Thursday February 22 Ag News

Nebraska Farm Bureau Opposes Irrigation Tax Bill

Nebraska Farm Bureau has registered its opposition to a bill seeking to tax the use of irrigation water. Introduced by Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus, LB 1022 would create a one-cent tax on every 10 gallons of water pumped from an irrigation well capable of producing at least 5,000 gallons of water per day. The bill would direct the new tax monies to fund schools, according to Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson.

“The ability of Nebraska farmers to use irrigation water is a major driver for Nebraska’s economy. A study conducted in 2012 showed that irrigation contributed $11 billion to Nebraska’s economy and was responsible for 31,221 Nebraska jobs, more than one-third of which are jobs outside of farming. LB 1022 would virtually tax the use of irrigation water out of existence in our state, hurting farmers and Nebraskans. It’s not good tax policy,” said Nelson.

Nebraska Farm Bureau shared its opposition during the Legislature’s Revenue Committee hearing on the bill, Wednesday, Feb. 21 as part of a joint opposition testimony offered on behalf of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Pork Producers Association, and the Nebraska State Dairy Association, as well as the “We Support Agriculture” coalition.

“While our group’s collective testimony is important, I want to thank those individual Farm Bureau members who took the time to come to Lincoln and share their story with the Committee and members of our Governmental Relations team of how LB 1022 would damage their family operations,” said Nelson. 



Register Now -- Ethanol 2018: Emerging Issues Forum

April 12-13, 2018
La Vista Conference Center
Omaha, Nebraska

Agenda Topics
-    Biofuel Policy Panel Discussion: Trump Administration Impacts on Ethanol Production and Marketing          
        Doug Durante, Clean Fuels Development Coalition
        Graham Noyes, Noyes Law Corporation
        Steve Seabrook, POET Ethanol Products
-    Carbon Counting and Accessing LCFS Markets: Agronomic Input Modeling and Accounting
        Stephen Mueller, University of Illinois
        Ron Alverson, Dakota Ethanol College of Carbon Calculations
-    Fractionation and Separation Technology Options
        Jeff Scharping, ICM
-    Bio-Based Products and Projects 
        Luca Zullo, Greenyug
-    Trade Policy and the Impact on Ethanol and DDG Exports
        Mike Dwyer, U.S. Grains Council
-    Ethanol Marketing Challenges – 2018 and Beyond 
        Tim Rudnicki, Minnesota Biofuels Association
        Randy Gard, Bosselman Enterprises
-    RINs and the Impact on Obligated Parties
        Roger Read, Wells Fargo
-    Octane and Higher Ethanol Blends: Meeting Vehicle Performance Standards
        Ernie Shea, Auto Ag Ethanol Alliance
-    Evaluating Investment in New Technologies
-    Biofuels and Public Health
        Sasha Forsen, Edeniq

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Early Bird Rate: $335 (until Friday, March 9)
Ethanol Producer Special: Receive one free registration with your first paid registration (one per ethanol plant). To apply this, enter both attendees' names, but choose only quantity 1 at checkout.
Hotel Details: Receive a special room rate at the Courtyard Marriott by booking under the room block “Nebraska Ethanol Board” by March 20, 2018. Call 402.339.4900 to make a reservation.

Register here: http://ethanol.nebraska.gov/wordpress/events/emerging-issues-forum/.



Sasse Statement on Hormel Wage Increase

U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement after Hormel Foods, which operates a processing plant in Fremont, Nebraska, announced it would raise wages and give employees stock shares as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed last December.

“Lower taxes and bigger paychecks are big wins for Nebraska. The tax cuts we passed last year are helping Nebraska families and businesses. Washington still has a lot of work to do, but this is good news for our whole community and especially the moms and dads working at Hormel.” 

Background:
In an announcement earlier today, Hormel President and CEO Jim Snee said: “Tax reform will have a clear benefit to all Hormel Foods stakeholders – our shareholders, our employees, and the communities in which we operate. The ongoing cash tax benefit will provide additional funds, allowing us to accelerate the growth of our business.… In addition to awarding our over 20,000 employees stock options, we will raise our starting wage for all employees to $13 per hour by the end of fiscal 2018 and to $14 per hour by the end of fiscal 2020.”



Beef Fuels Competitors During Fitness Challenge at Cattlemen’s Classic

Seven competitors showcased their physical abilities on Wednesday during the Nebraska Beef Council’s “Beef Strong” event at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic. Each competitor took their turn completing the course that represented actual jobs found on a farm or ranch.

The course included activities such as throwing hay bales over a fence, loading salt and mineral bags into a utility vehicle, building a small catch-pen and carrying a 70-pound sawhorse calf across the finish line. The competitors ranged in age from 21 to 70 years old with varying experience working on a farm or ranch.

“The Nebraska Beef Council hosted a great event that helped educate people on the physical demands that cattle producers endure each day, while also demonstrating beef’s benefits in an active lifestyle,” said John Widdowson, competitor from Shelton, NE. Widdowson finished second in the competition. “The amount of great feedback I received about the event on social media has been unbelievable.”

Winning first place with a time of 4:03 was Colton Rolls of Alliance, NE. “The course really demonstrated the combination of strength, agility, problem solving, and mental fortitude it takes to be a successful rancher,” said Rolls. “I will definitely be competing again next year and I’m excited to see the competition grow.” Third place was awarded to Armando Chavez of Gering, NE. The top three finishers each received steak and hamburger beef bundles courtesy of Nebraska Star Beef.

“We had a lot of fun with this event and it helped us showcase the use of beef for strength,” said Mitch Rippe, director of nutrition and education at the Nebraska Beef Council. “Beef is nutrient-dense and it’s perfect as a fuel and recovery food for anyone with an active lifestyle. Whether you have a physically demanding job, you like to go to the gym or you’re a parent trying to balance a hectic schedule, beef can be part of your healthy diet.”

For more information about beef nutrition, visit www.beefitswhatsfordinner.org.
    


Women Entrepreneur Conference registration is now open 

Registration is now open for the fifth annual Women Entrepreneur Conference, hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Program (REAP) Women’s Business Center and Small Business Administration.

The one-day conference will be held on April 11, 2018, in Kearney at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center, 110 Second Ave. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and close by 4 p.m.

The conference is dedicated to growing women entrepreneurship in Nebraska, and features opportunities to share, learn, and network.

“The Women Entrepreneur Conference will bring together successful and aspiring women business owners to support and encourage one another,” said Monica Braun, REAP Women’s Business Center director. “This event includes networking, which is what entrepreneurs say they want most.”

Sessions will focus on marketing in a small town, both online and offline; accounting; and small business legal issues. The day wraps up with a panel of small business owners.

“When women entrepreneurs come forward to share their experiences, they inspire others who are working to create successful businesses in rural Nebraska,” Braun said. “Expertise will be provided on timely, relevant topics that are critical for successful, sustainable small businesses.”

The registration deadline is April 4. Register online at www.cfra.org/events/2018WomensConference.

For more information, contact Braun at monicab@cfra.org or 402.643.2673.



USDA Livestock Slaughter:  Record High Red Meat and Pork Production for January

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.59 billion pounds in January, up 7 percent from the 4.29 billion pounds produced in January 2017.

State (mill lbs) -  Jan '18   -  % Jan '17
Nebraska .....:      695.1      -      105      
Iowa ............:      653.6      -      111      
Kansas .........:      493.0      -      109      

Beef production, at 2.28 billion pounds, was 8 percent above the previous year.  Cattle slaughter totaled 2.76 million head, up 7 percent from January 2017.  The average live weight was up 6 pounds from the previous year, at 1,376 pounds.

Veal production totaled 6.6 million pounds, 5 percent above January a year ago.  Calf slaughter totaled 49,000 head, 5 percent above January 2017.  The average live weight was unchanged from last year, at 235 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.29 billion pounds, 6 percent above the previous year.  Hog slaughter totaled 10.7 million head, 6 percent above January 2017.  The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 286 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 12.5 million pounds, was 2 percent above January 2017.  Sheep slaughter totaled 176,300 head, slightly below last year.  The average live weight was 142 pounds, up 4 pounds from January a year ago.



USDA Cold Storage January 2018 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on January 31, 2018 were up 9 percent from the previous month and up 1 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 7 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 16 percent from the previous month and up 8 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 13 percent from last month and up 219 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on January 31, 2018 were up 4 percent from the previous month and up 12 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 13 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 21 percent from last month and up 10 percent from January 31, 2017.

Total  natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on January 31, 2018 were down slightly from the previous month but up 7 percent from January 31, 2017.  Butter stocks were up 33 percent from last month and up 1 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on January 31, 2018 were down 10 percent from last month and down 17 percent from a year ago.  Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 8 percent from last month but up slightly from a year ago.



This Grain Bin Safety Week, Remember the Importance of Precaution

The National Corn Growers Association reminds farmers of the importance of proper grain bin safety procedures. To help review both the importance of and procedures for grain bin safety, NCGA is again offering an informative video.

To view the video, click here.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaZlS-GZoIA&t=684s. 

First released in 2011, the video, shot on location in several states, provides a wide range of information from prevention tips and background data on grain bin accidents.  The project also involved interviews with professionals in the fields of grain bin safety research and rescue to provide as much information to viewers as possible.



EIA: US Ethanol Stocks Decline; Output Jumps 5% Last Week

The domestic supply of ethanol fell during the week ended Feb. 16, narrowing the surplus against the year prior, even as U.S. ethanol plant output jumped 5.1%, the Energy Information Administration reported Thursday.

U.S. ethanol supply declined 100,000 bbl to 22.8 million bbl during the week reviewed which follows a steep 600,000 bbl drawdown during the preceding week. The weekly stock decline contrasted with a 200,000 bbl build during the comparable week a year ago, narrowing a year-on-year surplus to 100,000 bbl. During the two weeks ended Feb. 16, the supply surplus against the prior year narrowed by 1.2 million bbl.

During the week ended Feb. 16, domestic ethanol plant production ramped up 52,000 bpd or 5.1% to 1.068 million bpd, which is 34,000 bpd or 3.3% above the comparable year-ago period. U.S. ethanol plant production averaged 1.045 million bpd during the four weeks ended Feb. 16, near flat with the year-ago period when output averaged 1.047 million bpd.

Blending demand edged up, with refiner and blender net inputs averaging 885,000 bpd for the week reviewed, up 3,000 bpd on the week and 17,000 bpd or 2.0% more than during the same week in 2017. For the four-week period ended Feb. 16, ethanol inputs averaged 873,000 bpd, up 16,000 bpd or 1.9%.



USDA Opens New Office in Vietnam to Help Facilitate Increasing Agricultural Trade

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently celebrated the opening of its new office in Hanoi, Vietnam.  The office will play a vital role in helping expand the United States’ $2.5 billion-dollar agricultural export market in Vietnam.

“Growing agricultural trade between the United States and Vietnam means new opportunities for American producers,” said Greg Ibach, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.  “With this increase in trade comes increased pest and disease risk, and our in-country expertise will ensure the safest trade possible, while still providing greater options for U.S. consumers.  Having an APHIS office in the heart of Hanoi will not only help maintain existing markets, but foster new opportunities for American farmers who set the worldwide standard for food production.”

“Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing global markets for U.S. farm and food products, currently ranking as our 11th-largest customer,” said USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. “The expansion of USDA’s presence in Vietnam is a clear indication of this country’s importance as a U.S. trading partner. The on-the-ground technical expertise of the APHIS team will be an important complement to the trade policy and market development work being done by our Foreign Agricultural Service staff at the USDA Office of Agricultural Affairs in Hanoi, as well as our office in Ho Chi Minh City.”

The APHIS Hanoi office will maintain technical working relationships with their Vietnamese counterparts to resolve any concerns associated with the science-based standards both countries employ to prevent the introduction of animal and plant pests and diseases. By doing so quickly and locally, APHIS can help keep trade moving and benefit the producers and economies of both countries.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink, APHIS Deputy Administrator Cheryle Blakely, and Vietnam’s Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam formally opened the office at a ceremony alongside guests representing the U.S. agricultural industry, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and officials from the USDA Offices of Agricultural Affairs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, including Agricultural Counselor Robert Hanson.

APHIS' international mission is to protect and promote U.S. agricultural health through internationally-based animal and plant health expertise.  APHIS’ International Services staff supports USDA’s mission through its 29 international offices by facilitating safe agricultural trade, ensuring effective and efficient management of internationally-based programs, and investing in international capacity-building through various training programs abroad to enhance technical, administrative, and diplomatic skills and competencies.



Commerce Department Affirms Argentina, Indonesia Biodiesel Dumping Claims

Biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia into the United States are sold below fair market value, the U.S. Department of Commerce ruled on Wednesday in its final determination on the National Biodiesel Board's anti-dumping claims.

As a result, the DOC announced it would update the cash deposit requirements on imports from both countries, based on the final amount of dumping found.

In 2016, imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia were valued at an estimated $1.2 billion and $268 million, respectively, according to the DOC.

Biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia surged by 464% from 2014 to 2016, taking 18.3 percentage points of market share from U.S. manufacturers. Imports of biodiesel from Argentina again jumped 144.5% after the NBB petitions were filed. NBB argued surging, low-priced imports prevented U.S. biodiesel producers from earning adequate returns and stunted further investments in the industry.

In July 2017, the NBB asked the commerce department to immediately slap duties on imports of Argentinian biodiesel, claiming in a petition that "critical circumstances" existed to warrant the action.

In the July petition, the NBB requested relief in the form of retroactive duties. The action was designed to deter further imports. That would allow the government to impose duties retroactively on imports reaching U.S. shores up to 90 days prior to the DOC's preliminary determinations on the claims in the petitions.

In written comments to the International Trade Commission, the Argentine government said the NBB petition was based on "extremely limited" information and actually shows the U.S. industry was unharmed.

Argentina made the case U.S. producers never claimed imported biodiesel actually hurt profits. In addition, the Argentine government argued U.S. producers alone were unable to fulfill the RFS volume requirements from 2014 to 2016.

Now, importers of Argentinian and Indonesian biodiesel will continue to pay cash deposits on biodiesel imported from those countries, ranging from 60.44% to 86.41% for biodiesel from Argentina, and 92.52% to 276.65% for biodiesel from Indonesia.

The NBB filed petitions to address what is said was a flood of subsidized and dumped imports from Argentina and Indonesia that resulted in market share losses and depressed prices for domestic producers.



International Grain Council Cuts 2017-18 Production Forecast

The International Grains Council said Thursday that it has cut its global grain-production forecast in 2017-18 to 2,094 million metric tons due to poor conditions in Argentina, Brazil and South Africa.

The new forecast represents an decrease of 6 million tons from the one given in late January, and a 2.2% drop from the previous season's record of 2,140 million tons, the IGC said, citing smaller planting areas, poorer average yields and bad weather in South America.

The decrease makes this season's forecast the third largest on record, down from the second-largest previously.

The IGC edged up its 2016-17 monthly output forecast to 2,140 million tons in January, an increase of 6 million tons, which represents a 6.2% increase on the 2015-16 season.

Maize-production forecasts for 2017-18 fell by 6 million tons in the latest report.

The IGC also cut its forecast for soybean production by 2 million tons to 347 million tons.

The grain body left its wheat and rice production estimates unchanged at 757 million tons and 484 million tons, respectively.

While consumption forecasts were unchanged, the production estimate cut occurred "mainly because of poorer maize output prospects in Argentina, Brazil and South Africa," the IGC said.

A drought in Argentina and lower production in Brazil would have left a bigger dent in soybeans forecasts, but "major exporters' inventories are seen broadly steady year-on-year as heavy accumulation in the U.S. offsets significant falls in Brazil and Argentina," the report said.



USGC Receives USDA Grant For Feed Manufacturing Training Center In North Africa

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) a grant for $1.3 million for the Regional Center for Feed Manufacturing for North Africa and the Middle East, to be headquartered in Tunisia.

“U.S. feed grain suppliers are facing increasing competition in the North African and Middle Eastern grain markets,” said Ramy Taieb, USGC regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. “As a result, the Council’s work in Tunisia is becoming more strategic, focusing on how to utilize training programs to help develop both the Tunisian feed industry as well as regional feed industry, while emphasizing the advantages of U.S. coarse grains and co-products.”

USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney announced the grant last week during the Council’s 15th International Marketing Conference and 58th Annual Membership Meeting in Houston, Texas.

The USDA grant follows an initial grant from the U.S. State Department, which led to the January signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Council, the National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia (INAT) and Iowa State University. Together, the organizations will establish a regional center to provide training for feed production and improved animal nutrition across all sectors of the feed industry.

The initial program will train a core team of 10 to 20 industry professionals, targeting nutritionists, feed millers and poultry, dairy, beef and aquaculture producers. This first team will later return to the Center for Feed Manufacturing to subsequently train 80 to 100 members of the next generation of feed industry leaders in Tunisia. The program will include intensive and extensive technical curriculum as well as activities meant to foster development and professionalism within the industry.

“Interest in this program is high as the feed industry continues to grow in Tunisia,” Taieb said. “With this training, we expect U.S. coarse grains and co-products to have a positive impact both in terms of U.S. exports and for cost, production and feed quality for the region.”

Longer-term, the Council expects to expand these training opportunities to feed industry professionals throughout the Middle East and Africa, which will boost compound feed production and stimulate demand for U.S. corn, barley, sorghum and co-products.



Farm/ranch parents can use new checklist to keep kids safe

Parents want to protect their children and keep them safe, but for parents involved with agriculture this can present challenges. Each farm and ranch is unique, and so is each child. Addressing hazards to children in the agricultural environment requires an individual approach.

The new Child/Youth Agricultural Safety Checklist, developed by the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, gives parents a tool to perform customized safety checks.

“Protecting our children on farms needs to be a priority. A youth dies in an agricultural incident about every three days in the United States,” said Marsha Salzwedel, M.S., youth agricultural safety specialist at the National Children’s Center, part of the National Farm Medicine Center at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute. “Taking 10 minutes to read this checklist will give parents safety strategies to help ensure that their children reap the many benefits of farm life while staying safe.”

The single-sheet Child/Youth Agricultural Safety Checklist is divided into three sections: Non-Working Children, All Children and Youth, and Working Youth.

“There are lots of actions parents can take that don’t cost anything, for instance assigning tasks that are appropriate for their age and ability, or not taking young children into the farm worksite when parents are working” Salzwedel said.

The checklist, https://www.cultivatesafety.org/resources/, was released Feb. 22 at the North American Agricultural Safety Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz. 

For additional child ag safety resources, go to www.cultivatesafety.org.



Yogurt May Help Lower Cardiovascular Disease

There's more good news when it comes to yogurt as part of a healthy eating pattern and improved heart health. A new study published in the American Journal of Hypertension by Buendia et al., showed that eating two or more cups of yogurt a week was associated with a lower risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults who already have high blood pressure.

The large-scale observational study, funded by National Dairy Council (NDC) and others such as the American Dairy Association of Indiana, is the first of its kind to examine the relationship between eating yogurt and reduced CVD risk in hypertensive adults. Nearly 75 million Americans have high blood pressure, which increases the chances of having a heart attack or stroke -- two of the leading causes of death for men and women in the United States.

Earlier studies have shown a beneficial link between consuming dairy foods, including yogurt, and some diseases related to CVD, including type 2 diabetes. This new study suggests people with high blood pressure (HBP) may have a reduced risk of heart attack or stroke if yogurt is part of their regular diet.

"People who have high blood pressure are already at risk for cardiovascular disease and this study indicates that eating yogurt just two or more times a week is something easy and tangible that may help," said Dr. Mickey Rubin, vice president of nutrition research at NDC.

In the study, data from 55,898 females (ages 30-55) in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and 18,232 males (ages 40-75) in Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) was analyzed to evaluate the association between eating yogurt and CVD risk among adults with high blood pressure. The results showed eating at least two cups of yogurt per week was associated with a 30 percent reduced risk of heart attack for women and a trend for a 19 percent reduced risk of a heart attack among men. During a follow-up period, eating one cup or more of yogurt per week was associated with an approximately 20 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.

Finally, regular yogurt eaters in the study who followed the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which includes low-fat dairy as a key food group, showed an associated risk reduction of CVD of 16 percent and 30 percent in women and men, respectively.



2018 is Year of the Tractor at Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will mark 2018 as the Year of the Tractor with two new displays on the past, present and future of agriculture. "Precision Farming" will open Jan. 19 within the museum's "American Enterprise" exhibition with a more contemporary story of disruptive technology in today's agriculture industry. A green, yellow and red 1918 Waterloo Boy tractor will be on view at the entrance to "American Enterprise" beginning Feb. 22, marking the 100th anniversary of the Deere and Company's entry into the tractor market with the acquisition of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co. in 1918. This display will highlight the introduction of light-weight gasoline-powered tractors, a major revolution in agriculture that moved farming firmly into the realm of commercial production.

The Waterloo Boy will be showcased with historic images and advertisements that marketed the then-new technology to help convince farmers to shift from animal power and labor-intensive production to gasoline-powered tractors. In the mid-1900s, nearly 100 manufacturers were in the tractor market. By the 1930s, only two major companies dominated: Deere and International Harvester. The display invites the public to consider the uncertainty inherent in adopting new inventions and the considerations that go into investing in machinery versus staying with traditional methods. Over time, farmers modernized their rural operations by seeking the efficiency, economy of scale and use of machines typical of urban factories. One image displayed behind the 100-year-old tractor provides a glimpse into the future of farming—a drone flying over a Kansas corn field.

The "Precision Farming" case tells a more modern story of how farmers have adapted to technology—even the use of drones—that is changing agricultural practices in fundamental ways. In the late 1990s, location-tracking technology, such as GPS, helped launch a different agriculture revolution. U.S. farmers began using this technology to "see" bigger variations within their fields and livestock. Information has become the "new crop of the 21st century" as farmers rely on data on soil types, harvest yields for precise locations, moisture content measurement, animal management, and recording the effect of weeds, pests, and diseases.

"Pairing the story of the introduction of the gasoline tractor with the kinds of tools and technology that today's farmers are using, allows our audiences to understand how agricultural practices have evolved over 100 years," said Peter Liebhold, the museum's agriculture curator and a co-curator of the "American Enterprise" exhibition. "GPS and computer technology is allowing farmers to see and manage their fields in fundamentally new ways."   

Key objects on display in "Precision Farming" include a GPS receiver; a crop yield monitor from 1996 that allowed farmers to precisely steer their equipment and pinpoint which areas of a field are most productive; a cow neck tag with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder from the 1980s; and a grain sickle from around the 1900s used to harvest crops. The display includes four stories of farmers engaged in precision farming.

The museum will also incorporate tractor history, agriculture and innovation programming into its offerings for the public, including within Wegmans Wonderplace, which is designed for children up to age six. Ag-history programs will include "Harvest for the Table: Wheat to Flour," the "Ask a Farmer" program, talkback boards and related chef and cookbook author presentations.

"American Enterprise" is a permanent exhibition that opened July 1, 2015, and chronicles the interaction of capitalism and democracy that resulted in the continual remaking of American business. For more information on the exhibition and the "Precision Farming" case, visit: http://bit.ly/AmericanEnterprise.

Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History explores the infinite richness and complexity of American history. It helps people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future. For more information, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu. The museum is located on Constitution Avenue, between 12th and 14th streets N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.