Thursday June 06 Ag News

 NE Corn Board to Meet

The Nebraska Corn Board will hold its next meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Lindsay Corporation (18135 Burke St., Suite 100,) in Omaha, Neb.

The meeting is open to the public, providing the opportunity for public comment. The board will conduct regular board business.

A copy of the agenda is available by writing to the Nebraska Corn Board, 245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 204, Lincoln, NE 68521, sending an email to renee.tichota@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2676.



HPAI Detected in an Iowa Dairy Herd

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in O’Brien County, Iowa. Final confirmatory testing is pending at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames.

The affected farm is a dairy herd, and this is Iowa’s first reported case of HPAI within a dairy. To date, APHIS has confirmed over 80 dairy cases on farms in South Dakota, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Kansas, Idaho and Colorado.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will soon be announcing additional response measures.

Additionally, genomic sequencing of the virus that was detected at the Sioux County farm announced on May 28 was determined by the NVSL in Ames to be consistent with the variant identified in affected dairies in other states. Sequencing is not yet completed on the virus detected at a recent turkey flock in Cherokee County or this dairy in O’Brien County. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to try to determine how the virus was introduced into the flocks and herd.

“Given the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza within dairy cattle in many other states, it is not a surprise that we would have a case given the size of our dairy industry in Iowa. While lactating dairy cattle appear to recover with supportive care, we know this destructive virus continues to be deadly for poultry. Our team at the Department has been preparing for this possibility and will soon be announcing additional response steps to protect our flocks and herds,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Poultry producers and dairy farmers should immediately take steps to harden their biosecurity defenses, limit unnecessary visitors, and report symptomatic birds or cattle to the Department. This remains an evolving situation and we will continue to be in close communication with stakeholders, USDA, and other states as we evaluate our response. Our top priority is to protect our livestock and the farmers and people who care for them.”

About HPAI
HPAI is a viral disease that affects both wild and domestic bird populations as well as lactating dairy cattle.  HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. With supportive care, dairy cattle recover with little to no mortality associated with the disease.

Suspected Cases in Dairy
If dairy producers suspect cases of HPAI, they should contact their herd veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305. USDA’s federal order regulating the interstate movement of lactating dairy cattle remains in effect.

Clinical signs of HPAI in dairy may include:
    Decrease in food consumption with a simultaneous decrease in rumination
    Clear nasal discharge
    Drop in milk production
    Tacky or loose feces
    Lethargy
    Dehydration
    Fever
    Thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk

Heightened Biosecurity
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is strongly encouraging Iowa poultry producers and dairy farmers to bolster their biosecurity practices and protocols to protect their flocks and herds. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has biosecurity recommendations for dairy herds to utilize. In addition, the Department has numerous other biosecurity resources for poultry producers and livestock farms to reference on its website. Farmers or farm workers who interact regularly with both dairy and poultry or who interact frequently with other farm workers in poultry or dairy, should take extra precautions to limit possible transmissions.



Farm bill spotlights pork producer priorities at World Pork Expo
 
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) hosted a policy panel discussion today at the 2024 World Pork Expo, where producer-leaders and experts highlighted the need to work with both sides of the aisle to support America’s pork producers.
 
Preparing for and preventing foreign animal diseases (FADs), navigating challenges posed by California Proposition 12, increasing market access programs for U.S. pork, and protecting herd health are the key priorities that NPPC has successfully advocated for within the farm bill.
 
“Having a proactive, producer-focused advocacy plan has enabled NPPC to elevate our common interests to impact inclusions in the 2024 House Farm Bill,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minnesota. “We appreciate our legislators addressing the issues facing the agriculture industry because they hold real-world implications for farms across the country.”
 
Dr. Anna Forseth, NPPC director of animal health, highlighted the importance of preserving FAD risk and prevention programs, which include National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank; National Animal Health Laboratory Network; National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program; and National Veterinary Stockpile.
 
“Pork producers continue to face threats from foreign animal disease like African swine fever,” Forseth said. “Farm bill funding can address these risks and help mitigate an outbreak that could lead to billions of dollars in losses, food shortages, and immediate closure of export markets.”
 
Chase Adams, NPPC assistant vice president of domestic policy, discussed the complications created by California Proposition 12 in potentially opening the door to a web of 50 different, often conflicting, standards on how food is produced. “NPPC urges Congress to adopt a legislative solution in the farm bill to mitigate further impacts to both farmers and consumers,” he said, noting the legislation has led to price spikes as high as 41% for fresh pork in California and is negatively impacting consumers.
 
Additional resources are needed for feral swine eradication, authorization of the National Detector Dog Training Center, and funding for the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP).
 
“Exports create significant opportunities for the U.S. pork industry. USDA’s MAP program is designed to build commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products,” said Maria C. Zieba, NPPC vice president of government affairs. “NPPC values the role international marketing plays in developing markets for U.S. pork.”
 
As the pork industry continues to bounce back from historic economic losses, producers need certainty and peace of mind in other areas of their businesses.”
 
“NPPC continues to work on a range of policy issues that protect herd health and safeguard producers’ farming businesses,” said Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO. “As it relates to ongoing discussions around the farm bill, we want to continue the momentum set by inclusions in the House version and encourage Congress to finalize a bipartisan bill this year that reflects the needs of pork producers.”



Weekly Ethanol Production for 5/31/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending May 31, ethanol production inched up 0.4% to 1.07 million b/d, equivalent to 45.02 million gallons daily and the highest level since the end of March. Output was 3.5% more than the same week last year and 5.6% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 2.7% to 1.04 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.99 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks declined 0.7% to a 24-week low of 23.1 million barrels. Yet, stocks were 0.5% more than the same week last year and 4.6% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned across all regions except the Rocky Mountains (PADD 4) and West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, decreased 2.2% to 8.95 million b/d (137.52 bg annualized). Demand was 3.0% less than a year ago but 0.1% above the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol slipped 3.1% to 908,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.96 bg annualized. Still, net inputs were 2.4% higher than year-ago levels and 3.0% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 123,000 b/d (5.2 million gallons/day), or 42.0% below the prior week. There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the 37th consecutive week.



Urea, Anhydrous Lead Retail Fertilizer Prices Lower at End of May

Most average retail fertilizer prices continued to be lower in the fourth week of May 2024, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. This was the fourth week in a row that most fertilizer prices were lower compared to last month.

For the first time in many months, prices for multiple fertilizers fell significantly, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

The price of urea was down 8% from last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $537 per ton. Anhydrous also saw a significant price drop, down 5% from last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $758 per ton.

Prices for five other fertilizers were down just slightly from last month. DAP had an average price of $781 per ton, MAP $828/ton, potash $508/ton, UAN28 $356/ton and UAN32 $406/ton.

The price of one fertilizer was slightly higher than a month ago: 10-34-0 had an average price of $642/ton.

Prices of all fertilizers are lower compared to one year ago. The price of MAP is 1% lower, anhydrous is 4% less expensive, DAP is 5% lower, 10-34-0 is 13% lower, both urea and UAN28 are now 14% less expensive, UAN32 is 15% lower and potash is 18% lower compared to a year prior.



Dairy Products April 2024 Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.19 billion pounds, 1.8 percent above April 2023 but 3.0 percent below March 2024. Italian type cheese production totaled 504 million pounds, 6.2 percent above April 2023 but 2.8 percent below March 2024. American type cheese production totaled 468 million pounds, 4.7 percent below April 2023 and 4.3 percent below March 2024. Butter production was 208 million pounds, 5.3 percent above April 2023 but 1.3 percent below March 2024.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with April 2023)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 173 million pounds, down 12.7 percent.
Skim milk powder - 36.3 million pounds, down 20.8 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with April 2023)
Dry whey, total - 81.2 million pounds, up 2.1 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 91.5 million pounds, down 1.5 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 39.2 million pounds, down 6.1 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with April 2023)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 64.7 million gallons, up 7.3 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 38.5 million gallons, down 6.0 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 1.80 million gallons, down 8.8 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 3.12 million gallons, down 3.6 percent.



NMPF Board Calls for Milk Pricing Fairness, Leads on H5N1 Response

National Milk Producers Federation leadership expressed confidence that farmers would soon see a fairer federal system for milk pricing and highlighted dairy farmers’ robust response to the challenge of H5N1 influenza in dairy cattle at the organization’s Board of Directors meeting, which concluded today.  

“Even with all the stresses on the farm, there's still not a better industry,” said Randy Mooney, a dairy farmer from Rogersville, MO, and a member of the Dairy Farmers of America cooperative, in remarks at the meeting. “I'm proud of where we’re at, producing high quality, nutritious food for the consumer. It's amazing how dairy farmers do it.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to release its plan for Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization at the beginning of July. NMPF has led the push for updated rules that reflect the current industry, a three-year effort that culminated in a 49-day FMMO hearing late last year.  

Board members spent two days reviewing recent policy developments, including the progress of the 2024 Farm Bill, and receiving up-to-date information on H5N1, which has led to significant federal and farmer investments in biosecurity and testing. NMPF Chief Science Officer Dr. Jamie Jonker led discussion on an issue that is critical to dairy’s future.   

The meeting was held with NMPF’s annual Young Cooperators fly-in, in which young dairy farmers meet with lawmakers to advocate for the industry. Dairy farmers urged passage of a Farm Bill, expanded market access for U.S. dairy products and federal action toward integrity in milk labeling, restricting the use of dairy terms to animal products in line with Food and Drug Administration standards.  

The Board also examined potential improvements to the NMPF-led Cooperatives Working Together program, the 21-year-old farmer self-help initiative that is up for renewal after 2024. A member task force has been weighing a range of options to expand the use of CWT’s export assistance program. The NMPF Board approved a series of five directional goals for CWT as it considers the program’s parameters in 2025 and beyond.

At the meeting, the board also elected three new members: Dave Peterson of Minnesota, representing Associated Milk Producers, Inc.; Alex Peterson of Missouri, representing Dairy Farmers of America; and Mike Schoneveld of Washington, representing Darigold.  



Corteva Agriscience Launches Resicore® REV Herbicide for Premier Corn Weed Control

Corteva Agriscience today announced the launch of Resicore® REV herbicide, which will offer premier pre- and postemergence corn weed control. With a powerful combination of three proven active ingredients, plus superior handling, outstanding flexibility and enhanced crop safety, this new premix formulation will put the brakes on more than 75 of the toughest broadleaf and grass weeds while helping farmers rev up corn yield potential.

Revved up benefits of Resicore REV herbicide include:
    High-powered weed control. Resicore REV herbicide will be the ideal foundation for any premier corn weed-control program with three proven modes of action, plus up to eight weeks of residual activity, to control more than 75 of the toughest broadleaves and grasses. The solution is powerful against even the most resistant weed varieties, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail and giant ragweed.
    Pumped-up flexibility. Resicore REV herbicide has the flexibility to fit nearly any weed-control or agronomic program. The new formulation can be applied preplant, preemergence or postemergence on corn up to 24 inches tall – and it allows farmers to customize their application rates to suit their needs. Resicore REV herbicide can be used on traited corn and conventional corn, as well as on reduced- and no-till acres.
    Supercharged tankmix compatibility. Resicore REV herbicide is compatible with a wide variety of tank-mix partners, including micronutrients, such as UAN and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), and other corn herbicides, such as atrazine and glyphosate. This supercharged mixing and handling will allow corn farmers more options to tailor their weed control programs to better fit their acres.
    Boosted crop safety. Resicore REV herbicide is formulated for increased crop safety with an encapsulated acetochlor. The boosted crop safety builds off the strong foundation of Resicore® herbicide for healthier corn throughout the growing season, helping farmers achieve maximum yield potential.

“Resicore REV herbicide will not only help corn farmers overcome their weed control challenges for one season but also will help set them up for better field management down the road,” Burke said. “By providing premier efficacy and the flexibility to work across a multitude of management programs, Resicore REV herbicide will bring farmers the confidence of knowing they’re helping sustain the longevity of the weed control tools and technologies they currently rely on.”

Resicore® REV herbicide will be available for growers to include in their 2025 weed control plans.



Pivot Bio Releases 2023 Impact Report

Pivot Bio, a leading sustainable agriculture company, today announced its customers, since the beginning of 2022, reduced carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions by over 932,000 metric tons (MT). The savings, the result of their using Pivot Bio’s microbial nitrogen to improve the efficiency of their nitrogen management plans, is equivalent to the annual emissions of two-and-one-half gas-fired power plants — a leading pace of emissions reductions in agriculture.

The data comes from the company’s latest Impact Report, which looks back on 2023 and provides in-depth evidence demonstrating the critical role microbial nitrogen plays in permanent on-farm decarbonization. Last year alone, growers who used Pivot Bio products avoided the emission of more than 700,000 MT of CO2e — nearly 20x the annual capacity of the world’s most advanced direct air capture facility in Iceland.

“Nitrogen is an essential building block for life and agriculture, necessary to produce the food needed to meet global demand. But the status quo in nitrogen management is not enough,” said Karsten Temme, Pivot Bio co-founder and chief innovation officer. “The data is clear — when our microbial-produced nitrogen is a foundational pillar of a holistic crop nutrition plan, growers can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a positive on-farm impact that extends across global supply chains.”

The 2023 Impact Report also highlights the company’s N-OVATORTM program, the first-ever insetting initiative to focus on nitrous oxide emissions by connecting growers with companies looking to draw down Scope 3 emissions.

In 2023 alone, Pivot Bio matched nearly 400,000 grower acres with downstream partners, including major consumer packaged goods companies, ingredient suppliers, spirit producers and grain buyers. In the process, it enabled the reduction of nearly 140,000 MT of permanent, nonreversible Scope 3 emissions. Pivot Bio expects the 2024 acreage will be higher once it finalizes additional downstream programs for corporate customers.

Through N-OVATORTM, Pivot Bio partnered with over a half-dozen companies to develop programs that returned dollars to growers for the CO2 and N2O reductions and watershed improvements they delivered. Many of the growers received payments that resulted in up to 35% of their product cost coming back to them as cash payments. The net effect of these payments to growers typically makes Pivot Bio products their cheapest form of nitrogen — across all sources of nitrogen.

“Building a more sustainable future for agriculture hinges on leveraging strategic partnerships like the ones being built through our N-OVATORTM program,” said Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott. “Transforming agriculture isn’t a zero-sum game. If we can find creative ways to work together, it will benefit us all. From growers, ag input partners and complementary technology companies to commodity brands, the fuels market and even traditional fertilizer manufacturers, there is opportunity to create value across the supply chain with improved sustainable impact and economic advantages. That is the power of technology.”

Nitrogen is a critical component of the global food system, with synthetic nitrogen fertilizer credited for supporting the caloric needs of nearly half of the world’s population. However, the manufacturing, transportation and application of synthetic fertilizer accounts for 2.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and is a significant source of water use and nitrate leaching. Pivot Bio products are used across several million acres in the United States, typically providing up to 25% of a plant’s nitrogen needs while improving growers’ profitability, sustainability and productivity as they work to feed a growing population.

Wednesday May 05 Ag News

Shrinking beef production margins create industry structure change
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Educator

A beef industry magazine editorial, which focused on the size of the industry, particularly the cow-calf segment, and age of operators, led me to think a bit further about what is causing change in our industry. More importantly, reading about these trends led me to think about the implications of this change and its effects on the future of the beef industry.

Between 2017 and 2022, the United States reported 106,884 fewer farms with beef cows. Most of the reduction (77%) came from farms which reported owning between 1 and 49 head. Although this drop represents about 1 million cows, it also represents start up producers and those slowing down production nearing retirement. A total of 100,000 producers aged 45 to 64 exited the cow-calf business between 2017 and 2022. While 24,000 producers aged 44 years old or younger exited the cow-calf business during the same period. These figures are not good news for the beef industry.

The feedlot business also experienced a drop of 4,500 operations between 2017 and 2022. Although not much larger than the drop between 2012 and 2017 (3,600 operations); the implications of this change are also significant.

Operator age is often brought up as a factor cited why individuals exit the beef industry. Long hours, hard work and volatile markets are not uncommon. Yet, in the past, children and grandchildren continued owning and managing the herd.

The large number of individuals ages 45 to 64 exiting the cow-calf business indicates that factors other than age are influencing this decision. Although the Ag Census provides information on industry trends and producer demographics, there is no information in it to describe why individuals make certain decisions.

Results of the 2017 and 2022 Ag Census span a period of high volatility in cattle markets and the world. In 2019, the fire at the Tyson plant in Holcomb, KS, and in 2020 the COVID pandemic and ensuing social unrest. Soon after, the war in Ukraine affected the global economy. Lately, rampant inflation with the threat of economic recession shaped decisions individuals and families make. As with many other career decisions, it is likely that the combined effect of these internal and external influences shaped the long-term goals of many of these cow-calf operators.

Similarly, during the 2017 and 2022 Ag Census, approximately the same number of cattle were sold from feedlots (24.5 million), except for in 2022, there were 4,500 fewer feedlots participating in feeding cattle. Most of these feedlots were feedlots that sold fewer than 2,500 head of cattle yearly.

When looking at these trends, these segments of the beef industry are consolidating. Fewer operations with more cows or fewer feedlots marketing larger totals yearly.

In previous columns I mentioned that many of these factors are here to stay mandated changes that affect production and utilization of fossil fuels and their effects on transportation costs, and an overall reduction in the labor force coupled with increased labor costs. These factors are affecting profit margins in beef cattle production.

Aging cow-calf operators are facing difficult financial decisions while they experience little interest from their heirs to participate in the business. Meanwhile, in the feedlot sector, smaller feedlots facing highly volatile markets with narrow margins resulted in a decline in interest in cattle feeding.

As long as consumers continue to enjoy beef and its price point is within their economic reach, consumer demand should remain strong. However, at some point, some of us ask: who will run the cowherds that produce calves for the feedlot?

If the appetite for beef does not wane, someone will keep cows and raise calves, and someone else will feed the resulting calves. Where and how, it is not clear. Calves raised in foreign soil and finished in the US by larger corporations? That is one option.

Another option is government-driven incentives (or disincentives). Yet, one only needs to look at the effect of these on the structure of the dairy industry. Fewer and larger farms; not the intended objective of preservation of the family dairy farm.

This leaves the responsibility on the individuals that participate in the beef industry. Are there incentives or arrangements that ought to be generated amongst producers to

attract and retain young operators to cow-calf ranches and cattle feedlots? Many examples of these incentives and arrangements have been developed by progressive cattle producers in Cuming County. Is this the time to be more purposeful about developing and offering incentives and arrangements for young operators? Is it also time for others in Nebraska or other states to learn from what has worked locally?



NEBRASKA TEAM DEVELOPS TECHNIQUE TO SPEED UP CORN GENE IDENTIFICATION

The genome of a corn plant contains almost 40,000 genes, thousands more than the human genome. But 15 years after the publication of the first draft of the corn genome, the roles 98% of those genes play in making a corn plant or determining how corn will respond to different growing conditions remain unknown.

Conventional methods to figure out the job of each gene have proven slow and expensive, but Husker scientists have taken a major step forward in identifying the function of corn genes. The work was led by Vladimir Torres-Rodriguez, a postdoctoral associate working with James Schnable, a professor and corn genetics specialist in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.

Their findings, recently published in The Plant Journal, could lead to faster creation of more resilient corn varieties and broader producer access to improved crops by identifying the functions of individual corn genes more rapidly and accurately. Torres-Rodriguez is lead author of the paper, “Population level gene expression can repeatedly link genes to functions in maize.”

The technique he developed and tested with the team of corn-focused researchers from the Schnable lab uses RNA rather than DNA. This innovative approach identified about 10 times as many corn genes affecting flowering time than widely used DNA-based methods for identifying genes.

Doing a better job of figuring out gene functions could decrease the cost of bringing gene-edited corn varieties to market, resulting in more competition and better prices for farmers, said Schnable, who last year contributed to the landmark completion of corn genome mapping.

Only a handful of large seed companies have the resources to invest hundreds of millions of dollars for new gene-focused product development. But faster and more accurate approaches like the one UNL demonstrated could reduce costs and open up the market.

To make this project possible, the Husker team measured the RNA levels of more than 39,000 corn genes in each of roughly 700 varieties of corn, using plants grown at the university’s Havelock Farm in Lincoln. The researchers combined those RNA measurements with measurements of the corn plants themselves collected both in Lincoln and by collaborators at Michigan State University.

Making the project work required new approaches not only on computers, but in the field, said Schnable, the Nebraska Corn Checkoff Presidential Chair. The team needed to collect samples from every corn plant in less than two hours and flash freeze them before environmental conditions could quickly break down the RNA that was the key to Torres-Rodriguez’s analysis.

Achieving those conditions required special equipment designed by Jonathan Turkus, a research manager who works with Schnable at the university’s Center for Plant Science Innovation. Turkus fabricated equipment using 3D printers and other tools from Nebraska Innovation Campus’s makerspace.

The result, Torres-Rodriguez said, is that “UNL has produced the largest data set of corn gene expression measurements in the world.”

“Vladimir had to build a software pipeline to analyze this data,” Schnable said of Torres-Rodriguez’s innovations. The work required “repurposing other tools, figuring out other ways to process data and then figuring out all of the new quality control steps to make sure things were working properly. It was an amazing undertaking.”

Torres-Rodriguez will follow up the project with genetic analysis of additional corn traits. The goal, Schnable said, is “to make sure that, decades from now, when a Nebraska farmer is driving his tractor, the corn being planted has the genetics to perform well and tolerate harsher conditions.”

Through projects like this one, Schnable said, UNL is positioning itself as the go-to research institution that companies, from corporate giants to small startups, can turn to for corn-focused data sets, expertise or in-the-field support.

An early example of such private-sector collaboration helped launch this project. Schnable was working with Brad Zamft, a California-based scientist leading a team developing new artificial intelligence-based tools for agriculture.

“Brad asked me for a bigger data set,” Schnable said. “At the time, we were using the biggest data set of its kind that existed in the public sector. He thought about that for a moment and then asked, what would it cost to do this right?”

Ultimately the pair worked together to secure a $650,000 grant for the project through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy program.

“There is no doubt in my mind the University of Nebraska is an agricultural technology powerhouse,” said Zamft, the project lead of a stealth plant biology project at X, Alphabet's “moonshot factory” division exploring a range of scientific innovations. “The expertise that we have experienced, the collaborations that we have engaged in, have been delightfully productive, and I think could have real impact on the world. I’m not sure our team could have made it this far without the support of the researchers at the university.”

Schnable said UNL has a real opportunity.

“We want to be, and we're becoming, the place where people from across the country come to get cutting-edge corn research done,” he said.



Water Wells Not Properly Abandoned Pose Hazards to Water Quality, People, and Animals

Unused water wells left unsecure are a hazard to water quality, people, livestock, and pets. The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD) is aiming to help educate landowners within its six-county area of the importance of abandoning unused wells, as well the cost-share program it provides to help with the associated expense.

Wells that aren’t properly abandoned provide a pipeline to groundwater and can be easily polluted with chemicals, fertilizers, and other contaminates. They can also pose safety risks to people and animals that may not see the wells and become trapped or potentially seriously injured.

“To help eliminate or reduce these hazards and assist landowners with the cost of abandoning unused wells, the Papio NRD provides the Well Abandonment Program,” said Terry Schumacher, land and water programs coordinator for the Papio NRD.

The Well Abandonment Program provides cost-share at a rate of 75% of the total eligible costs with a maximum of $750 for domestic drilled wells; $1,000 for dug wells; and $1,500 for city, irrigation, commercial or municipal wells.

Ed Thiele, project engineer for Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, took part in the program, as the organization is developing sites in Sarpy and Douglas counties to build new homes. “We decommissioned three wells in Sarpy County and two in Douglas County,” said Thiele.

“Obviously, we want to make sure the land is safe before construction starts and families move in. The Papio NRD’s cost-share program was of tremendous value for us on many fronts and I would most definitely recommend it to others,” said Thiele.

Eligible costs of the program include pulling rods and pump, filling cistern, chlorination, sand, bentonite, plug, and concrete. A State of Nebraska licensed well contractor, driller or pump installer must complete the abandonment to proper Department of Natural Resources rules and regulations.

“It’s really a win-win opportunity,” said Schumacher. “Our program offers landowners and others, like Habitat for Humanity, significant financial assistance to help protect our drinking water, groundwater, the public and make the process as easy as possible.”

For more information, please contact one of our Field Office representatives in your county:
Washington, Douglas & Sarpy counties: Kalani Fortina at 402-426-4782 ext. 3
Burt County: Deb Ward at 402-374-1920 ext. 3
Thurston County: Tamara Tipton at 402-846-5655
Dakota County: Mahkenna Koinzan at 402-494-4949



TenCorp and Heartland Builders Announce Strategic Partnership to Meet Growing Needs of Midwest Cattle Producers

Two proven livestock barn builders, TenCorp Inc. and Heartland Builders Co., are forming a strategic partnership to expand availability of high-quality, innovative deep-pit cattle barns across Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. This alliance allows both companies to reach more beef producers, and advance their feeding operations, across the Midwest.

Leveraging decades of combined experience and a shared commitment to livestock farming, Heartland Builders will oversee the construction of TenCorp-designed deep-pit cattle barns throughout the Midwest. TenCorp will also continue to handle both the design and construction for cattle operations throughout the Midwest.  

“Heartland Builder's strong track record in barn construction compliments our cutting-edge design features like enhanced ventilation systems, efficient waste management and optimal space utilization to optimize cattle health and productivity,” says Kristin Tentinger, general manager at TenCorp. “Together, we are going to serve more producers and modernize more farms.”

“This collaboration allows us to tap into the premium cattle barn market and cater to the increased number of producers moving to covered feeding systems,” says Brian Palmer, president of Heartland Builders. “We are excited to partner with an industry leader known for their superior designs, which have become the new gold standard in the industry.”



Iowa Swine Day Will Be Held July 25 in Ames

Pork producers and others involved with swine production can learn the most current information on emerging critical industry topics at Iowa Swine Day, July 25 at the Iowa State Center in Ames. Sessions will be presented by renowned speakers from the U.S. and around the world. The event is oganized and presented by the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University.

The planning committee of producers and allied industry representatives ensures that no two programs are alike, and that every program offers information not available elsewhere.

Following the morning plenary session and lunch, participants will choose their own schedule from the four concurrent topical sessions with four presentations in each: current topics, improving on-farm labor, protecting herd health and Iowa State research. With speaker consent, sessions are recorded and provided later on the Pork Center’s YouTube channel.  

The preconference symposium, on July 24, will feature eight leading swine industry experts presenting Soybean Meal 360. Moderated by David Holzgraefe, the topics include the dynamic landscape of increased soybean meal availability, the expanding horizons of soybean meal discoveries in swine diets and field-proven feeding strategies for improving pork production. The preconference symposium runs from 12:30-5 p.m. July 24, at the Scheman Building, 1805 Center Drive.

Including the preconference symposium, there are six primary sessions, 28 individual talks, 31 speakers and more than 30 sponsors. Cost is $85 and parking for all events is free. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the official program starts at 8 a.m. at Stephens Auditorium, 1900 Center Drive.

All attendees registered for Iowa Swine Day are welcome to attend the symposium as well as the swine networking social following the event. Sponsored by AB Vista, Iowa Pork Industry Center, Lynch Livestock and TechMix, the social starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center, at 2508 Mortensen Road.

Registration cost for the networking social is $85. Students may attend at no charge and preregistration is strongly encouraged. Walk-in registration is discouraged.

The full program, information, registration forms and directions to the venues are available on the Iowa Swine Day conference website https://www.ipic.iastate.edu/iowaswineday.html.

Iowa Swine Day is hosted by the Iowa Pork Industry Center with support provided by Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.



April DMC Margin Little Changed from March
NMPF

The April Dairy Margin Coverage Program margin was $9.60/cwt, down by $0.05/cwt from March, just above the maximum $9.50/cwt maximum Tier 1 coverage level for the second month in a row.

The April All-Milk price dropped from March by $0.10/cwt to $20.50/cwt, and the April DMC feed cost calculation dropped by $0.15/cwt, on a $11/ton lower premium alfalfa hay price. Small changes in the corn and soybean meal prices offset each other on a per hundredweight of milk basis in the formula.

Available forecasts at the end of May indicate an increasingly high likelihood that the DMC margin will remain considerably above $9.50/cwt for the rest of the year.



Farmer sentiment recovers in May; interest in solar leasing rising

U.S. farmers’ outlook improved in May as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose to 108, marking a 9-point increase from April. Both of the barometer’s subindices saw increases, with the Index of Future Expectations climbing 11 points to 117 and the Current Conditions Index rising 6 points. The rise in crop prices played a role in boosting farmer sentiment this month. By mid-May, Eastern Corn Belt cash corn prices had increased by 6% to 7%, and soybean prices had risen by 2% to 3% since the April survey was conducted. The improvement in prices aligned with good corn and soybean planting progress, which likely contributed to the sentiment improvement. This month's Ag Economy Barometer survey was conducted from May 13-17, 2024.

“The boost in the Index of Future Expectations reflects farmers’ expectation that conditions will improve, although it’s clear 2024’s financial challenges are still a concern,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.

The Farm Financial Performance Index rose to 82 in May, a 6-point increase from April. This index, which asks producers to compare their farm’s expected financial performance to last year, shows some improvement. However, despite the gain, the index remains 15 points lower than at the end of last year. This indicates that producers still anticipate 2024 to be a more financially challenging year compared to 2023.

Producers’ outlook on capital investments improved modestly in May, with the Farm Capital Investment Index rising to 35, up 4 points from its all-time low reading of 31 in April. Despite this increase, the survey revealed that 77% of respondents believe it is a bad time to make large investments, while only 12% felt it was a good time. Interest rates and elevated prices for farm machinery and new construction were the main reasons cited for this cautious approach. Among those who considered it a good time to invest, nearly half (45%) cited high inventories at machinery dealers as the key factor.

Producers’ views on farmland values in May remained steady, with a small 3-point increase in the Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index. Compared to last fall, producers’ sentiment in 2024 has weakened, as indicated by an average index of 116 from January to May, down 6% from the average of 124 in October-December 2023. Those expecting higher farmland values in the coming year point to nonfarm investor demand and inflation as key drivers for their optimism. Notably, the survey expanded its response categories in April and May to include energy production from wind and solar installations as a reason to expect values to rise. In May, 12% of optimistic respondents cited energy production as a factor for their positive outlook, up from 8% in April.

“While the overall outlook on farmland values showed little change in May, the evolving landscape of energy production is beginning to play a role in producers’ views,” Mintert said. “We are seeing a shift in how alternative revenue sources are impacting farmland value expectations.”

Interest in developing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects is rising among ethanol plants, partly driven by tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. This month’s survey inquired about farmers’ experiences with potential CCS projects from ethanol plants. Seven percent reported being approached about such projects. Payment rates per acre ranged from under $26 to over $50, showcasing considerable variation. Future surveys will delve deeper into CCS project specifics.

Interest in leasing farmland for solar energy production is on the rise, according to recent survey findings. In both April and May, approximately 20% of respondents — up from just 12% in March — have discussed leasing farmland for solar energy production within the last six months. Notably, over half (55%) of respondents were offered long-term lease rates of $1,000 per acre or more, with 27% receiving offers exceeding $1,250 per acre. Combining data from both April and May surveys reveals that approximately 30% of respondents who explored leasing options have now signed solar energy leases for farmland they control.

Tuesday June 04 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending June 2, 2024, there were 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 11% short, 74% adequate, and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4% very short, 17% short, 70% adequate, and 9% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 18% fair, 59% good, and 21% excellent. Corn planted was 96%, near 97% last year, and equal to the five-year average. Emerged was 79%, behind 89% last year, and near 83% average.

Soybeans planted was 90%, near 94% last year and 88% average. Emerged was 64%, behind 80% last year, and near 67% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 27% fair, 53% good, and 15% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 72%, ahead of 54% last year and 55% average.

Sorghum planted was 52%, ahead of 47% last year, but behind 58% average.

Oats condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 33% fair, 56% good, and 7% excellent. Oats emerged was 95%, equal to last year, and near 94% average. Headed was 37%, well ahead of 14% last year, and ahead of 19% average.

Dry edible beans planted was 30%, ahead of 17% last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 25% fair, 59% good, and 11% excellent.



Iowa Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report

Scattered showers throughout the State allowed Iowa farmers 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 2, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Reports of standing water in fields were received from throughout the State. Planting and replanting of corn and soybeans were reported.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus.

Ninety-three percent of the expected corn crop has been planted, almost 2 weeks behind last year and 5 days behind the 5-year average. Corn emerged reached 81 percent, 6 days behind last year. Corn condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.

Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 12 days behind last year but equal to the average. Sixty percent of the soybean crop has emerged, 1 week behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average. The first soybean condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 14 percent excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of the oat crop has emerged with 40 percent headed, 6 days ahead of last year and almost 2 weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition rated 82 percent good to excellent.

Forty percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 6 days behind last year. Hay condition rated 79 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition improved to 75 percent good to excellent. Wet conditions affecting livestock are now a concern.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The condition of the U.S. corn crop is starting off significantly better this year than it did last year, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Monday. Planting progress and crop development also remain slightly ahead of the five-year averages for both corn and soybeans nationwide, NASS said.

CORN
-- Planting progress: Corn planting moved ahead 8 percentage points last week, slower than the previous week's progress of 13 percentage points. Planting reached 91% complete nationwide as of Sunday, June 2, 2 points ahead of the five-year average of 89%. This year's progress continued to lag last year by 4 percentage points.
-- Crop development: 74% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, 7 points behind last year's 81% and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 73%.
-- Crop condition: In its first condition rating of the season for corn, NASS estimated that 75% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, 11 percentage points higher than 64% a year ago. Only 4% of the crop was rated very poor to poor compared to 6% last year.

SOYBEANS
-- Planting progress: Soybean planting moved ahead 10 points last week, slower than the previous week's pace of 16 percentage points, to reach 78% complete as of Sunday. That was 11 percentage points behind last year's pace of 89% but 5 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 73%.
-- Crop development: 55% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 14 points behind last year's 69% but 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 52%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop development: 83% of winter wheat was headed as of Sunday. That was 4 points ahead of 79% at this time last year and 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 78%.
-- Harvest progress: 6% of the nation's winter wheat crop was harvested as of Sunday, 3 points ahead of both last year and the five-year average pace of 3%.
-- Crop condition: 49% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, up 1 point from 48% the previous week and still up considerably from 36% a year ago. The percentage rated very poor to poor was down 1 point to 18% and is still well below last year's 34% at this time.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 94% of spring wheat was planted as of Sunday, 3 points ahead of 91% last year and 4 points ahead of the five-year average of 90%.
-- Crop development: 78% of spring wheat has emerged, 7 points ahead of 71% last year and 9 points ahead of the five-year average of 69%.
-- Crop condition: In its first condition rating of the season for spring wheat, NASS estimated that 74% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, 10 points higher than last year's good-to-excellent rating of 64%.



Tallgrass donates $50,000 to local FFA Chapters

Tallgrass has donated $50,000 to the Nebraska FFA Foundation to directly support local Chapter programming needs, including agricultural education, experiential learning, and leadership programming.

This donation is a part of the Foundation and Tallgrass multi-year partnership, which commenced with a broadcast television commercial where Tallgrass and 11 Nebraskan organizations joined together to raise awareness and support the Foundation’s fundraising.

“We are proud to partner with the Nebraska FFA Foundation to support the next generation of Nebraska farmers and ranchers who provide the food, fuel and fiber that powers our nation and enables our quality of life,” said Steven Davidson, vice president of government and public affairs at Tallgrass.

Jeff Moore, Nebraska FFA Foundation Board and Holdrege FFA Advisor, says, “We are grateful for this donation, which will support many FFA chapters, like the Holdrege FFA, by increasing financial resources available to support the development of career-ready skills and leadership through agriculture education and FFA.”

The Nebraska FFA Foundation’s mission is to financially invest in over 12,000 Nebraska FFA members and their advisors in Nebraska by supporting programming that grows leaders, builds community, and creates career connections.



I-29 Moo University webinar on June 13 to focus on dairy facility design in a changing climate

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series continues Thursday, June 13 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT.

In this webinar, Nesli Akdeniz, assistant professor and extension specialist in Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will discuss how increasing temperatures and extreme weather events affect the design and ventilation of dairy buildings. She will also cover ventilation techniques that enhance airflow rates and considerations for energy efficiency and reducing ventilation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr. Akdeniz’s extension program focuses on livestock buildings, energy-efficient ventilation design, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. More information about her extension program is available on her website, https://controlledag.wisc.edu.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, registration is required at least one hour before the webinar. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/DESIGN24.

For more information, contact: in Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota, Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; or in South Dakota, Patricia Villamediana, 605-688-4116.



IBC to host fencing and grazing clinic at Western Research and Demonstration Farm

Closing out the calving season and getting crops in the ground are normal late spring/early summer activities for Iowa producers. Throw in a number of rainstorms and resulting weather conditions, and all good intentions of improving pasture infrastructure move quickly down their to-do list.

Because it's always advantageous to actively consider potential improvements and make plans to implement those improvements in slow seasons, Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a fencing and grazing clinic in western Iowa this summer.

IBC extension program specialist Beth Reynolds said the event, to be held June 26 at the Western Research and Demonstration Farm in Castana, will offer a wealth of practical knowledge for all attendees.

“This clinic is designed to help improve the infrastructure on your farm to execute an efficient grazing plan," she said. "Fencing, paddocks, weather and resiliency, all are part of the day's sessions."

ISU extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk said the program's five sessions provide education and opportunity to put learning into practice.

"Participants can expect a mix of hands-on, classroom style, and peer learning methods to keep the day interactive and informational," she said. "There are five sessions, including a tour of the farm, and each has a specific focus."

Clinic topics and presenters are:
    New tools in fencing: Brad Ketchum, Gallagher Animal Management Team Territory Manager
    Building your paddocks: Pat Corey, USDA-Crawford County
    Weather outlook: Madelynn Wuestenberg, ISU extension agricultural climatology specialist
    Planning for weather resilience: Shelby Gruss, ISU extension forage specialist
    Research farm tour: Lundy-Woolfolk and Reynolds, ISU extension specialists

The farm is located at 36515 Hwy E34 in Castana, the program runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a noon lunch. There is no charge; however, preregistration is required and should be made by June 24. To register call 515-294-2333 or email beefcenter@iastate.edu and provide your name, email, and phone number.

Event sponsors Gallagher and Iowa Forage and Grassland Council make the program possible.



Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 466 million bushels in April 2024. Total corn consumption was down 11 percent from March 2024 but up slightly from April 2023. April 2024 usage included 91.7 percent for alcohol and 8.3 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 4.16 million bushels, down 3 percent from March 2024 and down 35 percent from April 2023. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 417 million bushels, was down 12 percent from March 2024 but up 1 percent from April 2023. Corn consumed in April 2024 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 92.1 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.76 million tons during April 2024, down 9 percent from March 2024 but up 8 percent from April 2023. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.25 million tons in April 2024, up 2 percent from March 2024 but down 4 percent from April 2023.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 238,119 tons during April 2024, down 12 percent from March 2024 and down 12 percent from April 2023. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 199,182 tons in April 2024, down 7 percent from March 2024 but up 2 percent from April 2023.

Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.33 million tons (178 million bushels) in April 2024, compared with 6.11 million tons (204 million bushels) in March 2024 and 5.61 million tons (187 million bushels) in April 2023. Crude oil produced was 2.10 billion pounds, down 13 percent from March 2024 and down 6 percent from April 2023. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.72 billion pounds during April 2024 decreased 4 percent from March 2024 but increased 3 percent from April 2023.



Producers and Landowners Can Now Sign Up for USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now sign up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). The signup runs from today through June 28, 2024. Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands and provide important conservation benefits for wildlife, soil health and carbon sequestration, all while continuing most grazing and haying practices.     

“Grassland CRP is a vital conservation tool that supports two of USDA’s top priorities: the wellbeing of American agriculture and the health of America's grasslands, which provide critical environmental benefits for wildlife and carbon sequestration,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Over the past three years, we have seen historic interest in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program with producers signing up to conserve over 6.8 million acres. This historic interest from agriculture has proven that agricultural productivity and conservation priorities are not exclusive from one another, but can coexist and, more importantly, complement and enhance one another.”  

More than 2.3 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners were accepted through the 2023 Grassland CRP signup. That signup reflects the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs. The current total participation in Grassland CRP is 8.64 million acres, which is part of the 24.8 million acres enrolled in CRP opportunities overall.    

On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which generally extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, through Sept. 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including CRP, to continue operating.       

Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program before the June 28 deadline.       

Other CRP Options  
FSA is also accepting applications for the Continuous CRP signup, which opened in January 2023. Under this enrollment, producers and landowners can enroll in CRP throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap.     

Additionally, FSA also offers financial assistance to producers and landowners enrolled in CRP to improve the health of their forests through the Forest Management Incentive (FMI), which can help participants with forest management practices, such as brush management and prescribed burning.     

Producers with expiring CRP acres can use the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), which incentivizes producers who sell or enter a long-term lease with a beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher who plans to sustainably farm or ranch the land.     



USDA Proposes Next Steps to Promote Fairer Poultry Markets, Protect Producers, and Enhance Transparency

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced next steps it is proposing to address the many, complex competition issues in agricultural markets and create a fairer playing field for poultry growers and farmers. USDA is proposing the rule Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems, to address a range of abuses that have occurred in relation to grower ranking (commonly known as “tournament”) payment systems and additional capital investment requirements that poultry companies commonly ask of their contract growers for broiler chicken. This rule is the third in a suite of Packers and Stockyards Act rules that USDA has undertaken to create fairer markets, which ultimately can lead to lower grocery prices for hardworking families. USDA is also announcing new publicly available cattle market transparency tools. These and previous actions are intended to enhance transparency, stop retaliation and discrimination, reduce costs, and support market fairness in a range of circumstances, furthering the Department’s efforts as part of President Biden’s historic Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.

“Under the direction of President Biden, USDA has sought to utilize every tool at its disposal to uphold fair competition, protect producers, lower costs for consumers, and combat unfair, deceptive, and discriminatory practices,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As part of this effort, USDA committed to issuing new, stronger rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act, to provide greater clarity and strengthen enforcement under the Act. And, by continuing to provide more market transparency tools, we are also continuing to pull back the curtain to ensure every producer has access to the market information they need. With these actions, USDA is holding steadfast to this commitment, and is building ever more momentum towards delivering the fairer markets that those who raise America’s livestock and poultry deserve.”

“Poultry growers deserve a fair shake and consumers deserve fair prices,” said USDA Senior Advisor for Fair and Competitive Markets Andy Green. “This proposed rule is intended to provide growers with a clear base price in contracts, a contracting partner that designs and operates any comparisons fairly, and access to the information that growers—and USDA—need to identify and halt coercive investment demands before growers take on large debts. We look forward to taking comment from all interested parties.”

The proposed rule Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems would, if finalized, prohibit deductions from the base price in contracts for broiler chicken growers, permitting only bonuses for performance. It would also provide critical tools to enable growers to better identify risks that may arise on capital improvement practices and enhance the ability for USDA to enforce existing prohibitions on unfair capital improvement practices. The rule would also establish a duty of fair comparison to ensure grower comparisons (tournaments) are conducted in a reasonable and equitable way that does not disadvantage specific growers.

The proposed rule is posted on the AMS website in advance of formal publication in the Federal Register when it will be available for public comment. Stakeholders and other interested parties have 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register to submit comments via the Regulations.gov web portal. All comments submitted will be considered as USDA develops a final rule. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register.

USDA is finalizing a series of rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act as part of President Biden’s historic Executive Order on Promoting Competition in America’s Economy, a key pillar of Bidenomics. These rules complement a series of other all-encompassing actions by USDA to increase competition in agricultural markets, create a fairer playing field for farmers, lower grocery costs for consumers, and strengthen local and regional food systems. Actions include enhancing independent meat and poultry and other diversified food processing capacity, expanding domestic, innovative fertilizer production, creating a fairer market for seeds and other agriculture inputs, investing in State Attorney General enforcement capacity and supporting more robust and resilient supply chains. These investments will create better economic opportunities, which will result in more affordable prices and choices for consumers at the grocery store, in addition to more opportunities and revenue for producers. These rules complement a series of other all-encompassing actions by USDA to increase competition in agricultural markets, create a fairer playing field for farmers, lower grocery costs for consumers, and strengthen local and regional food systems. Actions include enhancing independent meat and poultry and other diversified food processing capacity, expanding domestic, innovative fertilizer production, creating a fairer market for seeds and other agriculture inputs, investing in State Attorney General enforcement capacity to crack down on practices including unfair pricing, and supporting more robust and resilient supply chains. These investments will create better economic opportunities, which will result in more affordable prices and choices for consumers at the grocery store, in addition to more opportunities and revenue for producers.

Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Live Cattle Data Dashboard
To complement these regulatory actions, USDA is launching a new data visualization tool, the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Live Cattle Data Dashboard, providing users the ability to view and access LMR live cattle market information in a manner that is easy to use and understand. AMS also will begin publishing additional information on the actual net premiums and discounts paid to cattle producers by packers under formula marketing arrangements and detailed quality grade price distribution information. In the last several years, AMS has offered this data in new and modern ways to ensure all stakeholders have access to the information they need to efficiently market their agricultural products. The enhanced insight gained from these powerful tools places producers on a more equal footing with large volume data users and fosters a fairer and more competitive marketplace. This dashboard is another new tool offered by USDA that aims to make access to AMS Market News information more user-friendly. AMS is conducting demos and testing with interested stakeholders. Public access to this dashboard will be available this summer.



NFU Welcomes Third Proposed Packers and Stockyards Act Rule to Promote Fair Markets

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today issued the third proposed rule in a series of updates to the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act).

The rule addresses abuse by the poultry industry of broiler chicken producers under the “tournament” ranking system as well as situations where poultry companies make coercive facility investment demands of growers. Today's announcement also includes greater openness in cattle contracts with new reports and tools through the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Live Cattle Data Dashboard.

“Family farmers and ranchers deserve to operate in a fair and transparent marketplace,” said NFU President Rob Larew. "This proposed rule aims to ensure poultry growers receive an honest price for their hard work and that they have access to adequate information before investing in major capital upgrades. NFU looks forward to reviewing the proposed rule to make sure it offers producers the protections they need.”

USDA finalized two P&S Act rules over the past year to improve transparency in poultry contracting and prevent discrimination, retaliation, and deception against livestock producers by meatpackers. Today’s proposed rule marks important additional progress toward strengthening enforcement of the P&S Act.

NFU’s Fairness for Farmers campaign has brought the devastating impact of monopolies on family agriculture into the national spotlight. Updating and strengthening enforcement of the P&S Act is a central priority of the campaign and NFU’s grassroots policy.



USDA Announces June 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for June 2024, which are effective June 3, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.         

“I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with our local offices and our cooperators to capitalize fully on the existing flexibilities in these important programs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.        

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

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for June 2024 are as follows:      
    Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 5.375%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 5.625%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 3.625%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 1.625%
    Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%   

FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.  To access an interactive online, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process, visit the Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov.      

Commodity and Storage Facility Loans    
Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment and loans that provide interim financing to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.  Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and are administered by FSA.   
Commodity Loans (less than one year disbursed):6.125%.      
    Farm Storage Facility Loans:
        Three-year loan terms: 4.750%
        Five-year loan terms: 4.500%
        Seven-year loan terms: 4.500%
        Ten-year loan terms: 4.500%
        Twelve-year loan terms: 4.625%
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans (15 years): 4.750%        

Farm Loan Program Process Improvement 
FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate the Farm Loan Program customer-facing business process. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a direct loan application annually, FSA has made various improvements, including:             The Online Loan Application, an interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features, including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents, such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan.  
    The Loan Assistance Tool that provides customers with an interactive online, step-by-step guide to identifying the direct loan products that may be a fit for their business needs and to understanding the application process. 
    An online direct loan repayment feature that relieves borrowers from the necessity of calling, mailing, or visiting a local Service Center to pay a loan installment. 
    A simplified direct loan paper application, reduced from 29 pages to 13 pages. 

More Information
Since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed by President Biden in August 2022, USDA’s Farm Service Agency has provided approximately $2.3 billion in immediate assistance to more than 42,000 distressed borrowers. The deadline to request assistance through the Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Borrowers and Discrimination Financial Assistance Program has passed. Any applications submitted before the program deadlines are currently under review. Visit the related program webpages for more information.    

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If producers don’t have an account, they sign up today.



Feeding Quality Forum Registration Now Open

As we approach a herd rebuild, you need confidence to navigate today’s cattle market dynamics. This year’s Feeding Quality Forum (FQF) theme is just that, so attendees can leave ready to make more informed decisions at the ranch and feedyard to get more value for their cattle.

FQF will be hosted at the Boot Hill Casino and Resort Conference Center in Dodge City, Kan., Aug. 20 and 21, 2024. Half-price registration is available now until June 30 for $125. From July 1 to Aug. 2, registration costs $250. Student registration is $50. Save your seat online at FeedingQualityForum.com.

“Each year Feeding Quality Forum is designed to bring attendees timely and relevant information,” says Kara Lee, director of producer engagement at Certified Angus Beef (CAB). “We are excited to host some of the industry’s most qualified experts to talk through topics that matter at the ranch, the feedyard and on the rail.”

What to expect
Returning for the 15th time, Dan Basse, AgResource Company, will kick off the event with a Global Market Update. Then Paul Dykstra, CAB, will discuss why Choice is an outdated quality goal for fed cattle and examine data from packing plants, followed by CAB Meat Scientist Daniel Clark talking about what carcass specifications are the most at-risk for disqualifying cattle from earning premiums. Tuesday’s sessions will wrap up with Insight from the Packer on procurement strategies.

The evening program will celebrate the 2024 Industry Achievement Award recipient, Glen Dolezal, from Cargill Protein. Called the “father of instrument grading,” Dolezal oversaw the implementation of Cargill’s tenderness claim and adoption of camera grading. His career tenure includes more than 20 years in the packing sector — focusing on quality beef production, sustainable practices at the plant and sales — following 16 years in academia.

“Today’s market of tight supplies and the long-term prospect of a herd rebuild brings new challenges for producers and opportunities they can capitalize on,” Lee says. “At Feeding Quality Forum, attendees will gain top-notch insight into both details.”

Wednesday morning is dedicated to practical management topics aimed at enhancing profitability and efficiency in the cattle industry. Beginning with Pete Anderson of Midwest PMS, attendees will learn about the importance of strategic management and marketing strategies. Following this, a panel of industry professionals will delve into the crucial role genetics play in maximizing profits. Then, Randall Spare, veterinarian with Ashland Veterinary Service, will discuss forward-thinking strategies for rebuilding cow herds.

As the morning progresses, A.J. Tarpoff, Kansas State University, and Justin Gleghorn, Cactus Feeders, will talk about the power of current technologies for optimal management. The sessions will conclude with Bob Smith, Veterinary Research and Consulting Services, highlighting the significance of Beef Quality Assurance, offering a comprehensive overview of industry standards.

New this year is a post-event session at Hy-Plains Feedyard. Attendees can see inside the research facility while participating in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training. The BQA training is sponsored by Sysco and CAB, as part of the Raised with Respect™ cattle care initiative. This training will also be offered in Spanish.

Find the full agenda, speaker list and register for the event at FeedingQualityForum.com.



Spot and Forward Markets
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

Conventional wisdom says that nobody is expanding cattle herds. Usually, that means there is not enough expansion in aggregate to see any difference. Local or individual situations can differ, and contraction or expansion is normal to observe. For example, at South Dakota AMS-reported auctions, there have been several weeks with notable volumes of heifers traded as replacements. The volume, while interesting, does not defy conventional wisdom – the total for the month of May was smaller than the total from 2023. Expansion is not rampant. The heifers weighed 700-1,000 pounds and traded on both a per cwt and per head basis in both years. Replacements weighing close to 800 pounds traded at $249.00-291.00 per cwt. This reflects a premium compared to heifers not deemed as replacements that traded at $222.50-263.00 per cwt. The replacement prices also reflect a premium to the CME Feeder Cattle Index, which was averaging about $249.00 per cwt for the same period. Last year the replacements only traded at a few dollars above the index of $207.00 per cwt.

The spot price for steer calves locally, using a weighted average of 5-600 pound animals from South Dakota AMS-reported auctions, topped $350.00 per cwt last week. That is an all-time high for that series and exceeds the 2023 level by $50.00 per cwt (or $275 per head). For the month of May the average price reflected a basis of $95.00 over the average of May feeder cattle futures prices. The basis was $56.60 in May of 2023. June is generally the time of year when forward sales begin. Video auctions often have runs with forward trades this time of year. Given the recent spot basis levels, one would expect high basis levels to be reflected in forward prices. Sharply lower corn and hay prices are factors strengthening basis on the cost side, while higher feeder cattle futures are strengthening basis on the returns side. There can be some direct trades with forward prices, but those are more common in southern states.

The price differentials of steers and heifers fade at higher weights. The spot prices for heifers from the 5-Area series were within $1.00 per cwt for live and dressed steers last week. The slaughter weights differ as live heifers weighed 1,326 pounds last week while live steers weighed 1,459 pounds. Forward market prices for fed cattle do not discern between steers and heifers. The prices from AMS reports are given as basis levels for the prior week relative to the corresponding futures prices. Thus, forward prices for delivery this June have been quoted as a basis relative to the June Live Cattle futures price. The AMS uses parentheses for negative numbers, thus a basis of “($2.60)” means one must subtract $2.60 from the futures price to arrive at the forward price. New signings levels have been running at a higher pace than during the past two years. The result is the cumulative signings have been back above 1,000,000 head for much of 2024 after being below that level from late 2022 through much of 2023. The volumes are higher across the upcoming delivery months and are at relatively high levels for November and December delivery.



Kemin Industries Introduces FORMYL, an Advanced Feed Acidifier for Swine Health, in the U.S.

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, has launched of FORMYL™, an innovative feed additive designed to enhance swine health and productivity, in the United States. The cutting-edge solution from the Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – North America business unit uses a proprietary blend of encapsulated calcium formate and citric acid, ensuring optimal delivery and efficacy.

FORMYL offers numerous benefits and features, including:
    Effective feed acidifier to address pathogens and promote a healthy gut environment
    Non-antibiotic solution of formic acid contributes to minimizing the presence of Enterobacteriaceae challenges and Escherichia coli
    Encapsulation technology that ensures safer handling and maximum impact in the animal

Calcium formate was recently approved in the U.S. for use as a feed acidifying agent in complete swine and poultry feeds. Research has shown calcium formate is a highly effective feed acidifier and antimicrobial agent that can combat pathogens by damaging their cell membranes.

"We are thrilled to grow our offering of innovative products for the swine market," said Daryl Schraad, President, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – North America. "Our team is constantly working to bring new solutions to the marketplace, and we believe that FORMYL will have a positive impact on the swine industry from a performance and profitability standpoint."

Calcium formate is widely recognized for its ability to reduce the pH of the gastrointestinal tract, which can help to improve the barrier of microbial passage to the intestinal tract. This, in turn, can improve the activity of gastric enzymes post-weaning, enhancing digestion and reducing the incidence of diarrhea. With targeted release in the gastrointestinal tract, FORMYL provides acidification to enhance pathogen control efforts and support overall intestinal health, leading to improved performance and profitability in swine production.



John Deere Introduces New T6 800 Walker Combine

John Deere (NYSE: DE) introduces the new T6 800 walker combine. In addition to the S7 Series of combines introduced earlier this year, the T6 800 combine offers operators outstanding harvesting performance and the ultimate operator experience.

The new T6 800 walker combine includes many features from the X9 and S7 Series combines with the latest integrated precision ag technology; larger, quieter cab; increased unloading rate and improved efficiency.

“The T6 800 combine provides farmers a significant step forward in harvesting technology,” said Bergen Nelson, John Deere go-to-market manager for harvesters. “With these combines, farmers will have the tools they need to enhance productivity and efficiency in the field.”

High-performance harvesting
The feeder house, engineered to the same width as the rest of the crop channel, eliminates flow restrictions throughout the combine. Together with the large threshing and separation area, it delivers outstanding harvesting performance. The T6 800 walker combine delivers the following:
    Larger grain tank size (+23%)
    Faster Unloading reate (+20%)
    Efficiency gains (+6%)

Additionally, operators can benefit from the adjustable spout, enabling more control over unloading into grain carts and trailers. The unloading speed at peak performance reaches up to 150L/sec, allowing for fast unloading of 10 tons of grain in just 90 seconds. Moreover, HillMaster™ leveling technology with a compensation of up to 22% incline is available; providing more confidence on steep slopes with better harvesting results.

Improved productivity with precision harvesting
The new T6 800 combine is fitted with advanced John Deere Precision Ag technology, including the StarFire 7500 integrated receiver, the G5Plus CommandCenter™ display and JDLink modem. The G5Plus CommandCenter provides operators with a large high-definition 12.8” display, featuring intuitive menu functionalities, offering ultimate control and visibility during harvesting. Additionally, operators have the option to equip the combine with the G5Plus extended monitor, allowing operators to control more functions simultaneously, such as viewing vehicle control functions on the primary display and the precision farming application such as AutoPath™, Machine Sync or Grain Sensing on the extended monitor. In addition to the new G5Plus CommandCenter, there’s a new corner post display allowing customers to change the interface by adding or removing information and new features to the screen.

Available automation options allow operators to concentrate on the task at hand, with less worry over settings and ground speed. Options include:
    Ground speed automation continuously evaluates inputs and helps maintain a consistent feed rate by automatically adjusting the combine’s ground speed based on operator inputs and operator-defined limits on variables such as grain loss, engine power and rotor pressure.
    Terrain settings automation provides stable cleaning shoe performance in varying terrain by automatically adjusting cleaning fan speed, and chaffer and sieve openings based on combine fore/aft pitch. This helps reduce losses and increases machine performance in hilly terrain when driving up and downhill, maintaining combine performance and reducing operator stress.

“The technology added to this combine gives the farmer the power to execute, monitor and analyze every stage of their harvesting operation,” Nelson said. “In addition, the technology solutions pave the way for the new automation features and functionality.”

The T6 Series combine: corner-office comfort
Because a comfortable operator is a more productive operator, John Deere designed these combines to be among the most comfortable ever produced. The new operator’s station offers more storage space, more cupholders, more heat for the feet, a more comfortable seat and more glass for better visibility – all designed for the operator to remain alert and focused through even the longest days of harvest.

“The new cab with the improved creature comforts serve an important purpose,” Nelson said. “The comfort and convenience updates help reduce distractions that can take the operator’s attention away from the task at hand. This is a win for farmers, custom harvesters and their operators. Combined with the X9 and S7 Series combines, we now have a combine for any harvesting need for farmers of all scales.”

Monday June 03 Ag News

 Soybean Gall Midge Emergence in Nebraska

On May 30th,  soybean gall midge adult emergence was observed in east-central Nebraska in Saunders and Lancaster Counties. Soybean stage is a critical factor for the susceptibility of soybean to soybean gall midge. Only soybean with fissures at the base of the plant are susceptible to soybean gall midge infestation. Soybean planted in late April and early May are mostly at the V2 stage; however, those planted in mid to late May are VE-V1. Research being conducted this season shows that soybean planted on the same day at different depths can impact the soybean stage of development.

Soybean Gall Midge: Should I Spray Checklist
❏    Soybean gall midge adults have emerged in my area
❏    My soybean field is at the V2 stage or greater (Fig. 2)
❏    I observed soybean gall midge injury in the adjacent field last year

Management of soybean gall midge has been difficult. Foliar sprays have shown some response but are inconsistent between locations and years. No specific foliar-applied product tested to date has provided consistent control of SGM. Research to date suggests that growers can consider using a combination product that contains a pyrethroid. If an application is being considered, it should only be made in soybean fields where a history of issues with soybean gall midge injury has occurred. Since soybean gall midge is a field edge-infesting pest, growers may only need to treat the first 60 to 120 feet of a field edge that is directly adjacent to a field that was injured the previous year. Do not treat any soybean fields prior to V2, as they are not susceptible to infestation due to the lack of fissures or cracks at the base of the stem.

Hilling or covering the base of soybean stems with soil has also been found to be a very effective strategy with almost complete control of soybean gall midge. This is a difficult practice to implement when soybean plants are small, as they can easily be completely covered by soil. Studies are being conducted to evaluate the timing of hilling relative to the plant development stage. More information on hilling is available through the soybeangallmidge.org website. Little is known about the impact this management strategy could have on soybean gall midge movement in a field. Although no field studies have been conducted, it is possible that adults may continue to move into the field until they find a susceptible plant.

With no detection of soybean gall midge in other parts of the network, it would be advisable to wait for emergence to occur in those areas. You can continue to follow adult emergence at all locations through soybeangallmidge.org.



CAP Webinar: 2023 Nebraska Farm Business Financial Averages
Jun 6, 2024 12:00 PM
Tina Barrett, Director, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Inc.

Tina Barrett will review the most recent data collected by Nebraska Farm Business, Inc., from Nebraska farms and ranches including income, ratios and family living data. Tina will have lots of information from the past ten years and will interpret what that may mean for 2024. You can take this information and apply it to your farm or ranch by benchmarking the data to your own operation.

See more information and register at https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.   



HEUERMANN LECTURE PANEL TOUTS NEBRASKA’S AG TECH STRENGTH

Advanced ag technology has gained important momentum in recent years, and Nebraska is playing a key leadership role. A panel of entrepreneurs and business analysts spoke in detail on that theme during a May 29 symposium at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The presentations and discussions, part of the Heuermann Lecture series, described Nebraska’s strengths in ag tech, including the state’s diversity of startups, increase in ag-focused venture capital, and large-scale strategic investments enabling research innovations and commercialization.

“One of the key factors for our company’s success is being in the heartland of agriculture,” said Jordyn Bader, director of industry partnerships for Marble Technologies, a Lincoln-based ag tech firm. “There is truly no better place in this country to be an entrepreneur and scientist who wants to contribute to the food and ag innovation space.”

Ambitious forays in ag tech development earlier this century did not pan out in part because they were led by coastal-based corporations that lacked deep understanding of agriculture, said Mike Jung, co-founder and managing partner of Grit Road Partners, an Omaha-based company that provides investment support for ag-tech entrepreneurs in the Midwest. That history shows that a solid understanding of agriculture is imperative for successful ag tech ventures, and Nebraska’s agricultural expertise gives it a major advantage, panelists said.

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report pointed to another strength for Nebraska — the state ranks second in the nation in the use of precision ag technology, said Josh DeMers, program manager of The Combine, which provides supports for Nebraska food- and ag-focused startups.

Since 2019, The Combine has raised $15.5 million, received $5.7 million in grants and helped 28 companies. Several of the startups on the discussion panel received early-stage support from The Combine’s business incubator at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The panel’s membership illustrated the breadth of innovation and business visioning in Nebraska’s ag tech ecosystem.

Marble Technologies uses machine learning and engineering innovations to enable meat processing automation. Sentinel Fertigation’s advanced crop imagery and data analysis help producers achieve nitrogen management savings. Grain Weevil’s robotics innovations promote grain bin safety. Nave Analytics boosts producers’ irrigation efficiency via data collection and climate modeling. ALA Engineering’s software and hardware innovations enable feed truck automation.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is set to expand its support for startups by building an ag- and natural resources-focused business accelerator at Nebraska Innovation Campus. The accelerator will complement the USDA’s adjacent National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture, which is now being built.

The $160 million federal research laboratory will focus on innovations in advanced ag technology and natural resources sustainability and is expected to double the USDA’s science and support staff presence at the university.

UNL’s accelerator will convert the USDA center’s research findings into business opportunities. Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for the university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, described the new business accelerator as “The Combine on steroids.”

These strategic investments reinforce each other, Boehm said, and illustrate that “what happens first in ag innovation begins in Nebraska.”

Only a few years ago, venture capital investors and entrepreneurs showed little interest in advanced technology for agriculture, but ag tech has since been making notable advances on the innovative and investment front, said Yung, with Grit Road Partners. Since 2021 his company has raised more than $11 million and made 18 investments in ag tech across the Midwest, including eight investments in Nebraska.

In 2011, Nebraska tied for last among the 50 states for overall venture capital investment, but now the state is consistently around 30th place, said Ben Williamson, principal and general counsel for Invest Nebraska, which provides investment capital to early-stage startups. Nebraska’s ranking is positive because it is higher than the state’s 35th-place ranking for economic output.

Challenges the panelists described included common ones for startups, such as early-stage complications and developing certainty regarding markets and pricing. Jacob Hansen said his company, ALA Engineering, would benefit if federal authorities clarified regulations about robotics.

Startups would benefit from greater interest from corporations, to set up potential “exits” as startups are absorbed and benefit from greater capitalization and support, said Chad Johson, a Grain Weevil co-founder from Aurora.

One reason gaining such corporate attention is difficult, said Invest Nebraska’s Williamson, is that “the unit of measurement of progress in entrepreneurship is decades, not years, in terms of ecosystem growth. But if you’re in entrepreneurship, that’s an eternity” for individual startups.

Bader, with Marble Technologies, pointed to the university’s Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program as another source of strength for Nebraska ag tech. The Engler program, begun in 2012 and now with more than 340 alumni, is “one of the gems of the University of Nebraska system,” said Bader, an Ainsworth native and alumna of the program. More than 230 of those Engler alumni are living, working and growing businesses in Nebraska.

The Engler program is proving its value in giving students in-depth experience in real-world business conditions, Bader said. When her company sees that a job applicant’s resume includes an Engler connection, “that carries a lot of weight for us.”

The Heuermann Lecture series is made possible through a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips, Nebraska. The Heuermanns are longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska's production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people.



Republicans Represent 81 of Top 100 Ag Production Districts

Agri-Pulse’s Noah Wicks reported last week that “Republicans are tightening their electoral grip on farm country, holding all but 19 of the top 100 congressional districts in terms of agricultural sales, according to an Agri-Pulse analysis of newly released data from USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture.”

“Republicans control 21 districts ranked highest for the value of sales of agricultural commodities in 2022, with Adrian Smith’s Nebraska district topping the list with $22.9 billion in sales,” Wicks reported. “Altogether, 81 of the top 100 districts in ag production are represented by Republicans. Three seats are currently vacant, and Republican Vince Fong won a race Tuesday for one of those, California’s 20th District, which was vacated by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.”

“The Democrat-held seat that ranks highest in agricultural production is California’s 18th district, which is represented by Rep. Zoe Lofgren,” Wicks reported. “…The districts held by California Democrats Raul Ruiz and Salud Carbajal rank 32nd and 36th, respectively. Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson’s seat is 38th on the list, while North Carolina Democrat and House Agriculture Committee member Don Davis’ district is 49th.”

“Even when ranking congressional districts by their overall number of farms, Republicans outnumber Democrats,” Wicks reported. “(Adrian) Smith’s Nebraska district led in 2022 with 34,297 total farms; (Michelle) Fischbach’s Minnesota district followed with 31,267 and (Randy) Feenstra’s Iowa district came in third with 29,941. New Mexico Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez is the first in her party to appear on that list, with her district ranking 43rd in terms of number of farms.”

Top 10 Congressional Districts by Overall Sales
    Adrian Smith — Nebraska District 3 ($22.9 billion)
    Randy Feenstra — Iowa District 4 ($22.1 billion)
    Tracey Mann — Kansas District 1 ($17.9 billion)
    Michelle Fischbach — Minnesota District 7 ($15.3 billion)
    Dusty Johnson — South Dakota At-Large ($12.9 billion)
    Kelly Armstrong — North Dakota At-Large ($12.1 billion)
    John Duarte — California District 13 ($11.2 billion)
    Ashley Hinson — Iowa District 2 ($10.8 billion)
    Brad Finstad — Minnesota District 1 ($10.4 billion)
    Ronny Jackson — Texas District 13 ($10.3 billion)

For the full list of U.S. Congressional Districts by overall agricultural sales, click here.
Top 10 Congressional Districts by Number of Farms
    Adrian Smith — Nebraska District 3 (34,297)
    Michelle Fischbach — Minnesota District 7 (31,267)
    Randy Feenstra — Iowa District 4 (29,941)
    Dusty Johnson — South Dakota At-Large (28,299)
    Sam Graves — Missouri District 6 (27,116)
    Tracey Mann — Kansas District 1 (26,628)
     Josh Brecheen — Oklahoma District 2 (26,466)
    Kelly Armstrong — North Dakota At-Large (25,068)
    Ashley Hinson — Iowa District 2 (23,572)
    Frank Lucas — Oklahoma District 3 (23,317)

In addition to counting overall agricultural sales and number of farms, the 2022 Census of Agriculture also counted total government payments received by farms in U.S. Congressional Districts, and many of the same districts counted above are featured in that count. Armstrong’s North Dakota At-Large District received a little more than $1 billion in government payments and Johnson’s South Dakota At-Large District received $744 million in government payments. No other district received more than $500 million.



Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation Has Successful Give to Lincoln Campaign

The Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) Foundation Board of Directors have called this year’s “Give to Lincoln” campaign a success, and are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this great annual fundraising event.  Before the Lincoln Foundation matching amount is known, twenty-three donors gave $2,849.87 to the NeFU Foundation as “Give to Lincoln” had another record year. A total of 463 total non-profits registered for this year’s “Give to Lincoln” program that ran from May 1st through May 30th. NeFU Foundation ranked #266 on the leaderboard in donations.

NeFU Foundation Secretary John Hansen said “We were in the middle with 255 non-profits received more and 197 received less than we did. We appreciate the opportunity to once again participate in “Give to Lincoln” and the generosity of the Lincoln Community Foundation.”

Contributions to the NeFU Foundation can either be designated for general support, or as a memorial to someone in the Farmers Union family.  All donations are put into principal where the investment earnings only are used to support programming to support family farm, ranch, and rural families while maintaining a growing permanent endowment.

NeFU Foundation President Jeff Kirkpatrick said “All contributions that help us grow our endowment are welcome, and put to good use. The larger our endowment, the more revenues are available to support our programs. Because we don’t spend the principal, and because it continues to produce revenues on an ongoing basis, donations to our foundation are gifts that continue to give year after year. We appreciate the generosity of our supporters.”

NeFU Foundation Secretary John Hansen noted that this year’s final day of “Give to Lincoln” fundraising ended on a bitter sweet note with the passing of former NeFU District 7 Director John Goeller of Pilger who in 1986 collected the first checks from George Paulson from Dakota City to start the Foundation. It was John Goeller and George Paulson who had the vision and dedication which created the NeFU Foundation and it has grown from those first two donations.

NeFU Foundation Secretary John Hansen concluded, “While our NeFU and NeFU Foundation organizations mourn the loss of our long-time leader and dreamer of big and good ideas John Goeller, it is also a testament to John’s vision and passion that the NeFU Foundation he started 38 years ago continues to grow and serve Nebraska farm, ranch, and rural families as he intended. John Goeller believed in building and growing the ability of Farmers Union to create a better tomorrow for everyone involved in the noble profession of farming and ranching.”



Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in a Commercial Turkey Flock in Cherokee County

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Cherokee County, Iowa. The affected site is a commercial turkey flock.

HPAI is a viral disease that affects both wild and domestic bird populations as well as lactating dairy cattle. HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. With supportive care, dairy cattle recover with little to no mortality associated with the disease.