Wednesday September 5 Ag News

Ricketts Cuts Ribbon on New Prairie Catalytic Facility in Columbus

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts attended a ribbon cutting in Columbus to celebrate the grand opening of Nebraska-based Prairie Catalytic, LLC’s new $50 million bio-based ethyl acetate production facility.  Prairie Catalytic, a subsidiary of Greenyug, LLC, is a leading manufacturer of renewable chemicals.  The new facility will produce ethyl-acetate — a chemical found in dozens of common household products — by way of a proprietary manufacturing process that utilizes ethanol produced from Nebraska corn.

“Value-added agriculture is one of the best ways we can grow Nebraska,” said Governor Ricketts.  “We are not only the nation’s third-largest corn producer, but also the second-largest producer of ethanol.  With this new facility, Prairie Catalytic is leveraging Nebraska’s quality ag resources, our world-class business climate, and our welcoming communities to produce an innovative product that will reshape the industry.”

Ethyl acetate is used to produce adhesives, paint, coating, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, printing inks, decaffeinate coffee and tea, and other products.  In the past, the chemical was produced almost exclusively using nonrenewable fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas.  Prairie Catalytic is slated to become the world’s largest manufacturer of ethyl acetate produced solely with renewable feedstock.

The facility, itself, is strategically located next to the Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) corn processing facility, which will supply the corn-based ethanol utilized in the production process.

“We’re very pleased to be in Columbus, which is providing an excellent location thanks to Nebraska’s plentiful feedstock, excellent logistics infrastructure, its attractiveness as a place to relocate talent, and its great workforce and extremely welcoming attitude to businesses like ours,” said a company representative.

At design capacity, the new facility is projected to add 20 jobs in Columbus.  The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) provided a $250,000 Seed Investment grant through its nonprofit partner, Invest Nebraska, to assist in the facility’s construction — supplementing the over $50 million provided to Prairie Catalytic by the USDA.

“Prairie Catalytic is a great fit for the state of Nebraska, and a great addition to the Columbus economy,” said DED Director Dave Rippe.  “The Seed Commercialization grant program is about fostering the growth of innovative Nebraska-based companies, and that’s exactly what we are witnessing today.  We were proud to be a part of this project, which is a tremendous investment in Nebraska.”



JAPANESE GOVERNOR, ALUMNUS TO SPEAK AT NEBRASKA

Ikuo Kabashima, University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumnus and governor of Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, will speak Sept. 7 at a forum of the university’s Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance. He will address the impact of a changing trade environment on prefectures and states.

The keynote address will be at 1:30 p.m. in the Nebraska East Union. The event is free and open to the public.

Kabashima will discuss his efforts to promote international trade in Kumamoto Prefecture. He will also speak about his response to the earthquakes in Kumamoto in 2016 and describe how he drew upon his experiences in the United States, especially in Nebraska, to implement smart-agriculture systems and measures against bird flu. Following his remarks, he will participate in a panel discussion with Ralph Inforzato, chief executive director of the Japan External Trade Organization, on trade, investment and agriculture.

Japan is Nebraska’s fourth-largest international trading partner and the world’s No. 1 importer of Nebraska beef, pork and eggs.

Kabashima has been governor of Kumamoto Prefecture since 2008. As governor, he led the development of Kumamon, a promotional mascot that has driven product sales and gained popularity in Japan and beyond. Prior to his political career, he was a professor of law at the University of Tokyo. He holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Nebraska, along with a doctorate in political economy and government from Harvard University.

“Gov. Kabashima’s leadership of Kumamoto Prefecture in the areas of agriculture and export promotion, among others, provides an excellent foundation for dialogue about agriculture and trade with one of Nebraska’s key trading partners,” said Yeutter Institute Director Jill O’Donnell. “We look forward to welcoming students, faculty and members of the public to this event.”

The Yeutter Institute prepares students to understand, participate in and shape global trade and finance in an increasingly interconnected world. It builds on the strengths of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, College of Business and College of Law to offer undergraduate and graduate education, facilitate faculty research and conduct outreach efforts, all related to international trade and finance. For more information, visit https://ianr.unl.edu/yeutter-institute.



HUSKER HARVEST DAYS: UNIVERSITY EXHIBITS TO FOCUS ON MANAGING CHANGE, CHALLENGE

Husker Harvest Days exhibits from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will help show farm and ranch families how to manage change and challenges in their operations.

“Managing Change and Challenge: Strengthening Nebraska’s Agricultural Economy” is the theme for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources exhibits at the Sept. 11-13 show near Grand Island.

Exhibits will outline a wide range of decision points, strategies and tools for farmers, livestock producers and farm families that can have a direct impact on their economic well-being.

Exhibits inside IANR’s trademark Husker Red steel building at Lot 827 on the southeast side of the exhibit grounds will provide information on:
> the relationship between cost, nutritional value and impact of various feed sources for cow/calf operations;
> how farmers can better utilize federal farm policies such as the Farm Bill safety net during a time of transition into new realities in the agricultural marketplace;
> using crop budgets to analyze the true operating costs for a farm;
> agricultural land value and rental rates in Nebraska;
> succession and transitions for farms and ranches;
> the nutrient value of baled cornstalks for cattle feed and exploration of the implications of the practice on soil quality;
> how families, farms and communities deal with stress.

In addition, a bank of video screens will provide a big-picture experience of “Hot Topics in Nebraska Agriculture.” Nebraska Extension specialists will be on hand to providing additional information on each of the showcased topics, which include crop response to hail, cover crop planting, grazing cover crops, and effects of weather and climate on agricultural systems. The screens will also be used to demonstrate a grain marketing program that can simulate real-time commodity marketing decision-making.

Outdoor exhibits adjacent to the building will feature demonstrations related to pest management and commodity marketing. The weed science team will demonstrate how best to apply pesticides with minimal drift using a sprayer technology trailer. They will also help attendees learn how to identify field and pasture weeds and herbicide injury on both crops and weeds.

For youth attendees, the outdoor area will also feature the Commodity Carnival, where participants can learn about livestock and grain marketing.

IANR faculty and staff will be available to answer questions on a variety of extension and research-related topics, provide copies of NebGuides and direct those needing further information to extension experts in their area.

Showgoers can also learn about the latest opportunities for students at the university’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis. College representatives will be available throughout the show to answer questions from potential students. Those interested in the Nebraska Leadership Education Action Development program can also visit with a representative.



Publication Addresses Value of Cereal Rye for Cow-Calf Producers

Cereal rye is a common feed used in cow-calf production, extending the grazing season, providing early spring forage or as an emergency area for spring calving during inclement weather.

cow calf herd grazing cereal rye.Understanding how to grow cereal rye and best use the crop is the focus of a new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication titled “Grazing Opportunities with Cereal Rye” (IBC 0128). The publication is written by Beth Doran, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

“Growing and using cereal rye is not without its challenges, but it has become the first choice of cover crops to graze because it grows rapidly and tolerates colder temperatures,” Doran said.

The publication provides best management practices for producers to use when grazing cereal rye with stocker cattle. Nine steps are listed for producers to think about and follow in order to grow cereal rye of the highest quality.

Included in the publication are a pair of tables that show research on both the yield and nutrient density of cereal rye.

“A high level of management is involved in successfully growing and grazing cover crops,” Doran said. “Whether it is cereal rye or another cover crop, cattle producers need to consider five things – the crop grown previous to the cover crop, the kind of cover crop to be grown, the crop that will be grown after the cover crop is terminated, the characteristics of the grazing animal and weather.”

Growing cereal rye can also provide added value for crop producers through selling excess feed, leasing crop acres to cattle producers to graze or temporarily grazing stocker cattle themselves.

“Leaving out the value of cereal rye as a feedstuff for livestock, it benefits a crop producer,” Doran said. “Cover crops improve soil health, nutrient retention and aid in weed control.”



RECORD NUMBER OF FARMERS PARTICIPATE IN WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE COST SHARE PROGRAM

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that a record number of Iowa farmers again signed up to install nutrient reduction practices on their farm through the Iowa Water Quality Initiative’s statewide cost share program.

More than 2,800 farmers from all 99 Iowa counties signed up to try cover crops, no-till/strip-till or nitrification inhibitor on more than 300,000 acres.  The state will provide over $5 million in cost share funds to match the estimated $9.1 million investment by Iowa farmers.

“We continue to see growing interest by farmers in using water quality-focused practices on their farm. Together, we are building a culture of conservation across the state and it is encouraging to see farmers continuing to invest in these practices,” Naig said. “This is one of several programs that are available to assist farmers as they work to protect water quality and build soil health.”

Participants include more than 1,000 farmers using a practice for the first time and nearly 1,800 past users that are trying cover crops again and are receiving a reduced-rate of cost share.

Farmers not already utilizing the practice were eligible for cost share for cover crops of $25 per acre, $10 per acre for trying no-till or strip till and $3 per acre for using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer. Farmers that had used cover crops in the past were eligible for $15 per acre in cost share.  Cost share was only available on up to 160 acres per farmer.

While sign up for this program has closed, farmers are encouraged to still reach out to their local Soil and Water Conservation District office as there may be other programs available to help them implement water quality practices on their farm.

One program available through the Department farmers may want to consider is an incentive that provides a crop insurance premium reduction for farmers who use cover crops. Through this program, farmers who plant cover crops this fall may be eligible for a $5 per acre premium reduction on their crop insurance in 2019. Program information and the online sign-up and application process for farmers and landowners to certify eligible land for the program can be found at https://www.cleanwateriowa.org/covercropdemo.

Over the past 5 years, 8000 farmers, including nearly 4,600 first time users, signed up to use a water quality-focused practice through the Water Quality Initiative. These farmers invested more than $17 million to try cover crops, no-till, strip-till or a nitrification inhibitor on their land.

“We understood from the start that this would be a long-term process and it is great to see farmers making an extended commitment to cover crops and understanding how to use them in a variety of situations and conditions,” Naig said.



Yield Monitor Calibrations
NEW Cooperative Inc. Newsletter

You’ve worked hard all year from planning, to planting, to protecting, and now harvest is right around the corner.  This is the time when you evaluate all of your efforts and learn what did and didn’t work so you can improve for next year.  In order to get good results that you can learn from you need a well calibrated yield monitor that will collect good data.  Below are a few tips to getting a good yield monitor calibration this fall.

ONE:
Check the clearance between the top of the clean grain elevator and the deflector shield.  Make sure you are within the specs for your system.

TWO:
Check the crop year and hit the “New Calibration” button.
   
THREE:
Make sure speed, header height, temperature, and vibration calibrations have been performed.

FOUR:
Find a good consistent area of the field for the calibration loads.

FIVE:
Collect a minimum of 4 loads and plan to collect 5 loads.

SIX:
Vary your speed with each load.  Depending on harvest conditions and your combines capabilities, use 2 mph, 3 mph, 4 mph, 5 mph, and 6 mph as a good starting spot.

SEVEN:
Consider multiple calibrations if moistures vary significantly.  A good rule of thumb is to have a calibration for 21% and above and one calibration for 20% and below.

These are general guidelines that will be useful in a lot of flow based yield monitoring systems. Depending on your system, only some of these tips may apply.  For additional tips specific to your yield monitoring system contact your local NEW Cooperative Agronomist or Precision Ag Specialist.



 Iowans explore agriculture firsthand through Expedition Farm Country

The Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP) hosted Expedition Farm Country Aug. 24 and 25 to give consumers the chance to dive into modern agriculture, interact directly with farm families and foster a greater appreciation for farming in Iowa.

The fourth-annual event took more than 50 participants on a tour of dairy, soybean, corn, beef cattle and pig farms in northeast Iowa, as well as Lock & Dam No. 11 in Dubuque.

“The Iowa Food & Family Project is about connecting farmers and consumers to build greater understanding and appreciation for farming, and Expedition Farm Country truly brings that mission to life,” said Kelly Visser, Communications Program Coordinator at the Iowa Soybean Association and lead organizer of Iowa FFP. “It’s exciting to see genuinely curious consumers ask questions and gain a fuller perspective on where their food comes from.”

Participants represented a variety of industries and backgrounds including healthcare, food banks, administrative services, communications, education and manufacturing. They were selected in part by their intent to share the expedition experience with personal and professional networks.

“I work with teachers and businesses to create real-world connections between classroom learning and their local communities. The entire tour was full of examples I can share with educators,” said participant Sarah Derry, PhD., South Central Regional STEM Manager for the Governor's STEM Advisory Council.

Beginning at Heartland Acres, an agriculture exhibition center in Independence, the group explored decades of Iowa’s agriculture history. The tour then led to Country View Dairy where participants learned about the dairy industry and toured a milking tour and yogurt production facility. Participants then jumped in the cab of a tractor, sprayer and combine and learned about the conservation and precision technology behind soybean and corn production at Joe and Suzanne Shirbroun’s in Farmersburg.

Saturday’s Expedition Farm Country experience led the group to Lock and Dam No. 11 for a behind-the-scenes look at grain transportation along the Mississippi River. The tour then led to New Vienna to learn about beef production, animal comfort and feed mixing at Marty and Steve Schwers cattle operation.

The final leg of the tour included a stop at G&W Pork in Aurora where Al and Kathy Wulfekuhle shared insights on pork production, biosecurity and animal welfare.

Iowans interested in participating in future farm tours or other Iowa FFP initiatives can subscribe to the Fresh Pickings email newsletter at www.iowafoodandfamily.com.



Monarch Support Coming to ASA’s Social Pages in September

While trade issues remain top priority for the soy industry, the American Soybean Association (ASA) is taking a moment this fall to illuminate the importance of monarch habitat in its overall conservation efforts, which include soil and water quality, and pollinator preservation.

Starting September 5 and running through October 5, ASA’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook feeds will be aflutter with monarch messaging designed to shine a spotlight on monarch habitat importance. Outreach will include quick facts, links and suggestions to easily get involved, and a photo contest for farmers and other ASA friends and followers to upload snapshots of their efforts to plant milkweed and protect the pretty, beneficial butterflies.

Three randomly-selected participants who post their unique monarch or monarch habitat pics on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with the hashtag #Beans4Monarchs during the contest period will be selected to each win one $100 gift card, to be awarded in October. Photos can be posted directly to ASA social media platforms or on the participants’ feeds, so long as they include the #Beans4Monarchs hashtag and comply with the contest rules. ASA will cross-promote the contest throughout the month with interested and likeminded organizations to widen the social media circle cast on this issue and bring more awareness to why butterflies are important and how soy growers are making a difference in monarch habitats.

Monarch habitat promotes biodiversity and sustainability near farmlands, including attracting pollinators, improving soil health and water quality, housing natural enemies of crop pests, and increasing wildlife diversity. Yet, the monarch population has been alarmingly on the decline since the 1990s. The goal of ASA’s #Beans4Monarchs program is to help turn around those declining numbers and promote fit farmlands through healthy monarch habitat.



Farm Bureau Presidents Meet with Trump, Pence

State Farm Bureau Presidents met today with President Trump and Vice President Pence to express their continuing concerns over trade and the financial difficulties tariffs and related barriers are causing farmers and ranchers.

Texas President Russell Boening, Illinois President Richard Guebert and American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Scott VanderWal – who is also President of the South Dakota Farm Bureau – told the president and vice president that they needed open markets soon. President Trump’s appearance was unscheduled, but the commander-in-chief said he wanted to stop by to express his appreciation for agriculture, as well as his broad support for rural America. The small group of ag leaders included representatives of several agricultural organizations in addition to Farm Bureau, covering row crops, dairy and livestock, and specialty crops.

Boening, Guebert and VanderWal also met with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue as well as Ambassador Gregg Doud, chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The meeting lasted nearly an hour.

“Farmers and ranchers are counting on the Administration to fight for strong trade deals that expand our markets—now more than ever as we face the worst farm economy in 12 years,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “This White House has been the most ag-focused in recent memory, and we are grateful to have a seat at the table with our nation’s leaders to discuss the importance of agriculture to our rural economies and the importance of trade to farmers and ranchers across the country.”



Farm Bill Conference Meeting to Consider H.R. 2
House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway

Chairman Roberts, Ranking Members Peterson and Stabenow, fellow members of the conference committee, good morning. And good morning to all who have gathered here today to discuss a matter of great importance and urgency: the 2018 Farm Bill.

Many of you read last week that USDA is projecting that net farm income will be down another 13 percent this year. Producer incomes are roughly half of what they were when farm bill conferees last met back in October 2013. Put simply, we are in the fifth year of a severe recession in farm country, and it doesn’t appear to be letting up any time soon.

Farm bankruptcies are up 39 percent over the past 2 years alone. Yet, in the face of these conditions, USDA also projects that spending on the farm safety net will actually drop significantly as the Agricultural Risk Coverage program withers under the strain of the current farm economy.

While the farm bill covers a wide range of important policies, I submit that it is the primary job of this conference committee to provide—as Chairman Roberts would say—the predictability and stability of a farm safety net.

Thus far in the process, we have honored calls from across the country to do no harm to crop insurance. Back in 2000, Senator Roberts and his colleagues—including two House members who represented portions of my district, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest and Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm—worked hard to craft a crop insurance system that works for farmers and ranchers. The framework is in place so policies may be fine-tuned in order to work for all of our producers. We do right in safeguarding this critical achievement.

There is much in the farm bill that is worth protecting—and there are also some critical mission areas that need improving. Beyond protecting crop insurance, I would submit that at a time when there is so much uncertainty for farmers and ranchers, including on the trade front, that this conference committee should do absolutely nothing in regard to trade promotion and food aid programs that would inflict harm on our farmers and ranchers.

In regard to areas needing improvement, perhaps nobody knows better than my ranking member just how badly we need a well-funded animal disease preparedness and response program. Mr. Peterson’s state suffered significantly due to avian influenza, and we need to prevent additional outbreaks in the future. We put strong funding in the House farm bill, and Mr. Peterson’s motion to instruct, which was overwhelmingly approved in the House, urges us to go further.

Another area that must be safeguarded and improved is the commodity title. The commodity title provides the safety net that is so desperately needed right now by our farmers and ranchers. After all, helping struggling farmers and ranchers weather the current storm is the driving force behind getting this farm bill done—and done on time. We need to be putting more resources into the farm safety net—not less.

There are certainly areas of disagreement between the two chambers—disagreements that stretch far beyond the nutrition title and are plainly reflected in our respective versions of the farm bill. But the good news is that I have seen no disagreement that should prevent us from completing a strong farm bill on time. Even on SNAP, I have repeatedly stressed that we are willing and able to come to consensus with the Senate.

Finally, I want to conclude my remarks by extending my gratitude to Secretary Perdue and his team. They have been of great help throughout this process, and we are very fortunate to have the right man in the right place at the right time.

I also want to thank the committee staff—both Democrat and Republican in both the House and the Senate—for all of their work behind the scenes to get us to this point over the past year. You’ve given up weekends, and holidays, and time with your families. So, thank you for all the work you have done and will do as we race to finish the farm bill.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I pledge to you and all of my colleagues—and above all to farm and ranch country and rural America—that I am ready and willing to remain in Washington and work every day until this farm bill is enacted into law.

At the start of this year, very few thought we would get this far. We’ve come too far not to finish the job.

Let’s get this done.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Identifies Top Five Farm Bill Priorities

The Nebraska Farm Bureau has identified the organization’s top five priorities for the new farm bill, as representatives of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate work to negotiate a final Farm Bill from the versions passed by the House and Senate. Nebraska Farm Bureau shared the priorities in correspondence to members of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation thanking them for their efforts to advance farm bill discussions, while also encouraging them to communicate the priorities to members of Congress tasked with putting the finishing touches on the bill.

“The farm bill is an important piece of legislation for all Americans, but it is especially important to our farmers and ranchers. While only a small percentage of the dollars allocated in the farm bill aid farm and ranch families, those dollars are vital to funding risk management programs that help farmers deal with the volatility in agricultural markets, while also assisting farmers and ranchers impacted by catastrophic floods, rain and hail, droughts, and other natural disasters beyond their control,” said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.

Nebraska Farm Bureau’s priorities for the farm bill negotiations include:

1. Protecting and improving risk management programs.
“Both the House and Senate versions of the farm bill largely leave federal crop insurance untouched. Our members have made it clear the preservation of a robust federal crop insurance system is a top priority,” said Nelson. “The House and Senate versions of the farm bill also offer beneficial changes to federal commodity programs including the use of a new data set when determining yields under the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program, as well as the inclusion of a floating reference price under the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program.”

2. Ensuring the conservation title does not include new permanent easement and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) language.
“The Senate passed version of the bill created a new permanent easement program to help transition acres out of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). These acres would then be held in their “retired” condition in perpetuity. Nebraska Farm Bureau policy raises concerns with the concept of permanent easements and it’s important this program is dropped out of the final bill,” said Nelson. “The Senate bill also modifies CSP by re-infusing top-down bureaucracy and carving up the program. It adds multiple layers of bureaucratic hurdles and consultation requirements, as well as redirecting funding away from on-the-ground conservation practices, which is a concern.”

3. Growing federal trade promotion programs.
“Now more than ever we need programs focused on export growth and promotion of U.S. agricultural products overseas. Both the House and Senate bills combine the Market Access program, Foreign Market Development program, the Emerging Markets program, and Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops into one program,” said Nelson. “These programs are vital to market growth and it’s important Congress strengthens the budget for this new program,” said Nelson.

4. Helping create new health insurance plans for farmers and ranchers who are suffering the brunt of the Affordable Care Act’s unaffordable health insurance.
“The House bill creates a new loan and grant program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist in the establishment of agricultural association health plans. The cost of health care and health insurance ranked second in terms of the most concerning issue for farmers and ranchers at Nebraska Farm Bureau listening sessions held around the state this summer. As organizations around the country look to better serve the agricultural community by trying to offer new health insurance options, this new program could go a long way in helping to provide the necessary seed-money to get these options from concept to reality,” said Nelson.

5. Continuing work to eliminate unnecessary and harmful federal regulations.
“Both the House and Senate bill make separate attempts to address a number of regulations which have been points of concern for the agricultural community for years. It is imperative the final bill include measures to fix problems we have had with the enforcement of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, federal Hours of Service regulations for transport of agriculture commodities, efforts by states to improperly regulate interstate commerce, as well as the ‘Waters of the U.S.’ rule,” said Nelson. “It is important to note that each of these efforts have bipartisan support.”



NCGA Statement on Farm Bill Conference Public Meeting

The following is a statement from North Dakota farmer Kevin Skunes, president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), on today’s public meeting of the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee.

“With the House and Senate back in session, it is encouraging to see farm bill conferees come together and work toward a new farm bill that can be signed into law by the end of the month.

“With declining farm incomes, trade uncertainty, and ethanol market disruptions, the corn industry is struggling amid continued uncertainty. Delivering a 2018 Farm Bill on time would be welcome news for rural America. NCGA looks forward to continuing our conversations with Conferees to reach this goal.”



NCFC on Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting
President and CEO Chuck Conner

“Today’s meeting of the Farm Bill Conference Committee marks a key step towards completing the next farm bill by the end of this month when the current law expires. Meeting that deadline is now more important than ever. Commodity prices remain stubbornly low and farmers and ranchers are facing unprecedented uncertainty in international markets.

“I would like to recognize House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow for the work by them and their staff that has helped move the process to this point. It is essential that they and the rest of the conference members move on from today’s meeting to reach an agreement in the next few weeks.”



Majority of Fertilizer Prices Trend Lower

More retail fertilizer prices are lower than higher for the first time in several months, according to prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of August 2018. Prices for five of the eight major fertilizers declined compared to last month, while the remaining three were still higher.

The moves in either direction were fairly small. Moving lower were DAP, which had an average price of $487 per ton, urea $365/ton, anhydrous $480/ton, UAN28 $233/ton and UAN32 $271/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were slightly higher compared to last month. MAP had an average price of $513/ton, potash $357/ton and 10-34-0 $446/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.29/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.42/lb.N.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices shifting higher in recent months. Potash is 6% higher, 10-34-0 is 7% more expensive, both UAN28 and UAN32 are 9% higher, both MAP and DAP are 12% higher, anhydrous is 15% higher and urea is 20% more expensive compared to last year.



U.S. Beef Producers Disadvantaged by Current “Product of U.S.A” Labeling Standards

 Current federal meat labeling standards are disadvantaging U.S. family beef producers by allowing products born, raised, or slaughtered outside of the United States to carry the “Product of the U.S.A.” label. These standards need to be changed immediately, according to the nation’s second largest general farm organization.

National Farmers Union (NFU) today wrote to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in support of a petition by the Organization for Competitive Markets and American Grassfed Association that FSIS should change current regulations to require that beef be of domestic origin to be eligible for the “Product of the U.S.A.” label.

“Any product that is simply processed in the U.S. can be labeled ‘Product of U.S.A.,’ wrote NFU President Roger Johnson. “This standard allows beef that is born, raised and slaughtered in another country to be labeled ‘Product of U.S.A.,’ provided it passes through a USDA-inspected plant. This permits product labeling that misleads consumers and places U.S. ranchers at a market disadvantage.”

The current standards allow foreign interests and multi-national corporations to take advantage of market opportunities that should be reserved for U.S. family farmers and ranchers, according to NFU. “This financially harms U.S. beef producers who currently find themselves in a highly consolidated marketplace,” said Johnson. “Today, four companies, Cargill, Tyson, JBS and National Beef, control over 80 percent of the beef market. All four of these multinational corporations depend on imported meat and meat products.”

Johnson noted that NFU has long been a proponent of mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for agricultural products as a means to ensure consistent labeling for the benefit of American family farmers and consumers. Yet COOL was repealed in 2015, and the voluntary “Product of U.S.A.” labels do not provide consumers with accurate country-of-origin labeling. That, coupled with extreme consolidation in the beef industry, has significantly disadvantaged American beef producers. In fact, cattle producers have seen their retail earnings decline by 50% since 2014. Today, U.S. cattle producers receive only $0.22 of the retail food dollar.

Finally, Johnson cited Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and FSIS regulations that clearly prohibit meat and meat product labels that are misleading to consumers.

“USDA has a responsibility to correct “Product of U.S.A.” labeling standards. Current labeling practices do not satisfy the requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act or federal regulations,” said Johnson. “FSIS must amend its labeling standards to restrict use of the ‘Product of U.S.A.’ label exclusively for meat and meat products that derive from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States.”



Dairy Products July 2018 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.09 billion pounds, 3.7 percent above July 2017 and 2.7 percent above June 2018.  Italian type cheese production totaled 464 million pounds, 2.6 percent above July 2017 and 3.2 percent above June 2018.  American type cheese production totaled 440 million pounds, 6.1 percent above July 2017 and 2.3 percent above June 2018.  Butter production was 136 million pounds, 0.5 percent above July 2017 but 4.4 percent below June 2018.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with July 2017)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 147 million pounds, down 3.4 percent.
Skim milk powder - 47.6 million pounds, down 0.5 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with July 2017)
Dry whey, total - 91.4 million pounds, down 9.0 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 95.0 million pounds, down 3.1 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 40.3 million pounds, down 2.1 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with July 2017)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 68.7 million gallons, down 1.0 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 42.3 million gallons, down 1.2 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 3.14 million gallons, down 5.5 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 4.82 million gallons, down 7.1 percent.



July Ethanol Exports Down From 2017

The U.S. Census Bureau said Wednesday that U.S. exports of goods and services totaled $211.1 billion in July, down $2.1 billion from June. Imports totaled $261.2 billion, up $2.2 billion on the month. The resulting trade deficit of $50.1 billion for July was up from $45.7 billion in June. USDA later provided more details for exports of ethanol, biodiesel, and distillers grains.

USDA reported U.S. exports of ethanol totaled 104.4 million gallons in July, down 12% from a year ago. Canada was the top destination in July, accounting for 36% of the total while Brazil was second with roughly half of Canada's total. In the first seven months of 2018, U.S. ethanol exports were up 27% from a year ago.

U.S. exports of biodiesel totaled 36,487 metric tons in July, down 43% from a year ago. Once again, Canada was the top destination in July, taking 97% of all U.S. exports. So far in 2018, U.S. exports of biodiesel are up 11% from a year ago.

U.S. exports of distillers grains totaled 1,107,891 metric tons in July, up 11% from a year ago. Turkey was the top destination in July, accounting for 17% of U.S. exports, while Mexico was a close second. The first seven months of U.S. distillers grains exports were up 4% in 2018 from a year ago.



Nominations now open for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

In coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the public call for nominations to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). The independent advisory committee will review the scientific evidence to help inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Secretaries Perdue and Azar will consider the scientific review as they oversee development of, and approve, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The deadline to submit nominations for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is October 6, 2018, at 11:59 pm, Eastern Time.

“We are looking forward to a robust group of nominees to serve on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee,” said Brandon Lipps, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at USDA, the administrative lead for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. “The public’s participation throughout the development of the guidelines is crucial as we work hard to ensure the process is transparent and science-driven.”

The next edition of the guidelines will take a life stage approach, reflecting an expansion to include pregnant women and children from birth to 24 months as mandated by the 2014 Farm Bill. The scientific review conducted by the advisory committee will be guided by topics and supporting questions that reflect earlier public comments, and focus on patterns of what we eat and drink to help prevent disease and keep people healthy. The government is seeking nominations that reflect expertise related to these areas.

“The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee fulfills an important role in the development of each edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS. “The committee’s independent, expert review of the current evidence on the role of nutrition in disease prevention and health promotion helps to ensure that the guidelines are based on sound science.”

Information on how to submit nominations, factors USDA and HHS will consider in selecting the committee members, and the updated topics and supporting scientific questions are available through DietaryGuidelines.gov.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans serves as the cornerstone of federal nutrition programs and policies, providing food-based recommendations to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases and promote overall health. According to the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, the guidelines are mandated to reflect the preponderance of scientific evidence, and is published jointly by USDA and HHS every five years. For information and links, go to DietaryGuidelines.gov.



Cattle Industry Works Together on Traceability at NIAA Strategy Forum

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and NIAA have often worked together on issues that impact the beef industry,” says Jennifer Houston, 2018 NCBA President-Elect and Opening Speaker at the 2018 NIAA Strategy Forum on Livestock Traceability to be held in Kansas City, Mo. at the end of this month.

“We think it is important to reach out to other people in the industry,” she says. “Both organizations are contractors to the Beef Checkoff, so issues that are of interest to the industry, such as disease traceability and antimicrobial resistance, merit the support of associations such as ours.”

From NCBA’s perspective traceability is an important part of our future.  “Of course, we already have the mandatory Animal Disease Traceability program, but the question is what else can traceability do for the industry, and what steps should we be taking next?

“Traceability is an important issue that is already on the minds of many industry stakeholders, said Houston. “While opinions differ on what comes next, we can all agree that there are many unanswered questions and we need to begin putting the pieces together and identifying solutions that will work for all of us.”

A study, conducted by World Perspectives, Inc., showed a number of questions remains in the minds of stakeholders, including important questions about data ownership and liability issues. “We have to find the answers to these questions,” she says. “Working together with NIAA and other groups to accomplish this makes sense.”

The NIAA Strategy Forum will feature a wide variety of speakers to address traceability from several different viewpoints, on different issues and feature feedback from industry groups. One highlight she is looking forward to is the report by the Cattle Traceability Working Group, which was developed from work done at the 2017 Forum.

“We just need to keep looking to the future on how we improve the disease traceability system that we have now, and how we continue to improve,” Houston said. “The NIAA Strategy Forum on Livestock Traceability has speakers that will help us focus on that.”

The 2018 NIAA Strategy Forum on Livestock Traceability will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, September 24 - 26, 2018 and will feature reports from the USDA traceability team and the Cattle Traceability Working Group, as well as a Technology Showcase with the most current technology, products and services focused on cattle traceability.

Register now at www.animalagriculture.org. 



Prominent Ag Export and Supply Chain Leader Keynotes Export Exchange 2018

With a cadre of high-profile speakers confirmed, Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are pleased to announce that Roger Watchorn, group leader at Cargill Agriculture Supply Chain North America (CASCNA), will be the keynote speaker for Export Exchange 2018 next month.

Held every other year and sponsored by Growth Energy, USGC, and RFA, Export Exchange brings together international buyers and U.S. sellers of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), as well as other feed grain products. The Oct. 22-24 conference in Minneapolis is expected to attract nearly 500 attendees, including 200 from 30 countries participating as part of USGC trade teams.

Watchorn and his team are responsible for setting the culture and strategic direction for the domestic and export grain, oilseed processing, crop inputs, biodiesel, and Cargill Marine & Terminals businesses in Canada, the United States and Mexico. His remarks will focus on the achievements and challenges of the supply chain for U.S. coarse grains and co-products in today’s trade environment.

“I look forward to welcoming Mr. Watchorn to this year’s Export Exchange,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “With the current trade restrictions and farm income downturn, opening new international and domestic markets is critical to our industry. Mr. Watchorn’s unique experience in global exports and supply-chain building as well as perspective on the path forward for grains and co-products like DDGS will be sure to capture the attention of this year’s attendees.”

“Mr. Watchorn will bring a fresh perspective to Export Exchange, on the burgeoning international grains market and the trends and future of it from the supply chain perspective,” said USGC Chairman Jim Stitzlein. “We look forward to hosting him and getting his unique insight into the industry.”

Previously, Watchorn was president and business unit leader for Cargill’s Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain in North America (GOSCNA) and held various merchandising and management positions with GOSCNA in western Canada, North Dakota and Kansas before joining the company’s animal nutrition division in Warsaw, Poland in 2008.

“DDGS and other co-products are a vitally important part of the global feed market and provide a value-added market for the U.S. ethanol industry,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “In fact, nearly one out of every three tons of distillers grains produced last year was exported. The Export Exchange will help connect producers and marketers of these co-products with users around the globe.” 

Speakers at Export Exchange will address critical issues facing U.S. agricultural exports, offering the customers and sellers in attendance an increased awareness of the benefits of U.S. coarse grains and co-products, including DDGS. The conference’s speaker line-up will also include the following confirmed, high-caliber speakers focused on the status of U.S. coarse grains and co-products, including DDGS and ethanol:
    Dr. Robert Johansson – USDA Chief Economist, will speak about the USDA’s 10-year outlook for coarse grains.
    Florentino Lopez – United Sorghum Checkoff Program Executive Director, will review the current status of the sorghum industry.
    Kelly Davis – Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Renewable Fuels Association, will discuss the importance of food safety plans in a session entitled Food Safety Regulations for Manufacturers of DDGS.
    Phil Smith – Nutritionist, Tyson Foods, will share the latest news on DDGS nutrition, feed formulation and research.
    Bill Holbrook – Senior Analyst, ProExporter, will give an update on the production supply and demand of U.S. DDGS in a session called DDGS Outlook, Challenges and Opportunities.

More information will be distributed in the coming months to members of the grains industries and will be made available online at www.exportexchange.org or on social media using the hashtag #ExEx18. Those interested can sign up for a mailing list to automatically receive conference updates by emailing info@exportexchange.org.