Thursday April 03 Ag News

 FFA Members Practice “Living to Serve” During State Convention

As part of the 97th Nebraska FFA State Convention, over 800 FFA members will make a positive impact on the Lincoln community and beyond while putting their leadership into action.

In partnership with Farm Credit Services of America, Tallgrass, ADM, and Meals from the Heartland, FFA members will provide direct community service engagement by packaging thousands of meals that will be delivered to the Food Bank of Lincoln. During last year’s Living to Serve portion of the convention, over 110,000 meals were packaged, and plans are in the works to exceed that number this year.

The last line of the FFA motto is “Living to Serve” which signifies the vital role service plays in our organization. Members impact their local communities across Nebraska through service engagement, community service, and service learning. Students leverage their creative thinking and problem-solving skills to create local solutions to meet the community needs.

More than 8,000 FFA members, advisors, and guests come to Lincoln to celebrate the Nebraska State FFA Convention.



Six Nebraska Agricultural Teachers Named Finalists for Golden Owl Award

Educators devote limitless time, and often their own resources, to helping students pursue their passions. To recognize the contributions of Nebraska’s leading agricultural teachers, the Nebraska FFA Foundation, Nebraska Agricultural Education Association (NAEA) and Nationwide are honoring six exceptional teachers as finalists for the Golden Owl Award.

From October 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, nominations were collected for the state’s top agricultural teachers from local students, parents, fellow teachers and community members across Nebraska.

Nebraska’s 2024-2025 Golden Owl Award finalists are:
● Ellen Tranhan, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Keya Paha
● David Ference, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Ord
● Amy Kohtz, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at EMF
● Joel Miller, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Hampton
● Kathleen Craig, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at North Platte
● Cole Blomendahl, Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Mead

Each finalist was presented with an individualized plaque in front of fellow teachers and students and received a $500 check to support future educational efforts. Next, they’ll be entered into a final selection stage for the chance to be crowned as Nebraska’s Ag Educator of the Year, earning an additional $3,000 Nationwide-funded check and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy.

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

“As the need grows for more ag educators across the nation, we are proud to thank and honor these hardworking agricultural teachers for their dedication,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “These educators play a crucial role in preparing students for successful careers in the industry.”



NOFRN 2024 Research Results Book Now Available

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is placing research results into producers’ hands through its 2024 Research Results book – a publication that highlights findings from approximately 93 on-farm research studies conducted in Nebraska during the 2024 growing season.

Studies in the 2024 Research Results book cover various topics, including crop production, fertility and soil management, non-traditional products, cover crops, crop protection and equipment. The 2024 publication, along with publications from previous years, is now available on the NOFRN’s website.
 
Click Here to Download Your Copy!
https://on-farm-research.unl.edu/research-results/result-publications/

Interested in On-Farm Research? It is not too late to set up a study! The On-Farm Research Team is here to help you set up your trial and collect data! We will work with you to create a personalized plan for your operation.

Get in touch with them at onfarm@unl.edu



Proactive Weed Control in Pastures: Tips for Early Season Success
Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator

Noxious and invasive weeds are easier to control when you properly identify weeds, use timely controls, and understand the life cycle of different weeds. (Photo credit: Troy Walz)

Managing weeds in pastures and rangelands is an ongoing challenge for livestock producers. Weeds compete with desirable forage species for nutrients, moisture, and sunlight, reducing overall pasture productivity. A successful weed management strategy involves a combination of monitoring, proper identification, and implementing timely control measures. Understanding the life cycle of weeds and their response to different control methods is critical for making informed management decisions.

Monitoring and Identifying Weed Issues
Early and accurate identification of pasture weeds is the first step in maintaining a healthy pasture. Control techniques vary depending on whether the species is a winter annual, summer annual, biennial, or perennial. If you're uncertain about a particular plant in your pasture, consult your local extension office for assistance with identification.

Weeds often establish themselves in stressed areas of the pasture. Overgrazed areas, flood-prone sites, high-traffic zones, and drought-stressed pastures are prime locations to monitor. Another area to check is where hay was fed over the winter, especially if bales were purchased from outside your operation. Imported hay may introduce new weed seeds that can become problematic under Nebraska conditions. Cattle can also spread weed seeds through manure, so managing feeding locations and movement can help reduce weed spread.

Integrating Livestock for Weed Management
In some cases, weeds may not be a problem but an opportunity. Some livestock species, such as goats and sheep, prefer browsing on broadleaf plants and shrubs, which cattle might avoid. Incorporating multi-species grazing can help control certain weeds naturally while diversifying farm income. This approach can reduce reliance on herbicides and promote a healthier pasture ecosystem.

Herbicide Considerations
Producers planning to use herbicides should reference Extension Circular 130, 2025 Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska, available online or at local extension offices. Always follow label directions and consider timing, application rates, and environmental conditions for the best results.

Early Spring Weed Control Strategies
For producers looking to get ahead of weed issues in the spring, early action is key. Focus on the following strategies:
    Scout Pastures Early – As soon as temperatures begin to rise, check fields for emerging weeds, especially in areas prone to stress or disturbance. Pay special attention to rosettes of winter annuals and biennials.  These can be easily missed, and control is more effective before they begin bolting.
    Target Winter Annuals – Species like Downy Brome and Shepherd’s Purse complete their life cycle early in the season, so herbicide applications should occur before flowering and seed production.
    Use Timely Grazing or Mowing – Grazing livestock or mowing can suppress early-growing weeds before they become competitive with desirable forages.  This can be a stand-alone control strategy or used to delay growth for later herbicide applications.
    Soil Fertility and Overseeding – Fertilizing appropriately and overseeding thin pastures can improve forage competition and reduce opportunities for weed establishment.

Drought Considerations
Drought will often open opportunities for weeds to get a foothold by weakening desirable forages. Many of these will be annual weeds that appear in the first few years following drought. Through careful grazing management, some of these weeds will disappear on their own as rangeland and pasture conditions improve and desirable forages are able to outcompete weedy species. Control options can be used if weeds are persistent; however, if rangeland or pasture health is not good, other weedy species may grow rather than desirable forages. In this case, overseeding may be advisable.

Conclusion
Weed management in pastures and rangelands requires a proactive approach. Regular monitoring, maintaining healthy pastures, and using a combination of grazing management, mechanical control, and herbicides, when necessary, can help keep weed pressure low. By staying vigilant and adapting management practices, producers can ensure productive pastures that support healthy livestock and sustainable operations.



Sorghum Board seeks applicants for open seat

The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board invites applications to fill an at-large directorship. This is a valuable opportunity to help shape the future of Nebraska’s grain sorghum industry. The filing deadline is 5 p.m. CT on Friday, May 30, 2025.

"Serving on the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board is a unique opportunity to advocate for sorghum growers and contribute to the future of agriculture in our state," said Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board Chair Scott Nelson, a farmer from Axtell, Neb. "We encourage growers passionate about our industry to step forward and help shape its direction."

Sorghum growers interested in this leadership role must submit the following:
    A completed application for gubernatorial appointment
    A letter of interest explaining why they wish to serve on the board
    Two letters of endorsement from fellow grain sorghum growers
    Proof of qualification (e.g., sales receipts, warehouse receipts, government loan documents, or acreage certifications)

Qualified candidates must be Nebraska citizens, at least 21 years old, and derive part of their income from growing grain sorghum.

Applications for appointment can be obtained from the Governor’s Office by contacting:
Pat Selk, Administrative Assistant to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Nebraska Governor’s Office
State Capitol, Box 94848
Lincoln, NE 68509-4848
Phone: 402-471-2256

Applications are also available from:
Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board
P.O. Box 94982
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: 402-471-4276
Email: sorghum.board@nebraska.gov

Applications may also be submitted online at governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req.

This is your chance to step into a leadership role and make a meaningful impact on Nebraska’s agricultural future. Apply by May 30 to help guide the industry forward.



Statement by Mark McHargue, President, Regarding Legislative Bill to Change Fees of the Nebraska Brand Act

“Nebraska Farm Bureau appreciates the Legislature’s thoughtful consideration of our members’ concerns about the proposed changes to the Nebraska Brand Committee’s fee structure called for in Sen. Teresa Ibach’s LB646 and her subsequent amendments.

Our organization stood in opposition to both the original bill which would have allowed feedlots to be exempt from the Livestock Brand Act, and a subsequent amendment adopted by the body which modifies the brand fee structure. While the advancement of the bill to Select File is not what we had hoped for, we remain optimistic that a reasonable solution can be reached to protect the integrity of the state’s cattle industry and the work of the Nebraska Brand Committee.

We thank Senator Tanya Storer for her leadership opposing LB646 and for standing with beef producers who believe in the need for sound Nebraska brand laws. We appreciate Senator Ibach’s recognition that changes need to be made to her proposal before it can come back for debate, and her commitment to work with Senator Storer to find a fair and balanced agreement.

We are eager to continue the dialogue to ensure that brand laws in Nebraska are both fair and effective for all producers.”



Smith Statement on President Trump's Implementation of Reciprocal Tariffs

Wednesday, Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after he joined President Donald Trump at the White House, where the president declared a national emergency caused by unfair foreign trade and economic practices and announced implementation of a comprehensive reciprocal tariff regime.

"Reducing trade barriers is necessary to ensuring American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, small businesses, and innovators can sell their products in other markets. President Trump has made it clear other countries can avoid tariffs by reducing or eliminating their existing barriers to U.S. products. Engagement on trade is vital to our economy and opportunity for U.S. workers.

"In his first term, President Trump proved robust engagement can be productive as he moved the ball down the field on several agreements with our top trade partners. To achieve economic stability, we must continue to fight to give our producers the chance to compete in a global marketplace."



Ricketts Issues Statement Following Trump Administration Tariffs Announcement

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), issued the following statement after the Trump Administration signed an executive order instituting reciprocal tariffs on foreign nations that conduct trade with the United States:

“President Trump is delivering on his campaign promises to level the playing field and stand up for the American people. Reciprocal tariffs will ensure equal treatment for American businesses. The President is working to reshore jobs lost overseas and secure our supply chains. He is working to open new markets for our nation’s agriculture products. He is demonstrating to foreign adversaries like China that we will no longer be taken advantage of.”



NCBA Statement on White House Reciprocal Tariff Announcement

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued a statement after attending President Donald J. Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement at the White House:

“For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world and optimize opportunities for exports abroad.”

Background
Numerous countries impose tariff and non-tariff trade barriers on American beef that inhibit opportunities to export our high-quality product. For example,
    Australia has sold roughly $29 billion of beef to American consumers. Meanwhile, we have not been able to sell $1 of fresh U.S. beef in Australia due to non-scientific barriers.
    Vietnam places a 30% tariff on U.S. beef while Australian beef faces no such tariff.
    Thailand places a 50% tariff on U.S. beef.
    Brazil and Paraguay have a history of dangerous foot-and-mouth disease, but despite overwhelming evidence of their animal health risk, the Biden administration continued to allow U.S. market access to Brazil and Paraguay.
    The European Union places numerous non-scientific “Green Deal” restrictions on American beef, limiting market opportunities.
 
American cattle producers raise the highest-quality and safest beef in the world and NCBA continues to push for more opportunities for U.S. producers to sell their beef abroad, increasing profitability.



Additional Tariffs will Take Toll on America’s Farmers

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on President Trump’s announcement that the United States will impose reciprocal tariffs on trading partners.

“Trade is critical to the success of farmers and ranchers across the country. We share the administration’s goal of leveling the playing field with our international partners, but increased tariffs threaten the economic sustainability of farmers who have lost money on most major crops for the past three years.

“More than 20% of farm income comes from exports, and farmers rely on imports for crucial supplies like fertilizer and specialized tools. Tariffs will drive up the cost of critical supplies, and retaliatory tariffs will make American-grown products more expensive globally. The combination not only threatens farmers’ competitiveness in the short-term, but it may cause long-term damage by leading to losses in market share.

“We encourage the administration to work toward a swift resolution to trade disagreements to avoid tariffs that put farmers and ranchers in the crosshairs of retaliation, and to pursue strategies that expand market opportunities for the men and women who grow the food every family in America relies on.”



Farmers and Ranchers Will Bear the Brunt of a Global Trade War

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew released the following statement today after the White House reciprocal tariff announcement.

“One thing is certain: American family farmers and ranchers will bear the brunt of this global trade war. The economic strain and uncertainty that farmers face have reached a breaking point. Without meaningful support and a commitment to fair trade policies, we will lose even more family farms, weaken rural economies, and ultimately drive up costs and limit choices for consumers at the grocery store.

“Farmers Union has always fought for fair trading relationships with other countries. We rely on stable markets and fair competition to thrive, but the administration's actions today create instability at the expense of our family farmers.

“Policymakers must recognize that the consequences of these decisions extend far beyond the farm—our entire food system and the communities it sustains are at stake.

“Farmers Union members came together at our national convention to share their collective concerns and urge the administration and Congress to de-escalate trade tensions. Our trade policy must support the needs of family farmers and ranchers, not put them at further risk.”

President Trump announced on Wednesday a new 10% across-the-board tariff in addition to reciprocal duties that will apply to specific trade partners, including China, the European Union, India, Japan and South Korea. This is in addition to the tariffs currently in place on Mexico and Canada.

In anticipation of the announcement, NFU and 17 other agricultural organizations sent a letter to the administration on Tuesday urging a trade approach that strengthens American agriculture rather than destabilizing it.



Terraform Tillage Receives Patent for SmartProbe System

Terraform Tillage today announced it has received a U.S. patent (U.S. Patent No. 12,216,096) for its SmartProbe System, a technology that helps measure and map yield-robbing soil compaction.

The SmartProbe System features the SmartProbe app and a mounting kit that attaches a smartphone to a soil penetrometer, a tool that identifies soil compaction by measuring the force required to push a probe into the soil. The SmartProbe System allows farmers or service providers an easier way to record penetrometer readings and create real-time maps showing soil compaction at different depths in the field. This allows sub-surface tillage to be focused on areas of the field that need it—increasing yields, reducing costs and improving soil health.

“Soil compaction isn’t uniform across a field,” says Josh Jeske, founder of Terraform Tillage and developer of the SmartProbe System. “The SmartProbe System allows growers to focus subsoiling on areas that will provide an economic return.”

 Reduced Costs, Improved Yields
 Jeske says the SmartProbe System allows farmers to reduce sub-surface tillage up to 90%. “Our value comes from reducing tillage in field areas that don’t need it–and focusing tillage on areas that do,” Jeske says. “That’s better for the grower and the environment.”

Free Trial of SmartProbe App
The SmartProbe app is now available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Downloading and use of the app is free through 2025. The mounting kit can be purchased at the Terraform Tillage website.

Compaction Mapping Service
The SmartProbe System is also available as a service in Iowa. Growers can contract Terraform Tillage to map fields for them and offer precise tillage recommendations. The service is available for $5 per acre for one-acre grids with minimum acreage thresholds based on location of the fields being mapped.

To learn more about the Terraform Tillage service, visit https://terraformtillage.com/mapping-service-iowa.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 3/28/2025

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending March 28, ethanol production increased 0.9% to 1.06 million b/d, equivalent to 44.65 million gallons daily. Output was 0.9% lower than the same week last year but 3.6% above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate declined 0.7% to 1.07 million b/d, the lowest level since the end of October 2024 and equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.46 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks tightened by 2.7% to 26.6 million barrels. Yet, stocks were 0.7% more than the same week last year and 3.1% above the three-year average. Inventories thinned across all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, slid 1.7% to a five-week low of 8.50 million b/d (130.59 bg annualized). Demand was 8.0% less than a year ago and 5.9% below the three-year average.

Conversely, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol improved by 2.3% to a 14-week high of 898,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.80 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.6% more than year-ago levels and 2.1% above the three-year average.

Ethanol exports dropped 62.2% to an estimated 62,000 b/d (2.6 million gallons/day), a 22-week low. It has been more than a year since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.



UAN32 Price Up 6% From Last Month, Leads Higher Prices for All 8 Fertilizers

Average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers tracked by DTN continued to be higher than last month during the last week of March 2025. However, the price of only one fertilizer saw a significant move, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

UAN32 was 6% higher compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer's average price was $423 per ton, up $26 per ton from $397 during the last week for February. The remaining seven fertilizers had just slightly higher prices. DAP had an average price of $768 per ton, MAP $819/ton, potash $462/ton, urea $565/ton, 10-34-0 $650/ton, anhydrous $770/ton and UAN28 $360/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.61/lb.N, anhydrous $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 $0.64/lb.N and UAN32 $0.66/lb.N.

Three fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier. UAN28 is 1% higher, 10-34-0 is 3% more expensive and UAN32 is 5% higher looking back to last year. The remaining five fertilizers are lower. Both DAP and MAP are 1% less expensive, urea is 2% lower, anhydrous is 3% less expensive and potash is 10% lower compared to last year.



USDA Announces Agricultural Trade Promotion Programs for 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching agricultural trade promotion programs for 2025 and accepting applications for four export market development programs. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has opened funding opportunities for the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and Emerging Markets Program (EMP) that will help U.S. agricultural producers promote and sell their goods internationally. This action follows U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ Friday announcement detailing six international trade trips in the next six months to promote U.S. agricultural exports. The Secretary will visit Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.

“Our job at USDA is to open new markets for our farmers, ranchers, and producers. The previous administration left agriculture with a $50 billion trade deficit. President Trump and I will not sit idly by - we are actively working to open new markets and remove existing barriers,” said Secretary Rollins. “We are putting farmers first. These programs are a crucial step in sustaining long lasting economic growth in rural America.”

Background:
The application deadline for the four programs is June 6, 2025.

The Market Access Program (MAP), at $200 million annually, allocates funds to ag industry organizations across the United States to promote U.S. fruits, vegetables, nuts, processed products, and bulk and intermediate commodities to global consumers. The average MAP participant provides more than $2.50 in contributions for every $1 in federal funding it receives through the program. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.

The Foreign Market Development (FMD) program awards $34.5 million annually to benefit U.S. farmers, processors, and exporters by addressing long–term foreign market import constraints and by identifying new markets or new uses for U.S. agricultural commodities. FMD recipients, which contribute on average more than $2.50 for every $1 in federal funding they receive through the program, will conduct activities that help maintain or increase demand for U.S. agricultural commodities overseas. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.

The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program (TASC) makes available $9 million annually to fund projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.

The Emerging Markets Program (EMP) uses $8 million annually to support assessment and technical assistance activities intended to develop, maintain, or expand opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports in emerging markets. More information about the program and the FY 2026 funding opportunity.

Through MAP, FMD, TASC, and EMP, FAS establishes public-private partnerships with non-profit U.S. agricultural trade associations, farmer cooperatives, non-profit state-regional trade groups, state agencies, and small businesses to open markets and conduct overseas marketing and promotional activities on behalf of U.S. agricultural producers and processors.

These programs are funded by mandatory statutory funding per the direction of Congress. USDA takes seriously the disbursement of taxpayer dollars and will closely follow the program to ensure good return on investment.

Wednesday April 02 Ag News

 97th Nebraska FFA Convention Brings Thousands Together to Celebrate ‘Every Moment’

For three days, Lincoln will be transformed into a hub of agriculture, leadership, and celebration as more than 7,000 FFA members from across Nebraska gather for the 97th Nebraska State FFA Convention, held April 2-4. With this year’s theme, “Every Moment,” students will compete in a variety of contests, attend leadership workshops, and participate in hands-on learning experiences that highlight the impact of agriculture.

Reagan Choat of Plainview has served as the 2024-2025 State FFA President and is a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has spent the year representing agriculture and FFA throughout the state and country. Choat is looking forward to seeing all the members he met throughout the year again at the convention.

“We have hosted incredible conferences, witnessed students' success, and had a lot of fun doing it, but if I had to choose a highlight of the last year, it would be building relationships,” said Choat. “I have been able to meet so many exceptional members, advisors and supporters over the last year and I am so excited to reconnect and celebrate them for their accomplishments.”

The Nebraska FFA Convention offers a dynamic lineup of events, including leadership academies, career development competitions, and interactive workshops designed to empower students. Attendees can engage in activities such as the East Campus Scavenger Hunt, explore the Nebraska FFA Foundation Expo, and participate in various speaking and skills contests. Additionally, the convention features tours of agricultural facilities, providing hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom knowledge to real-world applications.

Another large part of the convention are the seven general sessions held at Pinnacle Bank Arena, kicking off on Wednesday night with keynote speaker John Beede, a published author and mountain climber. A professional hypnotist will be the entertainment at the 5th session, with the other sessions full of awards for members and retiring addresses from the state officer team.

“We selected the theme “Every Moment,” because we know it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and if you don’t stop to appreciate what and who is around you then you can miss out on so much, said Choat. “I am looking forward to sharing one final week with the 7000+ members, advisors, and guests in Lincoln during the 97th Nebraska FFA State Convention!”



NC Supports Senator Ibach’s Brand Bill with Amendment 829

Tuesday, the Nebraska Cattlemen Board of Directors unanimously voted to support Senator Teresa Ibach’s (LD 44) priority bill, LB646, following her introduction of AM829, which aligns the legislation with longstanding Nebraska Cattlemen Brand and Property Rights Committee policy. In response to the introduction of AM829, Nebraska Cattlemen released the following statement:

“It is time to stop kicking the can down the road on critical brand law reforms in the state of Nebraska. The Nebraska Cattlemen Board of Directors overwhelmingly supports LB646 with the inclusion of AM829. To be clear, throughout this legislative session, Nebraska Cattlemen has never wavered from its longstanding and carefully crafted grassroots policy on brand law, which supports maintaining the integrity of brand inspection in Nebraska, modernizing inspection fees, and cutting unnecessary red tape preventing producers from efficiently moving cattle.

We thank Senator Teresa Ibach for continuously engaging with Nebraska Cattlemen’s staff and leadership to reach a compromise that will ultimately benefit every sector of the beef cattle industry. The time to act is now.”

BACKGROUND
On February 4, 2025, Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) announced its policy priorities for the first half of the 109th Legislative Session. NC stated it opposed LB646, which aimed to exempt registered feedlots from brand inspection in Nebraska as introduced. Following NC policy, the NC Board gave NC staff and leadership direction to work on amendments to strengthen the bill, modernize brand inspection in Nebraska, and set fees reflective of services provided to different sectors of the industry.

On February 11, 2025, NC President-elect, Craig Uden gave testimony before the Nebraska Unicameral Agriculture Committee, to clearly state NC’s reasons for opposing LB646 as introduced. Remarks as prepared can be found here.

On March 20, 2025, NC released a statement on LB646 AM638, stating its official position of opposition would not change without direction from the NC Board of Directors.

On April 1, 2025, following the introduction of AM829 to replace AM638, the NC Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion to support LB646 with the inclusion of AM829.



NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending March 30, 2025, topsoil moisture supplies rated 23% very short, 44% short, 33% adequate, and 0% surplus, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 35% very short, 43% short, 22% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 17% very poor, 17% poor, 36% fair, 29% good, and 1% excellent.

Weekly reports will begin April 7th for the 2025 season.



CAP Webinar: Maximizing Profit Through Smarter Seed Selection
Apr 3, 2025 12:00 PM
Matt Stockton, Professor, Agricultural Economics
Shannon Sand, Extension Ag Economist, UNL

Seed selection is one of the most critical decisions farmers make each year, with significant implications for profitability. In this webinar, State Extension Educator Shannon Sand and State Specialist Matt Stockton explore economic insights related to corn hybrid selection using examples from the TAPS (Testing Ag Performance Solutions) contest in North Platte, Ne. These examples demonstrate the importance of hybrid selection and the large difference they can make on profitability. They present key findings from an in-depth analysis of the 2018 TAPS competition. Small differences in seed choice may lead to substantial variations in farm profitability. Attendees will learn the keys consider when making this choice,  recognizing costs versus returns, avoid common pitfalls, and apply a value-driven approach to hybrid seed selection.

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



WK Kellogg Co increases support of Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund

WK Kellogg Co has once again pledged its support in furtherance of the work of the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund (DGSHF), an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation.

WK Kellogg Co’s second contribution of $7,500 to the fund brings its total support to $15,000, making the organization the most significant donor in DGSHF’s four-year history.

“The future of farming depends on the health of our soil and the resilience of our farmers,” said Sarah Ludmer, Chief Wellbeing and Sustainable Business Officer at WK Kellogg Co. “By supporting the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund, we are investing in the next generation of growers and ensuring they have the knowledge and resources to adopt sustainable practices that benefit both, our communities and our planet.”

DGSHF honors Dan Gillespie, a life-long farmer and a long-time no-till farming practitioner and advocate. Following a courageous battle with ALS, the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund was established to allow Gillespie’s family, friends and fellow soil health enthusiasts across the nation to carry on his work indefinitely.

DGSHF is focused on building an endowment to award grants twice a year that support education and programming for youth, current and future farmers, ranchers and others directly involved in agriculture in Nebraska and surrounding states. Past DGSHF grants have supported organizations like No Till on the Plains, UNL Extension, Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, and youth centered sustainable agriculture projects and programs. For more information and to support the work of the fund, visit www.nebcommfound.org/give/dan-gillespie-soil-health-fund.



Smith named director of Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory

Eric Smith has been named the next director of the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He will begin in the role in August.

Smith brings three decades of experience in agricultural equipment engineering to the laboratory, including leadership roles at John Deere and New Holland. Most recently, he served as manager of regulations and standards for agricultural tractors at John Deere, where he coordinated technical positions on global product standards and played a key role in shaping regulations related to safety, automation and sustainability.

A licensed professional engineer, Smith holds bachelor’s degrees in agricultural and biological engineering, and mechanical engineering from Cornell University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa.

He has been a longtime contributor to international standards development through the 38-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and served for nine years as international chair of the ISO Agricultural Tractors Committee. This committee supports interoperability of machinery from different manufacturers, ensuring that tractors, planters, balers and other implements work together seamlessly. His leadership in the organizations has connected him with global stakeholders in industry, academia and government.

“We are excited to welcome Eric Smith to lead the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory,” said Mark Stone, head of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. “His extensive industry experience, deep understanding of global standards, and passion for mentorship and collaboration make him uniquely suited to guide the lab into its next era.”

Smith is committed to preserving the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory’s legacy of excellence while fostering innovation and expanding the lab’s reach through new partnerships. He expressed enthusiasm about joining the university and engaging with faculty and students.

“It is an honor to lead such a historic and impactful institution,” he said. “I look forward to building on the laboratory’s strong foundation and exploring new opportunities for innovation in agricultural machinery testing.”

Smith succeeds Roger Hoy, who has led the lab since 2006 and will retire later this year.



Animal Science To Honor Four Individuals, One Organization At Department Honors Banquet on April 12

The Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will recognize current students, alumni, faculty, and friends at its annual department honors banquet on April 12. The event will be held at The Ballroom at Bosona in Bennet, Neb.

Maci Mueller, Merlyn Nielsen, and Tom Rathje will be honored for their accomplishments as animal science undergraduate or graduate alumni, Nebraska Cattlemen will be honored for its outstanding contributions made to the department, and Doyle Wolverton will be the 2025 Block and Bridle Club honoree. In addition to these awards, current students will be recognized along with departmental clubs.

Registration will open on March 12 will remain open for attendees until April 2. More information about the event can be found here.  

Young Alumni of Distinction
Maci Mueller, B.S. 2016, will be honored with the Young Alumni of Distinction award. Mueller is an Assistant Professor of Animal Genetics at Kansas State University. After earning her degree in Animal Science with a minor in Political Science from Nebraska, she earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Genomics and Biotechnology from the University of California, Davis, in 2023. Originally from Princeton, Nebraska, Mueller developed her passion for animal genetics through active involvement in her family’s first-generation Angus seedstock operation. The focus of her research is leveraging genetic-based biotechnologies to enhance animal health and welfare while improving production efficiency. Passionate about science communication, she is dedicated to providing education and outreach to expand the use of genetic technologies in livestock systems.

Undergraduate of Distinction
Merlyn Nielsen, B.S. 1970, will be honored with the Undergraduate of Distinction award. Following his time as an undergrad at Nebraska, Nielsen went on to earn both his M.S. (1972) and Ph.D. (1974) degrees from Iowa State University. After completing his Ph.D., he returned to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he spent more than 30 years as a faculty member in the Department of Animal Science with a research and teaching career focusing on Animal Breeding and Genetics. Nielsen has received numerous awards, including the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Rockefeller Prentice Memorial Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics and the Beef Improvement Federation Pioneer Award. He is also a Teaching Fellow of ASAS.

Graduate of Distinction
Tom Rathje, M.S., 1991 and Ph.D. 1995, will be honored with the Graduate of Distinction award. Dr. Rathje is currently the Chief Technology Officer at DNA Genetics, one of the leading pig genetics companies in North America. After earning his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics under the direction of Dr. Rodger Johnson, he started his career in 1995 as one of the five foundational members of the Executive Management Team at Danbred North America, which later became DNA Genetics in 2013. He is considered one of the visionaries who increased the company’s market share from less than 5% in the startup phase to 40% in 2020, a growth that positioned DNA Genetics as the second-largest genetic supplier across North America in 2020, after the launch of an independent genetics research program. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the university since 1998, serving on advising committees for graduate students and actively mentoring post-doctoral research associates.

Distinguished Service Award
Nebraska Cattlemen will be honored with the Distinguished Service Award. Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation have been instrumental in the success of the faculty and students in the Department of Animal Science for many years. The Foundation's mission is to advance the future of Nebraska's Beef Industry by investing in research and education programs. Recipients of their generosity have been undergraduate students who have received academic scholarships each year and the hundreds of high school youth who have attended the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium. Others include the Nebraska Meats and Livestock Judging Teams through endowed scholarships, the Krutsinger Beef Industry Scholars Program, and participants in the feedyard management internship program. These programs have all experienced growth and success over the years and continue to be one of the reasons why students choose to study animal science at the university. The Foundation has also established the Nebraska Beef Cattle Industry Professorship and contributed to the Terry Klopfenstein Feed Technology Center and the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center. In addition to the financial support, the Nebraska Cattlemen have been a strong advocate for the students, faculty, and department as a whole by endowing scholarships, sponsoring leadership and education programs, and assisting with research and infrastructure projects have been possible because of the support from Nebraska cattle producers and allied industries.

Nebraska Block and Bridle Honoree
Doyle Wolverton, an emeritus professor, will be recognized as the 2025 Block and Bridle Club honoree. Since 1938, the Block and Bridle Club has recognized individuals who contributed to Nebraska agriculture through leadership, service, youth projects, community activities, and involvement with the university. The candidates are nominated by industry leaders and selected by the club officers and advisors.

After serving as an ag instructor and in extension director and specialist roles in the state of Iowa for 20 years, Wolverton joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an associate professor of animal science and youth livestock extension specialist in 1980. Doyle spent the next 17 years working closely with numerous livestock organizations to develop educational and leadership opportunities for youth who were passionate about agriculture and the livestock industries. An innovator, Wolverton was the first to develop and implement a “Meat Animal Quality Assurance Program” for those showing livestock, a precursor to the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training now required of everyone who shows livestock. Doyle also facilitated the early adoption of real-time ultrasound as a method to collect carcass data for livestock shows. Coordinating livestock shows for the Nebraska State Fair and Ak-Sar-Ben, Wolverton engaged with nearly 3,000 exhibitors that showed more than 6,000 animals annually. Doyle is a champion of programs that emphasize education, responsibility, and leadership development including coordinating Ak-Sar-Ben’s “Catch a Calf” program that challenged youth to not only raise and show the animals but to maintain detailed records and interact with industry sponsors.

For over 40 years, Doyle has maintained long-standing ties to the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, having served on the management and operations committees, serving as the contest superintendent in 1987-88, and sponsoring an award for the winning coach at the contest. Wolverton assisted in the running of the contest by procuring the livestock for the classes, caring for the livestock, and managing all of the backend operations of the contest. Doyle has judged hundreds of county livestock shows, facilitated competitive events at the local, state, and national levels, and has always placed educational value at the forefront of competitive youth events. Through his interaction with tens of thousands of youth at contests over the years, his contributions to the future of animal agriculture are immeasurable.



Secretary Naig Presents 2025 Ag Leader Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Iowa Agriculture

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week recognized three organizations and one business that have made exceptional contributions to the continued success of Iowa agriculture. The honorees received awards during the 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner held on March 31 in Ankeny. The event culminated the state’s weeklong Iowa Ag Week celebration and included remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds and a keynote address from United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

The Secretary’s Ag Leader Awards for 2025 were presented for Leadership in Community to the Iowa Pork Producers Association for their Bacon Buddies program. Nationwide Agribusiness was recognized for Leadership in Community for their grain bin rescue initiatives. Pheasants Forever received an award for Leadership in Conservation for partnering with the Department on water quality initiatives. The Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement was honored for their Leadership in Agriculture Education for supporting youth scholarship programs.

“Every year, hundreds of Iowans from every corner of the state gather for the Ag Leaders Dinner to recognize outstanding contributions made by businesses, organizations, and individuals,” said Secretary Naig. “This year’s awardees, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Nationwide Agribusiness, Pheasants Forever, and the Iowa Association for Agricultural Advancement, have all made significant positive impacts to the ongoing success of Iowa agriculture and our rural communities. These awardees play an integral role in developing young leaders and ensuring that Iowa remains an agricultural productivity powerhouse that drives our economy forward.”

2025 Iowa Ag Leader Awardees:

Leadership in Community – Iowa Pork Producers Association for Bacon Buddies
Created by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and hosted in partnership with Special Olympics Iowa, Bacon Buddies reflects the very best of Iowa and Iowa agriculture. Bacon Buddies provides a great learning and development opportunity for youth of all abilities. Youth who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (Buddies) show pigs and learn from their peer mentors (4-H and FFA youth), that share the show ring experience with them. Buddies gain new skills while enjoying new experiences, developing lasting friendships and building confidence. Mentors learn about individuals with intellectual/or developmental disabilities and gain the opportunity to cultivate kindness in their interactions. Bacon Buddies was introduced in Iowa at the Iowa State Fair in 2019. The program has grown significantly since 2023 when IPPA introduced “Bucks for Bacon Buddies,” which provides up to $500 for county pork producers to sponsor local events. In 2024, 31 county fairs held local events, up from 28 counties in 2023 and a significant increase from 2 or 3 counties prior to 2023. Secretary Naig extends his thanks to the Iowa Pork Producers Association for their continued leadership.

Leadership in Community – Nationwide Agribusiness
Nationwide Agribusiness has taken great steps to improve farm safety and save lives, reaching millions through marketing campaigns about grain bin and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safety. Launched in 2014, Grain Bin Safety Week strives to increase awareness of the importance of following safety practices and protocols when working in and around grain bins. The campaign includes media and social engagement, as well as resources for first responders to obtain life-saving equipment. Nationwide Agribusiness works with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety based in Peosta and other partners to provide emergency personnel with grain bin safety equipment, rescue tubes, and hands-on rescue training. Since 2014, the partnership has provided hands-on rescue training to more than 332 fire departments in over 32 states. The work is already documented to have saved 13 lives. Nationwide also works with ATV Safety Institute and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association to promote safety training programs that can help improve operator safety and prevent costly accidents — both on and off the farm. Secretary Naig extends his gratitude to Nationwide Agribusiness for their continued leadership.

Leadership in Conservation – Pheasants Forever
2025 marks 100 years of pheasant hunting in Iowa. Pheasants Forever is a committed conservation partner, whose investments on private lands improve and protect Iowa’s natural resources. Since 1985, Iowa Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters have helped establish 618,000 acres of nesting cover, 313,000 acres of food and cover plots, planted over 11,000,000 trees and shrubs on private lands and restored 19,000 acres of wetlands. Since 2019, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has entered into a direct agreement with Pheasants Forever to provide funding for assistance with conservation practice implementation. The agreement partially funds biologists across Iowa who provide technical assistance to landowners and farmers. Biologists assist farmers and landowners with enrolling in conservation programs through one-on-one meetings, on-farm technical assistance, and workshops to develop conservation plans, habitat proposals, and other management plans. Secretary Naig thanks them for their leadership in continuing to accelerate our state’s conservation efforts.

Leadership in Agriculture Education – Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement
For as long as the Iowa State Fair has been in existence, youth from around the state have proudly exhibited their livestock projects in search of a purple banner. Until the late 1980s, 4-H and FFA students who earned the top award were often rewarded with less than market price for their animals. In 1987, at the conclusion of another disappointing sale, a group of livestock industry supporters decided a change was needed. Not only did they want to ensure the hard work of the champion projects were awarded, but they wanted to provide more incentives for other youth to participate in livestock projects. In 1988, the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA) was born. Though the initial mission was to provide funds to support the sale of grand and reserve champion projects at a premium, IFAA has since expanded to reach more youth through scholarship programs and performance awards. To date, more than $7 million has been raised to support Iowa youth. IFAA has successfully harnessed the collective support of many partners and donors toward a focused mission of supporting and preparing the future of Iowa agriculture. IFAA is a prime example of agricultural leaders seeing a problem and then finding an innovative solution. Secretary Naig thanks IFAA for their continued leadership in supporting Iowa youth.

The annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner is hosted by Secretary Naig, organized by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and funded by the Iowa Economic Development Foundation.



USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production Report - Feb '25

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 465 million bushels in February 2025. Total corn consumption was down 10 percent from January 2025 and down 6 percent from February 2024. February 2025 usage included 92.6 percent for alcohol and 7.4 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 3.04 million bushels, up 7 percent from January 2025 but down 33 percent from February 2024. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 421 million bushels, was down 10 percent from January 2025 and down 5 percent from February 2024. Corn consumed in February 2025 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 91.9 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.70 million tons during February 2025, down 8 percent from January 2025 and down 6 percent from February 2024. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.11 million tons in February 2025, down 12 percent from January 2025 and down 6 percent from February 2024.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 229,265 tons during February 2025, down 10 percent from January 2025 and down 10 percent from February 2024. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 176,276 tons in February 2025, down 14 percent from January 2025 and down 15 percent from February 2024.

Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.67 million tons (189 million bushels) in February 2025, compared with 6.38 million tons (213 million bushels) in January 2025 and 5.80 million tons (193 million bushels) in February 2024. Crude oil produced was 2.24 billion pounds, down 11 percent from January 2025 and down 2 percent from February 2024. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.61 billion pounds during February 2025 decreased 6 percent from January 2025 and decreased 1 percent from February 2024.



USDA Announces April 2025 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for April 2025, which are effective April 1, 2025. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.               

Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans       
FSA offers farm ownership, operating and emergency loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation.      

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for April 2025 are as follows:       
    Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 5.375%  
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 5.750%  
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 3.750%  
    Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 1.750%
    Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%    

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

Commodity and Storage Facility Loans     
Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment and loans that provide interim financing to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.  Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and are administered by FSA.   
    Commodity Loans(less than one year disbursed): 5.125%  
    Farm Storage Facility Loans:  
    Three-year loan terms: 4.000%
    Five-year loan terms: 4.125%
    Seven-year loan terms: 4.125%
    Ten-year loan terms: 4.250%
    Twelve-year loan terms: 4.375%
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans(15 years): 4.500%         

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Additionally, producers can use online tools, such as the Loan Assistance Tool and Debt Consolidation Tool to explore loan options.



NCGA President: US Should Not Impose duties on Key Herbicide

Corn growers and other farmers would suffer if the U.S. government granted a petition to place anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of an herbicide called 2,4-D, the president of the National Corn Growers Association told commissioners at the International Trade Commission today.

“First, 2,4-D is a growth regulator that targets broadleaf weeds—which is a type of weed that causes significant harm to corn and 2,4-D has a minimal effect on grasses,” Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. testified.  “This makes 2,4-D useful for corn, which is a grass, because it will kill the weeds but not the corn plants.”

The testimony comes as ITC weighs whether the petitioner, Corteva Agriscience, was harmed by imports of the herbicide, a finding that would allow for the petition to advance.

Growers have said they cannot solely rely on Corteva Agriscience, the only domestic supplier of 2,4-D, to meet nearly all the market’s needs.

Farmers have also argued that 2,4-D has many benefits, including preserving soil health, which helps farmers achieve successful yields.
 
“The use of 2,4-D is more environmentally friendly and climate-smart than the alternative, which is tilling,” Hartman told commissioners. “No-till farming uses herbicides to kill weeds while minimizing soil disturbances. This is important because keeping soil intact reduces soil erosion.”

Hartman further noted that the duties come as farmers navigating tough economic times.

“Corn prices are down 40% since 2022 and costs of farming, including inputs like herbicides, are at all-time highs,” Hartman said. “New herbicide tools are slow to come to the market, so placing new duties on 2,4-D would set American farmers back even further.”

ITC will issue either a negative or affirmative determination of material injury in six weeks. If an affirmative determination is issued, the U.S. Department of Commerce would then determine and issue final duty rates.



Ragland to ITC: 2,4-D an Essential Tool for Soybean Farmers

Not all herbicides are created equal – and not all effective herbicides remain on the market. Thus is the problem faced by hundreds of thousands of soybean and other farmers across the country. Farmers need access to multiple products from multiple sources, including 2,4-D.

In testimony to the U.S. International Trade Commission, which conducts investigations on matters involving international trade and industry competitiveness, Caleb Ragland, American Soybean Association president and Kentucky soybean farmer, explained the predicament of he and fellow farmers trying to effectively grow their crops.

“Weeds take vital resources like nutrients, water, and growing space from our crops. If not controlled, they can destroy about 80% of a soybean harvest. That’s why herbicides are essential to maximizing crop health and yields.

Until last year, dicamba was a key herbicide in soybean farming. For perspective, in 2021 it was used on more than 50 million acres of soybeans in the U.S. But in 2024, a federal district court vacated dicamba’s registrations with the Environmental Protection Agency. That unavailability has left a massive gap in the herbicide supply for farmers, which means we need reliable access to herbicides like 2,4-D now more than ever,” Ragland explained.

Ragland’s testimony came during a final hearing hosted by the ITC regarding antidumping and countervailing duties brought against imports of 2,4-D acids from China and India. ASA and the National Corn Growers Association appeared in person to offer testimony opposing the AD/CVD petition and urging the ITC to make a negative determination in the final ruling of the case.

Given dicamba’s unavailability and 2,4-D’s reliable weed control compared to the few alternatives left on the market, demand for 2,4-D herbicides has been growing and is expected to grow even more in the years ahead. That makes access to multiple sources of the herbicide important.

Ragland noted during his testimony that the domestic company at the heart of the investigation “makes good products that help many farmers” and enumerated the positive characteristics of the company’s seed trait genetics, herbicide products, and proprietary 2,4-D choline formulation. However, he questioned the company’s need for trade protection, especially to the detriment of American farmers.

“For soybean farmers, times are already tough. Production costs are nearing record highs. The prices of soybeans have decreased more than 40% in the past three years. Our herbicide options are becoming increasingly limited. Imports of 2,4-D products do not compete at all with Corteva’s 2,4-D choline product that is required by law and by contract to be used with Corteva’s Enlist soybeans—and which have a 60% market share that continues to increase every year. New duties on 2,4-D would make things even harder, further disrupting our access to reliable herbicide tools in our toolbox.”

ASA remains concerned with the rising costs of inputs for U.S. soybean growers. Duties imposed as part of this case could not come at a worse time for farmers, as trade uncertainty and tariffs continue to place financial pressure on U.S. agriculture.

The ITC has the final authority to dismiss this case in its entirety and will make its decision regarding these duties later this month.



NMPF Celebrates Senate Support for Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

The National Milk Producers Federation celebrated strong bipartisan Senate support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act as senators begin considering this critical legislation.   

In a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing held Tuesday to review the measure, committee members and panelists highlighted the role this bill could have in increasing student milk consumption and nutrition access while also potentially decreasing waste.  

“NMPF commends Sens. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Peter Welch, D-VT, for advocating for our nation’s students to have more access to nutrient-rich dairy by allowing schools to offer whole milk with school meals,” NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud said. “We know that Americans are under-consuming dairy products, and as we heard today, students have said they want the milk they are familiar with and that they find satisfying. For many students, that’s whole milk.”

NMPF also thanks Chairman John Boozman, R-AR, and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, for voicing their support for the bill.

“We are grateful to Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar for convening today’s hearing, and we look forward to working with them and the bill’s bipartisan sponsors to move it forward,” Doud said.

The House of Representatives is considering similar legislation led by House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, R-PA, and Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA. The bill was approved by the House Education & the Workforce Committee with bipartisan support Feb. 12, and it now awaits floor action. Similar legislation passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan margin in 2023 but was not taken up in the Senate.



Producer sentiment slips due to rising policy uncertainty

Farmer sentiment declined in March as concerns over agricultural trade and farm policy weighed on producers’ outlook for the future. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 12 points to a reading of 140, down from 152 a month earlier. Contributing to the weakened sentiment in March was a 15-point drop in the Index of Future Expectations to 144 and the Current Conditions Index falling 5 points to 132. The drop in sentiment was influenced by falling crop prices since mid-February, along with increasing uncertainty surrounding agricultural trade and farm policy. Despite the decline, producers remained more optimistic about future conditions than the present, with the Future Expectations Index remaining higher than the Current Conditions Index by 12 points. This month’s survey was conducted between March 10-14.

Alongside the weakened sentiment, the Farm Capital Investment Index fell 5 points to 54 in March. Despite the dip, it is the second-highest reading since June 2021. The Farm Financial Performance Index also saw a drop, decreasing 8 points to 102. While slightly above 100, the index indicates that, on average, producers still anticipate their farm’s financial performance to improve compared to a year ago.

The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index remained steady at 118 in March, matching the previous month’s level and only 6 points below its reading from a year ago. Except for the late summer and early fall of 2024, when sentiment was more pessimistic, the index has generally ranged between 110 and 126 since early 2023. This suggests that farmers maintain a cautious outlook for farmland values, anticipating they will either remain stable or increase modestly in the coming year.

“While the overall sentiment shift in March reflects growing uncertainty, farmers remain cautiously optimistic about the future, particularly with farmland values holding steady and the outlook for strong returns in the livestock sector helping to offset weaker expectations among crop producers,” said Michael Langemeier, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.

Since 2019, the barometer surveys have asked producers about their expectations for U.S. agricultural exports over the next five years. Historically, exports have been a primary driver of U.S. agricultural production demand and are closely linked to strong farm incomes. Producers reported they were optimistic about export growth in 2019 and 2020 surveys, but that optimism began to decline in 2021 and has continued to erode. In March, expectations for U.S. exports reached a record low in the survey, with 30% of producers anticipating a decline in exports, nearly matching the 33% who expect exports to rise.

In addition to worries about exports, farmers’ focus on agricultural policy has shifted over the past year. Since late 2022, barometer surveys have regularly asked producers to identify the most important policies or programs for their farms in the next five years. Before the November 2024 election, farmers reported a higher focus on interest rate policy than trade policy. However, since the election, trade policy has become a fast-growing concern, with 43% of respondents, on average, now citing it as the most critical issue impacting their farms, up sharply from an average of just 21% prior to the election.

Uncertainties about trade policy and its potential impact on U.S. agricultural exports are closely tied to farmers’ expectations for farm income. The March survey asked producers about the likelihood of a program similar to 2019’s Market Facilitation Program, created to compensate for lower output prices due to a trade war. Approximately two-thirds of respondents believe a follow-up to such a program is either “likely” (52%) or “very likely” (13%) to be implemented. Additionally, 74% of farmers in March indicated that the passage of a new farm bill this year was either “very important” (49%) or “important” (25%) to them.

Tuesday April 1 Ag News (no foolin'!)

 Investing in Future Leaders for Careers in Nebraska Agriculture

The I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign serves as an outlet for local FFA chapters to receive donations and matching funds for innovative projects in their classrooms, leadership programming, community service projects, and field trips to advance agriculture education in their schools. Donors to the 2024-25 I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign chose which chapter they supported, and 100% of each local donation was sent back to the designated chapter. Over $350,000 was donated to local FFA chapters this year.

Additionally, Nebraska FFA chapters that participated in the 2024-25 campaign had the opportunity to participate in the sponsor engagement contest. The sponsor engagement contest provided opportunities for chapters to connect with campaign sponsors through a variety of activities, including tours, speakers, podcasts, and professional development. The Nebraska FFA chapters who participated in the most sponsor engagement activities and received at least $500 in donations were recognized at the Nebraska FFA State Convention and received cash prizes, with first place receiving $1,000 in addition to the matching funds.

Osmond FFA received first, High Plains FFA second, and Rock County FFA third. “The sponsor engagement opportunities have benefited my students by exposing them to a wide variety of career opportunities they might have otherwise never heard about,” said Shelly Kubicek, advisor at Aquinas FFA. “Through guest speakers, virtual field trips, and career connection podcasts, we have heard from a multitude of business professionals. Learning about their path through education, internships, and early employment has shown my students that no two paths are the same in addition to the importance of relationship building.”

“The sponsor engagement contest activities have opened up my student's eyes to a plethora of job opportunities they didn’t realize existed or didn't think were options at particular businesses,” shared Dylan Huber, advisor at Emerson-Hubbard FFA. “Tallgrass is an interesting and innovative company that my students really found interesting because they are finding ways to solve our current world problems by repurposing old infrastructure. I really appreciate what the foundation has made available with the sponsor engagement contest and hope to continue utilizing it.”



Agricultural Producers Have Until April 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs for the 2025 Crop Year 

Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to eligible farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2025 crop year. In Nebraska, producers have completed 74,763 contracts to date, representing 84 % of the more than 89,474 expected contracts.    

“Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs provide excellent risk protection, for market declines, at no cost to the producer,” said Tim Divis, Deputy State Executive Director for FSA in Nebraska. “If you haven’t made your program election or signed a contract, please contact your local FSA county office as soon as possible to set an appointment so you don’t miss the April 15 deadline.” 

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual, which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2025 are optional, producers must enroll, with a signed contract, each year. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm, the contract will continue for 2025 unless an election change is made.   

If producers do not submit their election revision by the April 15, 2025, deadline, the election remains the same as their 2024 election for eligible commodities on the farm. Also, producers who do not complete enrollment and sign their contract by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2025 year and will not receive a payment if one is triggered. Farm owners can only enroll in these programs if they have a share interest in the commodity. 

Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities:  barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.   



AFAN and Lincoln Premium Poultry Meetings Scheduled

Please join the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, lending partners, and area agriculture groups for an educational meeting about the opportunity to grow poultry for Costco’s dedicated poultry partner, Lincoln Premium Poultry. During this informational meeting, Lincoln Premium Poultry officials will share financial and contract details, as well as explain the opportunity for a unique partnership with area farmers.

Informational meetings are being held:
April 8, 2025: 10-Noon Wayne, NE – Wayne Country Club, 302 E 21st St  
April 8, 2025: 3-5 PM Norfolk, NE – Norfolk Public Library, 308 W Prospect Ave  
April 9, 2025: 10-Noon Aurora, NE – Bremer Center, 1604 L St  
April 9, 2025: 2-4 PM Central City, NE – City Hall, 1702 31st S

To RSVP or for Questions, reach out at 402.421.4472 or mindyr@a-fan.org  



Saunders Co Livestock & Ag Association meeting

Spring is in the air, which means planting is just around the corner! Please join us for an informational meeting:

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Pre-Planting Meeting
Valparaiso Legion Hall
6:30 PM Social
7:00 PM Dinner

Sponsors and speakers are:
Booth Feed and Supply, Beatrice, NE
Mussmann Ag, Jon Mussmann, Raymond, NE
Ag-Technologies, Tyler Rezac, Valparaiso, NE

The Saunders County Livestock & Ag Association Twilight Tour is being planned for June 30, 2025. More details to follow in the near future.



IANR Listening Sessions

The Institute of Ag and Natural Resources (IANR) will be hosting a series of listening sessions across the state regarding meeting the demand of Nebraska’s agricultural workforce. Below are the dates / times with a request to RSVP by clicking on the link....

Community Listening Session - Norfolk
April 8, 2025
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Divots Conference Center
4200 West Norfolk Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701
https://nuramp.nebraska.edu/ems/event.php?EMSEventUUID=433d4de7-ca3d-4892-a435-f3a210a2fd85

Community Listening Session - Fremont
April 9, 2025
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Fremont Golf Club
2710 N Somers Ave, Fremont, NE 68025
https://nuramp.nebraska.edu/ems/event.php?EMSEventUUID=bfc44ef6-8021-49cf-bb21-0ed19c841e2a
 


Smith Statement on USTR Trade Barriers Report

Monday, Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) submitted its 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) to Congress. The NTE is an annual report detailing foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters and USTR’s efforts to reduce those barriers.

"This annual report is a critical tool to identify tariff and non-tariff barriers to American products in the global marketplace, clearly indicating where we need increased engagement with our partners. Whether it related to market access for agriculture, manufacturing, intellectual property, digital regulations, or investor protections, the previous administration did next to nothing to address such unfair trade practices. By contrast, the current administration is more than willing to engage with our partners on trade. As they work to level the playing field, I urge President Trump and Ambassador Greer to promote market access for our hardworking producers through comprehensive, enforceable trade agreements which elevate certainty in the marketplace and rules-based economic security."



I-LEAD Class 11 International Learning Mission to Vietnam and South Korea Expands Global Perspectives    

In February, the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program traveled to Vietnam and South Korea on an international learning mission as part of the two-year program. The group studied local agriculture and visited trading partners to better understand the important role Iowa grown corn plays in global markets. The mission explored corn trade in all forms from grain to ethanol to livestock feed. I-LEAD and the Iowa Corn staff work closely with the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) to dive into each market to better understand global economies and the value of trade to each market.  

Throughout their travels, participants visited a commercial banana farm, worm and rubber tree farm, wet market, fish farm, feed mill and more. Each of these stops gave participants a look at trade and agricultural practices within the country and opened the door for conversations about sustainable agriculture, animal nutrition and global markets.  

I-LEAD class members walked away with new perspectives, ready to use their new skills to continue driving corn demand. View key takeaways from I-LEAD members below.

Katie Jorgensen:
“Our international learning mission to South Korea and Vietnam has been incredibly impactful, strengthening trade relationships and expanding opportunities for Iowa Corn. By meeting directly with buyers and industry leaders, we gained valuable insights into their market needs and how U.S. agriculture can better serve them. This experience not only reinforced the importance of global trade but also highlighted the role of strong partnerships in securing a future for American farmers. The mission has deepened my understanding of international markets and inspired me to continue advocating for agricultural growth and innovation.”  

Darin Proffit:
“The recent I-LEAD international learning mission was a life changing trip to Vietnam and Korea! Getting fully immersed in the local culture and hearing firsthand from buyers and users of our products showed me why international trade is so critical to success on our own farms. Having representatives from the U.S. Grains Council come along with us on different tours helped to show context and was very insightful. I’m honored to have represented Iowa along with my other classmates as we gained further understanding of agriculture in Asia!”

Derek Kemper:
“I had a wonderful experience traveling to Vietnam and South Korea. The hospitality that was shown to our group throughout the trip was amazing and allowed us to really experience the country’s culture. A big takeaway I had was learning how they utilize their local markets to help drive their economy. I will use this experience as I think about how I can do a better job of supporting local businesses here in Iowa.”

I-LEAD is a two-year program for talented farmers and friends of the industry who want to become strong leaders and spokespeople for Iowa agriculture. The I-LEAD 12 application cycle will open in July 2025. If you are interested in learning more about the program, visit: https://www.iowacorn.org/leadership-programs/i-lead/.  

 

ISU Extension and Outreach Offers Women Marketing Cattle Courses

The farm management team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering three Women Marketing Cattle courses this spring.

Evening courses are offered in Decorah beginning April 8 and in Mt. Ayr beginning April 29. An all-day Saturday course is offered in Guthrie Center on May 31. The registration fee is $25.

Cattle and calves are Iowa’s fourth largest agricultural commodity, contributing more than $5 billion in agricultural sales to the economy annually. Women and beginning farmers are finding economic opportunities through beef production.

This women-centered program offers an opportunity to meet area cattle producers and learn with others in a comfortable setting. A team of instructors will provide different perspectives.

“Cattle producers have more marketing options today than ever before. They don’t have to wait and see what they get. Producers now have tools to reduce price risk in the market,” stated Tim Christensen, ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist.

This course is about capturing more value from beef production by understanding the true costs of production and developing an overall marketing strategy. Instructors will compare and contrast different market channels and pricing strategies. Sales at weaning, backgrounding and finishing will be discussed. A refresher on carcass value and its relationship to price will be included.

Producers will learn how they can utilize futures prices to help them manage price risk and develop a marketing plan. They will learn more about livestock risk insurance plans, diversification and other risk management tools. Producers will gain new insights and access tools to help them analyze and understand profitability.  

The course includes an interactive market simulation activity. Class members will work together in small groups to practice news skills and try out a marketing strategy.

“We will take producers through a marketing year simulation where they will make key decisions and discover how those impact their profitability,” stated Joseph Lensing, farm management specialist.   

Courses
    April 8-22, Decorah: Women Marketing Cattle begins at 5 p.m. with a light meal at the ISU Extension and Outreach Winneshiek County office. The course starts at 5:30 p.m. and concludes by 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday night for three weeks. The lead instructor is Joseph Lensing.  
    April 29 - May 13, Mt. Ayr: Women Marketing Cattle begins at 5:30 p.m. with a light meal at the ISU Extension and Outreach Ringgold County office. The course starts at 6 p.m. and concludes by 9 p.m. each Tuesday for three weeks. The lead instructor is Tim Christensen.
    May 31, Guthrie Center: Women Marketing Cattle begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. A light lunch is provided during this all-day Saturday program. The lead instructor is Tim Christensen.

Registration for the courses includes meals and course materials. Registration scholarships are available by writing to Madeline Schultz at schultz@iastate.edu.

Funding for this project was provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award Number 2023-70027-40444.

More information about this and other programs for women can be found at the ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team Women in Ag Program website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/.



$537 Million in USDA Biofuel Infrastructure Grants Released for 543 Projects in 29 States

Monday U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing obligated funding of $537 million under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for 543 projects in 29 states, upholding President Trump’s vision of unleashing American energy. Sec. Rollins made the announcement while visiting Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) member Elite Octane in Atlantic, Iowa.

“This is very good news and IRFA members appreciate Sec. Rollins’s announcement as construction season is upon us,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “E15 is the largest untapped domestic market for American agriculture. Today’s announcement means farmers will benefit from higher demand and consumers will benefit from lower-cost options at the pump. HBIIP, a program created by USDA during President Trump’s first term, is key to helping retailers navigate current regulations on dispensing equipment for higher blends. Moving forward, we urge Sec. Rollins to work with her counterparts at EPA to implement President Trump’s previous directive to allow all current equipment to store and dispense E15 blends. By streamlining regulations, this will greatly speed up the adoption of E15 across the country while saving hundreds of millions of dollars in unneeded expenditures.”

HBIIP provides cost-share grants to retailers who are working to expand access to biofuel blends, aiming to significantly increase the sale and use of ethanol and biodiesel. On average each grant dollar has leveraged four dollars in private investment. Iowa retailers can also apply to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program for cost-share grants to offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends.



USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Believes E15 Access Plays Key Part in Vision of Unleashing American Energy

Last night, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins delivered the keynote address at the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner in Ankeny, Iowa where she said she believes E15 plays a key part in President Trump’s vision of unleashing American energy. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:

“E15 is the only untapped, near-term market opportunity for American farmers and producers large enough to make a meaningful difference to today’s low prices. Nationwide year-round E15 would unlock a 7-billion gallon per year market opportunity for ethanol, thereby advancing President Trump’s vision of American energy dominance. Further, the production would require more than 2-billion bushels of corn, thereby boosting demand at a critical time for American farmers.

“IRFA members thank Sec. Rollins for seeing first-hand the value of biofuels while visiting Elite Octane today, an ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa. We also thank her for recognizing the value in HBIIP funding, as she announced today USDA would release $537 million in funding for 543 projects in 29 states. IRFA looks forward to working with Sec. Rollins to continue building this momentum and working to put farmers first by expanding access to homegrown biofuels.”



Consider Alternative to Port Entry Fees for Chinese Ships, Coalition Urges USTR
 
Over 300 agriculture and business organizations are asking the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to “refrain from imposing” port entry fees for all Chinese-built or flagged ships.
 
USTR proposed the fees after an investigation of China’s dominance of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sector – requested by five national labor unions – found the country’s subsidies and policies have enabled the Asian nation to capture more than 50% of the global shipbuilding market. China builds 83% of the big ships and container ships in the world, according to the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, which sent a letter last week to USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer, urging that USTR consider “alternative and more effective measures.”
 
The World Shipping Council said the fees, which could be up to $1.5 million per port entry, likely would reduce the competitiveness of U.S. exports, raise prices for U.S. consumers, and divert port traffic to Canada and Mexico.
 
USTR held a public hearing on the proposed fees March 24 and 26 in Washington, DC.

Monday March 31 Prospective Plantings & Grain Stocks report - NE - IA - US

 NEBRASKA 2025 PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS

Nebraska corn growers intend to plant 10.6 million acres this year, up 5% from 2024, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Soybean planted acreage is expected to be 5.00 million acres, down 6% from last year.

All hay acreage to be harvested is expected to total 2.15 million acres, down 9% from 2024.

Winter wheat acres seeded in the fall of 2024 are estimated at 970,000 acres, down 3% from last year.

Sorghum growers in Nebraska intend to plant 275,000 acres, down 5% from a year ago.

Oat intentions are estimated at 130,000 acres, up 8% from last year.

Dry edible bean acreage intentions are estimated at 120,000 acres, down 8% from 2024.

Sugarbeet growers expect to plant 46,000 acres, down 3% from last year.

Sunflower producers expect to plant 31,000 acres, up 10% from 2024. Oil varieties account for 27,000 acres, up 4% from a year ago. Non-oil varieties made up the balance of 4,000 acres, up 74% from the previous year.

Dry edible pea acreage intentions are estimated at 13,000 acres, down 50% from last year.

Estimates in this report are based on a survey conducted during the first two weeks of March.



Iowa Prospective Plantings

Iowa farmers intend to plant 13.5 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2025 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Prospective Plantings report. This is up 600,000 acres from 2024.

Producers intend to plant 9.60 million acres of soybeans in Iowa this year. This is 450,000 acres lower than 2024.

Iowa farmers intend to plant 150,000 acres of oats for all purposes. This is up 5,000 acres from last year.

Farmers in Iowa expect to harvest 1.01 million acres of all dry hay for the 2025 crop year. This is 10,000 acres above last year.



USDA Prospective Plantings 2025
Corn Planted Acreage Up 5 Percent from 2024
Soybean Acreage Down 4 Percent
All Wheat Acreage Down 2 Percent
All Cotton Acreage Down 12 Percent

Corn planted area for all purposes in 2025 is estimated at 95.3 million acres, up 5 percent or 4.73 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be up or unchanged in 40 of the 48 estimating States.

Soybean planted area for 2025 is estimated at 83.5 million acres, down 4 percent from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is down or unchanged in 23 of the 29 estimating States.

All wheat planted area for 2025 is estimated at 45.4 million acres, down 2 percent from 2024. If realized, this represents the second lowest all wheat planted area since records began in 1919. The 2025 winter wheat planted area, at 33.3 million acres, is down 2 percent from the previous estimate and down less than 1 percent from last year. Of this total, about 23.6 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 6.09 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.66 million acres are White Winter. Area expected to be planted to other spring wheat for 2025 is estimated at 10.0 million acres, down 6 percent from 2024 estimate. Of this total, about 9.40 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. Durum planted area for 2025 is expected to total 2.02 million acres, down 2 percent from the previous year.

All cotton planted area for 2025 is estimated at 9.87 million acres, down 12 percent from last year. Upland area is estimated at 9.71 million acres, down 12 percent from 2024. American Pima area is estimated at 157,000 acres, down 24 percent from 2024.



NEBRASKA MARCH 1, 2025 GRAIN STOCKS

Nebraska corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2025 totaled 949 million bushels, up 17% from 2024, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the total, 500 million bushels are stored on farms, up 2% from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 449 million bushels, are up 39% from last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 146 million bushels, up 20% from last year. On-farm stocks of 39.5 million bushels are down 4% from a year ago, but off-farm stocks, at 106 million bushels, are up 31% from 2024.

Wheat stored in all positions totaled 33.5 million bushels, up 51% from a year ago. On-farm stocks of 1.95 million bushels are down 43% from 2024, but off-farm stocks of 31.6 million bushels are up 68% from last year.

Sorghum stored in all positions totaled 11.2 million bushels, up 179% from 2024. On-farm stocks of 530,000 bushels are up 4% from a year ago and off-farm holdings of 10.6 million bushels are up 204% from last year.

Oats stored on-farm stocks of 320,000 bushels are up 28% from 2024.

Barley off-farm stocks totaled 81,000 bushels.


IOWA
Corn Stocks by Position - States and United States: March 1, 2024 and 2025 (1,000 bushels) 

2024: on farm 890,000 - off farm  527,598 - total  1,417,598
2025: on farm 790,000 -  off farm 681,769 - total  1,471,769

Soybean Stocks by Position - States and United States: March 1, 2024 and 2025 (1,000 bushels)
2024:  on farm 145,000 - off farm 168,023 - total  313,023    
2025:  on farm 160,000 - off farm 199,894 - total  359,894



USDA March 1 '25 Grain Stocks
Corn Stocks Down 2 Percent from March 2024
Soybean Stocks Up 4 Percent
All Wheat Stocks Up 14 Percent

Corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2025 totaled 8.15 billion bushels, down 2 percent from March 1, 2024. Of the total stocks, 4.50 billion bushels were stored on farms, down 11 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 3.65 billion bushels, are up 12 percent from a year ago. The December 2024 - February 2025 indicated disappearance is 3.92 billion bushels, compared with 3.82 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2025 totaled 1.91 billion bushels, up 4 percent from March 1, 2024. Soybean stocks stored on farms are estimated at 877 million bushels, down 6 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 1.03 billion bushels, are up 13 percent from last March. Indicated disappearance for the December 2024 - February 2025 quarter totaled 1.19 billion bushels, up 3 percent from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2025 totaled 1.24 billion bushels, up 14 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 307 million bushels, up 13 percent from last March. Off-farm stocks, at 930 million bushels, are up 14 percent from a year ago. The December 2024 - February 2025 indicated disappearance is 336 million bushels, 1 percent above the same period a year earlier.

Grain sorghum stored in all positions on March 1, 2025 totaled 150 million bushels, up 42 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks, at 14.9 million bushels, are up 35 percent from last March. Off-farm stocks, at 135 million bushels, are up 43 percent from a year earlier. The December 2024 - February 2025 indicated disappearance from all positions is 62.2 million bushels, 26 percent below the same period last year.

Monday March 31 Ag News

 Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District March Board Meeting Update

On Thursday, March 27th, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors met for their monthly Board meeting. Aside from monthly reports and an update from the Logan East Rural Water System, Directors also discussed and voted on numerous items.

Irrigated Cropland to Irrigated Grazing Land Incentive Program Modification
One of the current incentive programs offered by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, for irrigated cropland that is converted into irrigated grazing land, received a few modifications. The program is only available for fields in the Phase 2 and 3 areas with a payment rate of $40/acre. Directors voted to amend availability to apply for the program to wellhead protection areas and to raise the payment rate to $100/acre. Payment is capped at $25,000 annually and a maximum of 160 acres. Though the program has been available for several years, it is a resource that has not yet been widely used.

The payment through this program acts as an incentive to maintain the cropland to grazing land conversion for five consecutive years. When it comes to the conversion of the property itself, there is a possibility for funding from partnering agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Former City of Scribner Pebble Creek Levee
The LENRD was approached by the City of Scribner regarding the possibility to purchase a segment of the former city levee – Pebble Creek Levee – and to use the remaining dirt as fill for City purposes. The section of the Levee was partially funded by the LENRD and is no longer in use due to the construction of the US-275 Bypass. Directors approved the request and, since the funds would be minimal, agreed that no payment from the City would be requested.

2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Approval
One of the tools utilized by the LENRD to plan for and lessen the effects of disaster is the Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). In fact, to be eligible for FEMA funding, it is actually a requirement to have one. A HMP helps identify vulnerabilities due to (primarily) natural disasters, and man-made as well. Mitigation actions drawn out in the plan help minimize, or eliminate, the effects of those hazards. HMPs are updated every five years.

This update period, the Lower Elkhorn NRD partnered with the Lewis and Clark NRD, Cedar County and Dixon County to merge two HMPs into one. Since many jurisdictions are on the boundary line, and impacted by decisions in both districts, it made the most sense to come together and create one cohesive document. The two NRDs collaborated with other jurisdictions – such as cities, counties, emergency management agencies, and numerous special districts – to piece the plan together. The final plan was approved by Directors.

Other Action
Directors also discussed, and took action on, compliance issues in the District. The violations included non-submittal of Management Area Reports which were due mid-January, and failure for producers to obtain Nitrogen Certification (or re-certification) in the Phase 2 and 3 Areas. Nitrogen Certification is a requirement for producers farming in the Phase 2 and 3 areas and must be obtained every four years. Numerous training opportunities were offered in February through March. A final Nitrogen Certification class is being offered on Monday, April 7th, at 2:00 PM at the LENRD office (1508 Square Turn Blvd., Norfolk, NE 68701).

Finally, an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Norfolk was approved to help provide financial support for the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Since the LENRD provided financial support when the facility was first opened, the City of Norfolk has allowed residents of the District to utilize the facility as well. LENRD residents make up approximately 30-35% of the annual users. This Agreement will allow up to $5,000 in funding from the LENRD annually. It is pending final approval from the Norfolk City Council.

Did you miss the meeting? A recording is available on our Facebook page.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of Nebraska’s NRDs, and how your local District can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our bi-monthly emails. Emails are sent on meeting week. The next Board of Directors meeting will be Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Advocates for Stronger Farm Bill, Tax Relief, and Expanded Trade in Washington, D.C.

A delegation of Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) members traveled to Washington, D.C. to push for key agricultural policies that will benefit Nebraska farmers and ranchers. Their discussions centered on securing a robust new Farm Bill, expanding trade with new international partners, and extending the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The visit featured a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who listened to the concerns and priorities from a combined group of farm and ranch Farm Bureau members from Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois.

Participating Nebraska Farm Bureau members included:
•               Mark McHargue, NEFB President – Merrick County Farm Bureau
•               Matthew Erickson – Johnson County Farm Bureau
•               Chris Popken – Dodge County Farm Bureau
•               Parker Jessen – Morrill County Farm Bureau
•               Dawn Kucera – Madison County Farm Bureau

"As producers in agriculture, the Farm Bill provides a vital safety net which helps ensure a strong domestic food supply for our nation’s citizens as well as international customers around the world," said Mark McHargue, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau. "During our meeting with Secretary Rollins, we emphasized the importance of preserving the federal crop insurance program and providing solutions to roll back California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3. It’s critical that one state’s decision does not dictate production practices nationwide."

The Nebraska Farm Bureau delegation also discussed important reforms to USDA’s disaster programs, including enhancing flexibility in the face of natural disasters. They advocated for increased funding for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Programs (MAP) and for prioritizing working lands conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Additionally, they pushed for limiting Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to marginal, highly erodible, and non-productive land, while capping rental rates.

The expansion of agricultural trade continues to be a top priority for Nebraska Farm Bureau. After several years lackluster efforts by the Biden administration to expand markets, Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers are busy working through the many actions taken in the first few months of President Donald Trump’s second term.

“Under the first Trump administration, tariffs were imposed, and new trade deals were struck, however, we saw minimal progress on trade issues under the Biden Administration,” McHargue explained. "Since Inauguration Day, tariffs have been applied and threatened on Chinese products, Canadian and Mexican goods, and all steel and aluminum imports. Both Canada and China have retaliated with tariffs, and the European Union plans to impose tariffs on U.S. products soon. We urged the President to prioritize the expansion of trade with new international partners and to take steps to ensure that farmers and ranchers don’t bear the brunt of any extended trade wars," McHargue added.

The delegation also emphasized the need to extend key provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which are set to expire on December 31, 2025. These provisions have provided significant tax relief for farm and ranch businesses, and without an extension, Nebraska’s farm and ranch families would face increased taxes.

"The TCJA has been a lifeline for many of our family farms. Provisions like the reduced pass-through tax rates, bonus depreciation, the increased estate tax exemption, along with many others have reduced federal taxes on all our nation’s citizens," McHargue said. “Letting the TCJA expire would harm family farms across the country.” In addition to meeting with Nebraska’s congressional delegation, the Nebraska Farm Bureau members also met with officials from the Canadian Embassy, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the White House Office of Public Liaison to discuss key issues affecting Nebraska agriculture.



Treasury Department Revises Beneficial Ownership Information Filing Requirements
Nebraska Farm Bureau newsletter

This week, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an Interim Final rule that, among other changes, removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN and revises the definition of “reporting company” to mean only those formed under foreign law and registered to do business in the U.S. under the Corporate Transparency Act. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was included in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. A bipartisan amendment with support from both chambers of Congress, the CTA requires companies to report information to the federal government’s  FinCEN about the individuals who own or control them. The final rule implementing the legislation was issued in September 2022, and its original effective date was January 1, 2024, prior to legislation getting caught up in litigation. With this Interim Final Rule now in place, no domestic business or its owners are required to file BOI. The various court cases against the Corporate Transparency Act will continue to be litigated, and the underlying statute remains on the books. However, at least for now, this administration will not enforce it.



Nebraska Ethanol Board April 9 special board meeting to be held in Grand Island

The Nebraska Ethanol Board will meet in Grand Island at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 9. The meeting will be in the conference room at Bosselman Enterprises Headquarters (1607 S. Locust St.). The agenda is as follows:
    Call Meeting to Order
    Approval of Agenda
    Public Opportunity for Questions, Comments or Concerns
    Personnel
    Adjourn

This agenda contains all items to come before the Board except those items of an emergency nature. Nebraska Ethanol Board meetings are open to the public and also published on the public calendar.



US Agriculture Secretary Rollins in Iowa TODAY

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will be in Iowa today, Monday, March 31st. Secretary Rollins will visit an ethanol production facility, a hog farm, and meet with soybean producers and agriculture leaders from across Iowa. She will be joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, Representative Zach Nunn, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

Stops today include  
  - Elite Octane, Atlantic, IA
  - Manning Farm, a hog and diversified row crop farm, Waukee, IA
  - Beck’s Hybrids, Colfax, IA
  - Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner, Ankeny, IA


U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to Keynote 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will keynote the 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner in Ankeny on Monday, March 31.

This is Secretary Rollins’ first official visit to Iowa since her confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The event will also feature remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary Naig. Secretary Naig will also present Ag Leader Awards to three organizations and one business.

The annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner is hosted by Secretary Naig, organized by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and funded by the Iowa Economic Development Foundation.



Secretary Rollins Announces Aggressive International Travel Agenda to Expand Market Access for American Agricultural Exports

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will visit six international markets in her first six months as Secretary to expand markets and boost American agricultural exports. At a time when the agricultural trade deficit is at nearly $50 billion following the previous administration’s little to no action in the international marketplace, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working to diversify global markets, strengthen existing markets, and hold existing trading partners accountable for their end of the deal.

“President Trump has the backs of our farmers and ranchers,” said Secretary Rollins. “USDA remains committed to expanding market access around the world. I am going abroad to sell the bounty of American agriculture and to ensure the prosperity of our hard-working agricultural producers. Everything is on the table to get more markets for our products.”

Background:

This year, Secretary Rollins will visit Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Other USDA Trade Missions include Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mexico.

India: The United States is India’s sixth largest supplier of agricultural products. The U.S. has a $1.3 billion trade deficit with India.

Brazil: The United States has a $7 billion trade deficit with Brazil.

United Kingdom: The UK is the United States’ fourteenth largest agricultural export market. U.S. producers face disproportionately high tariffs and small tariff rate quota volumes when exporting to the UK.

Japan: Japan is a top five market for many key U.S. commodities, including corn, beef, pork, wheat, rice, and soybeans. The U.S., however, faces competition from other countries in many of these markets.

Vietnam: Vietnam is the United States’ tenth largest agricultural export market. The U.S. has no trade agreement with Vietnam while major competitors like China do.

Peru: Peru is the United States’ third largest market for agricultural exports in South America, and the U.S. remains Peru’s second largest agricultural supplier. Key prospects for U.S. agricultural exports to Peru include ethanol, dairy products, meat, tree nuts, and pulses.



Gov. Pillen Praises USDA Efforts to Expand Ag Trade Markets

Governor Jim Pillen praised the efforts of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to expand markets and access for agricultural exports from America. The USDA will focus on strengthening trade relationships with Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.

“It’s pretty simple -- more trade is good for American producers,” said Gov. Pillen. “Our farm and ranch families work hard to produce the best, and they deserve to have more trade opportunities around the world. Whether we’re selling our crops, livestock, or value-added products, it’s good news for Nebraska that President Trump and Secretary Rollins are making trade a priority.” 

During his first year in office, Gov. Pillen identified Vietnam and Japan as markets with massive opportunity and led trade missions to each one.