Thursday October 03 Ag News

Grants Available for Nebraska Dairy Producers
 
Here are some current grant opportunities available for dairy producers in Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. These USDA grant funds are offered through the Center for Dairy Research and the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) and are typically offered twice a year. This past spring, one project from Nebraska received funding. We would love to see more applicants and funds reach our NE dairy industry. Please be encouraged to reapply if you did not receive funding on a previous round.
 
This fall there are two different grant programs available:

Dairy Business Builder: targeted at small-to-medium size farmers or processors. Projects should be aimed at diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, enhancing dairy by-products. Awards up to $100,000.

Dairy Industry Impact: targeted at projects related to exporting dairy products or sustainability. Awards up to $100,000.
 
Applicants may apply to both the Dairy Business Builder grant and the Dairy Industry Impact grant if they have two separate projects related to DBIA goals.
 
Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply if they have reimbursed over 50% of the grant award.
 
Applications are due by October 23. More information can be found here: DBIA | Center for Dairy Research https://www.cdr.wisc.edu/dbia.  
 
One additional funding opportunity is the On-Farm Biosecurity Grants: Applications Open August 13, First come, first served. (only 2 of the 10 available grants had been awarded as of last Thursday).  Ten Reimbursable, no-match grants of up to $10,000 to dairy farms to acquire essential supplies and equipment to prevent the on-farm spread of H5N1. Grant funding information can be found here: Grants & Financial Resources - Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association https://www.wischeesemakersassn.org/grants.  



Svanda Joins Nebraska Soybean Board as Communications and Education Coordinator

The Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) is pleased to announce the hiring of Sophia Svanda as communications and education coordinator.

In her role, Svanda will oversee NSB’s education initiatives, working on various programs that connect with educators and agricultural groups across Nebraska. She will also support NSB's communications efforts, helping to carry out strategies that promote Nebraska soybeans and benefit the state's soybean farmers.

Svanda grew up in Nehawka, Nebraska, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Agricultural and Environmental Science Communication. Her background includes serving as Marketing Communications Manager at Frontier Cooperative, where she honed her skills in digital media and community engagement while gaining valuable experience in the agriculture industry.

“We are excited to welcome Sophia to our team as the communications and education coordinator,” said Andy Chvatal, NSB executive director. “Her passion for agriculture, communications and education, combined with her previous experiences, will be invaluable as we continue promoting the value of Nebraska soybeans and engaging with the next generation of Nebraskans.”

“I am thrilled to join the Nebraska Soybean Board and contribute to the important work being done to support Nebraska soybean farmers,” said Svanda. "I look forward to developing educational programs and communications that engage consumers, farmers and youth, highlighting the many benefits of the Nebraska soybean industry.”

Svanda started her role on October 1. She can be contacted and welcomed at sophia@nebraskasoybeans.org.



Iowa Delegation Strengthens Trade Relationship with India

Recently, Stu Swanson, Iowa Corn Growers Association President and farmer from Wright County, participated in a trade mission along with Governor Kim Reynolds to India.

The delegation included Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and representatives from other agriculture and business sectors in Iowa. The purpose of the mission was to work toward strengthening Iowa’s trade and investment relationships with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

During the ten-day mission, the delegation met with a number of Indian government officials and business owners. Swanson, along with other members of the delegation, participated in an Iowa-India business summit, an agriculture roundtable and visited with our partners at the U.S. Grains Council India office.

Swanson along with Jessica Hyland, Executive Director of the Iowa Biotechnology Association, also were witnesses to the signing of a letter of intent by Kavi Chawla Senior Advisor to PowerPollen, an Iowa Corn Opportunities (ICO) investment. The letter of intent to provide their cutting-edge pollen technology to VNR Seeds, based in India.

“It was an honor to participate in the India Trade Mission along with Governor Reynolds and the rest of the delegation, representing Iowa agriculture,” shared Swanson. “It was a great opportunity to showcase Iowa as a world’s front runner and share how our state is positioned to meet the needs of countries like India. We are excited to see what potential future opportunities come out of this important mission.”

 

Meat Processors Workshop to Be Held Nov. 7

The Enterprise Development team with Farm, Food and Enterprise Development with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a Meat Processor Business Lifecycle Workshop to focus on considerations and strategies for business transitions in the small meat processing industry.

The workshop will be held Nov. 7 at Iowa State’s Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center in Ames.

New owners have stepped up to meet the growing demand for meat from animals raised locally. This business, though small by comparison to very large commodity processors, requires owners and staff who are attuned to the unique needs of their market areas and the farmers and ranchers who supply the animals. Owners and managers need to make well-informed decisions at every phase of their company’s life.

When considering whether to purchase an existing plant or build a new facility, federal, state and local requirements will play into the feasibility of a given opportunity.  Similarly, when growing the business or planning to retire from a successful business, ownership transitions and tax implications become highly important.

This workshop is intended to address strategies for transitions and information to help the growing business thrive.

Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., with the workshop scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Registration is $25 if completed by Oct. 27, and $35 thereafter. The final registration deadline is Nov. 6.  Here's the link for the workshop... https://go.iastate.edu/CXMRMH.

For more information, contact Ethan Bowers, enterprise development specialist with farm, food and enterprise development at Iowa State at embowers@iastate.edu This material is based upon work supported by USDA-NIFA under Award Number 2022-70419-38561.



IDALS Granted Emergency Court Order on Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. Chickens

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship was granted an emergency court order today to take immediate care, custody and control of approximately 1.3 million broiler chickens owned by Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc.

Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc., headquartered in Fairfax, Minnesota, operates a Charles City chicken processing plant and contracts with farmers throughout Iowa to grow broilers. On Monday, September 30, Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. notified the Department that, due to their financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for these chickens located at 14 Iowa farms.

Upon notification, the Department coordinated with state and federal agencies, as well as industry partners, to seek a possible solution. With no immediately available solution and citing significant potential animal welfare concerns, the Department, under its authority in Iowa Code Chapter 717, sought an emergency court order to take care, custody, and control of the birds.

Following the issuance of the emergency court order, the Department is now coordinating with the farmers to provide feed and care for the birds.

The Department will seek reimbursement of the taxpayers’ costs from responsible parties, including through possible legal remedies. The Department has also notified relevant local law enforcement of the situation.  



August DMC Margin Sets Record
NMPF

The Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) monthly margin rose by $1.40/cwt from the month before to $13.72/cwt, the highest since margin protection replaced the old price support program as the basic dairy safety net program in January 2015. The August all-milk price was $23.60/cwt, up $0.80/cwt from July, and the DMC feed cost formula dropped by $0.60/cwt of milk, driven mostly by a lower corn price.

Late September dairy and grain futures indicated that the DMC margin would average around $12.20/cwt for all of calendar year 2024.

CWT Secures 60 Contracts in September
CWT member cooperatives secured 60 contracts in September, adding 6.2 million pounds of product to CWT-assisted sales in 2024. In milk equivalent, this is equal to 56.1 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. These products will go to customers in Asia, Oceania, Middle East-North Africa and South America and will be shipped from September 2024 through March 2025.



Potash, 10-34-0 Lead Retail Fertilizer Prices Lower Again

Average retail prices for most major fertilizers were lower in the fourth week of September 2024, with prices for two fertilizers down significantly, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. Prices for seven of the eight major fertilizers were lower compared to last month, a trend that has continued for the last few weeks. Prices for two fertilizers were down significantly, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

10-34-0 led the way lower, down 7% compared to last month. The starter fertilizer had an average price of $593 per ton. Also substantially lower was potash, which was down 6% from last month with an average price of $457 per ton. Five other fertilizers were slightly lower compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $738 per ton, MAP $812/ton, urea $485/ton, UAN28 $320/ton and UAN32 $351/ton.

One fertilizer was slightly more expensive than a month ago. Anhydrous had an average price of $684/ton, up $8 per ton from last month.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.42/lb.N, UAN28 $0.57/lb.N and UAN32 $0.55/lb.N.

Prices for all but two fertilizers are lower compared to one year ago. 10-34-0 is 3% lower, UAN28 is 9% less expensive, potash is 10% lower, anhydrous is 11% less expensive and both urea and UAN32 are 15% lower compared to last year. Both DAP and now MAP are 5% higher than last year.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 9/27/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending September 27, ethanol production increased 2.1% to 1.02 b/d, equivalent to 42.63 million gallons daily. Output was 0.6% more than the same week last year and 6.6% above the five-year average for the week. Still, the four-week average ethanol production rate declined 1.1% to 1.03 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.89 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks ticked down 0.3% to 23.5 million barrels. However, stocks were 7.2% more than the same week last year and 12.4% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned in the Midwest (PADD 2), registering a 41-week low, and the Rocky Mountains (PADD 4) but built across the other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, shrank 7.4% to 8.52 million b/d (130.98 bg annualized). Demand was 6.3% more than a year ago but 5.9% below the five-year average.

Conversely, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol climbed 0.9% to 908,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.96 bg annualized. Net inputs were 1.7% more than year-ago levels and 2.3% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 102,000 b/d (4.3 million gallons/day), reflecting a 17.2% increase over the prior week. It has been 54 weeks since imports of ethanol were recorded.



Checking in on Ethanol Supply and Demand
Scott Richman, Chief Economist, Renewable Fuels Association     

Ethanol production reached 1.42 billion gallons (bg) in July, the most for any month on record, according to Energy Information Administration data released Monday. This occurred in response to strong domestic consumption and exports that have been running at a record pace.

According to EIA, product supplied of finished motor gasoline, a proxy for demand, was 3.5% higher than in July 2023. In turn, ethanol consumption was 4.4% more than a year earlier, as a result of not only solid gasoline demand but also the expanded availability of mid- and high-level ethanol blends, such as E15 (consisting of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline). The blend rate—the average ethanol content in the nation’s gasoline—was 10.4% for the month.

Ethanol exports were the highest for any July in history, exceeding the year-earlier volume by 21.2%. In fact, exports are on pace to reach at least 1.8 bg in 2024, which would surpass the previous record set in 2018 by more than 100 million gallons. However, achieving this could be jeopardized if the dockworker strike that began this week is not resolved expeditiously, since more than half of ethanol shipments exit the country through Gulf Coast ports.

If these usage trends are sustained, U.S. ethanol production could hit 16.0 bg this year for only the second time in history (incidentally, July’s output rate would result in 17.0 bg if sustained over a full year). This demand spurt is occurring at a much-needed time for America’s corn growers, as futures prices recently hit four-year lows, ratcheting up financial pressures. Additionally, near-record production of both ethanol and corn this year demonstrates the ability of the industry to meet future opportunities for expanded demand, such as sustainable aviation fuel.

Moreover, this week’s headlines from the Middle East highlight ethanol’s role in enhancing America’s energy security. Almost all (roughly 99%) the ethanol used in the U.S. is made here from domestically produced feedstock. On the other hand, the EIA data show that the U.S. imported 221 million barrels of crude oil in July, equivalent to 43% of the oil used by refineries.

The latest data serve as a good reminder that ethanol “checks all the boxes” in terms of its benefits as a transportation fuel: enhancing energy security, reducing prices at the pump, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting farmers and rural America.



$7.7 Billion Available for Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced up to $7.7 billion in assistance for fiscal year 2025 to help agricultural and forestry producers adopt conservation practices on working lands. This includes up to $5.7 billion for climate-smart practices, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which is part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda and $2 billion in Farm Bill funding. This is more than double the amount available last year and the most conservation assistance made available in a single year in U.S. history for popular USDA conservation programs.

Through changing temperatures, precipitation patterns, drought, flooding, and increasingly more severe extreme events, such as hurricanes and wildfires, climate change is affecting the livelihood of USDA’s stakeholders. Innovations in adapting to such changes will be central to the future success of working lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) received more than 156,485 applications for its conservation programs in fiscal year 2024. While NRCS accepts applications year-round, interested agricultural producers can now apply for fiscal year 2025 funding through NRCS at their local USDA Service Center.

“Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, America’s producers have additional funding available to them for conservation programs and climate-smart practices. We continue to see record demand for these programs, and we’re confident that we can continue to get the support out to conservation-minded producers,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This funding will be used to maximize climate benefits across the country while also providing other important conservation and operational benefits, which will lead to economic opportunity for producers, and more productive soil, cleaner water and air, healthier wildlife habitat, greater connectivity, and natural resource conservation for future generations.”

The Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate and conservation investment in history, invests an additional $19.5 billion in NRCS’ oversubscribed conservation programs over five years, which began in fiscal year 2023. This year through the Inflation Reduction Act, producers can apply for $2.8 billion through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), $943 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), $472 million through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and up to $1.4 billion in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This is in addition to the $2 billion available for these programs through the Farm Bill, including $860 million for EQIP, $600 million for CSP, $450 million for ACEP, and $250 million for RCPP.

This assistance through the Inflation Reduction Act also helps advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. These investments also advance President Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative, a locally led, voluntary conservation and restoration effort that aims to address the nature and climate crises, support working lands conservation, improve equitable access to the outdoors, and strengthen the economy.

Since implementation began in 2023, this climate smart conservation assistance has helped over 28,500 farmers and ranchers apply conservation to 361 million acres of land during the past two years. These funds provide direct climate mitigation benefits, advance a host of other environmental co-benefits, and expand access to financial and technical assistance for producers to advance conservation on their farm, ranch or forest land through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, wetland restoration, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more.



USDA Announces October 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for October 2024, which are effective Oct. 1, 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.     

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for October 2024 are as follows:       
    Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 4.875% 
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 5.375% 
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 3.375% 
    Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 1.500%
    Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%   

FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.  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):5.125%.      
    Farm Storage Facility Loans: 
    o Three-year loan terms: 3.625% 
    o Five-year loan terms: 3.500% 
    o Seven-year loan terms: 3.625% 
    o Ten-year loan terms: 3.750%
    o Twelve-year loan terms: 3.875% 
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans (15 years): 4.000%       



NCBA Accepting Applications for Spring 2025 Interns

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is reminding students of internship opportunities available for the spring 2025 semester. Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the oldest and largest national trade association representing America’s cattle farmers and ranchers. Internship opportunities include a public policy internship, meetings and events internship, and a producer education and sustainability internship.

“Interning at NCBA is a fantastic learning opportunity and a great way to jumpstart your career in the cattle industry,” said NCBA President-Elect Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattle producer. “Interns perform critical work that supports our advocacy efforts in Washington, our producer education programs, and our industry-focused meetings and events, including the annual cattle industry convention. I encourage you to apply to these internship opportunities and see how your skills might help the American cattle and beef industry.”
 
The public policy internship in Washington, D.C. supports the work of NCBA’s Government Affairs team. Public policy interns conduct legislative research, monitor congressional and federal agency activity, and prepare briefing materials. This internship is also conducted in conjunction with the Public Lands Council, offering interns an opportunity to also learn about public lands ranching in addition to the rest of the cattle industry.
 
The meetings and events internship in Denver, CO assists with planning major cattle industry events including the annual cattle industry convention and summer business meeting.  

The producer education and sustainability internship in Denver, CO assists in the development and release of educational materials to cattle producers, execution of the Beef Quality Assurance program, and research and communications support for cattle industry sustainability initiatives.
 
Applications for the public policy and meetings and events internships close October 11. The producer education internship application closes October 22. To learn more about these internship opportunities and apply, please visit ncba.org.



Solinftec Announces Successful First Commercial Season of Solix Sprayer Robot

Solinftec, a global leader in artificial intelligence solutions and sustainable agricultural practices, has shared an update on the successful inaugural commercial season of its groundbreaking Solix Sprayer Robot. For the 2024 growing season there were 50 robots in commercial use on farms in Indiana and Illinois monitoring more than 65 million plants. The use of Solix resulted in a reduction of up to 98% in herbicide volume and up to 10% more potential yields of crops including wheat, corn, popcorn seed and soybeans.
 
Made commercially available to farmers, cooperatives and ag-retailers earlier this year, the Solix Sprayer Robot has not only streamlined agricultural operations in the U.S., but has also demonstrated significant advancements in agriculture, providing farmers with efficient, more sustainable, data-driven solutions. The Solix Robots detect and spray weeds, providing autonomous and sustainable target spray applications on grower’s fields to help producers reduce their chemical inputs and deliver a lower cost carbon footprint and environmental impact. Solix is powered by four solar panels that control the drive system and the spray system while providing reports on crop populations, weed identification and densities, disease identification and thresholds, insect identification and thresholds, nutrient deficiency identification and densities and much more useful data to the grower virtually 24/7.
 
Solix is tackling three pillars and challenges faced by its customers: chemical reduction, labor and sustainability. By significantly reducing chemical usage, Solix not only brings a return on investment (ROI) to the company but also supports farmers in their efforts to optimize input costs. Throughout the 2024 growing season, Solix Sprayer Robots applied 15,089 gallons of product. This resulted in significant water and herbicide savings, with 72,000 gallons of water being conserved. For corn, popcorn and soybeans, herbicides have been optimized alongside non-GMO crops. A leading innovator and pioneer in the Ag Robotics space, Solinftec’s Solix promotes sustainability by enabling farmers to produce more within the same area, effectively allowing them to achieve greater yields with fewer resources. Solix Sprayer Robots resulted in up to 10% more biomass and potential yields.
 
The autonomy of Solix Sprayer Robots also addresses the labor challenges that many customers encounter in the market, providing an efficient solution that reduces reliance on manual labor.
 
Looking ahead to 2025, Solinftec will be expanding its Solix platform into additional states in the U.S. heartland.
 
“The Solix Sprayer Robot offers farmers increased efficiency, precision application, data-driven insights, and eco-friendly farming practices,” shared Taylor Wetli, U.S. Commercial & Business Development Manager, Solinftec. “Our first season of the Solix Sprayer Robot has achieved expectations and has been met with positive feedback, reinforcing our commitment to transforming agriculture through technology.”
 
The company continues to develop and innovate its Solix technology. In August, Solinftec announced its newest development in the field of agricultural robotics: the Solix docking station. Announced at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, the launch of this new development will allow Solix Ag Robotics to operate 100% autonomously throughout the season, without the need for a manual refill and allowing Solix to expand its capabilities in the future.
 
For more information on Solinftec and Solix, visit www.solinftec.com/en-us.

Wednesday October 02 Ag News

 Nominate Local Nebraska Teachers for Top Agricultural Educator Award

Agriculture educators play a vital role within their communities by investing countless hours to prepare and empower students for successful careers in the industry. To honor their contributions and support them with additional resources, Nationwide and Nebraska are accepting nominations for Nebraska’s leading agricultural teachers for a chance to be named the 2024-2025 Ag Educator of the Year.

Nationwide and its state partners recently recognized 64 exceptional agricultural teachers as 2022-2023 Golden Owl Award® finalists and then honored nine grand prize winners as their state’s Ag Educator of the Year. Every finalist received $500 in funding to help advance their programs and the grand prize winners received an additional $3,000 to boost their efforts and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy.

Nominate any Nebraska agriculture educator for the 2024-2025 Golden Owl Award from October 1st, 2024 through December 31st, 2024.

“The Golden Owl Award seeks to thank agricultural teachers for the extraordinary care they bring to their work as they go above and beyond in educating America’s youth and future leaders,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “We encourage students, parents, fellow teachers, and others to nominate their agricultural teachers to acknowledge their hard work.”

Following the nomination period closing on 12-31-24, a selection committee will evaluate nominations and select 6 finalists in Nebraska, who will be recognized in front of their peers and students and awarded a personalized plaque and $500. One finalist will then be chosen as the grand prize winner, earning the 2023-2024 Ag Educator of the Year title for Nebraska and receiving the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and an additional $3,000 to help fund future educational efforts.

Nationwide supports the future of the ag community through meaningful sponsorships of national and local organizations. In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is donating $5,000 to each participating state’s FFA, including the Nebraska FFA Foundation, to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers, and advisors alike.

To nominate a teacher or learn more about the Golden Owl Award, visit GoldenOwlAward.com.



Targeted Grazing, A Successful & Low-Cost Method to Manage Cheatgrass When Timed Properly

Targeted livestock grazing is a successful and cost-efficient method to manage cheatgrass in the U.S. western Great Plains when timed to coincide with cheatgrass growth rather than based solely on the time of year, according to a recent study published by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL).

Findings show the targeted grazing window lasts approximately 38 days in the spring, with some variation depending on the year and location.

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an annual grass native to Eurasia that has become one of the most problematic invasive species in the western U.S. This invasive species outcompetes native vegetation in the spring, and after completing its growth, it dries into fine fuels during the summer, leading to more frequent, widespread wildfires.

One low-cost method is known to help manage this problem. Early spring targeted grazing, where cattle are allowed to graze cheatgrass early in the season at the right time, can help limit seed production and reduce the competitiveness of cheatgrass. However, what is the right timing for this grazing method to be successful?

ARS Research Ecologist Dana Blumenthal, one of the co-authors of the recently published paper, explains a key finding of the study, “Cattle are very predictable in when they like to eat cheatgrass. Producers can effectively graze it from when it’s four inches tall until it’s done flowering, and the seeds are hardening up. That is a window of about a month to a month and a half. The window moves around from year to year, so it’s important to use cheatgrass growth as a guide for when to graze rather than calendar dates.”

Researchers at the ARS’ Rangeland Resources & Systems Research facility (with locations in Colorado and Wyoming) and the UNL’s Panhandle Research and Extension Center collected data from mixed-grass prairie sites in the western Great Plains, including Nebraska and Wyoming, over a period of four years. The scientists identified pastures with areas of cheatgrass intermixed with native plant communities and grazed them with yearling cattle from April through June. Samples of fecal material from the grazing cattle were collected twice a week and analyzed to determine the proportion of different grass species in their diets.

Researchers measured vegetation phenology (height and flowering stage), forage quality, and biomass of cheatgrass and coexisting native plant species. These measurements helped them compare the differences in cattle selection for plant species and forage quality over the four years.

“We were surprised by how late in the season the cattle kept using cheatgrass. That’s really helpful because it gives producers more time to get cattle out into cheatgrass areas and have an impact,” said Blumenthal.

Results of this four-year study showed that grazing can be timed effectively by keeping track of two easily observable cheatgrass characteristics – height at the beginning of the grazing window and seed maturity later on. The resulting grazing windows, on average across the years of this study, were seven days longer in the western Nebraska site compared to the southeastern Wyoming site. In terms of impact, results showed that targeted grazing in the early spring can reduce seed production of cheatgrass by as much as 77 percent when compared to summer grazing. Furthermore, spring targeted grazing can lead to favorable cattle weight gains due to higher crude protein and energy in cattle diets during this period.

“Moving forward, we’d like to learn in which years grazing has the largest effect on cheatgrass seed production. Is it when cattle eat more cheatgrass because the plants are larger, or when cheatgrass is already struggling to grow, for example, in a drought?” said Julie Kray, an Agricultural Science Research Technician with the Rangeland Resources & Systems Research facility. “We know that multiple years of targeted grazing will be needed to control cheatgrass, but there may be certain years in which it is more important to prioritize grazing it.”



CAP Webinar: Fill Your Freezer: Purchasing Local Meat in Bulk
Oct 3, 2024 12:00 PM
With Elliott Dennis, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Gary Sullivan, Associate Professor, Meat Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Join us for an informative webinar designed for consumers interested in purchasing meat directly from local producers. We'll cover everything you need to know, from understanding meat pricing and common labeling terms to estimating how much meat you'll receive when buying in bulk. Whether you're new to buying local meat or just looking for more guidance, this webinar will provide practical insights to help you make informed decisions. Don’t miss this chance to support local farms and fill your freezer with quality, farm-fresh meat!

Miss the live webinar or want to review it again? Recordings are available — typically within 24 hours of the live webinar — in the archive section of the Center for Agricultural Profitability's webinar page, https://cap.unl.edu/webinars. You can also use this link to register for the webinar.



Beck’s Expands Research Operations with Acquisition of Nebraska Facility

Beck's is excited to announce the acquisition of the BASF Research Station in Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, which will be named Beck’s Goehner West Research Station (Goehner West). The purchase includes 400 acres of farm ground, located just two miles west of Beck’s 100-acre facility acquired in 2021 for sales support, distribution, product testing, and Practical Farm Research PFR)®.

As Beck’s continues to grow and adapt to meet the needs of farmers, the new Goehner West facility will play a crucial role in advancing the company’s breeding program. This strategic move strengthens Beck’s ability to provide farmers with the right products for their unique growing conditions, ultimately helping them maximize yields and profitability.

“We’re excited to add this facility to our growing research network,” said Scott Beck, president of Beck’s. “This acquisition is vital to strengthening our corn breeding program, which is focused on developing high-yielding, acre-specific products that meet the diverse needs of farmers. We’re creating an environment for heightened collaboration that will accelerate the innovation necessary to produce the right seed solutions.”

The Goehner and Goehner West facilities are integral to Beck’s mission to support farmers throughout Nebraska, western Iowa, Kansas, eastern Colorado, and South Dakota. “In the past decade, Beck’s has expanded from serving eight states to twenty states,” said Jim Schwartz, Beck’s director of research, agronomy, and Practical Farm Research (PFR). “The addition of Beck’s Goehner West will not only enhance our breeding program but also fuel the company’s continued growth, allowing us to meet the evolving needs of farmers and expand our presence across the country.”



ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team webinar on October 16 will be A Review Of The Proposed Changes To The Federal Milk Marketing Orders

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues Thursday, October 16, from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

USDA recently proposed the most important changes in two decades to how minimum milk prices will be set under Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs).  These changes will affect milk prices and dairy farm profitability for years to come.  Dairy farmers and their cooperatives will vote on whether to accept the proposed changes once they are finalized in November.  This webinar will discuss the changes and their potential impacts on milk prices.

Two presenters will discuss this topic.

Dr. Charles Nicholson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. My work focuses on the analysis of dairy markets, policy and supply chains and is supported by the UW Dairy Innovation Hub. I teach undergraduate courses on food systems and supply chains. I also maintain an affiliation with the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University and contribute to research on the economics and environmental impacts of controlled-environment agriculture (greenhouses, vertical farms). I also collaborate with interdisciplinary teams doing research on food security in low-income countries. I previously worked with the Nijmegen School of Management in the Netherlands, the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University and the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University.

Leonard Polzin serves as a Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Leonard Polzin grew up on a century-old Wisconsin dairy farm. He has held positions in both the public and private sectors and takes pleasure in applying research to industry scenarios. With considerable experience as an educator and analyst, he has developed and delivered programs covering a wide range of topics, including market analysis, outlook, market expectations, risk management, and policy analysis.

Producers, dairy consultants, and industry representatives are encouraged to attend the free webinar from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on October 16 by registering at least one hour prior to the webinar at: https://go.iastate.edu/MILKPRICE2024

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist in your area: in Northwest Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu; in Northeast Iowa, Jennifer Bentley, 563-382-2949 or jbentley@iastate.edu; in East Central Iowa, Larry Tranel, 563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu; in Ames, Dr. Gail Carpenter, 515-294-9085 or ajcarpen@iastate.edu.



Iowa Farm Bureau hosts branding workshop series to help rural entrepreneurs grow their business

Early bird registration opened today for a two-part branding workshop by Iowa Farm Bureau to help farmers enhance and grow their direct-to-consumer business on Nov. 13-14 and Dec. 4-5 at West 48 in West Des Moines, Iowa.

The interactive workshops will help participants learn the fundamental principles of great brands through a variety of exercises and activities.  The first workshop, “Creating a Zebra Brand,” Nov. 13-14, will help participants develop their own “Spotted Zebra” brand, to stand out from the rest in a crowded market.  

The second workshop, “Let’s Go to Market,” Dec. 4-5, will help participants understand essential marketing principles and explore the digital landscape and offer proven social media tactics to capture target audiences.

“Selling direct to consumers presents exciting new marketing opportunities for farmers and has really grown since the pandemic, but an essential and often overlooked component for success is establishing a strong personal brand,” says Amanda Van Steenwyk, Iowa Farm Bureau’s farm business development manager. “Typically, working with an agency can cost upward of $150 per hour, so we’re partnering with the Flying Hippo agency to share their expertise with our farmer-entrepreneurs to help them build distinct identities that resonate with consumers without breaking the bank.”

The workshop is open to Farm Bureau members only. Registration is $50 before Oct. 1 or $75 after that date. Registration fee provides access to both workshops and includes breakfast and lunch at each session. Discounted hotel rates are available at the Comfort Inn & Suites in West Des Moines.  

For more information and to register, visit IowaFarmBureau.com/BrandingWorkshops.



Secretary Naig Encourages Proactive Biosecurity Measures Against the Threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

As fall migration begins, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is strongly encouraging poultry producers, dairy farmers, and those with backyard flocks to proactively take steps to strengthen their biosecurity defenses against the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (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.

“Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to pose a serious risk for our state’s poultry and dairy farms as well as those who have backyard birds. We encourage all livestock producers to be alert, revisit their biosecurity plans, and ensure those measures are effectively put into practice. While preventing disease is the top priority, our team at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in collaboration with USDA and industry partners, is prepared to respond quickly to any new detections,” said Secretary Naig. “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza isn’t just a poultry issue or a dairy issue, it’s an issue for all of agriculture. Our emphasis on foreign animal disease preparedness and response is reflective of Iowa’s significant livestock industry, and I want to thank our farmers for their commitment and ongoing focus as we continue to meet these evolving challenges.”

Iowa’s last reported case of HPAI in poultry was announced on June 20, 2024, though cases have continued to surface in other states. To date, Iowa has reported 13 cases within dairy, with the last two cases announced on June 27, 2024. To date, 243 cases have been reported in 14 different states.

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.

Suspected Cases in Poultry
If poultry producers or those with backyard birds suspect signs of HPAI, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

Clinical signs of HPAI in birds may include:  
    Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
    Lethargy and/or lack of energy and appetite
    Decrease in egg production
    Soft, thin-shelled and/or misshapen eggs
    Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
    Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
    Difficulty breathing
    Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
    Stumbling and/or falling down
    Diarrhea

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.

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

Food Safety
There is no concern about the safety of pasteurized milk or dairy products. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. It also remains safe to enjoy poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

Public Health
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to believe the threat to the general public remains low. Any questions related to public health should be directed to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services at alex.murphy@hhs.iowa.gov.



Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 525 million bushels in August 2024. Total corn consumption was down 2 percent from July 2024 but up 7 percent from August 2023. August 2024 usage included 91.9 percent for alcohol and 8.1 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 3.91 million bushels, down 16 percent from July 2024 and down 21 percent from August 2023. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 473 million bushels, was down 2 percent from July 2024 but up 7 percent from August 2023. Corn consumed in August 2024 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 91.8 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 2.00 million tons during August 2024, down slightly from July 2024 but up 10 percent from August 2023. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.23 million tons in August 2024, up less than 1 percent from July 2024 but down 6 percent from August 2023.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 291,428 tons during August 2024, down 1 percent from July 2024 but up 13 percent from August 2023. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 191,305 tons in August 2024, down 9 percent from July 2024 and down 8 percent from August 2023.

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.03 million tons (168 million bushels) in August 2024, compared with 5.80 million tons (193 million bushels) in July 2024 and 5.07 million tons (169 million bushels) in August 2023. Crude oil produced was 1.99 billion pounds, down 14 percent from July 2024 and down 1 percent from August 2023. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.68 billion pounds during August 2024 decreased 9 percent from July 2024 and decreased 2 percent from August 2023.



USDA Announces Results of Soybean Request for Referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order will not be conducted. The decision is a result of a soybean Request for Referendum held May 6-31, 2024, through USDA Farm Service Agency County offices.

The Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a Request for Referendum every five years to determine if there is sufficient interest among soybean producers to vote on whether to continue the order. The last Request for Referendum was held in May 2019.

During the recent Request for Referendum, 229 soybean producers participated with 207 submitting valid requests. To initiate a continuance referendum, at least 10 percent, or 41,336 of the 413,358 soybean producers nationwide, had to vote in the Request for Referendum with not more than one-fifth of the voting participants from any one state.



NMPF, USDEC Call for Immediate Government Intervention to Resolve Port Labor Strike

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) called on the Biden Administration to immediately intervene in the port labor strike that began at 12:01 AM EST today at East and Gulf coast ports. The dairy organizations warned that this disruption could have a devastating impact on American dairy farmers and exporters who rely on the smooth functioning of these ports to get their products to international markets.

“The administration must act now to bring both sides back to the table. The stakes are too high,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “This strike puts the livelihoods of American dairy farmers and the strength of our supply chain at risk. The administration needs to step in and end the strike before further damage is done.”

The U.S. dairy industry relies heavily on ports to maintain access to global markets. In 2023, over 530,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of dairy products, valued at $1.7 billion, were shipped through East and Gulf ports, accounting for 21% of total U.S. dairy exports by volume. The ongoing strike directly jeopardizes $32 million in dairy exports per week, with additional indirect consequences looming as exporters are forced to reroute shipments and face rising transportation costs.

“Global customers depend on the reliability of U.S. dairy products,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “Delays caused by this strike not only risk damaging those relationships but also severely impact perishable dairy products that require timely delivery. The negotiating parties need to come together to find a resolution and ensure port operations resume as soon as possible.”



Dockworker Strike Highlights Importance of Food Independence

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the impact of the East Coast dockworker strike.

“America is bracing for the impact of the massive dockworker strike that threatens to paralyze traffic of goods in and out of the United States. Our nation relies on international trade for everything from electronics to machinery.

“Families also count on the import of food like bananas, coffee and specialty items, including chocolates and European beer. While there is a risk of shortages of some items, the United States is fortunate that it can meet its nutritional needs without importing food. America’s farmers grow a diverse range of food items that ensure the nation’s food independence. Rest assured, America’s food supply is strong, and store shelves will continue to be stocked with domestically raised products.

“That’s not to say rural America won’t feel the effects of a dockworker strike. Farmers and ranchers rely on international partners to sell billions of dollars of home-grown food to markets around the world. A disruption at the ports could leave perishable food rotting at the docks, which threatens the livelihood of farmers.

“It’s important that farmers can continue to meet the needs of America’s families. They do that with help from the farm bill. Ironically, the farm bill extension expired at the same time the dockworkers strike began. Farmers and ranchers are focused on growing the food, fiber and fuel families depend on, but they’re working under a cloud of uncertainty as several safety net programs designed to help them survive tough times begin to sunset.

“We urge both sides of the dockworker disagreement to work on a solution that will return vital ports to normal operations. We also urge Congress to recognize the importance of America’s food independence and pass a new, five-year farm bill to ensure a stable food supply for America’s families.”



Farmer sentiment reaches lowest levels since 2016 as income expectations weaken

In September, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded its lowest readings since March 2016. Declining income expectations pushed farmer sentiment down as the barometer fell 12 points to 88, and the Index of Future Expectations dropped 14 points to 94. The Index of Current Conditions also fell 7 points to 76, which nearly matched levels seen in April 2020, during the height of COVID-19 concerns for farmers. This month’s survey was conducted from Sept. 9-13, 2024.

September’s survey revealed that farmers are increasingly worried about commodity prices, input costs, agricultural trade prospects and the potential impact of the upcoming election on their farm operations. When asked to identify their top concerns for the coming year, low commodity prices and high input costs were nearly tied, with 34% of farmers citing input prices and 33% pointing to lower output prices as their primary concerns. Interest rates trailed behind as a top concern for 17% of respondents. Producers’ apprehensions about commodity prices matched up with their lack of confidence in the future of U.S. agricultural exports; only 26% of respondents expect exports to rise over the next five years, the most pessimistic response to this question since it was first introduced in 2019. Additionally, 78% of producers expressed concern that government policy changes following the fall 2024 elections could impact their farms.

“The continued drop in the barometer reflects deepening concerns among farmers regarding expectations for farm income in 2024 and 2025,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “It’s notable that producer sentiment dropped back to levels last seen in 2016 when the U.S. farm economy was in the early stages of an economic downturn. In addition to commodity prices and input costs weighing heavily on their operations, producers are also facing considerable uncertainty about what lies ahead for their farms with the possible government policy changes following the upcoming 2024 elections.”

The Farm Financial Performance Index fell for the third consecutive month, dropping to 68 in September from 72 in August. Farmers’ financial expectations have declined markedly compared to a year ago, as the index was at 86 in September 2023 — an 18-point difference. While the Farm Capital Investment Index increased by 4 points from August to a reading of 35, it sits just above its all-time low, indicating that many producers believe it is not an opportune time for making large investments.

The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index dropped by 10 points to 95. This is the first time since 2020 that the index fell below 100, indicating that more farmers are expecting a decline in farmland values over the next year than those who anticipate an increase. This month’s shift from a positive to a weaker outlook is attributable to a significant decrease in the percentage of producers forecasting rising values and a rise in those who expect values to remain steady.

The September survey marks the fourth consecutive year that the barometer has included questions regarding cover crop usage among corn and soybean producers. Consistent with prior years’ surveys, more than half of the respondents indicated that they currently plant cover crops on part of their farms, while an additional 1 in 5 farmers reported planting cover crops sometime in the past. Interestingly, farmers who currently use cover crops say they are devoting a larger proportion of their farm’s acreage to cover crops than in the past. In 2021, 41% of cover crop users noted planting them on more than 25% of their farm’s acreage. This figure rose to 50% in 2023, and in this year’s survey, 68% of cover crop users indicated planting cover crops on more than one-fourth of their farms.



Education Elevated at CattleCon 2025

For more than 30 years Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, has provided cattle producers with valuable information to help improve their herds and businesses. This premier educational experience will be held in conjunction with CattleCon 2025, Feb. 4-6, in San Antonio, Texas.

“Producer feedback drives the agenda for Cattlemen’s College, and we elevate our educational content every year,” said Michaela Clowser, senior director of producer education with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “Our goal is to give producers the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and provide them with the latest advancements.”

The Cattlemen’s College luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 4, will feature four leading voices in the cattle industry providing fast-paced talks on nutrition, genetics, grazing and beef in a healthy sustainable diet. Each presenter will look back in time and share a little history, update the narrative on where the industry is today and provide a glimpse into the future for beef.

There will be two days of classroom sessions and one day of live animal handling demos. Industry experts will tackle innovative topics including business management, emerging trends, grazing, sustainability, nutrition, herd health, genetics and reproduction. Sessions will also be recorded and available for registered attendees to watch when they return home.

In addition to Cattlemen’s College, there are learning opportunities available on the NCBA Trade Show floor. Cattle Chats features 20-minute beef industry educational sessions. Attendees can also stop in the Learning Lounge to enjoy informal, face-to-face talks in an intimate setting. Speakers will tackle topics such as reproductive technologies, vaccination programs, ag lending and crop protection.

Cattle producers attending Cattlemen’s College are eligible for the Rancher Resilience Grant, which provides reimbursement for registration and up to three nights of hotel. For more information and to apply, visit www.ncba.org/producers/rancher-resilience-grant.

Register today by selecting the Education Package, which offers the best value and combines admission to CattleCon and Cattlemen’s College. For more information, visit convention.ncba.org.



John Deere and DeLaval launch groundbreaking Milk Sustainability Center

Dairy farmers have a new tool that will help them enhance efficiency and sustainability while accommodating changing regulations that affect their operations. Launched today and available for customer registration, the Milk Sustainability Center from John Deere and DeLaval is an innovative digital ecosystem that integrates agronomic and animal performance into one unified platform.

Dairy farmers can use the Milk Sustainability Center to monitor nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) across their farm, herd and fields. It collects animal and agronomic data, providing insights to help farmers manage nutrient utilization effectively and reduce the need for manual data input.

“The Milk Sustainability Center is designed with input from dairy farmers to help them increase their productivity and efficiency and enable them to address the needs of dairy processors, retailers, and consumers,” said Dave Chipak, Director Product Management at John Deere. “Integration of agronomic and animal performance data will give farmers the future ability to benchmark the data and utilize recommendations to make real-time changes that provide for an increase in productivity and a reduction in CO2e emissions.”

Developed and powered by Dairy Data Warehouse BV (DDW), a Dutch company with 11 years of experience in providing data solutions for sustainable dairy farming, the Milk Sustainability Center will serve dairy farmers by integrating their machinery, milking equipment, and herd management software solutions into one platform to reduce the need for manual entry. The cloud-based platform integrates the agronomic data from the John Deere Operations Center™ and the animal data from the DeLaval system, allowing consultants such as nutritionists and agronomists to provide more wholistic recommendations to the farmer.

Lars Bergmann, executive vice president of digital service at DeLaval, explains: “Dairy farming involves using multiple unconnected software solutions. The Milk Sustainability Center links these different systems into one platform. This integration reduces the need for manual data entry and provides farmers with a comprehensive view of their farms’ sustainability. The tool helps identify where farmers can save money and improve their sustainability efforts by highlighting nutrient losses and offering recommendations for reduction.”

The Milk Sustainability Center is currently available at no cost to an initial group of dairy farmers in the United States, Netherlands and Germany, with plans to expand to other countries. John Deere and DeLaval invite interested dairy farmers in these areas to join the waiting list. As farmers are onboarded, the benefits of the Milk Sustainability Center will be extended to other farmers on the waiting list. For more information or to join the waiting list, farmers can visit milksustainabilitycenter.com.

Tuesday October 01 Crop Progress, Grain Stocks + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending September 29, 2024, there were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 30% very short, 37% short, 32% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 24% very short, 40% short, 35% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 7% poor, 20% fair, 48% good, and 21% excellent. Corn mature was 79%, near 81% last year, but ahead of 74% for the five-year average. Harvested was 17%, near 20% last year and 16% average.

Soybean condition rated 3% very poor, 6% poor, 23% fair, 51% good, and 17% excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 88%, near 92% last year, and equal to average. Harvested was 24%, near 25% last year and 23% average.

Winter wheat planted was 71%, near 74% last year and 67% average. Emerged was 20%, behind 31% last year, and near 24% average.

Sorghum condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 20% fair, 52% good, and 25% excellent. Sorghum mature was 57%, near 59% both last year and average. Harvested was 6%, behind 12% last year, and near 10% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 23% fair, 46% good, and 25% excellent. Dry edible beans dropping leaves was 85%, near 84% last year, but behind 90% average. Harvested was 56%, near 52% last year, but behind 64% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 13% very poor, 28% poor, 33% fair, 21% good, and 5% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Iowa continued to experience hot and dry conditions this week allowing Iowa farmers 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 29, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Field activities included harvesting both corn and soybeans.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 15 percent very short, 44 percent short, 41 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 11 percent very short, 44 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in the dent stage or beyond reached 97 percent this week. Corn mature reached 75 percent, 1 week behind last year but 2 days ahead of normal. Corn harvested for grain reached 11 percent, 3 days behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Corn condition remained at 77 percent good to excellent.  

Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 95 percent. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 80 percent, 2 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of average. Soybeans harvested reached 27 percent this week, 3 days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to deteriorate with 44 percent rated good to excellent this week.  With the continued dry conditions, some producers have had to begin hauling water to cattle.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding and widespread crop damage across the Southeast U.S. over the weekend and likely caused some damage and harvest delays in parts of the Eastern Corn Belt and Midsouth as well. But at the national level, corn and soybean harvest progress continued to outpace the five-year averages, according to USDA NASS' weekly national Crop Progress report on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn dented was estimated at 96%, 1 point behind last year's 97%, but 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 95%. Corn mature was pegged at 75%, 4 points behind last year's 79% but 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 70%.
-- Harvest progress: The pace of the corn harvest picked up slightly last week, moving ahead 7 percentage points to reach 21% complete as of Sunday. That was equal to last year's pace but 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 18%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 64% of corn still in fields was in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 point from 65% the previous week but above last year's 53%. Twelve percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week but below 18% last year.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 81%, 1 point behind last year's 82% but 8 points ahead of the five-year average of 73%.
-- Harvest progress: Soybean harvest gained momentum last week, moving ahead 13 percentage points to reach 26% complete as of Sunday, 6 points ahead of last year's 20% and 8 points ahead of the five-year average of 18%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 64% of soybeans still in fields were in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but still above last year's rating of 52% good to excellent.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting moved ahead 14 points last week to reach 39% nationwide as of Sunday, 3 points ahead of last year's 36% and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 38%.
-- Crop development: An estimated 14% of winter wheat was emerged as of Sunday, 1 point ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 13%.



NEBRASKA SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 GRAIN STOCKS

Nebraska corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2024 totaled 147 million bushels, up 13% from 2023, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the total, 71.0 million bushels are stored on farms, up 4% from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 75.9 million bushels, are up 22% from last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 22.1 million bushels, up 5% from last year. On-farm stocks of 6.70 million bushels are up 20% from a year ago, but off-farm stocks, at 15.4 million bushels, are down slightly from 2023.

Wheat stored in all positions totaled 53.9 million bushels, up 31% from a year ago. On-farm stocks of 9.20 million bushels are up 8% from 2023 and off-farm stocks of 44.7 million bushels are up 37% from last year.

Sorghum Off-farm holdings, at 784,000 bushels, are down 7% from last year.

Oat On-farm oat stocks totaled 850,000 bushels, up 70% from 2023.

Barley stored in all positions totaled 106,000 bushels.



IOWA GRAIN STOCKS

Corn stored in all positions in Iowa on September 1, 2024, totaled 306 million bushels, up 11 percent from September 1, 2023, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Grain Stocks report. Of the total stocks, 46 percent were stored on-farm. The June-August 2024 indicated disappearance totaled 573 million bushels, 13 percent above the 509 million bushels from the same quarter the previous year.

Soybeans stored in all positions in Iowa on September 1, 2024, totaled 73.3 million bushels, up 54 percent from September 1, 2023. Of the total stocks, 35 percent were stored on-farm. Indicated disappearance for June-August 2024 was 102 million bushels, 7 percent above the 95.2 million bushels from the same quarter the previous year.



Corn, Soybean Stocks Both Up 29 Percent from September 2023

Old crop corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2024 totaled 1.76 billion bushels, up 29 percent from September 1, 2023. Of the total stocks, 780 million bushels are stored on farms, up 29 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 980 million bushels, are up 30 percent from a year ago. The June - August 2024 indicated disappearance is 3.24 billion bushels, compared with 2.74 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Based on an analysis of end-of-marketing year stock estimates, disappearance data for exports, and farm program administrative data, the 2023 corn for grain production is revised down 1.08 million bushels from the previous estimate. Corn silage production is revised down 140 thousand tons. Planted area is unchanged at 94.6 million acres, but area harvested for grain is revised down 7,000 acres to 86.5 million acres. Area harvested for silage is revised down 10,000 acres to 6.46 million acres. The 2023 grain yield, at 177.3 bushels per acre, is unchanged from the previous estimate. The 2023 silage yield, at 20.1 tons per acre, remains unchanged from the previous estimate. A table with 2023 acreage, yield, and production estimates by States is included on pages 17 and 18 of this report.

Old crop soybeans stored in all positions on September 1, 2024 totaled 342 million bushels, up 29 percent from September 1, 2023. Soybean stocks stored on farms totaled 111 million bushels, up 54 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 231 million bushels, are up 20 percent from last September. Indicated disappearance for June - August 2024 totaled 628 million bushels, up 18 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Based on an analysis of end-of-marketing year stock estimates, disappearance data for exports and crushings, and farm program administrative data, the 2023 soybean production is revised down 2.62 million bushels from the previous estimate. Planted area is unchanged at 83.6 million acres, but harvested area is revised to 82.3 million acres. The 2023 yield, at 50.6 bushels per acre, is unchanged from the previous estimate. A table with 2023 acreage, yield, and production estimates by States is included on page 19 of this report.

All wheat stored in all positions on September 1, 2024 totaled 1.99 billion bushels, up 12 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 664 million bushels, up 11 percent from last September. Off-farm stocks, at 1.32 billion bushels, are up 13 percent from a year ago. The June - August 2024 indicated disappearance is 682 million bushels, up 12 percent from the same period a year earlier.



2024 NEBRASKA SMALL GRAIN ACREAGE AND PRODUCTION

Winter wheat production is estimated at 47.8 million bushels, up 29% from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The area harvested for grain totaled 920,000 acres, up 5% from 2023. Planted acreage totaled 1.00 million, down 12% from a year earlier. The yield is 52.0 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels from last year.

Oat production is estimated at 2.48 million bushels, up 95% from 2023. Area harvested for grain, at 36,000 acres, is up 50% from last year. Planted acreage totaled 120,000, down 23% from a year earlier. Average yield is 69.0 bushels per acre, up 16 bushels from 2023.

IOWA - Oat production was estimated at 5.99 million bushels, down 21 percent from last year, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Small Grains 2024 Summary. Oats
planted, at 145,000 acres, was down 24 percent from last year. Harvested area for grain was 73,000 acres, down 23 percent from the harvested acres in 2023. Oat yield, at 82.0 bushels per acre, was up 2.0 bushels from last year.

U.S. Small Grains 2024 Summary
All wheat production totaled 1.97 billion bushels in 2024, up 9 percent from the 2023 total of 1.80 billion bushels. Area harvested for grain totaled 38.5 million acres, up 4 percent from the previous year. The average yield in the United States was estimated at 51.2 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from the previous year. The levels of production and changes from 2023 by type were: winter wheat, 1.35 billion bushels, up 9 percent; other spring wheat, 542 million bushels, up 8 percent; and Durum wheat, 80.1 million bushels, up 35 percent.

Oat production was estimated at 67.8 million bushels, up 19 percent from 2023. Yield was estimated at a record high 76.5 bushels per acre, up 7.9 bushels from the previous year. Harvested area, at 886 thousand acres, was 7 percent above last year.

Barley production was estimated at 144 million bushels, down 23 percent from the 2023 total of 186 million bushels. The United States average yield, at 76.7 bushels per acre, was up 4.4 bushels from the previous year. Producers seeded 2.37 million acres in 2024, down 24 percent from 2023. Harvested area, at 1.88 million acres, was down 27 percent from 2023.



Celebrate the Future with Central Valley Ag During National Co-op Month

October is National Co-op Month, a time to celebrate the unique business model of cooperatives. In a cooperative, members jointly own and operate the organization, sharing profits and benefits. Central Valley Ag, a proud member of the cooperative community, is excited to join the celebration with a focus on the future.

The 2024 Co-op Month theme is "The Future is Cooperative." To celebrate the future of cooperatives, CVA has opened a retail store where employees and customers can purchase new CVA Co-op merchandise. The store will be open from October 1st to October 15th, and orders will be shipped after the store has closed. To order a t-shirt or hoodie, visit cvacoop.com.

Throughout October, CVA employees across Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa will celebrate Co-op Month with member engagement activities. Look out for location photos, fun events, and the latest updates on CVA's social media platforms.

"The cooperative business model is a powerful force. By empowering members to have a say in how their businesses are run, we're building a future that's not only sustainable but also just and equitable," said Luke Carlson, CVA Board Chairman. “I am proud to be a part of the cooperative business model and am excited for the future of not only CVA, but cooperatives everywhere.”

To learn more about cooperatives, visit www.growingagriculturetogether.com. This website provides information on cooperative history, cooperative member control, and patronage. With PowerPoints, quizzes, wordsearches, and more, there are so many ways to learn. If you would like to schedule a classroom visit from a CVA employee, please reach out to info@cvacoop.com.

Happy Co-op Month from CVA.



Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin: Meet the Finalists
    
The annual competition for the title of Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin has been whittled down from 40 restaurants to just five finalists across the state, showcasing the best of Iowa's beloved, hand-breaded delicacy!

The top five restaurants still in the running for the coveted title this year, listed alphabetically, are:
    Bronson Bar - Bronson
    Dairy Sweet - Dunlap
    Ruby’s Pub and Grill - Stuart
    The Blind Pig - Monticello
    The Market at the Tap - Monticello

“There were 532 restaurants nominated for our 22nd annual contest, which goes to show that Iowans love their breaded pork tenderloins,” said Kelsey Sutter, marketing and programs director for IPPA. “Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand that Iowa has no shortage of these hand-breaded favorites.”

To win the “Iowa’s Best Breaded Tenderloin” title, a restaurant must offer the sandwich on their menu year-round. Seasonal eateries, caterers, concession stands, and food trucks are not eligible. While the style of tenderloin can vary, the pork must be hand-breaded or battered to qualify!

This summer, judging commenced for the top 40 restaurants, selected from public nominations. The list featured the five restaurants with the most nominations in each of IPPA’s eight districts, ensuring statewide representation.

IPPA members and industry affiliates visited these locations anonymously, evaluating the tenderloins on pork taste, quality, physical characteristics, and presentation. After reviewing all 40 evaluations, IPPA’s Restaurant and Foodservice Committee chose five finalists to move on to the next round. A panel of three judges was then appointed to visit each finalist and determine the first and second place winners.

The winning restaurant and runner-up will be announced later in October, during a month-long celebration of pork called Porktober, or national pork month. The runner-up will receive $250 and a plaque from IPPA, while the winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque, a banner, and statewide publicity—which has been known to send pork tenderloin sales hog wild!



Iowa Corn Honors Curt Jones with the 2024 Iowa Corn Walter Goeppinger Lifetime Achievement Award

Iowa Corn is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Iowa Corn Walter Goeppinger Lifetime Achievement Award. This annual recognition is presented to an individual who has been a friend and active leader of Iowa Corn. This year, we proudly honored Curt Jones with the 2024 Iowa Corn Walter Goeppinger Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of leadership to our organization and impact to Iowa Corn Promotion Board’s research efforts.  

The beginning of Iowa Corn can be traced back to 1957 when founder Walter Goeppinger, of Boone, Iowa, had a vision for a grassroots-driven group to support corn farming and rallied his friends and neighbors together to create the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). In 1967, Goeppinger helped create the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the first state corn group in the country. Then in 1977, he was instrumental in establishing the nation’s first corn checkoff program, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB). To keep the story of Goeppinger’s contributions to our corn industry alive for generations to come, in 2016, Iowa Corn established the Walter Goeppinger Lifetime Achievement Award in his honor. Each year, the joint board of directors selects an individual with outstanding service and commitment to advancing the corn industry.  

Those who have had the privilege to work with and serve beside Curt Jones know the dedicated and steadfast passion he has for the agriculture industry. As a leader Curt was an excellent listener and while not always the first to speak up, when he did choose to add to a conversation, he was very effective in communicating his ideas and thoughts. When Curt spoke, people listened.

Curt’s involvement with Iowa Corn started in the 1990s at the local level in Clay County. With the support of his wife, Mary Ellen, Curt quickly began rising through the ranks and got engaged in both NCGA and served as chair of the ICPB. He found his real passion for industry and farming coexisted through the research committee. His passion for research made him pivotal in identifying new opportunities to improve corn production and utilization. 

Curt was instrumental in transitioning the way ICPB does research from funding general projects to targeting specific markets that have a practical impact for corn farmers, this has helped to set the path for research projects we do today.  He was an advocate for using consultants with expertise in the field and saw an opportunity to work with start-up companies. Curt believed that NCGA and state corn organizations should work together to develop new uses for corn, something that we are doing today with the New Uses Consortium.  

Curt's contributions, including securing funding for sequencing the corn genome and advancing research in nitrogen use efficiency, as well as pioneering new uses for corn such as monoethylene glycol (MEG) and propylene glycol (PG), which have profoundly shaped the future of agriculture.

Curt's visionary approach to research, characterized by his advocacy for practical applications and strategic partnerships, not only propelled Iowa Corn forward but also set new standards for research excellence and industry collaboration. We thank Curt for his years of dedication and appreciate all that he has helped us achieve on behalf of Iowa’s corn farmers.  



Illinois Farmer, Kenneth Hartman Jr., Becomes President of the National Corn Growers Association

Kenneth R. Hartman Jr., a corn farmer from Waterloo, Ill., began his term this week as president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

During meetings with the media today, Hartman discussed the current economic challenges corn growers face and said he wanted to push for passage of a robust farm bill, expand markets and address tariffs that are being placed on ag supplies and passed on to farmers.

He also talked about the need to extend consumer access to higher blends of ethanol. Key to accomplishing these goals, he said, is building relationships.

 “My theme as president is “Building Bridges,” Hartman said. “We need to build on our ties with existing allies while cultivating new relationships with other organizations inside and outside agriculture. We also need to continue to reach out to policymakers and other leaders who may not represent rural communities but who benefit indirectly from the work of farmers. I strongly believe that coalition building is one of the most effective ways to get things done.”

Hartman, a fifth-generation farmer, operates his farm along with his wife Anita, mother Joann and daughter Amanda.

 Hartman has extensive experience in advocacy. He served on the NCGA board for six years in a variety of leadership roles, and he is a past president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and past chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. He is also a member of the Illinois Leadership Council for Ag Education.

In 2021, Hartman was honored by Prairie Farmer magazine with the Master Farmer award for his exceptional agricultural production skills as well as his commitment to family and service.

 Hartman takes the reins at NCGA as growers across the Corn Belt face rising input costs and lower commodity prices. To address the issue, Hartman said he will focus on several issues, including advancing ethanol legislation, working with U.S. officials to expand foreign markets and identifying new uses for corn.

NCGA’s board elects a member of the board to serve as president each year. The term begins in early October, the start of NCGA’s fiscal year.

Harold Wolle, the organization’s immediate past president who hails from Minnesota, will now serve as chairman of the board.



Congress Must Not Leave Farmers in a Lurch

Today marks the expiration of the one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, leaving farmers and ranchers anxious about whether Congress can secure a new, five-year reauthorization. Despite Congress giving themselves a full extra year to craft and pass a new farm bill, inaction remains the status quo in the halls of Congress.

“We are running out of time,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers were told lawmakers just needed more time to pass a five-year farm bill, but once again we find ourselves in a lurch without much-needed improvements to safety net and risk management programs. Meanwhile, America has lost 141,000 farms in five years. Low commodity prices, rising supply costs, inflation and outdated farm policy provisions threaten to destroy the dreams of thousands more.

“We applaud House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson for crafting and moving a bipartisan farm bill through committee. And we appreciate Ranking Member David Scott’s commitment to achieving a full reauthorization of the farm bill instead of passing the buck with another extension. In the Senate, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member John Boozman have both released outlines and priorities.

“All of this is forward progress. But America’s farmers and ranchers need results. Food doesn’t appear on grocery store shelves because farmers put ideas on paper. Families in this country can purchase safe, nutritious and affordable food because farmers and ranchers take action every day of the year.

“Actions speak louder than words. I urge members of Congress and party leaders to put politics aside and pass a new, modernized farm bill. Show every family in America that ensuring a full pantry is the priority of those we elected to serve.”

When the farm bill expires, some impacts will be felt immediately, while other consequences will be triggered in the coming months. New enrollment for some critical conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program, will halt, affecting agriculture’s work to meet sustainability goals. When the new year begins, Dairy Margin Coverage payments will cease, and farm safety net programs revert back to outdated 1940s policy that threatens to disrupt markets.

Congress must pass a new, modernized farm bill, but farmers need help now. Until a new bill is enacted, Farm Bureau calls on lawmakers to provide funds for natural disaster and economic assistance to bridge the gap.



New Website Launches To Strengthen Checkoff Value Communications

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) has launched www.dairycheckoff.com to more effectively communicate the full national and local impact of the dairy checkoff to farmers and importers.

Content focused toward these audiences previously was housed at www.USDairy.com, which will continue to serve as a go-to resource to reach consumer and thought leader audiences with information and research-backed information on dairy and its benefit on health and wellness and the environment.

The new site is designed in a way to focus on checkoff areas that are important to farmers, including:
    Growing Demand for Dairy
    Research and Innovation
    Youth Wellness
    Exports
    Sustainability
    Partnerships
    Health & Nutrition
    Farmer Image

“When we spoke with farmers we could see there was some confusion when we had just one website for the entirety of the checkoff and they didn’t know how to get more information on programs that are delivering results for them,” said Joanna Hunter, group executive vice president and head of farmer relations and outreach for DMI. “DairyCheckoff.com is developed with a farmer-first mindset and is categorized around how farmers think about the work that the checkoff does nationally and locally.

“I really believe there is something that every farmer cares about that the checkoff touches and this is a place where they can find deeper information and resources.”

In addition to information on each of the key checkoff pillars, visitors will find episodes of the Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast, the latest checkoff news updates, DMI Board of Directors information, annual reports, budget and financials information and more.

“The new website is an awesome one-stop shop for all things dairy checkoff,” said Minnesota dairy farmer Charles Krause, who serves on the DMI board. “You can learn about the wide variety of ways that checkoff is working on farmers’ behalf in a very easy to navigate format.”



Why Falling Milk Production Masks U.S. Dairy Industry’s Capacity for Growth  

The U.S. dairy industry has long relied on monthly milk production data from the USDA to track the trajectory of milk supplies available for processing and to project potential dairy product output. Historically, falling milk production from dairy farms would signal a decline in supplies of both fluid milk and the key solid milk components used to produce cheese, butter and other dairy foods. Production volumes of farmgate milk and the components in that milk trended closely together for decades. As a market indicator, tightening milk supplies could potentially curtail dairy processors’ growth or expansion plans.

That dynamic has changed, however, as the composition of milk produced in the U.S. has evolved to steadily include more butterfat and protein content. While U.S. milk production has slowed in recent years, key milk components used to make many of the most popular solid dairy products have climbed. Recent dairy production data accentuates the trend. Through September 2024, U.S. milk production on a milk volume basis has declined for 14 consecutive months. Meanwhile, butterfat and protein production has grown in 12 of those same months.

According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the decoupling of fluid milk production and milk component production represents an important paradigm shift for the industry given growing consumer demand for manufactured dairy products. More than 80% of U.S. milk production goes into dairy food products that rely on milk components while less than 20% goes into the fluid beverage category.

Considering the significance of these changes in U.S. milk composition and consumer demand, the report suggests the dairy industry would benefit from a more comprehensive monthly report from USDA that includes milk, protein and butterfat production levels.

“USDA’s Milk Production reports have been the gold standard for tracking milk available for processing since 1924,” said Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist with CoBank. “However, changes in milk composition have made the report incomplete when it comes to understanding whether production is growing or declining, and by how much. A more robust report including milk components as well as fluid milk production data would be informative to producers, processors and retailers from a planning and risk management standpoint.”

At $76 billion in annual U.S. sales, dairy is the largest category in retail grocery, according to data from Circana. However, dairy product sales look much different than in generations past. Growth in the category is being driven by manufactured dairy products such as cheese, whey, butter, yogurt, ice cream and other products that depend heavily on milk components such as protein and butterfat and not the fluid portion. The shift in consumption patterns means that milk solids, not milk volume, matter more to most dairy processors.

Cheese is a prime example of a product that had benefitted from milk’s growing component yields. In 2010, 100 pounds milk from the typical U.S. dairy farm yielded 10.1 pounds of cheese. Fast forward to 2023, 100 pounds of milk yields 11.2 pounds of cheese. That 10.8% improvement is product yield driven by higher butterfat and protein content.

Domestic markets aren’t the only category experiencing these shifts. Manufactured dairy products dominate the growing export opportunities for U.S. dairy and create more demand for milk components. Opportunities for growth both at home and abroad are among the reasons domestic and international dairy processors are investing over $7 billion in new dairy processing capacity in the coming years.

Several factors have fueled the rising levels of protein and butterfat in the U.S. milk supply, chief among them are the Milk Component Pricing provisions that established values for 92% of the nation’s milk. Combined with soaring consumer demand for cheese, dairy producers have been increasingly incentivized to shift management strategies that would result in higher milk component levels.

Geiger acknowledged that reframing the monthly Milk Production report to include protein and butterfat data would be a difficult and time-consuming endeavor for the USDA, given the complexities of how that data is currently tracked. But given the apparent permanence of shifting dairy production, processing and consumption patterns, the effort would be well-placed and well-received.

“Long-term, the collective U.S. dairy industry would benefit from an updated system that collects more component data and reports that data in a timely fashion,” said Geiger. “That’s important to the dairy industry because consumers both at home and abroad continue to eat more milk solids found in manufactured dairy products and drink less fluid milk with each passing year.”



USDA Invests $1.7 Billion to Support Farmers, Deliver Nutrition Assistance, and Bolster Rural Economies

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an investment of $1.7 billion for purchase of locally and regionally produced foods and domestically produced foods for emergency food assistance. These investments, made possible by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will help American producers by ensuring they have the certainty of access to local and regional markets as well as the financial benefits that come with selling directly to institutions. With these purchases, USDA is at the same time ensuring schools, child care facilities and emergency food providers have access to healthy foods.    

“The investments USDA is announcing today provide immediate and long-term assistance to American farmers, families, and communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By delivering food from domestic producers to schools, child care facilities and emergency feeding organizations, we’re securing local and regional markets for those farmers and ensuring our students, young children and neighbors in need are getting nutritious, reliable meals. These types of investments keep local economies strong and help build resilient food systems with lasting impact.”   

Many of these initiatives build on previous investments in local and regional food systems that have helped many farmers find new markets and recover from supply chain disruptions. Local and regional commercial opportunities are especially important for small- and mid-sized farming operations in the aftermath of natural disasters. These funds respond to pre-existing needs that Hurricane Helene has exacerbated and provide an early foundation for future disaster assistance and long-term recovery efforts.  

With funding made available from the CCC, USDA is providing:   
    $1.2 billion to support local food purchases with schools, child care facilities, food banks, and other institutions; and  
    $500 million to purchase domestic commodities for emergency food providers.  

Local Food Support  
USDA is providing $1.2 billion for local food purchases that food banks, schools, and child care facilities will integrate into their meals for the coming year. This funding builds on previously provided local food support and creates new marketing opportunities for small- and mid-sized producers and food businesses. Past funding has provided much needed assistance to schools and food banks as they grapple with acquiring enough food to meet the needs of their recipients. Continued investment in local purchasing allows producers to expand, invest in infrastructure, and solidify new connections that support resilient regional food systems while providing healthy products to food recipients.   

Of the funding, $500 million will be made available for states, territories, and Tribal nations to purchase local foods for emergency food providers and underserved communities, while another $500 million will allow school meal programs to make local food purchases. For the first time, USDA will also provide $200 million in funds specifically for child care facilities, which face similar challenges purchasing food as schools.  

This builds on USDA’s popular Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), both of which were created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthened local relationships between producers and their communities, providing new markets for producers and jobs and opportunities in local communities.    

Support for Emergency Food Providers  
USDA is providing $500 million to purchase domestic commodities for emergency food providers like food banks and food pantries. This latest round of funding, in addition to the nearly $2 billion previously provided in 2022 and 2023, will allow states to order American-grown commodities from USDA for emergency food providers. These investments and several other USDA actions to support emergency food providers will help ensure no one in America goes without the nutrition they need.  Past domestic commodity support has enhanced food deliveries to emergency providers fighting food and nutrition insecurity while supporting American agriculture, and these funds continue that investment.



Seasonality in Feeder Cattle Prices
Hannah Baker, Beef and Forage Economics, University of Florida / IFAS Extension

The fall months are when a majority of producers across the country are selling spring-born calves or yearlings from last fall. Due to the increase in supply of calves, prices typically decline during these months. A way to show this seasonality trend is to look at the seasonal price index. The average annual price index shows the relationship between each month’s average price and the annual average price. When the price index is above 100%, that means prices in that month, on average, are higher than the annual average, (spring). When the price index is below 100%, that means average prices in that month are lower than the annual average, (fall).

The maximum and minimum indices are used to show the approximate range of prices during that month. For example, during 2014-2023, average October prices in the Southern Plains were 96 percent of the annual average, but there was variability where prices ranged between 86% and 108% of the annual average for October.

The graph below includes 2023 when prices did not follow the seasonality trend of declining in the fall, but rather increased. For instance, average prices for 500-550-pound feeder cattle in Florida increased by 18 percent from March to October. On average from 2018-2022, prices during this same period declined by about 9 percent. Prices continued rising into 2024, but then began falling as we approached the summer and fall months, following the typical seasonality trend.

In terms of where we are in the cattle cycle today compared to in 2015, the price trends look similar as if we have already seen peak prices and are headed for lower prices. However, the difference to notice between 2024 and 2015 is inventory levels and the rate of expansion. In 2015, expansion had already started when prices were at the levels we are seeing today. There was no incentive for prices to climb back up after the typical dip in the fall. In the current market, we have not starting seeing signs of stabilization, much less expansion, and have already hit record prices that we saw back in 2015. This indicates that while we are experiencing some seasonality this year, it is not expected that we are headed for a continuous low level of cattle prices.