Tuesday June 30 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Report - LENRD Meeting Summaries - LGM/LRP Changes July 1 - Trump Suspends Countervailing Duties on Phosphate Fertilizer Imports - USDA Improves Conservation Programs - and more!

Nebraska Crop Progress & Condition Statistics - June 28

                               Very Short     Short    Adequate     Surplus
Topsoil Moisture .......:    16          26            49              09    
Subsoil Moisture .......:    24          32            37              7     

                              .....  Last year   Last week   This week   5YrAve
Corn Silking................:        2             na               3                 1
Soybeans in bloom.....:        04            12             26               15
Soybeans setting pods.:        --            na              --                --
Sorghum planted ........:       96           89              98                98    
Sorghum headed ........:        01           01              04                02    
Winter Wheat Harvested:     03           00             05                05

                                              VP       Poor       Fair        Good       Excellent    
Corn Condition Rating ...:     02          05         30           44             19
Soybean Condition Rating    01          06          29          47             17
Winter Wheat Condition .:    59          24          13          04               -     
Pasture Conditions ..........:    35          31          26           7                1    



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Farmers had 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 28, 2026. This is 2.7 days more than last year, when there were 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 19 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 21 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus.

Corn silking in Iowa reached 1 percent, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. 

Soybeans emerged reached 99 percent, which is 1 percentage point ahead of last year. Soybeans blooming reached 18 percent, which is 3 percentage points behind last year. Soybeans setting pods reached 1 percent, which is 3 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 75 percent good to excellent. 

Oats headed reached 94 percent, which is 5 percentage points ahead of last year. Oats condition rated 81 percent good to excellent. 

Pasture condition rated 77 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

U.S. corn and soybean crop conditions each declined 1 percentage point from the previous week, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 9%, 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 7% and 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 6%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 67% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, 1 point below the previous week and 6 points below last year's 73%. Eight percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, 2 points above the previous week's 6% and 3 points above previous year of 5%. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: 96% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 3 points ahead of last year's pace and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 95%. Soybeans blooming was pegged at 19%, 3 points ahead of last year's 16% and 4 points ahead of the five-year average of 15%. Soybeans setting pods was estimated at 4%, 1 point ahead of last year and up 2 points from the five-year average of 2%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 65% of soybeans that had emerged were in good-to-excellent condition, 1 point below the previous week and previous year of 66%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 8 percentage points last week to reach 48% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 14 points ahead of last year's 34% and 9 points ahead of the five-year average pace of 39%. 
-- Crop condition: An estimated 26% of winter wheat was rated good to excellent as of June 28, steady with the previous week and 22 points below 48% a year ago, according to NASS.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: Thirty-two percent of spring wheat was headed, 3 points behind last year's pace of 35% and 2 points below the five-year average of 34%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 59% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, up 5 points from 54% the previous week.



Directors Hear About Upcoming Field Day and Meet Newest LENRD Staff Member at June Board Meeting

At the monthly board meeting held on Thursday, June 25th, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors heard numerous monthly reports and voted on various topics. Among those reports, Directors learned about an upcoming Regenerative Ag Field Day to be held near McLean in July and met the newest LENRD staff member, MacKenzie Doerr.

Directors heard reports from fellow Directors Jerry Allemann and Chad Korth about the NRD Basin Tour they attended earlier in the month. Allemann and Director Gary Loftis also shared updates from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts. Waylon Petsche, NRCS Resource Conservationist, was in attendance to provide a monthly update from the Natural Resources Conservation Services. Directors Gary Loftis and Melissa Temple provided updates from the RC&D Boards they sit on. 

Marcus Blunck, Project Coordinator for the Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA), provided his monthly report and informed Directors of the upcoming Regenerative Ag Field Day he has been planning with Junior Pfanstiel. The BGMA is hosting a Field Day on Friday, July 17th from 10 a.m. until noon. The site, farmed by Pfanstiel, is located near McLean.

Pfanstiel, Outside the Box Agronomy, will discuss the theory, process, and goals of converting to regenerative agriculture practices. Attendees will get a true look into the benefits, and the challenges, of farming using regenerative practices. Pfanstiel will be joined by Zack Smith, one of the developers of The Stock Cropper. Stock Cropping is a regenerative agriculture system that raises row crops in conjunction with multiple species of livestock simultaneously in the field. The event is free to attend and the deadline to apply is Monday, July 6th.

Brian Bruckner, General Manager, also took the time to acknowledge the retirement of Administrative Assistant, Patty Martens. Martens has been with the LENRD since February 2016 and has been a key staff member during her tenure. Kristie Freudenburg is preparing to step into the role of Administrative Assistant after Martens’ retirement.

At the meeting, Directors were introduced to the newest LENRD employee, MacKenzie Doerr. Doerr filled the spot of Lindsay Hinkel as the LENRD/NRCS Programs Assistant in Pierce County. Hinkel will assume the duties of Programs Coordinator once Freudenburg takes over as Administrative Assistant on July 6th. 

Directors voted to approve an interlocal agreement with Colfax County on a streambank stabilization project in the Maple Creek Watershed. The project is located approximately 3 miles east and 8-9 miles south of Howells that would protect a county road bridge that was replaced in 2018. Due to erosion occurring in the curve of the stream, and the possibility that it may threaten the bridge if it continues, the County is looking for financial assistance to stabilize the streambank with rip rap. Because public infrastructure would be at risk, and another government entity is acting as a partner, the request falls within the policy requirements of a streambank stabilization project. With this agreement, the LENRD would provide 50% of the cost of the project, not to exceed $150,000.00. The total cost of the project is anticipated to cost a little over $300,000.00.

Curt Becker, Assistant General Manager, provided a summary from a meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Battle Creek Flood Mitigation Options. One of the biggest takeaways from the meeting was that the City of Battle Creek would be eligible for 100% federal funding of the study if they act as the Sponsor. The study scope would be defined with the assistance of US Army Corps of Engineers, once a letter of request has been submitted by Battle Creek. If needed, the local sponsor could change from the City of Battle Creek to another entity at later stages of project development.

The Board once again visited a request from the Northeast Weed Management Area (NWMA) to provide financial assistance to treat phragmites. Phragmites is found throughout the Great Plains, forming dense patches in wet and moderately fertile soils along banks of ponds, lakes, streams, marshes, roads, ditches, and wet fields. These noxious weeds create competition for other plants having access to available surface and ground water.

When first approached last year, the Board voted against providing financial assistance for the practice. Since then, the NWMA has worked hard to secure a 3-year grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) and financial support from the Lewis & Clark, Upper Elkhorn, and Lower Niobrara NRDs. With this new information, Directors voted to approve the request for financial assistance and will provide a maximum of $6,000.00 annually for FY27 and FY28 to be used as matching funds for the grant.

In other action, Directors were notified that all Phase 2 and 3 Management Area Reports had been turned in prior to the beginning of the meeting and no Cease and Desist Orders would be enacted. They also revisited a conversation about whether to allow a producer to continue to use his irrigation system without Chemigation for his organic field, when he had initially indicated Chemigation would be used on his variance application. Directors voted to adopt an amendment to the NARD 457 Deferred Compensation Plan which will allow for voluntary In-Plan Rollover Contributions and Transfers for NRD personnel. Finally, Directors approved recommended wage adjustments for cost of living and step and grade changes for LENRD personnel.

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 Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m.



Lower Elkhorn NRD Partners with NRCS on North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, received official approval in May for the North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Improvement Plan in eastern Nebraska.

The North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed spans over 226,000 acres in Antelope, Cedar, Knox, and Pierce Counties, Nebraska and includes the Cities of Pierce and Osmond. The plan proposes the implementation of flood damage reduction measures including levee improvements, diversion channels, and pump stations in the City of Pierce, and berms, road raises, and building floodproofing in the City of Osmond. The plan estimates the total construction cost of the project at$28.8 million with the local sponsor being responsible for approximately $9.1 million. 

Funding for the plan came through NRCS’s Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations Program (WFPO), which provides technical and financial assistance to states, local governments and tribes to plan and implement authorized watershed enhancement projects. NRCS provided $802,000 toward completing the North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan. With the plan approved, Lower Elkhorn NRD now qualifies to request future financial assistance from NRCS for developing the identified flood prevention measures.

“NRCS is pleased to have provided technical and financial assistance to Lower Elkhorn NRD for completing the North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan,” said Rob Lawson, NRCS Nebraska state conservationist. “One of our top priorities is assisting local sponsors in identifying and completing watershed projects for natural resource enhancements and public safety.”

“As local sponsors, we are most appreciative of NRCS’s commitment toward completing the watershed plan,” said Brian Bruckner, General Manager, Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District. “Their partnership has helped us identify essential improvements in the North Fork Elkhorn River watershed to reduce flood damage in Pierce and Osmond.”  

 

Revisions to Livestock Insurance Programs Take Effect July 1
NPPC Newsletter
 
Revisions to the principal livestock risk management programs, as well as to crop insurance, take effect July 1.
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency made changes to the Livestock Gross Margin and Livestock Risk Protection programs used by pork producers for crop year 2027. Among them: 
•    Added clarifications for off-exchange contracts and subsidy capture definitions, including additional prohibited conduct under Section 25 of the LRP Basic Provisions
•    Allowed concurrent coverage of LRP and LGM in the same month
•    Required policies not earning premiums for three consecutive years to be cancelled
•    Clarified when coverage can be transferred
•    Revised the definition of beginning farmer and rancher and updated subsidy percentages to conform with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
 
Pork producers rely on LRP and LGM to help manage risk and protect market opportunities. Over the past five crop years, an average of 27% of hogs marketed in the United States were covered by either LRP or LGM, including a high of approximately 35% in crop year 2025. Additional resources for producers are available on RMA’s website, including more information about the latest policy changes and frequently asked questions about using LRP and LGM.



President Trump Takes Action to Lower Fertilizer Costs and Support American Farmers

Monday, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation temporarily suspending countervailing duties (CVDs) on certain phosphate fertilizer imports, providing immediate relief to American farmers while advancing the Administration’s broader strategy to strengthen America’s fertilizer supply chain.

The temporary suspension will increase phosphate fertilizer availability, improve competition, and help lower one of agriculture’s largest production expenses while supporting a stable and reliable fertilizer supply ahead of future planting seasons.

Current USDA analysis indicates American farmers could save approximately $1.82 billion annually through lower phosphate fertilizer costs as additional supplies enter the U.S. market. The action is expected to reduce phosphate fertilizer prices by approximately 22 percent, benefiting more than 100,000 farms across 97 million planted acres nationwide.

“As we have worked to implement America First fertilizer actions—from waiving the Jones Act to implementing more flexible Hours of Service waivers—we have focused on finding short-term solutions while delivering long-term stability for our nation’s farmers,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Today’s announcement will bring immediate relief to producers who rely on these critical inputs with an estimated 22 percent reduction in phosphate fertilizer prices, and $1.82 billion in annual savings for producers. President Trump will always put farmers first, and he will continue to fight for those that feed, fuel, and clothe our nation.”

Today’s announcement builds on a series of actions taken by the Trump Administration to strengthen fertilizer affordability, improve supply chain resilience, and expand domestic production. The Administration has designated phosphate and potash as critical minerals, signed a USDA-Department of Justice Memorandum of Understanding to address anti-competitive practices affecting agricultural inputs, worked with federal partners to accelerate major domestic fertilizer manufacturing projects, and recently established a dedicated USDA Agricultural Economist position focused on fertilizer markets and agricultural inputs.

In addition to providing immediate relief through increased fertilizer availability, USDA continues to support long-term domestic fertilizer production by advancing major manufacturing projects across the country that will strengthen supply chains, create rural jobs, and reduce America’s reliance on foreign fertilizer sources.

“President Trump’s action today will provide immediate relief as well as a stable source of supply for American producers as they enter fall application season,” said Deputy Secretary Stephen Alexander Vaden. “The Department will continue to support initiatives to secure American farmers’ access to fertilizer, including by increasing domestic production capacity.”

Fertilizer remains one of the largest input costs facing American agriculture. Under the Biden Administration, fertilizer prices reached historic highs, placing significant financial pressure on producers. President Trump’s action provides immediate relief while complementing the Administration’s long-term efforts to rebuild domestic fertilizer manufacturing, strengthen America’s food and national security, and ensure American farmers have access to affordable, reliable fertilizer for years to come.



Corn Growers Thrilled by Suspension of Phosphate CVDs

President Trump signed an executive order Monday instituting a temporary suspension of countervailing duties applied to imported phosphate. In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement:

“This is such welcome news for corn farmers. Fertilizer represents one of the biggest expenses for farms every year, only made worse in recent years by actions of companies looking to further consolidate their control of the market. Input prices generally have been incredibly high and are a major contributing factor to the profitability picture, or lack thereof, for corn farmers right now.

“Thank you, President Trump, for recognizing the economic outlook facing American farmers right now and taking steps to alleviate some of that pressure. This is an important step as the sunset review and the anti-trust investigations are taking place.” 



ASA Applauds Executive Order Suspending Countervailing Duties on Phosphate Imports

The American Soybean Association applauds President Trump's Executive Order to suspend the countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports. This action provides much-needed relief to soybean farmers and other agricultural producers who continue to face tight margins and high input costs.

"Fertilizer is one of the most significant expenses soybean farmers face each year," said ASA President Scott Metzger, a soybean farmer from Ohio. "Suspending import taxes on this critical farm resource will improve fertilizer availability and help reduce input costs at a time when farmers begin to plan for the 2027 crop while tackling increasingly challenging financial decisions. U.S. soybean farmers thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing the challenges facing America's farmers, identifying targeted solutions to defray farm production costs, and taking meaningful action that will strengthen the agricultural economy.”

ASA has consistently advocated for policies that promote competitive fertilizer markets and ensure farmers have access to the crop nutrients they need at reasonable prices, including a review and repeal of the 2021 countervailing duties. Suspending these duties on phosphate fertilizers imported from the second largest global producer will increase availability and encourage competitive pricing, which ultimately will improve on-farm margins. The association looks forward to continuing to work with the administration and Congress on long-term solutions that support U.S. agriculture, strengthen domestic fertilizer supply, and improve the competitiveness of American farmers. 



Farmers Applaud Executive Order to Suspend Tariffs on Fertilizer

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on President Trump’s executive order to lift countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco through early next year.

“Farmers applaud President Trump’s executive order to suspend tariffs on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco. Skyrocketing fertilizer costs have contributed to rising expenses for farmers who were already struggling after years of inflation, depressed commodity markets and high interest rates. In fact, 7 out of 10 farmers said, in a Farm Bureau survey this spring, that they would not be able to afford enough fertilizer for this year.

“The decision to suspend tariffs on critical supplies, along with the recent request for emergency economic aid for farmers, are common-sense steps that will bring relief to farmers at a time when they need it most. We shared the impact of high fertilizer prices and availability with the president and we appreciate him listening to those concerns. We’ll continue to work with the administration to find more ways to improve market conditions and lower expenses for the men and women who work to ensure pantries are stocked for America’s families.”



USDA Modernizes Conservation Solutions to Better Conserve Natural Resources, Support Working Lands 
NRCS Seeks Public Comment until July 6 on 32 Conservation Practice Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is improving and modernizing 32 key conservation practices, part of a broad effort by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to put farmers first by strengthening conservation solutions. To gather feedback to update the practice standards, NRCS held more than 150 roundtables, bringing together more than 2,000 agricultural producers in every state and territory. Additionally, NRCS is currently accepting input now through July 6, 2026, on the Federal Register.  

“We want to make sure our conservation practices meet the needs of farmers, supporting their efforts to solve natural resource challenges and grow more productively and profitably,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “We listened to farmers and fine-tuned our practices to better integrate their real-world needs, including considerations for precision and regenerative agriculture. Ultimately, we want to keep working lands in working hands.”  

NRCS’s conservation practices offer guidelines for planning, installing, operating and maintaining conservation practices used by farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners nationwide.  

A few examples of updated practices:  
    Livestock pipeline, now with expanded options like collapsible lay flat tubing.  
    Combustion system improvement, now with greater flexibility at the local level to make improvements that reduce air emissions or improve energy efficiency.  
    Spring development, now with expanded flexibilities for the landowner, such as allowing the use of a pump when needed and the option to install a water battery for storing water during high flow seasons for later use during low flow seasons.  
    Waste separation facility, now more aligned with industry standards.  

The full list of conservation practices is available in the Federal Register notice https://www.regulations.gov/document/NRCS-2026-0034-0001.  

Submitting Comments            
NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers, landowners, organizations, Tribes and others that use its conservation practices to comment on these 32 revised conservation practice standards by July 6, 2026. NRCS will use public comments to further enhance its conservation practice standards.     

The proposed revisions to the 32 conservation practice standards are available on the Federal Register portal under docket number NRCS-2026-0034. Follow online instructions for submitting comments virtually or via mail/hand delivery.   



Both Can Be True: Strong Demand, Tight Cattle Inventories, and Beef Prices
James Mitchell, Extension Economist
University of Arkansas

A lot has been said about beef prices in 2026, and there has been a lot of productive discussion about what is driving them. Some point to historically tight cattle supplies. U.S. cattle inventories are at their lowest since the 1950s, and federally inspected cattle slaughter through May is 1.12 million head below the same period in 2025 and 2.56 million head below 2022, the cyclical peak for the current cattle cycle. Others argue that exceptionally strong consumer demand is the primary reason why beef prices have reached record highs. Both explanations are correct, and the market is more nuanced than either explanation by itself.

Total beef disappearance has declined much less than cattle slaughter would suggest. According to the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) balance sheet, total beef disappearance in 2026 is forecast to be 2.6% below 2025 but still 0.2% above 2022. This reflects two important factors impacting total beef supplies. First, heavier dressed weights have partially offset lower slaughter numbers by producing more beef per animal. Second, larger beef imports have kept total U.S. beef supplies from plummeting.

Figure 1 helps illustrate why this is important. While total per capita beef consumption has remained relatively stable over the last several years, ground beef has become an increasingly larger share of consumption. Ground beef accounted for 47% of per capita beef consumption in 2022 and is expected to account for 50% in 2026. This shift is not surprising. Heavier carcass weights produce more fat trim for grinding, and beef imports have historically been an important source of lean trim for the U.S. beef market. Total pounds of beef may not have changed much, but the mix of beef products available to consumers certainly has.

That distinction is important because “beef” is not a single homogeneous product. Beef is consumed in many different forms, from ground beef to steaks and roasts, and both at home and away from home. Each of those products has its own supply and demand fundamentals, which have unquestionably changed the relative price of different beef products. Looking only at either total beef disappearance or cattle inventories provides an incomplete discussion.

This is a good example of ceteris non paribus. Historically tight cattle supplies, stronger production efficiency, larger beef imports, and resilient consumer demand are all occurring at the same time. That is why record beef prices are not simply the result of lower cattle numbers or stronger demand. Ultimately, total beef expenditures continue to increase, which supports higher revenues throughout the U.S. beef industry.