balanced diet, are harmful to health.”

NAWG remains commitment to supporting policies grounded in science, transparency, and nutritional equity.