Wednesday November 02 Ag News

LENRD Groundwater allocations approved for 2023

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) drew a crowd for their October board meeting to hear discussions about possible groundwater use restrictions for next year.  Because the district continues to be in a D3 & D4 drought, as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor, the board must make decisions by November 1st about any limited use of water for the following year, according to the LENRD’s drought management plan.

The board approved the recommendations presented at their October meeting, by the Ad-Hoc Drought Response Committee, to limit the amount of groundwater use in 2023.  The decision will limit municipal water supply wells to 250 gallons per day per capita for any city or town in a D3 or D4 designation, while irrigation wells (that do not already have an allocation) will be limited to 15 inches per acre for each certified irrigated acre, for any well located in a designated D3 or D4 area.  Municipalities will also be required to adopt a plan for water conservation practices and water use restrictions and provide a copy to the LENRD by March 1st, 2023.

Chad Korth, LENRD director from Meadow Grove, said, “We wanted everybody involved in our discussions, not just agriculture.  That’s why the municipalities are included, we’re all in this together.  The idea is to preserve this water for the next generation.”

Mike Sousek, LENRD general manager, said, “The decision from the board to impose allocations for next year is in response to the responsibility to protect the health and welfare of the public during a drought, but it’s also the first step in the plan to minimize negative impacts to groundwater supplies.  If it doesn’t rain, we have to be prepared, not only for next year, but for the year or two following.  We are being proactive.  We have to prepare for the worst and help producers plan for a possible shortage of water in year 2 or 3 of the drought.”  Sousek added, “Of course, if drought conditions are downgraded to a D2 designation for 14 consecutive days, all restrictions will be lifted.”

The district also made the decision to forego the consideration of requests for new uses of groundwater for irrigation.  Sousek said, “This will allow for the completion of previously approved projects and to monitor and assess impacts to groundwater supplies for all users.”

In other action, the board directed staff to contact producers whose irrigation wells have exceeded the annual allocation for groundwater uses for 2022, as outlined in the LENRD’s conditions for approval policy for new irrigation wells.  Violators could receive a penalty that would reduce their allocation for the next 2 years.  Public hearings will be held with the board on each individual case.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local district can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails.  The next board of directors committee meeting will be Thursday, November 10th at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:00 p.m. and on Facebook Live.



Webinar: Hunting Leases and Legal Considerations
Jessica Groskopf, Extension Agricultural Economist, UNL
Dave Aiken, Ag Law and Water Law Specialist, UNL
Nov 3, 2022 12:00 PM Central Time

According to Nebraska Game and Parks, 97% of the land in Nebraska is privately owned. Therefore, obtaining access to private lands is one of the biggest challenges facing today’s hunters. Leasing the hunting rights of agricultural land can generate additional income for landowners. However, some landowners are hesitant given the potential liability. In this webinar, Extension Educator Jessica Groskopf and Ag Law Specialist Dave Aiken will cover Nebraska recreation and agrotourism laws and review ways to mitigate liability. They will also discuss working with multiple tenants and developing hunting lease agreements.

The webinar is presented by the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska.  You can get more information and register at cap.unl.edu/webinars.  



Biden-Harris Administration Announces $20.6 Million to Increase and Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity in Nebraska
Three grants approved for Iowa Companies

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $20.6 million in 2 grant projects in Nebraska through the first round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). Today’s announcement delivers on President Biden’s commitments to expand meat and poultry processing capacity, which in turn increases competition, supports producer income, strengthens the food supply chain, and creates jobs and economic opportunities in rural areas.  These announcements support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain.

“Since President Biden laid out a commitment at the start of this year, USDA has worked tirelessly to give farmers and ranchers a fair chance to compete in the marketplace,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “By jumpstarting independent processing projects and increasing processing capacity, these investments create more opportunities for farmers and ranchers to get a fair price, while strengthening supply chains, delivering more food produced closer to home for families, expanding economic opportunity and creating jobs in rural America.”

In Nebraska, two projects are receiving funding from the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program:
    The Greater Omaha Packing Company of Omaha, NE is receiving $19,982,400 from MPPEP. Greater Omaha Packing is a 3rd generation, privately owned company that procures cattle primarily from independent producers in IA and NE. They process 2,400 heads of cattle daily for customers across the country and to 70 nations worldwide. The company is taking a phased approach to increase slaughter and processing throughput from 2,400 cattle per day to 3,100 head per day, which equates to an additional annual production of 195,000 cattle per year, involving equipment purchases, automation systems, and facility improvements. The expansion will create 275 jobs.

    Lot 279, LLC of Wisner, NE is receiving $688,011 from MPPEP. Lot 279, LLC has been selling beef products in direct-to-consumer retail since 2016. In an effort to capitalize on the expanding interest in family farms building their own beef brands, Lot 279 intends to build a federal inspection portion cutting and further processing facility for use by at least three family-owned cattle producers who seek to create their own brands of value-added beef products. The company will provide fee based processing and other services; portioning and grinding services, processing, and manufacturing of meats for sale to wholesale or retail customers. Lot 279 will ensure that small and mid-sized kill facilities are fully utilized.

Iowa:
Cherokee Locker Investment Inc. - $542,425
Cherokee Locker Investment, Inc. is an existing meat processor located in Cherokee, IA located in a facility that is outdated. The company intends to build a new mixed species processing facility to significantly increase capacity and allow local producers to have their meat Federally inspected and sold in a local retail market and online. In addition to these Federal funds, part of this expansion effort is being financed, in part, through investments made by local livestock producers and community members.

Pure Prairie Farms Inc. - $6,963,725
Pure Prairie recently purchased a shuttered poultry plant in Charles City, Iowa, with the goal of returning hundreds of jobs to the small rural community and increasing poultry processing in the upper Midwest. The project sources directly from growers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, who are also shareholders and part owners in the company

Upper Iowa Beef LLC - $8,871,440
Upper Iowa Beef, an independently owned beef harvest and processing facility in Lime Springs, Iowa, opened in 2017. The growth in demand for our products nationwide and globally since we began operations has necessitated an aggressive, multi-phase expansion of our facility to keep up. Our USDA-MPPEP proposal is to support core projects that directly target our current bottlenecks, allowing us to expand our capacity by over 50% and create dozens of new jobs and millions of dollars in premium revenue for independent livestock producers

MPPEP was designed to support capacity expansion projects in concert with other private and public finance tools. Today’s announcement is the first round of funding made available through Phase I of MPEPP. Additional announcements are expected in the coming weeks. USDA will soon begin taking applications for a new phase to deploy an additional $225 million, for a total of up to $375 million, to provide gap financing for independent processing plant projects that fill a demonstrated need for more diversified processing capacity.



Bacon Announces Approval of Nearly $20 Million Grant to Omaha Packing Plant

Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced that the Greater Omaha Packing Co., Inc. has been awarded a $19,982,400 grant under the Meat and Poultry Expansion Program (MPPEP). As the Second District's Representative and a Member of the House Agriculture Committee (HAC), Bacon has long advocated for Nebraska’s food and agriculture community. He sent a strong letter in support urging approval of the grant to the USDA MPPEP Grant reviewers.

“This USDA-MPPEP grant will help the company process millions more pounds of meat every year – increasing their capacity by 25% over the next few years,” wrote Bacon, in the letter. “Their investments in cold storage, food processing equipment, and growing their labor force will have positive effects across our state and the entire region.”

He continued to tout the project’s benefits in the letter, by writing, “The potential Investment in Greater Omaha Packing’s expansion could help diversify opportunities for meat production in the United States, create new jobs, and expand opportunities for independent livestock producers.”

“Congratulations to Greater Omaha Packing, a key contributor to the meat processing supply chain,” said Bacon. “This is a great opportunity for them which is why I urged approval of the grant.”



USDA Announces Funds to Expand Processing Capacity Following NCBA Advocacy

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) following Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement of over $223 million in grants and loans to support small to mid-sized processing facilities.

“NCBA has long advocated for expanded processing capacity to provide cattle producers with additional options for turning their cattle into high-quality beef. Today, the cattle industry needs more targeted capacity in high-need areas, and we look forward to these facilities launching and expanding operations,” said NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymer. “We appreciate USDA working with NCBA to strengthen the marketplace and support America’s cattle producers.”

Today’s announcement is the first round of investments in additional meat processing capacity totaling $73 million across 21 grant projects. NCBA has advocated for funds in the form of grants and low-interest loans to help small and mid-sized processing facilities open their doors and expand existing capabilities, all to increase competition and strengthen the beef supply chain. In total, the federal government has announced a combined investment of $1 billion allocated to the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, workforce development, and technical assistance.



NFU Applauds Rollout of USDA Funds for Local Meat Processing

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew released the following statement in response to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcing major investments in local and regional meat and poultry processing around the country.

“For decades, consolidation in meat processing has put the squeeze on farmers, ranchers, and consumers while corporate monopolies rake in record profits. Today’s announcement is another step toward putting control and profitability back in the hands of farmers, ranchers, and our communities,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “More competition across the ag economy is a good thing and it’s great to see Secretary Vilsack and the administration making diversified, local and regional food systems a priority.”

NFU has advocated for fairer, more competitive markets for farmers and ranchers, and more access to local and regional processing has been a key piece in the Fairness for Farmers campaign that was launched in 2021.  



Farm Equipment Manufacturers Elect New Leaders

The Board of Directors of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association elected officers at a meeting in Orlando, FL on Wednesday.

Leading the Association as president will be Ben Hellbusch, Co-Owner of Duo Lift Manufacturing in Columbus, Neb. The company designs and manufactures trailers and running gears for agricultural, commercial, and industrial markets in a number of standard and custom models. Hellbusch is the second executive from the company to be elected president.

The Board elected Hellbusch to a one-year term beginning immediately. He succeeds Tim Burenga of Worksaver Inc. in Litchfield, Ill. Serving with Hellbusch will be:

First Vice President Randy Reinke, CEO of Custom Products of Litchfield, Inc., in Litchfield, Minn.

Second Vice President, Craig Harthoorn, President of H&S Manufacturing in Marshfield, Wis.

Treasurer Paul Jeffrey, General Manager at Mac Don Industries, Ltd. In Kansas City, Mo.

Secretary, Mark Ivey, Vice President at Dirt Dog Manufacturers in Selma, Ala.

The officers will lead a 16-member Board of Directors. The Association serves as voice, advocate, and resource for companies from each link in the farm implement supply chain.



Rotational Grazing Adoption by Cow-Calf Operations

A report issued by USDA’s Economic Research Service, Rotational Grazing Adoption by Cow-Calf Operations, presents one of the first nationally representative datasets that describes rotational grazing systems and variation in the adoption of rotational grazing for cow-calf operations.

Rotational grazing is a management practice in which livestock are cycled through multiple fenced grazing areas (paddocks) in order to manage forage production, forage quality, animal health, and environmental quality. Despite the breadth of support for rotational grazing, only limited information is available on its prevalence and the variation in how producers implement the practice.

Key findings include:
    About 40 percent of cow-calf operations use rotational grazing, but less than half of those are under intensive systems.
    Rotational grazing is most common in the Northern Plains/Western Corn Belt and Appalachian regions.
    Most basic rotational grazing systems are relatively simple, with five or fewer paddocks, an average paddock size of 40 acres or more and use permanent fencing.

This study fills this information gap by providing details on how frequently or “intensively” grazing operations rotate livestock between paddocks, key system characteristics such as average paddock size, and how outcomes such as stocking density and cost relate to system characteristics.



CHS Reports Strong Fiscal Year 2022 Earnings

CHS Inc., the nation's leading agribusiness cooperative, today reported net income of $1.7 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2022, compared to $554.0 million for fiscal year 2021.

Key financial drivers for fiscal year 2022 results include:
    Consolidated revenues of $47.8 billion for fiscal year 2022 compared to $38.4 billion for fiscal year 2021, a year-over-year increase of 24%.
    Refining margins in our Energy segment were higher and drove improved earnings due to the tightening global supply and demand landscape.
    The CHS global grain and processing and wholesale agronomy businesses within our Ag segment benefited from strong global demand and increased margins.
    Our equity method investments performed well, with increased CF Nitrogen earnings resulting from strong global demand for urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), coupled with decreased global supply.

"We appreciate the support of our member cooperatives and farmer-owners, which enabled us to deliver a substantial increase in earnings for the fiscal year, while also helping feed people around the world," said Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS Inc. "Additionally, our employees demonstrated their dedication to helping our owners and customers succeed in a turbulent year for agriculture. As a result of these collective efforts, CHS intends to return $1 billion in cash patronage and equity redemptions to our member cooperatives and farmer-owners in fiscal year 2023, reflecting the company's financial strength and demonstrating the value of cooperative ownership.

"We are proud of our role in the cooperative system. We will continue to make investments that strengthen rural America and help our farmer-owners and customers meet the growing demand for agricultural products. Our investments in infrastructure, supply chain capabilities, people and innovation are driving operational and efficiency gains throughout our expansive network," Debertin added. "Although economic uncertainty, logistical challenges and inflationary pressures remain, CHS is well-positioned to maximize value for our member cooperatives and farmer-owners."

Fiscal Year 2022 Business Segment Results

Energy
Pretax earnings of $616.6 million represent a $627.1 million increase versus the prior year and reflect:
    Higher refining margins and increased discounts on heavy Canadian crude oil processed by our refineries contributed to a significant increase in our refined fuels business income; these increases were partially offset by higher renewable energy credit costs and higher natural gas costs, as well as lower margins in our propane business.

Ag
Pretax earnings of $657.6 million represent a $359.5 million increase versus the prior year and reflect:
    Increased margins across all our Ag segment product categories, due to strong global market demand and global supply disruptions
    Continued favorable markets for oilseed processing, which were bolstered by robust meal and oil demand
    Increased revenues from feed and farm supplies, despite less favorable weather during spring planting and application season

Nitrogen Production
Pretax earnings of $478.0 million represent a $357.0 million increase versus the prior year and reflect:
    Increased earnings from our strategic investment in CF Nitrogen, primarily due to market conditions and strong demand for urea and UAN, factors that were partially offset by higher natural gas costs

Corporate and Other
Pretax earnings of $57.9 million represent a $48.9 million decrease versus the prior year and reflect:
    Lower earnings primarily from our Ventura Foods joint venture, which experienced less favorable market conditions for edible oils

CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping its farmer-owners, customers and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, seed, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.



Most Fertilizer Prices Continue Lower

Retail fertilizer prices continued their lower trend as five of the eight major products are cheaper compared to last month, according to locations tracked by DTN for the fourth week of October 2022.

Similar to last week, the only fertilizer up or down significantly was 10-34-0. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more. 10-34-0 was 12% lower compared to the prior month, and the starter fertilizer had an average price of $759 per ton. Four other fertilizers were just slightly lower. DAP had an average price of $930/ton, MAP $986/ton, potash $862/ton and UAN28 $580/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were slightly more expensive looking back to last month. Urea had an average price of $827/ton, anhydrous $1,422/ton and UAN32 $678/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.90/lb.N, anhydrous $0.87/lb.N, UAN28 $1.04/lb.N and UAN32 $1.06/lb.N.

Despite lower prices in recent months, all fertilizers continue to be considerably higher in price than one year earlier. Urea is 10% higher, MAP is 13% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 14% higher, DAP is 15% more expensive, potash is 18% higher, UAN28 is 27% more expensive, UAN32 is 30% higher and anhydrous is 45% more expensive compared to last year.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 10/28/2022

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending October 28, ethanol production rose 0.7% to a 13-week high of 1.040 million b/d, equivalent to 43.68 million gallons daily. However, production was 6.1% less than the same week last year and 0.1% below the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production volume increased 3.9% to 1.005 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.41 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks tapered by 0.3% to 22.2 million barrels. Yet, stocks were 10.4% higher than a year ago and 4.7% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned in the East Coast (PADD 1) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3) but built across the other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, shrank 3.0% to 8.66 million b/d (132.76 bg annualized). Demand was 8.9% less than a year ago and 5.0% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol declined 1.1% to 905,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.87 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.3% higher than a year ago and 0.8% above the five-year average.

There were no imports of ethanol for the second consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of August 2022.)



Biofuel & Ag Leaders Praise EPA’s Decision to Reverse Refinery Exemptions

Yesterday, the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union filed a motion to intervene in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to deny 69 petitions from refineries seeking small refinery exemptions (SREs) from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for one or more of the compliance years between 2016 and 2021.

“EPA’s decision in June to deny 69 SRE petitions helped strengthen U.S. energy security, protect the climate, and deliver relief at the pump during a period of record high gas prices,” the biofuel and ag coalition said. “Now, certain refiners want to reverse this process and turn back the clock to an era of gross mismanagement and abuse of the SRE provisions of the RFS program. For far too long, many refiners got away with dodging their obligations to blend lower-carbon biofuel into the fuel supply. EPA’s denial of these SRE petitions provides a clean slate to get the RFS back on track as we head into a new era for this important program. Holding refiners accountable will ensure lower prices and cleaner options at the pump for American families.”

Background
On June 3, 2022, concurrent with its final rulemaking to set the volumes for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 renewable volume obligations, EPA announced the denial of 69 petitions from refineries seeking exemptions from the RFS program for one or more compliance years between 2016 and 2021. Along with the April 2022 denial of petitions for RFS SREs, these denials apply EPA’s current interpretation of the Clean Air Act SRE provisions, consistent with a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit holding in Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. EPA.



USDA Announces United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board Appointments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of four members to serve on the United Sorghum Checkoff Program’s Board of Directors. All four appointees will serve three-year terms starting December 2022 and ending December 2025.

According to the USDA press release, the sorghum farmers appointed to the board are:
    Jeffry D. Zortman, Fowler, Kansas, Kansas Member
    Kendall Hodgson, Little River, Kansas, Kansas Member
    Joshua Birdwell, Malone, Texas, Texas Member
    Zachary Rendel, Miami, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Member

The 13-member United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board is composed of nine sorghum farmers who represent the three states with the largest sorghum production – Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas – and four at-large national representatives. More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) United Sorghum Checkoff Program webpage and on the board’s website, sorghumcheckoff.com.

Tuesday November 01 Ag News

 Cuming County Board of Supervisors Seeking Extension Board Nominations

The Cuming County Board of Supervisors are seeking nominations for individuals interested in serving a three-year term on the Cuming County Extension Board. Due to changes in the laws, Extension Board Members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors rather than being elected.

Two positions on the Cuming County Extension Board are up for appointment. The district lines are defined according to the Cuming County Board of Supervisors districts.  Nominees are needed for the District II and IV. Marty Smith, Extension Board Representative, has agreed to a second 3-year term in District II (Supervisor Maynard Munderloh). Kristie Borgelt, Extension Board Representative, has agreed to a second 3-year term in District IV. Potential candidates are encouraged to contact the Extension Office, if you have questions on which supervisor district you reside in.

A nominating committee is seeking nominations or calls from interested individuals.  This nomination committee will be responsible for preparing a slate of potential candidates that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration. If you are interested in being a candidate, please feel free to contact the Cuming County Extension office at 402-372-6006 on or before November 21st.  

According to Extension Educator Hannah Guenther, the operation of Nebraska Extension should be given serious consideration by all county residents. It operates the tax funds under the guidance of the Cuming County Extension Board. Extension programs focus on priority needs and issues facing people of the county.



Cuming County Feeders Meet Wednesday in West Point

The Nebraska Cattlemen Market Reporting Service would like to extend you an invitation to a Market Outlook meeting on Wednesday, November 2, at 6:30 p.m.

Please join other area cattle feeders and us for a night of food, fellowship, and information. Jeff Stolle, Nebraska Cattlemen Vice President of Marketing will present a market outlook as well provide information on our Market Reporting Service. This meeting will also include a Nebraska Cattlemen update.

When: Wednesday, November 2
        Social at 6:30 p.m. - Dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Nielsen Community Center (200 Anna Stalp Ave, West Point)
Why: Market Update by Jeff Stolle, Nebraska Cattlemen VP of Marketing

RSVP to Bonita (402) 450-0223 (voice or text) blederer@necattlemen.org.



FALL GRAZING OF ALFALFA
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Range & Forage Specialist
 
With pastures running short this year because of drought, there has been interest grazing alfalfa in the fall.  In some cases, the alfalfa may not have been big enough to warrant haying or maybe you have an alfalfa field that is adjacent to some cornstalks.  A side benefit is that grazing alfalfa in late fall or winter can reduce alfalfa weevil infestations by removing stems and plant parts that serve as a wintering site or a spring laying site for weevil eggs.
 
Even though it is early-November, alfalfa is still quite green, despite several nights with low temperatures in the twenties.  There may be some wilting and yellowing, especially on the top, but most leaves still are attached to the plant stems.
 
The real question often being asked is “Can I be sure my cows won’t bloat if they graze my alfalfa?”.  To be quite honest, you never can be 100 percent certain that alfalfa won’t cause bloat.  Bloat occurs in ruminant livestock when gas produced during fermentation becomes trapped inside the rumen.
 
Bloat risk is much lower a week after a hard freeze that causes wilting.  But always use good management methods to reduce the risk further.  Have cows full before turning out to alfalfa.  Wait until mid-day, after frost or dew is gone, before turning out.  Provide other dry, palatable feeds or even bloat retardants.  And keep a close eye on them for the first couple days.
 
Alfalfa can be grazed safely.  Just be careful and realistic.



Midwest Dairy Seeks Applicants for Nebraska Dairy Ambassador Program
 
The Dairy Ambassador Program is an educational and leadership opportunity for young people who are passionate about dairy. Dairy Ambassadors have the opportunity to connect with consumers and share dairy’s story while networking with their peers and industry professionals. The program is designed for college students (enrolled full-time in a Nebraska post-secondary school) and high school junior (11th grade) and senior (12th grade) students. Applications need not be from a dairy farm or have past dairy experiences, just an interest in promoting dairy and gaining leadership opportunities.
 
Dairy Ambassadors will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including connecting with consumers at regional events, state fair, youth educational presentations, and attend dairy industry meetings as well as participating in leadership opportunities. The program is designed to shape future dairy champions who will promote the dairy community and support Midwest Dairy’s mission to give consumers an excellent dairy experience.
 
“Education is a cornerstone of our industry and is an important piece of mission to enrich the education of our future leaders and ultimately, our entire dairy industry,” says Tracy J. Behnken, Farmer Relations and Communications Manager. “Our Dairy Ambassador program has been very effective in encouraging growth, innovation and excellence in our industry and we’re looking forward to reviewing the applications of the many bright, young college and high school students across our state.”
 
To be considered for the Dairy Ambassador Program, applicants must be enrolled as a Nebraska High School Junior (11th Grade) or Senior (12th Grade) during the current year of application, or enrolled full-time in a Nebraska post-secondary school for the duration of the appointment. All applicants must be able to communicate effectively through writing and speaking and possess a passion for dairy. Dairy Ambassadors are expected to serve starting January 10, 2023 and ending November 30, 2023. During their service, ambassadors will receive stipends and have approved expenses covered upon participation. After successful completion of the one-year program, Dairy Ambassadors are eligible to apply for a $1,000 educational scholarship.
 
Students can apply at www.MidwestDairy.com, in the For Young Dairy Leaders tab/section, under Ambassador Programs then select Nebraska. More details can be found on the webpage plus the online application (APPLY NOW) is at the bottom of the program page. Online applications are due DECEMBER 15, 2022. Selected ambassadors will be notified by JANUARY 10, 2022.
 
If you have questions, please contact Dawn Eckel, Nebraska Dairy Ambassador Coordinator, at dklabenes16@gmail.com OR Tracy J. Behnken, Farmer Relations and Communications Manager at tbehnken@midwestdairy.com or 531-207-4291.



Central Valley Ag Delivers Value to Member-Owners in the Form of $15.5 Million of Equity Payments

Central Valley Ag (CVA) continues to give back to member-owners, demonstrating the cooperative spirit. As a farmer-owned cooperative, CVA is truly for the farmers – by the farmers.

The equity of the farmers/members can eventually be returned to them in cash payouts throughout their membership. Earlier this year, CVA’s Board of Directors approved the distribution of year-earned and age-based equity payments to its member-owners totaling almost 15.5 million dollars.

A payment of 13.15 million dollars is being made to member-owners based on their business with the cooperative in 2008. Additionally, approximately 2.2 million dollars of age-based equity and retirements was distributed to members that were age 65 or older as of December 31, 2021.

“I am proud of CVA’s performance and our ability to return equity to our member-owners,” said Carl Dickinson, CEO of Central Valley Ag. “It is compelling to have the cooperative in a position to give back to the membership. Not only are we able to provide them products and services, but because of CVA’s performance, we are able to return cash.”

When a co-op is profitable, dollars are returned back to owners in two ways, the first is through cash patronage. This is a direct return back to producers based on the amount of business they have done with the co-op.

In addition to cash patronage, the co-op has earnings that are reserved for later distributions. In the short-term, these equity dollars are an investment by members in their co-op and can be used by the co-op to make capital improvements, which further grow the business or make the co-op more efficient

“The cooperative would not be where it is without the loyalty of our member-owners. This business is for the farmers. It is always an honor to share with them the success of the cooperative,” said Dickinson



IANR class pioneers Midwest’s Spanish instruction for agricultural needs  

Effective communication is vital for agricultural operations. To help meet that need, a class in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Animal Science Department is offering specialized instruction in Spanish, focusing on practical use in modern agriculture and the food processing industry.  

Taught by Leila Venzor, a doctoral student in Animal Science, the class is pioneering such specialized language study in the Midwest.  

ASCI 42, Section 950 is offered one day a week in the spring semester and is open to any IANR student, although the focus is practical Spanish use for Animal Science majors. The course is non-credit, but the department is developing a digital badge to certify students’ language competence.  

Latinos are the largest minority in Nebraska, accounting for about 11% of the state’s population. Over the last two decades, the number of Latinos employed in Nebraska businesses has almost tripled.   

The UNL class isn’t instruction in the kind of broad conversational Spanish one would encounter in a beginning Spanish class in high school, said Venzor, a Fort Worth, Texas, native who grew up speaking Spanish at home with her parents. Instead, the class focuses on specific Spanish terms in agriculture, horsemanship and food processing, and phrases associated with basic communication involving those fields.  

“It’s really more practicing those terms so that you can directly apply them,” said Venzor, whose graduate work includes scientific study of novel ingredients in processed meats. Venzor has worked part-time on such science for Archer Daniels Midland Company. Her work there also involved visits to food processing facilities in Mexico and Central America, and the experience honed her skill in understanding the practical application of Spanish in real-world workplace situations.  

UNL students in her Spanish in Agriculture class say the instruction has had value for them.  

“I wanted to take the class originally because I’ve worked with ethically diverse people before on a hog operation,” said Kylie Dierks, a junior Animal Science major from Hastings. “The course did a great job of laying down basic agriculture terms so people could communicate even if there was a language barrier. Leila does a great job of explaining the differences between Hispanic cultures as well as professional and slang words for the same term.”

“Even if you don’t have any Spanish experience,” Dierks said, “it’s a good way to get exposed to the terminology,” since the class offers “invaluable knowledge to anyone looking to learn agriculture Spanish terms.”

Benjamin Niyodusenga, an international student from Rwanda, also praised the class. “Considering that it was only an hour per week, we did a lot more than I expected to cover in such a short period of time,” said Niyodusenga, a senior with an interest in community and regional planning.  

Students “went through the daily phrases used in Spanish conversations and had a chance to talk to the native Spanish speakers from one of the high schools here in Lincoln,” he said. “It was a challenge to talk to the native Spanish speakers because it required getting out of your comfort zone and being confident during the interviews.”

Effective ag-related communication with Spanish speakers not only facilitates production efficiency. It also enhances workplace safety — a central focus for the class. “Production comes second to safety. We heavily emphasize that,” Venzor said. “That’s kind of the capstone of the course.”  

Venzor gives credit both to those UNL figures who originated and supported the Spanish in Agriculture class and to others in the university community nationwide — Cindy Barnett, a professor at Murray State University in Kentucky, as well as Penn State University — whose work has helped her develop her approach to instruction.  

David Velasco, a graduate student in Animal Science, created the UNL class several years ago with support from Chris Calkins, a professor in the department. When Velasco was set to graduate (he’s now a doctoral student at Colorado State University), the Dean’s Office for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) said it was important to continue the class and offered the assistantship opportunity to Venzor.  

“I've put in a lot of work to focus this class on Nebraska,” Venzor said. “Other people have developed resources that have made things easier for me.”  

The forward momentum for the class is continuing. For next year, Venzor plans to extend the weekly instruction to 90 minutes.  



Women in Ag program to host ‘Fighting Winter Blues’ course

Nebraska Extension’s Women in Agriculture program will host “Fighting Winter Blues,” a virtual course offering strategies to work through symptoms of seasonal depression and anxiety, at 7:30 p.m. Central time on Nov. 30.

It will be facilitated by Ashley Machado, a mental health consultant who works primarily with agricultural professionals and their families.

“With the shorter days, colder weather, and gray skies, the lack of sunshine and outdoor time in the winter can leave some feeling down,” Machado said.

The course will discuss why the winter blues come around and how to work through them. It will offer actionable tools for participants to bring home over the winter months.

Machado is an advocate for rethinking the ways that we support mental health in the agriculture industry and specializes in breaking down big ideas and deep feelings into simple, actionable strategies. She applies 15 years of experience to helping individuals and organizations in agriculture to develop the tools they need to maintain good mental health and operate and live fully.

Machado holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and a master’s in social work with an emphasis in clinical mental health. She grew up in the dairy industry and now lives in California with her husband, a rancher and almond farmer.

The free workshop will be held via Zoom. Registration can be completed on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu.



Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees

Know a Nebraska rancher, farmer or forestland owner who goes above and beyond in the stewardship of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2023 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Nebraska, the $10,000 award is presented with Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN), Cargill and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

The application deadline is March 1, 2023. Applications can be emailed to mindyr@a-fan.org or postmarked by March 1, and mailed to:

Leopold Conservation Award
c/o AFAN
5225 S. 16th Street
Lincoln, NE 68512

Selected recipients must be available for an Earth Day press conference, summer video production, and fall award ceremony.

“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today. Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO.

The first Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award was presented to Wilson Ranch of Lakeside in 2006. The 2022 recipient of the award was Wine Glass Ranch of Imperial. To see a full list of award recipients visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/Nebraska.

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Nebraska is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Cargill, Nebraska Environmental Trust, AFAN, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, Audubon Nebraska, Lyle Sittler Memorial Fund, McDonald’s, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Game and Parks, Nebraska Land Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, World Wildlife Fund-Northern Great Plains, and Green Cover Seed.



Value of Gain on Winter Backgrounded Cattle
Elliott Dennis, NE Extension Livestock Economist

Cumulative national feeder and stocker cattle receipts are slightly lagging both 2021 and the 5-year average (2017-2021) at 12,098,700 head through Oct 21. In 2022, more of the receipts are coming from cattle weighing less than 600 lbs. and heifers – both signals that the drought in various parts of the United States is affecting feeder and stocker cattle being sold.
 
Cow-calf producers who still have calves are in the process of deciding whether to sell or retain weaned calves. This decision must consider both the cost to put on the additional weight (total amount, quality, cost of feed resources, etc.) and the expected price received when cattle are sold at higher weights (at current and future basis-adjusted prices). The difference between these two is profit but only on the additional weight gained. Positive values indicate that profits could be made by retaining feeder cattle this fall.
 
Survey work from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln shows that producers can use a combination of price risk management and different lengths in their production system as a hedge against adverse price movements. Putting on weight during the winter and selling in March-April or selling in the late summer are the two common backgrounding production systems in Nebraska. Within these two systems, total weight gain can be influenced by the type of feed given. Gain can either be fast or slow in either the winter stocking 2022-23 and summer grazing 2023 seasons. These decisions impact the total weight gained at each phase and thus the time and weight feeder cattle enter feedlots.
 
The value-of-gain for the two wintering scenarios (slow vs. fast) is calculated using 66 head of 525 lb. weaned steers bought on Nov 2, 2022, and sold in Lexington, NE on March 9, 2023, using Beef Basis. The value of gain for the slow winter performance using an ADG of 0.80 lb/d is $198.96/cwt. The value of gain for the fast winter performance using an ADG of 2.05 lb/d is $137.45/cwt. Within each of these production systems, there is little advantage of speeding up or slowing down the cattle since the value-of-gain does not vary substantially between the two weeks before or after the proposed sell date.
 
These calculations are specific to cattle sold in Lexington, NE, and producers making decisions about whether to retain cattle should re-calculate the value of gain for their location using tools such as those available at Beef Basis. Similarly, these values are for current prices and historical basis. Under no price risk management, the actual price received will differ. If price risk management tools are used such as CME futures or options or RMA Livestock Risk Protection, producers some of this risk by “locking in” an output price but are still subject to basis risk.

Producers who retain cattle over the winter should re-calculate the value of gain for cattle in the Spring as they come off cornstalks or winter grazing to determine if the market is still willing to pay them to put on yet additional weight.



USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 435 million bushels in September 2022. Total corn consumption was down 10 percent from August 2022 and down 5 percent from September 2021. September 2022 usage included 90.6 percent for alcohol and 9.4 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 4.47 million bushels, up 12 percent from August 2022 and up 31 percent from September 2021. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 383 million bushels, was down 11 percent from August 2022 and down 6 percent from September 2021. Corn consumed in September 2022 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 92.7 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.61 million tons during September 2022, down 14 percent from August 2022 and down 8 percent from September 2021. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.25 million tons in September 2022, down 5 percent from August 2022 but up 5 percent from September 2021.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 238,468 tons during September 2022, down 4 percent from August 2022 and down 15 percent from September 2021. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 192,999 tons in September 2022, up 2 percent from August 2022 but down 7 percent from September 2021.

Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.03 million tons (168 million bushels) in September 2022, compared with 5.25 million tons (175 million bushels) in August 2022 and 4.92 million tons (164 million bushels) in September 2021. Crude oil produced was 1.99 billion pounds down 5 percent from August 2022 but up 3 percent from September 2021. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.66 billion pounds during September 2022 decreased 5 percent from August 2022 but increased 3 percent from September 2021.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 197,508 tons in September 2022, compared with 171,334 tons in August 2022 and 168,464 tons in September 2021. Canola crude oil produced was 155 million pounds, up 14 percent from August 2022 and up 14 percent from September 2021. Canola once refined oil production, at 163 million pounds during September 2022, was up 21 percent from August 2022 and up 17 percent from September 2021.

USDA Flour Milling Products
All wheat ground for flour during the third quarter 2022 was 237 million bushels, up 2 percent from the second quarter 2022 grind of 232 million bushels and up 3 percent from the third quarter 2021 grind of 231 million bushels. Third quarter 2022 total flour production was 110 million hundredweight, up 2 percent from the second quarter 2022 and up 3 percent from the third quarter 2021. Whole wheat flour production at 4.63 million hundredweight during the third quarter 2022 accounted for 4 percent of the total flour production. Millfeed production from wheat in the third quarter 2022 was 1.72 million tons. The daily 24-hour milling capacity of wheat flour during the third quarter 2022 was 1.60 million hundredweight.

Durum wheat ground for flour and semolina production during the third quarter of 2022 totaled 15.7 million bushels, up 2 percent from the second quarter 2022 and up less than 1 percent from the third quarter 2021. Third quarter 2022 durum flour and semolina production was 7.51 million hundredweight, up less than 1 percent from the second quarter 2022 and up 3 percent from the third quarter 2021. Whole wheat durum flour and semolina production was 123,000 hundredweight, up 46 percent from 84,000 hundredweight in the second quarter 2022 but down 48 percent from 238,000 hundredweight in the third quarter 2021. Third quarter durum wheat millfeed production was 103,877 tons and the daily 24-hour milling capacity for durum and semolina production was 134,730 hundredweight.

Rye ground for flour during the third quarter of 2022 was 411,000 bushels, up 5 percent from the second quarter 2022 but down 5 percent from the third quarter 2021. Rye flour production during the third quarter of 2022 was 186,000 hundredweight, compared to 174,000 hundredweight in the previous quarter and 193,000 hundredweight in the same quarter for the previous year. The daily 24-hour milling capacity for rye milling was 9,655 hundredweight for the third quarter 2022.



USDA Announces November 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for November 2022, which are effective Nov. 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.

Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans
FSA offers farm ownership and operating loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time, or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. FSA also offers emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters or quarantine.  For many loan options, FSA sets aside funding for historically underserved producers, including veterans, beginning, women, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic farmers and ranchers

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for November 2022 are as follows:
    Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 4.375%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 4.500%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 2.500%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 1.500%
    Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%

FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.

Commodity and Storage Facility Loans
Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment and loans that provide interim financing to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.  Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and are administered by FSA.
    Commodity Loans (less than one year disbursed): 5.250%
    Farm Storage Facility Loans:
        Three-year loan terms: 4.250%
        Five-year loan terms: 4.125%
        Seven-year loan terms: 4.000%
        Ten-year loan terms: 3.875%
        Twelve-year loan terms: 3.875%
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans (15 years): 4.000%

Pandemic and Disaster Support
FSA broadened the use of the Disaster Set Aside (DSA), normally used in the wake of natural disasters, to allow farmers with USDA farm loans who are affected by COVID-19, and are determined eligible, to have their next payment set aside. Because of the pandemic’s continued impacts, producers can apply for a second DSA for COVID-19 or a second DSA for a natural disaster for producers with an initial DSA for COVID-19. It’s available until Dec. 31, 2022.

FSA also reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the year’s winter storms, drought, hurricanes and other natural disasters that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared to deliver a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to agricultural producers and impacted communities. Many programs are available without an official disaster designation, including several risk management and disaster recovery options.

Distressed Borrowers
The Inflation Reduction Act provided $3.1 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. In October 2022, USDA has started to provide automatic and case-by-case assistance to distressed borrowers.



U.S. Meat Sector Releases First-Ever Data Report on Environment, Other Key Indicators
 
A major new report released in advance of the United Nations Climate Summit next week in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, reveals that about 81% of facilities reporting data are covered by Meat Institute members’ commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

With 100% of the Meat Institute’s large U.S. members (more than 2000 employees) submitting data, the report covers an estimated 90% of meat sold in the United States (by volume) and sets the first ever baselines for measuring progress toward ambitious targets for environmental sustainability, animal care, food safety, worker safety, and food security.

Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented:
“98% of American households purchase meat, putting our sector undoubtedly at the center of solutions for healthy diets, healthy communities, and a healthy planet for generations to come.

The Meat Institute’s first-ever continuous improvement report is a game changer for transparency in the sector - setting transparent baselines that will allow us to  measure progress and verify our sector’s contributions to global goals.”

Further key findings include:
    Supporting NAMI’s commitment to measure and fill the “protein gap” for needy families by 2025, 78% of reporting companies donate money or products to food banks and charities, including more than $9 million announced this year to combat hunger by building or expanding food banks’ capacity to safely receive, store, package, and distribute fresh meat hungry families need.
    82% of reporting facilities are covered by a company commitment to minimize packaging waste, and 71% are covered by a company commitment to reduce food waste.
    96% of reporting facilities that conduct meat processing require suppliers to maintain a written animal welfare program based on NAMI Animal Handling Guidelines.
    98% of reporting facilities have a multidisciplinary team that periodically reviews food safety programs and takes improvement actions.



Higher-Priced Turkeys on the Holiday Menu

U.S. consumers can expect to pay more for their Thanksgiving turkeys this year as supplies have dwindled following the widespread outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Since the outbreak began this spring, more than 7.5 million turkeys have been removed from production in an effort to mitigate the disease. The losses were the latest blow to the national turkey flock which, was already shrinking due to a series of production challenges and industry contraction in recent years.

The combination of tight supplies and strong holiday demand will send retail turkey prices to record highs this year, according to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. Seasonal cold storage inventories of whole birds are at their lowest level since 2006 and wholesale prices for frozen turkeys are currently running about 30% higher than last year.

“The good news is that we do not anticipate a shortage of turkeys for the holidays this year,” said Brian Earnest, lead animal protein economist with CoBank. “But they will definitely be more expensive and probably a bit smaller than what consumers are used to seeing in their grocers’ meat case.”

Over the last decade, the retail price for whole turkeys has historically hovered between $0.90 - $1.00/lb. ahead of Thanksgiving. In its Oct. 21 National Retail Report, USDA put the price of frozen turkeys at $1.58/lb. That’s up 47% compared to the same time last year and would drive the average price of a 20-lb bird $10 higher to $31.50.

Smaller turkeys are also a result of HPAI. Since the outbreaks began, the average slaughter weight has dropped by about 1 pound. And HPAI has hit larger, heavier toms harder than hens. Compared to the three-year average, cumulative tom slaughter is down 9.8% in 2022, while hens are down only 2.3%. In total, year-to-date turkey production in pounds is down 5% versus last year. If this trend holds, 2022 U.S. turkey production will drop 9.6%, the largest annual reduction since 2009.

Declining turkey production amid unrelenting consumer demand for meat and poultry has taken a significant bite of whole bird inventory volumes. As of Sept. 30, frozen whole turkey inventory stocks stood at 239 million lbs. That’s an 8% drop from 2021 and 19% below the 2018-2021 average. But the effect on prices seems far more dramatic than the supply shrinkage. All cuts of turkey have surged higher since spring. Fresh, boneless breast meat is trading at $6.50/lb. – an astonishing 350% increase versus last fall.

Earnest said the one wildcard for retail prices of whole turkeys this holiday season is grocer price promotions. Historically, retailers have used frozen turkeys as a “loss leader” around the holidays, selling them at minimal or no profit to lure customers into the store. However, grocers are facing their own inflationary pressures and it remains to be seen how grocers will manage higher wholesale costs, he added.



AGCO Reports Record Third Quarter Results

AGCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE: AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment and solutions, reported its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022. Net sales for the third quarter were approximately $3.1 billion, an increase of approximately 14.5% compared to the third quarter of 2021. Excluding unfavorable foreign currency translation of approximately 11.8%, net sales in the quarter increased approximately 26.3% compared to the third quarter of 2021. Reported net income was $3.18 per share for the third quarter of 2022, and adjusted net income (3) , which excludes restructuring expenses, was also $3.18 per share. These results compare to reported net income of $2.40 per share and adjusted net income, which excludes restructuring expenses, of $2.41 per share for the third quarter of 2021.

“We delivered record third quarter sales and earnings driven through the consistent execution of our farmer-first strategy, coupled with continued robust market conditions in many of our regions,” stated Eric Hansotia, AGCO’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our solid operational performance and continued strong pricing overcame ongoing supply chain challenges, inflationary pressures and significant currency headwinds. Healthy farm fundamentals are supporting order boards that now stretch well into 2023 in some regions. The success of our farmer-first strategy, focused on growing our precision ag business, globalizing a full-line of our Fendt branded products and expanding our parts and service business, is generating strong growth in these margin-rich businesses.”

Mr. Hansotia continued, “Global market conditions remain positive as favorable farm economics are allowing farmers to upgrade and replace their aging fleets. At the same time, our smart technology product lines are in strong demand and are helping to drive meaningful productivity improvements for our customers through both retrofitting their current equipment and in our new product offerings. We will continue to accelerate investments in premium technology, smart farming solutions and enhanced digital capabilities to support our farmer-first strategy while helping to sustainably feed the world.”

Net sales for the first nine months of 2022 were approximately $8.8 billion, an increase of approximately 9.6% compared to the same period in 2021. Excluding unfavorable foreign currency translation of approximately 8.2%, net sales for the first nine months of 2022 increased approximately 17.9% compared to the same period in 2021. For the first nine months of 2022, reported net income was $7.58 per share, and adjusted net income (3) , excluding impairment charges, restructuring expenses and other related items, was $7.95 per share. These results compare to reported net income of $8.11 per share, and adjusted net income, excluding restructuring expenses and the reversal of a valuation allowance previously established against the Company’s deferred tax assets in the United States, of $7.30 per share for the first nine months of 2021.

Monday October 31 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 30, 2022, there were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 44% very short, 41% short, 15% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 46% very short, 38% short, 16% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn harvested was 80%, ahead of 70% last year and 61% for the five-year average.

Soybeans harvested was 97%, ahead of 91% last year and 89% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 15% very poor, 23% poor, 40% fair, 21% good, and 1% excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 94%, ahead of 89% last year, and near 90% average.

Sorghum mature was 98%, equal to both last year and average. Harvested was 75%, near 77% last year, but ahead of 65% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 44% very poor, 38% poor, 16% fair, 2% good, and 0% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Row crop harvest was winding down ahead of normal as Iowa’s farmers had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 30, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, completing fall tillage, applying fall fertilizer, baling stalks, and hauling manure. Field fires were reported again in some areas with continued dry conditions.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 24 percent very short, 44 percent short, 32 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 26 percent very short, 45 percent short, 29 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Harvest of the corn for grain crop reached 77 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of the average. Corn harvest in northeast and south central Iowa continued to lag behind with 58 and 59 percent complete, respectively, while 95 percent has been harvested in northwest Iowa. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 17 percent.

Soybeans harvested reached 94 percent complete, 1 week ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Southwest and south central Iowa producers still had over 15 percent of their soybean crop left to harvest.

Pasture condition rated 25 percent good to excellent. Dry conditions were an issue for cattle and  any producers were moving them off pasture.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Dry conditions this fall in the winter-wheat-producing Southern Plains already are taking a toll on the newly planted 2023 crop, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday. However, some parts of the region could receive some beneficial rains later this week, according to DTN forecasts.

CORN
-- Harvest progress: 76% of corn was harvested as of Sunday, Oct. 30, up 15 percentage points from the previous week. This year's harvest progress is now 3 percentage points ahead of last year's 73% and 12 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 64%.

SOYBEANS
-- Harvest progress: 88% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, up 8 percentage points from the previous week. That is now 10 percentage points ahead of last year's 78% and 10 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 78%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 87% of winter wheat was planted as of Sunday, 1 percentage point ahead of last year and 2 percentage points ahead of the average pace of 85%.
-- Crop development: 62% of winter wheat was emerged as of Sunday, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 66%.
-- Crop condition: In its first condition rating for the 2023 crop, USDA NASS rated U.S. winter wheat 28% in good-to-excellent condition, 17 percentage points below last year's rating of 45% good to excellent.



SOYBEAN RESIDUE FOR FORAGE
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator
 
Forage this fall is tight and crop residues offer a cost-effective opportunity for cows to graze or for baling and feeding later.  We’ve looked at corn and sorghum residues previously, so let’s take some time to assess the quality of soybean residues.
 
Soybeans themselves are very high in protein and fat. At about 40% Crude Protein and 20% fat the beans themselves can be a good feed source when fed in moderation. The high fat content can cause issues with rumen function, especially in young calves, so before letting animals out to graze a bean field, clean up any piles of spilled grain.
 
Soybean residues on the other hand, have a much different feed composition. Empty bean pods and stems contain only 4 to 6% CP and the TDN is only 35 to 45%. Soybean leaves are slightly higher in protein at 12%, but the leaves break down quickly and are usually no longer available for consumption once harvest has been completed.
 
With these qualities, soybean residues are unable support the nutritional requirements of a dry cow even if there is some grain left in the field. There is still opportunity to graze soybean residue in conjunction with a supplemented high-quality feed.  Not only does this provides rest to pastures, but can help stretch feed resources while still ensuring the cow is properly fed.
 
Baled soybean residue can be used as a roughage source in rations if needed. Just like grazing, baled soybean residue does not meet cow requirements, with even lower quality than baled corn stalk residues.
 
Soybean residue may not be the quality we often think. While it can be used to rest pasture and stretch feed resources, residue alone will not meet even a dry cow’s nutrient requirements. Supplementation will be need if you decide to utilize your soybean residue.



 Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Travel to Nebraska, Announce Historic Investment to Increase and Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity

On Wednesday, November 2, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will visit a local, family-owned meat processor in Omaha, Nebraska. There, he will announce a historic investment through the American Rescue Plan by the Biden-Harris Administration to expand meat and poultry processing capacity in Nebraska and across the country, which in turn increases competition, supports producer income, strengthens the food supply chain, and creates jobs and economic opportunities in rural areas.

The announcement is one of many actions that USDA is taking to expand processing capacity and increase competition in meat and poultry processing to make agricultural markets more accessible, fair, competitive, and resilient for American farmers and ranchers, and builds upon the Department’s efforts to transform the nation’s food system.



Nebraska Farmers Union PAC Endorses Sen. Carol Blood for Governor

NEBFARMPAC, the political action committee of Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska’s second largest general farm organization with over 3,700 farm and ranch families, announced its endorsement of State Senator Carol Blood for Governor in the general election.

“Carol Blood is proud of her family farm roots, and has been a consistent champion of family farm and ranch agriculture as a State Senator whether the issue is rural healthcare, property tax relief, developing a more fair and balanced way to fund all Nebraska K-12 schools, Country of Origin Labeling for all food products, ending unfunded state mandates on local governments, or local control of the planning and zoning process,” said NEBFARMPAC President Vern Jantzen of Plymouth.

“Carol Blood does her homework, brings people to the table, and is committed to solving problems in an inclusive and non-partisan manner. Her track record in the Legislature shows she is a proven problem solver with a clear eye to the future,” said NEBFARMPAC Secretary John Hansen of Lincoln.

“State Senator Carol Blood has valuable experience as a local city council member, and of the legislative process as a State Senator.  As Governor, she would hit the ground running because of her broad understanding of the issues facing our state, and her understanding of how our local and state governments work,” said Vern Jantzen.

“We know Senator Carol Blood. She says what she means, and means what she says. She keeps her word. We know Governor Carol Blood believes in and would be a champion on protecting our state’s unique non-partisan Legislature from partisan pressures from any political party. Nebraska will not be well served by making our Legislature more partisan and more like the nonsense that goes on in Washington, D.C. Senator Blood is a person of character, courage, and integrity. Nebraska would be well served with her no nonsense, just the facts style. She will stand up to protect local planning and zoning authority and fight efforts to replace that system with a Governor appointed board that would control and oversee a state wide matrix system that leaves local views and values out of the equation,” concluded John Hansen.



International Trade
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

Nebraska is one of the nation’s top agricultural states. Our farmers and ranchers have products that reach every corner of the country, as well as foreign markets around the world. In 2020, Nebraska exported $2.33 billion worth of soybeans/soybean products and $1.2 billion worth of corn. In 2021, Nebraska exported $1.81 billion worth of beef and $325.8 million worth of pork.

Nebraska’s ability to produce and export agricultural goods means international trade is vital to the economic livelihood of our state and its people. Our agricultural exports are also important to foreign nations, who rely on access to affordable, well-sourced products to help feed their country.

It’s troubling then that Mexico, a long-time trading partner of the United States, seems intent on enforcing a misguided ban on genetically modified corn.

This issue goes back to 2020, when Mexican President Lopez Obrador suddenly issued a presidential decree that Mexico would phase out the use of genetically modified corn by 2024.  Since then, there has been significant concern over whether the ban will actually be implemented, as well as what exactly it would cover. For example, the Mexican government has in the past indicated the ban would only apply to corn destined for human consumption, but there has been little action to clarify this.

Making matters worse, between August of 2021 and March of 2022, Mexican regulators have begun rejecting corn, soybean, canola, and cotton biotech products. These actions, as well as comments from Mexican officials, suggest the country intends to move forward with the ban.

It’s important to note that this kind of ban is not based on science. Genetically modified crops are not only safe, but also vital to modern agriculture. These scientific advancements have helped farmers to reduce water/land usage, lower input costs, and boost yield. Such a ban would also be contradictory to the clear free trade commitments Mexico made under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The impact of Mexico’s 2024 ban would be severe. Nebraska is the top state in the union for white corn, which is used in many food products. Nebraska exported over $348 million of corn to Mexico in 2020, making it our state’s largest export market for the product. Any restriction would devastate family farmers across our state.

But the impacts of this misguided policy go far beyond Nebraska. Over 90 percent of all corn acreage in the United States is planted with genetically engineered seeds. A ban would also hurt the people of Mexico and their economy by dramatically raising food prices.

Just the mere possibility of a ban is already impacting farmers. Without certainty about 2024, it’s hard for producers to know how to best plan out seed purchases and planting schedules.

Mexico’s ban against GMO corn would be a lose-lose for both countries’ economies, farmers, and science. I’ve been tracking this issue closely, and have been working with stakeholders over the last year to emphasize the gravity of the situation. It’s important that we all do everything we can to push back on this ridiculous policy and ensure it does not go into effect. I encourage the Biden Administration to fully enforce USMCA, including initiating an enforcement case if necessary, so we can reach a reasonable resolution with Mexico.



Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Announces 2023 Inductees

Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame inductees and industry award winners will be honored on Jan. 31, 2023, during the 14th annual banquet, which precedes the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans, Feb. 1-3. The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to honor the exceptional visionary men and women who have made lasting contributions to the cattle-feeding industry.

Hall of Fame inductees for 2023 include Jerry Adams with Adams Land and Cattle in Broken Bow, Nebraska, and the late Ed Barrett of Barrett Crofoot Feedyards in Hereford, Texas. Thomas “Dee” Likes, former CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association, will receive the Industry Leadership Award, and Terry Wegner with Drinnin West Cattle Co. will receive the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award.

“Cattle feeders continue to play a key role in making the United States the world’s most efficient producer of safe, quality beef,” said Cliff Becker, senior vice president, Farm Journal, and Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame board member. “The 2023 inductees exemplify the visionary leaders who have made lasting contributions to the cattle-feeding industry.”

Attendees of the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet will find it convenient to stay in the Big Easy for the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, which starts the next day. The annual convention features important industry meetings, motivational speakers, valuable education, entertainment, a massive trade show, producer recognition and much more.

Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet tickets are $200 per person in addition to convention registration. All proceeds from banquet ticket sales and corporate sponsorships benefit future Hall of Fame initiatives.

For more information about the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show and to purchase tickets to the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet, visit convention.ncba.org. For more information about the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame and 2023 inductees, visit www.cattlefeeders.org.



MARAD Awards $25.5 million PIDP Grant for Port of Grays Harbor Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project

The United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded the Port of Grays Harbor a $25.5 million Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant for the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project.   The grant will be matched by $21.35 million in non-federal funds.  

The Port Infrastructure Development Program is a discretionary grant program administered by MARAD. Funds for the PIDP are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that improve the safety, efficiency or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port. In FY2022, a total of $684,310,000 of funding was available to make awards under the FY 2022 PIDP grant program. The Port submitted an application for the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project in May 2022.

Critical to the Port’s ability to accommodate Ag Processing Inc a cooperative’s (AGP) growth, attract private investment, increase international shipments and create jobs, the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project will add 50,000 feet of rail for offloading, storage, and assembly; repurpose the 50-acre former 520 pontoon construction site into cargo laydown area; construct secured site access and roadway improvements, and replace the marine terminal fendering and stormwater systems.  

The project is in response to AGP’s proposed expansion to double their US soybean meal export capacity by developing a second export facility at Terminal 4b.  As a co-product of soybean processing, soybean meal exports are expected to increase in response to the growing demand for renewable fuel feedstocks, including soybean oil.  The project has received widespread support from soybean farmers and associations across the Midwest.

“We are incredibly grateful to our federal delegation and their staffs, who truly understand the importance of strategic transportation investment, for all of their support and leadership in securing this critical funding for the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project,” stated Port of Grays Harbor Commission President Tom Quigg.  “This project will allow us to accommodate AGP’s growth and private investment here in Grays Harbor, increase international shipments of US grown and processed soybean meal, and sustain thousands of farming jobs throughout the Midwest, while creating new jobs for our community.  As stated in our grant application, this is not just a project of regional significance, this is truly a project of National significance and we thank Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, Congressman Kilmer, MARAD and all our supporters for recognizing this.”

“The widespread, bi-partisan support we received for this project’s grant application was extraordinary,” shared Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Gary Nelson.  “From our local and tribal leaders, to Governors and US Senators and Representatives throughout the Midwest, this infrastructure project will play a critical role in the United States economy for decades to come.  We look forward to having this project be a poster-child for PIDP by showcasing how investment in public infrastructure can leverage benefits like private investment, job creation and opportunities for communities across our Nation.”



Soybean Farmers Provide $1.3 million to Help Expand Soybean Meal Exports

One of the most dynamic developments within the soybean industry in recent history has been the proliferation of current and planned expansion of soybean processing throughout the United States – largely inspired by the demand for soybean oil as one of the primary feedstocks for the expanding renewable energy market.  These current and planned investments present a profound question, “With all of the future processing, how can we most effectively access markets for the increased soybean meal?”.  A group of soybean farmer organizations are helping provide an answer to this question by assisting a future investment that will significantly enhance the amount of U.S. soybean meal exported to international customers.  

AG Processing, Inc. (AGP), the Omaha-based cooperative that owns and operates ten soybean processing facilities in the Midwest, announced on March 22nd a major expansion and upgrade to its export terminal at the Port of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, Washington.  AGP plans to construct additional storage at its Terminal 2 facility and develop a new ship loader at Terminal 4.  These investments – scheduled to be operational in 2025 – will ultimately allow the AGP terminal to increase soybean meal exports from 3 million to 6 million metric tons.  In order to accommodate this growth and investment, the Port of Grays Harbor will expand its rail infrastructure within the complex to efficiently handle the increased volume, as well as mitigate the surface traffic impact to the local community.

Given the profound benefit these planned investments will provide to a significant number U.S. soybean farmers, the United Soybean Board, the Iowa Soybean Association, the Kansas Soybean Commission, the Nebraska Soybean Board, the North Dakota Soybean Council, the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, and the Soy Transportation Coalition have committed $1.3 million to help offset some of the pre-engineering, design, and site development costs of the Port of Grays Harbor Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment Project.

“With more future soybean processing in this country, farmers are very interested in opportunities to assist with the increased need for soybean meal export capacity,” says Jonathan Miller, a soybean farmer from Island, Kentucky, and Chairman of the Soy Transportation Coalition.  “The more we can export a higher value product, like soybean meal, farmers will benefit.  I am proud how these soybean farmer organizations are demonstrating their commitment to their fellow producers by making this significant investment.”

“Over the past 20 years, AGP has been an excellent partner, and we are excited to continue to collaborate with them on this major expansion,” says Gary Nelson, Executive Director of the Port of Grays Harbor.  “We are extremely pleased and grateful to receive this generous support from soybean farmers.  It will clearly enhance this project as it moves forward.  We look forward to the Port of Grays Harbor becoming an even more significant economic engine for not only our local and regional community, but also soybean farmers throughout the country.”   

“AGP’s previous and future investments at the Port of Grays Harbor are motivated by the commitment to provide efficient and economical access to international markets for U.S. soybean meal,” says Chris Schaffer, Chief Executive Officer of AGP.  “For many years, this export terminal has served as a vital link between AGP farmer-owned cooperative members and critical international markets.  We very much appreciate the financial commitment from the soybean farmer organizations to support AGP’s efforts to enhance and upgrade the port’s export capabilities.”

“What happens over there impacts what happens over here, and what happens over here impacts what happens over there,” explains Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.  “It is well-established how investments in the Pacific Northwest will result in greater farmer profitability in the Midwest.  In turn, profitable farmers in the Midwest result in increased investment in the Pacific Northwest.  AGP’s expansion project at the Port of Grays Harbor is arguably the most immediate opportunity for soybean farmers to assist with the need for increased soybean meal export capacity.  The Soy Transportation Coalition and other farmer organizations are pleased to partner in this important project.”  



IDALS & USDA APHIS Confirm Case of HPAI in Wright County, Iowa

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Wright County, Iowa.

The virus was found in a commercial layer flock, and this is the first confirmed case of HPAI in Wright County in 2022.

“With HPAI continuing to be a significant threat across the country, this is a difficult and stressful time for poultry farmers and egg producers,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We have been preparing for the possibility of additional outbreaks and are working closely with USDA and producers to eradicate this disease from our state. With migration ongoing, we continue to emphasize the need for strict biosecurity on poultry farms and around backyard flocks to help prevent and limit the spread of this destructive virus.”

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available at iowaagriculture.gov/biosecurity. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products. An internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.



Fall Insurance Prices Set for 2022

The fall price of corn in crop insurance calculations will be the highest since 2012 at $6.86. That's almost a dollar higher than spring's projected price and marks the third consecutive season of higher prices at harvest.

On soybeans, spring's projected price of $14.33 per bushel bests the $13.81-per-acre harvest price, which is the average of the November soybean contract's closing value each day during October. For corn, the December contract is used in calculations.

Revenue protection policies use the higher of the projected price or the harvest price to calculate revenue guarantees unless the farmer opted to exclude the harvest price as a way to lower premiums. Revenue guarantees are determined by multiplying the higher of the projected or harvest price by the farm's actual production history (APH) yield and the chosen coverage level, which typically ranges from 75% to 85% across the Corn Belt.

The projected price of soybeans -- $14.33 per bushel -- will be the second highest ever used in crop insurance calculations, falling shy of 2012's $15.39 per bushel harvest price.



USDA Trade Mission to East Africa Underway

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh arrived today in Nairobi to launch a USDA agribusiness trade mission to Kenya and Tanzania. The U.S. delegation includes representatives from 32 agribusinesses and farm organizations who are looking to establish trade relationships and explore opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports to East Africa.

“It is my great pleasure to lead this trade mission. Both Kenya and Tanzania are important growing markets and I look forward to strengthening our ties with both nations, and expand the opportunities for U.S. agricultural and food products exports,” said Bronaugh. “This is an exciting opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses and state representatives to learn firsthand about the local markets and build strong connections with their future partners in East Africa.”

Trade mission participants will engage directly with potential importers, receive in-depth market briefings, and participate in site visits.



 ASA/WISHH & USSEC Join USDA East Africa Trade Delegation

The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health Program and U.S. Soybean Export Council representatives join the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s agribusiness trade mission in Nairobi, Kenya, and Zanzibar, Tanzania on Oct. 31 - Nov. 4. Their participation reinforces the importance of U.S. soy protein for trade, development and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

WISHH Chair Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, an Illinois soybean farmer, is one of the six U.S. soy organization representatives on the trade mission led by USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronough. “Kenya was one of the first countries where U.S. soybean growers sent WISHH to start building relationships there when we founded WISHH 22 years ago. It is exciting to see this wise, long-term investment has taken root through WISHH’s strategic partnerships with producers of high-quality soy-based foods and feeds,” said Simpson-Dolbeare.

USSEC Executive Committee Member Lance Rezac, a Kansas soybean farmer and United Soybean Board director, also joins the trade delegation. “With Kenya having recently authorized the import of GMO plant material, this mission is an especially important opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and share the insights on U.S. Soy's value and reliability,” said Rezac, “U.S. Soy farmers are proud of the high-quality, sustainable product we grow and hope to help foster improved protein sources in the region, whether it's through direct soy food consumption or through animal agriculture.”

WISHH and USSEC have collaborated on market access for the region. Joining the two farmer-leaders are WISHH Executive Director Gena Perry and New Business Lead Austin Leefers, along with USSEC Executive Director of Market Access & Strategy Rosalind Leeck.

According to the July 2022 USDA report, Opportunities for U.S. Feed Ingredients and Processed Products in Kenya, “Soybean meal has had the most consistent growth and is expected to increase further as livestock capacity increases. Grains for feed are mostly domestically produced. However, as the price of feed production increases, Kenya is expected to look outside of domestic products to supplement demand. In 2021, soybean meal reached its second-highest imports in history at $1 million, a 97% increase from 2017. Soybean imports have been minimal and volatile but offer potential. Over the past five years, imports have ranged between $30 thousand (2021) to $8.5 million (2020) with million-dollar soybean imports coming from Ukraine”



SMART Broiler Phase II Grant Advances Broiler Chicken Welfare

Today, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and McDonald’s Corporation announced that three of the six research projects funded in Phase I of the SMART Broiler program have been selected to receive a total of $1.63 million in Phase II. In this phase, researchers will optimize hardware and software configurations, advance data management and processing tools for measuring key welfare indicators and justify commercial investment in these new welfare monitoring tools. The technologies will be tested at two broiler producing barns, Tyson Foods Broiler Research Barn in Arkansas and Master Good in Kisvárda, Hungary.

FFAR partnered with McDonald’s in 2019 to award approximately $4 million to develop precision monitoring technologies that improve the way broiler chicken welfare is measured globally throughout the supply chain. By identifying automated Sensors, Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technologies (SMART) solutions that can replace human observation and subjective scoring, the SMART Broiler initiative can enhance the welfare for 9 billion birds annually in the U.S. and improve producer profitability.

“FFAR is pleased to provide further support in Phase II of the SMART Broiler program to these bold projects that are developing technologies to meet consumer and producer demand for increased animal welfare, while helping farmers more efficiently produce one of the world’s most consumed meats,” said Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin, FFAR executive director.

The three SMART Broiler Phase II winners are:
    Brandon Carroll and Tom Darbonne with AudioT, a new venture established at Georgia Tech University, are receiving $300,000, with additional in-kind support provided by Tyson Foods, to develop a scalable, low-cost audio-monitoring tool that tracks bird vocalizations to alert farmers to broiler welfare and behavior. Bird vocalizations can provide insight into flock status and can be a complementary tool to video-based systems.
    Marian Dawkins with the University of Oxford is receiving $325,000, with additional in-kind support provided by Munters and Tyson Foods, to refine and extend the testing of a novel camera and computer system called OPTIFLOCK. The project is comparing key welfare outcomes, including hockburn, foot pad lesions and lameness, in commercial flocks managed with or without the technology and incorporates strategies to facilitate producer adoption of OPTIFLOCK technology.
    Niamh O’Connell with Queen’s University Belfast is receiving $1 million, with additional in-kind support provided by Moy Park, to transfer intelligent surveillance techniques used for tracking humans to provide real time monitoring of individual birds within a flock. This camera-based technology, called FlockFocus, represents a significant improvement to monitoring technology currently available to the industry and has the potential for revolutionizing animal welfare in other sectors.›

“McDonald’s is proud to partner with FFAR and take this next step in the SMART Broiler program, aimed at assisting farmers in providing even greater levels of care for their birds,” said Remi Rocca, senior director, Sustainable Sourcing, McDonald’s. “The collaborative work with FFAR, McDonald's producers such as Tyson, Master Good and Moy Park, allied associations such as USPOULTRY, as well as all of the scientists and innovators, is an excellent example of public-private partnerships that prioritize animal health and welfare.”

The six Phase I prize winners collectively received more than $2 million to explore potential technologies and monitoring methods that improve broiler chicken welfare.

To further support the SMART Broiler program, Accenture is providing program management, cloud services and technical consulting support to the Phase II awardees. USPOULTRY has also awarded $100,000 in sponsorship to the SMART Broiler program, demonstrating the strong support from the U.S. broiler industry for this initiative.



 AMVAC® and NewLeaf Symbiotics® Partner to Bring Biological Solutions to North American Crop Markets

AMVAC®, an American Vanguard® Company, and NewLeaf Symbiotics® of St. Louis, Missouri, are pleased to announce a new partnership to bring new and existing biologicals solutions to North American crop markets beginning in 2023.

This collaboration will harness the complementary marketing and technical strengths of each partner to expand the application of existing products and advance the development of future products utilizing the combined technical resources of both companies. The partnership also will expand and accelerate AMVAC’s growing GreenSolutions™ biological portfolio and facilitate NewLeaf Symbiotics’ objective of securing wider market penetration.

AMVAC leverages its deep market access, its strong sales teams in U.S. crop markets, and its growing portfolio of GreenSolutions™ biologicals. In the U.S., AMVAC’s GreenSolutions recently passed the 1.2-million-acre mark for application, a milestone for the company. AMVAC previously has announced biologicals-related partnerships with 3Bar Biologics, BASF, and Azotic North America.

NewLeaf Symbiotics brings to the partnership its proprietary microbial library, continued research and development capability, and its current product offering including PPFMs – pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs – which are naturally occurring beneficial microbes that deliver a range of benefits to crops throughout the entire growing season. Leading this new class of ag biologicals is NewLeaf Symbiotics’ Terrasym® microbial inoculants, which can make crops stronger, more resilient, and more tolerant of abiotic stress throughout their life cycle.

“GreenSolutions and AMVAC’s precision application technologies are key strategic growth initiatives built on the strong foundation of a highly successful, five-decade crop protection business,” said Bob Trogele, COO and Executive Vice President, AMVAC. “AMVAC continues to innovate using its own internal research capabilities as well as establishing partnerships with leading biological companies. With NewLeaf Symbiotics, we look forward to enhancing access to value-added biologicals that benefit North American farmers.”

Steve Kahn, CEO of NewLeaf Symbiotics, said, “AMVAC brings to the partnership longstanding access to the North American markets which is key to the growth of the ag biologicals sector. NewLeaf Symbiotics, as a major player in biologicals, is eager to broaden its North American market penetration through its partnership with AMVAC. Longer term, we look forward to finding additional synergies among the technologies and product lines of both our companies.”