Thursday November 8 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2018 corn crop is forecast at 1.80 billion bushels, up 7 percent from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area to be harvested for grain, at 9.25 million acres, is down 1 percent from a year ago. Yield is forecast at 195 bushels per acre, up 14 bushels from last year. Both yield and production are record highs if realized.

Sorghum production is forecast at 15.8 million bushels, up 32 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 155,000 acres, is 15 percent above 2017. Yield is a record, forecast at 102 bushels per acre, up 13 bushels from last year.

Soybean production is forecast at 345 million bushels, up 6 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.65 million acres, is slightly below 2017. Yield is forecast at 61 bushels per acre, up 3.5 bushels from last year. Both yield and production are record highs if realized.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.41 million tons, down 2 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 44,200 acres, is down 2 percent from 2017. Yield is a record, forecast at 31.8 tons per acre, unchanged from last year.

Potato acres of 19,500 were planted in 2018, up 3 percent. Harvested acreage set at 19,300, up 2 percent. Production is forecast at 9.46 million cwt, up 5 percent from last year. Yield is a record, forecast at 490 cwt per acre, up 15 cwt from last year.



IOWA CROP PRODUCTION FORECAST

Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.52 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 198 bushels per acre, down 6 bushels per acre from the October 1 forecast, and down 4 bushels per acre from last year. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 13.2 million acres. An estimated 12.8 million of the acres planted will be harvested for grain.

Soybean production is forecast at 577 million bushels. If realized, this will be the highest production on record with 9.94 million bushels more than the previous record of 567 million bushels set in 2017. The yield is forecast at 58.0 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels per acre from the October forecast, but 1 bushel per acre higher than 2017. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 10.0 million acres with 9.94 million acres to be harvested.

The forecasts in this report are based on November 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next corn and soybean production estimates will be published in the Crop Production – Annual Summary report which will be released in January 2019.



USDA: Corn Production Down 1 Percent from October Forecast
Soybean Production Down 2 Percent

Corn production is forecast at 14.6 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the October forecast but up less than 1 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 178.9 bushels per acre, down 1.8 bushels from the October forecast but up 2.3 bushels from 2017. If realized, this will be the highest yield and second highest production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, unchanged from the previous estimate but down 1 percent from 2017.

Soybean production is forecast at a record 4.60 billion bushels, down 2 percent from the October forecast but up 4 percent from last year. Based on November 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 52.1 bushels per acre, down 1.0 bushel from last month but up 2.8 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 88.3 million acres, down slightly from last month.



Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute FY2018 Annual Report Now Available

One in nine people in our world go to bed hungry each night. That's 795 million children and adults who do not have enough food to lead healthy lives.

The challenge is growing. Global drivers like climate change, urbanization and increasing demand for water-intensive agricultural products are altering landscapes, increasing soil erosion, and degrading water resources and soils in important food producing regions around the world. Our challenges are going to get even worse as our population approaches 10 billion in the next 30 years.

Nebraska is at the forefront of finding ways to use water as effectively and efficiently as possible to grow more food. The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute was established to leverage expertise and knowledge in Nebraska and around the world, drawing on the talents of more than 110 Faculty Fellows across the University of Nebraska system, 18 Global Fellows, visiting scholars, students and a wealth of external partners.

The institute is making important progress. Here are some highlights from the annual report:

International Outreach, Partnerships and Leadership
This year, the institute convened a Water for Food International Forum on farmer-led irrigation held in partnership with the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

DWFI took a leadership role in the 8th World Water Forum in Brasilia, Brazil, co-organizing the water for food security track in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and hosted a high-level panel on water for food.

Innovations in Water and Food Security
The Institute developed innovations to advance water and food security, from cutting-edge research using drones to capture real-time crop moisture data, to smart water meters that inform farmers of the energy costs of irrigation.

Policy Research and Solutions
DWFI staff has shared policy research and best practices, as shown in a new publication co-authored with the Environmental Defense Fund that provides a toolbox of resources and case studies on water management solutions.

Capacity Building
The Institute is building capacity through educational opportunities for the next generation of water and food security leaders, like the master’s level Nebraska field study course it offers in partnership with IHE Delft, The Netherlands, to students from Nebraska and countries around the world.

Particularly with a challenge of this scale, tangible impacts can take years to achieve. But Nebraskan's can be proud that DWFI is making a difference through focused research, education, collaboration and communication.

Read the report here..... https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/dwfi/documents/resources/dwfi-annual-report-2018.pdf. 



Drivers Across U.S. Top 6 Billion Miles on E15

Today, Growth Energy announced that American drivers have driven another billion miles, totaling 6 billion, on E15 – a fuel with 15 percent biofuel that is approved for all 2001 and newer vehicles. The announcement comes on the heels of President Trump’s move to make E15 available year-round and two major fuel retailers making news about their plans for E15 expansion.

“American drivers know a good value when they see it, which is precisely why once they try E15 they come back again and again,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “E15 provides unrivaled value for engines, the environment, and people’s wallets and we’re seeing more and more Americans rely on E15 to fuel their lives.”

“E15 has been a resounding success for our customers. When drivers pull up to our pumps they choose E15 because it delivers more octane for a lower cost than regular unleaded gasoline and because it burns cleaner and cooler. They know that it’s a smart choice for their engines,” said Steve Anderson, the owner of Marshal Cretin Minnoco, a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility and an ASE Certified Automobile Consultant. “I’ve worked as a mechanic for 33 years and I’ve seen firsthand the engine benefits of E15. We’ve sold E15 for 4 years and have had nothing but satisfied customers.”

Today, major retailers like Kwik Trip, Sheetz, Casey’s, Cumberland Farms, Thorntons, Kum & Go, RaceTrac, QuikTrip, Rutter’s, Minnoco, Protec Fuel, Murphy USA, Family Express, and Cenex offer E15 at more than 1,600 stations across 30 states and that number is poised to grow.



Commodity Classic Registration Opens Wednesday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. Central

Registration for America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational experience officially opens at 10:00 a.m. Central on Wednesday, November 14.

The 2019 Commodity Classic will be held Thursday, Feb. 28 through Saturday, Mar. 2 in Orlando, Fla. To register, reserve hotel rooms and sign up for email updates, visit CommodityClassic.com.  Early bird discounts on registration end January 10, 2019.

Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is unlike any other agriculture event, featuring a robust schedule of educational sessions, a huge trade show featuring the latest technology, equipment and innovation, top-notch entertainment, inspiring speakers and the opportunity to network with thousands of farmers from across the nation.

“Commodity Classic is unlike any other agriculture event because every experience, every educational session, and every speaker at Commodity Classic is selected by farmers, for farmers,” said Wesley Spurlock, a Texas corn farmer and co-chair of the 2019 Commodity Classic. “You’ll be among the best farmers, the best education, the best technology and innovation, and the best agribusinesses—all under one roof.”

Registration and housing for the 2019 Commodity Classic opens Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 10:00 a.m. Central.  A complete schedule of events is available at CommodityClassic.com.

Commodity Classic is presented annually by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. 



NBB Opposes Commerce Department’s Unprecedented Review of Biodiesel Import Duties

On November 5, the U.S. Department of Commerce granted a request from the government of Argentina to initiate “changed circumstances” reviews of U.S. trade duties imposed on Argentine biodiesel companies. The Department of Commerce imposed antidumping and countervailing duty orders earlier this year following investigations in which the government found that biodiesel imports from Argentina were massively subsidized and dumped, injuring U.S. biodiesel producers. The National Biodiesel Board’s Fair Trade Coalition urged Commerce to reject Argentina’s request and opposes Commerce’s initiation of the reviews, which could result in resetting the duty rates Commerce calculated only months ago.

NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen states, “The Commerce Department has no basis for initiating this unprecedented review. Commerce has established procedures for conducting reviews with extensive fact-finding for the very purpose of revisiting antidumping and countervailing duty rates but has never used “changed circumstances” reviews for these purposes. Commerce’s initiation of these reviews just months after finding that Argentina has engaged in unfair trade practices creates a great deal of uncertainty for our industry at a time when the positive results of the original cases are just beginning to be realized.

“The U.S. International Trade Commission unanimously determined that U.S. biodiesel producers were injured by biodiesel imports from Argentina, and Commerce confirmed that such harm resulted from massive subsidies provided by Argentina and huge margins of dumping by Argentina’s biodiesel industry. Once Commerce leveled the playing field, domestic biodiesel producers stepped up their efforts, put substantial under-utilized production capacity back to work, and boosted homegrown biodiesel production. In these circumstances, it is a complete mystery why Commerce would open a path to a resumption of unfairly traded imports. This action jeopardizes our industry’s progress and the American jobs our industry supports, and it places added pressure on our nation’s farmers who are already suffering from low commodity prices and uncertain trade conditions.”

John Heisdorffer, President of the American Soybean Association (ASA), added, “ASA does not see any change in circumstances that would prompt a change in the previous determination issued by the Department of Commerce and International Trade Administration on this matter. U.S. soybean farmers appreciate the Administration’s recognition that subsidized imports of biodiesel from Argentina distort markets and adversely impact U.S. producers and farmers. We are concerned the decision to review has the potential to disturb these well-founded determinations.”

The Commerce Department’s changed circumstances review process typically takes 270 days, meaning a final determination could come by August 2019.

Kurt Kovarik, NBB Vice President of Public Affairs, added, “President Trump has consistently stated support for the U.S. biofuels industry and strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws. His administration shouldn’t take action contrary to the President’s commitments. Importantly, soybean growers have seen large global markets closed to them and the EPA has cut the biodiesel industry’s market in the U.S. by 300 million gallons, while handing out RFS exemptions to every refiner that asked. It is unfathomable how Commerce could take such unprecedented action at a time when American farmers are piling surplus soybeans on the ground. Commerce shouldn’t put salt in the wound with actions that further threaten the viability of U.S. producers and farmers in favor of Argentina’s agricultural interests.”

The orders on biodiesel from Argentina imposed by Commerce earlier this year established final countervailing duty rates ranging from 71.45% to 72.28% and antidumping duty rates ranging from 60.44% to 86.41%.

The NBB Fair Trade Coalition filed petitions for relief to address a flood of subsidized and dumped imports from Argentina and Indonesia that resulted in market share losses and depressed prices for domestic producers. Biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia surged by 464 percent from 2014 to 2016, taking 18.3 percentage points of market share from U.S. manufacturers. These surging, artificially low-priced imports prevented producers from earning adequate returns on their substantial investments and stifled the ability of U.S. producers to make further investments to serve a growing market.

The U.S. biodiesel market supports more than 60,000 jobs nationwide and more than $11 billion in economic impact. Producers nationwide are poised to expand production and hire new workers with steady growth in the industry.



Perdue Statement on Dept. of Labor Rulemaking on H-2A Visa Program

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today praised proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which could help farmers advertise job openings to domestic workers as required under the H-2A visa program.  The DOL rulemaking would require that employers seeking to hire temporary workers post the employment opportunities online, rather than in expensive newspapers advertisements reaching a limited audience.  This is an early step in H-2A regulatory reforms as promised in May in a joint statement of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Labor, State, and Homeland Security.

Secretary Perdue issued the following statement:
“When I travel around the country, one of the biggest concerns farmers raise is the shortage of legal farm labor.  Our farmers and ranchers are the most productive in the world, and they want to obey immigration law.  Where American workers are not available, farmers turn to the H-2A program that is overly bureaucratic and cost prohibitive.  Using regulations like this is one way to modernize H-2A to reach more American workers, while providing relief to farmers from one of the high costs of the program.  It’s good to see the federal government using 21st Century technology, rather than being limited to placing notices in the want ads.

“H-2A reforms can chip around the edges of the labor shortage problem, but it will take action from Congress to address it fully.  I applaud Secretary Acosta and urge members of Congress to redouble their efforts to help our farmers find the workers they need to continue to feed, fuel, and clothe the United States and the world.”



US Farmers Look to Gain Market Share in Cuba

(AP) -- Entrepreneurs from the United States' agricultural sector have arrived in Cuba to promote business between the two countries.

The U.S.-Cuba Agriculture Coalition begins a conference Thursday to explore potential opportunities for American agriculture producers seeking a market on the island. Cuba imports most of its food products from abroad, a multibillion-dollar market that has flourished despite U.S. sanctions.

Trip organizer Phil Peters says the U.S. agribusiness sector is interested in exporting products to Cuba and improving regulatory conditions.



Conab Trims Forecasts for 2018-19 Soybean and Corn Harvests

Brazilian crop agency Conab trimmed the upper end of its forecasts for the 2018-2019 soybean and corn harvests as it slightly reduced some expectations for the expansion of the area planted with the crops.

The country will grow from 116.8 million metric tons to 119.3 million tons of soybeans in the current season, the agency said Thursday. That compares with the range of 117 million metric tons to 119.4 million metric Conab forecast last month and the record 119.3 million tons of soybeans Brazilian farmers produced in the 2017-2018 season.

Brazil is the world's second-largest soybean producer, after the U.S., and has produced several consecutive record crops in recent years as demand for the oilseed from China has remained strong.

Conab cut some of its forecasts for growth in the area to be planted with both crops in its November grains report.

The country's mild winters permit its farmers to plant to crops in most areas, and they frequently alternate between soybeans and corn. Brazil will produce from 90 million tons to 91 million tons of corn in 2018-2019, Conab forecast. In its October report, Conab predicted a harvest of 89.7 million tons to 91.1 million tons in 2018-2019, and in 2017-2018 the country grew 80.8 million tons of corn, according to the agency.



MAIZALL Mission Emphasizes Importance of Agricultural Innovation
   
Agricultural innovation continues to develop rapidly, benefiting farmers who are able to grow more and better crops using fewer inputs and natural resources. As governments around the world work to determine how to regulate these ever-evolving technologies, MAIZALL, the international maize alliance, is encouraging countries to adopt science-based policies to prevent disruptions to trade.

MAIZALL was formed in January 2013 by the corn growers associations in Argentina, Brazil and the United States to work together to tackle global market access barriers related to the introduction of new technologies in agriculture, particularly biotechnology. The alliance focuses on three areas: communicating the benefits of modern agricultural production methods and technologies, addressing asynchronous approval of biotech products and promoting regulatory harmonization.

During an October mission to Geneva and Rome, a group of MAIZALL leaders met with World Trade Organization (WTO) and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) officials and member country delegations to stress the importance of innovation to agriculture and the need for science-based decision-making on biotechnology, newer breeding techniques and pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs), among other topics.

“Talking to one another on a country-to-country level provides pressure that can lead to policy changes,” said Pam Johnson, past MAIZALL president and Iowa corn farmer, who participated in the mission. “Discussions and policy decisions at the international organization level are influential in shaping legislation and regulations, especially in developing countries.”

The MAIZALL delegation included Johnson; Cesario Ramalho, MAIZALL president from Brazil; Juan Minvielle, MAIZALL board member from Argentina; Benno van der Laan, MAIZALL coordinator; Allison Nepveux, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) manager of trade policy; and Lesly McNitt, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) director of public policy.

The delegation met with representatives from four major importing countries - the European Union, China, South Korea and Japan. MAIZALL delegates emphasized the importance of private sector engagement and the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee as a platform for discussion.

At the WTO, MAIZALL encouraged other government bodies to sign on to an international statement supporting agricultural applications of precision biotechnology. The statement was signed by a diverse set of nations, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Paraguay, Uruguay, Vietnam and the secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with more nations expected to sign on.

“Farmers continually need to broaden access to new tools to improve productivity, plant and animal health and environmental sustainability; and to help address global challenges such as climate change, pest and disease pressures, the safety and security of worldwide food supplies as well as meet consumer preferences and demands for healthier, high quality foods at affordable prices,” the statement reads.

“Government policies must continue to foster innovation, including in the public sector and by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mitigate against unintended, unnecessary barriers to entry of agriculture products.”

The MAIZALL mission also met with the FAO Deputy Director General and five senior members of his staff as well as Italy’s primary farmers union. During the FAO meetings, MAIZALL members were encouraged to increase engagement and information-sharing - particularly from the farmer perspective - as international dialogue continues.

“Given the current tensions in international trade relations, exporting countries like Argentina and Brazil have to become more vocal on agricultural issues,” said Cesario Ramalho, MAIZALL president from Brazil. “It is important for us to continue to build alliances and share staff and resources to ensure incoming governments and officials in MAIZALL countries stay active in these discussions.”

MAIZALL plans to continue to emphasize the importance of innovation in agriculture through official WTO and FAO channels and participation in conferences and missions in importing countries.