Thursday December 04 Ag News - Hansen-Mueller Asset Sale this Month - 3 State Beef Conference in Jan - USMCA Testimonty - Fertilizer Prices Mixed - Ethanol Production Hits Record - NWS Case in N. Mexico - and more!

Applications for 2026 Nebraska Dairy Ambassador Program Extended to Dec 15

Students with a strong interest in promoting dairy can now apply to be a dairy ambassador in one of five states across the Midwest, including Nebraska. The Dairy Ambassador program is a unique educational and leadership opportunity that allows students to connect with consumers to share about dairy, represent Nebraska’s dairy farmers, and gain valuable network experience with peers and dairy industry professionals.

The Nebraska Dairy Ambassador Program offers selected students the chance to engage in a variety of activities, such as representing the dairy industry at the Nebraska State Fair and agricultural literacy festivals, partnering with organizations to promote dairy at key events, and participating in dairy industry meetings and leadership opportunities designed to develop communications and advocacy skills.

To be eligible in Nebraska, applicants must be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate in a Nebraska post-secondary school or a Nebraska high school senior (12th grade), and 18 years of age by January 1 during the current program year. In addition, applicants may be accepted into the program for up to two years.

Applicants are not required to have an agriculture background but must have a strong interest in dairy and the resources to communicate effectively through email, text messaging, and in-person.
This is a one-year program, running from January through December 2026 and up to seven students will be selected as Nebraska Dairy Ambassadors. Ambassadors will receive a $100 stipend for each Midwest Dairy-approved event they attend, and travel expenses related to participation will be covered. Upon successfully completing the program, ambassadors will be eligible for an educational scholarship of up to $1,000.

Eligible students can apply online at www.MidwestDairy.com, by navigating to the “Young Dairy Leaders” section and selecting “Ambassador Program”. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the “Dairy Ambassador Application”. Be sure to select Nebraska under “Select State”. Applications are now due December 15, 2025. Selected ambassadors will be notified by January 10, 2026.

For more information or questions, contact Tracy J. Behnken - Manager, Farmer Relations at tbehnken@midwestdairy.com or 531-207-4291.



Hansen-Mueller Asset Sale in December

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Nebraska will allow the sale of Hansen-Mueller Co. assets to take place in December after the unsecured creditors committee told the court on Tuesday that it was satisfied with the bidding process put forward.

The committee originally objected that the speed with which the sale could occur would not maximize value for all parties in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Attorneys for Hansen-Mueller and the unsecured creditors committee told Chief Judge Thomas L. Saladino during a hearing that all sides were satisfied with the sale taking place in the coming weeks. In a proposed bidding process filed in court, the company wants to set an asset-bidding deadline of Dec. 12, 2025, with an auction to be held Dec. 16, 2025, if necessary.

The parties told the court on Tuesday that Hansen-Mueller has been marketing its assets for about two months leading up to the bankruptcy filing and both sides were confident the proposed sale schedule was appropriate. As a result, the court also scheduled a sale hearing on Dec. 22, 2025.

The assets would include the company's Toledo, Ohio, facility -- both its operations and its inventory.

Also included in the sale would be a lease of the real property at Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota, as well as the leases at Sioux City, Iowa; Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Grand Forks, North Dakota.

In addition, Hansen-Mueller would be selling grain inventory and forward contracts that would relate to company facilities in Toledo; Superior; Duluth; Sioux City; Council Bluffs; Grand Forks; Kansas City, Missouri; and Kansas City, Kansas.



2026 Three-State Beef Conference: What producers need to know to stay ahead in today’s beef industry

The Three-State Beef Conference provides beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry with a regular update on current cow-calf and stocker topics. Iowa State University extension beef specialists Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Chris Clark are Iowa organizers of the annual event, and say each year's content is based on prior attendee feedback and current industry economic conditions. The 2026 event is set for Jan. 13-15, at locations in Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, respectively.

“Emerging threats to cow herd health, new technologies like virtual fencing and herd surveillance systems that hitting the market, and pressing questions from an economic perspective are at the forefront of cattlemen’s minds,” Lundy-Woolfolk said. "These topics and more will be addressed at this year’s program with the goal of helping producers stay ahead in today’s beef industry."

This marks the 41st anniversary of the Three-State Beef Conference and its track record of providing important timely information to cattle producers. Lundy-Woolfolk said since the conference's Iowa location was moved to Greenfield in 2019, more than 250 producers have attended.

“Program evaluations have listed appreciation of the practicality of meeting topics and the sharing of info related to current and ongoing challenges in the industry,” she said. “Last year’s program was really popular, and participants estimated value of knowledge gained at $20 per cow.”

The Iowa location is the second in the series and will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Warren Cultural Center, at 154 Public Square, Greenfield. The first session of the 2026 conference will be held in Maryville, Missouri, at the Agricultural Learning Center, 22893 US Hwy 71, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and the third session is on Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Nebraska Cattlemen office, 4611 Cattle Dr, Lincoln, Nebraska. All locations follow the same schedule, with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m.

Topics, speakers, and their affiliations are as follows:
    Emerging Parasitic Threats to the Cow Herd – Dr. Craig Payne, Extension Veterinarian, University of Missouri
    Livestock Technology Trends: Tools or Troubles? – Dr. Yijie Xiong, Precision Livestock Technology Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
    How Global Meat Markets Shape the U.S. Cattle Supply - Dr. Elliott Dennis, Extension Livestock Economist, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

The three-state meeting series is sponsored by Livestock Risk Partners – Wyatt Mohr and Medgene, with the Adair County Cattlemen as an additional sponsor for the Iowa location at Greenfield. 

The registration fee is $30 per person, which includes a meal catered by the Chuckwagon Restaurant and copy of the conference proceedings. Preregistration by Friday, Jan. 10, is requested for all sites to help with meal plans and in keeping costs down. Iowa producers should contact the Adair County Extension office at 641-743-8412 or email ag and outreach coordinator Terri Raasch to register.

For the Jan. 13, Maryville, Missouri, location contact MU extension livestock field specialist Amie Schleicher at 660-744-6231 or schleichera@missouri.edu. For the Jan. 15, Lincoln, Nebraska, location contact Barry Weber, University of Nebraska–Lincoln livestock systems extension educator at 402-335-3669 or s-bweber12@unl.edu.



AFBF Pays Tribute to Wayne Pryor and the Late Bill Northey

Former Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne Pryor will receive the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 Farm Bureau Founders Award. Bill Northey, longtime agricultural leader from Iowa, will be honored posthumously with AFBF’s 2026 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.

The Founders Award and DSA are the highest honors presented by AFBF. Pryor and Northey will be recognized during AFBF’s 107th Convention in Anaheim, California, Jan. 9-14.

First presented in January 2017, AFBF’s Founders Award for exemplary leadership, service or contributions to Farm Bureau is presented in recognition of outstanding achievements and work in the interest of Farm Bureau. AFBF established the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award in 1928 to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving the national interest of American agriculture.

The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation nominated Pryor for the Founders Award. The Iowa Farm Bureau nominated Northey for the DSA. A national Farm Bureau committee selected each of the honorees.

Pryor Honored with Farm Bureau Founders Award

Pryor served on VFBF’s board for more than three decades in multiple capacities, eventually serving as president of the organization from 2006 until he completed his final term in December 2024. He was known for his bold leadership and for helping to keep forestry and agriculture as the top industry in Virginia.

“Wayne has championed state and national policies that have enabled agriculture and forestry to continue as Virginia’s No. 1 industry,” said VFBF President Scott Sink. “During my 12 years serving as his vice president, I witnessed and learned from his thoughtful and steady leadership of the organization. His dedication to Farm Bureau has been an inspiration to the next generation of leaders.”

Under Pryor’s leadership, Virginia Farm Bureau was victorious in advocating for broadband connectivity statewide, land use taxation and funding for the implementation of agricultural best management practices to protect water quality. Pryor also helped to ensure the State Fair of Virginia was saved from a bankruptcy threat in 2012. He helped to implement a solution that kept the agricultural character of the fair and youth scholarship program intact. VFBF continues to own and operate the fair.

“Wayne Pryor exemplifies what it means to lead with integrity and vision in agriculture,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Through decades of leadership with Virginia Farm Bureau, Wayne worked tirelessly to advance policies that supported farmers and rural communities. His commitment to grassroots advocacy and building strong relationships made a profound difference. His influence will continue to shape Farm Bureau for generations to come.”

Northey Honored Posthumously with Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award

Northey was an avid supporter of agriculture for decades, working for farmers and ranchers across Iowa and the country. He was elected as the Iowa secretary of agriculture three times – in 2006, 2010 and 2014 – before being tapped by President Donald Trump to be under secretary for farm production and conservation at USDA. He held that post until 2021, became the CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa in May 2022 and passed away in February 2024 at the age of 64.

Following his passing, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson commented on Northey’s life.

“It is impossible to completely describe Bill’s impact on agriculture,” said Johnson. “It didn’t matter if we were talking about the latest heavy-hitting agriculture issue or tractors or family; Bill was always an intensive listener, and I never saw him distracted by what was happening in the background or who walked into the room. When talking with Bill, Bill was talking with you.”

Duvall also reflected on Northey. “Bill Northey demonstrated true leadership through his character and forward-thinking approach to agriculture,” he said. “From his years as Iowa’s secretary of agriculture to his service at USDA, Bill championed conservation and innovation while never losing sight of farmers’ needs. His lifelong dedication strengthened the foundation of American agriculture and the Farm Bureau family. We are proud to honor his legacy and lasting impact..



SA Urges Full USMCA Renewal in USTR Testimony

American Soybean Association Secretary and Iowa soybean farmer Dave Walton testified before the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) during a public hearing today as part of the mandated six-year review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Walton emphasized the need for a full 16-year extension of the agreement and highlighted its critical role in providing stability and predictability for U.S. soybean farmers.

Walton noted that soybeans remain the nation’s largest agricultural export and that Canada and Mexico together purchased more than $4 billion in U.S. soybean and soy product exports last marketing year. He stressed that duty-free access to these markets is essential to the competitiveness of U.S. soy.

“USMCA has delivered stability, predictability, and modernized trade rules that are indispensable for agriculture,” Walton said during his testimony.

He further emphasized, “Soybean farmers are facing the most challenging landscape in a generation. Failure to renew USMCA would be catastrophic.”
    
During his testimony, Walton outlined several key priorities:
    Support for a full 16-year renewal of USMCA, including duty-free market access, the WTO-plus sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) chapter, and an effective dispute settlement mechanism.
    Recognition of USMCA as the “gold standard” of agricultural trade due to its biotechnology and SPS provisions that prevent non-science-based trade barriers.
    Avoidance of new tariffs or retaliatory actions among the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, which could further harm soybean farmers already facing challenges in other global markets.
    Opportunities for targeted improvements, such as aligning pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) with Codex standards, provided these do not delay or jeopardize renewal of the agreement.

“ASA strongly supports a full 16-year renewal of USMCA without delay, and our industry looks forward to working alongside USTR to accomplish this goal,” Walton concluded.



NCGA Calls for USMCA Renewal

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has made U.S. corn growers more globally competitive and should be extended for 16 years, according to testimony today from the president of the National Corn Growers Association before U.S. trade officials.
 
“The United States exports nearly five and a half billion dollars’ worth of corn to Mexico,” said Ohio farmer and NCGA President Jed Bower. “This is about 40 percent of total corn exports. And, the United States exports almost one and a half billion dollars’ worth of ethanol to Canada, which is 35 percent of ethanol exports. The strength of these export markets is all because of the USMCA.”
 
Bower’s testimony was delivered to officials in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, which is the executive agency responsible for developing and promoting U.S. trade policies.
 
USMCA, which entered into force on July 1, 2020, was designed to streamline and enhance trade between the three North American countries. The agreement includes a 16-year term and a mandatory joint review between the countries every six years. The United States, Mexico and Canada must commence the first review of the agreement by July 2026.
 
American corn growers have benefited by the safeguards that are included in USMCA. 

In 2023, at NCGA’s urging, the United States called for a dispute panel under USMCA after Mexico banned genetically modified corn. The final panel report was a clear and resounding decision that determined Mexico’s actions were not based on science and violated the trade agreement. Mexico complied with the panel report and withdrew the decree.  
 
Bower pointed to that decision in his testimony as an important reason to renew the agreement. 

“This proved – without a doubt – that USMCA’s dispute settlement chapter worked for the U.S. corn industry,” Bower said. “If Mexico’s presidential decree was allowed to remain, other countries around the world could follow suit, imposing their own policies, not based on science, which would discriminate against U.S. corn.”



NGFA urges strong, long-term renewal of USMCA, highlights key opportunities to strengthen cross-border grain trade

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today emphasized the critical importance of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the North American grain, feed, and oilseed supply chain. It urged the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to pursue a full 16-year renewal of the agreement with no changes to its underlying terms. The comments were delivered during NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert's testimony at USTR’s public hearing on the operation of USMCA.

Seyfert noted the profound economic importance of seamless North American agricultural trade, underscoring that Mexico and Canada remain two of the most vital markets for U.S. corn, soybeans, wheat, and related products: “The economic health of North American agriculture, and the communities we support, depends on an open, predictable, rules-based trading system,” Seyfert testified.  

In his testimony, Seyfert outlined several areas that USMCA could be strengthened during the renewal process, including harmonizing grain inspection procedures to eliminate costly, duplicative reinspection requirements in Mexico and advancing long-delayed processes to manage low-level presence of biotechnology traits. He also commended USTR’s dispute settlement action regarding Mexico’s biotech corn restrictions, calling the panel’s decision essential to maintaining science-based trade.

Seyfert stressed that the NGFA looks forward to working closely with USTR, USDA, and industry partners throughout the renewal process to ensure that USMCA continues to deliver broad economic benefits for farmers, grain handlers, feed manufacturers, processors, exporters, and the transportation system that links them.



Fertilizer Prices Mixed on the Month

Average retail fertilizer prices continued to be mostly higher during the fourth week of November 2025, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. Average retail prices for five fertilizers of the eight major fertilizers were higher once again, while prices for the remaining three were slightly lower. No fertilizer had a significant price move, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

The five nutrients with higher prices were potash, which had an average price of $489 per ton, 10-34-0 $667/ton, anhydrous $865/ton, UAN28 $417/ton and UAN32 $466/ton.

The three fertilizers with slightly lower prices from last month were DAP with an average price of $925/ton, MAP $923/ton and urea $590/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.64/lb.N, anhydrous $0.53/lb.N, UAN28 $0.75/lb.N and UAN32 $0.73/lb.N.

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier: 10-34-0 by 9%, potash 11%, MAP 14%, urea 19%, anhydrous 21%, DAP 25%, UAN32 28% and UAN28 29%.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 11/28/2025

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending November 28, ethanol production expanded 1.2% to a record high of 1.13 million b/d, equivalent to 47.29 million gallons daily. Output was 4.9% higher than the same week last year and 4.7% above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate ticked up 0.1% to 1.10 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.94 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks grew 2.5% to 22.5 million barrels. Yet, stocks were 2.1% less than the same week last year and 0.2% below the three-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) and West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, slid 4.6% to a 26-week low 8.33 million b/d (127.99 bg annualized). Demand was 4.7% less than a year ago and 2.3% below the three-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol dropped 3.2% to a 40-week low of 857,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.17 bg annualized. Net inputs were 1.8% less than year-ago levels and 0.5% below the three-year average.

Ethanol exports ramped up by 39.3% to an estimated 170,000 b/d (7.1 million gallons/day). It has been more than a year since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.



New World Screwworm Detection in Northern Mexico
 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has detected a new case of the New World screwworm (NWS) in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, approximately 120 miles south of the Texas border. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the case in a 22-month-old bovine transported from Veracruz to a feedlot in Nuevo León.

This detection marks the northernmost active case currently found in Mexico. It is also the second detection at the same Nuevo León feedlot since October. No additional cases were linked to the October detection, and both events appear tied to livestock movements from southern Mexico.

“The New World screwworm is one of the most devastating livestock pests ever encountered in North America,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said. “We have beaten it before with resolve and science, and we’ll do it again, but Texas must stay vigilant.”

Commissioner Miller emphasized that Texas remains free from detection, but that state officials and agriculture leaders cannot be complacent.

“Texas ranchers are the backbone of American agriculture. Our cattle herds help feed the nation and the world and are just too important to risk,” Miller said. “We will keep working shoulder to shoulder with USDA, Mexican animal health authorities, and our own state agency partners to defend our border and Texans from this dangerous threat. We will protect our livestock, safeguard our economy, and do everything possible to keep the New World screwworm at bay.”

Commissioner Miller also encourages Texas producers to remain watchful for suspicious wounds, unhealed tissue, or maggot activity in livestock, wildlife, and pets, particularly in locations near the border. Producers who suspect NWS should immediately contact their local veterinarian and state authorities. Early detection, strict livestock movement controls, screwworm fly suppression, and rapid response are the best tools to combat this serious threat.

For more information from USDA, visit Screwworm.gov.