Monday October 27 Ag News - FSA Offices Reopen - Improvements at Pilger Rec Area - Trade Deals with Malaysia & Cambodia - US-China Trade Talks - SHIC Disease Index - and more!

FSA Office Resume Limited Services During Government Shutdown 

Following an announcement by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins earlier last week, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices reopened Thursday, October 23 to perform core operations. Those offices have been closed since Oct. 1 due to the government shutdown.  

USDA called back two employees to staff each FSA office five days a week. The county FSA offices will carry out programs such as disaster aid, marketing assistance loans, indemnity programs, dairy margin coverage and more farm safety net programs like ARC and PLC payments to ensure farmers and ranchers receive the payments and commitments so they can continue to plan for their next season. 

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue commented on the announcement earlier this week.  

“Nebraska Farm Bureau is encouraged by the decision to reopen USDA Farm Service Agency offices, even in a limited capacity. This is an important step for farmers and ranchers who need access to services during a key time of year. These offices play a vital role in keeping family farms running. However, a partial reopening does not solve the broader challenges our members face. Farmers and ranchers need full access to USDA programs and staff to manage their businesses effectively. We urge Congress and the administration to work together to end the government shutdown and restore full operations so producers can continue feeding, fueling, and clothing America without interruption,” said McHargue. 



Pilger Recreation Area to Receive Gift of New Life

The Pilger Recreation Area, owned and managed by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has been given the gift of new life thanks to the efforts of generous donors. At their October 23rd board meeting, LENRD Directors unanimously voted to accept the terms of an agreement between the LENRD and the owners of Sand Creek Post & Beam, Inc d/b/a Timberlyne, for the donation of materials and resources to construct a pavilion at the Pilger Rec Area.

The 24’ x 36’ pavilion will be constructed using the post and beam concept, which is a specialty for Timberlyne. One hundred percent of the costs for materials and resources to build the feature are being donated, and the partners hope to begin construction in the near future.. The Lower Elkhorn NRD will bear the cost of insurance and maintenance of the pavilion after it is built.  Conversations with a representative of Timberlyne and a member of the Pilger community began earlier this year, and this project is the first of several possible improvements that will be established by the LENRD at the Pilger Rec Area.

The Pilger Recreation Area was constructed over 50 years ago to protect the watershed from flooding. Though many of the amenities have been removed from the area, it is still a great location to hike, walk, and enjoy the outdoors. The Pilger Rec Area is also home to an archery range and 3-D archery course. 

The Board also voted to approve a bid of $13,860 from Mel’s Small Engine in Bancroft, for a new Grasshopper lawnmower. Though the bid accepted wasn’t the lowest of the three, Recreation Area Superintendent Tyler Warren, recommended purchasing from Mel’s because of the working relationship already established, the ability to service the mower within the District, and to support local businesses in our District.

Doug Hallum, Water Resources Manager, gave an informational presentation to the Board highlighting the relationship between surface water and groundwater. He ended by asking the question if we can extract more value from groundwater and stream observations.

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 monthly emails. The next board of directors meeting will be Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live. 



November Farm & Ranch Clinics

These clinics are for farmers and ranchers and their families.  They are confidential, one-on-one sessions with an experienced Ag Law attorney and Ag finance counselor.  These clinics have been offered in Nebraska since 1989.  In a roughly hour-long session, you are welcome to bring up whatever issues might be affecting your farm or ranch.  In general, clinic discussions often involve estate and succession planning, financial and operational issues, beginning farmer programs, real estate and lease matters, fence law, property rights, farm loans and loan programs, and debtor/creditor law.  Here is an opportunity to obtain an experienced outside opinion on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.  Bring your questions! 
        
The FREE farm and ranch clinics will be in these locations in November:
Fairbury – Wednesday, November 5th  
Norfolk – Friday, November 7th
Valentine - Wednesday, November 12th
 
To sign up for a clinic or for more information, call the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 1-800-464-0258.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture & Nebraska Rural Response Hotline sponsors the clinics.



USMEF to Honor Ted McKinney, Dermot Hayes at Indianapolis Conference

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) announced the 2025 recipients of its two most prestigious awards, who will be honored Nov. 13 at the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference in Indianapolis.

Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and who previously served as the first USDA under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, will receive the Michael J. Mansfield Award. USMEF established this award in recognition of the U.S. Senate majority leader and ambassador to Japan whose five decades of government service advanced U.S. trade relations throughout the world.

Dermot Hayes, who recently retired as an Iowa State University professor and continues to serve as a consulting economist for both the National Pork Board (NPB) and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), will receive the USMEF Distinguished Service Award. This award honors outstanding figures in the red meat industry who exemplify the exceptional, individual dedication responsible for the federation’s success.

Michael J. Mansfield Award recipient Ted McKinney
Before his service at USDA and NASDA, McKinney served as director of the Indiana Department of Agriculture. His career in the private sector included 19 years with Dow AgroSciences, focusing on government and public affairs, and 14 years as Elanco’s director of global corporate affairs. During his time with Elanco, McKinney served on the USMEF Executive Committee.

He expressed great appreciation for being honored with the Michael J. Mansfield Award.

“What an icon Mr. Mansfield was, to the industry, to policy generally, to all that goes with international trade,” McKinney said. “Just to carry the name of that award and be a recipient, is a happy day and a humbling day. I just have to say thanks again to those many people that helped me on my pathway.”

While McKinney collaborated with USMEF in all of his professional capacities, he fondly recalled working with USMEF’s international staff during his time at USDA.

“In two and a half years as undersecretary, we traveled just shy of a half million international air miles, and we had another 250,000 miles planned that were cut due to COVID,” McKinney explained. “And while there may have been a trip where I didn't see a USMEF representative, I don't remember it. We always sought them out, because they're very wise to each market. They know the people, the culture, and the ups and the downs and the dynamics of trade, including barriers to trade.”

Despite formidable challenges facing U.S. agriculture, McKinney remains optimistic about the future of agricultural trade, citing diversification as the key to long-term success.

“Unequivocally, absolutely, we must stay focused on diversifying the market,” he said. “And the good news is there's none better at this, in my view, than USMEF.”

USMEF Distinguished Service Award recipient Dermot Hayes
Hayes was raised on a beef, barley and wheat farm in Ireland, and worked at a nearby hog farm. After earning a bachelor's degree in agriculture and a Ph.D. in economics, he served on the Iowa State University faculty for 39 years. He has served as NPPC’s consulting trade economist for 30 years and as NPB’s consulting international marketing economist since 2010. During this time, Hayes saw tremendous growth in pork trade and in the contribution of exports to the profitability of the U.S. industry

“When I started, the U.S. was a net importer of pork,” he explained. “Now about 25% to 30% of all U.S. pork muscle meat is exported, and a big proportion of variety meat. That means the U.S. industry is that much bigger, because farmers got an opportunity to expand. Just in my home state of Iowa, the number of finishing hogs in the state has doubled over that period, and that brings an enormous economic opportunity to the state.”

Hayes provided critical market research during negotiations of several U.S. free trade agreements, including those with South Korea, Colombia and Central American nations. He worked closely with USMEF staff and representatives in these markets to gain a better understanding of the growth opportunities for U.S. pork. He noted that seeing these opportunities materialize and deliver benefits to the U.S. industry has been especially gratifying.

“Last year I went to Guatemala to look at the market and met with USMEF’s representative (Central America-Dominican Republic Regional Representative Lucia Ruano) there,” Hayes explained. “We met her at a Walmart, and she informed me there are now more than 900 Walmarts in the region, and that just blew me away. And I believe 80% of the pork in Honduras is now sourced out of the United States. So as those Central American economies grow because of free trade, the U.S. pork industry will continue to have fantastic opportunities.”

Hayes noted that those many years of collaboration made his selection as the USMEF’s Distinguished Service Award recipient even more special.

“It's the biggest honor I've ever gotten,” he said. “I'm absolutely astonished that somebody nominated me.”



Smith Statement on Trade Deals with Southeast Asian Nations

Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced it had reached trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia and established frameworks for agreements with Vietnam and Thailand to lower tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.

"President Trump and his trade team are taking pivotal strides to secure access in global markets for U.S. goods and services to the benefit of America’s farmers, ranchers, workers, and innovation drivers. The Agreements on Reciprocal Trade signed with Malaysia and Cambodia, as well as the frameworks announced with Vietnam and Thailand, represent meaningful progress for U.S. industry as we work to diversify our input supply chains and export markets. By strengthening strategic economic and national security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, the United States is better poised to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s influence throughout the region. I look forward to working with the President and Ambassador Greer to ensure the full benefits of these deals and purchase commitments are realized."



ASA Welcomes New Southeast Asia Trade Deals

Sunday morning, the United States signed two trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia and announced a framework for reciprocal trade with Vietnam and Thailand.

As part of these announcements, the White House has noted multiple provisions favorable to U.S. soybean exports, including:
    The elimination or reduction of tariff barriers for U.S. agricultural products into all four countries
    A commitment from Thailand to purchase U.S. soybean meal, among other U.S. feed commodities, on a per annum basis totaling $2.6 billion
    The elimination or reduction of major non-tariff barriers in each country, including favorable language on biotechnology regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary provisions (SPS), and other non-tariff barriers.

Caleb Ragland, ASA president and Kentucky soybean farmer, said, “We appreciate President Trump’s recognition of the promise markets in Southeast Asia hold for U.S. soybean exports, and we applaud the work of the administration to increase market access in that region. We look forward to future deals like these that reduce tariffs and ensure continued and increased market access for U.S. agriculture and urge all parties to swiftly bring these frameworks and agreements to fruition.”



Corn Growers Express Appreciation for Asian Markets Announcement

The Trump administration announced today a series of trade deals and frameworks with several Asian countries, some of which include new market access for ethanol as well as additional opportunities for corn and corn products, like distiller dried grain solubles. In response to this announcement, National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement:   

“This is all very good news for the nation’s corn growers. Eliminating tariffs on ethanol exports to Malaysia and Cambodia will boost demand. We are encouraged to see that the framework for Thailand included agriculture purchases of corn and DDGS. The announced framework for Vietnam is also promising, as this is already a robust market for DDGS and corn growers are well positioned to supply corn and ethanol as well.  We look forward to reviewing more details on the frameworks for Thailand and Vietnam. Corn growers have been calling for deals that will open new markets, and we applaud the Trump administration for listening and acting on our request.” 



USMEF Statement on USTR's Announcement of Trade Deals with Southeast Asian Countries

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced agreements on reciprocal trade with Malaysia and Cambodia and frameworks for agreements on reciprocal trade with Thailand and Vietnam.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

USMEF greatly appreciates USTR’s tireless efforts to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers that have kept the U.S. as a minor supplier of red meat to the ASEAN region. With the U.S. beef industry currently lacking access to China, improved access to Southeast Asia is desperately needed to provide competing bids for beef cuts that are popular in Asia, but not demanded by American consumers. Exports of short plate, chuck short rib, rib fingers, omasum and other such items are critical to maximizing the value of every animal and stimulating the U.S. herd rebuild.

For U.S. pork, exports have been the driver of industry growth, also enabling American consumers access to the bacon and ribs they love, while maximizing whole animal value through exports of feet, stomachs, picnics, brisket bones and bone-in hams. The ASEAN region is more critical than ever as an alternative market to China, especially for pork variety meats. U.S. beef and pork hold only minor import shares in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia due to the combination of tariff and non-tariff barriers. The growth potential is significant when these barriers are addressed through President Trump’s agreements. USMEF looks forward to swift implementation of the agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, and hopes for further progress and implementation of agreements with Thailand and Vietnam, as well as follow through on the joint statement with Indonesia announced in July. 



Growth Energy Welcomes New Trade Deals with Southeast Asia

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, issued the following statement after U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer announced new trade agreements between the U.S. and four countries in Southeast Asia—Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. 

“American farmers and rural communities want and need new markets—like the ones that will be created and enhanced by these new trade agreements,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Global demand for ethanol is growing and the Trump administration continues to find ways to create new opportunities for this industry while positioning American producers to make the most of them. These new deals will be welcome news across the heartland, and we commend USTR for its commitment to building American energy dominance through the strength of our trade relationships.”   



ASA Encouraged by U.S.–China Trade Talks

As U.S.-China trade discussions advance this week, soybean farmers are watching closely for signs of renewed market access and stability. ASA welcomes reports of progress and continues to urge both nations to prioritize agricultural trade in their negotiations.

"ASA is encouraged by Secretary Bessent’s comments that trade talks with China are productive and include U.S. soybeans. Signals of purchase commitments are a positive step, and we look forward to learning more details later this week," said ASA President Caleb Ragland, a soybean farmer from Magnolia, KY. "We appreciate the White House and trade negotiators keeping U.S. soybeans at the center of discussions and are hopeful Thursday’s meeting between President Trump and President Xi will result in a trade deal that delivers results for our farmers."



Smith Statement on USTR Investigation into China’s failure to Fulfill Phase One Agreement

Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) Friday released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced initiation of a Section 301 investigation into China’s implementation of the Phase One Agreement.

"Since negotiation of the China Phase One Agreement during President Trump’s first term, China has failed to meet their purchase commitments, provide real intellectual property protections, or approve science-proven technology and production standards for our agricultural products. Rather than engaging in productive negotiations with the current administration to right the relationship, China has taken to eliminating purchases of our agricultural products, blocking exports of critical minerals, and further escalating tensions. I appreciate Ambassador Greer’s action to investigate implementation of the agreement and look forward to working with the administration to fully realize its benefits.”



USMEF Statement on USTR's Proceeding on China’s Phase One Agreement Commitments

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced Friday its initiation of a Section 301 investigation of China’s implementation of the U.S.-China Economic and Trade Agreement, popularly known as the Phase One Agreement. USTR plans to examine whether China has fully implemented its commitments under the Phase One Agreement, the burden or restriction on U.S. commerce resulting from any non-implementation by China of its commitments, and what action, if any, should be taken in response.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

USMEF greatly appreciates USTR’s focus on China’s Phase One Agreement commitments. The U.S. red meat industry, and the beef industry in particular, was a tremendous beneficiary of President Trump’s Phase One Agreement with China, which enabled annual beef exports to China to quickly grow from just $86 million to exceed $2 billion. Unfortunately, China has walked away from the Phase One, and has effectively closed its market to U.S. beef this year. The value derived from China benefits both American producers and consumers because China has a strong demand for items less consumed in the United States.

Without shipments to China and the premiums generated by bids from Chinese buyers, the U.S. beef industry is missing opportunities estimated at $150-$165 per head, or $4 billion annually. At a time of record-high costs of production, we are missing a top customer and unable to truly maximize the value of every animal produced. We appreciate President Trump’s focus on rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd, and China upholding its Phase One commitments is an important driver of the herd rebuild. 



USTR To Investigate China’s Compliance With Phase I Commitments

The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) announced Friday it will investigate China’s compliance with the 2020 Phase I trading commitments it made with the U.S. that had the goal of leveling the playing field for trade between the two countries. This announcement takes place as the leaders of the two countries are set to meet in South Korea in the coming weeks.

In response, the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council issued the following statement:

“China, while a complex market, has been a top five trading partner with the United States for decades, and when the relationship works, it’s a win-win for all involved. The Council supports the USTR’s move to assess China’s compliance with the Phase 1 agreement because more balanced trade will ultimately benefit U.S. farmers, agribusinesses, and our country as a whole.”



Growth Energy Applauds USTR Investigation into China’s Implementation of the Phase One Trade Agreement

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, issued the following statement from CEO Emily Skor today in response to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) announcement of a Section 301 investigation into China’s implementation of its commitments under the Phase One Agreement: 

“The U.S. cannot stand by while its trading partners fail to live up to their commitments, particularly when farmers and rural communities across the country are facing a period of significant economic challenges. We applaud USTR for taking a closer look at China’s failure to fully deliver on its Phase One commitments. While China briefly resumed imports of U.S. ethanol immediately following the agreement, those purchases represented baseline trade levels rather meaningful increases and have since dissipated—they did not reflect the sustained market access that American producers were promised. 

"For years, China’s tariffs and non-tariff barriers have prevented U.S. ethanol producers from competing in one of the world’s fastest-growing fuel markets. Growth Energy raised these concerns in our March submission to USTR regarding unfair trade practices, and we welcome USTR’s renewed focus on holding China accountable. 

"Ensuring fair and reciprocal access to global markets is essential to American energy dominance, and to the strength of America’s farm economy and rural communities. We look forward to continuing to work with USTR and the Administration to restore full and fair access for U.S. biofuels in international markets.” 



SHIC-Funded Study Results in Disease Index on Relative Burden of Endemic US Swine Pathogens

The Swine Health Information Center funded a project to generate a data-driven swine disease index through monitoring swine pathogen activity using confirmed tissue-based diagnoses from Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. This initiative aimed to provide a transparent, automated, and reproducible method to help veterinarians, producers, and stakeholders prioritize disease threats based on real-world diagnostic data. Led by PhD Candidate Guilherme Cezar under the supervision of principal investigators Drs. Giovani Trevisan and Daniel Linhares, the resulting disease index monitors swine pathogen activity and identifies emerging threats. In addition, the index can be adapted and integrated into the SHIC-funded Swine Disease Reporting System for continuous monitoring.

To build the swine disease index, 59,950 ISU-VDL porcine cases from 2020 to 2024 were utilized. Four key factors were considered:
    How often a disease was diagnosed
    How often a disease appeared alongside other diseases, i.e., co-diagnosis
    How widespread it was across US states
    How frequently it triggered statistical alarms for unusual activity within a year

These factors were weighted and combined into a single score for each disease, updated weekly for the ongoing year, and displayed in an interactive Power BI dashboard that will be housed on the SDRS website. Investigators anticipate the Power BI Dashboard will be available in early 2026 and will display annual disease index data. The dataset used was annotated by diagnostic codes, farm type, geographical data, and accession IDs. Four normalized variables were used to build the index: disease occurrence, co-diagnoses, geographic spread, and Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS) alarms. These measures were weighted using an R-based function and combined into a single scale ranging from 0.01 to 1. Statistical validation—using resampling, Euclidean, and Manhattan distance models—ensured robust consistency across years.

Results confirmed that PRRSV and Streptococcus suis remain the top two-ranked pathogens, demonstrating their high activity in the US swine industry. The system also detected emerging pathogens’ activity in 2024, including porcine sapovirus and porcine astrovirus, while PCV2 showed a notable decline. The dashboard allows users to track disease trends and compare rankings year-to-year, supporting real time decision-making. The index was validated using modeling to assess year-to-year consistency and detect emerging or declining disease trends. Bootstrap resampling (500 iterations) generated 95% confidence intervals for index predictions, excluding EARS due to model limitations. The interactive Power BI dashboard provides real-time visualization and weekly index updates which can be monitored by the SDRS team, and ongoing changes communicated to the industryKey findings revealed high stability in pathogen indexes across years, with a Spearman correlation of 0.92. PRRSV and Streptococcus suis consistently ranked as top burdens, underscoring their persistent importance. However, the method also registered new priorities: porcine sapovirus and astrovirus after they had an increased number of cases in 2022 and 2023, respectively, emerged as more significant endemic pathogens. In contrast, PCV2, traditionally considered a dominant pathogen, fell out of the top 10 by 2024. This decline may reflect improved herd immunity, vaccination, or biosecurity interventions.

Although infectious diseases dominated the rankings, the system also captured nutritional and toxicological diagnoses, which—while less common—introduce diversity to the surveillance profile. Their variability and occasional abrupt ranking shifts highlight the utility of keeping such categories under close observation for early detection of non-infectious threats.

The disease index’s strength lies not only in its reproducibility but also in its adaptability. Its integration into a Power BI dashboard monitored internally by SDRS staff provides a real-time, visually accessible tool, updated weekly, that supports veterinarians, producers, and industry stakeholders in quickly identifying emerging disease threats and allocating resources efficiently. By combining multifactorial epidemiological variables rather than relying on occurrence alone, the index captures both pathogen prevalence and broader dynamics such as geographic spread and co-disease patterns.

Overall, the index presents a scalable and transparent foundation for swine disease prioritization, enabling continuous, longitudinal monitoring that differentiates between stable endemic pathogens and volatile or emerging threats. Its validation across multiple statistical models ensures consistency while maintaining sensitivity to dynamic changes. Moving forward, investigators recommend integrating the framework into SDRS, refining weighting algorithms, and considering extension of the concept to other livestock systems to further enhance animal health security. By combining epidemiological rigor with automated analytics, this study delivers a timely and flexible tool that strengthens swine health surveillance and informs science-based disease control strategies.



American Farmers Shouldn’t Have to Wait While Others Get a Leg Up 

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew today released the following statement in response to USDA’s newly announced plan to support beef producers and the broader challenges facing family farmers and ranchers.

“Family agriculture is in crisis, and American farmers and ranchers are fighting for their livelihoods. For months, they’ve been told there’s nothing policymakers can do—while farm aid is delayed, trade negotiations are canceled and progress on the farm bill has stalled. Yet even during the government shutdown, this administration found a way to send taxpayer aid to another country, undercutting American producers in the process.

“This is not just about Argentina or imported beef—it's about priorities. Decisions like these send a message to every cattle producer, family farmer and consumer in America about whose side Washington is really on.

“Farm families are under immense strain from rising costs, depressed markets, and uncertainty at every turn. These challenges are not new, but the ongoing government shutdown has only deepened them. It has delayed the support that farmers, rural communities and hungry Americans need—and it’s jeopardizing the health coverage families count on to stay safe and healthy.

“We need help across rural America—both now and for the long run. That means immediate relief, paired with long-term policies that restore fairness, stability and opportunity across rural America.

“We appreciate USDA’s recently announced plans to support American cattle ranchers and efforts to reopen some services, but they still fall short of addressing the larger, systemic issues facing farm country. Real support means rebuilding cattle herds and enacting mandatory country-of-origin labeling to meet domestic beef demand, restoring competition and strengthening antitrust laws throughout the agriculture sector, implementing a forward-looking vision that expands domestic markets for crops, and creating a fair marketplace that works for farmers and consumers alike.

“American farmers and ranchers should not be asked to wait while others are given a leg up.”