FARMLAND VALUES DECLINE AT SLOWER-THAN-EXPECTED PACE
The overall trend of weakening cropland prices continued through 2016 in the grain belt states served by Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) and Frontier Farm Credit. However, the pace of decline remains slower than expected.
The large 2016 corn and soybean crops through much of the region helped profitably levels and contributed to continued demand for quality tracts, said Mark Jensen, chief risk officer for FCSAmerica and Frontier Farm Credit.
“That being said, overall margins remain tight and input costs still are adjusting downward,” Jensen said. “As a result, we anticipate continued pressure on real estate values.”
FCSAmerica and Frontier Farm Credit track all farmland sales in Iowa, eastern Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Appraisal teams also update values on 71 benchmark farms every January 1 and July 1. The resulting data is the largest and most comprehensive snapshot of farmland values in the region.
Below are state-by-state trends based on land sales completed through Dec. 31, 2016:
While values on Iowa farmland had been dropping at a faster rate than in other states served by FCSAmerica and Frontier Farm Credit, the market stabilized somewhat in 2016, particularly in the last half of the year. The average 2016 price for an acre of Iowa farmland $8,123 – was 2.8 percent lower than in 2015 – $8,370. Since the market’s peak in 2013, the average sale price is down 17.3 percent.
Public auctions dropped 3 percent in 2016 and completed sales were down 7 percent compared to 2015.
Nebraska’s average 2016 sale price for dryland – $4,432 per acre – was down nearly 4.8 percent from the previous year and 13 percent since 2013. The average 2016 price for irrigated Nebraska farmland – $6,805 per acre – was 6.6 percent lower than in the previous year and 9 percent lower than in 2013.
Public auctions were down 14 percent from 2015 and sales declined 18 percent.
In South Dakota, farmland prices gained ground in 2015 only to drop 8.6 percent in 2016 to $4,813 per acre. Since 2013, the average price of South Dakota farmland is off 14.8 percent.
The number of public auctions was similar to 2015. Total sales declined 8 percent.
In eastern Kansas, farmland sold for 3.7 percent less in 2016 than in 2015 – $4,097 vs. $4,256 per acre. Prices are down 12.5 percent since 2014, when the associations began tracking farmland sales in the state.
Completed sales were down 12 percent compared to 2015.
Wyoming had too few sales – 45 percent fewer than in 2015 – to identify trends.
Commodity Price Stabilization Expected in 2017
After a volatile year, stability is returning to global commodity markets, at least for the time being, said CattleFax CEO Randy Blach this morning during the popular CattleFax Outlook Session at the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show.
“After the ag market shocks of the past year and an approximate correction of 50 percent in all commodity markets, prices are beginning to stabilize,” said Blach. “That doesn’t mean that we’re past this, or that prices have bottomed, but on a global basis, we’re not likely to see as much volatility during the year ahead.”
He said the industry is continuing to become more current in its marketings and cattle feeders are seeing a return to profitability, the first step in helping to stabilize prices for cow-calf and stocker operations.
Blach said that in the near-term, capacity is going to continue to be a significant issue for packing companies in both the beef and pork sectors. A shortage of available labor and an increase in protein production in beef, pork and poultry will continue to keep the packing sector in the driver’s seat during the year ahead.
“With limited processing capacity, the leverage shift in the marketplace will continue toward the packing, retail and foodservice segments for the time being,” said Blach.
During 2017 and beyond, margins are likely to tighten for cow-calf producers with more stability but also an expectation for lower highs and lower lows. CattleFax analysts noted that the cow-calf sector will shift focus to finding efficiencies, reducing cow costs and improving productivity to remain profitable. Analysts estimated 2017 price expectations for 550 pound steers at $150 per hundredweight (cwt.) with a range of $130-170/cwt. while 750 pound steers will average $130/cwt. with a range from $120-140 during the year ahead.
Blach reported that the historical cattle cycle remains intact, although the price break experienced in 2016 was the fastest and deepest of any in recent history.
“Even with the rapid growth in the U.S. cow herd, numbers are expected to continue higher for the next two-to-three years,” said CattleFax Senior Analyst Kevin Good. “Absolute price lows likely will not be realized until that period of increasing cow herd numbers is behind us.”
Good echoed the expectation for prices to stabilize during 2017, making price and production risk management an easier task for producers. He said fed steer prices will average $110/cwt. with a range of $98-$124/cwt. and the composite Choice cutout will trade from $168 to $204/cwt. with a 2017 average price of $185/cwt. for the year. Grain prices have also stabilized and corn is projected to trade from $2.90-$3.95 per bushel with an average of $3.45 per bushel.
Meteorologist Art Douglas, professor emeritus at Creighton University, said the signs of a return to El Nino conditions are already becoming apparent in the Pacific Ocean, which bodes well for portions of the country.
“The upcoming spring forecast calls for improved moisture from Texas to Minnesota and this will be an ideal setup for spring wheat. The drought in the Southeast will be retracting in the spring while a drier spring weather pattern is forecast for the northern Rockies. Persistent high pressure ridging will keep the western third of the country warmer than normal in the spring and the dry areas of the far Southeast will also be warmer than normal,” said Douglas. “Temperatures will be cooler than normal through the Corn Belt in the spring and with wet weather forecast for the western Corn Belt, there could be problems with field work and spring planting.”
He said the upcoming summer is expected to follow the typical pattern observed with developing El Nino events.
“Midwest summer temperatures will be near to slightly below normal. A persistent trough of low pressure is forecast to persist through the Mississippi Valley through the summer and this will favor cooler than normal temperatures in the plains and above normal precipitation from the Gulf Coast to the mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley as well as the Southeast,” said Douglas. “The summer monsoon in the Southwest is likely to be weak as the monsoon high pressure struggles to become established in the plains. The Northwest is expected to have a warmer- and drier-than-normal summer due to persistent high pressure ridging.”
Producer Support Of Checkoff Softens, But Remains Strong
An independent survey of producers found 69 percent continue to approve of the Beef Checkoff Program. Importantly, the more producers know about the program, the more supportive they are. The survey also found that producers are generally more optimistic about the cattle industry than they were a year ago.
“We’ve all experienced a very challenging year, both within the industry and in other aspects of our lives,” says Jo Stanko, Investor Relations Working Group (IRWG) co-chair. “That’s why we’re not surprised by a decline in support for the checkoff,” said the Steamboat Springs, Colo., producer. “But it is heartening to see producers becoming more optimistic about the future.”
The random survey of 1,252 beef and dairy producers nationwide was conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research in late December 2016. The survey found that while support of the checkoff is down from a year ago, a substantial majority of beef and dairy producers continue to say their beef checkoff is a good value:
- 76 percent of producers say the beef checkoff has contributed to a positive trend in beef demand,
- 73 percent of producers say the beef checkoff has value even when the economy is weak,
- 66 percent of producers say the beef checkoff contributes to the profitability of their operations,
- 67 percent say the checkoff represents their interests,
- 58 percent believe the checkoff is well-managed.
“Although most indicators have declined in the past year, 76 percent say ‘if producers don't promote beef through the checkoff, nobody else is going to pay to promote it’,” says Stanko. “This tells me producers believe in what our checkoff is accomplishing, believe in the programs their investments support, and believe that they have control over their own future through the Beef Checkoff Program. That’s even more reason to be actively engaged and learn, then share, what your checkoff is doing.”
The key priority of the working group is to develop strategies that communicate checkoff-funded program results, educate, and build relationships with checkoff investors to gain a better understanding of the Beef Checkoff Program, says IRWG co-chair Kristin Larson, a producer from Sidney, Mont. “One way to start becoming more engaged with your checkoff is to read the 2016 Beef Board Annual Report”... http://www.beefboard.org/click.asp?id=20487&url=http%3A%2F%2F2016annualreport%2Ebeefboard%2Eorg%2F.
Beef Exports Increase U.S. Carcass Values
Mouthwatering steaks, juicy burgers and delectable roasts. That’s what consumers here in the U.S. love. But what about the underutilized parts of the beef animal? If we don’t consume them here in the U.S., where do they go, and who uses them?
“I think about the world of possibility and potential that’s floating out there, especially if we are able to gain access to China,” says Louisiana beef producer Amelia Kent. “This past year, our checkoff has invested $7.2 million in export growth programs, primarily conducted through the U.S. Meat Export Federation. That’s investing in work in international communities on how to utilize American beef and why it is safe. We just need to think not only about our marketing environments today but also think about the beef industry for the future.”
The leading beef export markets (by value) in 2016 were Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Additional promising markets are located in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central and South America and Africa.
What Beef Cuts are Exported Internationally?
Japan: Short plates, chuck eye rolls, briskets, short ribs, tongues, hanging tenders and outside skirts
Mexico: Rounds, shoulder clods, inside skirts and variety meats
South Korea: Short ribs, chuck rolls, chuck short ribs, briskets and hanging tenders
Hong Kong: Short plates, short ribs and chuck rolls
Taiwan: Short plates, shanks and rib fingers
Egypt, Southeast Asia, South Africa and South America: Variety meats
Overseas Sales Add Value
International Beef Cuts Through aggressive promotion of the unique attributes (quality, safety, sustainability and nutritional value) of U.S. beef in more than 80 countries worldwide, an average of $258.48 per head for fed slaughter is added in value back to U.S. beef producers.
Strong international demand raises the value of beef cuts from every carcass. For example, the following cuts, of which a large percentage are exported, achieved an increase in 2016 Choice wholesale prices compared to the 2011-2015 five-year average:
- Chuck roll wholesale prices averaged $2.70 per pound in 2016, up 3 percent from the previous five-year average
- Chuck short ribs averaged $2.90 per pound, up 6 percent
- Short ribs averaged $4.34 per pound, up 7 percent
- Ribeyes averaged $7.52 per pound, up 13 percent
+ (NOTE: prices are freight-on-board, plant wholesale)
By comparison, the 2016 Choice beef cutout was down 1 percent from the 2011-2015 average.
In addition to the value added by these muscle cuts, beef variety meat exports contributed $36.18 per head of fed slaughter in 2016. For Japan alone, per-head value of variety meat exports has increased from $11.90 in 2011 to $15.46 in 2016, reflecting excellent returns for beef tongues shipped to Japan.
BQA Certification Now Free, Online, 24/7
You read the headline right. The checkoff’s Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification is now always FREE online! It’s a new interactive online experience that beef and dairy producers can sign up for and complete at their convenience.
Why BQA? Because it tells consumers that you have a commitment to delivering a product that is backed by science-based standards. Certification also addresses many questions that consumers have about beef production. BQA ensures consumers that cattle producers are committed to responsibly raising, safe, wholesome, high quality beef.
“It only takes a few hours of watching modules and answering questions, but serves as a checklist for producers to make sure they are using the latest management practices,” says Josh White, Executive Director of Producer Education for the beef checkoff. “We have seen time and time again how consumer confidence is positively affected when BQA standards are followed, and producers have shown their commitment to producing quality beef by being BQA-certified.”
So whether you need to get certified for the first time, or recertified, do it today! It’s always free!
Pork Checkoff Offers Webinar on New FDA Antibiotic Rules
The Pork Checkoff will present “How to Succeed with the New Antibiotic Regulations,” a free online webinar on Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. CST for producers and allied-industry participants.
The 60-minute presentation will feature three veterinarians and will offer the opportunity for both live and pre-event questions. Speakers include Dave Pyburn, vice president of science and technology at the National Pork Board; Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian at the National Pork Producers Council; and Harry Snelson, communications director at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
The veterinarians will focus primarily on the major keys to successfully navigating and complying with the new antibiotic rules. They will give special attention to record-keeping protocols, how to maintain a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship and what to expect if you have an on-farm inspection.
“With the new FDA antibiotic regulations in effect for over a month, we felt it was a good time to get additional insights into what producers and veterinarians are experiencing at the farm level,” said Jan Archer, a North Carolina pork producer and president of the National Pork Board. “The webinar also offers producers a convenient way to ask the experts what they should do to fine-tune their antibiotic compliance as part of their overall stewardship efforts.”
Registration for the free webinar is now open at www.pork.org/antibiotics and clicking the webinar link.
ACE reaction to Senate committee approval of Scott Pruitt
Brian Jennings, the Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), issued the following statement after the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head up the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) passed a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee vote this morning.
“We congratulate Mr. Pruitt on the approval of his nomination in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. If confirmed by the full Senate, we look forward to working with him to help keep the promises that President Trump made about ethanol, namely to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard to drive the use of higher ethanol blends, to maintain the RFS point-of-obligation with refiners and importers, and to lift unnecessary restrictions on ethanol use such as the Reid vapor pressure limit. Further, we anticipate working with EPA to address other important issues and to lay the groundwork for additional ethanol demand based on performance metrics such as octane.”
NMPF Urges Senate Agriculture Committee to Confirm Sonny Perdue as Agriculture Secretary
The National Milk Producers Federation today urged the Senate Agriculture Committee to swiftly confirm former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, as NMPF, its 29 member cooperatives and numerous state dairy associations joined more than 600 other farm and agriculture groups in a letter endorsing Perdue for the position.
In backing Perdue’s nomination, NMPF told Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that the former Georgia governor’s extensive experience in public policy, business and agriculture provides him with the proper skills to be the next Agriculture Secretary. In addition to serving as governor for eight years, Perdue is the founder of three agribusiness firms and was trained as a veterinarian.
“Gov. Perdue is a small businessman from an agricultural state, who appreciates the challenges our industry is facing, both today and in the future,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. “The new secretary will have many issues on his plate of great concern to dairy farmers, such as fixing the dairy safety net program, developing export markets, updating child nutrition policies, helping ensure that we have agricultural workers, and implementing new food labeling laws. We will be working closely with him on these and other issues in the coming months.”
The letter noted that, as the former governor of a state that produces billions of dollars in food, fiber, specialty crops, nursery crops, dairy products, poultry and livestock each year, “Gov. Perdue understands the critical role of feeding our country and the world. He is also keenly aware of the importance of agriculture in powering our nation’s economy, providing jobs from farm to table.”
New Bill Would Help Rein in Health Insurance Costs
A recently introduced bill to help lower health insurance costs for small business owners has the backing of farmers and ranchers. Offered by Reps. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), the legislation (H.R. 246) would repeal the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted as part of Affordable Care Act.
“The bill addresses one of the major concerns that farmers and ranchers have related to health insurance – cost. The health insurance tax (HIT) has increased health insurance costs for farmers, ranchers and other small businesses by imposing a levy on the net premiums of health insurance companies, which is passed on to consumers. During 2014, $8 billion of excise taxes were levied, and $11 billion were collected in 2015 and 2016 each,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a letter to House members urging them to support the bill.
While a one-year moratorium on the tax is in effect for 2017, the HIT, which increases year-over-year, will be back in 2018. “Providing one year of relief from the HIT was a welcome and critical first step, but Americans need the certainty of a full repeal,” Duvall said.
AFBF is encouraging farmers and ranchers to ask their representatives to support H.R. 246.
USDA Dairy Products December 2016 Production Highlights
Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.05 billion pounds, 1.3 percent above December 2015 and 3.0 percent above November 2016. Italian type cheese production totaled 461 million pounds, 1.1 percent below December 2015 but 5.5 percent above November 2016. American type cheese production totaled 416 million pounds, 3.9 percent above December 2015 and 5.1 percent above November 2016. Butter production was 164 million pounds, 6.7 percent below December 2015 but 13.3 percent above November 2016.
Dry milk powders (comparisons with December 2015)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 156 million pounds, up 3.2 percent.
Skim milk powders - 51.6 million pounds, up 18.7 percent.
Whey products (comparisons with December 2015)
Dry whey, total - 79.6 million pounds, down 13.3 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 93.4 million pounds, up 2.5 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 36.9 million pounds, down 12.8 percent.
Frozen products (comparisons with December 2015)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 50.3 million gallons, down 11.0 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 25.6 million gallons, up 0.7 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 2.14 million gallons, down 1.6 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 4.35 million gallons, up 8.6 percent.
Eli Lilly Reports Higher Revenues, Net Profit in 2016
For the full year 2016, Eli Lilly reports worldwide revenue up 6 percent compared with 2015 to $21 billion. Higher revenue was due to increased volume, as realized prices and the impact of foreign exchange rates were relatively flat. The worldwide volume increase was primarily driven by Trulicity and other new pharmaceutical products, including Cyramza, Jardiance and Taltz, as well as Humalog and Erbitux.
Revenue in the U.S. increased 14 percent to $11.5 billion, driven by increased volume for several pharmaceutical products, including Trulicity, Humalog, Erbitux (due to the transfer of commercialization rights in North America to Lilly), Taltz and Jardiance, partially offset by lower volumes for Zyprexa. U.S. revenue also benefited from reductions to the Cymbalta reserve for expected product returns of approximately $175 million in 2016, favorably affecting both volume and price.
In the fourth quarter of 2016, worldwide animal health revenue totaled $837.6 million, an increase of 3 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. U.S. animal health revenue increased 2 percent to $389.0 million, due to increased revenue for companion animal products reflecting new launches and expanding relationships with distributors, largely offset by decreased revenue for food animal products due to market access pressures. Animal health revenue outside the U.S. increased 4 percent to $448.6 million, primarily due to increased revenue for food animal products. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, worldwide animal health revenue increased 4 percent.
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Wednesday February 1 Ag News
Sasse, Nebraska Agriculture Leaders Meet with Secretary of Agriculture Nominee
U.S. Senator Ben Sasse released the following statement after meeting with President Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture nominee, former Governor Sonny Perdue. Senator Sasse and USDA Secretary nominee Perdue were joined by Nebraska agriculture leaders, including Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson, Nebraska Cattlemen President Troy Stowater, and Nebraska Sugarbeet Growers President Kendall Busch.
“It’s good to introduce the next Secretary of Agriculture to some of the Nebraskans whose sweat and long hours make us the world’s breadbasket,” said Sasse. “This was a productive conversation with USDA Secretary nominee Perdue. We talked about the unique interests of Midwest agriculture, the importance of trade and export markets, and Nebraska’s role in feeding a growing world.”
“I want to thank Senator Sasse for his leadership and work to bring Nebraskans to the table with Governor Perdue,” said Nelson. “We care about trade because we have to expand new markets and opportunities for Nebraska agricultural products. I’m glad we were able to share Nebraska’s unique challenges and opportunities with the President’s nominee for secretary of agriculture."
“A huge thank you to Senator Sasse for the work he does for agriculture in our state," said Stowater. "Nebraska Cattlemen strongly supports the nomination of Sonny Perdue to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Governor Perdue understands that trade is vital to the future of the U.S. beef industry. We look forward to helping him expand opportunities for Nebraska’s beef exports with our global trading partners, and we appreciate his steadfast support for our nation’s livestock producers.”
“I would like to thank Senator Sasse for his support and leadership,” said Busch. “The sugarbeet growers in western Nebraska are facing trying times. It is important that Senator Sasse and USDA Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue understand the importance of trade and the need to fix the suspension agreements between the U.S. and Mexico. Our growers support a strong farm policy as negotiations being on a new farm bill and look forward to work together with the Secretary.”
NEBRASKA LEAD FELLOWS TRAVEL TO CHINA, LAOS, THAILAND
Thirty Nebraska LEAD fellows recently returned from an international study and travel seminar to China, Laos and Thailand.
During the two-week January seminar, the 35th group of fellows participated in briefings with U.S. Embassy officials in Beijing, China, and Bangkok, Thailand. Sessions included presentations by Mark Ford, director of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office in Beijing; and Christine Sloop, counselor, and Paul Welcher, agricultural attaché with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in Bangkok.
“Our international study is designed to provide first-hand appreciation and understanding of our international community and the potential for people of all nations to work together,” said Terry Hejny, Nebraska LEAD Program director and group leader.
The LEAD 35 fellows visited international businesses, farm operations and entrepreneurs. Additionally, they were able to meet with officials at the Shanghai SUS Environment Co., which focuses on environmental protection, garbage/sewage disposal and bioenergy production; the COPE Center in Vientiane, Laos, which provides support to survivors of unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War; and the Agriculture and Forestry Office and the Northern Agriculture and Forestry College near Luang Prabang, Laos.
“The people-to-people encounters provided the members of Nebraska LEAD Group 35 an opportunity to view characteristics, conditions and trends in China, Laos, and Thailand, and determine relationships to issues and situations in our country,” Hejny said. “Through this experience, participants develop techniques in identifying comparisons and contrasts of the countries we recently studied in areas such as agriculture, politics, economics, energy, religion, culture and history as well as technology, trade, food, art and philosophy.”
Fellows are Chris Armstrong, North Bend; Blake Bierman, Arnold; Jon Brabec, Wahoo; Drew Cramer, Cambridge; Seth Davison, Lincoln; Brenda Dutcher, Humboldt; Kim Eberly, Aurora; Linda Emanuel, North Bend; Josh Frizzell, Kearney; Cale Giese, Wayne; Nick Hatz, Omaha; Tim Higgins, Crete; Leander Hopkins, Bayard; Andy Jobman, Gothenburg; Jana Jobman, Gothenburg; Lloyd Johnson, Broken Bow; Jason Kloepping, Bartley; Sam Krueger, Blue Hill; Nate Lehmann, Gibbon; Raymond Morse, Norfolk; Steve Niewohner, Snyder; Jordan Nun, Lincoln; Logan Pribbeno, Imperial; Gerry Sheets, Sargent; Clint Shipman, Red Cloud; Curtis Stallbaumer, Oconto; Sye Tecker, Parks; Melissa Wheeler, Alvo; Matt Wiegand, Lincoln; and Tracy Zink, Indianola.
The Nebraska LEAD Program is for individuals active in production agriculture and agribusiness. It is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, in cooperation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
For more information, or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 37, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program, 104 Agricultural Communications Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 68583-0763, call 402-472-6810 or email the Nebraska LEAD Program at leadprogram@unl.edu. The application deadline is June 15.
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE
Nebraska women will learn how to plan and make better business decisions for farms, ranches, communities, families and themselves at the 32nd Women in Agriculture Conference, Feb. 23-24 at the Kearney Holiday Inn Conference Center, 110 S. Second Ave. in Kearney.
The Women in Agriculture Conference is one of the longest-running women’s conferences of its kind in the country. The theme of the 2017 conference is "Women in Agriculture: The Heart of the Farm," and features a variety of workshops and speakers.
Conference keynote speaker Ron Hanson, emeritus professor of agricultural economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will discuss "Continuing the Nebraska Legacy of Family Farming and Ranching" on Feb. 23. The talk will explore the importance and urgency of developing and implementing a succession plan for family farm and ranch operations. The talk is sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America.
Amanda Freund of East Canann, CT, is the capstone speaker on Feb. 24. Her talk, "Connected Across the Generations -- Women in Agriculture," will focus on how to encourage women to be part of the agriculture industry. Also, Valerie Bayes of Monsanto will discuss the reasons to be an "Ag Advocate."
Five concurrent sessions will be held, offering participants more than 30 workshops to choose from. Session topics include: crop insurance, commodity and global marketing, Quicken bookkeeping, cash flow and cost control, farmland values, lease provisions herbicide resistance, and beef genetics.
Sessions on the evening of Feb. 23 will include time for networking, exercise and home redesign.
Booth exhibitors will offer information that may also be useful in farm/ranch operation.
Registration is available online at http://wia.unl.edu or by sending a completed form with a check to UNL Agricultural Economics, 303 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0922. For more information about the Women in Agriculture conference, including a registration book, go to http://wia.unl.edu.
Early registration, due by Feb. 13, is $125. Registration after Feb. 13 is $150. Fees include all workshop materials, registration, meals and breaks.
Lodging is available by calling the Kearney Holiday Inn at 308-237-5971.
Conference sponsors include the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nebraska Extension and the Department of Agricultural Economics as well as Farm Credit Services of America, Monsanto, Reinke Irrigation, and Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation and Foundation.
NDA SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR SPECIALTY CROP GRANTS
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is currently accepting grant proposals for its 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Specialty crops include fruits and nuts, vegetables, and horticulture and nursery crops. The state’s program supports research, development and marketing of specialty crops. The deadline for submitting proposals to NDA is March 1 at 5 p.m.
“Specialty crops add diversity and value to the state’s agriculture industry,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “We’re always looking for innovative projects and ideas to help specialty crop producers stay competitive and grow their businesses.”
NDA administers the state’s SCBGP, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For the 2017 SCBGP, NDA anticipates approximately $600,000 will be available to fund new projects. Producers, organizations and associations, as well as state and local agencies, educational groups and other specialty crops stakeholders are eligible to apply.
Sixteen specialty crop projects were funded in Nebraska last fall through the program for a total of $620,000.
This year’s proposals will be reviewed and scored using select criteria. Applicants who make it through the first round will be asked to submit additional information. NDA and USDA will announce the projects receiving funding in the fall.
Instructions for submitting a proposal, proposal applications, performance measures and program guidelines are available on NDA’s website at http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/scbgp/index.html. All proposals should be saved as a Microsoft Word .docx file and sent electronically to casey.foster@nebraska.gov by the March 1 deadline. For more information contact: Casey Foster at (402) 471-4876, or by the email listed above.
To view a comprehensive list of eligible specialty crops and examples of projects funded under the SCBGP, visit USDA’s website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp.
Smith Receives Awards from Nebraska Wheat Growers for Support of Agriculture
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) received the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association’s Person of the Year Award and the National Association of Wheat Growers’ Wheat Advocate Award today in recognition of his support of the wheat industry and U.S. agriculture.
“Nebraska producers deserve our gratitude for their tireless work, which has made the Third District the top-producing agriculture district in the country,” Congressman Smith said. “I thank the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association for these awards and look forward to many more opportunities to work together on issues vital to Nebraska agriculture. As chairman of the Modern Agriculture Caucus and a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I will continue to lead efforts to roll back onerous regulations, open more markets to producers, and promote innovation and science-based policies.”
“It is an honor to present Congressman Smith with our NWGA Person of the Year Award as well as the National Association of Wheat Growers’ Wheat Advocate Award,” said Nebraska Wheat Growers Association President Randon Peters. “We want to thank the Congressman for his continued efforts to support our state’s wheat farmers and agriculture. His advocacy on trade issues and regulatory challenges assures our farmers that he understands our industry and gives agriculture an ally in Washington, D.C.”
National Pork Board Launches The Taste of Now Campaign
The National Pork Board has launched its Taste of Now marketing campaign. The integrated marketing campaign, which also includes significant Spanish-language outreach (El Sabor de Hoy), creates consumer awareness of pork’s unmatched flavor and value making it the ideal protein on any occasion.
“Pork is trending and there has never been a better time to enjoy pork and make delicious dishes for family and friends,” said Jan Archer, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer from North Carolina. “That is the focus of this first national campaign of 2017. And we are teaming up with celebrity chefs and pork advocates with a simple message – When it comes to pork, there has never been a better time than now to make something delicious.”
Hispanic actor and TV personality Carlos Ponce will share the virtues of pork and bring the campaign to life. Additionally, five-time James Beard Award nominee Jose Mendin – who stars in a multimedia series featuring the loin, ham, ribs and tenderloin – has created 10 delicious, easy-to-prepare and budget-friendly recipes to inspire Latino consumers to indulge with pork.
“My many passions in life call for a fast-paced lifestyle. I always fall short with time but never to enjoy a great meal, and that is why I always choose pork daily as the main protagonist of my meals,” said Carlos Ponce. “Pork is quick and easy to stir up and keeps me in shape and feeling good for those everyday moments.”
The recipes, which include 30-second “how-to” videos, are on PorkTeInspira.com and other social media platforms. El Sabor de Hoy includes an 11-week radio and digital media buy in the top 10 Hispanic markets in the U.S. while The Taste of Now English-language campaign includes the top 10 African-American markets. Celebrity chef Richard Ingraham is sharing loin and rib recipes to the African American community through interviews and social media efforts.
The Hispanic marketing project includes a national sweepstakes that gives fans a chance to win a trip to Miami to attend the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Feb. 22-26.
The Taste of Now Pork Sweepstakes
In addition, from now through April 15, all U.S. consumers can be rewarded for something they are doing now more than ever before: enjoying pork. The #PorkNowSweeps offers consumers a chance to win daily prizes by sharing a photo of their pork dish on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #PorkNowSweeps.
To take part in the contest, pork lovers simply need to share a photo of the pork on their fork – or spoon, kebab, grill, plate or bowl – through social media. Everyone who enters will have the chance to win a $10 coupon good for a purchase of fresh pork, as well as other daily prizes totaling more than $10,000.
#PorkNowSweeps celebrates and highlights the many ways to enjoy pork. The Pork Checkoff wants to see how America is enjoying pork now, in the moment – whether it is a favorite pork chop recipe, a creative take on ham or the latest savory pork dish at a restaurant.
“While mealtime has always been about sharing and community, social media has changed the dynamic of that community and even the way we eat,” Archer said. “Now we can share our food experiences, photos and inspiration with others across America and even around the world.”
For sweepstake details or to enter, go to the Pork Be inspired Facebook page. Contest prizes range from pork-themed cookbooks to a catered, Houston-inspired spread for the big game, to new cooking tools. The sweepstakes continues through Easter and will be shared via celebrity pork fans and featured on Allrecipes.com.
Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production
Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 529 million bushels in December 2016, up 5 percent from December 2015. December 2016 usage included 91.8 percent for alcohol and 8.2 percent for other purposes. Corn total corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 2.60 million bushels, down 23 percent from November 2016 and down 8 percent from December 2015. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 477 million bushels, was up 6 percent from November 2016 and up 6 percent from December 2015. Corn consumed in December 2016 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 89.7 percent and 10.3 percent respectively.
Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 2.10 million tons during December 2016, up 5 percent from November 2016 and up 8 percent from December 2015. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.43 million tons in December 2016, up 12 percent from November 2016 and up 2 percent from December 2015.
Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 349 thousand tons during December 2016, up 13 percent from November 2016 and up 3 percent from December 2015. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 279 thousand tons in December 2016, down 15 percent from November 2016 and down 9 percent from December 2015.
Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.08 million tons (169 million bushels) in December 2016, compared to 5.12 million tons (171 million bushels) in November 2016 and 5.01 million tons (167 million bushels) in December 2015. Crude oil produced was 1.95 billion pounds down slightly from November 2016 but up 1 percent from December 2015. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.41 billion pounds during December 2016 decreased 2 percent from November 2016 but increased slightly from December 2015.
Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 179 thousand tons in December 2016, compared to 209 thousand tons in November 2016 and 166 thousand tons in December 2015. Canola crude oil produced was 150 million pounds down 16 percent from November 2016 but up 10 percent from December 2015. Canola once refined oil production at 117 million pounds during December 2016 was down 28 percent from November 2016 but up 22 percent from December 2015. Cottonseed once refined oil production at 51.5 million pounds during December 2016 was up 6 percent from November 2016 but down 5 percent from December 2015.
Edible tallow production was 75.6 million pounds during December 2016, down 8 percent from November 2016 and down 4 percent from December 2015. Inedible tallow production was 313 million pounds during December 2016, down 1 percent from November 2016 but up 9 percent from December 2015. Technical tallow production was 100 million pounds during December 2016, down 21 percent from November 2016 but up 6 percent from December 2015. Choice white grease production at 122 million pounds during December 2016 decreased 5 percent from November 2016 but increased 3 percent from December 2015.
Flour Milling Products
All wheat ground for flour during the fourth quarter 2016 was 236 million bushels, up 1 percent from the third quarter 2016 grind of 233 million bushels and up slightly from the fourth quarter 2015 grind of 236 million bushels. Fourth quarter 2016 total flour production was 110 million hundredweight, up 1 percent from the third quarter 2016 and up 1 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Whole wheat flour production at 5.68 million hundredweight during the fourth quarter 2016 accounted for 5 percent of the total flour production. Millfeed production from wheat in the fourth quarter 2016 was 1.68 million tons. The daily 24-hour milling capacity of wheat flour during the fourth quarter 2016 was 1.62 thousand hundredweight.
Durum wheat ground for flour and semolina production during the fourth quarter of 2016 totaled 18.5 million bushels, up 14 percent from the third quarter 2016 and up 6 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Fourth quarter 2016 durum flour and semolina production was 8.72 million hundredweight, up 13 percent from the third quarter 2016 and up 7 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Whole wheat durum flour and semolina production was 184 thousand hundredweight, up 2 percent from 181 thousand hundredweight in the third quarter 2016 but down 3 percent from 189 thousand hundredweight from the fourth quarter 2015. Fourth quarter durum wheat millfeed production was 125 thousand tons and the daily 24-hour milling capacity for durum and semolina production was 127 thousand hundredweight.
Rye ground for flour during the fourth quarter of 2016 was 445 thousand bushels, down 6 percent from the third quarter 2016 and down 19 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Rye flour production during the fourth quarter of 2016 was 217 thousand hundredweight, compared to 233 thousand hundredweight in the previous quarter and 261 thousand hundredweight in the same quarter for the previous year. The daily 24-hour milling capacity for rye milling was 9.39 thousand hundredweight for the fourth quarter 2016.
EIA: Ethanol Stocks at 9-Month High
Total ethanol stockpiles rose for the third straight week to a fresh nine-month high, while domestic plant production surged to a fresh record high during the week-ended Jan. 27, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday. EIA also showed greater ethanol demand for blending.
The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed domestic fuel ethanol inventories increased last week by another 100,000 barrels (bbl) to 21.9 million bbl, the highest level since the week-ended April 29, 2016 when stocks were at 22.201 million bbl. Supplies are down 500,000 bbl, or 2.2%, year-on-year.
Domestic plant production ramped up 10,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.0%, to 1.061 million bpd for the week-ended Jan. 27 while 101,000 bpd, or 10.5%, higher versus a year earlier. For the four weeks ended last week, ethanol production averaged 1.054 bpd, up 78,000 bpd, or 7.9%, from year prior.
Net refiner and blender inputs of ethanol, a measure of demand, rose 4,000 bpd to 837,000 bpd during the week-ended Jan. 27. Year over year, refiner and blender inputs are up 22,000 bpd, or 2.7%. The four-week average blending demand rate is down 7,000 bpd from year prior at 829,000 bpd.
Cattlemen’s College Opens Cattle Industry Annual Convention
Education is the focus for the first days of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, with more than 1,250 cattlemen and women on-hand for the 24th edition of Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health. The event has become the gold standard for educational seminars with more than 15 educational sessions focused on providing opportunities for participants to improve the profitability, productivity and ultimately the sustainability of their farms and ranches.
“The focus of Cattlemen’s College is to provide real-world solutions and ideas that participants can take home and apply to their operations. The information that panelists are providing at this year’s event will provide ideas that can be applied right away,” said Josh White, NCBA executive director of producer education. “We have an impressive array of speakers representing every segment of the beef community. With five different educational tracks, participants can focus on their specific areas of interest. From changing consumer attitudes to topics focused on succession planning and specific animal management information, each session was developed to help move our industry ahead.”
The Cattlemen’s College event began Tuesday afternoon with two sessions, “Turning Loss into Gain: Managing Risk to Improve Fertility,” featuring Alison Van Eenennaam, Ph.D., and Megan Rolf, Ph.D., who presented new research on cowherd fertility and its impact on profitability. A concurrent session featured Kent Andersen, Ph.D., who examined the use of genetic tools for building more productive cowherds and adding value to feeder and fed cattle.
This morning, Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs for JBS USA, spoke to a packed room about the changing consumer expectations for beef. He emphasized the need for every segment of the beef supply chain to better understand their customers to meet the needs of a changing industry. He also emphasized the significant challenges posed by competing proteins, an uncertain political environment and its impact on labor in the United States.
“Today, it’s very difficult to find someone to work in a packing plant,” said Bruett. “Much of our labor force is comprised of first-generation immigrants and they’re great people, but we still face significant turnover and unplanned absenteeism among our work force, and that makes it difficult to run a business. Ultimately, it makes it difficult to get our product out the door. That impacts the cattlemen and women who depend on the packers to supply beef to the consumers. The bottleneck in our industry isn’t in the number of animals any more. The bottleneck is a labor shortage in the plant, and it’s a major problem.”
Bruett, who has played key roles in the beef sustainability movement, also spent time defining beef sustainability and illustrating the importance and benefits of the industry’s path of continuous improvement.
“There are a lot of labels out there, but those labels aren’t about sustainability,” said Bruett. “Those labels are about a production practice, but sustainability is much more than any single production practice. In order to evaluate the sustainability of the product, the profitability, social and environmental aspects must be considered equally. Something may be good for the environment, but if it’s not also profitable, then it’s not sustainable.
“There’s a great deal of concern that there’s going to be a mandate about practices, but that’s not what sustainability is about; it’s about the end product. If that product is profitable, contributes to the social landscape and has positive environmental benefits, then it becomes sustainable,” Bruett said.
That message resonated with the 200-plus collegiate Cattlemen’s College participants in attendance at this year’s event.
“It’s encouraging to see so many college students in attendance,” said White. “These students represent the future of the beef industry and I’m proud that we’ve been able to put together an event that is providing them with information that they will be able to take forward and apply to their future careers. Ultimately, Cattlemen’s College is designed to benefit and improve our industry and I’m confident that these collegiate participants will help to create a bright future for our industry.”
Presentations from the 2017 Cattlemen’s College will be available online after Feb. 17. Cattlemen and women who were unable to attend the event in Nashville can take advantage of this online option at: www.beefusa.org.
120th Annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Kicks Off in Nashville
The 120th annual Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show got underway today, with more than 8,000 participants from across America and around the world gathering at Nashville’s iconic Gaylord Opryland Hotel through Saturday.
“The Convention and NCBA Trade Show is the beef industry’s largest gathering of the year, and it’s a great opportunity for everybody in the industry to network, set public policy for 2017, and learn about all the new technology and science that’s improving the quality and safety of American-produced beef every day,” said NCBA President Tracy Brunner. “Of course, we’ll manage to have a little fun in Music City, as well, so if you’re connected to the cattle industry in any way, it’s not too late to mosey on down and join us in Nashville this week.”
Cattlemen’s College, which is considered the premier educational resource for cattle producers, kicked off on Tuesday afternoon with educational sessions focused on genetics, health, and best business practices. The doors to the NCBA Trade Show opened on Wednesday afternoon, with 353 exhibitors showcasing the industry’s latest products and technology.
The Convention’s opening general session on Wednesday afternoon was emceed by country music superstar Josh Turner and keynoted by Dr. Beck Weathers. Dr. Weathers in 1996 barely survived one of the most violent and deadly storms ever to strike Mt. Everest, and he served as the inspiration for the major motion picture Everest.
"You learn a variety of things from an experience like this," said of his brush with death. "I am an entirely ordinary individual, and we are all cut from the same clay. If I can survive that which is unsurvivable, so can you."
Other highlights this week include the “Stars and Guitars” reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame, a keynote speech from former White House press secretary Dana Perino on Friday morning, and the “Cowboy’s Night at the Grand Ole Opry,” featuring host Josh Turner and country music stars Trace Atkins, Chris Janson, and the Gatlin Brothers.
The Convention will wrap up on Saturday morning with a meeting of NCBA’s Board of Directors, where official public policy positions will be set for the coming year.
“NCBA is first and foremost a grassroots organization, and we appreciate the thousands of our members who are taking the time to meet in Nashville and set our industry’s direction for another year,” Brunner said.
NCBA’s Stockmanship and Stewardship Partners with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
Thanks to one of the country’s leading animal health companies, a successful program that helps cattlemen become better animal handlers will reach new heights in 2017. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is growing and enhancing the already successful Stockmanship and Stewardship program with support from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Beginning this year, Stockmanship and Stewardship will be increasing the number and scope of events that are held across the country to reach cattlemen in all corners of the United States.
Cattle producers will notice a renewed focus and increased effort around the hands-on cattle handling demonstrations. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn through new opportunities and redesigned educational events that can improve their bottom line.
“We are proud to support NCBA on this important educational program,” said Steve Boren, executive director of the U.S. cattle business for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. “We’re passionate about animal well-being and helping protect the future of the cattle industry. Using animal health products correctly and judiciously is part of that solution, and we believe the education producers receive at these events will be very valuable.”
The Stockmanship and Stewardship program will be led by clinicians Curt Pate and Ron Gill, who have hosted educational events at past NCBA Trade Shows in the Trade Show Demonstration Arena. Pate has been conducting demonstrations and clinics for more than a decade and will continue to entertain and educate audiences with his personal stories and innovative mindset. Gill is a renowned stockman and animal scientist for Texas Agrilife Extension who captivates the attention of cattlemen with his credibility as a rancher and ability to relate to his audience.
While local events will still be offered, the enhanced Stockmanship and Stewardship program will be featuring new multi-day events that are sure to attract cattlemen and women from a larger region at a central location. These new events will include a suite of educational opportunities for cattle producers, including sessions with local extension representatives, industry leaders, and government agencies.
“With a variety of new opportunities for cattlemen and women,” said Chase DeCoite, associate director of Beef Quality Assurance for NCBA, “the Stockmanship and Stewardship program is making its way as a ‘must attend’ venue. It will serve as a location to learn from the best in the cattle industry, as well as providing networking opportunities for attendees with fellow producers that are applying these innovative strategies on their own operations.”
For more information and to find an event near you visit, www.StockmanshipandStewardship.org.
UAN Fertilizer Prices Spike Higher
Retail fertilizer prices showed mixed moves again the fourth week of January 2017, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. However, some fertilizers are showing significant price increases for the first time this winter.
Six of the eight major fertilizers were higher, though only two were higher by any substantial amount. UAN28 was 8% higher compared to a month earlier while UAN32 was 5% more expensive. UAN28 had an average price of $235 per ton while UAN32 was at $268/ton.
Four fertilizers were slightly higher priced, but not by a significant amount. MAP had an average price of $443/ton, potash $322/ton, urea $347/ton and anhydrous $480/ton.
Two fertilizers were slightly lower, but again, these moves to the low side were not that noteworthy. DAP had an average price of $429/ton and 10-34-0 $436/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.29/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.42/lb.N.
Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers but one are now double digits lower.
The one fertilizer no longer down double digits is urea, which is now down 9%. Both DAP and UAN28 are now 13% less expensive while MAP is 14% lower. Both anhydrous and UAN32 are 16% lower, potash is 18% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 24% lower compared to a year prior.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2017
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for February 2017. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for February is 0.875 percent, unchanged from 0.875 percent in January.
The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during February is 1.875 percent, unchanged from 1.875 percent in January.
Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for February are as follows, 1.500 percent with three-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.500 percent in January; 2.000 percent with five-year loan terms, up from 1.875 percent in January; 2.250 percent with seven-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.250 percent in January; 2.500 percent with 10-year loan terms, up from 2.375 percent in January and; 2.500 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.500 percent in January.
Animal Agriculture Alliance celebrates 30th anniversary
The Animal Agriculture Alliance, an industry-united nonprofit organization working to bridge the communication gap between farm and fork, is proud to be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017. The Alliance released a short video highlighting its accomplishments: http://bit.ly/2ksiETQ.
The Alliance was launched in 1987 to serve as a unified voice on behalf of animal agriculture. Over the past three decades, the Alliance has helped the industry to anticipate and respond to campaigns from anti-animal agriculture groups across the U.S. and engage with a public that is increasingly disconnected from production agriculture. Many things have changed since the Alliance was founded – household adoption of the Internet and the emergence of social media for example – but the organization’s passion and commitment to securing the future of animal agriculture remains steadfast.
Since the Alliance was founded…
- Its membership has grown from fewer than ten founding organizations to nearly 300 current members, sponsors and donors. Two members – the American Feed Industry Association and American Farm Bureau Federation – have been part of the Alliance for all 30 years!
- It went from not having a website to maintaining a presence on six social media platforms reaching over half a million people weekly.
- The annual Stakeholders Summit developed from a gathering of 100 industry professionals in 2002 to a can’t-miss event in animal agriculture, attracting a record 250 attendees in 2016.
“The Alliance has grown not only in numbers of members and staff but also in its understanding of strategies used by activists and its own tactics to ensure agriculture’s voice is a key part of the conversations,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “We have become more adept at identifying threats, developing proactive responses and coordinating diverse interests to provide a strong, unified voice for agriculture.”
The Alliance will be celebrating its diamond anniversary throughout the year. You can help commemorate the achievement by taking part in the following activities:
- Social media: On Instagram and Twitter, follow the hashtag #AllianceTurns30 for weekly looks at Alliance history – you are invited to share your own memories using the tag. Alliance members will also be taking over the organization’s Snapchat account (username: animalag) and longtime members will be highlighted on social media throughout the year.
- Editorial content: The Alliance recently published a blog post chronicling its first three decades. Companies, organizations and media outlets are invited to use all or portions of the blog in any publications: https://animalagengage.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/celebrating-30-years-of-bridging-the-gap-between-farm-and-fork/.
- Membership Drive: The Alliance is holding a membership drive during the month of March to bring on 30 new members in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Members who join as part of the 30 for 30th drive will receive recognition at the 2017 Stakeholders Summit, in addition to the benefits of Alliance membership. Membership begins at $500. Interested individuals and companies can learn more at www.animalagalliance.org/join.
- 2017 Summit: The milestone will be celebrated at the 2017 Stakeholders Summit, set for May 3-4, 2017 in Kansas City, Mo. The Alliance hopes to mark its 30th year by hosting the biggest and best Summit yet. Register today to be a part of the occasion: www.animalagalliance.org/summit.
The Alliance hopes you will join in its 30th anniversary festivities and looks forward to the next three decades and beyond of serving animal agriculture.
U.S. Senator Ben Sasse released the following statement after meeting with President Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture nominee, former Governor Sonny Perdue. Senator Sasse and USDA Secretary nominee Perdue were joined by Nebraska agriculture leaders, including Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson, Nebraska Cattlemen President Troy Stowater, and Nebraska Sugarbeet Growers President Kendall Busch.
“It’s good to introduce the next Secretary of Agriculture to some of the Nebraskans whose sweat and long hours make us the world’s breadbasket,” said Sasse. “This was a productive conversation with USDA Secretary nominee Perdue. We talked about the unique interests of Midwest agriculture, the importance of trade and export markets, and Nebraska’s role in feeding a growing world.”
“I want to thank Senator Sasse for his leadership and work to bring Nebraskans to the table with Governor Perdue,” said Nelson. “We care about trade because we have to expand new markets and opportunities for Nebraska agricultural products. I’m glad we were able to share Nebraska’s unique challenges and opportunities with the President’s nominee for secretary of agriculture."
“A huge thank you to Senator Sasse for the work he does for agriculture in our state," said Stowater. "Nebraska Cattlemen strongly supports the nomination of Sonny Perdue to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Governor Perdue understands that trade is vital to the future of the U.S. beef industry. We look forward to helping him expand opportunities for Nebraska’s beef exports with our global trading partners, and we appreciate his steadfast support for our nation’s livestock producers.”
“I would like to thank Senator Sasse for his support and leadership,” said Busch. “The sugarbeet growers in western Nebraska are facing trying times. It is important that Senator Sasse and USDA Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue understand the importance of trade and the need to fix the suspension agreements between the U.S. and Mexico. Our growers support a strong farm policy as negotiations being on a new farm bill and look forward to work together with the Secretary.”
NEBRASKA LEAD FELLOWS TRAVEL TO CHINA, LAOS, THAILAND
Thirty Nebraska LEAD fellows recently returned from an international study and travel seminar to China, Laos and Thailand.
During the two-week January seminar, the 35th group of fellows participated in briefings with U.S. Embassy officials in Beijing, China, and Bangkok, Thailand. Sessions included presentations by Mark Ford, director of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office in Beijing; and Christine Sloop, counselor, and Paul Welcher, agricultural attaché with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in Bangkok.
“Our international study is designed to provide first-hand appreciation and understanding of our international community and the potential for people of all nations to work together,” said Terry Hejny, Nebraska LEAD Program director and group leader.
The LEAD 35 fellows visited international businesses, farm operations and entrepreneurs. Additionally, they were able to meet with officials at the Shanghai SUS Environment Co., which focuses on environmental protection, garbage/sewage disposal and bioenergy production; the COPE Center in Vientiane, Laos, which provides support to survivors of unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War; and the Agriculture and Forestry Office and the Northern Agriculture and Forestry College near Luang Prabang, Laos.
“The people-to-people encounters provided the members of Nebraska LEAD Group 35 an opportunity to view characteristics, conditions and trends in China, Laos, and Thailand, and determine relationships to issues and situations in our country,” Hejny said. “Through this experience, participants develop techniques in identifying comparisons and contrasts of the countries we recently studied in areas such as agriculture, politics, economics, energy, religion, culture and history as well as technology, trade, food, art and philosophy.”
Fellows are Chris Armstrong, North Bend; Blake Bierman, Arnold; Jon Brabec, Wahoo; Drew Cramer, Cambridge; Seth Davison, Lincoln; Brenda Dutcher, Humboldt; Kim Eberly, Aurora; Linda Emanuel, North Bend; Josh Frizzell, Kearney; Cale Giese, Wayne; Nick Hatz, Omaha; Tim Higgins, Crete; Leander Hopkins, Bayard; Andy Jobman, Gothenburg; Jana Jobman, Gothenburg; Lloyd Johnson, Broken Bow; Jason Kloepping, Bartley; Sam Krueger, Blue Hill; Nate Lehmann, Gibbon; Raymond Morse, Norfolk; Steve Niewohner, Snyder; Jordan Nun, Lincoln; Logan Pribbeno, Imperial; Gerry Sheets, Sargent; Clint Shipman, Red Cloud; Curtis Stallbaumer, Oconto; Sye Tecker, Parks; Melissa Wheeler, Alvo; Matt Wiegand, Lincoln; and Tracy Zink, Indianola.
The Nebraska LEAD Program is for individuals active in production agriculture and agribusiness. It is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, in cooperation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
For more information, or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 37, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program, 104 Agricultural Communications Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 68583-0763, call 402-472-6810 or email the Nebraska LEAD Program at leadprogram@unl.edu. The application deadline is June 15.
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE
Nebraska women will learn how to plan and make better business decisions for farms, ranches, communities, families and themselves at the 32nd Women in Agriculture Conference, Feb. 23-24 at the Kearney Holiday Inn Conference Center, 110 S. Second Ave. in Kearney.
The Women in Agriculture Conference is one of the longest-running women’s conferences of its kind in the country. The theme of the 2017 conference is "Women in Agriculture: The Heart of the Farm," and features a variety of workshops and speakers.
Conference keynote speaker Ron Hanson, emeritus professor of agricultural economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will discuss "Continuing the Nebraska Legacy of Family Farming and Ranching" on Feb. 23. The talk will explore the importance and urgency of developing and implementing a succession plan for family farm and ranch operations. The talk is sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America.
Amanda Freund of East Canann, CT, is the capstone speaker on Feb. 24. Her talk, "Connected Across the Generations -- Women in Agriculture," will focus on how to encourage women to be part of the agriculture industry. Also, Valerie Bayes of Monsanto will discuss the reasons to be an "Ag Advocate."
Five concurrent sessions will be held, offering participants more than 30 workshops to choose from. Session topics include: crop insurance, commodity and global marketing, Quicken bookkeeping, cash flow and cost control, farmland values, lease provisions herbicide resistance, and beef genetics.
Sessions on the evening of Feb. 23 will include time for networking, exercise and home redesign.
Booth exhibitors will offer information that may also be useful in farm/ranch operation.
Registration is available online at http://wia.unl.edu or by sending a completed form with a check to UNL Agricultural Economics, 303 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0922. For more information about the Women in Agriculture conference, including a registration book, go to http://wia.unl.edu.
Early registration, due by Feb. 13, is $125. Registration after Feb. 13 is $150. Fees include all workshop materials, registration, meals and breaks.
Lodging is available by calling the Kearney Holiday Inn at 308-237-5971.
Conference sponsors include the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nebraska Extension and the Department of Agricultural Economics as well as Farm Credit Services of America, Monsanto, Reinke Irrigation, and Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation and Foundation.
NDA SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR SPECIALTY CROP GRANTS
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is currently accepting grant proposals for its 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Specialty crops include fruits and nuts, vegetables, and horticulture and nursery crops. The state’s program supports research, development and marketing of specialty crops. The deadline for submitting proposals to NDA is March 1 at 5 p.m.
“Specialty crops add diversity and value to the state’s agriculture industry,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “We’re always looking for innovative projects and ideas to help specialty crop producers stay competitive and grow their businesses.”
NDA administers the state’s SCBGP, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For the 2017 SCBGP, NDA anticipates approximately $600,000 will be available to fund new projects. Producers, organizations and associations, as well as state and local agencies, educational groups and other specialty crops stakeholders are eligible to apply.
Sixteen specialty crop projects were funded in Nebraska last fall through the program for a total of $620,000.
This year’s proposals will be reviewed and scored using select criteria. Applicants who make it through the first round will be asked to submit additional information. NDA and USDA will announce the projects receiving funding in the fall.
Instructions for submitting a proposal, proposal applications, performance measures and program guidelines are available on NDA’s website at http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/scbgp/index.html. All proposals should be saved as a Microsoft Word .docx file and sent electronically to casey.foster@nebraska.gov by the March 1 deadline. For more information contact: Casey Foster at (402) 471-4876, or by the email listed above.
To view a comprehensive list of eligible specialty crops and examples of projects funded under the SCBGP, visit USDA’s website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp.
Smith Receives Awards from Nebraska Wheat Growers for Support of Agriculture
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) received the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association’s Person of the Year Award and the National Association of Wheat Growers’ Wheat Advocate Award today in recognition of his support of the wheat industry and U.S. agriculture.
“Nebraska producers deserve our gratitude for their tireless work, which has made the Third District the top-producing agriculture district in the country,” Congressman Smith said. “I thank the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association for these awards and look forward to many more opportunities to work together on issues vital to Nebraska agriculture. As chairman of the Modern Agriculture Caucus and a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I will continue to lead efforts to roll back onerous regulations, open more markets to producers, and promote innovation and science-based policies.”
“It is an honor to present Congressman Smith with our NWGA Person of the Year Award as well as the National Association of Wheat Growers’ Wheat Advocate Award,” said Nebraska Wheat Growers Association President Randon Peters. “We want to thank the Congressman for his continued efforts to support our state’s wheat farmers and agriculture. His advocacy on trade issues and regulatory challenges assures our farmers that he understands our industry and gives agriculture an ally in Washington, D.C.”
National Pork Board Launches The Taste of Now Campaign
The National Pork Board has launched its Taste of Now marketing campaign. The integrated marketing campaign, which also includes significant Spanish-language outreach (El Sabor de Hoy), creates consumer awareness of pork’s unmatched flavor and value making it the ideal protein on any occasion.
“Pork is trending and there has never been a better time to enjoy pork and make delicious dishes for family and friends,” said Jan Archer, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer from North Carolina. “That is the focus of this first national campaign of 2017. And we are teaming up with celebrity chefs and pork advocates with a simple message – When it comes to pork, there has never been a better time than now to make something delicious.”
Hispanic actor and TV personality Carlos Ponce will share the virtues of pork and bring the campaign to life. Additionally, five-time James Beard Award nominee Jose Mendin – who stars in a multimedia series featuring the loin, ham, ribs and tenderloin – has created 10 delicious, easy-to-prepare and budget-friendly recipes to inspire Latino consumers to indulge with pork.
“My many passions in life call for a fast-paced lifestyle. I always fall short with time but never to enjoy a great meal, and that is why I always choose pork daily as the main protagonist of my meals,” said Carlos Ponce. “Pork is quick and easy to stir up and keeps me in shape and feeling good for those everyday moments.”
The recipes, which include 30-second “how-to” videos, are on PorkTeInspira.com and other social media platforms. El Sabor de Hoy includes an 11-week radio and digital media buy in the top 10 Hispanic markets in the U.S. while The Taste of Now English-language campaign includes the top 10 African-American markets. Celebrity chef Richard Ingraham is sharing loin and rib recipes to the African American community through interviews and social media efforts.
The Hispanic marketing project includes a national sweepstakes that gives fans a chance to win a trip to Miami to attend the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Feb. 22-26.
The Taste of Now Pork Sweepstakes
In addition, from now through April 15, all U.S. consumers can be rewarded for something they are doing now more than ever before: enjoying pork. The #PorkNowSweeps offers consumers a chance to win daily prizes by sharing a photo of their pork dish on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #PorkNowSweeps.
To take part in the contest, pork lovers simply need to share a photo of the pork on their fork – or spoon, kebab, grill, plate or bowl – through social media. Everyone who enters will have the chance to win a $10 coupon good for a purchase of fresh pork, as well as other daily prizes totaling more than $10,000.
#PorkNowSweeps celebrates and highlights the many ways to enjoy pork. The Pork Checkoff wants to see how America is enjoying pork now, in the moment – whether it is a favorite pork chop recipe, a creative take on ham or the latest savory pork dish at a restaurant.
“While mealtime has always been about sharing and community, social media has changed the dynamic of that community and even the way we eat,” Archer said. “Now we can share our food experiences, photos and inspiration with others across America and even around the world.”
For sweepstake details or to enter, go to the Pork Be inspired Facebook page. Contest prizes range from pork-themed cookbooks to a catered, Houston-inspired spread for the big game, to new cooking tools. The sweepstakes continues through Easter and will be shared via celebrity pork fans and featured on Allrecipes.com.
Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production
Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 529 million bushels in December 2016, up 5 percent from December 2015. December 2016 usage included 91.8 percent for alcohol and 8.2 percent for other purposes. Corn total corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 2.60 million bushels, down 23 percent from November 2016 and down 8 percent from December 2015. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 477 million bushels, was up 6 percent from November 2016 and up 6 percent from December 2015. Corn consumed in December 2016 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 89.7 percent and 10.3 percent respectively.
Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 2.10 million tons during December 2016, up 5 percent from November 2016 and up 8 percent from December 2015. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.43 million tons in December 2016, up 12 percent from November 2016 and up 2 percent from December 2015.
Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 349 thousand tons during December 2016, up 13 percent from November 2016 and up 3 percent from December 2015. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 279 thousand tons in December 2016, down 15 percent from November 2016 and down 9 percent from December 2015.
Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.08 million tons (169 million bushels) in December 2016, compared to 5.12 million tons (171 million bushels) in November 2016 and 5.01 million tons (167 million bushels) in December 2015. Crude oil produced was 1.95 billion pounds down slightly from November 2016 but up 1 percent from December 2015. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.41 billion pounds during December 2016 decreased 2 percent from November 2016 but increased slightly from December 2015.
Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 179 thousand tons in December 2016, compared to 209 thousand tons in November 2016 and 166 thousand tons in December 2015. Canola crude oil produced was 150 million pounds down 16 percent from November 2016 but up 10 percent from December 2015. Canola once refined oil production at 117 million pounds during December 2016 was down 28 percent from November 2016 but up 22 percent from December 2015. Cottonseed once refined oil production at 51.5 million pounds during December 2016 was up 6 percent from November 2016 but down 5 percent from December 2015.
Edible tallow production was 75.6 million pounds during December 2016, down 8 percent from November 2016 and down 4 percent from December 2015. Inedible tallow production was 313 million pounds during December 2016, down 1 percent from November 2016 but up 9 percent from December 2015. Technical tallow production was 100 million pounds during December 2016, down 21 percent from November 2016 but up 6 percent from December 2015. Choice white grease production at 122 million pounds during December 2016 decreased 5 percent from November 2016 but increased 3 percent from December 2015.
Flour Milling Products
All wheat ground for flour during the fourth quarter 2016 was 236 million bushels, up 1 percent from the third quarter 2016 grind of 233 million bushels and up slightly from the fourth quarter 2015 grind of 236 million bushels. Fourth quarter 2016 total flour production was 110 million hundredweight, up 1 percent from the third quarter 2016 and up 1 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Whole wheat flour production at 5.68 million hundredweight during the fourth quarter 2016 accounted for 5 percent of the total flour production. Millfeed production from wheat in the fourth quarter 2016 was 1.68 million tons. The daily 24-hour milling capacity of wheat flour during the fourth quarter 2016 was 1.62 thousand hundredweight.
Durum wheat ground for flour and semolina production during the fourth quarter of 2016 totaled 18.5 million bushels, up 14 percent from the third quarter 2016 and up 6 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Fourth quarter 2016 durum flour and semolina production was 8.72 million hundredweight, up 13 percent from the third quarter 2016 and up 7 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Whole wheat durum flour and semolina production was 184 thousand hundredweight, up 2 percent from 181 thousand hundredweight in the third quarter 2016 but down 3 percent from 189 thousand hundredweight from the fourth quarter 2015. Fourth quarter durum wheat millfeed production was 125 thousand tons and the daily 24-hour milling capacity for durum and semolina production was 127 thousand hundredweight.
Rye ground for flour during the fourth quarter of 2016 was 445 thousand bushels, down 6 percent from the third quarter 2016 and down 19 percent from the fourth quarter 2015. Rye flour production during the fourth quarter of 2016 was 217 thousand hundredweight, compared to 233 thousand hundredweight in the previous quarter and 261 thousand hundredweight in the same quarter for the previous year. The daily 24-hour milling capacity for rye milling was 9.39 thousand hundredweight for the fourth quarter 2016.
EIA: Ethanol Stocks at 9-Month High
Total ethanol stockpiles rose for the third straight week to a fresh nine-month high, while domestic plant production surged to a fresh record high during the week-ended Jan. 27, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday. EIA also showed greater ethanol demand for blending.
The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed domestic fuel ethanol inventories increased last week by another 100,000 barrels (bbl) to 21.9 million bbl, the highest level since the week-ended April 29, 2016 when stocks were at 22.201 million bbl. Supplies are down 500,000 bbl, or 2.2%, year-on-year.
Domestic plant production ramped up 10,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.0%, to 1.061 million bpd for the week-ended Jan. 27 while 101,000 bpd, or 10.5%, higher versus a year earlier. For the four weeks ended last week, ethanol production averaged 1.054 bpd, up 78,000 bpd, or 7.9%, from year prior.
Net refiner and blender inputs of ethanol, a measure of demand, rose 4,000 bpd to 837,000 bpd during the week-ended Jan. 27. Year over year, refiner and blender inputs are up 22,000 bpd, or 2.7%. The four-week average blending demand rate is down 7,000 bpd from year prior at 829,000 bpd.
Cattlemen’s College Opens Cattle Industry Annual Convention
Education is the focus for the first days of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, with more than 1,250 cattlemen and women on-hand for the 24th edition of Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health. The event has become the gold standard for educational seminars with more than 15 educational sessions focused on providing opportunities for participants to improve the profitability, productivity and ultimately the sustainability of their farms and ranches.
“The focus of Cattlemen’s College is to provide real-world solutions and ideas that participants can take home and apply to their operations. The information that panelists are providing at this year’s event will provide ideas that can be applied right away,” said Josh White, NCBA executive director of producer education. “We have an impressive array of speakers representing every segment of the beef community. With five different educational tracks, participants can focus on their specific areas of interest. From changing consumer attitudes to topics focused on succession planning and specific animal management information, each session was developed to help move our industry ahead.”
The Cattlemen’s College event began Tuesday afternoon with two sessions, “Turning Loss into Gain: Managing Risk to Improve Fertility,” featuring Alison Van Eenennaam, Ph.D., and Megan Rolf, Ph.D., who presented new research on cowherd fertility and its impact on profitability. A concurrent session featured Kent Andersen, Ph.D., who examined the use of genetic tools for building more productive cowherds and adding value to feeder and fed cattle.
This morning, Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs for JBS USA, spoke to a packed room about the changing consumer expectations for beef. He emphasized the need for every segment of the beef supply chain to better understand their customers to meet the needs of a changing industry. He also emphasized the significant challenges posed by competing proteins, an uncertain political environment and its impact on labor in the United States.
“Today, it’s very difficult to find someone to work in a packing plant,” said Bruett. “Much of our labor force is comprised of first-generation immigrants and they’re great people, but we still face significant turnover and unplanned absenteeism among our work force, and that makes it difficult to run a business. Ultimately, it makes it difficult to get our product out the door. That impacts the cattlemen and women who depend on the packers to supply beef to the consumers. The bottleneck in our industry isn’t in the number of animals any more. The bottleneck is a labor shortage in the plant, and it’s a major problem.”
Bruett, who has played key roles in the beef sustainability movement, also spent time defining beef sustainability and illustrating the importance and benefits of the industry’s path of continuous improvement.
“There are a lot of labels out there, but those labels aren’t about sustainability,” said Bruett. “Those labels are about a production practice, but sustainability is much more than any single production practice. In order to evaluate the sustainability of the product, the profitability, social and environmental aspects must be considered equally. Something may be good for the environment, but if it’s not also profitable, then it’s not sustainable.
“There’s a great deal of concern that there’s going to be a mandate about practices, but that’s not what sustainability is about; it’s about the end product. If that product is profitable, contributes to the social landscape and has positive environmental benefits, then it becomes sustainable,” Bruett said.
That message resonated with the 200-plus collegiate Cattlemen’s College participants in attendance at this year’s event.
“It’s encouraging to see so many college students in attendance,” said White. “These students represent the future of the beef industry and I’m proud that we’ve been able to put together an event that is providing them with information that they will be able to take forward and apply to their future careers. Ultimately, Cattlemen’s College is designed to benefit and improve our industry and I’m confident that these collegiate participants will help to create a bright future for our industry.”
Presentations from the 2017 Cattlemen’s College will be available online after Feb. 17. Cattlemen and women who were unable to attend the event in Nashville can take advantage of this online option at: www.beefusa.org.
120th Annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Kicks Off in Nashville
The 120th annual Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show got underway today, with more than 8,000 participants from across America and around the world gathering at Nashville’s iconic Gaylord Opryland Hotel through Saturday.
“The Convention and NCBA Trade Show is the beef industry’s largest gathering of the year, and it’s a great opportunity for everybody in the industry to network, set public policy for 2017, and learn about all the new technology and science that’s improving the quality and safety of American-produced beef every day,” said NCBA President Tracy Brunner. “Of course, we’ll manage to have a little fun in Music City, as well, so if you’re connected to the cattle industry in any way, it’s not too late to mosey on down and join us in Nashville this week.”
Cattlemen’s College, which is considered the premier educational resource for cattle producers, kicked off on Tuesday afternoon with educational sessions focused on genetics, health, and best business practices. The doors to the NCBA Trade Show opened on Wednesday afternoon, with 353 exhibitors showcasing the industry’s latest products and technology.
The Convention’s opening general session on Wednesday afternoon was emceed by country music superstar Josh Turner and keynoted by Dr. Beck Weathers. Dr. Weathers in 1996 barely survived one of the most violent and deadly storms ever to strike Mt. Everest, and he served as the inspiration for the major motion picture Everest.
"You learn a variety of things from an experience like this," said of his brush with death. "I am an entirely ordinary individual, and we are all cut from the same clay. If I can survive that which is unsurvivable, so can you."
Other highlights this week include the “Stars and Guitars” reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame, a keynote speech from former White House press secretary Dana Perino on Friday morning, and the “Cowboy’s Night at the Grand Ole Opry,” featuring host Josh Turner and country music stars Trace Atkins, Chris Janson, and the Gatlin Brothers.
The Convention will wrap up on Saturday morning with a meeting of NCBA’s Board of Directors, where official public policy positions will be set for the coming year.
“NCBA is first and foremost a grassroots organization, and we appreciate the thousands of our members who are taking the time to meet in Nashville and set our industry’s direction for another year,” Brunner said.
NCBA’s Stockmanship and Stewardship Partners with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
Thanks to one of the country’s leading animal health companies, a successful program that helps cattlemen become better animal handlers will reach new heights in 2017. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is growing and enhancing the already successful Stockmanship and Stewardship program with support from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Beginning this year, Stockmanship and Stewardship will be increasing the number and scope of events that are held across the country to reach cattlemen in all corners of the United States.
Cattle producers will notice a renewed focus and increased effort around the hands-on cattle handling demonstrations. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn through new opportunities and redesigned educational events that can improve their bottom line.
“We are proud to support NCBA on this important educational program,” said Steve Boren, executive director of the U.S. cattle business for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. “We’re passionate about animal well-being and helping protect the future of the cattle industry. Using animal health products correctly and judiciously is part of that solution, and we believe the education producers receive at these events will be very valuable.”
The Stockmanship and Stewardship program will be led by clinicians Curt Pate and Ron Gill, who have hosted educational events at past NCBA Trade Shows in the Trade Show Demonstration Arena. Pate has been conducting demonstrations and clinics for more than a decade and will continue to entertain and educate audiences with his personal stories and innovative mindset. Gill is a renowned stockman and animal scientist for Texas Agrilife Extension who captivates the attention of cattlemen with his credibility as a rancher and ability to relate to his audience.
While local events will still be offered, the enhanced Stockmanship and Stewardship program will be featuring new multi-day events that are sure to attract cattlemen and women from a larger region at a central location. These new events will include a suite of educational opportunities for cattle producers, including sessions with local extension representatives, industry leaders, and government agencies.
“With a variety of new opportunities for cattlemen and women,” said Chase DeCoite, associate director of Beef Quality Assurance for NCBA, “the Stockmanship and Stewardship program is making its way as a ‘must attend’ venue. It will serve as a location to learn from the best in the cattle industry, as well as providing networking opportunities for attendees with fellow producers that are applying these innovative strategies on their own operations.”
For more information and to find an event near you visit, www.StockmanshipandStewardship.org.
UAN Fertilizer Prices Spike Higher
Retail fertilizer prices showed mixed moves again the fourth week of January 2017, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. However, some fertilizers are showing significant price increases for the first time this winter.
Six of the eight major fertilizers were higher, though only two were higher by any substantial amount. UAN28 was 8% higher compared to a month earlier while UAN32 was 5% more expensive. UAN28 had an average price of $235 per ton while UAN32 was at $268/ton.
Four fertilizers were slightly higher priced, but not by a significant amount. MAP had an average price of $443/ton, potash $322/ton, urea $347/ton and anhydrous $480/ton.
Two fertilizers were slightly lower, but again, these moves to the low side were not that noteworthy. DAP had an average price of $429/ton and 10-34-0 $436/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.29/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.42/lb.N.
Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers but one are now double digits lower.
The one fertilizer no longer down double digits is urea, which is now down 9%. Both DAP and UAN28 are now 13% less expensive while MAP is 14% lower. Both anhydrous and UAN32 are 16% lower, potash is 18% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 24% lower compared to a year prior.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2017
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for February 2017. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for February is 0.875 percent, unchanged from 0.875 percent in January.
The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during February is 1.875 percent, unchanged from 1.875 percent in January.
Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for February are as follows, 1.500 percent with three-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.500 percent in January; 2.000 percent with five-year loan terms, up from 1.875 percent in January; 2.250 percent with seven-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.250 percent in January; 2.500 percent with 10-year loan terms, up from 2.375 percent in January and; 2.500 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.500 percent in January.
Animal Agriculture Alliance celebrates 30th anniversary
The Animal Agriculture Alliance, an industry-united nonprofit organization working to bridge the communication gap between farm and fork, is proud to be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017. The Alliance released a short video highlighting its accomplishments: http://bit.ly/2ksiETQ.
The Alliance was launched in 1987 to serve as a unified voice on behalf of animal agriculture. Over the past three decades, the Alliance has helped the industry to anticipate and respond to campaigns from anti-animal agriculture groups across the U.S. and engage with a public that is increasingly disconnected from production agriculture. Many things have changed since the Alliance was founded – household adoption of the Internet and the emergence of social media for example – but the organization’s passion and commitment to securing the future of animal agriculture remains steadfast.
Since the Alliance was founded…
- Its membership has grown from fewer than ten founding organizations to nearly 300 current members, sponsors and donors. Two members – the American Feed Industry Association and American Farm Bureau Federation – have been part of the Alliance for all 30 years!
- It went from not having a website to maintaining a presence on six social media platforms reaching over half a million people weekly.
- The annual Stakeholders Summit developed from a gathering of 100 industry professionals in 2002 to a can’t-miss event in animal agriculture, attracting a record 250 attendees in 2016.
“The Alliance has grown not only in numbers of members and staff but also in its understanding of strategies used by activists and its own tactics to ensure agriculture’s voice is a key part of the conversations,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “We have become more adept at identifying threats, developing proactive responses and coordinating diverse interests to provide a strong, unified voice for agriculture.”
The Alliance will be celebrating its diamond anniversary throughout the year. You can help commemorate the achievement by taking part in the following activities:
- Social media: On Instagram and Twitter, follow the hashtag #AllianceTurns30 for weekly looks at Alliance history – you are invited to share your own memories using the tag. Alliance members will also be taking over the organization’s Snapchat account (username: animalag) and longtime members will be highlighted on social media throughout the year.
- Editorial content: The Alliance recently published a blog post chronicling its first three decades. Companies, organizations and media outlets are invited to use all or portions of the blog in any publications: https://animalagengage.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/celebrating-30-years-of-bridging-the-gap-between-farm-and-fork/.
- Membership Drive: The Alliance is holding a membership drive during the month of March to bring on 30 new members in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Members who join as part of the 30 for 30th drive will receive recognition at the 2017 Stakeholders Summit, in addition to the benefits of Alliance membership. Membership begins at $500. Interested individuals and companies can learn more at www.animalagalliance.org/join.
- 2017 Summit: The milestone will be celebrated at the 2017 Stakeholders Summit, set for May 3-4, 2017 in Kansas City, Mo. The Alliance hopes to mark its 30th year by hosting the biggest and best Summit yet. Register today to be a part of the occasion: www.animalagalliance.org/summit.
The Alliance hopes you will join in its 30th anniversary festivities and looks forward to the next three decades and beyond of serving animal agriculture.
Tuesday January 31 Ag News
NEBRASKA JANUARY 1 CATTLE INVENTORY
All cattle and calves in Nebraska as of January 1, 2017 totaled 6.45 million head, unchanged from January 1, 2016, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
All cows and heifers that had calved totaled 1.98 million head, up 4 percent from last year.
Beef cows totaled 1.92 million head, up 4 percent from last year.
Milk cows totaled 60,000 head, up 3 percent from January 1, 2016.
All heifers 500 pounds and over totaled 1.78 million head, down 1 percent from last year.
Steers weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 2.29 million head, down 2 percent from last year.
Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 110,000 head, up 16 percent from last year.
Calves under 500 pounds totaled 290,000 head, down 8 percent from January 1, 2016.
All cattle on feed fed for slaughter in Nebraska feedlots totaled 2.47 million head, down 2 percent from the previous year.
The 2016 calf crop totaled 1.70 million head, up 3 percent from 2015.
Iowa Cattle and Calves Report
All cattle and calves in Iowa as of January 1, 2017, totaled 3.85 million head, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle report. This was down 100,000 head from January 1, 2016. Beef cows, at 965,000 head, were 3 percent above last year. Milk cow inventory was up 5,000 head to 215,000 head.
All heifers 500 pounds and over were down 10 percent to 830,000 head. Heifers for beef cow replacement were down 3 percent from 2016 to 185,000 head; heifers for milk cow replacement, at 135,000 head, were up 13 percent from the previous year; and all other heifers were down 16 percent to 510,000 head.
Steers weighing 500 pounds and over were down 2 percent from last year at 1.30 million head. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over were unchanged from a year ago at 60,000 head. Calves under 500 pounds on January 1, 2017, totaled 480,000 head, down 4 percent from last year.
The 2016 calf crop was estimated at 1.09 million head, up 3 percent from the 2015 calf crop. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots on January 1, 2016, totaled 1.16 million head, down 6 percent from one year ago.
January 1 Cattle Inventory Up 2 Percent
All cattle and calves in the United States, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 93.6 million head. This is 2 percent above the 91.9 million head on January 1, 2016.
All cows and heifers that have calved, at 40.6 million head, are 3 percent above the 39.5 million head on January 1, 2016. Beef cows, at 31.2 million head, are up 3 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.35 million head, are up slightly from the previous year.
All heifers 500 pounds and over, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 20.1 million head. This is 1 percent above the 19.9 million head on January 1, 2016. Beef replacement heifers, at 6.42 million head, are up 1 percent from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.75 million head, are down 1 percent from the previous year. Other heifers, at 8.88 million head, are 1 percent above a year earlier.
Calves under 500 pounds in the United States, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 14.4 million head. This is 2 percent above the 14.1 million head on January 1, 2016. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 16.4 million head, up slightly from one year ago. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 2.23 million head, up 4 percent from the previous year.
Calf Crop Up 3 Percent
The 2016 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 35.1 million head, up 3 percent from last year's calf crop. Calves born during the first half of 2016 were estimated at 25.6 million head. This is up 4 percent from the first half of 2015. Calves born during the second half of 2016 were estimated at 9.53 million head, 27 percent of the total 2016 calf crop.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.1 million head on January 1, 2017. The inventory is down 1 percent from the January 1, 2016 total of 13.2 million head. Cattle on feed, in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head, accounted for 81.2 percent of the total cattle on feed on January 1, 2017. This is up 1 percent from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots) is 26.6 million head. This is 2 percent above one year ago.
NEBRASKA JANUARY 1 SHEEP AND GOAT INVENTORY
All sheep and lamb inventory in Nebraska on January 1, 2017 totaled 83 thousand head, up 3,000 head from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Breeding sheep inventory totaled 71 thousand head, up 4,000 from last year. Ewes one year and older totaled 58 thousand head, up 3,000 from the previous year. Rams one year and older remained unchanged from last year’s 3,000 head. Total replacement lambs was 10 thousand head, up 1,000 from last year.
Market sheep and lambs totaled 12 thousand head, down 1,000 head from last year. A total of 1,000 head were mature sheep (one year and older) while the remaining 11 thousand were under one year. Market lamb weight groups were estimated as follows: 2,300 lambs were under 65 pounds; 2,000 were 65-84 pounds; 2,700 were 85-105 pounds; 4,000 were over 105 pounds.
The 2016 lamb crop totaled 65 thousand head, unchanged from 2015. The 2016 lambing rate was 118 per 100 ewes one year and older, equal to the lambing rate in 2015.
Shorn wool production during 2016 was 450 thousand pounds, down 10 thousand pounds from last year. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 64 thousand head, up 1,000 head from 2015. The average price paid for wool sold in 2016 was $0.94 per pound, compared with $0.90 in 2015. The total value of wool produced in Nebraska was 423 thousand dollars in 2016.
Milk goat inventory in Nebraska totaled 3,700 head on January 1, 2017, up 500 head from last year.
IOWA SHEEP AND GOAT INVENTORY
All sheep and lambs inventory in Iowa as of January 1, 2017, totaled 175,000 head according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Sheep and Goats report. The sheep and lambs inventory remained unchanged from last year. Total breeding stock, at 120,000 head, was 4 percent below one year ago. Market sheep and lambs increased 10 percent from a year ago and totaled 55,000 head. The lamb crop for 2016 increased 1 percent to 125,000 head. Wool production for the State was 900,000 pounds, with fleece weights averaging 5.5 pounds.
Milk goat inventory in Iowa as of January 1, 2017 was 30,500 head, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Sheep and Goats report. Iowa ranked third in total milk goats. The inventory was down 8 percent from January 2016. Total meat and other goat inventory was 32,000 head, an increase of 14 percent from the previous year.
January 1 Sheep and Lamb Inventory Down 2 Percent
All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 2017 totaled 5.20 million head, down 2 percent from 2016. Breeding sheep inventory at 3.86 million head on January 1, 2017, decreased 2 percent from 3.95 million head on January 1, 2016. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.04 million head, were 2 below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2017 totaled 1.35 million head, down 1 percent from January 1, 2016. Market lambs comprised 94 percent of the total market inventory. Market sheep comprised the remaining 6 percent of total market inventory.
The 2016 lamb crop of 3.25 million head was down 1 percent from 2015. The 2016 lambing rate was 105 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2016, unchanged from 2015.
Shorn wool production in the United States during 2016 was 25.7 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2015. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 3.56 million head, down 3 percent from 2015. The average price paid for wool sold in 2016 was $1.45 per pound for a total value of 37.2 million dollars, down 5 percent from 39.2 million dollars in 2015.
Sheep death loss during 2016 totaled 217 thousand head, down 5 percent from 2015. Lamb death loss decreased 1 percent from 374 thousand head to 372 thousand head in 2016.
January 1 Goat and Kid Inventory Up 1 Percent
All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2017 totaled 2.64 million head, up 1 percent from 2016. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.17 million head, up slightly from 2016. Does one year old and older, at 1.61 million head, were slightly above last year's number. Market goats and kids totaled 469 thousand head, up 2 percent from a year ago.
Kid crop for 2016 totaled 1.64 million head for all goats, up 1 percent from 2015.
Meat and all other goats totaled 2.12 million head on January 1, 2017, up 1 percent from 2016. Milk goat inventory was 373 thousand head, unchanged from January 1, 2016, while Angora goats were up 1 percent, totaling 152 thousand head.
Mohair production in the United States during 2016 was 800 thousand pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 141 thousand head. Average weight per clip was 5.7 pounds. Mohair price was $4.56 per pound with a value of 3.65 million dollars.
Fischer Meets with Ag Secretary Nominee
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today met with Governor Sonny Perdue, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Agriculture.
Senator Fischer says, “Governor Perdue and I had a good conversation today about the Nebraska families who work hard to keep our state’s economic engine running and feed a hungry world. We also discussed regional differences in agriculture and the importance of sound policies that will enable Nebraska producers to grow their businesses and access new markets. I am confident that Governor Perdue’s experience and unique perspective will prepare him well to take on the critical role of leading the USDA.”
Save Hay by Reducing Feeding Waste
Larry Howard, NE Extension Educator, Cuming County
Much expense and many long hours go into harvesting and storing hay for winter feeding. So why waste it! Hay feeding waste can be reduced. Cattle can waste as much as 45 percent of their hay when it is fed without restrictions. How can you reduce these losses to minimize costs and maintain an adequate hay supply?
Your first step should be to limit how much hay is available. Research shows that cattle fed hay with free access every four days needed about 25% more hay than cattle fed daily. Daily feeding reduces the amount of hay refused, trampled, fouled, over-consumed, or used for bedding.
A second step is to restrict access to the hay by using hay racks, bale rings, electric fences, feed bunks, or anything else that will keep animals off the hay. It’s especially important to limit the amount of hay accessible to trampling. So use racks or bale rings with solid barriers at the bottom to prevent livestock from pulling hay loose and then dragging it out to be stepped on.
If you feed hay on the ground, either as loose hay, unrolled round bales, or as ground hay, it is especially important to follow these guidelines. Limit the hay fed to an amount animals will clean up in a single meal. Anything left over will be stepped on, fouled, or used for bedding instead of as feed. And if you can – use an electric wire or other barrier to restrict access to only one side of the feed on the ground. But also be sure to distribute that hay enough so all cows have access to it at the same time. With a little foresight and careful management, you can stretch your hay further.
A Forage for Every Season
Think back over the past couple of years. Did you have ample pasture all season long, or were there times when more forage growth would have helped? If you have cows, horses, ewes, or other livestock that can graze year-around, one of your goals should be to graze for as many days during the year as possible. But no matter where you are, no single pasture can meet that objective.
Warm-season range grasses provide good summer grazing in some areas, but more green grass would be nice in early spring and for late fall grazing. For livestock producers in many other places, though, smooth bromegrass, wheatgrass, needlegrass, orchardgrass, fescue, and other cool-season grasses grow well in spring and fall but mid-summer pasture often is limiting.
To overcome these seasonal pasture shortages, you need to have several different types of pasture available. For example, warm-season grasses like the bluestems, indiangrass, blue grama, and switchgrass provide excellent summer pasture. Match them up with other, but separate, pastures or meadows that contain cool-season grasses for spring and fall grazing and you will have a good, long grazing season.
To extend grazing even further, plant winter wheat, rye, or triticale next fall to get pasture as early as late March. And oats planted in late July or August can be grazed through November, while turnips often provide pasture into December or even January. Don’t forget that alfalfa and corn also can be grazed effectively throughout much of the year, giving you even more options for timely pasture. Start looking at your pasture gaps. Maybe this year you can extend your grazing season with new and varied pastures.
Ag economist will keynote Feb. 15 forum in Curtis
An agricultural economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City will deliver the keynote address at an Ag Business Economic Symposium in Curtis on February 15.
Cortney Cowley, who is based at the Federal Reserve’s offices in Omaha, Neb., is the luncheon speaker at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture’s forum. Four regional businesses are also program presenters.
Mary Rittenhouse, assistant professor and division chair of the NCTA Ag Business Management Systems Division, said student interest and is keen in the current agricultural economy as graduates prepare for their future employment and individual agricultural enterprises. The forum is open to the public.
Ag Business Club students from NCTA will greet participants with 9:30 a.m. registration at the Nebraska Agriculture Industry Education Center.
However, due to luncheon reservations, Rittenhouse requests pre-registration and online payment of all attendees by Feb. 10 at: http://ncta.unl.edu/economic-ag-symposium.
The symposium will feature agricultural ownership and management transition, legal and estate planning, real estate and insurance, and commodity marketing and risk management.
Cowley is an agricultural economist in the Regional Affairs Department at the Omaha Branch. She supports the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Federal Reserve System efforts surrounding agricultural economics research, analysis and outreach.
She conducts research on issues related to the farm economy, agricultural finance and natural resources. Cowley is a contributor to the Bank’s Economic Review research journal, the Tenth District Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions and the Federal Reserve System’s Agricultural Finance Databook. She also provides regular updates on the agricultural economy for the public, and for the Kansas City Fed’s president – who is a voting member of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee.
Cortney joined the Bank in 2015 after completing her Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in biosystems engineering from Oklahoma State and a master’s in civil engineering from Colorado State University.
Other program presenters are Steve Herman, Esq., of Norman, Paloucek & Herman, in Curtis; Phil Hinrichs and Andrew Fischer of Farm Bureau Financial Services; and Steve Knuth of AgWest Commodities.
New USMEF Regional Director Sees Strong Potential for Further Export Growth to Mexico, Central America and Dominican Republic
Oscar Ferrara, Ph.D., joined the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) earlier this month as the organization’s new regional director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic. A native of Paraguay, Ferrara brings an extensive educational and professional background to the position. He moved to the United States in 2000, earning his master’s degree and doctorate in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida. He also holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Applied Economics and Agricultural Engineering.
Ferrara was previously with USDA, working first in the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) before joining the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Office of Agreements and Scientific Affairs.
“In my position with FAS, one of the main priorities was to open markets and expand market access for U.S. pork, beef and lamb in the Western Hemisphere,” Ferrara said. “So I feel this experience will serve me well at USMEF, as we look to further expand demand for these products.”
Capitalizing on duty-free access achieved through NAFTA and the lower duties negotiated in the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), U.S. red meat exports to this region have grown substantially in recent years, with the United States being the dominant foreign supplier. But Ferrara notes that there is still significant room to expand demand for U.S. products among the region’s growing middle class, and he intends to build on USMEF’s success by educating customers about the full range of pork, beef and lamb products available from U.S. suppliers.
“There are a lot of areas in which we can expand our offerings in the region, and what I hope to do in this capacity is to expand customers’ knowledge of the products we are exporting to these countries,” Ferrara explained. “Many people know that the U.S. offers safe, high-quality meat products, but we can further educate them on the options and choices available, as well as the unique attributes of U.S. meat and the different methods of preparation and cooking. This will reinforce the great value these products deliver and build even greater customer loyalty.”
In addition to customer education, Ferrara says it is vitally important to maintain strong relationships with importers, processors and distributors in the region.
“Trade servicing is absolutely critical, even in a region in which USMEF has a longtime presence,” he noted. “Buyers want reliability and consistency from their suppliers, and USMEF serves as an important resource for them, helping ensure they can access the products that meet their needs. This is true whether we are working in established markets like Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala, or in emerging destinations such as Nicaragua and El Salvador – there are many exciting opportunities for the U.S. meat industry.”
USMEF must also work closely with government officials in the region – an area in which Ferrara gained valuable experience while at USDA-FAS.
“I had the pleasure of working with USMEF on many issues during my time at FAS, and the level of cooperation was outstanding,” he explained. “When we were seeking to gain full access to Mexico for U.S. beef, for example, we accompanied Mexican regulators to U.S. plants and other production facilities in the United States. USDA and USMEF worked extremely well together in organizing these visits and ensuring that we communicated effectively and constructively with these officials. These efforts are very important for eliminating trade barriers and expanding markets for U.S. meat.”
Former Ag Secretaries Pen Op-Ed on Dow-DuPond Merger
Mike Johanns and Dan Glickman
As former U.S. secretaries of agriculture from both sides of the aisle, we know firsthand that the contributions made by farmers and agribusinesses of all sizes are rarely given the credit they are due. American farmers help to drive the U.S. economy and create new opportunity in rural communities. They contribute almost $1 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product each year and exported $129.7 billion worth of American-grown and -made products in fiscal year 2016 alone. By 2050, a growing global population will need twice as much food as the world can produce today, which presents even more new opportunities for American farmers.
With new opportunities come new challenges. Looking forward, we see headwinds acting against the livelihoods and future global competitiveness of American farmers and the security of our national food supply: the unmanageable cost of innovation and the need for a strong, focused American-owned agriculture company.
There is no greater imperative for global agriculture than science and technology. Mother Nature throws farmers an endless stream of curve balls, from new weather patterns to spreading pests. As the challenges evolve, the needs of farmers for new products and services evolve, too. Those who grow and consume food depend on tools focused on reducing water usage and raising drought resistant crops; nutritional advancements that assure the hungry are fed and improve overall health and well-being; better planting techniques and conservation and tillage practices that improve and preserve soil health; practices that reduce post-harvest loss and food waste; and new seed varieties that can stand up and thrive under the most difficult conditions, among others.
But as costs of discovery and commercialization rise, and agriculture has become both more global and more competitive, fewer and fewer companies have the scale to afford the costly, end-to-end process from discovery through development and regulatory approval that is required to bring new products to farmers. With fewer and fewer companies having the capability to do so, farmers everywhere face the prospect of limited choices and fewer new products.
Innovation in food and agriculture comes from companies of all sizes - from the army of experts our industry employs and from scientific discoveries by numerous creative farmers, university labs and startups that are then developed by mid-sized firms and multinationals. These different groups depend upon one another, just like an ecosystem, to move new ideas through the long, expensive processes of development and regulatory approval before they can be delivered to farmers. Larger companies depend on smaller ones and vice versa.
To do enough to meet farmers' requirements for more innovation and greater choice, and overcome the emerging innovation bottleneck that is holding them back, large companies with scale and focused resources are a necessary part of that creative system. That is what is causing some of the shifts in the inputs marketplace we are seeing today, including the number of companies seeking to merge with one another. Some of these companies are foreign-owned and seeking to take control of American companies.
Dow and DuPont are each huge conglomerates within which their relatively small agriculture businesses must compete for resources against other businesses. By coming together, they intend to then create a single, independent, U.S.-based and -owned pure agriculture company capable of competing effectively against their still larger global peers.
Given the current landscape, now more than ever America's farmers need what Dow and DuPont are proposing - a strong, focused American agriculture company that is American-owned, championing the interests of the American farmer in a marketplace that may soon be dominated by foreign-owned behemoths. Without such an enterprise, totally and completely focused on agriculture, with every minute of every day devoted to working in partnership with farmers and the full range of entities working to feed an ever-expanding need for sustainable food sources, the American farmers who grow our food lose out - and the people who eat it do, too.
For farmers across this great nation - and around the world - the stakes are real. They all want a faster, bigger and better stream of new products, techniques and tools because they need them. They want to seize business opportunities by putting food on tables, at home and abroad. This will mean hard work for America's farmers, which they will do with humility and excellence, as they always have. They need a strong, American-owned agriculture company by their side.
Johanns is a former governor and U.S senator from Nebraska, and served as agriculture secretary under former President George W. Bush. Glickman represented Kansas for 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as agriculture secretary under former President Bill Clinton.
NMPF Lauds New House Bill Calling for Enforcement of Dairy Labeling Standards
The National Milk Producers Federation today endorsed new legislation introduced in the House of Representatives that would prompt the enforcement of dairy labeling terms, which are increasingly being used to market imitation products containing no real dairy ingredients.
Introduced by Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Joe Courtney (D-CT), David Valadao (R-CA) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA), the House bill would compel the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action against misbranded, plant-based beverages that are inappropriately using dairy terms, especially “milk.” The measure requires the FDA to issue guidance for nationwide enforcement of these definitions within 90 days. It would also require FDA to report to Congress two years after the bill’s enactment to hold the agency to its obligations.
The House bill mirrors Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) DAIRY PRIDE Act, introduced two weeks ago in the Senate.
“Real milk has been recognized for decades for its important nutritional benefits,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. “These imposter products almost always use dairy imagery, similar packaging and names – but they never match the nutritional benefits found in milk. This House legislation sends a clear message that plant-based foods should not be able to create and use nomenclature that is in conflict with existing federal standards of identity requiring the presence of real milk.”
FDA regulations (CFR 131.110) define “milk” as a product of a cow, with similar definitions for yogurt and cheese products. Though existing federal policy is clear on this subject, FDA has not challenged the labeling practices of imitators made out of nuts, beans, seeds and grains, which have been branding themselves using dairy-specific terms for the past two decades, according to NMPF.
The lack of enforcement of proper dairy terms in the United States market differs from to how the matter is handled in similar nations, which actually police the matter closely. While the term “almond milk” is seen on products sold in the United States, it is absent from the same brand of almond beverage sold in Canada and the United Kingdom.
In December, Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Peter Welch (D-VT) and a bipartisan coalition of 32 House members sent a letter to FDA urging the agency to more aggressively police the improper use of dairy terminology. NMPF also supported that effort.
CWT Assists with 2.1 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 13 requests for export assistance from Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc., Michigan Milk Producers Association and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold). These member cooperatives have contracts to sell 989,876 pounds (449 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and 1.102 million pounds (500 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from January through April 2017.
So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 4.421 million pounds of American-type cheeses, and 1.323 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) to 10 countries on three continents. The sales are the equivalent of 70.572 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program in the long term helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen Celebrates Tenth Anniversary in Nashville
Milestones were met in 2016 for NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen television show; the 500th episode was taped in Washington, D.C., last fall and the airing of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show episode in early February will mark the tenth anniversary of the show’s first airing. Spring episodes will include full coverage of the event in Nashville and special panel shows on important industry topics including full episode dedicated to market conditions.
“Cattlemen to Cattlemen is one of the best ways NCBA can connect with farmers and ranchers today,” said John Robinson, Executive Director of Organizational Communications, NCBA. “We are very proud of the work we do on behalf of NCBA members and the beef industry and we remain committed to telling the story of America’s farmers and ranchers.”
Over the past ten years, NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen has been used to deliver industry news, producer education and policy updates from Washington, D.C., NCBA started the show in 2007 on RFD-TV as a 30 minute, weekly show. Since then the show has successfully evolved into three, 60 minute airings each week, with debut episodes on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. with re-airs on Wednesdays at 12:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. (All times Eastern).
Production of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen is possible because of the ongoing support of oustanding sponsors including: Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, John Deere, Merial, NRCS, New Holland, Purina, RAM, Ritchie Waters, Roper and Stetson. To view past episodes of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen, visit: www. cattlementocattlemen.org.
Livestock Industry Supports Legislation to Address BLM Planning Rule
The Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applaud the introduction of concurrent resolutions in both the Senate and House disapproving the Bureau of Land Management’s Planning 2.0 rule finalized last December. The resolutions, introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-Wyo.) respectively, would reverse damage done in the final hours of the Obama administration. Ethan Lane, Executive Director of PLC and NCBA Federal Lands said the rule represents a wholesale shift in management focus at BLM; prioritizing “social and environmental change” over multiple use, and eliminating stakeholder and local input into the planning process.
“It’s critical that Congress step in to halt implementation of this midnight regulation before it does irreparable harm to our ability to manage federal lands,” said Lane. “Despite paying lip-service to our input in the final rule, the fundamental problems with Planning 2.0 remain, and the rule must be withdrawn. We applaud Senator Murkowski and Rep Cheney’s leadership on this critical issue and look forward to working with Congress and the new Administration to undo this kind of regulatory overreach.”
PLC and NCBA urge Congress to pass these resolutions without delay.
Zinpro Corporation Surpasses Significant Research Milestone
Zinpro Corporation announces a major research milestone in the company’s history: its 200th peer-reviewed research publication across multiple species. The 200th publication was released in the Journal of Animal Science. In this study, researchers investigated beef-cow supplementation with a combination of trace minerals (zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt) during the third trimester of gestation and how feeding different forms of those trace minerals impacted offspring development, immunity and subsequent performance. The study results affirm a concept that offspring can benefit greatly from maternal trace mineral nutrition long after birth. Referred to as Generational Nutrition®, this concept has applications across multiple species, ranging from beef and dairy to poultry, swine and equine.
Reaching this milestone highlights the significant investment in research that has been a cornerstone of Zinpro Corporation since Dean Anderson founded the company 45 years ago. “The 200th publication demonstrates not only the depth of science but also the quality of research that Zinpro is supporting, and has supported over the years,” says Terry Ward, Ph.D., global director of Research and Nutritional Services (RNS), Zinpro Corporation. “This milestone represents a tremendous body of research that covers more than 10 animal species.”
Peer-reviewed research indicates that the science is sound and the study is designed rigorously enough that it passes a review of peer scientists in the field. “It means that the research has been submitted to a scientific journal and subsequently published by the journal,” Dr. Ward explains. “During this process, multiple third-party scientists in the field of interest review and critique the data and the methods by which the data was obtained. They must concur that the experimental methods used to collect and analyze the data are scientifically sound before the data is published.”
This is the first time any trace mineral company in the animal feed industry has achieved this landmark. “We do more animal performance mineral research than all other trace mineral companes combined,” says Joe Carrica, executive vice president, global sales and marketing, Zinpro Corporation. “Zinpro is synonymous with sound research. We have a commitment to our customers to provide relevant, current research to show our products are efficacious and provide benefits to them on a daily basis.”
Key Findings from the 200th Publication
Conducted at Oregon State University, the 200th peer-reviewed publication is titled “Effects of organic or inorganic cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc supplementation to late-gestating beef cows on productive and physiological responses of the offspring” (Marques et. al., 2016. J. Anim. Sci. 94:1215-1226). This study is unique in that it applies to the western range cow-calf producer. These cows often lack access to mineral supplementation in the early stages of gestation, and this study capitalized on the short period producers have when supplementation is feasible in their operations.
“Results from this study showed that by simply supplementing the gestating cow with 7 grams per head per day of trace minerals in the form of Availa®4 during the last trimester, producers can impact overall calf growth and health while also realizing improvements in calf performance all the way through finishing,” says Jason Russell, Ph.D., research nutritionist – beef, Zinpro Corporation.
Research results showed an improved mineral status in the cows fed Availa-4, as well as a lasting impact on their calves in the form of improved immunity and greater weaning weight and carcass weight. “It should be noted that the cows in this study started with good trace mineral status to begin with,” says Connie Larson, Ph.D., RNS ruminant manager – North America, Zinpro Corporation. “When we fed these mineral programs during the last trimester, the result was increased weight at weaning.”
Results from the study also showed a significant reduction in bovine respiratory disease (BRD) treatment rates during the feedlot growing phase of the study in calves born to cows supplemented with Availa-4. The reduction in BRD benefited calf health as well as the producer’s bottom line – through decreased treatment costs and labor as well as decreased stress on the animal.
“Simply by supplementing that cow for the last trimester, we were able to impact calf health and growth,” Dr. Larson says. “To me, that really speaks to how important that mineral program is for the pregnant cow.”
Research has shown that trace minerals play a critical role in the gestating beef-cow diet. Availa-4 features Zinpro Performance Minerals® (complexed zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt) in a unique combination that is research-proven to deliver strong performance benefits to the beef-cow herd and a strong economic return to the cow/calf producer.
“It’s hard to overcome a bad start when it comes to newborn animals,” Dr. Russell says. “Results from this research highlight the opportunity that exists with Generational Nutrition in multiple species to provide a great start to newborn animals – and that great start carries on throughout their life.”
All cattle and calves in Nebraska as of January 1, 2017 totaled 6.45 million head, unchanged from January 1, 2016, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
All cows and heifers that had calved totaled 1.98 million head, up 4 percent from last year.
Beef cows totaled 1.92 million head, up 4 percent from last year.
Milk cows totaled 60,000 head, up 3 percent from January 1, 2016.
All heifers 500 pounds and over totaled 1.78 million head, down 1 percent from last year.
Steers weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 2.29 million head, down 2 percent from last year.
Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 110,000 head, up 16 percent from last year.
Calves under 500 pounds totaled 290,000 head, down 8 percent from January 1, 2016.
All cattle on feed fed for slaughter in Nebraska feedlots totaled 2.47 million head, down 2 percent from the previous year.
The 2016 calf crop totaled 1.70 million head, up 3 percent from 2015.
Iowa Cattle and Calves Report
All cattle and calves in Iowa as of January 1, 2017, totaled 3.85 million head, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle report. This was down 100,000 head from January 1, 2016. Beef cows, at 965,000 head, were 3 percent above last year. Milk cow inventory was up 5,000 head to 215,000 head.
All heifers 500 pounds and over were down 10 percent to 830,000 head. Heifers for beef cow replacement were down 3 percent from 2016 to 185,000 head; heifers for milk cow replacement, at 135,000 head, were up 13 percent from the previous year; and all other heifers were down 16 percent to 510,000 head.
Steers weighing 500 pounds and over were down 2 percent from last year at 1.30 million head. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over were unchanged from a year ago at 60,000 head. Calves under 500 pounds on January 1, 2017, totaled 480,000 head, down 4 percent from last year.
The 2016 calf crop was estimated at 1.09 million head, up 3 percent from the 2015 calf crop. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots on January 1, 2016, totaled 1.16 million head, down 6 percent from one year ago.
January 1 Cattle Inventory Up 2 Percent
All cattle and calves in the United States, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 93.6 million head. This is 2 percent above the 91.9 million head on January 1, 2016.
All cows and heifers that have calved, at 40.6 million head, are 3 percent above the 39.5 million head on January 1, 2016. Beef cows, at 31.2 million head, are up 3 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.35 million head, are up slightly from the previous year.
All heifers 500 pounds and over, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 20.1 million head. This is 1 percent above the 19.9 million head on January 1, 2016. Beef replacement heifers, at 6.42 million head, are up 1 percent from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.75 million head, are down 1 percent from the previous year. Other heifers, at 8.88 million head, are 1 percent above a year earlier.
Calves under 500 pounds in the United States, as of January 1, 2017, totaled 14.4 million head. This is 2 percent above the 14.1 million head on January 1, 2016. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 16.4 million head, up slightly from one year ago. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 2.23 million head, up 4 percent from the previous year.
Calf Crop Up 3 Percent
The 2016 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 35.1 million head, up 3 percent from last year's calf crop. Calves born during the first half of 2016 were estimated at 25.6 million head. This is up 4 percent from the first half of 2015. Calves born during the second half of 2016 were estimated at 9.53 million head, 27 percent of the total 2016 calf crop.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.1 million head on January 1, 2017. The inventory is down 1 percent from the January 1, 2016 total of 13.2 million head. Cattle on feed, in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head, accounted for 81.2 percent of the total cattle on feed on January 1, 2017. This is up 1 percent from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots) is 26.6 million head. This is 2 percent above one year ago.
NEBRASKA JANUARY 1 SHEEP AND GOAT INVENTORY
All sheep and lamb inventory in Nebraska on January 1, 2017 totaled 83 thousand head, up 3,000 head from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Breeding sheep inventory totaled 71 thousand head, up 4,000 from last year. Ewes one year and older totaled 58 thousand head, up 3,000 from the previous year. Rams one year and older remained unchanged from last year’s 3,000 head. Total replacement lambs was 10 thousand head, up 1,000 from last year.
Market sheep and lambs totaled 12 thousand head, down 1,000 head from last year. A total of 1,000 head were mature sheep (one year and older) while the remaining 11 thousand were under one year. Market lamb weight groups were estimated as follows: 2,300 lambs were under 65 pounds; 2,000 were 65-84 pounds; 2,700 were 85-105 pounds; 4,000 were over 105 pounds.
The 2016 lamb crop totaled 65 thousand head, unchanged from 2015. The 2016 lambing rate was 118 per 100 ewes one year and older, equal to the lambing rate in 2015.
Shorn wool production during 2016 was 450 thousand pounds, down 10 thousand pounds from last year. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 64 thousand head, up 1,000 head from 2015. The average price paid for wool sold in 2016 was $0.94 per pound, compared with $0.90 in 2015. The total value of wool produced in Nebraska was 423 thousand dollars in 2016.
Milk goat inventory in Nebraska totaled 3,700 head on January 1, 2017, up 500 head from last year.
IOWA SHEEP AND GOAT INVENTORY
All sheep and lambs inventory in Iowa as of January 1, 2017, totaled 175,000 head according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Sheep and Goats report. The sheep and lambs inventory remained unchanged from last year. Total breeding stock, at 120,000 head, was 4 percent below one year ago. Market sheep and lambs increased 10 percent from a year ago and totaled 55,000 head. The lamb crop for 2016 increased 1 percent to 125,000 head. Wool production for the State was 900,000 pounds, with fleece weights averaging 5.5 pounds.
Milk goat inventory in Iowa as of January 1, 2017 was 30,500 head, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Sheep and Goats report. Iowa ranked third in total milk goats. The inventory was down 8 percent from January 2016. Total meat and other goat inventory was 32,000 head, an increase of 14 percent from the previous year.
January 1 Sheep and Lamb Inventory Down 2 Percent
All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 2017 totaled 5.20 million head, down 2 percent from 2016. Breeding sheep inventory at 3.86 million head on January 1, 2017, decreased 2 percent from 3.95 million head on January 1, 2016. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.04 million head, were 2 below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2017 totaled 1.35 million head, down 1 percent from January 1, 2016. Market lambs comprised 94 percent of the total market inventory. Market sheep comprised the remaining 6 percent of total market inventory.
The 2016 lamb crop of 3.25 million head was down 1 percent from 2015. The 2016 lambing rate was 105 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2016, unchanged from 2015.
Shorn wool production in the United States during 2016 was 25.7 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2015. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 3.56 million head, down 3 percent from 2015. The average price paid for wool sold in 2016 was $1.45 per pound for a total value of 37.2 million dollars, down 5 percent from 39.2 million dollars in 2015.
Sheep death loss during 2016 totaled 217 thousand head, down 5 percent from 2015. Lamb death loss decreased 1 percent from 374 thousand head to 372 thousand head in 2016.
January 1 Goat and Kid Inventory Up 1 Percent
All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2017 totaled 2.64 million head, up 1 percent from 2016. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.17 million head, up slightly from 2016. Does one year old and older, at 1.61 million head, were slightly above last year's number. Market goats and kids totaled 469 thousand head, up 2 percent from a year ago.
Kid crop for 2016 totaled 1.64 million head for all goats, up 1 percent from 2015.
Meat and all other goats totaled 2.12 million head on January 1, 2017, up 1 percent from 2016. Milk goat inventory was 373 thousand head, unchanged from January 1, 2016, while Angora goats were up 1 percent, totaling 152 thousand head.
Mohair production in the United States during 2016 was 800 thousand pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 141 thousand head. Average weight per clip was 5.7 pounds. Mohair price was $4.56 per pound with a value of 3.65 million dollars.
Fischer Meets with Ag Secretary Nominee
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today met with Governor Sonny Perdue, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Agriculture.
Senator Fischer says, “Governor Perdue and I had a good conversation today about the Nebraska families who work hard to keep our state’s economic engine running and feed a hungry world. We also discussed regional differences in agriculture and the importance of sound policies that will enable Nebraska producers to grow their businesses and access new markets. I am confident that Governor Perdue’s experience and unique perspective will prepare him well to take on the critical role of leading the USDA.”
Save Hay by Reducing Feeding Waste
Larry Howard, NE Extension Educator, Cuming County
Much expense and many long hours go into harvesting and storing hay for winter feeding. So why waste it! Hay feeding waste can be reduced. Cattle can waste as much as 45 percent of their hay when it is fed without restrictions. How can you reduce these losses to minimize costs and maintain an adequate hay supply?
Your first step should be to limit how much hay is available. Research shows that cattle fed hay with free access every four days needed about 25% more hay than cattle fed daily. Daily feeding reduces the amount of hay refused, trampled, fouled, over-consumed, or used for bedding.
A second step is to restrict access to the hay by using hay racks, bale rings, electric fences, feed bunks, or anything else that will keep animals off the hay. It’s especially important to limit the amount of hay accessible to trampling. So use racks or bale rings with solid barriers at the bottom to prevent livestock from pulling hay loose and then dragging it out to be stepped on.
If you feed hay on the ground, either as loose hay, unrolled round bales, or as ground hay, it is especially important to follow these guidelines. Limit the hay fed to an amount animals will clean up in a single meal. Anything left over will be stepped on, fouled, or used for bedding instead of as feed. And if you can – use an electric wire or other barrier to restrict access to only one side of the feed on the ground. But also be sure to distribute that hay enough so all cows have access to it at the same time. With a little foresight and careful management, you can stretch your hay further.
A Forage for Every Season
Think back over the past couple of years. Did you have ample pasture all season long, or were there times when more forage growth would have helped? If you have cows, horses, ewes, or other livestock that can graze year-around, one of your goals should be to graze for as many days during the year as possible. But no matter where you are, no single pasture can meet that objective.
Warm-season range grasses provide good summer grazing in some areas, but more green grass would be nice in early spring and for late fall grazing. For livestock producers in many other places, though, smooth bromegrass, wheatgrass, needlegrass, orchardgrass, fescue, and other cool-season grasses grow well in spring and fall but mid-summer pasture often is limiting.
To overcome these seasonal pasture shortages, you need to have several different types of pasture available. For example, warm-season grasses like the bluestems, indiangrass, blue grama, and switchgrass provide excellent summer pasture. Match them up with other, but separate, pastures or meadows that contain cool-season grasses for spring and fall grazing and you will have a good, long grazing season.
To extend grazing even further, plant winter wheat, rye, or triticale next fall to get pasture as early as late March. And oats planted in late July or August can be grazed through November, while turnips often provide pasture into December or even January. Don’t forget that alfalfa and corn also can be grazed effectively throughout much of the year, giving you even more options for timely pasture. Start looking at your pasture gaps. Maybe this year you can extend your grazing season with new and varied pastures.
Ag economist will keynote Feb. 15 forum in Curtis
An agricultural economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City will deliver the keynote address at an Ag Business Economic Symposium in Curtis on February 15.
Cortney Cowley, who is based at the Federal Reserve’s offices in Omaha, Neb., is the luncheon speaker at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture’s forum. Four regional businesses are also program presenters.
Mary Rittenhouse, assistant professor and division chair of the NCTA Ag Business Management Systems Division, said student interest and is keen in the current agricultural economy as graduates prepare for their future employment and individual agricultural enterprises. The forum is open to the public.
Ag Business Club students from NCTA will greet participants with 9:30 a.m. registration at the Nebraska Agriculture Industry Education Center.
However, due to luncheon reservations, Rittenhouse requests pre-registration and online payment of all attendees by Feb. 10 at: http://ncta.unl.edu/economic-ag-symposium.
The symposium will feature agricultural ownership and management transition, legal and estate planning, real estate and insurance, and commodity marketing and risk management.
Cowley is an agricultural economist in the Regional Affairs Department at the Omaha Branch. She supports the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Federal Reserve System efforts surrounding agricultural economics research, analysis and outreach.
She conducts research on issues related to the farm economy, agricultural finance and natural resources. Cowley is a contributor to the Bank’s Economic Review research journal, the Tenth District Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions and the Federal Reserve System’s Agricultural Finance Databook. She also provides regular updates on the agricultural economy for the public, and for the Kansas City Fed’s president – who is a voting member of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee.
Cortney joined the Bank in 2015 after completing her Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in biosystems engineering from Oklahoma State and a master’s in civil engineering from Colorado State University.
Other program presenters are Steve Herman, Esq., of Norman, Paloucek & Herman, in Curtis; Phil Hinrichs and Andrew Fischer of Farm Bureau Financial Services; and Steve Knuth of AgWest Commodities.
New USMEF Regional Director Sees Strong Potential for Further Export Growth to Mexico, Central America and Dominican Republic
Oscar Ferrara, Ph.D., joined the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) earlier this month as the organization’s new regional director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic. A native of Paraguay, Ferrara brings an extensive educational and professional background to the position. He moved to the United States in 2000, earning his master’s degree and doctorate in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida. He also holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Applied Economics and Agricultural Engineering.
Ferrara was previously with USDA, working first in the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) before joining the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Office of Agreements and Scientific Affairs.
“In my position with FAS, one of the main priorities was to open markets and expand market access for U.S. pork, beef and lamb in the Western Hemisphere,” Ferrara said. “So I feel this experience will serve me well at USMEF, as we look to further expand demand for these products.”
Capitalizing on duty-free access achieved through NAFTA and the lower duties negotiated in the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), U.S. red meat exports to this region have grown substantially in recent years, with the United States being the dominant foreign supplier. But Ferrara notes that there is still significant room to expand demand for U.S. products among the region’s growing middle class, and he intends to build on USMEF’s success by educating customers about the full range of pork, beef and lamb products available from U.S. suppliers.
“There are a lot of areas in which we can expand our offerings in the region, and what I hope to do in this capacity is to expand customers’ knowledge of the products we are exporting to these countries,” Ferrara explained. “Many people know that the U.S. offers safe, high-quality meat products, but we can further educate them on the options and choices available, as well as the unique attributes of U.S. meat and the different methods of preparation and cooking. This will reinforce the great value these products deliver and build even greater customer loyalty.”
In addition to customer education, Ferrara says it is vitally important to maintain strong relationships with importers, processors and distributors in the region.
“Trade servicing is absolutely critical, even in a region in which USMEF has a longtime presence,” he noted. “Buyers want reliability and consistency from their suppliers, and USMEF serves as an important resource for them, helping ensure they can access the products that meet their needs. This is true whether we are working in established markets like Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala, or in emerging destinations such as Nicaragua and El Salvador – there are many exciting opportunities for the U.S. meat industry.”
USMEF must also work closely with government officials in the region – an area in which Ferrara gained valuable experience while at USDA-FAS.
“I had the pleasure of working with USMEF on many issues during my time at FAS, and the level of cooperation was outstanding,” he explained. “When we were seeking to gain full access to Mexico for U.S. beef, for example, we accompanied Mexican regulators to U.S. plants and other production facilities in the United States. USDA and USMEF worked extremely well together in organizing these visits and ensuring that we communicated effectively and constructively with these officials. These efforts are very important for eliminating trade barriers and expanding markets for U.S. meat.”
Former Ag Secretaries Pen Op-Ed on Dow-DuPond Merger
Mike Johanns and Dan Glickman
As former U.S. secretaries of agriculture from both sides of the aisle, we know firsthand that the contributions made by farmers and agribusinesses of all sizes are rarely given the credit they are due. American farmers help to drive the U.S. economy and create new opportunity in rural communities. They contribute almost $1 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product each year and exported $129.7 billion worth of American-grown and -made products in fiscal year 2016 alone. By 2050, a growing global population will need twice as much food as the world can produce today, which presents even more new opportunities for American farmers.
With new opportunities come new challenges. Looking forward, we see headwinds acting against the livelihoods and future global competitiveness of American farmers and the security of our national food supply: the unmanageable cost of innovation and the need for a strong, focused American-owned agriculture company.
There is no greater imperative for global agriculture than science and technology. Mother Nature throws farmers an endless stream of curve balls, from new weather patterns to spreading pests. As the challenges evolve, the needs of farmers for new products and services evolve, too. Those who grow and consume food depend on tools focused on reducing water usage and raising drought resistant crops; nutritional advancements that assure the hungry are fed and improve overall health and well-being; better planting techniques and conservation and tillage practices that improve and preserve soil health; practices that reduce post-harvest loss and food waste; and new seed varieties that can stand up and thrive under the most difficult conditions, among others.
But as costs of discovery and commercialization rise, and agriculture has become both more global and more competitive, fewer and fewer companies have the scale to afford the costly, end-to-end process from discovery through development and regulatory approval that is required to bring new products to farmers. With fewer and fewer companies having the capability to do so, farmers everywhere face the prospect of limited choices and fewer new products.
Innovation in food and agriculture comes from companies of all sizes - from the army of experts our industry employs and from scientific discoveries by numerous creative farmers, university labs and startups that are then developed by mid-sized firms and multinationals. These different groups depend upon one another, just like an ecosystem, to move new ideas through the long, expensive processes of development and regulatory approval before they can be delivered to farmers. Larger companies depend on smaller ones and vice versa.
To do enough to meet farmers' requirements for more innovation and greater choice, and overcome the emerging innovation bottleneck that is holding them back, large companies with scale and focused resources are a necessary part of that creative system. That is what is causing some of the shifts in the inputs marketplace we are seeing today, including the number of companies seeking to merge with one another. Some of these companies are foreign-owned and seeking to take control of American companies.
Dow and DuPont are each huge conglomerates within which their relatively small agriculture businesses must compete for resources against other businesses. By coming together, they intend to then create a single, independent, U.S.-based and -owned pure agriculture company capable of competing effectively against their still larger global peers.
Given the current landscape, now more than ever America's farmers need what Dow and DuPont are proposing - a strong, focused American agriculture company that is American-owned, championing the interests of the American farmer in a marketplace that may soon be dominated by foreign-owned behemoths. Without such an enterprise, totally and completely focused on agriculture, with every minute of every day devoted to working in partnership with farmers and the full range of entities working to feed an ever-expanding need for sustainable food sources, the American farmers who grow our food lose out - and the people who eat it do, too.
For farmers across this great nation - and around the world - the stakes are real. They all want a faster, bigger and better stream of new products, techniques and tools because they need them. They want to seize business opportunities by putting food on tables, at home and abroad. This will mean hard work for America's farmers, which they will do with humility and excellence, as they always have. They need a strong, American-owned agriculture company by their side.
Johanns is a former governor and U.S senator from Nebraska, and served as agriculture secretary under former President George W. Bush. Glickman represented Kansas for 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as agriculture secretary under former President Bill Clinton.
NMPF Lauds New House Bill Calling for Enforcement of Dairy Labeling Standards
The National Milk Producers Federation today endorsed new legislation introduced in the House of Representatives that would prompt the enforcement of dairy labeling terms, which are increasingly being used to market imitation products containing no real dairy ingredients.
Introduced by Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Joe Courtney (D-CT), David Valadao (R-CA) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA), the House bill would compel the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action against misbranded, plant-based beverages that are inappropriately using dairy terms, especially “milk.” The measure requires the FDA to issue guidance for nationwide enforcement of these definitions within 90 days. It would also require FDA to report to Congress two years after the bill’s enactment to hold the agency to its obligations.
The House bill mirrors Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) DAIRY PRIDE Act, introduced two weeks ago in the Senate.
“Real milk has been recognized for decades for its important nutritional benefits,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. “These imposter products almost always use dairy imagery, similar packaging and names – but they never match the nutritional benefits found in milk. This House legislation sends a clear message that plant-based foods should not be able to create and use nomenclature that is in conflict with existing federal standards of identity requiring the presence of real milk.”
FDA regulations (CFR 131.110) define “milk” as a product of a cow, with similar definitions for yogurt and cheese products. Though existing federal policy is clear on this subject, FDA has not challenged the labeling practices of imitators made out of nuts, beans, seeds and grains, which have been branding themselves using dairy-specific terms for the past two decades, according to NMPF.
The lack of enforcement of proper dairy terms in the United States market differs from to how the matter is handled in similar nations, which actually police the matter closely. While the term “almond milk” is seen on products sold in the United States, it is absent from the same brand of almond beverage sold in Canada and the United Kingdom.
In December, Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Peter Welch (D-VT) and a bipartisan coalition of 32 House members sent a letter to FDA urging the agency to more aggressively police the improper use of dairy terminology. NMPF also supported that effort.
CWT Assists with 2.1 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 13 requests for export assistance from Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc., Michigan Milk Producers Association and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold). These member cooperatives have contracts to sell 989,876 pounds (449 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and 1.102 million pounds (500 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from January through April 2017.
So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 4.421 million pounds of American-type cheeses, and 1.323 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) to 10 countries on three continents. The sales are the equivalent of 70.572 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program in the long term helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen Celebrates Tenth Anniversary in Nashville
Milestones were met in 2016 for NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen television show; the 500th episode was taped in Washington, D.C., last fall and the airing of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show episode in early February will mark the tenth anniversary of the show’s first airing. Spring episodes will include full coverage of the event in Nashville and special panel shows on important industry topics including full episode dedicated to market conditions.
“Cattlemen to Cattlemen is one of the best ways NCBA can connect with farmers and ranchers today,” said John Robinson, Executive Director of Organizational Communications, NCBA. “We are very proud of the work we do on behalf of NCBA members and the beef industry and we remain committed to telling the story of America’s farmers and ranchers.”
Over the past ten years, NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen has been used to deliver industry news, producer education and policy updates from Washington, D.C., NCBA started the show in 2007 on RFD-TV as a 30 minute, weekly show. Since then the show has successfully evolved into three, 60 minute airings each week, with debut episodes on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. with re-airs on Wednesdays at 12:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. (All times Eastern).
Production of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen is possible because of the ongoing support of oustanding sponsors including: Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, John Deere, Merial, NRCS, New Holland, Purina, RAM, Ritchie Waters, Roper and Stetson. To view past episodes of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen, visit: www. cattlementocattlemen.org.
Livestock Industry Supports Legislation to Address BLM Planning Rule
The Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applaud the introduction of concurrent resolutions in both the Senate and House disapproving the Bureau of Land Management’s Planning 2.0 rule finalized last December. The resolutions, introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-Wyo.) respectively, would reverse damage done in the final hours of the Obama administration. Ethan Lane, Executive Director of PLC and NCBA Federal Lands said the rule represents a wholesale shift in management focus at BLM; prioritizing “social and environmental change” over multiple use, and eliminating stakeholder and local input into the planning process.
“It’s critical that Congress step in to halt implementation of this midnight regulation before it does irreparable harm to our ability to manage federal lands,” said Lane. “Despite paying lip-service to our input in the final rule, the fundamental problems with Planning 2.0 remain, and the rule must be withdrawn. We applaud Senator Murkowski and Rep Cheney’s leadership on this critical issue and look forward to working with Congress and the new Administration to undo this kind of regulatory overreach.”
PLC and NCBA urge Congress to pass these resolutions without delay.
Zinpro Corporation Surpasses Significant Research Milestone
Zinpro Corporation announces a major research milestone in the company’s history: its 200th peer-reviewed research publication across multiple species. The 200th publication was released in the Journal of Animal Science. In this study, researchers investigated beef-cow supplementation with a combination of trace minerals (zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt) during the third trimester of gestation and how feeding different forms of those trace minerals impacted offspring development, immunity and subsequent performance. The study results affirm a concept that offspring can benefit greatly from maternal trace mineral nutrition long after birth. Referred to as Generational Nutrition®, this concept has applications across multiple species, ranging from beef and dairy to poultry, swine and equine.
Reaching this milestone highlights the significant investment in research that has been a cornerstone of Zinpro Corporation since Dean Anderson founded the company 45 years ago. “The 200th publication demonstrates not only the depth of science but also the quality of research that Zinpro is supporting, and has supported over the years,” says Terry Ward, Ph.D., global director of Research and Nutritional Services (RNS), Zinpro Corporation. “This milestone represents a tremendous body of research that covers more than 10 animal species.”
Peer-reviewed research indicates that the science is sound and the study is designed rigorously enough that it passes a review of peer scientists in the field. “It means that the research has been submitted to a scientific journal and subsequently published by the journal,” Dr. Ward explains. “During this process, multiple third-party scientists in the field of interest review and critique the data and the methods by which the data was obtained. They must concur that the experimental methods used to collect and analyze the data are scientifically sound before the data is published.”
This is the first time any trace mineral company in the animal feed industry has achieved this landmark. “We do more animal performance mineral research than all other trace mineral companes combined,” says Joe Carrica, executive vice president, global sales and marketing, Zinpro Corporation. “Zinpro is synonymous with sound research. We have a commitment to our customers to provide relevant, current research to show our products are efficacious and provide benefits to them on a daily basis.”
Key Findings from the 200th Publication
Conducted at Oregon State University, the 200th peer-reviewed publication is titled “Effects of organic or inorganic cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc supplementation to late-gestating beef cows on productive and physiological responses of the offspring” (Marques et. al., 2016. J. Anim. Sci. 94:1215-1226). This study is unique in that it applies to the western range cow-calf producer. These cows often lack access to mineral supplementation in the early stages of gestation, and this study capitalized on the short period producers have when supplementation is feasible in their operations.
“Results from this study showed that by simply supplementing the gestating cow with 7 grams per head per day of trace minerals in the form of Availa®4 during the last trimester, producers can impact overall calf growth and health while also realizing improvements in calf performance all the way through finishing,” says Jason Russell, Ph.D., research nutritionist – beef, Zinpro Corporation.
Research results showed an improved mineral status in the cows fed Availa-4, as well as a lasting impact on their calves in the form of improved immunity and greater weaning weight and carcass weight. “It should be noted that the cows in this study started with good trace mineral status to begin with,” says Connie Larson, Ph.D., RNS ruminant manager – North America, Zinpro Corporation. “When we fed these mineral programs during the last trimester, the result was increased weight at weaning.”
Results from the study also showed a significant reduction in bovine respiratory disease (BRD) treatment rates during the feedlot growing phase of the study in calves born to cows supplemented with Availa-4. The reduction in BRD benefited calf health as well as the producer’s bottom line – through decreased treatment costs and labor as well as decreased stress on the animal.
“Simply by supplementing that cow for the last trimester, we were able to impact calf health and growth,” Dr. Larson says. “To me, that really speaks to how important that mineral program is for the pregnant cow.”
Research has shown that trace minerals play a critical role in the gestating beef-cow diet. Availa-4 features Zinpro Performance Minerals® (complexed zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt) in a unique combination that is research-proven to deliver strong performance benefits to the beef-cow herd and a strong economic return to the cow/calf producer.
“It’s hard to overcome a bad start when it comes to newborn animals,” Dr. Russell says. “Results from this research highlight the opportunity that exists with Generational Nutrition in multiple species to provide a great start to newborn animals – and that great start carries on throughout their life.”
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