Monday November 07 Harvest Progress + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending November 6, 2022, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 46% very short, 38% short, 16% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 51% very short, 37% short, 12% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn harvested was 90%, ahead of 81% last year and 75% for the five-year average.

Winter wheat condition rated 17% very poor, 19% poor, 40% fair, 21% good, and 3% excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 96%, near 93% last year and 94% average.

Sorghum harvested was 87%, near 84% last year, and ahead of 77% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 47% very poor, 30% poor, 18% fair, 4% good, and 1% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress & Condition Report

Warm and dry conditions early in the week helped accelerate row crop harvest, which remained ahead of average with 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 6, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, completing fall tillage, anhydrous application, baling stalks, seeding cover crops, and applying manure.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 17 percent very short, 37 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 25 percent very short, 39 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Harvest of the corn for grain crop reached 89 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain remained 17 percent.

Soybean harvest was virtually complete at 97 percent, 8 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of the average.

Livestock were mostly doing well, with some reports of calves being treated for pneumonia.



USDA Crop Progress Report: 13% of Corn, 6% of Soybeans Left to Harvest

The U.S. row-crop harvest was in the home stretch and winter wheat conditions improved slightly last week, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.  

CORN
-- Harvest progress: 87% of corn was harvested as of Sunday, Nov. 7, up 11 percentage points from the previous week. This year's harvest progress is now 4 percentage points ahead of last year's 83% and 11 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 76%.

SOYBEANS
-- Harvest progress: 94% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, up 6 percentage points from the previous week. That is now 8 percentage points ahead of last year's 86% and 8 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 86%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 92% of winter wheat was planted as of Sunday, 2 percentage points ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 90%.
-- Crop development: 73% of winter wheat was emerged as of Sunday, 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 74%. Kansas' winter wheat is 68% emerged versus an average of 76%.
-- Crop condition: 30% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, up 2 percentage points from 28% the previous week but 15 percentage points below last year's rating of 45% good to excellent.



NEBRASKA U BREAKS GROUND ON ONE-OF-A-KIND FEEDLOT INNOVATION CENTER

More than 150 leaders from across Nebraska’s beef industry gathered at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead Nov. 4 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Feedlot Innovation Center.

The $7.2 million facility will pave the way for world-class research projects and teaching and extension opportunities in a commercial-scale, state-of-the-art feedlot. In addition, the facility will serve as a one-of-a-kind testbed where industry partners can see how new and emerging technologies work.

It will officially be named the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center, pending approval of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. The name honors John and Beth Klosterman of David City, who are longtime supporters of both the university and its Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The new center will be “a very unique facility in terms of the types of research we can do,” said Doug Zalesky, director of the extension center.

Construction of the facility marks the next step in a long history of beef innovation at Nebraska, Zalesky said. The extension center, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, built its first feedlot pens in 1964. The next year, the university hired Terry Klopfenstein, who went on to become the longtime leader of the university’s ruminant nutrition program and was a pioneer in using byproducts from the ethanol and sweetener industries to supplement cattle feeding. Beef research remains central to the extension center’s programming.

The Feedlot Innovation Center will include commercial-scale open air and covered pens, allowing researchers to improve cattle performance and environmental impact in varied settings. It will also include a 240-head feeding facility that will allow researchers to use precision techniques to study the outcomes of various feeding protocols, measure emissions and study the various uses for precision feeding technology already on the market. The center will allow for expanded research of the impact of low-stress animal handling and increased emphasis on animal welfare. A new cattle handling facility and enclosed classroom will give students hands-on experience and allow for training opportunities for Nebraska’s beef industry workforce.

“This is being built with all the right things in mind,” Chancellor Ronnie Green said.

The facility will also serve as an innovation laboratory, which industry partners, ag-tech startups, producers and others can use as a proving ground for new products, said Mike Boehm, Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR and NU vice president.

Researchers across IANR are committed to ensuring that important discoveries can move quickly from lab to field, or in this case, feedlot, Boehm said. This is important in Nebraska, which has about 720 cattle feeders with 1,000 head or more.

“This innovation center is the next step in that,” he said. “It allows us to bring together public and private partnerships in ways that push the envelope.”

The new center will also be a key component of the university’s Beef Innovation Hub, which aims to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement of beef production, economic vitality and natural resources stewardship through innovative research, education and extension.

Fundraising for the project is ongoing. Major donors include John and Beth Klosterman; JBS USA; Greater Omaha Packing; Farm Credit Services of America; Dennis and Glenda Boesiger; and the Klopfenstein Fund, which includes gifts from a number of alumni, colleagues and industry partners who knew and worked with Terry Klopfenstein. In addition, Daniels Manufacturing, FBI Buildings Rock Solid Concrete and others have made significant in-kind contributions.



Ag Lender Survey: Interest Rate Volatility is Top Concern in 2023

The top concern facing agricultural lenders going into 2023 is interest rate volatility, according to the 2022 Agricultural Lender Survey report produced jointly by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, more commonly known as Farmer Mac (NYSE: AGM and AGM.A). Nearly half of respondents (49.0%) ranked interest rate volatility among their top two concerns, up 35.5 percentage points from last year. While rising rates have helped bolster bank net interest margins, a combination of higher funding costs, fears of weakening loan demand and strong competition is expected to cut into rising yields, according to the report released today at the ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference in Omaha, Neb.

“Given the Fed’s clear signal that it expects to continue raising rates until inflation is contained, it’s fitting that ag lenders cited interest rate volatility as their number one concern,” said ABA Chief Economist Sayee Srinivasan. “Lenders expect that both short-term and long-term rates will continue to rise in the coming year, reflecting market expectations that rates could rise by another 100-150 basis points by the end of the first quarter of 2023.”

Farm Economy
In response to the survey, lenders cited inflationary pressure as their number one concern for producers. Liquidity and farm income, two of the top two concerns in prior years, were the second and third greatest concerns this year, respectively. Lenders remain comparatively more concerned about weather and less concerned about total leverage than in prior survey years, according to the report. Recession risk, a new category this year, was lenders’ fifth highest ranked concern for producers. By comparison, lenders ranked “a slowing economic recovery” near the bottom of their list of concerns for producers in 2021.

“Many of America’s farmers and ranchers experienced a strong recovery in 2021 and 2022, driven by higher commodity prices and robust sales,” said Jackson Takach, Chief Economist at Farmer Mac. “Looking ahead, ag lenders are keeping a close eye on expenses, as feed, fertilizer, fuel, and other input costs remain elevated.”

Respondents’ level of concern for all categories of commodities fell this year. Lenders reported the highest levels of concern for the dairy, fruits and nuts, and beef cattle sectors, but concern for each sector showed improvement over 2021 levels. Lenders’ concerns notably declined for grains over the year.

For the second consecutive year, most ag lenders (66.3%) reported that overall farm profitability increased in the last year. About one in ten lenders (10.3%) reported that overall profitability declined. Lenders expect conditions to deteriorate next year, with 52.6% projecting a decline in farm profitability in the next 12 months. However, this remains well below the 2016-2020 survey average of 82.3%.

Approximately four out of five ag lenders reported rising land values in 2022, consistent with results from the 2021 survey. However, a growing percentage of lenders expected land values to slow down (59.4%) or decline (12.7%). Cash rents were also reported higher in 2022, with 72.2% of lenders reporting higher rents in their market areas and 43.2% of respondents expecting cash rents to continue to rise in the next 12 months, potentially adding to inflationary pressures for producers.

“Farmland, a significant store of wealth for millions of farm families, continued to appreciate in 2022,” said Takach. “Most ag lenders anticipate the growth of land values slowing in the coming year, likely in response to higher interest rates and potentially higher farm expenses. ”

Lending Conditions
Lenders’ top concerns after interest rate volatility are lender competition and weak ag loan demand, according to the report. Approximately one in three respondents ranked competition among their top two concerns, down 17 percentage points from last year. More than three-quarters of respondents (77.5%) ranked the Farm Credit System as their number one competitor for agricultural loans. Concern about credit quality and ag loan deterioration, which was the number one concern in 2020, remained the fourth highest concern facing lenders in 2022.

According to the report, demand for loans secured by farmland increased in 2022 at about the same pace as in 2021. Demand for agricultural production loans also grew in 2022, reversing the downward trend reported last year. However, demand for ag production loans remains below the 2016-2018 survey average. Respondents anticipate that loan demand for both categories will continue to increase over the next 12 months.

Lenders reported broad interest from borrowers in alternative ag financing, particularly for livestock grazing practices. The financing of reduced-till farming, precision technology and cover cropping practices were also areas of interest for ag borrowers.

Lenders also reported an average agricultural loan application approval rate for new loans of 86.0% in the 12 months leading up to August 2022 and, on average, they expect the approval rate for renewal requests to be 92.2% in the following 12 months, likely due to strong conditions in the agricultural economy and a decline in lending activity due to higher rates.

Survey respondents across all regions continued to report lower ag loan delinquencies and charge-off rates in 2022. Lenders in the South and West states anticipate credit quality will deteriorate next year, while lenders in the Corn Belt and Plains regions expect quality to remain fairly stable over the next 12 months.

“Credit quality was excellent in 2021 and 2022, so it is to be expected that lenders would anticipate some deterioration in the coming year as the potential for a downturn grows,” said Srinivasan. “Ag lenders have deep familiarity with both the ag sector and its cycles and will continue to work with their borrowers and support farmers and ranchers as credit quality normalizes to historical levels.”

The annual ABA and Farmer Mac Agricultural Lender Survey report is a joint effort to provide a look at the agricultural economy and market forces from the unique perspective of ag lenders. More than 300 agricultural lenders completed the survey in August 2022. The responses came from a diverse set of institutions, ranging from those with under $50 million in assets to those with more than $1 billion in assets. Regionally, the responses were somewhat concentrated in the Cornbelt and Plains.

To view the full Agricultural Lender Survey Report, please visit aba.com/agsurvey.

For over a decade, the alliance between Farmer Mac and ABA has enabled ABA-member banks to receive Farmer Mac preferred rates for their farm and ranch mortgage loans in addition to useful educational tools and other important benefits to better serve their agricultural customers.



Fremont Corn Expo

The Fremont Corn Expo is returning on January 26th, 2023 to the Christensen Field Main Arena in Fremont, Nebraska from 7:30 am- 3:00 pm.

The Corn Expo will begin with breakfast from 7:30 am-8:30 am, sponsored by the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Business and Natural Resources Council. The expo will then feature several great speakers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who will cover topics ranging from market updates, corn diseases to watch for, soil health, and precision agriculture. There will also be time given to visit with exhibitors who are supporting the show.

Lunch will be provided from 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm.

Admission is free to the public.

IF YOU'RE A VENDOR AND INTERESTED IN EXHIBITING AT THE SHOW
They only have a few spaces left! This expo is not possible without the generous support of agribusinesses in the region. Please consider joining the expo as an exhibitor and demonstrating your support for growers in the area. Time will be given during the show for participants to visit booths. To learn more and register as an exhibitor, click the link... https://web.cvent.com/event/b425441f-3be3-473f-a3b5-82f2a38ff874/summary%20.  



PROJECT AIMS TO BOOST AG TECHNOLOGY THROUGH IMPROVED FIELD CONNECTIVITY

Many farmers and agricultural experts see digital farming as the way of the future. Managing farms using sensors, drones and robots, artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics and more will be key to efficiently feeding the world’s increasing population, expected to reach 10 billion by 2050.

But maximizing agricultural technology’s potential hinges on a tool that most fields lack: high-speed internet connectivity.

An interdisciplinary Nebraska research team, led by computer engineer Mehmet Can Vuran, is trying to change that fact. The team includes Shuai Nie, Qiang Liu, Christos Argyropoulos, Yufeng Ge and Santosh Pitla. With a three-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the team is designing a next-generation wireless network for agricultural fields that would catalyze an array of digital farming technologies and buoy the businesses of countless farmers. Currently, at least two-thirds of farmers say they lack sufficient internet connectivity to run their operations, and 25% of U.S. farms do not have internet at all.        

“We have started to redesign the wireless network according to the constraints and requirements of agricultural fields,” said Vuran, Jensen Chair and professor of computing. “Right now, the best farmers and researchers can do is grab wireless technologies from whatever is available in nearby urban environments. They try to use Wi-Fi or existing cellular connections, which were not designed for the field. This is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”

It’s a mismatch because the two environments are vastly different. Urban connectivity leverages the vertical infrastructure inherent to cities: tall buildings, streetlights and traffic lights house the necessary equipment. Agricultural fields lack this robust vertical infrastructure, making it much more difficult to build a network.

Additionally, agricultural fields are subjected to harsh environmental and weather conditions that can interrupt wireless connections. The type of crop, its stage of growth and even a plant’s moisture content can also affect signals. Vuran’s group is devising a wireless architecture called Field-Nets to address these challenges.

A cornerstone of their approach is deployment of millimeter wave technology on farms. This technology, increasingly used to support 5G connections in urban areas, sends signals on a bandwidth of the radio-frequency spectrum that is not overcrowded. Plentiful bandwidth means signal transmission is fast, at gigabits per second, with minimal disruption.

Last summer, Vuran’s group conducted some of the first-ever experiments of millimeter wave technology in agricultural fields. These studies showed how easily corn and soybean growth can impact these delicate, high-frequency signals, whose wavelength size is just millimeters long. The resulting datasets are publicly available to help other researchers and practitioners. With the NSF funding, Vuran’s team will develop the computer processing abilities and complex algorithms necessary to support robust and reliable connections.

Another key strategy of Field-Nets is edge computing: a type of networking architecture that shifts computation and data storage closer to the data sources. Because rural environments lack what’s called backhaul — the high-speed connections between a remote site and the core network — cloud computing is a challenge. This is problematic because in the future, precision farming devices are likely to generate as much data as a typical city environment.

Vuran’s solution is to push processing to the “edge” of the network, which in this case means moving it to the farm. When a farm’s robots, sensors and other devices produce data streams, they will be processed and stored on-site, protecting farmers’ data privacy.

The team is also ensuring the Field-Nets infrastructure only uses the spectrum when and where it’s needed. Although there is currently abundant spectrum available in rural areas, this will change as digital farming gains momentum. A crowded spectrum could thwart rural residents’ ability to use the internet – creating a digital divide between farms and the towns next door.

“We are designing with the understanding of this potential divide from the beginning. We need to adopt advanced spectrum sharing solutions from scratch,” Vuran said. “We don’t want to have to go back and redesign spectrum sharing solutions later, which has been done in some urban environments. We’re learning from that history.”

The project advances Vuran’s longer-term research mission, which is to bridge the original digital divide: the gap between urban and rural areas. Of the 24 million Americans who lack high-speed internet, 80% live in rural areas. As society increasingly relies on digital tools, the gap in internet access exacerbates gaps in prosperity, education, health care and more.

The work represents an increasingly important merger between computing and agriculture. To maintain its position at the forefront of ag innovation, Husker researchers are prioritizing enhanced partnerships between these two disciplines.

“Computer scientists and agricultural engineers will have to work together more and more, and this is one of the first funded projects representing this joining of hands,” said Pitla, associate professor of biological systems engineering.

Pitla, an expert in agricultural robotics, has been developing small autonomous robots that plant seeds and apply fertilizers since he joined the university in 2014. Although the technology can work without connectivity, a reliable wireless infrastructure would unleash the robots’ full potential: They could communicate with each other or summon a drone for a supply refill.

“Connectivity solutions could really amplify what we do and catalyze and facilitate a lot of things, especially with logistics and operational efficiency,” he said.

The research group will test the Field-Nets infrastructure using Pitla’s technology.

The project includes partnerships with members of Nebraska’s agricultural community, farmers and industry members, and will enable Husker students to train in a highly interdisciplinary environment.



FALL FERTILIZATION ON CORN STALKS BEFORE GRAZING
– Brad Schick, NE Extension Educator
 
Grid sampling and application of dry fertilizer is common in the fall, but is it safe to graze corn residue fields that have had the fertilizer applied?
 
The answer comes down to how much risk in animal wellbeing we are willing to take. The risk potential varies based on different fertilizer components. Potassium, zinc, nitrogen, and sulfur nutrients could all be toxic, but risk depends on consumption rate and the amount animals can physically consume. To reduce risk, wait to graze until after precipitation whether that be rain or snow melt. Waiting for rain is more important if the application stuck to damp or wet residue.
 
Calculations can tell if what was applied would pose a risk.
 
Nitrogen fertilizers can cause toxicity in different ways related to amounts; but any spill available for consumption is a high risk. There are other fertilizer components in a grid sampled applications that may or may not be a problem due to the how much is in the mix. For example, potassium would be toxic at 30,000 mg/kg of intake or 3% of the diet which is very unlikely. High potassium intake can cause a magnesium deficiency; so making a high magnesium mineral available might be considered. High sulfur intake could cause polioencephalomalacia or PEM, but that is also unlikely. A lot of downed corn could also increase the risk of PEM. Cattle can tolerate 0.5% sulfur in the diet, but corn residue only contains close to 0.1%. Zinc consumption is fine up to 1000 mg/kg without problems and phosphorus can be tolerated up to 1% of the diet.
 
To review: The safest approach for grazing corn stalks is to wait until after a rain or graze before fertilizer application, but that may not be realistic. Assessing the fertilizer amount will give a good idea of risk level. If the fertilizer can easily be seen on the residue, be more cautious when grazing.



IDALS & APHIS Confirm Cases of HPAI in Louisa, Wright Counties

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 positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Louisa County, Iowa and in Wright County, Iowa.

The virus was found in a non-commercial backyard flock in Louisa County and a commercial layer flock in Wright County.

“Migration is expected to continue for several more weeks and whether you have backyard birds or a commercial poultry farm, bolstering your biosecurity continues to be the best way to protect your flock from this disease,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Our coordinated response team, comprised of state and federal professionals working with the affected producers, will continue to move swiftly to limit the spread of this 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.



Registration Open for Women in Ag Leadership Conference

“Together We Lead” is the theme of the sixth annual Women in Ag Leadership Conference organized by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Nearly 30 speakers will enlighten, inspire and energize conference attendees Nov. 29-30, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames.  

The cost to attend is $90 for adults and $45 for students. A limited number of attendance scholarships are available by emailing schultz@iastate.edu.

Tuesday’s events run from 1-8 p.m. Attendees can choose from five campus tours including the horse farms, poultry farms and feed mill, agricultural and biosystems engineering, student innovation center, and a steam tunnel and history tour.

The first general session offers an interactive presentation on leading with grace and growth by past National FFA officer, Laila Hajji Down. A choice of four two-hour intensive workshops and a networking dinner completes the day’s program.

The workshops cover farmland management, discovering your leadership strengths, gaining and sharing wisdom through mentoring, and straight talk about farm financial statements.

“I am so grateful for and in awe of our amazing speakers and inspiring role models who agreed to be part of this conference,” said Madeline Schultz, program manager for women in ag with ISU Extension and Outreach. “They are passionate about supporting women in the agriculture industry and understand that we lead best when ‘Together We Lead.’”

Wednesday’s events begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m. The morning general session keynote speaker is Amy Cronin, president of Cronin Family farms, where she raises hogs in Ontario, Canada, and Iowa and Missouri. Through her leadership and commitment to her six children and husband, she has grown the business while serving on the local Catholic school board and chairing the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission.

A welcome address will be given by John Lawrence, ISU vice president for extension and outreach. The highlight of the conference is the announcement and recognition of four Women Impacting Agriculture honorees who share their stories.   

There is something for everyone in the four morning concurrent sessions. Topics cover leadership lessons rooted in farming for generations, managing your cyber ecosystem, the new rules of remote work, and a workshop from Amy Cronin. The four afternoon concurrent sessions offer topics on agricultural carbon credit markets, strategic planning, igniting your leadership style and unconventional health tips.

The final general session includes a panel of current board members sharing insights on leadership for the common good of communities and organizations, including Michelle Book and Susan Tronchetti.

Author, entrepreneur and ag executive Cleophus Franklin Jr. will present the capstone address on how to partner with purpose and go from laying bricks to building castles.   

Farm Credit Services of America is a major sponsor of the conference. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/HYEN9K.  



Central Valley Ag Cooperative Partners with Kansas State University
CVA - the official co-op of the K-State Wildcats.

The opportunity to work with Kansas member-owners through a partnership with Kansas State Athletics has been an opportunity CVA has been actively seeking since early fall. This opportunity recently presented itself and CVA took full advantage the offer. They are very proud to announce CVA as the Official Cooperative of Kansas State Athletics and they look forward to the newly found partnership.



Farmers Can Now Make 2023 Crop Year Elections, Enroll in Ag Risk and Price Loss Coverage Programs

Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.  

“It’s that time of year for producers to consider all of their risk management options, including safety-net coverage elections through Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We recognize that market prices have generally been very good, but if the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, frequent catastrophic weather events and the Ukraine war have taught us anything, it’s that we must prepare for the unexpected. It’s through programs like ARC and PLC that FSA can provide producers the economic support and security they need to manage market volatility and disasters.”

2023 Elections and Enrollment
Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County (ARC-CO) or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Also, if a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm and makes an election change for 2023, they must sign a new contract.

If producers do not submit their election by the March 15, 2023 deadline, their election remains the same as their 2022 election for crops on the farm. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the farm.

Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.



Terrain Launches with Powerhouse of Ag Economists and Market Analysts

Terrain, a new source of agricultural industry analysis for U.S. farmers and ranchers, launches today, Nov. 7, 2022. Three leading Farm Credit Associations – American AgCredit, Farm Credit Services of America and Frontier Farm Credit – partnered to establish and offer Terrain to their customers.

“Serving farmers and ranchers – from everything between Iowa’s hog and corn farmers to California’s dairy and vineyard owners – is our shared mission,” said Curt Hudnutt, CEO of American AgCredit. “To continue to grow our customers’ success, we combined the scale of Farm Credit Services of America, American AgCredit and Frontier Farm Credit to create Terrain’s industry-leading team.”

Don Close, an internationally recognized leader in cattle marketing and policy, leads the Terrain team. Close, who serves as Terrain’s chief research and analytics officer, and the rest of the team bring extensive experience providing insight and analysis across the food and agricultural value chain. The team includes:

    David Weaber, senior animal protein analyst, whose career analyzing live animal and meat businesses has spanned the entire meat supply chain for beef, pork and poultry

    Ben Laine, senior dairy analyst, an economist who has dedicated his career to helping dairy producers manage price, trading and other external risks

    Matthew Roberts, Ph.D., senior grain and oilseed analyst, a recognized public speaker, economist and former 15-year Extension grain marketing specialist

    Cody Barilla, grain and oilseed analyst, who has a wealth of on-the-ground experience in appraising, crop farming and the Extension Service.

    Matthew Clark, senior rural economy analyst, known for his ability to distill how macroeconomic trends impact everyday agriculture, drawing on his experience as an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

    Heather Stettner, engagement director, a public relations, communications, and marketing specialist whose career has spanned most of agriculture’s industries

Terrain’s experts share insights on trends and market-moving events through reports, videos, presentations and more. Visit terrainag.com for Terrain’s current perspective on the impact of interest rates on agricultural loans, a discussion on how grain storage costs change with interest rates, and insights on the near-term risks for the hog farming sector.

Mark Jensen, CEO of Farm Credit Services of America and Frontier Farm Credit, said, “We recognize that our customers’ needs are evolving. Many of our customers are looking for more insight to help them navigate the constant changes and complex factors affecting their markets. Terrain provides unique expertise to support the future of agriculture and rural communities.”  



Dairy Goat Management Seminar Dec. 10 in Orange City

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host its annual Dairy Goat Management Seminar on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County Office in Orange City.

This year’s focus is on goat health, feeding and milk marketing.

“Iowa ranks third in the nation for dairy goat production, and we are one of the top states for dairy goat educational programming,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “This program should reinforce that ranking and be extremely worthwhile for dairy goat producers to attend.”

Hall said that the program will feature the following topics and presenters:
    Colostrum Management, Dr. Pat Gordon, ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
    Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) Management, Dr. Rosie Busch, University of California
    Subclinical Mastitis and Dry Off Decision Making, Dr. Pat Gordon, ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
    Forages for Dairy Goats, Fred Hall, ISU Extension and Outreach
    Feeding the Dry Doe, Mike Schlegel, Land-O-Lakes
    Building a Goat Milk Market, Nate Meech and Mitchel Kunkel, Stickney Hill Dairy

There is no registration fee to attend the program, but registration is required by calling 712-737-4230 or online at https://go.iastate.edu/AWOSXJ. Deadline to register is noon on Thursday, Dec. 8.

A complimentary lunch will be provided thanks to sponsorship from Hull Feed & Produce and Big Gain. The program is hosted at no charge, because this work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Program, Antimicrobial Resistance number: 2020-04197.

For more information, contact Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu.



U.S. farm exports rise 14% to record high

Boosted by large increases in most sales categories, U.S. farm exports mushroomed to a record $196.4 billion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to newly released Commerce Department data. Sales were 14% higher than the previous mark of $172.7 billion, set one year ago in fiscal 2021.

China, the No. 1 market, bought a record $36.4 billion of U.S. agricultural products, topping its 2021 record of $33.6 billion, trade analyst Dylan Russell told USDA’s radio news service. Canada was second, with $28.3 billion, and Mexico was third, at $28 billion. In fiscal 2021, Canada imported $24.3 billion and Mexico bought $23.9 billion of U.S. agricultural goods. The three top customers accounted for 47 cents of every $1 in sales.

The record-breaking exports were driven by “huge increases” in sales, said Russell. Soybeans, the single largest ag export, climbed 26%, to $33.3 billion. Wheat exports were up 15%, to $8.3 billion, and corn rose 12%. Cotton had the largest increase in percentage terms, 41%, to $9 billion. Dairy, red meats and ethanol also notched large increases. But rice sales fell 10% and tobacco 27%.

Imports also surged, shooting up 19%, to $194 billion, leaving a scant trade surplus of $2.4 billion, compared to the surplus of $8.4 billion the previous year. Ag imports are dominated by shipments of fruits, vegetables, nuts, wine, beer, distilled spirits, sweeteners and tropical products such as coffee and cocoa.

The USDA has forecast another bumper year for exports, estimated at near-record $193.5 billion in the fiscal year that opened Oct. 1. Soybean exports would rise to $35.2 billion and horticultural products to $39.5 billion, while cotton, beef and sorghum exports turn downward. “The global economic outlook for 2022 and 2023 is growing more uncertain due to the continued materialization of downside risks,” said the USDA in the Aug. 30 forecast.



As COP27 Convenes, RFA Stresses Ethanol’s Low-Carbon Benefits and Net-Zero Future

Leaders from around the world are gathering over the next two weeks in Egypt for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP27. As governments and businesses consider options for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change, the Renewable Fuels Association has a simple message for COP27 delegates: Ethanol is a low-carbon renewable fuel available today to help meet climate goals—and it’s well on its way to net-zero carbon emissions in the not-too-distant future.

RFA also released an updated one-page fact sheet about ethanol’s carbon benefits.

“We’re excited about ethanol’s ability to significantly lower carbon emissions across the transportation sector and beyond,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Lower-cost, lower-emitting ethanol is already cleaning up motor fuel around the world, and as we look to the future, ethanol can also play a leading role in sustainable aviation fuel or even generating electricity. It is our hope that U.S. policymakers ensure ethanol and other renewable fuels are an important part of the discussions at COP27. More and more national capitals across the globe are rightfully looking at the value of renewables like ethanol to sustainably fuel their vehicles and power their green economies.”

In 2021, RFA’s producer members unanimously committed to producing ethanol that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70 percent by 2030, compared to gasoline. By 2050, RFA’s members pledge to ensure that ethanol achieves net-zero lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, on average. This past February, RFA released a report identifying five distinct workable pathways to net-zero corn ethanol by 2050, based on a set of 28 emissions reduction actions that were considered.

In a recently published article, Cooper pointed out how news media and others typically misunderstand or wrongly portray ethanol’s carbon benefits. Too often, they fail to look at the full carbon lifecycle for ethanol, or they make inappropriate comparisons among different fuel types, as happened in a controversial Reuters news article that was retracted after significant pushback from RFA and its allies.

“Zero-carbon corn ethanol isn’t an idealistic aspiration or a far-fetched concept,” Cooper concluded. “However, reaching net-zero emissions will require fairness and integrity in lifecycle analysis and honesty in discussions—and reporting—about the carbon impacts of different fuels.”



Corn Price and Dry Diller Grain Price Relationship
Brenda Boetel, Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Corn price and Dry Distiller’s Grains tend to move in the same direction. There are years where this is the exception, including 2017 and 2020. When examining weekly Kansas City corn price data and 10% Dry Distillers Grain price data from May 2006 to March 2022, the correlation between the two prices series is 0.86, indicating DDG and corn prices tend to move in the same direction.
 
A regression analysis using the data was conducted to find which price series indicated a relationship with DDG. Weekly high protein Kansas soybean meal price, Kansas corn price, a weekly variable indicating seasonality and a variable indicating year were included in the analysis. The model showing the best fit, with 81% of the DDG price variability explained included all the variables. The results indicate that when Kansas City corn price has a 1% change, the Kansas DDG price will change by 0.77%. Therefore, a $0.10 change in 2021 Kansas City corn price per bushel results in a $1.82 change in Kansas DDG price per ton. These results are similar, although slightly less variable, to what Michael Langemeier found using the Central Illinois prices.
 
Looking forward into 2023 to determine DDG prices requires using projected corn and soybean meal prices. Using Chicago Board of Trade futures prices for 2023, corn prices will be between $6.25 and $7.00 per bushel, while soybean meal prices will be between $380 and $410 per ton. Results from the regression model indicate that Kansas DDG prices will be between $250 and $280 per ton.
 
Understanding how these price changes affect profitability requires an understanding of the displacement ratio between corn and DDGs. There are large variations in these ratios, depending on location and complexity of diets. For example, Kirk Klasing found that adding 30% DDGs in beef diets displaces about 24% of corn in the diet in the high plains, but only displaces about 2% of corn in the West where diets differ. How much the variability in DDG price affects profitability will depend on the least cost ration used.



American Angus Association concludes a strong fiscal year

The American Angus Association® concluded a successful fiscal year, packed with member-wide comradery and industry-leading advances. The year marked the eighth-consecutive year of more than 304,000 registrations, with an additional 141,385 recorded transfers. The fiscal year, which concluded September 30, tallied a grand total of 22,488 regular and junior memberships combined.

"Angus breeders have completed a successful year, despite many challenges with weather and rising input costs," said Mark McCully, CEO of the Association. "Angus females averaged $6,023 last year and bulls averaged $5,909 signaling that Angus genetics are very much in demand."

Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®), a subsidiary of the Association, continued to plant themselves at the forefront of the industry to help breeders achieve their goals and serve as the trusted industry source of advanced genetic solutions. Boasting 1.229 million animals with profiles in the genetic evaluation, a 10% increase in profile tests and 13 ongoing research projects, AGI plans to keep the momentum heading into the new year and to new heights.

In efforts to provide tools to enhance breeder success, the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) program transitioned the Hair Shed expected progeny difference (EPD) from the research environment to a production EPD, due to the hard work of Angus breeders who diligently collected data. The EPD aims to help breeders find animals best genetically equipped to handle hot, fescue-filled environments. Additionally, AHIR continued to promote the importance of complete cow herd data through its Inventory Reporting program, enrolling 97,271 head from 768 herds.

The Angus MediaSM team created The Angus Conversation and Angus at Work podcasts to provide on-the-go information for Angus breeders and commercial cattlemen. Found anywhere you listen to podcast, the episodes feature a variety of guests who discuss everything from technology and breeding philosophies to marketing and traditions. With its goal of providing cost effective and quality marketing services to Angus breeders, Angus Media helped foster 34,000,000 online sale book page views and 3,500,000 email marketing sends.

The Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB) brand affirmed its quality standard with another year of exceeding consumer expectations. Combined focus on genetics and management led to a 35.5% brand acceptance rate. More than 5.78 million carcasses were certified and CAB marked 1.234 billion pounds sold. That’s an impressive 3.4 million pounds of CAB sold per day and the entity worked with more than 18,000 licensed partners in 54 countries this year.

With the value of Angus cattle consistently increasing, the Association continued its Powered by AngusSM advertising campaign. Combating the "black-hided confusion" in the marketplace, the campaign illustrates the confidence cattlemen can put in the power of EPD data, documented pedigrees and marketing programs with the purchase of registered Angus.

The Angus family continued to pour their support into the Angus Foundation’s mission of education, youth and research. With a record-setting $1.4 million in donations, each cent will impact the lives of Angus generations to come.

To view the 2022 Annual Report with in-depth information about the year, visit bit.ly/2022AngusAnnualReport and to view the Association’s complete financial report, visit bit.ly/2022AngusFinancials.



New Leadership elected to the American Angus Association Board of Directors

The 139th Annual Convention of Delegates assembled November 7, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Five directors were elected to the board of directors, as well as a president/chairman and a vice president/vice chairman of the board. Jonathan Perry will serve as treasurer for the 2022-2023 term.

Elected officers are Chuck Grove, Forest, Virginia, president and chairman of the board and Barry Pollard, Enid, Oklahoma, vice president and vice chairman of the board.

Grove said the Angus breed is in a prime spot to lead industry advancement. "With the vast influence Angus has on the beef industry, the breed is looked to as leaders ready to navigate both opportunities and potential obstacles," Grove said. "The future of the industry and this great breed looks bright in the coming years, and while I have been devoted to the breed for a lifetime, the next year will be the most rewarding yet."

Elected to their first terms on the board of directors are Rob Adams, Union Springs, Alabama; Art Butler, Bliss, Idaho; Alan Mead, Barnett, Missouri; Henry Smith, Russell Springs, Kentucky; and Roger Wann, Poteau, Oklahoma.

Directors can serve up to two three-year terms on the board and, if elected, serve additional one-year terms in office as president/chairman and/or vice president/vice chairman.



Save the Dates: 2022-23 Webinars for Enlist® Weed Control System

To help farmers and retailers better prepare for success while using the Enlist® weed control system during the upcoming growing season, Corteva Agriscience is once again hosting monthly webinars through March 2023. Monthly applicator and special series webinars are now open for registration, and continuing education credits will be awarded to qualifying participants.

Each A Step Ahead applicator training webinar is hosted by an Enlist weed control system field specialist and provides valuable insights on:
    How to achieve effective weed control on acres with the Enlist weed control system
    Tank-mixing options and recommendations
    Characteristics of 2,4-D choline in Enlist® herbicides
    Field-planning scenarios
    Application best management practices and sprayer setup
    Label additions from the January 2022 label registration amendment

“Farmers and retailers who have attended past webinars found them valuable,” said Eric Scherder, U.S. Crop Protection Commercial Launch Leader, Corteva Agriscience. “Last year’s survey responses showed that attendees were very likely to recommend these webinars to others. When asked this question on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being most likely to recommend, the average response was 4.1.”

Registration is now open with options to fit almost any schedule. Attendees are encouraged to bring their most pressing weed control questions, as each webinar includes a question-and-answer session.

Upcoming Webinars: Register Here... https://www.enlist.com/en/enlist-360-training/a-step-ahead-webinar-series.html.

Applicator Training With Label Reminders:
    Nov. 17, 2022, at 8 a.m. CST
    Dec. 13, 2022, at 9 a.m. CST
    Jan. 12, 2023, at 8 a.m. CST
    Feb. 14, 2023, at 9 a.m. CST
    March 14, 2023, at 8 a.m. CDT

Special Series: Seed Selection + Enlist Weed Control System vs. In-crop Dicamba System:
    Dec. 6, 2022, at 8 a.m. CST
    Jan. 17, 2023, at 9 a.m. CST
    Feb. 21, 2023, at 8 a.m. CST



Zoetis Reports Stronger Quarterly Income

Zoetis Inc. reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2022 and lowered its guidance for full year 2022 to reflect lower than expected sales due to continued supply constraints, veterinary workforce challenges, and the negative impact of recent changes to foreign exchange rates.

The company reported revenue of $2.0 billion for the third quarter of 2022, an increase of 1% compared with the third quarter of 2021. Net income for the third quarter of 2022 was $529 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, a decrease of 4% and 3%, respectively, on a reported basis.

On an operational basis, revenue for the third quarter of 2022 increased 5%, excluding the impact of foreign currency. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2022 increased 2% operationally, excluding the impact of foreign currency.

Adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2022 was $566 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, which declined 5% and 3%, respectively, on a reported basis. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2022 excludes the net impact of $37 million for purchase accounting adjustments, acquisition-related costs and certain significant items.

Friday November 4 Ag News

USDA Designates Four Nebraska Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional.

Impacted Area: Nebraska
Triggering Disaster: Drought
Application Deadline: June 5, 2023
Primary Counties Eligible: Butler, Dawes, Douglas and Saunders
Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Nebraska: Box Butte, Dodge, Polk, Sheridan, York, Cass, Lancaster, Sarpy, Sioux, Colfax, Platte, Seward, Washington    
Iowa: Pottawattamie
South Dakota: Fall River and Oglala Lakota

More Resources
On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local  USDA Service Center.



Using Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance to Manage Feed Risk
Jennifer Ifft, Flinchbaugh Agricultural Policy Chair, Associate Professor, Kansas State University
Nov 10, 2022 12:00 PM Central Time

The 2023 deadline for purchasing Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance (PRF) is December 1. This presentation will begin with a summary of how PRF insurance works and key characteristics that producers need to understand. Examples of how PRF can be used to cover feed expenses during a drought will be shared, as well as an analysis of average payouts to-date in 2022 by drought status.

This webinar is presented by the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska.  More details and registration at cap.unl.edu/webinars.



Sen Blood Requests Details from NDA on Dog & Cat Inspection Program

After responding to the continued concerns of  Nebraskans, Senator Carol Blood who represents District 3 in the Nebraska Legislature, has issued a letter requesting updates from the Department of Agriculture in reference to ongoing concerns that were brought to light in a 2020 Ombudsman Report on operations in the Dog and Cat Inspection Program.

"The Department of Agriculture has an opportunity to do better and after conversations with those involved with the initial complaints and ultimate investigation, it is felt by many that not enough is being accomplished to prevent animal cruelty," stated Senator Blood. "My goal is not to be critical, but to gather a true understanding of what has been accomplished in response to the 2020 report and what are the metrics and goals that will be used moving forward to make sure that nothing of the previous magnitude ever happens, again, in Nebraska," Blood added.

The report was released in October 2020 (link to report provided below). The review from Nebraska's Office of Public Counsel found that the Nebraska Department of Agriculture failed repeatedly to enforce sanctions against commercial dog and cat operators who were bad actors and also failed to refer serious animal abuse and neglect for criminal prosecution.

"It is clear after having discussions with the good stewards within this industry, that the only goals these providers are concerned with is that all Dog and Cat operators are making sure animals at their facilities are receiving humane treatment and care," Blood shared. "This request for updated information will hopefully bring to light to what has been accomplished over the last two years, and also share how we can continue to protect these helpless animals from harm."



More alike than different

This past Wednesday, Iowa cattleman Bill Couser and special guest, Judith de Vor, visited the Iowa Cattle Industry Headquarters.

Judith is a fifth generation dairy farmer from the Netherlands, currently visiting Iowa as part of her international travels as a Nuffield Farming Scholar. Both members of the Global Farmer Network, Bill and Judith have bonded over shared interest in livestock agriculture. Their desire to address the biggest challenges facing agriculture today brought them, quite literally, to the same table in Frankfurt, Germany, and now, Ames, Iowa.

Throughout our conversation, we discussed similarities and differences in agricultural production and governance. We discussed the efficiencies within dairy and cattle production, and how we’re producing more with less. We also discussed how burdensome “red tape” stifles agricultural innovation.

In a global marketplace, we are not insulated from the regulatory action of other nations. Conversations with producers from other states and countries help us to better understand the demand for agricultural production and the nuances of regional and universal issues. And if we take time to listen to one another, we’ll find that we’re more alike than different. Finding opportunities to sit at the same table is needed to develop solutions for the real problems facing farmers and ranchers in the United States, the Netherlands, and around the world.

To learn more about Judith and Dutch agriculture, visit: https://globalfarmernetwork.org/2022/07/dutch-agriculture-past-present-and-future/.  



September Pork Exports Continue Upward Trend; Pace Cools for Beef

U.S. pork exports topped year-ago totals for the second consecutive month in September, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). September beef exports were below last year for the first time in 2022, but exports remain on a record pace through the first three quarters of the year.

Growth in Japan, Korea and Caribbean bolsters September pork exports
Pork exports reached 222,202 metric tons (mt) in September, up 1% from a year ago. Export value increased 9% to $664.8 million – the highest since June 2021. Through September, pork exports were 13% below last year at 1.94 million mt, valued at $5.57 billion (down 11%).

September pork exports were once again led by Mexico, though shipments slipped below year-ago volume for the first time since early 2021. Exports rebounded to Japan, strengthened to China/Hong Kong and South Korea, and continued on a record pace to the Caribbean and Colombia.

"It’s very encouraging that U.S. pork exports continue to gain momentum, especially on the value side,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "Once again we see the importance of market diversification, as the strong September performance was achieved even as the volume shipped to Mexico eased to some degree.”

While headwinds impact beef exports, annual records still within reach
September beef exports totaled 115,487 mt, valued at $890.3 million, down 7% from a year ago in both volume and value. For the first nine months of 2022, beef exports were still 4% above last year at 1.12 million mt. Export value reached $9.12 billion, up 20% and already achieving the second highest total for any calendar year, trailing only the 2021 record ($10.58 billion).

Despite China’s zero-COVID policies that result in travel restrictions and periodic lockdowns in metropolitan areas, September beef exports to China/Hong Kong were still above last year. Shipments also increased year-over-year to the ASEAN region and Caribbean, but declined to Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

While beef exports remain well-positioned to reach new heights in 2022, the September results reflected significant headwinds that have been building for some time.

“Demand for U.S. beef has been extremely resilient, but inflationary pressure on consumers and weakened currencies in key markets have definitely created a more challenging environment,” Halstrom said. “Exports also continue to face logistical challenges, lockdowns in China and mounting inventories in some destinations. Still, it’s hard to view September sales of nearly $900 million as a disappointment, when this would have been an all-time record just 18 months ago. That really drives home what a remarkable year this has been for U.S. beef exports.”

Lamb muscle cut exports rebound in September
Following a down month, September exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts rebounded to 269 mt, up 175% from last year’s low volume. Export value totaled $1.31 million, up 67%. Through September, lamb muscle cut exports increased 76% to 1,676 mt, valued at $9.9 million (up 68%), led by a near-doubling of exports to the Caribbean.



After Calls for Action Over Dispute on Biotech Corn Exports, USTR Discusses Issue with Mexican Counterpart

Following repeated calls from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) asking the Biden administration to respond to plans by Mexico to block imports of biotech corn, United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai met virtually on Thursday with Mexico’s Secretary of Economy, Raquel Buenrostro. During the meeting, Tai talked about the importance of avoiding a disruption in U.S. corn exports.

“We applaud Ambassador Tai for listening to corn grower leaders and sharing our concerns with the leadership in Mexico,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “But, given the magnitude of Mexico’s threats and the fact that the embargo is set to be fully implemented by 2024, we need USTR to resolve the impasse as soon as possible by filing a dispute under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).”

The dispute centers around Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s decree that would end imports of corn grown using biotech and certain herbicides by 2024. Biotech corn makes up over 90% of U.S. corn crops. One recent estimate projected a 30% increase in the price of tortillas in Mexico from the embargo.

NCGA has strongly encouraged USTR to file a dispute under the agriculture chapter of USMCA, which calls for cooperation between members on an individual government’s regulation of imports. An op-ed by Haag was recently published in The Hill, a newspaper widely read by Washington policymakers and decision-makers. Corn grower leaders also continue raising the issue with lawmakers and major media outlets.

A USMCA dispute settlement would allow for extensive debate and mediation that could head off a calamitous outcome.



High Diesel Prices Put Strain on Farmers

The average price of diesel is $5.32 per gallon, more than $1.50 above the same time last year. While prices are below the $5.81 peak in June, the high cost of fuel is hitting farmers hard as they navigate the fall harvest season. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the factors driving up fuel prices in the latest Market Intel report.

A ban on U.S. imports of petroleum from Russia, lower domestic production capacity, and seasonal demand are all contributing to higher costs. Russia provided 20% of the petroleum imported into the U.S. in 2021, but that was halted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Beyond the impact of Russia, since 2019, domestic diesel production capacity has dropped by 180,000 barrels per day. Several plants closed during the coronavirus pandemic and are not yet back online.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall sent a letter to President Biden today, calling on the administration to bring more domestic supply online, reducing costs to all Americans.

“Our nation’s food supply is driven by diesel,” President Duvall said in the letter. “Every input that arrives on our farms and ranches is transported by a diesel engine, whether that is by boat or barge, rail or truck. Our crops are planted by diesel engines and harvested by diesel engines. High diesel prices are severely impacting our farmers and ranchers, causing increased costs to consumers, and adding to food insecurity.”

National diesel prices are expected to average $4.86 per gallon through the end of the year, according to government projections, and $4.29 per gallon in 2023.



USDA Dairy Products September 2022 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.14 billion pounds, 0.4 percent above September 2021 but 1.0 percent below August 2022. Italian type cheese production totaled 491 million pounds, 3.2 percent above September 2021 and 0.5 percent above August 2022. American type cheese production totaled 443 million pounds, 2.6 percent below September 2021 and 2.3 percent below August 2022. Butter production was 142 million pounds, 1.4 percent below September 2021 and 1.3 percent below August 2022.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with September 2021)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 124 million pounds, down 11.3 percent.
Skim milk powder - 58.5 million pounds, down 18.9 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with September 2021)
Dry whey, total - 79.0 million pounds, up 5.0 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 95.1 million pounds, down 5.5 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 46.1 million pounds, up 2.9 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with September 2021)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 61.0 million gallons, up 9.9 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 36.2 million gallons, up 0.4 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 2.29 million gallons, up 6.7 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 3.72 million gallons, up 3.6 percent.



Growth Energy Sends Letter to Treasury on Action to Slash Aviation Emissions

Today, Growth Energy sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on implementation of Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In her letter, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor calls on regulators to ensure that policies reflect the most updated and accurate science-based lifecycle carbon assessment (LCA) methods, specifically those in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model.

“Harnessing the U.S. ethanol industry – which at 17.4 billion gallons per year accounts for over 80% of biofuels production capacity in the U.S. - will be necessary to achieve these goals because ethanol is one of the few readily available feedstocks for SAF production,” wrote Skor. “Growth Energy appreciates Treasury’s consideration of this input as it implements the IRA’s tax credit provisions in a manner that ensures the best available science is used to calculate eligibility for and amount of credits.”

Skor’s letter reflects conclusions shared by Growth Energy and other clean energy leaders since the White House first announced its SAF goals. They also reflect the intent of Congress.
 
“Indeed, several provisions of the IRA mandate use of GREET to calculate the LCA for other transportation fuels, such as hydrogen. Notably, these provisions require the use of GREET for other transportation fuels and hydrogen reference the same definition of ‘lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions’ under the Clean Air Act as the IRA’s SAF provisions. In addition, EPA utilized GREET, along with other models, to implement the RFS program’s major expansion in 2010.  Multiple states that lead the nation on climate change regulation, including California and Oregon, also use GREET for evaluating lifecycle emissions of biofuels,” wrote Skor.
 
Unlike GREET, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which has been adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), does not reflect the latest science.
 
“Modeling techniques have improved considerably in recent years due both to improvements in the models and improvements in the accuracy of inputs. For example, older LCA models failed to account for the ability of intensification (increasing crop yield) rather than extensification (increasing crop acreage) to meet increases in demand,” she wrote.
 
“U.S. tax policy should not tie itself to international aviation safety organizations that are far less experienced and sophisticated in biofuels LCA modeling than the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratories,” concluded Skor.



RFA, Allies Urge Congress to Act Swiftly to Avoid Rail Service Shutdown

The Renewable Fuels Association and nearly 200 other organizations representing a broad swath of the agricultural value chain have urged Congress to act quickly to prevent a rail strike and service shutdown on November 19, the deadline for unions and railroads to finalize an agreement. RFA continues to engage in discussions with the Biden administration and congressional leadership in search of a speedy resolution to the ongoing rail labor dispute.

“A strike or lockout combined with existing challenges in the rail system, at our ports, with trucking and with record low water levels on the Mississippi River impacting numerous barge shipments would be catastrophic for the agricultural and broader U.S. economies,” wrote the Agricultural Transportation Working Group and many of its allies, in a letter to congressional leadership. “Congress must act to prevent this from occurring if the parties cannot reach agreement.” The group pointed out that critical inputs and agricultural products such as ammonia shipments could be embargoed as early as November 14, the day Congress returns to session.

“The U.S. ethanol industry is highly reliant on the rail system to get our products to market,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “More than 400,000 workers whose jobs are supported by the ethanol industry are depending on Congress, the Biden administration, the railroads, and the unions to work this out as quickly as possible. If the nation’s trains stop running, the nation’s ethanol biorefineries stop running too.”

The majority of the ethanol produced in the United States—more than 70 percent—is transported via railway across the lower 48 states as well as into Canada and Mexico. In fact, over the last five years, U.S. railroads have transported an average of nearly 395,000 carloads of ethanol per year.

Even before the current labor dispute emerged, ethanol producers were experiencing a significant deterioration in rail service. In comments submitted to the Surface Transportation Board in May, RFA noted that average terminal dwell times were 32 percent above pre-pandemic levels, and the average ethanol unit train dwell time was up 64 percent. The average train speed for ethanol unit trains had decreased 14 percent since the start of 2020, and the rail industry shed 41,000 jobs between November 2018 and January 2022—more than one-fifth of industry employment.



Cooperative Ventures Announces First Investment in Ag Startup

Cooperative Ventures, a venture capital fund formed by North America's leading agricultural cooperatives, today announced its first investment in Sabanto, a hardware and software company on the forefront of developing autonomous capabilities in tractors. Sabanto, founded in 2018, is deploying fully-autonomous machinery performing row crop field operations throughout the U.S.

"We're very enthusiastic about the strategic benefits presented by the Sabanto investment," said GROWMARK Director of Innovation Heather Thompson. "The labor shortage in ag retail is a very real problem. Autonomy presents an exciting solution but adopting autonomous equipment creates a new set of challenges for traditional operations. By partnering with Sabanto, GROWMARK and our FS cooperatives have the advanced opportunity to test and learn the impacts of this cutting-edge technology."

Sabanto is currently focused on retrofitting 60 to 200 horsepower tractors to operate autonomously. Already, Sabanto has proven its ability to automate a variety of row crop field operations, including planting, tillage, spraying, and mowing over thousands of acres throughout the Midwest.

"While many autonomous equipment startups are focused on specialty crops, we believe Sabanto's focus on row crops presents a tremendous opportunity for farmers and our member owners," said CHS Director of Innovation and Sustainability Ben Van Straten. "This truly is an evolution of agriculture with the potential to lower equipment and labor costs for farmers and ag retailers by using smaller tractors that are more fuel efficient while further improving sustainability through less soil compaction."

"Cooperative Ventures' investment is a testament to the importance of autonomy in the future of row crop agriculture. Given the vast network of customers and acres across GROWMARK and CHS, the path to autonomous field operations will certainly be accelerated," remarked Craig Rupp, the CEO of Sabanto.

This first investment by Cooperative Ventures is aligned with the capital fund's core investment areas, or "Fields of Play," to maximize the impact of each investment:  crop production, supply chain, farm business enablement, and sustainability.



Australian Wheat Crop Faces Quality Downgrades

Flooding and excessive rains across key parts of Australia's wheat growing areas have resulted in extensive damage to what was expected to be a record bin-busting high quality crop just a few weeks ago, exacerbating concerns over world food supplies.

According to Reuters, a lower quality crop in Australia, the world's No.2 supplier of the grain, comes as dryness in North America and the Russia-Ukraine war curb global supplies, fuelling red-hot food prices.

While Australia is still on track for a third year of bumper harvest, about half of the crop grown on its eastern grain belt - known for premium hard wheat - is likely to be reduced to animal feed, although the extent of the damage will be known after waters recede, traders, analysts and farmers said.

"There have been some growers who have had total loss ... it's still pretty raw for many people," said Brett Hosking, a grains farmer in southern Victoria sate, who is also the chairman of the farmers body GrainGrowers. "In the next fortnight or so we will have a very clear picture."

Residents in major regional towns across Australia's most populous state are being urged to leave homes as slow-moving flood waters push downstream and the country's fourth major flood crisis this year rolls into a second month.

Large swathes of farmland across Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have been inundated with flood waters, damaging wheat and other crops, including potatoes, and delaying sorghum planting.

Thursday November 03 Ag News

HUSKER SCIENTISTS ADD TO UNIVERSITY’S LONG HISTORY OF BOVINE PINKEYE STUDY

Research notes, reference materials, reports — such are the items to be found in the East Campus office of Dustin Loy, a professor in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. But Loy’s office also features an unusual drawing, a scientific one from deep in the university’s history.

The image is a drawing from one of the first known descriptions of cattle affected with pinkeye, a longtime scourge of Nebraska beef producers. The debilitating disease is primarily caused by Moraxella bovis, a tiny organism that, in the 21st century, results in annual losses to the cattle industry estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Frank Billings, a veterinary pathologist who was the first NU faculty member given a full-time research position, sketched the image of afflicted cattle for an 1889 bulletin from the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. The bulletin, in which Billings described a “dense cluster of micro-organisms,” provided the first scientific description of the bacterium and the disease.

In the present day, combating bovine pinkeye — an affliction that involves a range of possible trauma to the animal’s eye — remains a major challenge for veterinary research scientists. The genetic diversity and variation of the bacterium are so complex that major gaps in scientific understanding remain. And unlike diseases such as polio and measles, which can be addressed through a vaccine, bovine pinkeye so far has remained resistant to consistently effective prevention via vaccination.  

The illness — technically, infectious bovine kerato-conjunctivitis, or IBK — is the No. 1 reported disease for breeding cows and No. 2 for calves.

Two recent studies with contributions from Husker researchers are advancing scientific knowledge of the disease. A joint research project between the university and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, or ARS, reported important findings about the bacterium’s genetic characteristics. And Matt Hille, an assistant professor of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, headed the first long-term study of bovine pinkeye vaccines, identifying shortcomings in inoculation efficacy.

Finding a solution to bovine pinkeye is hindered by the fact that a range of factors, of varying influence, contribute to the incidence of the disease.

“It’s what we call a classic disease complex,” Loy said, “with contributions from the pathogens, contributions from the host — we know that certain breeds or types of animals are more susceptible to this disease than others. And then there's the environment, everything from dust to UV light to fly burden. All those things contribute. So, there are a lot of targets.”

“A big factor, certainly, is that this is a multifactorial disease,” said Hille, whose vaccination study noted the multiple influences contributing to the disease.

The genetic complexity and variability of the M. bovis bacterium — as well as a related bacterium, M. bovoculi — at present thwart a complete understanding of the microorganisms’ ability to cause disease. Precisely which factors turn non-threatening components of the bacteria into pathogens have yet to be fully identified. Nebraska’s joint study with ARS, published in BMC Microbiology, has moved the science forward by providing significant new information on the genetic structure and diversity of M. bovis.

ARS molecular biologists Emily Wynn and Mike Clawson, at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, analyzed M. bovis strains provided by Loy from the university’s extensive inventory of pinkeye bacterial isolates. Loy collected the samples from veterinarians in 17 U.S. states and one Canadian province as part of his longtime work in identifying variabilities among the strains.

The ARS scientists sequenced and compared the samples’ genetic makeup, resulting in notable discoveries. The researchers identified two major M. bovis genotypes, each with different versions of a pinkeye-related toxin. They also identified certain proteins on the outer membrane of the bacterial cell.

Those findings significantly broaden scientists’ genetic understanding of the disease. This sets the stage for future research work to fill in additional gaps, to enable “better interventions and better targets,” Loy said.

The joint project is the latest in scientific collaboration by the university and ARS in recent years on cattle-related diseases.

In an academic paper published this year in the journal Vaccines, Hille described a five-year study he headed that compared pinkeye vaccine effectiveness for three study groups of calves. One group received an autogenous vaccine, developed from bacterial strains isolated from the study herd. Another group received a commonly used vaccine developed by a pharmaceutical company. A third group received a formulation consisting only of adjuvant, a component normally added to a vaccine to bolster the immune response.

The autogenous vaccine produced a significantly stronger antibody response than the other two formulations, but the effect wasn’t significant in terms of actually preventing the disease. The study involved an average of 240 calves a year at Nebraska Extension’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead.

Hille’s five-year project advanced the science in several ways, Loy said. It was the first vaccine study using real-world field conditions over that duration of time and that used antigens from three different species of bacteria associated with pinkeye. It stands out, too, because Hille, in collaboration with virologist Hiep Vu of Nebraska’s Department of Animal Science, developed an analytical approach examining the animals’ immune responses and whether they came down with the disease.

Other contributors to the project were Matthew Spangler, with the Department of Animal Science, and Kelly Heath, with the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.



Green Plains Partners Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Omaha-based Green Plains Partners LP today announced financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2022. Net income attributable to the partnership was $10.2 million, or $0.43 per common unit, for the third quarter of 2022, compared with net income of $9.4 million, or $0.40 per common unit, for the same period in 2021.

The partnership also reported adjusted EBITDA of $13.0 million and distributable cash flow of $11.3 million for the third quarter of 2022, compared with adjusted EBITDA of $13.5 million and distributable cash flow of $11.5 million for the same period in 2021. Distribution coverage was 1.05x for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

“We were pleased to increase the quarterly distribution for the fifth consecutive quarter,” said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Strong liquidity and achieving higher year over year throughput rates resulted in stable earnings and cash flow at the partnership and higher cash distributions for our unitholders.”

Third Quarter Highlights and Recent Developments
    On October 20, 2022, the board of directors of the partnership’s general partner increased the quarterly cash distribution to $0.455 per unit, or approximately $10.8 million, for the third quarter of 2022. The distribution is payable on November 14, 2022, to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 4, 2022.

Results of Operations
Consolidated revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2022 increased by $0.8 million compared with the same period for 2021. Operations and maintenance expenses increased by $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared with the same period for 2021.

During the third quarter of 2022, Green Plains Inc.’s average production utilization rate was approximately 90.9% of capacity. Ethanol throughput was 219.7 million gallons, which exceeded the contracted minimum volume commitment. As a result, a prior period deficiency credit of $0.1 million was utilized toward the excess volume. Prior year credits of $1.8 million expired unused, leaving a cumulative balance of minimum volume deficiency credits available to Green Plains Trade as of September 30, 2022 of $1.9 million. If these credits are unused by Green Plains Trade, $0.8 million will expire on December 31, 2022, and $1.1 million will expire on March 31, 2023. These credits have been recognized in revenue by the partnership, and as such, future volumes throughput by Green Plains Trade in excess of the quarterly minimum volume commitment, up to the amount of these credits, will not be recognized in revenue in future periods prior to expiration.



Annual Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars Summit

The Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars Senior Class is pleased to invite you to the Annual Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars Summit in Kearney, Nebraska!  The Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars senior class, in cooperation with Nebraska Cattlemen, has been working diligently to bring this Summit to you. A variety of topics will be discussed at this year’s event.
    Source Validation to Implement Traceability into the Beef Industry
    Current Market Outlook
    Nutrition Strategies and Grazing Management After a Drought
    Ramifications of the 2022 Election on the Beef Industry
    FMD and Other Emerging Health Threats

The Summit will be held Thursday, November 17th, at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. The seminar will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be catered on-site and is included in the registration fee. Keeping with the tradition of past annual summits, the senior Beef Scholars class has developed a program of strong speakers addressing current industry issues. You are invited and encouraged to attend this important event, where guest speakers will share their knowledge and encourage us to expand our thinking.

The cost of this program is $50 and will cover lunch, speaker costs, and other expenses for the event. After receiving your completed registration, we will send you additional event information. We look forward to seeing you on November 17th!  Details can be found at www.nebraskacattlemen.org. 



Washington County Cattlemen Meeting
Date: Monday, November 7th
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Blair Marina, Blair, NE

Platte Valley Cattlemen Meeting
Date: Monday, November 14th
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Wunderlich's Catering, Columbus



Annual Dairy Discussions Seminar on Dec. 1 to focus on cybersecurity for farmers, food manufacturers and processors

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host its annual Dairy Discussions Seminar on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County Office in Orange City.

This year’s focus is on cybersecurity issues for food producers including farmers, manufacturers, and processors.

“Cybersecurity is a bigger problem than many realize, unless they have been directly affected,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “There will be four presentations all relating back to the issue of cybersecurity and our food supply providers.”

On-Farm Cybersecurity Threats
During the first presentation, “On-Farm Cybersecurity Threats,” Dr. Doug Jacobson will help producers understand where threats are and how they can manifest in farm systems.

Jacobson is Director of the ISU Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is the lead PI in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity sponsored ReCIPE coalition which is focused on securing cyber-physical systems. Doug also created the Iowa Cyber Hub which is dedicated to increasing the cyber workforce in Iowa.

The Law and Cyber Security
Special Agent Ward Crawley of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations Cyber Crime Bureau knows that living in the Digital Age makes life simpler for us, but also for the bad guys!  He is working to combat the surge of cybercrime in Iowa food producers and processors.

Crawley is a lifelong resident of Iowa. He received his undergraduate degree from ISU in 1995. Later that year, he graduated from the Iowa Department of Public Safety Basic Academy and began his employment with the Division of Criminal Investigation. While working for the DCI, Ward has been assigned to the Casino Gaming Unit, the DPS Intelligence Bureau, and most recently, the Cyber Crime Bureau.

Safeguarding Your Social Media Sites
ISU Network Field Specialist Scott Saunders believes that social media - specifically Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - are useful tools to promote your business, but they also come with cybersecurity risks. He will walk through ways to protect yourself and your business.

“What Are You Doing to Protect Your Farm?” Dairy Producer Panel Discussion
Dairy producer panel moderator, Deb Wehde, is a field representative for Agropur. She works with dairy farmers in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota who sell their milk to the company’s cheese plant in Hull. She will lead the discussion with local dairy producers on what cybersecurity issues they are concerned with. The producer panel will feature Kurt Wierda, Plymouth Dairy; Anthony Nunes, NuStar Dairy; and Michael Nettinga, M&M Dairy.

There is no registration fee to attend the program, but registration is required by calling 712-737-4230 or online at https://go.iastate.edu/OAOMX4. Deadline to register is Nov. 30.

For more information, contact Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu.



USDA Decreases Pork Checkoff Assessment Rate

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today published in the Federal Register a preview of its final rule to decrease the current Pork Checkoff assessment rate of 0.40 percent (40 cents per $100) of the market value of all pigs sold in the United States to 0.35 percent. The final rule also decreases assessments on imported pork and pork products to bring importer assessments in line with those paid by domestic producers. This assessment decrease was recommended by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body (Delegate Body), which voted on the issue during its annual meeting held in Louisville, Ky., on March 9-11, 2022.

The final rule decreasing the assessment is previewed in today’s Federal Register. The final rule is scheduled to be published officially in the Federal Register on November 4, 2022 and will be effective on January 1, 2023. The decreased assessment rate reflects the Delegate Body’s desire to lessen the assessment burden on producers. Assessments on imported pork and pork products are established by formula each year, based on U.S. market prices for hogs. Assessments on domestic and imported pork are authorized by the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985. The assessments fund promotion, research, and consumer education activities designed to strengthen the position of pork in the marketplace.

The change will decrease the annual funding of the promotion, research, and consumer information program by an estimated $13.5 million annually.



CHS intends to return $1 billion in cash to owners

CHS Inc., the nation's leading agribusiness cooperative, intends to return a total of $1 billion in cash patronage and equity redemptions to its owners in calendar year 2023, delivering on its objectives to share profits with owners and contribute to building strength in rural America.

The total amount of cash to be returned to owners is a decision made by the CHS Board of Directors at the close of each fiscal year. The CHS Board has elected to return $500 million in cash patronage based on business done with CHS in fiscal year 2022, which ended on Aug. 31, 2022. Additionally, the CHS Board has elected to return $500 million in cash to its owners through equity redemptions.

This benefit of CHS ownership will be shared by hundreds of member cooperatives and thousands of farmer-owners. The total of $1 billion distributed in cash would be the largest annual distribution to owners in CHS history and would bring the total amount returned to owners over the last 10 years to more than $3.1 billion.

"The opportunity for owners to receive cash patronage and equity is a fundamental difference between the cooperative model and other businesses," said Dan Schurr, chair of the CHS Board of Directors. "This critical difference means CHS owners share in the financial success of the company and can leverage that success to fuel strength and growth for their own businesses, their families and the communities we share."

Final financial results for fiscal year 2022 are expected to be announced in November 2022. Additional patronage-related details will be available at that time, including the amount of fiscal year 2022 patronage equity certificates that will be distributed.



Get timely ag market updates and more at 2022 CHS Annual Meeting

The 2022 CHS Annual Meeting is set for December 1st and 2nd in Minneapolis, Minn. Owners will enjoy a full agenda of education sessions, business and financial updates, CHS Board interactions and networking as they connect with other cooperative leaders and engage in CHS governance.

View the agenda and register for the annual meeting to participate in person or virtually. Register by Nov. 8 to secure a hotel room.  

Education sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 1. The 45-minute sessions will cover a range of topics, including:
    Equity management
    Commodity market updates (corn, soybeans, wheat, crop nutrients, energy)
    Bulls and bears: What’s your market position?
    Navigating the next 5 years of ag markets
    Politics and policy: The next farm bill and more
    What do mid-term election results mean for agriculture?
    The future of energy: Progress and opportunities
    Help your c-store stand out
    Carbon and the sustainability journey
    Ukraine update

Virtual attendees will be able to view and submit questions to all education sessions and the general session.

Information was mailed to voting-eligible CHS members on Oct. 11.

Annual meeting information is available here: https://chs.cventevents.com/event/9687636c-a7d7-4764-9de1-2cc06a1ab54d/websitePage:18667e30-a5df-43eb-9115-dbe526177769.  



Bipartisan House Bill Calls for Doubling Investments in Ag Export Programs
ASA Newsletter

Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), and Kim Schrier (D-WA) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would double funding for USDA’s Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program.

Similar legislation supporting these critical programs for expanding global market access for U.S.-produced ag exports was introduced in September by Sens. Angus King (ME), Joni Ernst (IA), Tina Smith (MN), Chuck Grassley (IA), and Susan Collins (ME).

MAP and FMD are vital to soy growers, as they provide opportunities to develop or grow demand for U.S. products in foreign markets. Utilizing MAP and FMD funds, the American Soybean Association—through the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health and the U.S. Soybean Export Council—has leveraged those dollars to increase market access, address technical barriers to entry and create on-the-ground capacity and demand for U.S. soy.

The Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports, of which ASA is an executive committee member, applauds the Supporting Market Access to Reinvigorate Trade Act of 2022 (SMART Act) for its reinvestment in export promotion, which strengthens U.S. farmers’ competitive edge in foreign markets.

The SMART Act now moves to the Ag Committee, where ASA and other ag partners urge swift passage.



Global Sales of U.S. Ethanol Rebound in September While U.S. DDGS Exports Ease
Ann Lewis, Renewable Fuels Association Senior Analyst

September U.S. ethanol exports bounced back 30% to 100.4 million gallons (mg) after a precipitous drop in August shipments of undenatured fuel ethanol. Canada was our largest importer for the eighteenth month (42.4 mg, equal to 42% of total U.S. exports) despite a 20% decline from August’s record high. Shipments increased across the bulk of remaining export markets, including the Netherlands (13.8 mg, +475%), South Korea (12.0 mg, +82%), the Philippines (7.4 mg, up from zero), and the United Kingdom (6.9 mg, up from minimal volumes). Brazil, India, and China again were principally absent from our export market. Total year-to-date U.S. ethanol shipments surged to 1.11 billion gallons, or 27% ahead of last year’s pace.

The U.S. did not import any ethanol in September. Total year-to-date imports stand at 42.4 mg, or 11% lower than last year at this time.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, scaled back 11% in September to a five-month low of 877,745 metric tons (mt). Exports to Mexico, our top customer for the third consecutive month, eased 4% to 187,583 mt. Vietnam boosted imports by 17% to 155,945 mt while exports to South Korea declined 10% to 82,574 mt. These three markets represented roughly half of all U.S. DDGS shipments in September. Other larger markets included the European Union—primarily Ireland and Spain (77,835 mt, +11%), Canada (61,229 mt, -12% to a 15-month low), Indonesia (35,191 mt, -48% to the lowest volume since 2016), and Colombia (33,663 mt, -37%). Total exports for the first nine months of 2022 totaled 8.59 million mt, slightly ahead of last year’s pace.



RFA: ‘Shoddy’ GAO Report on RFS Small Refinery Exemptions a Gift to Refiners

The U.S. General Accounting Office today released a report on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making when it comes to small refinery exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard. The report had been requested more than three years ago by renewable fuel supporters in Congress, and so much has changed in the program that the report is not only flawed, but also obsolete upon arrival. The following is a response from Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

“You simply can’t make this stuff up. In the summer of 2019, a bipartisan group of renewable fuel supporters in both the House and Senate asked the GAO to investigate the gross mismanagement of the small refinery exemption program by former EPA Administrators Scott Pruitt and Andy Wheeler. Now, more than three years later—and less than one week before the mid-term elections—GAO puts out a shoddy report that is friendly to oil refiners and purports to answer questions no one ever asked.

“GAO’s ‘economic analysis’ can only be described as a creative and obscure acrobatic routine. And even after performing these high-flying gymnastics, GAO can only suggest that the cost of RFS compliance for small refiners might be 0.5%—that’s half of 1 percent—higher than what larger refiners experience. In other words, GAO says small refiners—who are raking in record profits—can only pass on 99.5% of their RFS compliance costs. Meanwhile, refiners are plastering TV ads all over the DC market claiming that 100% of their RFS compliance costs are somehow passed all the way to consumers, meaning they bear no RFS compliance cost at all—a message that undermines GAO’s latest questionable findings.

“The bottom line is there is no such thing as ‘disproportionate economic hardship’ under the RFS. All refiners—large or small, merchant or integrated—face the same compliance obligations and they all pass their RIN costs on to fuel blenders at the terminal. Period. There is a mountain of evidence confirming this fact, and GAO’s new report will just be thrown on the growing scrap heap of refiner disinformation meant to undermine the success of the RFS.”

Cooper said the only thing GAO got right in its report was the fact that SREs reduce demand for renewable fuel, causing harm to ethanol producers. According to GAO: “Because small refinery exemptions have been granted after the annual requirements were set, they have likely reduced blending. According to experts and a representative of a fuel blender, exemptions have reduced the price of RINs, giving less incentive to blend renewable fuel.”

“We have been saying this for years, and refiners have been claiming that SREs somehow had no impact on renewable fuel blending,” Cooper concluded. “While the GAO report’s analysis on RIN passthrough is fundamentally flawed, at least they recognize that SREs do in fact reduce physical demand for ethanol and other renewable fuels.”



First-ever Clean Fuels Conference this January Unites Efforts to Decarbonize Fuel Supply

As a national commitment to decarbonization grows, the unstoppable role of biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel will take center stage at the newly launched Clean Fuels Conference, January 23 – 26 in Tampa, Florida.

Formerly the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, the event’s rebranding reflects the founding organization’s name change last year from the National Biodiesel Board to Clean Fuels Alliance America. The new name recognizes the evolution and expansion of the clean fuels on offer for heavy-duty transportation and new markets like rail, shipping and aviation.

This year’s conference theme is “United as One.”

“It’s especially exciting to bring people together at a time when momentum for clean fuels is very much in our favor, in terms of policy, newfound market demand and more,” said Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen. “The Clean Fuels Conference is the premier industry event that brings together stakeholders from all sectors to learn, do business and strategize about how to meet the growing demand for clean fuels amid rapid decarbonization efforts.

In addition to a robust expo hall and multiple networking events, the conference agenda features educational sessions that will help participants grow industry knowledge and prepare for success in a rapidly changing environment. Sessions include:
    Ready for Takeoff: Aviation, Rail, Heating and Marine Markets
    One Hundred Percent: States Pursue B100 and Other Ambitions
    One World, Many Goooooals: A Global Perspective
    Anticipating Change: What's Ahead for Federal Tax Policy
    The ABCs of ESG: What Corporate Commitments Spell for Clean Fuels
    B50: The New B20? Uniting Fuel Standards for 2030, 2050, and Beyond

Special activities include the return of the popular diesel vehicle Ride-and-Drive and a mainstage session putting the spotlight on the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program.

Attendees include clean fuel producers and marketers, supporting industries, farmers, fleet managers and other users, Bioheat® fuel distributors, automakers, regulators and more. This year, event organizers also hope to attract more sustainability and environmental social governance professionals who are looking for solutions available today to meet their goals. They also hope to draw representatives from new markets clamoring for clean fuels – specifically marine, rail and airline industry professionals.

Event organizers said booth space for the event is nearly sold out. Early Bird registration ends November 17.

Visit CleanFuelsConference.org for more information.



Nominations Accepted for 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award Program

Applications are being accepted until March 10, 2023, for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award. Established in 1991, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the nation.

“Cattle producers, as individuals and as an industry, are actively working to protect and improve the environment, because they know environmental stewardship and good business go hand-in-hand,” said NCBA President Don Schiefelbein. “A common trait among all ESAP winners is the desire to leave the land in better condition for future generations and inspire the next generation of land stewards.”

Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual or business raising or feeding cattle. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, although nominees may be involved in the preparation of the application. Past nominees are encouraged to resubmit applications; however, previous winners may not reapply.

Along with a typed application, one nomination letter and three letters of recommendation highlighting the nominee’s leadership in conservation are required. Nominees do not have to be members of NCBA but should support the objectives of their state and national organization.

Award winners are selected by a committee of representatives from universities, conservation organizations as well as federal and state agencies. For guidance, the judges consider the management of water, wildlife, vegetation, air, and soil along with leadership abilities and the sustainability of the business.

Seven regional winners will be recognized at the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention in Orlando, Fla., in February 2024, and the national winner will be announced at the Celebration of America’s Land Stewards Event in Washington, D.C., in spring 2024. Travel and registration are provided by ESAP for winners.

The Environmental Stewardship Award Program is an initiative of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, and is funded by Corteva Agriscience, McDonald’s and the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture along with a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information and to download the nomination packet, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.  



NGFA, ag groups urge Congress to prevent rail shutdown

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and 192 other members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group urged Congress to prepare to prevent a rail strike or lockout, which would “lead to shutdowns of rail-dependent facilities resulting in devastating consequences to our national and global food security.”

The Biden administration successfully brokered an agreement between the National Railway Labor Conference, which represents railroads, and 12 rail labor unions on Sept. 15. However, two unions have voted against ratifying the agreement while members of four other unions continue to review it. A strike could begin as soon as Nov. 19.

“Congressional action will be necessary if the parties fail to reach agreement,” stated the food and agriculture groups in a Nov. 3 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “Resolution of this dispute prior to Nov. 19 is necessary to ensure rail service continues uninterrupted. Adding urgency to this matter, critical inputs and agricultural products such as ammonia shipments could be embargoed starting on Nov. 14.”

A rail strike combined with existing challenges in the rail system would be “catastrophic” for the U.S. economy, the groups noted, especially considering the current challenges in other modes of transportation, including trucking shortages and record low water levels on the Mississippi River hindering barge shipments.

The groups urged lawmakers to be prepared to act quickly when Congress is back in session on Nov. 14.



National Bison Day

The first Saturday in November offers everyone an opportunity to rally around a symbol of national unity, as National Bison Day celebrates the cultural, historical and economic significance of our National Mammal. The American bison is at home in a wide variety of climates across the continent, with herds today found in American parks, refuges, national forests and grasslands, Tribal lands, private conservancies, ranches and farms.

Since 2013, the United States Senate annually has designated the first Saturday in November as National Bison Day. This resolution has the full support of a community bound by the heritage of the American Bison and includes the National Bison Association, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the InterTribal Buffalo Council. These three organizations championed the enactment of legislation in 2016 designating bison as the National Mammal of the United States.

Today's bison herds continue to grow despite a three-year cycle of pandemic, drought, and economic uncertainty. There are exciting advances in understanding bison through the Center of Excellence for Bison Studies, established in 2020 within the South Dakota State University system. Researchers and academics from across the country are bringing together projects to improve the ability of bison caretakers to manage healthy herds and produce healthy meat.

As bison return to the landscape, the National Bison Association remembers their rebound from near extinction only 150 years ago. With this National Bison Day we celebrate the heritage of the buffalo, strive to keep learning more, and create a sustainable future for the caretakers of the animals.