Monday March 27 Ag News

 2023 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week

Nebraska farmers continue to produce more bushels of crop per acre with less resources. The result of this increased efficiency is more on-farm grain storage. In turn, this leaves a bigger risk of fatal accidents associated with grain handling and bin storage. Nebraska Corn encourages farmers to focus on hazards found in grain handling and storage environments during “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week.” The 2023 theme is “Small Changes, BIG Impact!”

“Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week” takes place Mar. 27 - 31 and is organized through an alliance between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Grain and Feed Association, the Grain Elevator and Processing Society and the Grain Handling Safety Council.

Every year hundreds of employees or farmers are injured or die from preventable hazards while working in grain handling and storage. “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week” encourages facilities and individuals to commit to safety in the workplace or learn how tasks are performed to create positive safety impacts.

There are many hazards that workers are exposed to when working in the grain handling industry. One of the biggest hazards includes suffocation from engulfment. However, with proper safety procedures, grain bin accidents are preventable. Here are seven steps to grain safety tips to keep in mind, remembering to only enter grain bins when absolutely necessary:
    Turn off and lockout equipment before entering bins or performing maintenance
    Never walk down grain to make it flow
    Place a trained observer outside of the bin in case of an emergency
    Test the air in the bin before entering
    Control the accumulation of grain dust through housekeeping
    Do not enter a bin where grain is built up on the side
    Use a safety harness and anchored lifeline when entering a bin

Nebraska Corn will be sharing grain bin safety tips from their social media channels. More information can also be found at standup4grainsafety.org.



NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending March 26, 2023, topsoil moisture supplies rated 16% very short, 33% short, 46% adequate, and 5% surplus, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 32% very short, 40% short, 27% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 11% very poor, 32% poor, 35% fair, 19% good, and 3% excellent.

Weekly reports will begin April 3rd for the 2023 season.

Data for this news release were provided at the county level by USDA Farm Service Agency, UNL Extension Service, and other reporters across the State.



Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program announces 2023-24 scholarship recipients

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has announced the recipients of scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. The one-time scholarships will be awarded to 84 students totaling $184,000 for the ensuing academic year.

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program was established in 2010 by a gift from the Paul and Virginia Engler Foundation. The mission of the program is to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. The program offers an academic minor while serving as an intersection in which students from a diverse array of majors and business interests can come together in pursuit of the American Dream.  

Incoming Freshman Scholarship Winners:
Bassett: Brooklyn Buell
Bridgeport: Bethany Nichols  
Burwell: Jaci Larsen
Callaway: Silas Cool
Genoa: Alicia Weeder
Gering: Mackenzie Liakos
Gothenburg: Gage Andersen; Jake Burge
Hooper: Ashley Abrahams
Julian: Abigail Hodges
McCook: Ethan Bortner
Pender: Brieann Bruns
Rising City: Alexa Carter
Seward: Crayton Koranda
Wisner: Cameryn Bellar

Continuing Student Scholarship Winners:  
Ainsworth:  Tom Ortner, Libby Wilkins, sophomores; Sam Wilkins, senior
Albion:  Dustin Andreasen, Braden Benes, Cody Maricle, sophomores; Samantha Weeder, junior
Alliance:  Madison Adam, senior
Arapahoe: Grant Taylor, sophomore
Avoca:  Jenna Knake, sophomore
Azle, TX:  Kaytlynn Lemley, sophomore
Bassett:  Jillian Buell, junior; Jaya Nelson, sophomore
Berthoud, CO:  Kace Thoren, junior
Brainard, MN:  Addison Hillman, sophomore
Bricelyn, MN: Melany Ehlert, sophomore
Bridgman, MI:  Emma Schmidt, senior
Cedar Rapids:  Paul VanDeWalle, junior
Colon:  Teresa Quinn, sophomore
Firth: Erin Oldemeyer, sophomore; Daniel Oldemeyer, senior
Franklin:  Kristen Herrick, junior
Fremont:  Adelaide Witte, sophomore
Ft Lupton, CO:  Dominic Gittlein, junior  
Gilbert, AZ:  Rachel Clarkson, senior
Gooding, ID:  Charlotte Brockman, junior
Gothenburg:  Savannah Jensen, sophomore; Heath Keiser, senior  
Herman:  Jadyn Fleischman, Luke Mathiesen, seniors
Hickman:  Carter Rohrer, senior
Hooper:  Rebecca Wulf, senior
Kalletal, Germany: Saskia Lanwermann, junior
Kearney:  Logan Greeno, sophomore
Lemoyne:  Sheridan Wilson, junior
Lincoln: Allison Walbrecht, sophomore
Lindsay:  Preston Sueper, senior
Long Pine:  Logan Hafer, junior
Mead:  Abby Miller, senior
Minden:  Molly Burchell, sophomore; Kaleb Senff, junior
Morse Bluff:  Hannah Williams, junior
Nelson: Kylie Beard, sophomore
North Platte:  Celie Childears, senior  
Oakland: Anna Karnopp, sophomores
Omaha: Naidaly Gonzalez-Miranda, Kelsey Simon, sophomores
Ord:  Amber Staab, senior
Osmond:  Landon Stelling, senior
Petersburg:  Seth Wright, junior
Scribner:  Levi Schiller, sophomore
Seward:  Emma Kuss, junior  
Shenandoah, IA:  Ty Lantz, junior
St Paul:  Madison Hirschman, sophomore
Stockton, KS:  Caleigh Iwanski, senior
Sumner: Mattison Beattie, sophomore
Sunbury, OH: Caleb Durheim, senior
Syracuse:  Madison Kreifels, junior
Unadilla:  Sydney Wellsandt, junior
Valentine:  Brody Benson, senior  
Waco:  Kailey Ziegler, junior
Waverly: Emelia Rourke, sophomore
West Point: Keegan Doggett, sophomore
Wood Lake:  Ty Schlueter, sophomore
Wray, CO:  Jaden Dodsworth, sophomore
Wymore:  Ashtyn Humphreys, senior
York:  Keeley Conrad, junior

For more information, contact program director Tom Field at 402-472-5643 or tfield2@unl.edu.



Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council Elects New Officers

The Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council elected new officers and board members during its annual meeting on March 17, 2023.  

Newly elected officers include Chair of the Board: Jolene Messinger of McCook; Vice Chair: Raymond Morse of Norfolk; Secretary: Jay Rempe of Lincoln and Treasurer: Bobbie Kriz-Wickham of Lincoln.  

Newly elected board members include Scot Blehm of Lincoln, Matt Dolch of Lincoln, and Chris Roth of Deshler. Mary Eisenzimmer of Big Springs, Jessica Groskopf of Gering, and Bobbie Kriz-Wickham of Lincoln were re-elected for a second three-year term.  

Retiring board members include Gerald Clausen of Lincoln who served as Board Chair and Jerry Catlett of Bruning who served as Vice Chair of the Board for 2022-2023, and Scott Richert of Gresham.  

Board members also include Nicole Bohuslavsky of Omaha, David Englund of Omaha, Drew Jensen of Lincoln, Suzanna Klaasmeyer of Hershey, Lori Luebbe of Lincoln, Scott Meradith of Lincoln, and Dr. Marysz Rames of Wayne. Dr. Richard Bischoff of Lincoln serves as the IANR Liaison Representative, and Stan Mitchell of Seward serves as the President of the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association. The Council’s President is Dr. Terry Hejny, who also serves as the Director of the Nebraska LEAD Program.

The Nebraska LEAD Program includes men and women, currently active in production agriculture and agribusiness and is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council in cooperation with the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  

For more information, or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 42 which will begin in September of 2023, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program, 104 ACB, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0940.  You may also call 402-472-6810 or email leadprogram@unl.edu Applications will be due June 15, 2022.



WOIWODE EXPLAINS BENEFITS OF STANDARDIZED CATTLE-HANDLING TRAINING

America’s cattle sector could benefit greatly by adopting a set standard for proficiency levels in animal care and handling. University of Nebraska–Lincoln scientist Ruth Woiwode, drawing on her expertise in animal behavior, is working to address that challenge.

Woiwode, assistant professor of animal behavior and welfare in the Department of Animal Science, has developed a multi-step approach to teaching cattle handling techniques based on key findings regarding animal behavior. She demonstrated those techniques during a recent gathering of 4-H educators for a two-day set of sessions at Nebraska’s Animal Science Complex.
 
Brett Kreifels, a 4-H educator for Douglas and Sarpy counties, said his background is in poultry rather than cattle, but he was impressed “to see how she was able to take those cattle and move them exactly where she wanted them and did it very effortlessly.”

Among those who observed her demonstration was Temple Grandin, a Colorado State University professor and noted expert in animal behavior. Grandin was Woiwode’s academic adviser during Woiwode’s graduate study at Colorado State. Woiwode’s cattle-handling techniques draw in large part on insights Grandin has provided during her decades-long study of animal behavior.

In watching Woiwode’s demonstration, Grandin noted that the Husker scientist’s techniques had kept the cattle calm while directing them from one gate to another and, in one instance, separating one calf from the rest.

Afterward, 4-H educators said such training, perhaps via video, could have great value in helping children learn effective animal-handling techniques.

One task in Woiwode’s cattle-handling approach involves moving a group of cattle through a gate and closing it, then moving the cattle in a straight line and stopping them at a designated point. Mistakes to be avoided include moving the cattle too fast, causing them to run; scattering the cattle; and cattle running into fences.

In her writings about the training approach, Woiwode has noted the principle that the cattle industry “cannot manage its quality problems until it can measure them.” That principle has served as a central guide for the Beef Quality Assurance program.

Training in husbandry and stockmanship skills traditionally has been passed down from generation to generation, but in modern times, many prospective employees are entering the cattle sector without that background. A standardized approach can provide certainty in training and facilitate efficiency in workforce development.

Such an approach also can build trust with the public, given the public’s increased interest in animal welfare. Another benefit is improved long-term impact on animals, since academic study has shown that handling, positive or negative, can have a cumulative long-term effect on an animal.

Woiwode, with faculty positions in teaching, research and extension, holds certifications for dairy, swine, poultry, meat plant and feedlot animal welfare auditing. Prior to joining Nebraska, she led a team in auditing entire supply chains. She serves on the Animal Welfare Committee and Small Plant Task Force for the North American Meat Institute, the Nebraska Feedyard Safety Advisory Committee, and the Faculty Advisory Committee for Nebraska’s Beef Innovation Hub.



Land O’Lakes President and CEO to speak at Heuermann Lecture in 2023 Water for Food Global Conference

Land O’Lakes, Inc. President and CEO Beth Ford is the featured speaker at the Heuermann Lecture on May 8 in Lincoln, Neb. U.S.A. as part of the 2023 Water for Food Global Conference.

The free lecture, sponsored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be held 4:30-6 p.m. at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive and livestreamed online.

Ford serves as president and chief executive officer of Land O’Lakes, Inc., a Fortune 200 food production, and agribusiness company that is also a century-old farmer-owned cooperative. Land O’ Lakes operates Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Truterra and has operations in more than 60 countries. Ms. Ford joined Land O’Lakes in 2011 and has held a variety of roles across all businesses. She is a passionate advocate on behalf of farmers and rural America with the goal of connecting people, particularly in urban areas, to the farmers and rural communities who grow their food. In addition, she is the convener of The American Connection Project to help bridge the digital divide. Beth's 35-year career spans six industries at seven companies. Ford is on the board of directors of Starbucks and previously served on the board of directors of Blackrock, Inc. She also serves on the board of directors for the Business Roundtable and the Columbia University Business School – Deming Center Board of Advisors. She recently was inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and received a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree from Iowa State University in 2022.

The lecture is held in conjunction with the Water for Food Global Conference May 8-11, 2023, which will convene leading international experts and organizations to discuss “Cultivating Innovation: Solutions for a Changing World,” focusing on the next generation of research, smart technology, policy development and best practices that are achieving breakthroughs in water and food security. The conference is organized by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska and features three days of conference sessions, as well as site visits to a local Nebraska farm, a feed lot and a university research center. Registration and more information are available at waterforfood.nebraska.edu.

Heuermann Lectures are funded by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips. The Heuermanns are longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska’s production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people.

Lectures are streamed lived on the Heuermann Lecture Series website and air live on campus channel 4. Lectures are archived after the event and are later broadcast on NET2.



Nebraska Wheat Board Announces Ambassador Program

The Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB) is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year Ambassador Program. The goal of the NWB Ambassador Program is to develop college-aged students into better advocates and leaders in agriculture and to help them grow both personally and professionally.

The program consists of ambassadors participating in promotional events, school visits, career exploration and much more. Upon completion of the program, ambassadors will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Applications are open to any full-time student enrolled in a Nebraska post-secondary school. Students need to complete the application and submit a resume, letters of reference and a copy of their current transcripts. The application deadline is May 31, 2023, at 11:59 PM. Program details and the application can be found online at www.nebraskawheat.com, under “About Us, Student Ambassador Program” tabs.

For more information on the program, reach out to Jadyn Heckenlively at jadyn.heckenlively@nebraska.gov or by phone at (402) 471-4872.



Iowa Beef Center to Host Fencing and Grazing Clinic

The 2023 Fencing and Grazing Clinic, organized and hosted by the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is set for May 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Iowa State University Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm near Lewis, in southwest Iowa.

Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, said the clinic is timely and practical. There is no cost to attend the event, but preregistration is required.

“By holding this clinic in May, we hope participants will be able to take more information they’ve learned and put it to use this grazing season,” she said. “Attendees will learn about new fencing tools and technology, managing paddocks and unwanted forages to improve productivity and more.”

Lundy-Woolfolk and Iowa Beef Center extension program specialist Beth Reynolds are planning the daylong event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wallace Learning Center, at the farm, 53020 Hitchcock Ave., Lewis.

“In the morning, our hands-on learning includes a permanent and temporary fencing demonstration led by Gallagher, and a group activity on designing paddocks within your pasture, led by NRCS,” Lundy-Woolfolk said. “We’ve also planned classroom sessions on identifying and managing weeds in pastures, water quality and building a grazing calendar.”

Topics and confirmed speakers are:
    New Tools in Fencing – Brad Cochran and Brad Ketchum, Gallagher.
    Building your Paddocks – Kayla Creek, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
    Red Flag Forages – Aaron Saeugling, ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist.
    Planning a Grazing Calendar – Beth Reynolds and Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, Iowa Beef Center.
    Water Quality: Testing, Interpreting, and Impact on Performance – Garland Dahlke, Iowa Beef Center.

There is no cost to attend thanks to the event sponsors: Gallagher, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, Theisen’s, Millborn Seeds, Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program, Practical Farmers of Iowa and Dairyland Laboratories Inc.

Preregistration is required to attend and should be made no later than Friday, May 12. To register, contact Lundy-Woolfolk at ellundy@iastate.edu or 641-745-5902; or Reynolds at bethr@iastate.edu or 307-761-3353.

See the clinic flyer for a quick look at topics and sponsors https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/events/FencingClinicFlyer2023.pdf.



Improve Thin or Over-grazed Pastures This Spring

The negative impacts of drought, high nitrogen prices and other high prices associated with pasture management have left some pastures in the state in less-than-ideal condition.

As the 2023 growing season approaches, Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, discusses important considerations when improving thin or over-grazed pastures. A recent article written by Saeugling for ISU Extension and Outreach’s Acreage Living Newsletter highlights these considerations and provides resources for pasture improvement.

According to Saeugling, pastures suffering from thinning can be improved with frost-seeding or interseeding this spring. While frost-seeding and interseeding can be a viable long-term solution for some, it is also important to consider pasture conditions such as soil pH, herbicide use and soil fertility, since not all pastures will be ready to be reseeded without soil amendments. As Saeugling explains, taking the time to properly plan and prepare will help to increase the success of these practices.

As an additional benefit given high nitrogen prices, frost-seeding or interseeding with a legume can help to lessen the amount of nitrogen that needs to be applied to the pasture, since many legumes are capable of fixing nitrogen into the soil.

“Nitrogen fixing legumes should include alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, and clover species,” said Saeugling. “Keep in mind with legumes in a pasture, a soil pH above six is best and for alfalfa a soil pH of 6.9.”

Seed placement is another key consideration when frost-seeding or interseeding pastures, as well as seed dispersal method. A drill is preferred for most legumes, as it provides good seed to soil contact. If broadcasting, seeding prior to a snow event can help the seed stick to the surface of the soil.

After frost-seeding or interseeding, it is important to monitor pasture green up and prevent competitive grass species from growing more than 4 inches, as this can result in shading of legume seedlings. Once legume seedlings are established, grazing can be permitted.

For more information on pasture management, a variety of extension resources are available for free from the ISU Extension Store.



NCBA Calls for Continued Ban on Paraguayan Beef Imports

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to continue blocking Paraguay from importing beef to the U.S. in response to USDA releasing a proposed rule that would grant access to Paraguayan beef imports.

“USDA’s proposed rule to allow Paraguayan beef imports into the U.S. is based on 9-year-old data and site visits that occurred in 2008 and 2014. Paraguay has a history of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and we cannot jeopardize the safety of U.S. consumers and the health of our U.S. cattle herd with outdated information,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “The United States has the highest animal health and food safety standards in the world because we rely on the most up-to-date information and the highest science-based standards. USDA should not proceed with this application until a thorough review can be conducted with current information that demonstrates Paraguay’s equivalence in animal health and food safety standards.”



Weighing Soil Compaction Risks with Corn Planting Date
Pioneer

A wet spring can put farmers behind their planting schedule and leave them feeling rushed. Timely planting is critical for maximizing yield and delays due to rainfall can lead to farmers planting into wet soils to make up the difference. Before rushing to plant, farmers should weigh the risks of compaction-related yield loss against that of delayed planting.

While planting within the optimum window can impact corn yield anywhere from 2-5%, three other factors are also important to optimizing yield at planting:
    Uniform emergence (5-9%)
    Correct population (1-2%)
    Uniform plant spacing (1-2%)

The ability to get corn planted within the optimum planting window is largely driven by weather conditions. This window that can vary greatly from year to year and lead to planting into wet soils, potentially creating compaction issues.

Compacted soils can limit the ability of plant roots to grow into new soil to extract water and nutrients. This can reduce the amount of the soil profile that is available to contribute to supplying water and nutrients for crop growth. According to Iowa State University, in favorable years, moisture availability, well-timed rain and fertilizer use can mask the effects of soil compaction. In unfavorable years, however, yields can be reduced by as much as 20%, potentially outweighing the drawbacks of late planting.

Growers should consider all factors when planting and not rush to a decision to meet a certain time frame.

Friday March 24 Ag News

Monroe Farmer, Agronomist Honored by The Fertilizer Institute

Greg Keller, owner of Keller Farm from Monroe, and Randy Zmek, field sales agronomist with Central Valley Ag Co-op at Monroe, were honored March 9 as 4R Advocates by The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). They were recognized for their commitment to implementing fertilizer management practices that incorporate the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship and have demonstrated economic and environmental benefits.

Keller and Zmek have worked together for 19 years to hone farming practices and have increased corn and soybean yields and quality while decreasing fertilizer use. The 150-year-old farm has been under no-till for 21 years. This practice helps increase soil health and reduce erosion and rain runoff.

“While 4R Nutrient Stewardship is a priority for the fertilizer industry, it’s also a tangible solution for thousands of farmers across American who are seeking fertilizer application practices that have real-world impact on their bottom line and their land,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “We are proud of the industry’s retailers who work with growers to implement these practices at the field level.”

Now in its 12th year, the 4R Advocate program demonstrates the in-field successes of implementing 4R practices based on the right source, rate, time, and placement of fertilizer. 4R Nutrient Stewardship provides a framework to achieve in-field goals, such as increased production and profitability, enhanced environmental protection, and improved sustainability.

Throughout the year, Keller and Zmek will be included in TFI’s outreach efforts to promote fertilizer management practices by hosting farm field days, participating in conference panels and speaking on behalf of 4Rs to their farming peers.

Honored with Keller and Zmek were: Andrew Johnstad, Johnstad Farms, Beltrami, MN; Dwight Christian, TDS Fertilizer, Inc., Fertile, MN; Randy Bales, Fairholme Ag LLC, Lewisville, IN; and Eric Steigerwalt, Co-Alliance Coop, New Castle, IN.



Reichmuth to retire after over 40 years in cooperative system

After over 40 years in the cooperative system, SVP of Operations Bryan Reichmuth will be retiring from Central Valley Ag (CVA). What started as an internship with Farmers Co-op in 1979, turned into a long, plentiful career.

Reichmuth began as an intern at Farmers Co-op Humphrey in the summers of both 1979 and 1980, and in 1981 was hired full-time in operations at Lindsay Co-op. In 1982 Bryan took on the new challenge of Controller/Office Manager at the Farmers Co-op in Humphrey. Twelve years later, at the age of 33, he was promoted to General Manager of the Humphrey Co-op. Bryan held this position until he initiated the vision of merger. In 2003, Humphrey Co-op merged into Central Farmers Co-op. This paved the way for the many mergers to come throughout his career. Including a merger nine months later with TriValley Co-op and Agland Co-op to become Central Valley Ag.

After this three-way merger, Reichmuth earned the title of VP of Grain at CVA. After seven years in that position, he was promoted to SVP of Grain and Feed Processing located in O’Neill, Neb. Finally, in 2014 after CVA merged with United Farmers Co-op, he was named SVP of Operations in York, Neb. and has held that title for the last eight years.

Over his 42 years in the cooperative system, Reichmuth has had the opportunity to influence many individuals, including his son Brent, VP of Operations at CVA. “My dad is a natural leader, motivator, and coach,” Brent said, “he has always been good with people and has an ability to see the potential in someone and help them to reach that potential to the fullest.”

The influence Reichmuth had on his team and peers was strong, something he didn’t realize until reflecting on his career. “As I look back on nearly a 42-year career, I am humbled by the experience I have gained and the responsibility entrusted in me,” Reichmuth said, “I did not realize the impact I was establishing while staying committed and leading others to a common vision.”

Post-retirement, Reichmuth looks forward to slowing down, spending time with his grandkids, and spending time on the family farm working with livestock and growing crops. And in his true, dedicated, hardworking fashion, he even hopes to continue to be involved with CVA in a small role on a part-time basis.



New Study Reveals Waxy Starches in Sorghum Have Negative Impact on Gut Microbiome

New research on waxy starch in sorghum by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers shows that waxy starches can have undesirable effects on the human gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract.

The Nebraska Food for Health research project focused on sorghum starch content, and its findings, were recently published in the journal “Gut Microbes”: “The waxy mutation in sorghum and other cereal grains reshapes the gut microbiome by reducing levels of multiple beneficial species.”

While starch is part of a healthy diet, it's important to note that not all starches are created equal. Typically, native starch comprises 20 to 25% amylose and 75 to 80% amylopectin, while waxy starches contain no amylose and are composed almost entirely of amylopectin molecules due to a naturally occurring mutation in starch synthesis genes. Normal starches often have physicochemical properties that are undesirable for food processing, while waxy starches are known for their high digestibility, desirable viscous properties in food processing, and unique organoleptic characteristics, such as sticky rice.

We know little about the health effects of consuming waxy starch compared to normal starch, particularly in context of a whole grain. Our gut contains trillions of microbes, which are influenced by our diet and impact our health through host-microbiome interaction. Could waxy vs normal starch have different effects on our gut microbiome and our health?

Using plant genetics and advanced research platforms, scientists at Nebraska Food for Health Center studied the in vitro fermentation of six pairs of near-isogenic sorghum lines. These lines were created through years of breeding and only differed in starch characteristics.

“It’s a gold mine!” exclaimed Dr. Qinnan Yang, lead researcher, discussing the exceptional plant materials studied. Analyzing fermentation profiles across diverse human microbiomes, they discovered that grain from parental lines of sorghum stimulate growth of many species of gut microbes that are known to be beneficial to our health whereas grain from waxy derivatives lacks this capacity.  Thus, there is a trade-off effect between the desirable characteristics of waxy starch for food processing and an undesirable effect on the human gut microbiome.

Waxy starch lacks amylose, a component more resistant to human digestion, which can reach the colon and fuel beneficial gut microbes to produce short chain fatty acids. The amylose content of normal starches drives growth of beneficial microbes and their desirable metabolites whereas waxy starch does not. Adding extracted normal sorghum starch to waxy sorghum restores the beneficial microbiome changes, demonstrating the causal effect of amylose on the gut microbiome. Their work also showed that this effect also applies to waxy derivatives of other commonly consumed grains like corn, wheat, rice, and millet.

They also showed that humanized gnotobiotic mice fed waxy sorghum have different microbiome composition and gain more weight than those on a normal sorghum diet.

The conclusion drawn is that while waxy starches offer benefits in terms of food functionality, they can also have unintended consequences on both the gut microbiome and host physiology. This could be especially relevant in human populations in parts of Asia that consume significant quantities of waxy grains (e.g. sticky rice).

This study marks the third major discovery from the Nebraska Food for Health Center demonstrating the substantial impact that naturally occurring genetic variation in food crops can have on the human gut microbiome.

This growing list of food crop components identified by these genetic analyses now includes levels of amylose in wildtype vs. waxy starch (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2023.2178799), levels of condensed tannins influenced by major tannin regulatory loci in sorghum (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33419-1), and the effects of mutations in the opaque-2 locus on seed protein composition in maize (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.921456/full).

“Collectively, these findings point toward the importance of plant breeding and genetics in human health-associated traits and should open the door for breeding programs to consider incorporating human health traits into crop improvement strategies,” said Dr. Andrew Benson, director of the Nebraska Food for Health Center.



Top 10 Announced for Iowa’s Best Burger Contest

Iowans submitted nominations between February 13 – March 13 to kick off the quest to find the best burger in Iowa. Nominations were accepted online by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2023 Top Ten restaurants. The restaurants making the Top Ten list (in alphabetical order) include:
    Arty’s Ice Cream & Grill, Wilton                                                                  
    Ben’s Burgers, Ankeny
    Birdies, Burgers and Brews @ The Hillcrest, Graettinger                      
    Burger & Company, Spirit Lake
    Fishback & Stephenson Cider House, Fairfield
    Foodie Garage Eatery, Dubuque
    Flight Bar + Grille, Huxley
    Jeronimo’s Bar & Grill, Springbrook
    Parlor on Main, Central City
    Troy's Bar & Grill, Earling

To qualify, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty served on a bun or bread product. Burgers may include any combination of condiments, sauces, cheese or toppings.

“In total, we collected 6,414 votes for 509 Iowa restaurants,” said Kylie Peterson, Director of Marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council. “This year’s Top Ten restaurants are award-winning worthy, but are only a few of the many restaurants in Iowa that do an outstanding job of promoting and serving our beef products to their customers on behalf of Iowa’s beef farmers.”

Five of the Top Ten restaurants are new qualifiers, including Ben’s Burgers, Burger & Company, Flight Bar & Grille, Jeronimo’s Bar & Grill, and Parlor on Main.

The final phase in the quest for the 2023 Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees Fahrenheit). The judges’ scores and comments will be accumulated and the winner will be announced on May 1 to kick off May Beef Month.

Last year, The Flying Elbow in Marshalltown took home the title of 2022 Iowa’s Best Burger. Winners in previous years include: 2021 – Bambino’s of Ossian; 2020 – Twisted Tail Steakhouse & Saloon of BeeBeeTown; 2019 – Wood Iron Grille of Oskaloosa; 2018 - Café Beaudelaire of Ames; 2017 – The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ of Storm Lake; 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant Adair; 2015 – The Cider House of Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill in Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille in Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck in Dexter; and 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City.

To learn more about the contest and the Top Ten restaurants, including addresses and hours, visit www.iabeef.org.   



New Sustainability Tool Calculates Environmental Impact of Pork Production Practices

Pork producers play a fundamental role in environmental stewardship as they continue to prioritize sustainable production practices. The Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have developed a new digital tool to help producers understand the relationship between the environment and production practices.

Erika Johnson, Iowa State University animal science graduate research assistant, said continuous improvement in this area requires strengthening the understanding of the relationship between the environment and production practices.

"Our recent pork industry sustainability tool, the wean-to-finish pork sustainability calculator, was developed for producers," she said. "They can use their own data to understand how specific improvements in finishing, such as increased feed efficiency and reduced mortality, can influence the environmental footprint of the pig and barn."

Producers can download the calculator at no charge from the IPIC website https://www.ipic.iastate.edu/information/WFPorkSustainabilityCalculator.xlsx.

A new fact sheet, Evaluating Production Metrics in Relation to Sustainability in a Wean-to-Finish Barn, was created as a reference for those using the calculator. It helps explain why the calculator was developed and how the information from calculator inputs can be used. It describes sources of greenhouse gas production and includes sensitivity analyses of carbon dioxide equivalents by mortality, feed efficiency and feed type.

Garland Dahlke, research scientist with the Iowa Beef Center; Lance Baumgard, animal science professor; and Jason Ross, animal science professor and department chair for animal science, all at Iowa State University; are the other authors of this fact sheet, available from the Iowa State Extension Store as a free download.



New report reinforces Iowa agriculture's role in 'Feeding the Economy'

In Iowa, more than 325,800 jobs totaling $13.9 billion in wages are directly attributed to agriculture, according to the seventh annual Feeding the Economy report released by 25 food and agriculture groups.

The agricultural industry is also responsible for $96.5 billion of direct economic output in the state. When factoring in “induced impact” of linked food and agriculture industries and the spending power of those employed by them, Iowa agriculture’s economic impact more than doubles to $221.8 billion.

“These numbers say what we already know—progress in agriculture starts with people,” says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “As new technology and markets are developed to increase agricultural sustainability and offer more choices to the consumer, it will be these people with boots-on-the-ground who continue to make Iowa agriculture even stronger than it is today.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, between 1948 and 2019, land use for agriculture decreased by 28% while land productivity grew nearly four times and labor productivity grew more than 10 times. In fact, agriculture’s total factor productivity growth rate is among the highest of U.S. sectors.

Nationwide, the report shows the U.S. food and agriculture sector directly supports nearly 23 million jobs, provides $927 billion in wages and contributes over $8.6 trillion to the U.S. economy, a 22% increase since the 2019 report. The 2023 report also reveals nearly one-fifth of total manufacturing jobs in the U.S. are related to the production of agricultural products.

The full report and list of sponsoring groups can be found at www.FeedingTheEconomy.com.



Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Responds to WOTUS Implementation

On March 19, Judge Brown of the Federal District Court of Southern Texas denied a request for a nationwide preliminary injunction that would’ve halted the implementation of the Biden Administration’s new Waters of the U.S. rule. This request was led by a coalition that included the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The following statement is from Bob Noble, president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association:

“Cattle producers care about protecting our nation’s clean water. To help us steward our land and natural resources, we need clear, commonsense regulations.

“Despite a forthcoming decision from the Supreme Court and the best efforts of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Iowa cattlemen are now required to comply with regulations in the Biden Administration’s new WOTUS rule. The “red tape” in this rule brings even more regulatory uncertainty to farmers and ranchers.

“The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association thanks Reps. Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), and Zach Nunn (IA-03) for their votes to overturn this burdensome rule. We know Sens.Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst will continue this fight in the U.S. Senate.”



New Vaccine Technologies: An Addition to Our Animal Health Toolbox
Webinar Happening: March 30th, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m. Central

Ranchers continue to look for new tools to improve the health and well-being of cattle herds. Join NCBA for a live webinar on March 30 as Dr. Chris Chase and Dr. Amelia Woolums, veterinarians whose research focuses on developing better methods for preventing infections in livestock, will talk about current and new vaccine technologies and how these new tools will enhance how producers are able to care for their cattle and business.

Dr. Bruce Thomsen, a USDA veterinarian, will also discuss vaccine development and the approval process that all animal vaccines go through before they are licensed for public use. This partnership between practical cattle management and research will provide a deeper understanding of the new vaccine technologies for improving cattle health.

Register HERE https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1479514270657252437.



Midwest Farmers Intend to Plant More Corn, Wheat

Farmers across the Midwest are planning to plant more corn and wheat in 2023, according to Ag Access. In a survey with almost 400 respondents, farmers said they would dedicate 27% more acres to corn and 32% more to wheat with a smaller percentage increasing their soybean acres (17%).

This is in line with what USDA projected at its annual Agricultural Outlook Forum with corn plantings at 91.0 million acres, up from 88.6 million in 2022; wheat plantings at 49.5 million acres, up from 45.7 million in 2022; and soybeans at 87.5 million acres, unchanged from last year.

Seth Meyers, USDA chief economist, believes the increase in wheat acres is in response to the continued high global prices and tight supplies, partially due to the war in Ukraine.

He also sees acres of corn and soybeans expanding a bit over last year. “The initial expectations for 2023 planted area indicate growth in total planted area of corn, wheat, and soybeans relative to the previous year. Combined acreage for the three crops is projected at 228 million acres—a nearly 3% increase from 2022 when acres were constrained by unfavorable planting weather in the spring,” says Meyer.

TOP OF MIND CONCERNS
The Ag Access survey also asked farmers about their top concerns for 2023 and what new technology they are implementing.  Farmers could identify their top three concerns. Here are the responses:
93% high input costs
69% market volatility
60% operation costs
27% input availability and shortages
24% equipment parts and machine availability
16% worker or labor shortage

NEW TECHNOLOGY AND PRACTICES
Ag Access’ survey revealed farmers are looking to ag tech for tools that help them meet the specific needs of their farms while boosting yields, lowering costs, providing time savings, and preserving resources and the environment. Row guidance, new seed treatments, fertilizer and planting upgrades, followed by automation and biologicals were the most popular new tech or advanced practices that the survey respondents plan to use this year.



Groups Urge Biden to Intervene in West Coast Ports Labor Talks
 
On Thursday, the National Pork Producers Council joined 114 other agriculture and business organizations in a letter to President Biden urging the White House to intervene in the ongoing West Coast port labor negotiations between dockworkers and port facilities owners. The groups asked the administration to work with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to “quickly reach a new agreement and ensure there is no disruption to port operations and cargo fluidity.”
 
Members of the ILWU have been working without a contract for more than eight months, and the talks between the union and the PMA have gone on for more than ten months and have yet to make progress on reaching a labor agreement. The only way to resolve their labor issues, the organizations said in their letter, is for the parties to remain at the bargaining table. “We encourage the administration to provide any and all support to the parties in their negotiations to reach a final agreement.”
 
Port disruptions, including dockworker strikes and work slowdowns, can jeopardize the delivery of perishable commodities, costing agricultural producers millions of dollars and, potentially, foreign customers.
 
The 115 ag and business organizations want to avoid port disruptions similar to those in late 2014 into early 2015 at West Coast ports that negatively affected exports. Work slowdowns at the ports from San Diego to Seattle cost the U.S. ag industry millions of dollars in lost export sales.
 


2022/23 U.S. Sorghum Crop: Highest Quality, According To New USGC Report

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) released its 2022/23 Sorghum Quality Report today and for the fourth year in a row, U.S. sorghum was, on average, graded above the necessary requirements for U.S. No. 1 certification.

“This detailed data provides in-depth information about the U.S. sorghum crop and better equips buyers around the world by showing them trends in sorghum crops year over year,” said USGC Chairman Josh Miller. “We hope this year’s report helps give our valued trade partners even more confidence in the continued reliability and quality of U.S. sorghum.”

The report, funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service Agricultural Trade Promotion (USDA-FAS) program and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), provides international customers and other interested parties accurate, unbiased information about the 2022/23 U.S. sorghum crop.

To generate the report’s findings, a total of 97 samples were collected from 15 participating elevators and one participating farmer in the central and southern regions of the U.S., which represents nearly 100 percent of all U.S. sorghum exports, between Aug. 9, 2022, and Mar. 8, 2023.

The samples were analyzed by the Amarillo Grain Exchange and the Cereal Quality Lab at Texas A&M University, where scientists calculated averages and standard deviations for each quality factor tested and reported results for the U.S. aggregate.

Total sorghum damage came in at 0.0 percent in the aggregate, and broken kernel and foreign material (BCFM) was only 1.4 percent, lower than last year’s results, highlighting the grain’s hardness and how well it survives handling and storage.

Additionally, tannins were absent from the sorghum samples for the fourth year in a row and protein content averaged 11 percent.

“Importers and overseas customers are always looking for high protein content, and this report proves once again that U.S. sorghum provides that,” said USGC Secretary-Treasurer Verity Ulibarri, a sorghum and livestock farmer in New Mexico. “Most U.S. growers produce a non-tannin red variety which is a huge benefit to end-users since high-tannin sorghum can interfere with nutrient absorption for livestock.”

This report is the fourth completed since the 2016/2017 sorghum crop and the Council plans to roll out these statistics across a series of events around the world.



APHIS Awards Grant to ASI’s Secure Sheep & Wool Supply Plan

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is providing more than $180,000 in Farm Bill funding to support the American Sheep Industry Association to expand awareness with sheep and wool producers, as well as those that work with and support them – associations, extension, veterinarians, transporters and regulatory officials – about foot-and-mouth disease preparedness and the resources in the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan.

Producers who have a deeper understanding on how to prepare for and respond to an FMD outbreak will be better positioned to protect their flock and maintain business continuity. This makes for a more resilient American sheep industry, which benefits producers, states and consumers. The project is expected to take two years to complete.

The grant will build capacity for broad outreach and education through multiple virtual train-the-trainer programs for sheep association leadership, extension specialists and veterinarians. The training program will include support for advanced trainers to deliver outreach direct to sheep producers in their states or regions. On-farm demonstrations throughout the United States with expert support has been successful in other livestock industries for teaching enhanced biosecurity and contingency planning principles.

Attendees at the 2024 ASI Annual Convention in Colorado will have the opportunity to see first-hand implementation of the SSWS Plan on a sheep feedlot and in a sheep processing plant through an in person/on-site tour. Participants will hear about lessons learned from these operations, which may be applied at their own premises. Increasing the number of people who have the training, networking and resources to provide outreach about FMD preparedness and the SSWS Plan is critical for the American sheep industry.

“Consistent access to safe, healthy and affordable food is a critical need for all consumers,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “These Farm Bill-funded preparation activities are vital to helping us safeguard U.S. animal health, which in turn allows U.S. producers to continue to feed our country and the world.”

The information developed from the grant will improve the SSWS Plan resources for sheep producers and stakeholders. ASI and USDA provided funding to develop the SSWS Plan and associated resources for producers.

ASI looks forward to collaborating on this project with industry stakeholders and Dr. Danelle Bickett-Weddle, a consultant with Preventalytics. ASI provides unique resources for sheep producers to prepare for, respond to and enhance their resiliency for an FMD event.

Thursday March 23 Ag News

 Preliminary Agenda Announced for the 2023 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo

Ethanol Producer Magazine announced this week the preliminary agenda for the 2023 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) taking place June 12-14, 2023 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

This year’s agenda includes three co-located events: Biodiesel Summit: Sustainable Aviation Fuel & Renewable Biodiesel,  Carbon Capture & Storage Summit, and the annual Ethanol 101.

“In addition to ethanol production, management, and product diversification for ethanol producers, this year’s agenda is covering multiple topics about carbon capture and storage, biodiesel and renewable diesel production, as well as sustainable aviation fuel production,” says John Nelson, vice president of operations, sales and marketing at BBI International. “And as we have in the past, the agenda will allow those new to the industry to learn some of the basics in Ethanol 101, taking place Monday, June 12th.”

The program includes nearly 150 presentations across multiple consecutive tracks and co-located events, including:
    Track 1: Production and Operations – Biological Processes
    Track 2: Production and Operations – Mechanical Processes and Plant Control
    Track 3: Coproducts and Product Diversification
    Track 4: Leadership and Financial Management
    Carbon Capture & Storage Summit
    Biodiesel Summit: Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Renewable Diesel

"We were excited by the number of abstracts submitted this year," says Tim Portz, program director at BBI International. "The FEW agenda, along with the co-located events is robust, expansive and allows attendees to learn from some of the industry's top thought leaders."

The conference begins Monday, June 12 at 8:30 am (CDT) and will be open to all registered attendees.

To view the online agenda for the FEW and all other co-located events, click here https://few.bbiconferences.com/ema/DisplayPage.aspx?pageId=Agenda___Fuel_Ethanol_Workshop.



Commercial Red Meat Production Down 4 Percent from Last Year

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.26 billion pounds in February, down 4 percent from the 4.43 billion pounds produced in February 2022.

Beef production, at 2.09 billion pounds, was 7 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.55 million head, down 5 percent from February 2022. The average live weight was down 21 pounds from the previous year, at 1,374 pounds.

Veal production totaled 3.8 million pounds, 10 percent below February a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 25,700 head, down 16 percent from February 2022. The average live weight was up 12 pounds from last year, at 255 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.16 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.97 million head, up slightly from February 2022. The average live weight was down 2 pounds from the previous year, at 291 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.1 million pounds, was up 9 percent from February 2022. Sheep slaughter totaled 154,800 head, 8 percent above last year. The average live weight was 129 pounds, up 1 pound from February a year ago.

By State                   (million lbs  -  % Feb '22)
Nebraska ........:               596.7             93       
Iowa ...............:               698.4             98       
Kansas ............:               440.8             94       

January to February 2023 commercial red meat production was 9.03 billion pounds, up slightly from 2022. Accumulated beef production was down 2 percent from last year, veal was down 7 percent, pork was up 3 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 6 percent.



USDA Cold Storage February 2023 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on February 28, 2023 were down 3 percent from the previous month but up 2 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were  down 6 percent from the previous month and down 6 percent from last year.  Frozen pork supplies were up slightly from the previous month and up 9 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 1 percent from last month and up 42 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on February 28, 2023 were up 3 percent from the previous month and up 10 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down slightly from the previous month but up 10 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 11 percent from last month and up 10 percent from February 28, 2022.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on February 28, 2023 were down slightly from the previous month and down 1 percent from February 28, 2022. Butter stocks were up 12 percent from last month and up 12 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on February 28, 2023 were down 9 percent from last month but up 17 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 6 percent from last month but up 3 percent from a year ago.



NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS
 

Nebraska egg production during February totaled 143 million eggs, down from 193 million in 2022. February egg production per 100 layers was 2,183 eggs, compared to 2,262 eggs in 2022. All layers in Nebraska during February 2023 totaled 6.56 million, down from 8.52 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Iowa egg production during February 2023 was 988 million eggs, down 6 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of all layers on hand during February 2023 was 43.3 million, up 2 percent from last month but down 8 percent from the same month last year. Eggs per 100 layers for February were 2,283, down 9 percent from last month and down 1 percent from last February.

US - February Egg Production Down 5 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.23 billion during February 2023, down 5 percent from last year. Production included 7.03 billion table eggs, and 1.19 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.10 billion were broiler-type and 94.0 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during February 2023 totaled 379 million, down 3 percent from last year. February egg production per 100 layers was 2,171 eggs, down 2 percent from February 2022.
                                    
Total layers in the United States on March 1, 2023 totaled 382 million, down 3 percent from last year. The 382 million layers consisted of 313 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 64.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 4.01 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2023, averaged 77.4 eggs per 100 layers, down 2 percent from March 1, 2022.



Livestock Groups Support Bill to Expand Options for Packing Capacity     

National livestock groups have come together to support Congressional efforts to expand opportunities for industry to invest in meat packing capacity.
 
The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, Livestock Marketing Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, and United States Cattlemen’s Association sent a letter to the Chairpeople and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees expressing the groups' support of legislation to allow livestock market owners and operators to own or invest in small or regional livestock packing facilities.
 
The bipartisan legislation, the Expanding Local Meat Processing Act (S. 813), was reintroduced by Sens. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) last week. This is the Senate companion to the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (APLUS) Act (H.R.530), being led by U.S. Representatives Mark Alford (R-MO), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD). If enacted, these bills would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to update a regulatory prohibition under the Packers and Stockyards Act which bars livestock auction owners from owning or investing in packers.
 
“This is an antiquated rule that does not fit with the current, transparent method of selling livestock at an open auction where sellers can view the transaction either in person or by streaming the auction online,” the letter states.  
 
The bills would allow for investment in the packing industry at local and regional levels by those active in the livestock marketing business.
 
“We appreciate our partners, both on Capitol Hill and at fellow livestock groups, fighting for opportunities to enhance participation in livestock packing,” said Mark Barnett, LMA President and owner of Kentucky-Tennessee Livestock Market. “Livestock auction markets, like mine, are in the competition business. Allowing livestock auction owners to invest in small and regional packers could enhance competition which equates to needed additional profit for producers who are being squeezed by high inputs and low margins.”



Remembering Iowa's E. Thurman Gaskill

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) remembers the life of E. Thurman Gaskill who passed away recently. A one-time Iowa state senator and agricultural leader, Gaskill served as chairman of the U.S. Feed Grains Council (USFGC) in 1981. Gaskill’s work during his lifetime has impacted those in the ag community across the United States and around the globe.

During his time as Council chairman, Gaskill saw many changes that have impacted the work of the Council today - from the closing of the organization’s West European office to initiating activities in Latin America and China. Gaskill was a proponent of checkoff programs and was instrumental in the creation of the Iowa Corn Checkoff, urging Council members to support checkoff referendums taking place in many states at the time. Without his work in this area, the Council’s membership roster would look very different today.

“Looking back at his work and accomplishments, it’s clear that Mr. Gaskill was a force in our industry and I can see clearly how his contributions have had positive reverberations around the world in the work we continue to do,” said Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand. “We thank him for all he did to make the Council the premier organization it is today and send our condolences to his family.”

In addition to his service at the Council and in the Iowa Senate, Gaskill also was the first chairman of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, a president of the National Corn Growers Association, an Iowa Master Farmer and he was inducted into the Iowa State University Ag Hall of Fame.

Please join the Council in celebrating the life and accomplishments of E. Thurman Gaskill.



RFA to EPA: If Governors’ E15 Petition is Delayed, Emergency Waivers Needed

If the Environmental Protection Agency decides to defer implementation of year-round E15 petitions from eight state governors until 2024, then the agency must exercise its authority to issue emergency waivers allowing continued sales of E15 this summer to address extreme and unusual fuel supply conditions, according to a letter sent today by the Renewable Fuels Association.

Earlier this month, EPA proposed to approve petitions from eight states that would allow the year-round sale of E15 in their states. Unfortunately, EPA is also proposing to delay implementation of the governors’ petitions until the summer of 2024, meaning E15 would not be permitted in most of the country during the summer of 2023. However, in today’s letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper noted that the same fuel supply circumstances that justified emergency waivers last summer still exist in the marketplace today.

“War in Ukraine continues to disrupt the U.S. fuel supply,” Cooper wrote. “Total U.S. gasoline stocks fell to just 229.6 million barrels last week, 5 percent below year-ago levels and the lowest for this time of year since 2015. Meanwhile, total stocks of crude oil and petroleum products are also down 5 percent from a year ago and have fallen to a 19-year low for this time of year.” The letter also highlights recent warnings by market analysts about further tightening of gasoline inventories as summer approaches and the potential for gas prices to hit $5 per gallon again.

EPA’s decision to issue emergency waivers during the summer of 2022 helped avert potential shortages and lowered prices at the pump, according to the RFA letter.

“During the summer of 2022, consumers choosing E15 saved an average of 20-30 cents per gallon compared to regular E10 gasoline,” Cooper wrote. “Nationwide, the availability of E15 last summer reduced consumer spending on gasoline by nearly $60 million. Emergency waivers allowing summer sales of E15 would yield even greater economic benefits in 2023, as more retail stations are offering the fuel than at this time last year. In addition, E15 reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and cuts tailpipe pollution linked to poor air quality. Clearly, it is in the public interest to grant a waiver allowing E15 sales to continue this summer.”

Today’s letter follows Cooper’s testimony at an EPA hearing on Tuesday and a letter sent that same day by a bipartisan group of governors calling on EPA to ensure consumers have year-round access to lower-cost, lower-carbon E15.



Dairy Market Report: Exports Stoke Dairy Demand

The U.S. dairy economy entered 2023 notably affected by milk production growth and sharply higher dairy-product retail price inflation. But with total U.S. dairy exports well over year-ago levels during November–January, export growth was able to more than make up for the loss in total domestic use and keep total commercial use, domestic and exports, positive during the period.

Milk and dairy product prices have receded from their often record levels last year, with the U.S. average all-milk price falling from its all-time record high of $27.30/cwt last July to $23.10/cwt in January. But feed costs under the Dairy Margin Coverage program have stayed mostly in the high-$14/cwt to low-$15/cwt range during this period, squeezing producer margins, which are currently expected to remain below the maximum $9.50/cwt DMC coverage level until the fourth quarter of this year.

VIEW FULL REPORT: https://www.nmpf.org/exports-stoke-dairy-demand-as-inflation-bites-u-s-consumption/.  



USDA Announces Upcoming Changes to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Wheat Tables

Starting with the May 12, 2023, release (issue No. 636), the following change will be made to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report:
-    The wheat WASDE by-class tables (page 11) will add separate lines for imports, food use, seed use, and feed and residual use.

Sample WASDE tables, including the revised table, are available on the WASDE website https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde.

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates is prepared and released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB). The report is released monthly, and provides annual forecasts for supply and use of U.S. and world wheat, rice, coarse grains, oilseeds, and cotton. The report also covers U.S. supply and use of sugar, meat, poultry, eggs and milk, as well as Mexico’s supply and use of sugar. The WAOB chairs the Interagency Commodity Estimates Committees (ICECs), which include analysts from key USDA agencies who compile and interpret information from USDA and other domestic and foreign sources to produce the report. For more information about the WASDE process and data, visit the WASDE FAQ page.



R-CALF USA Warns Congress of Catastrophic Consequences Unless Farm Bill Includes Meaningful Reforms

The largest cattle industry trade group that exclusively represents U.S. cattle producers recently submitted its comprehensive 2023 Farm Bill Platform to both the Senate and House agriculture committees. The group, R-CALF USA, warned Congress of catastrophic consequences if the 2023 Farm Bill does not include meaningful reforms to restore competition to U.S. cattle markets and profitable opportunities for independent cattle producers.

Referencing the upcoming Farm Bill as a narrow window of opportunity for Congress to reverse the disastrous decline of the U.S. cattle industry before it reaches the point of no return, the group states the highly concentrated and vertically integrated U.S. hog and poultry industries have already reached that point and the U.S. sheep industry has already been gutted by the same forces now destroying the cattle industry.

The group describes those industry-destroying forces as a combination of decades of unrestrained industry concentration and globalization.

Using a series of industry charts, the group illustrates prolonged and steep declines in the cattle industry’s competitive infrastructure, including its number of participants, size of its cattle herd, and availability of marketing outlets and opportunities. It further illustrates prolonged downward trajectories for financial returns earned by cow/calf producers and cattle feeders.  

The group asserts its industry charts can portend the future by extending their respective long-term trendlines: “That future will be marked by even further erosion to both the industry’s competitive market infrastructure and the economic viability of its participants. When the critical mass of competitive market infrastructure disappears…the U.S. cattle industry will become unrecognizable. It will become another corporate-controlled, vertically integrated industry from birth to plate, and rural America will lose tens of thousands more, if not hundreds of thousands more of its critical economic cornerstones.

“Whatever incremental reforms Congress has implemented to address U.S. cattle markets over the past several decades has done nothing to curb the industry’s systemic decline, putting in peril the viability of the very heart of the U.S. cattle industry,” wrote the group.

Some of the group’s recommendations for reversing the cattle industry’s negative trajectory, along with the expected impact of those recommendations include:
    Ignite competitive forces in the beef supply chain by enacting the American Beef Labeling Act (S.52) that restores mandatory country of origin labeling for beef, which will empower consumers to competitively choose from which country they want their beef produced.
    Force the packers to competitively bid for domestic cattle in the domestic market by requiring the largest packers to purchase at least half their weekly needs in the competitive cash market.
    End the market power disparity between disaggregated producers and highly concentrated packers by prohibiting certain anticompetitive cattle procurement practices known to cause market distortions. These include alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) that are tied to the residual cash market; bonuses, financial arrangements, and risk-sharing contracts offered only to select cattle feeders but not to all feeders; packer ownership, feeding, or control of cattle for more than seven days prior to slaughter; and top-of-the-market pricing schemes.
    Provide market transparency by requiring all cattle purchasing agreements to be in writing and publicly disclosed.
    Make the beef checkoff program accountable to cattle producers by enacting the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act (OFF Act) (S.557; H.R. 1249) that will prohibit farm advocacy groups from receiving checkoff funding and grant producers the right to a periodic vote.
    Address price-distorting trade deficits by requiring all federal beef expenditures, including food stamp purchases, to be for beef exclusively produced in the United States.

The group urges Congress to adopt its recommendations following Congress’ decades-long adherence to the status quo – described as the combination of no market structure reforms and reliance on globalization to cure market ills. The group asserts the status quo has wrought severe damage to the integrity of the U.S. live cattle industry and the economic viability of its participants.



Agricultural perspectives to be heard at UN Water Conference

Big ideas are formulating in agriculture on how to better manage and reinvigorate water supplies in the face of climate change. None of them can be accomplished alone—without collaboration among farmers, ranchers, foresters, crop breeders, agricultural technology companies, and other value chain partners.

Solutions from the Land will bring together water stakeholders and advance farmer-centered water solutions during an event today at 12:30 p.m. Eastern in the Nature Hub of the United Nations 2023 Water Conference. The event, “Sustainable Agricultural Water Use Offers Solutions: Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration to Advance Shared SDGs,” will interject agricultural expertise and showcase land-based solutions as international, UN leaders set out to develop a Water Action Agenda.

Land-based water solutions come in the form of precision technologies, improved institutional and infrastructural capacity, production practices, and crop breeding. They should be context-specific and circular in nature, with higher efficiencies and waste reduction achieved through the use and reuse of resources while producing food, fiber, feed and fuel.

Panelist speakers will include Jocelyn Anderson, an SfL farmer envoy who is the fourth generation on her family’s farm in Northern California, where they grow almonds and walnuts. Anderson’s family monitors moisture in their orchard soils using probes at 3, 6, 9 and 12 feet and in the trees by testing leaves for water stress. They set their irrigation to release just the right amount of water when and where it’s needed, targeted to the row.

Other speakers include representatives from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Cargill, Nutrien, The Nature Conservancy, Netafim and Ducks Unlimited, all of whom are working on tools, technologies and programs to further support agricultural producers across the globe in reducing water consumption while boosting productivity.

Dr. Jerry Hatfield, recently retired director for the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment and a SfL senior adviser, will be the keynote speaker for the event. He will moderate the panel discussion with insight on land-based water management opportunities and needs.

Organizing event partners include Solutions from the Land, Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition, Cargill, ComNet Mekong, Ducks Unlimited, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, General Mills, Global Water Partnership, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Irrigation Association, Netafim, Nutrien, The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Water Policy Group and World Business Council for Sustainable Development.



Shane Brockhoff Joins Meristem Team as Regional Director, Iowa

Another leading agronomic professional has joined Meristem Crop Performance, one of the fastest-growing crop input suppliers in America. Shane Brockhoff becomes Meristem’s Regional Director, Iowa. Brockhoff has deep experience in helping growers boost their profitability with the right products and practices, especially in western Iowa and surrounding states.

“We’re really grateful to have signed up Shane Brockhoff to help us carry out our mission of creating real productivity for farmers,” says Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO of his most recent new team member. “I’m very happy we’ve added Shane to our all-star team and eager to turn him loose in Iowa to serve farmers with our growing portfolio of high-quality products.”

Shane Brockhoff grew up near Walnut, Iowa and started working for a neighboring farmer when he was 13-years old. During that time, he decided to make a career in agriculture and enrolled at Iowa State University (ISU), where he earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in agronomy and crop science. “My graduate school work took me deep into soil biology and soil chemistry,” he says. “That’s been very helpful as I work with farmers. I can talk about soil health and break it down into layman’s terms.”

After ISU, he first became a regional seed specialist for Landus Cooperative in Oakland, Iowa, for several years and then joined AgriGold where he spent nearly 10 years before becoming division sales lead for AgReliant Genetics. He says Meristem’s products and approach intrigued him.

“I’m a high-yield geek,” he laughs. “I love working with farmers to gain every edge possible to get a better ROI (return on investment) from every acre. Meristem is a great fit for me. They are very intentional about cutting waste in the distribution channel and developing technology to help growers make the most of biologicals. Their patented BioCapsule™ Technology is a great example.”

Brockhoff and his wife Lacey have six children – five daughers and a son – and reside near Walnut, where they also assist Lacey’s parents in their farm operation.

“In my work with farmers, I focus on optimizing the genetics of every seed they plant,” said Brockhoff. “That’s what has drawn me to Meristem Crop Performance. They have products that are helping farmers make the most of every seed, and with every pass those farmers make through the field all season long.”

Wednesday March 22 Ag News

Congressman Flood Salutes Nebraska’s Farmers and Ranchers during House Floor Address

U.S. Congressman Mike Flood recently delivered short floor remarks saluting Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers during National Agriculture Week. The full text of the speech is below.

Mister Speaker, I rise today to salute our farmers and ranchers as we celebrate National Agriculture Week.

In Nebraska, we grow the food, fuel, and fiber we need to feed the world.

We are known as the Cornhusker State and the Beef State.

We are number one for cattle on feed. Number two for ethanol production. And number three for corn exports.

We are home to the four largest center pivot irrigation manufacturers who help farmers efficiently apply water resources around the globe.

These are just a few of the things that have made Nebraska the number one ag state and the number one in the nation for ag receipts per capita.

We are also home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Daugherty Water for Food Institute, which is leading the research we need to ensure that our world’s natural resources support food security for years to come.

As we celebrate ag week, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the farmers and ranchers who work hard and sacrifice each day to feed the world.



NDA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 2023 AG POSTER CONTEST

Today, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is adding to the celebration of National Ag Week by announcing the winners of this year’s annual poster contest. NDA received a record number of entries (more than 2,100) from students in grades 1-6 from around the state all highlighting agriculture, Nebraska’s number one industry.

“The students who participated in this year’s contest really understand how important agriculture is to Nebraska and had fun ways of showing how to celebrate our number one industry,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “NDA teammates look forward to this poster contest every year and are amazed at how many talented, young artists we have in Nebraska. All the posters we received are winners in our eyes, and I’d like to thank everyone for participating.”

The posters, depicting this year’s theme of “Celebrating Nebraska Agriculture,” were judged in three separate categories: first and second grade; third and fourth grade; and fifth and sixth grade. The poster contest is in its 20th year.

In the First and Second Grade Division:
• 1st place: Maleki McLeod, 2nd grade, Thedford Public Schools
• 2nd place: Isabel Larson, 2nd grade, St. Francis School in Humphrey
• 3rd place: Joel Adle, 2nd grade, Chase County Schools in Imperial
• Governor’s Choice: Easton McIntyre, 2nd grade, One-R Elementary School in Grand Island

In the Third and Fourth Grade Division:
• 1st place: Kamiyah Williams, 4th grade, Lincoln Elementary School in North Platte
• 2nd place: Claire Sievers, 4th grade, Randolph Public Schools
• 3rd place: Abby Durkop, 4th grade, Humphrey Elementary School
• Governor’s Choice: Riley Kliewer, 3rd grade, Waverly Intermediate School

In the Fifth and Sixth Grade Division:
• 1st place: Kiersten Hans, 6th grade, Wynot Public Schools
• 2nd place: Vivian Tran, 5th grade, Cathedral of the Risen Christ School in Lincoln
• 3rd place: Abby Hickenbottom, 5th grade, Ansley Public School
• Governor’s Choice: Addison Heard, 6th grade, Howells Community Catholic School

NDA announces the winners of its annual poster contest during National Ag Week to highlight the diversity of agriculture and to celebrate the food, feed and fuel that farmers, ranchers and ag industry workers provide every day. The winning posters and the names of the schools submitting entries are on NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov/kids.



Ricketts Hammers EPA on WOTUS Overreach, Failure to Address 2023 Year-round E15

Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) hammered Michael Regan, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over the new, overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and the EPA’s failure to announce year-round E15 for 2023.

“Now I get that I’m from a landlocked state, but to me, navigable waters means you can put a boat on it and go someplace,” said Senator Ricketts. “You cannot do that from a pond on a farm, or a roadside ditch that is temporary, or a puddle on a construction site. It seems you’re trying to extend that very clear definition of navigable to waterways that are clearly not navigable. You talked about exemptions, but you don’t need exemptions when the law is clear, and it’s very clear what Congress’ intent was. This, to me, seems to be an expansion of executive power.”

Ricketts also pushed Regan on why the EPA failed to consider the perspective of farmers and ranchers as a part of the public comments used to develop the WOTUS rule.

In a second round of questioning, Senator Ricketts criticized Regan for failing to announce year-round E15 for 2023.

“Ethanol is something that will help consumers save money at the pump,” said Senator Ricketts. “It helps clean up the environment… and then of course, it's also great for our farmers and ranchers. So, we asked to be able to sell E15 all year round. The Clean Air Act states that the administrators should publish the regulation resolving this action no later than 90 days after receipt or a notification from a governor. Our renewable fuels industry and producers and refiners didn't receive anything until March 1, and this should have been done in July. I want to know why it took more than the 90 days to respond.”

Senator Ricketts’ comments came during questioning of Michael Regan, Administrator of the EPA during the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s hearing on the EPA’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget.



AGI Celebrates #2,000 of its Flagship NECO Grain Dryer Made in Omaha, NE  

Ag Growth International Inc. (“AGI”) is marking a “milestone moment” at its Omaha, Neb., manufacturing facility on Friday, March 24, as it celebrates the delivery of its 2,000th AGI NECO mixed flow grain dryer since its 1000-dryer milestone in 2014. Purchased by AGI in 2017, the facility – a steady contributor to the Greater Omaha business economy since 1959 – has earned global recognition as AGI's sole manufacturer of its flagship NECO mixed flow dryers and other grain drying solutions distributed to dealers, farmers and commercial grain operators.

“The success in the engineering, production, marketing and distribution of AGI’s NECO dryer is due to the dedication of our employee team in meeting customer needs,” said Matt Schneider, AGI Senior Director, U.S. Farm. "That includes delivering on time, every time; hearing customer feedback; and making continuous product improvements.”

The AGI NECO mixed flow grain dryer is considered an industry leader in sophisticated drying technology. The dryer is designed to quietly and efficiently heat kernels evenly to avoid damage and can be used to effectively dry all type of grain, seeds, and nuts. The systems’ screen-free operation and computerized moisture control deliver consistently higher quality grain and heavier test weights per bushel with optimized value for customers.  

Founded in 1959 by Bill Patterson as the Nebraska Engineering Company, the first NECO mixed flow dryer rolled off Omaha, Neb., production lines in 1990 and the first dryer was sold to Tom Condon, a farmer in Clara City, Minn.  

Since AGI’s purchase in 2017, the NECO legacy of quality craftsmanship, engineering and innovative design has expanded into new product lines and technology enhancements focused on advancing in-unit grain circulation, conditioning and drying. Today, with over 120,000 square feet of manufacturing space, AGI’s Omaha facility and 85-employee team combine hands-on experience with state-of-the art-technology to build grain dryers for use by farms and commercial grain operations in North America, Europe and Mexico.

“I remember when the #1 NECO grain dryer rolled off the line,” said Ken Kohrt, AGI’s master scheduler and one of the facility’s longest-running 37-year employees. “At first American farmers did not understand the mixed flow dryer. But they learned through experience. They saw how much more efficient the dryer was. It used less propane. It had a dryer capacity that could keep up with harvest. There were no screens to unclog, and it was a much gentler drying method which improved value and quality.”  

Kohrt says many great moments flag his career at the plant. “Basically, I was born here. I worked at the plant when I was in high school. I knew Bill Patterson when I was a kid. He had horses and a ranch... In the summer of 1986 my mom, who was the controller and office manager, asked me to help.” And that was it. Kohrt never left with a career ranging from computing and drafting to engineering, management and scheduling.

According to Schneider, it is that kind of work ethic that guides the Omaha team.  “From engineering and manufacturing to sales and delivery, I am immensely proud of our people. This milestone achievement is all about their hard work, commitment, experience and ability to really dig deep and listen to dealers and farmers," said Schneider.

On March 24, AGI will officially honor the 2,000th AGI NECO dryer milestone at a special luncheon with employees and members of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and business and civic community. AGI leaders – Matt Schneider; Abdallah Alkhaleel, Plant Manager; Harsha Bhojraj, Vice President of Manufacturing; and Subroto Pyne, Vice President, Global Product Management – will welcome guests, recognize team achievements; honor the longstanding, positive economic impact on the city; and announce AGI’s #3,000 Dryer Challenge.

“We are honored to celebrate this milestone with our employee family along with members of Omaha’s business and civic community,” said Schneider. “We thank the city under the leadership of Mayor Jean Stothert and the City Council for more than six decades of their support for agricultural equipment manufacturing."



Naig Presents Ag Leader Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Iowa Agriculture

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week recognized organizations and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the state’s agriculture community. Naig presented Ag Leader Awards to Agriculture in the Classroom, Central Iowa Shelter & Services, John Mortimer and Dr. John Lawrence at the 11th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner held at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on March 21.

“The Ag Leader Award recognizes the inspiring individuals and outstanding organizations positively impacting all aspects of Iowa agriculture,” said Secretary Naig. “This year’s Ag Leader awardees have demonstrated tremendous leadership in many areas, including conservation, livestock production and promotion, agriculture education, workforce development and community betterment.”

2023 Iowa Ag Leader Awardees:

Leadership in Agriculture Education - Agriculture in the Classroom
Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC), which is part of a nationwide network, educates Iowa Pre-K through high school students about all aspects of agriculture. AITC presently works with approximately 3,000 teachers to reach nearly 150,000 Iowa students across hundreds of schools. Their important work seeks to inspire well educated students who understand agriculture and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Leadership in Community – Central Iowa Shelter and Services
Central Iowa Shelter and Services (CISS) performs an essential role in our community by providing emergency shelter, food and other services to people facing homelessness. In addition, through its agri-hood, CISS is finding creative ways to educate and empower individuals by teaching them valuable life skills and giving them hope – all with a focus on agriculture. By providing education, training and opportunity, CISS is positively changing lives.

Outstanding Service in Agriculture – John Mortimer
Nearly 40 years ago, John Mortimer had a vison for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters at the Iowa State Fair. He poured his time and energy into the restaurant, which quickly grew from one tent to a huge and iconic enterprise. John’s innovation, perseverance and leadership benefited many, including Iowa consumers and Iowa’s cattle farmers. As he retires from running the long-standing restaurant, John has left an indelible mark on the world’s greatest fair.

Outstanding Service in Agriculture – Dr. John Lawrence
Dr. John Lawrence has held various leadership roles at Iowa State University over the past three decades. From teaching students and assisting beef producers to helping develop the Nutrient Reduction Strategy and serving as Vice President for Extension and Outreach, Dr. Lawrence’s dedication to Iowa agriculture and conservation is unmatched. As he retires this spring, he will long be remembered as one of the state’s most influential agriculture and conservation leaders.

The Ag Leaders Dinner is hosted and funded by the Iowa Economic Development Foundation.



Iowa House Passed Legislation Will Derail Carbon Capture Technology, Hurting Iowa Ethanol Producers, Farmers, and State Economy

Today the Iowa House passed amended legislation that would create a de facto ban on new projects that allow Iowa ethanol producers to install carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology. While an amendment removed several problematic provisions, the bill still singles out CO2 pipelines for strict regulations that would not be applied to pipelines carrying flammable or explosive liquids.

“We are disappointed that the Iowa House singled out CCS projects with what in reality is an effective ban,” stated Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “If this is about property rights, why doesn’t the legislation impact all projects? If this is about safety, why doesn’t the bill apply to pipelines that carry explosive or flammable substances? Singling out CCS is a mistake for Iowa’s future. This bill will hurt Iowa ethanol production, which hurts Iowa corn prices, which hurts Iowa farmers and the economy.”

IRFA recently released a study that found without viable access to CCS, Iowa could see 75 percent of its ethanol production migrate to states that facilitate sequestration. Losing nearly 3.5 billion gallons of Iowa ethanol production would reduce the local corn grind by over one billion bushels. Phase 2 of the study found that the loss of local corn demand would reduce the profitability of corn production in Iowa by an average of 85 percent, resulting in over $1 billion of lost income for Iowa corn farmers.

“IRFA will continue to fight for a fair and equitable path forward for CCS technology in the Iowa Senate,” continued Shaw. “IRFA members are largely Iowa farmers and landowners. They understand the emotions at play in this type of debate. It is important to remember that a super majority of landowners actually impacted by the CCS projects have already signed voluntary easements.”

IRFA does not object to the provisions in the bill that clarify and expand landowner rights that apply to all projects that come before the IUB.



Five Major Fertilizer Prices Decrease Significantly

Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second full week of March 2023 continue to show lower levels. This trend has been in place for two and a half months. All eight of the major fertilizer prices are once again lower compared to last month. Five of the eight fertilizers had a substantial price decline. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Leading the way lower was anhydrous. The nitrogen fertilizer was 13% lower compared to last month and had an average price of $1,059/ton. UAN28 was 11% less expensive looking back a month and had an average price of $428/ton. UAN32 was 9% lower compared to a month earlier and had an average price of $521/ton. Urea was 7% less expensive compared to the previous month with an average price of $638/ton. Potash was 5% lower compared to last month with an average price of $655/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were all just slightly lower compared to the prior month. DAP had an average price of $825/ton, MAP $821/ton and 10-34-0 $740/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.69/lb.N, anhydrous $0.65/lb.N, UAN28 $0.76/lb.N and UAN32 $0.81/lb.N.

All fertilizers are now double digits lower compared to one year ago. DAP is 15% less expensive, 10-34-0 is 16% lower, MAP is 18% less expensive, potash is 22% lower, UAN32 is 26% less expensive, anhydrous and UAN28 are both 30% lower and urea is 33% less expensive compared to a year prior.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 3/17/2023

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending March 17, ethanol production declined 1.7% to a 10-week low of 997,000 b/d, equivalent to 41.87 million gallons daily. Production was 4.3% below the same week last year and consistent with the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.8% to 1.006 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.42 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks eased 0.8% to 26.2 million barrels. Stocks were 0.2% more than a year ago and 9.7% above the five-year average. Inventories thinned across all regions except the Midwest (PADD 2) and West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, swung 4.3% higher to 8.96 million b/d (137.36 bg annualized). Demand was 3.7% more than a year ago and 0.9% above the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol rose 0.3% to 881,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.51 bg annualized and a 12-week high. Net inputs were 1.8% above the same week last year and 0.2% more than the five-year average.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the fifteenth consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of January 2023.)



Senators Reintroduce Next Generation Fuels Act

The Next Generation Fuels Act was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate today, drawing praise from the National Corn Growers Association. The legislation, which has been one of NCGA’s top advocacy priorities, would lower fuel prices, reduce carbon emissions and help shore-up America’s energy security.

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led the bipartisan Senate reintroduction along with Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

“We’re very grateful to Sen. Grassley, along with Sens. Klobuchar, Ernst and Duckworth, for taking the lead on this priority legislation for corn growers,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “The Next Generation Fuels Act addresses some of the country’s most pressing concerns by providing consumers with more options in the transition to cleaner fuels and vehicles and supporting our long-term energy security.”

The Next Generation Fuels Act would clean up our nation’s fuel supply and transition new vehicles to use cleaner, more efficient fuels that also lower costs for drivers. By establishing a clean, high-octane standard for fuel and requiring that sources of additional octane result in at least 40% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, the legislation would allow automakers to significantly improve vehicle fuel efficiency through advanced engines.

The legislation builds on our nation’s clean energy progress by advancing higher ethanol blends and new vehicles that work together to deliver greater emission reductions, cost savings and consumer choice.

As NCGA has called on the Biden administration to act to prevent a disruption in access to higher blends of ethanol this summer, the Next Generation Fuels Act would also permanently remove regulatory barriers, allowing for higher ethanol blends and advanced vehicles that deliver greater emission reductions and cost savings in order to maintain a wider range of competitive fuel and vehicle choices.



ICGA Thanks Senators Grassley and Ernst for Re-Introducing the Next Generations Fuels Act

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) applauds the re-introduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act by Senators Grassley and Ernst. This bipartisan legislation reduces the carbon intensity of liquid fuels, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves air quality and human health, and increases fuel efficiency through increased use of higher ethanol blends, all while supporting agriculture’s contribution toward addressing climate change and decarbonizing transportation.

“The Iowa Corn Growers Association fully supports the Next Generation Fuels Act, which will expand ethanol’s access to fuel tanks by setting an octane standard for vehicles and eliminating outdated legislative and regulatory barriers that have stood in the way of higher ethanol blends for far too long,” said Denny Friest, a farmer from Radcliffe, Iowa, and Iowa Corn Growers Association President. “Corn growers have been focused on this transition not only because ethanol is a top market for corn, but it’s also the climate solution that we need now.”

Once enacted, The Next Generation Fuels Act would increase ethanol demand by over 5 billion gallons per year, which would utilize 1.7 billion bushels of additional corn. This bill would also lead to a reduction of 111.1 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, which is the equivalent of removing 23.7 million cars from the road every year.

Additionally, this bill provides automakers with more options to meet increasingly stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards by utilizing ethanol blends up to 30% in vehicles designed and warranted for these fuels. The Next Generation Fuels Act is co-sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley, R-IA, Senator Joni Ernst, R-IA, Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-MN and Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-IL. The same bipartisan group that led Senate introduction in the last Congress.



RFA Salutes Senate Reintroduction of Next Generation Fuels Act

The Renewable Fuels Association today thanked Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for reintroducing the Next Generation Fuels Act. The bill establishes a high-octane, low-carbon fuel standard that would lower pump prices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enable greater engine efficiency, and encourage competition in the fuel market. In addition, the legislation addresses regulatory impediments that have slowed the commercialization of high-octane, low-carbon fuels and the vehicles that can consume them.

A similar bill was introduced last year in both chambers of Congress and secured numerous bipartisan co-sponsors. A recent poll conducted by Morning Consult for RFA found strong support among registered voters for the Next Generation Fuels Act. Among poll respondents who had an opinion on the Next Generation Fuels Act, more than three out of four expressed support for the legislation. Among all poll respondents (including those with no opinion on the legislation), 60 percent supported the legislation and just 18 percent said they oppose it.

“We thank Sens. Grassley and Klobuchar, along with Sens. Ernst and Duckworth, for reintroducing the Next Generation Fuels Act in the Senate,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Americans will continue to rely on liquid fuels and internal combustion engines for decades to come, and this legislation will ensure drivers have access to more efficient high-octane, low-carbon, lower-cost fuels for their vehicles well into the future. We look forward to working with clean fuel supporters in both chambers of Congress to turn this bold vision into a reality.”

In addition to saving drivers money with each fill-up, low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol are an essential part of the strategy to reach net-zero greenhouse emissions by mid-century, Cooper said, and RFA’s member companies have unanimously committed to achieving a net-zero carbon footprint for ethanol by 2050 or sooner.

Specifically, the Next Generation Fuels Act would establish high-octane (95 and 98 RON) certification test fuels containing 20-30 percent ethanol, while requiring automobile manufacturers to design and warrant their vehicles to allow these fuels beginning with model year 2026. The bill also includes a low-carbon requirement, specifying that the source of the octane boost must reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by an average of at least 40 percent compared to a 2021 gasoline baseline, as measured by the Department of Energy’s GREET model. The legislation also includes a restriction on the aromatics content of gasoline, ensures parity in the regulation of gasoline volatility (Reid vapor pressure), corrects key variables used in fuel economy testing and compliance, requires an update to the EPA’s MOVES model, ensures infrastructure compatibility, and addresses many other regulations impeding the deployment of higher octane blends at the retail level.



Growth Energy: Next Generation Fuels Act Would Unleash Environmental, Economic Benefits of Ethanol

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement today upon the reintroduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act in the U.S. Senate:

“American-made ethanol already makes a positive impact every day, but we've still only scratched the surface of the benefits this renewable fuel can deliver to the environment and to drivers across the country. The Next Generation Fuels Act recognizes that ethanol is the only fuel available today that can be immediately deployed to decrease our nation's carbon emissions, decrease our reliance on foreign oil, and decrease fuel costs for American families all at once. This legislation would give ethanol a greater role in decarbonizing our economy while decreasing volatility and lowering prices at the pump, and we urge all lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to join Senators Grassley and Klobuchar to see the bill quickly signed into law.”  



ACE: Next Generation Fuels Act Supports Market Growth for High Octane Ethanol

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) today thanked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for reintroducing the Next Generation Fuels Act. The bill is designed to overcome a host of barriers to the use of higher ethanol blends by creating a new high octane fuel standard, limiting aromatics in gas, ensuring all blends of ethanol receive the same RVP treatment as E10, and requiring future vehicles and retail fuel stations to be compatible with higher ethanol blends, among addressing other regulatory impediments to the deployment of higher octane blends.

“We support this legislation because it would overcome a host of regulatory barriers currently standing in the way of expanding the use of ethanol, from E15 to high octane blends such as E25 or E30, and reinstate incentives for the production of more flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs),” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings. “We thank these lawmakers for recognizing the value of ethanol as an immediate solution to decarbonize the transportation sector and improve the efficiency of vehicles, as liquid fuels will continue to be used in the decades to come, despite the rise of electric vehicles.”

“Enactment of the clean fuel performance-based §45Z tax credit late last year in the Inflation Reduction Act enables ethanol and other clean fuel producers the opportunity to obtain a tax credit based on their unique carbon intensity score,” Jennings added. “Enactment of the Next Generation Fuels Act would complement that tax credit by helping lower pump prices while enabling greater engine efficiency and biofuel demand, and we look froward to promoting the legislation during our fly-in next week.”



NFU Supports Reintroduction of Next Generation Fuels Act

Today, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota reintroduced the Next Generation Fuels Act in the United States Senate, which increases gasoline octane to a minimum standard through low-carbon, renewable fuels, like ethanol. Farmers and consumers stand to gain from the economic and environmental benefits brought about by this legislation.

“We’re proud to continue to support common sense solutions like the Next Generation Fuels Act,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “With this bill, consumers would see more choice and lower costs and farmers would see greater opportunities for profitability and new markets, all while reducing emissions.”

NFU has been a strong supporter of higher-level blends of ethanol and welcomes the reintroduction. NFU supported this legislation in July 2022 when it was originally introduced in the Senate.



USDA Seeks Nominees for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. The deadline for nominations is April 28, 2023.

From the nominees, the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint thirteen individuals to succeed members whose terms expire on October 31, 2023. Newly appointed members will serve three-year terms from November 1, 2023, through October 31, 2026. The Secretary of Agriculture will also appoint one individual to fill a vacancy, with the term ending October 31, 2024.

The USDA is seeking nominees for:
    One seat for Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon and Washington)
    One seat for Region 2 (California and Hawaii) (Vacant seat)
    One seat for Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming)
    Two seats for Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas)
    One seat for Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota)
    Two seats for Region 6 (Wisconsin)
    One seat for Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska)
    One seat for Region 8 (Idaho)
    One seat for Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia)
    One seat for Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia)
    One seat for Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)
    One seat for an Importer

Nominees must be dairy producers who produce milk in the region for which they are nominated, and nominees for the importer position must be dairy importers. The 37-member board consists of 36 dairy producers from 12 regions and one dairy importer. Nomination forms are available on the AMS National Dairy Promotion and Research Board webpage. For more information, contact Jill Hoover at (202) 720-1069 or jill.hoover@usda.gov.



Agricultural solutions shared at UN Water Conference

Water is complex. We drink it, fish swim in it, and our crops need it. Water falls from the sky as rain, snow, and sleet. It’s also found in and above the ground. The water cycle touches each living thing on the planet. And, as the ultimate land stewards, farmers, ranchers, and foresters have opportunities to keep water moving and providing clean, abundant H2O while producing food, fiber, feed, and fuel.

We don’t often think of bodies of water—lakes, streams, oceans—as part of the land, but their health is tightly intertwined with that of soils, plants, animals and people. With droughts and other extreme weather events holding back or dumping too much rain on the land, global leaders are trying to ensure the planet’s water supply can support its 8 billion people now and into the future. Agricultural producers, who both use and restore water through their management practices, are right in the middle of these water challenges—and they are part of the solution.

As international leaders set out to develop a Water Action Agenda during the United Nations 2023 Water Conference this week, Solutions from the Land will lead a side event in the Nature Hub that will interject agricultural expertise and stimulate collaborative conversation on how farmers, ranchers, foresters and the entire agricultural value chain are leading the way in enhancing water management and what they need to take what they are doing to the next level.

The session, “Sustainable Agricultural Water Use Offers Solutions: Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration to Advance Shared SDGs,” will feature case studies of how enhanced agricultural water management practices—including precision irrigation, conservation drainage and well-organized, voluntary collaborations—are cleaning up watersheds, including the Ganges River and Ogallala Aquifer, and making more efficient use of water across the world.  

Jocelyn Anderson, an SfL farmer envoy who is the fourth generation on her family’s farm in Northern California, will share a producer’s perspective on water management during the event. Her family grows almonds and walnuts in a region where drought and competing needs make water a major concern. They monitor moisture in their orchards’ soils using probes at 3, 6, 9 and 12 feet and in the trees themselves by testing leaves for water stress. Then they set irrigation to release just the right amount of water when and where it’s needed, targeted to the row.

Other speakers will include representatives from Cargill, Nutrien, The Nature Conservancy, Netafim and Ducks Unlimited, all working on tools, technologies and programs to further support agricultural producers in reducing water consumption while boosting productivity.

Solutions may come in the form of precision technologies, improved institutional and infrastructural capacity, production practices, and crop breeding. Big ideas are formulating in agriculture on how to better manage and reinvigorate water supplies, but none of them can be accomplished alone.

“Scalability is one of the major hurdles we need to consider in being able to transfer information and practices about water management,” says Dr. Jerry Hatfield, recently retired director for the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment and a SfL senior adviser. “Water in agriculture is complex.”

Hatfield is the keynote speaker for the event and will moderate the panel discussion with insight on land-based water management opportunities and needs.

This event seeks to catalyze collaboration, innovation, and leadership—emphasizing the inextricable linkages between agricultural water resource management, water quality, climate resilience, biodiversity, food security, and multi-sector and multi-state collaboration and investment—to advance sustainable development goals.

Solutions from the Land looks forward to bringing together water stakeholders and advancing farmer-centered water solutions that will benefit all of society.



NK Seeds Extends Partnership with John Force Racing for 2023 Race Season

NK Seeds announced today a renewal of its partnership with John Force Racing. The legendary racing team and the fastest-growing national seed brand are partnering once again to celebrate speed, precision and power, bringing farmers to the racetrack to watch the NK Seeds logo speed down the track.

Originally signed on as a sponsor two races into the 2022 drag racing season, the 2023 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series season will be NK the first complete season to pair NK and this legendary team. The season kicked off March 10-12 with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Jim Shertzer, Head of Branded Marketing, Syngenta Seeds, says this is the ideal time of year not only to celebrate the speed, precision and power inherent to both farming and racing, but also to recognize the careful planning that goes into both to start a season with the foot on the gas pedal.

“In farming, just like racing, spring is a time of optimism, as well as preparation and planning,” says Shertzer. “Before farmers hit the planters, there’s already a good bit of planning underway to set the team up for success. Before they plant the first seed in the ground, farmers are analyzing data, finalizing inputs and seed commitments, checking equipment, and prepping fields — relatable tasks to members of JFR, who are double- and triple-checking their cars and reviewing last year’s race stats before they touch the track.”

Celebrating a Successful 2022 and Kicking into High Gear for the 2023 Season
Last year, nearly 100 NK Seeds guests attended an NHRA race and rooted for John Force Racing firsthand. The 2022 season was marked by performance records from both teams. Across the Corn Belt, NK Seeds beat many competitor products in head-to-head yield comparisons,1,2 while Brittany Force set 16 track records, including the national Top Fuel speed record at 338.94 mph, which pushed her to a 2022 championship. Both teams are looking forward to building on this momentum for the season ahead.

“It’s great to welcome NK Seeds back for the 2023 NHRA season. NK Seeds is all about precision and providing its customers with the very best in the business. These race cars need that same care and precision to perform at a competitive level and end up in the winner’s circle,” says Robert Hight, President of John Force Racing and driver of the Cornwell Tools / AAA / Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car. “It’s going to be another exciting year having NK Seeds and their customers in hospitality and in the winner’s circle with us. We’ll be looking forward to more success and growing this partnership.”

NK Seeds will host VIP events at six races in 2023, including:
    May 19-21, Chicago, Illinois
    June 22-25, Norwalk, Ohio
    Aug. 11-13, Topeka, Kansas
    Sept. 14-17, Reading, Pennsylvania
    Sept. 29-Oct. 1, St. Louis, Missouri

NK Seeds guests will get to experience the races from VIP sections, network with other farmers and like-minded professionals, meet members of JFR and take home branded NK swag.

“At NK Seeds, we’re proud of the speed at which our R&D team develops and commercializes new hybrids and varieties, improving speed to market without sacrificing precision or quality,” says Shertzer. “Through our John Force Racing sponsorship, we get to not only celebrate speed, we get to do so in a way that allows us to say ‘thank you’ to the farmers who harness this speed to produce our food, feed and fuel. That’s what this sponsorship is all about.”



AGCO’s Massey Ferguson® Reveals SimplEbale™ for Improved Hesston® Baler Operations

AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, revealed SimplEbale™ from its Massey Ferguson® brand at World Ag Expo in Tulare, California on February 14, 2023. SimplEbale is an electronic aftermarket monitoring and control system that retrofits onto new and existing Massey Ferguson Hesston® 1800 Series Small Square Balers and simplifies the work required to make consistently high-quality hay for operators of all experience levels. SimplEbale will be released for limited commercial availability in 2024 and full commercial availability in 2025.

Balers upgraded with SimplEbale will deliver improved bale consistency, increased operational efficiency, and higher reliability than non-equipped balers. The solution’s modular format allows farmers to select the options that best suit their unique operations with minimal modifications to their existing machines. The kit will include the sensors, components, and harnessing needed to update the baler’s operating system. The base package is compatible with select aftermarket moisture systems and consists of the user interface, electronic fan control, flake counter, bale length monitoring, and cab-based hydraulic pressure readout. These components provide increased visibility of the machine while in operation and real-time updates of the bale being produced. Optional upgrades include an automatic knotter lubrication pump, bale scale, LED lighting, and hydraulic density control.

The SimplEbale electronics package does not require proprietary hardware or software to implement, and it will be compatible with future features. The intuitive interface provides guidance that simplifies operation and maintenance, such as a flake-by-flake indicator that provides immediate feedback so operators can adjust ground speed without waiting on a bale to tie.

“SimplEbale delivers better hay with less work,” said Dane Mosel, tactical marketing manager for Massey Ferguson North America. “By retrofitting onto new and existing 1800 Series small square balers, SimplEbale is an affordable solution that demonstrates AGCO’s and Massey Ferguson’s farmer-first commitment to our customers and their operations.”