Wednesday December 03 Ag News - Webinar on Tyson Closing in Lex - NE Corn Board seeks Candidates - NSGA Honors Drudik - Breed Back Better Program scheduled in Dunlap - and more!

CAP Webinar: Understanding the Tyson Plant Closure: Market Implications for the Beef Industry
Dec 4, 2025 12:00 PM
with Elliott Dennis, Livestock & Meat Economist, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability
and Jessica Groskopf, Extension Agricultural Economist, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability

Tyson's announcement to permanently close its 5,000-head-per-day plant in Lexington, Neb., sent cattle futures limit down and raises critical questions for producers in Nebraska and beyond. Join us as we break down the market implications, compare this closure to past events like Holcomb and Plainview, and discuss what the latest economic research says about price markdowns and capacity constraints. We'll also cover new processing capacity coming online and key factors to watch as you make marketing decisions.

Miss the live webinar or want to review it again? Recordings are available — typically within 24 hours of the live webinar — in the archive section of the Center for Agricultural Profitability's webinar page, https://cap.unl.edu/webinars. You can also register for this webinar by using this link.  



Nebraska Corn Board Seeks Candidates for Vacancies

Notice is hereby given that the terms for three members of the Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board (Nebraska Corn Board) will expire June 30, 2026, and Nebraska’s corn checkoff program is seeking candidates to petition for those districts. The open positions represent Districts 2, 3 and the Board’s at-large director.
    District 2 - Includes the counties of Thayer, Fillmore, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster, Franklin, and Adams (Note: Matt Sullivan, the current District 2 director, has indicated he will pursue reappointment).
    District 3 - Includes the counties of York, Polk, Hamilton, and Merrick (Note: Brandon Hunnicutt, the current District 3 director, has indicated he will pursue reappointment).
    At-Large – The at-large director represents all counties in Nebraska (Note: Jay Reiners, the current at-large director, has indicated he will not pursue reappointment).

Appointments to the board for Districts 2 and 3 are made by the Governor of Nebraska. The at-large director is appointed by the board. Any candidate seeking appointment may place his or her name on the candidacy list by filing a petition with the Nebraska Corn Board. Qualified candidates include those individuals who are citizens of Nebraska, reside in an open district, are at least 21 years old, have been actively engaged in growing corn in Nebraska for a period of five years and derive a substantial portion of their income from growing corn. Board members who currently represent these districts are also eligible to re-petition. 

Petitions may be obtained by writing the Nebraska Corn Board (245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 204, Lincoln, NE 68521), by calling 402-471-2676 or emailing ncb.info@nebraska.gov. A candidacy petition must carry the signatures of at least 50 corn producers from that district. The at-large position must have 50 signatures from farmers throughout the state of Nebraska. All petitions must be received by the Nebraska Corn Board no later than 5:00 p.m. central time on Friday, May 15, 2026. Faxed copies do not qualify.

The Nebraska Corn Board is funded through a producer checkoff investment of one-cent-per-bushel on all corn marketed in the state and is managed by nine farmer directors. The mission of the Nebraska Corn Board to increase the value and sustainability of Nebraska corn through promotion, market development and research.



Five Students Take State in Conservation Poster Contest

Animal habitats were artfully crafted by young Nebraskans throughout the year turning blank paper into award-winning posters.

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) recognize students from kindergarten to 12th grade, who competed in the annual “Home is Where the Habit is” Conservation Poster Contest. Students winning in the state competition include:
    K-1: Sawyer Suckstorf, Norfolk, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD)
    2-3: Gemma Mueller, Norfolk, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD)
    4-6: Clara Steffen, Fordyce, Nebraska (Lewis & Clark NRD)
    7-9: Kiersten Hans, Wynot, Nebraska (Lewis & Clark NRD)
    10-12: Ember Chavez, Purdum, Nebraska (Upper Loup NRD)

Each NRD selects a winner from their district contest to compete in the state competition. The state winners take home a $25 prize and will go on to compete in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) poster contest for a chance to win $200. National winners are selected at the NACD annual conference in February.

Typically, NRDs notify area teachers about the contest and allow them to introduce it in the classroom. Individual students can participate outside of the classroom by submitting their artwork to their local Natural Resources District. The 2026 poster theme will be “Soil. Where it all begins.” For more information on the poster contest, visit the NARD website https://www.nrdnet.org/programs/education. 



Tom Drudik Honored with the 2025 Ted and Alice Doane Service Award

The Nebraska Sheep and Goat Association is proud to announce that Tom Drudik of Grand Island, Nebraska, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Ted and Alice Doane Service Award, recognizing his decades of service, leadership and dedication to the state’s sheep and goat industries.

Raised near Nelson, Nebraska, Drudik began his lifelong connection to agriculture and livestock as a member of FFA, where he raised sheep as a youth project. His early passion for the industry led him to earn his State Farmer Degree and continue his education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) to major in agriculture.

While at UNL, Drudik was a member of Dr. Ted Doane’s wool judging team, competing at major contests in Denver and Kansas City and performing exceptionally well at the American Royal. He was also a member of the 1965 livestock judging team before he graduated from the university in1966.

Drudik began his career in education, teaching high school agriculture in North Bend, Nebraska, while also raising sheep and working toward his master’s degree. His commitment to agricultural education and producer development continued when he joined Nebraska Extension in Hall County in 1973, a position he held for 33 years until his retirement in 2010.

In 1980, Drudik and his late wife, Betty, purchased an acreage south of Grand Island, where they raised their two children, Doug and Dennise who were both active in Hall County 4-H. Drudik often said, “If you are going to promote the sheep industry and teach it, you probably need to raise sheep.” He lived out this philosophy every day.

Throughout his career, Drudik’s primary goal was to help producers improve their flocks and adopt better management practices. He was an early advocate for genetic testing to prevent scrapie, promoting the use of RR rams and helping clarify misconceptions about the disease and its prevention. His educational outreach in this area significantly benefited Nebraska sheep flocks and helped modernize genetic selection practices statewide.

Always forward-thinking, Drudik also recognized the value of technology for outreach. With help from his son Doug, he launched the Nebraska Sheep Producers website, which became a leading source for marketing updates and management information. He continued managing the site until his retirement.

Drudik’s leadership also shaped the exhibition side of the industry. He was instrumental in starting the meat goat show at both the Nebraska State Fair and the Aksarben Stock Show. Over the years, he served as 4-H sheep superintendent in both Lincoln and Grand Island and co-supervised the open class sheep shows alongside longtime colleague Jim Mueller.

Through decades of education, leadership and hands-on involvement, Drudik and his late wife, Betty, have left a lasting legacy on Nebraska’s sheep and goat community. Their dedication to youth and adult programming has inspired generations of producers and contributed significantly to the growth and success of the industry.

The Nebraska Sheep and Goat Association congratulate Tom Drudik on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his many years of service to Nebraska agriculture.

The Ted and Alice Doane Service Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Nebraska sheep and goat industries through leadership, education and service. Named after longtime educators and industry supporters Ted and Alice Doane, the award reflects a tradition of excellence and commitment to advancing small ruminant agriculture in Nebraska. 



HPAI Detected in Hamilton County, IA Turkey Flock

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Hamilton County, Iowa. This is Iowa’s ninth detection of H5N1 HPAI within domestic birds in 2025.

As H5N1 HPAI detections are confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, those cases are added to tracking websites located on the USDA APHIS website.



Breed Back Better workshops planned for January 2026

Amidst volatile markets, historic low herd numbers indicate an imminent cow-herd expansion. During this expansion, reproductive efficiency, intentional record keeping and sound financial management will set apart industry leaders that expand successfully without compromising quality.

Iowa Beef Center has planned six workshops across Iowa to help producers learn about proactively planning to take advantage of market conditions and animal reproductive efficiency. The Breed Back Better workshops will run from Jan. 8-29, in different Iowa locations.

“Each part of this program has been designed to incorporate interactive learning," said ISU cow-calf specialist, Randie Culbertson. “From a reproductive technology session that uses a beef breeding model, like the popular calving model, to a session challenging producers to put a pencil to paper to effectively use depreciation as a financial management tool, this will be a great program.”

Northeast Iowa extension beef specialist Denise Schwab said using benchmarks can be helpful in tracking their animals.

“There are some key measures producers can use to benchmark their herd’s calving season results against industry standards as well as the herd’s own history," she said. "We’ll work through calculating those, because most producers already have the records to do it.”

All workshops will begin with a light meal, and a brief market update from an Ever.Ag livestock economist. Registration for these workshops is $20 and will be made payable to the host county extension office.

Locations, dates and specific session details follow.
    Creston: Jan. 8, 5:30 to 9 p.m., SWCC Ag Site, 1545 W. Green Valley Road. Register by Jan. 6 by calling the Union County Extension Office at 641-782-8426.
    Centerville: Jan. 26, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Indian Hills Community College, 721 N 1st St. Register by Jan. 24 by calling the Appanoose County Extension Office at 641-856-3885 or by email lfirkins@iastate.edu.
    Fairfield: Jan. 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Cambridge Building, 2606 W Burlington Ave. Register by Jan. 25 by calling the Jefferson County Extension at 641-472-4166.
    Dunlap: Jan. 28,12:30 to 4 p.m. at the County Fairgrounds, 405 N 10th Street. Register by Jan. 26 by calling the Harrison County Extension Office at 712-644-2105.
    Hampton: Jan. 29, noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Fairgrounds Convention Center, 1008 Central Ave. W. Register by Jan. 27 by calling the Franklin County Extension Office at 641-456-4811 or or email xfranklin@iastate.edu.
    Calmar: Jan. 29, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Northeast Iowa Community College, Room 115 in the Dairy Center building. Register by Jan. 27 by calling the Winneshiek County Extension Office at 563-382-2949.

The Calmar location will also include a discussion on late gestation nutrition. Additional support for these programs has been provided by the Iowa Beef Checkoff, ABS Global, Inc., Ever.Ag and multiple local sponsors. Email the Iowa Beef Center with additional questions at beefcenter@iastate.edu.



Iowa Pork, Fareway Serve Up Bacon and Hope on Giving Tuesday
    
Community leaders, Fareway Stores, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) joined Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) today for the ninth annual Giving Tuesday breakfast, preparing and serving hundreds of warm meals to individuals experiencing homelessness across three Iowa communities.

The early-morning event brought volunteers to CISS in Des Moines, while additional meals were distributed at The Bridge Home in Ames and the Empowerment Command Center in Grinnell.

IPPA also provided hundreds of backpacks filled with stocking hats, socks, and pork sticks.

"Food insecurity and homelessness remain real challenges for too many Iowans," said Chris Bellcock, regional director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association. "Giving Tuesday allows us to demonstrate through actions, not just words, how much Iowa's pig farmers care about their communities."

Fareway contributed a full breakfast spread, including 1,200 slices of bacon, 50 pounds of sausage patties, 132 pounds of eggs, 1,050 pancakes, fresh fruit, milk, juice, coffee, and more.

“Giving Tuesday is a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we come together as a community. Fareway is proud to partner with the Iowa Pork Producers and Central Iowa Shelter & Services for this annual breakfast event, serving individuals with gratitude who rely on the shelter during the cold season,” said Reynolds Cramer, CEO of Fareway Stores, Inc. “It’s an honor to stand alongside these organizations in providing warmth, nourishment, and hope.”

CISS CEO Melissa O’Neil said the partnership demonstrates the heart of Iowa’s agricultural and business community. “This is by far our favorite event of the entire year,” she said. “It's our opportunity to really challenge that servant heart with our elected officials, and the Iowa Pork Producers and Fareway really stepping up and leading the way in that effort. Nothing better than waking up to a fresh pot of coffee and some aromatherapy with bacon on the table.”

IPPA staff and volunteers joined members of the Des Moines Police Department, Des Moines Fire Department, and city council in serving the meals to attendees at Central Iowa Shelter & Services.



Fleischer to Deliver Keynote at 2026 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

The 2026 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit will feature a unique perspective from former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who served during one of the most pivotal moments in modern history. As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of September 11th in 2026, Fleisher will reflect on what he witnessed that day and discuss where America stands today, as well as his insights on what to expect next from Washington, DC. 

“Ari’s experience inside the Bush Administration during 9/11 and now as a Fox News contributor will allow our audience a very interesting range of perspectives,” said IRFA Marketing Director Lisa Coffelt. “From behind-the-scenes stories to expert observations on current events, Ari will empower Summit attendees with lessons learned and what to expect in the coming year. The format will allow ample opportunity for audience members to ask questions of a true D.C. insider.” 

The 2026 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit is taking place on February 5, 2026, and will be at the Prairie Meadows Event Center. The Summit is free and open to the public, but registration is required.  To register and learn more about the Summit, please visit IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org. 

 Ari Fleischer was the primary spokesperson for President George W. Bush and delivered the daily White House press briefings from 2001 to 2003. In his almost four years working for President Bush, Ari served as spokesperson during the historic presidential recount, September 11th, two wars, and the anthrax attack.  

Prior to joining the Bush campaign, Fleischer was the national spokesperson and communications director for Elizabeth Dole's presidential campaign. He has also worked on Capitol Hill as a press secretary to three Congressmen and one U.S. Senator. Air is also a contributor for Fox News.



2025 U.S. Corn Crop Largest On Record With Lowest BCFM In At Least 15 Years

According to the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council’s (USGBC’s) 2025/2026 Corn Harvest Quality Report, the 15th such annual survey published globally this week, the 2025 U.S. corn crop is projected to be the largest on record, coming in a 425.53 million metric tons (16,752 bushels). The crop is also highlighted by the lowest rate of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) in the report’s history, a remarkable accomplishment for the entire U.S. corn value chain.

Generally favorable growing season conditions contributed to the highest projected average yield on record, 11.67 metric tons per hectare (186 bushels per acre), and promoted good grain quality.

The 2025 growing season was marked by warm, dry conditions after planting, wetter conditions during pollination and progressively cooler and drier weather during early grain-fill.

This year’s crop, on average, is entering the market channel with characteristics that met or exceeded each grade factor’s numerical requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade corn. The report showed 87.1 percent of the samples met all grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade, and 97.8 percent met the grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 2 grade corn.

“The Council’s annual quality reports are held in high esteem in the international agricultural sector, and it’s used by purchasers and end-users around the world to identify the best options for their operations,” said Mark Wilson, USGBC chairman.

“U.S. farmers will account for an estimated 38.4 percent of global corn exports this marketing year, showing the outstanding production practices of U.S. growers and the strong reputation U.S. corn has with global customer bases.”

The report is based on 621 yellow corn samples taken from defined areas within 12 of the top corn-producing and exporting states. Inbound samples were collected from local grain elevators to measure and analyze quality at the point of origin and provide representative information about the variability of the quality characteristics across the diverse geographic regions.

Average U.S. aggregate BCFM in 2025 (0.3%) was half the level of 2024 and the lowest in the 15-year history of the quality report. This year’s corn protein concentration registered at 8.4 percent.

The chemical composition of the crop remained in a healthy range, as 100 percent of the samples tested below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) action level for both aflatoxins.

The Council will present its findings to buyers in a series of roll-out events throughout the first quarter of 2026, including customers in Japan, Latin America, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Asia, South Korea and Taiwan, offering participants clear expectations regarding the quality of corn for this marketing year. During these initiatives, crop quality information is accompanied by updates on U.S. corn grading and handling, that provides importers and end-users with a better understanding of how U.S. corn is moved and controlled through export channels.



NMPF Calls Out Foreign Suppliers’ Anticompetitive Trade Practices

NMPF submitted final joint written comments with the U.S. Dairy Export Council on Nov. 17 to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) as part of the agency’s Section 332 investigation into the United States’ global nonfat milk solids competitiveness.

The organizations in their comments highlight how Canada continues to distort global nonfat milk solids markets through its new Class 4a pricing system that enables the production of low-priced dairy proteins destined for export. Clear production shifts following USMCA’s implementation indicate a deliberate attempt by Canada to circumvent the trade deal’s export disciplines established for dairy proteins, consequently undercutting U.S. producers at home and abroad. As the United States begins the mandated USMCA 2026 Joint Review, the USITC report will be a significant resource in ensuring that the agreement works as U.S. negotiators intended.

The submission also underscores the long-term competitive imbalance created by the European Union’s historic subsidies for casein and caseinate production, noting that more than four decades of financial support allowed European processors to build a dominant global position that persists today. Although the subsidy scheme ended in 2013, its legacy remains evident in the scale, infrastructure, and export strength of EU manufacturers, particularly in Ireland, France, and the Netherlands. NMPF’s filing urges the USITC to recognize the cumulative effect of these foreign policies on U.S. dairy competitiveness and to reflect these realities in its final report.

The filing complemented an earlier submission on July 16 and joint NMPF and U.S. Dairy Export Council testimony by Jaime Castaneda and William Loux at a July 28 hearing. The investigation follows persistent NMPF advocacy for the U.S. government to address Canadian attempts to evade their USMCA dairy commitments in a manner that disadvantages U.S. producers.