Tuesday November 20 Ag News

AG TECH START-UPS COMPETE FOR $20,000 PRIZE

The Nebraska Power Farming Show, presented by Farm Credit Services of America and AgDirect, is hosting an Ag Innovation Pitch Competition LIVE at the show on Wednesday, December 5.

The competition will feature six ag tech start-ups pitching their latest ideas to help producers manage their operation more effectively. The competition, emceed by Chad Moyer (KTIC Radio Farm Director), will culminate with the winning company receiving a $20,000 prize.

Show attendees can watch these ag tech start-ups compete at 2:00 pm in Pavilion 2 East:
  - ChorChek: Changes the way livestock producers manage their daily tasks by streamlining processes and data collection.
  - FarmAfield: Low-cost ag investment platform where ag commodities can be bought and sold.
  - Farmland Finder: Makes farmland information more accessible through an online search engine and marketplace for ag real estate.
  - HitchPin: Connects farmers who need services or products to others that can provide them.
  - Quantified AG: Leverages data analytics to report on cattle behavior and biometrics with a smart cattle ear tag.
  - Tillable: A marketplace for connecting landowners and growers.

The Ag Innovation Pitch Competition is presented by Farm Credit Services in collaboration with CoBank, Farm Credit Leasing, Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Innovation Campus and Rain and Hail.

The second largest indoor U.S. farm show, the Nebraska Power Farming Show will be held December 4-6 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Spread across 9.2 acres, the Nebraska Power Farming Show features the broadest mix of ag-related products and services in the Midwest. NEW show hours – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and 8:30 am to 3 pm Thursday. Admission and parking at the Lancaster Event Center are FREE!

The Nebraska Power Farming Show is produced by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association in conjunction with local Nebraska and Iowa farm equipment dealerships. The show is sponsored by: Diamond Sponsor – Farm Credit Services of America and AgDirect; Platinum Sponsors – Bayer and Nebraska Farm Bureau; Gold Sponsors – Mitas, Stine Seed Company and Sukup Manufacturing; Silver Sponsor – Heartland Chevy Dealers; and Media Sponsors – Midwest Messenger and Rural Radio Network.



AFAN/WSA bring Ag Groups Together to Discuss Workforce Challenges

A panel discussion on ag workforce shortage and housing issues was one of the highlights of the annual meeting of the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture (AFAN) and We Support Agriculture (WSA) in Lincoln. 

Panel participants were Bill Thiele of TLS Dairy of Clearwater, Liz Babcock with Adams Land and Cattle of Broken Bow, and Gary Person from the North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce.

Babcock, who handles human resources for the 160-employee Adams operation, said she has had success in recruiting employees by focusing on millennials through social media--and she said working to build a better culture has helped retain good employees.

Thiele said housing is “tremendous problem” for their 30-employee dairy operation. He said they had to start buying houses when they became available, so employees would have a place to live.  They also pay the rent for employees.

Person says North Platte has developed programs which provide incentives to contractors to build housing.

Anne Meis of Elgin, a member of the Nebraska Soybean Board, said she enjoyed the panel discussion. “I liked the diversity of the panel, from the large operation represented by Adams Land and Cattle to a smaller operation with Bill Thiele of TLS Dairy.  The diversification helped us understand the challenges that both sizes of farming operations experience. It was a good representation of the issue.”

Another highlight of the annual meeting was an address by Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts.  Ricketts said his administration continues to look for opportunities to expand livestock agriculture in Nebraska.

In her annual report, AFAN executive director Kristen Hassebrook said it’s been a good year for livestock development in Nebraska.

“There’s a lot of poultry that’s about to come online and hog development is really exciting right now,” Hassebrook said. “We also see the opportunity for some unique partnerships between beef and dairy related to heifer development and feedlot opportunities.”

The meeting concluded with the recognition of Jim and Lora O’Rourke of RuJoDen Ranch, Chadron, Nebraska as winners of the 2018 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award. The award is sponsored by the Sand County Foundation with support from AFAN, Nebraska Cattlemen, Cargill, and The Nebraska Environmental Trust.

The annual meeting of AFAN and WSA was sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Board and the Nebraska Corn Board.



Beattie named 2018 AG-ceptional Woman

A Sumner woman has been recognized for her contributions to agriculture. Shana Beattie was honored as the AG-ceptional Woman of the Year at the Northeast Community College AG-ceptional Women’s Conference on the Northeast campus in Norfolk on Friday.

The announcement was made during a video tribute that was played during the opening session of the 10th annual conference. The video was sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America and produced by the Northeast Agriculture Department and Media Production Group.

“Shana represents what it means to be AG-ceptional in so many ways … her passion and commitment to agriculture shines through in every role she fulfills,” said Corinne Morris, dean of agriculture, math and science at Northeast Community College and conference director.

A special selection committee made up of professionals from agricultural businesses and operations is assembled each year to select the winner from a very competitive group of nominees.

Beattie was nominated by Karen Grant, of Grant Family Farms of Meadow Grove and a past Ag-Ceptional Woman recipient. Grant said she knew of Beattie’s passion for agriculture when she heard her speak to members of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation.

“Shana was very professional, but she let them know where she stood on issues. And I just adored her from that moment on. She has such a passion for life, for her family and for agriculture in general. I just felt that Shana is a wonderful ‘AG-ceptional’ woman, so I wanted to nominate her to be the AG-ceptional Woman of the year.”

Shana Beattie was born and raised in north central Florida where her family is still involved in agriculture. Her father was a rancher who raised cattle and was also in the livestock trucking business. She and her four siblings grew up in a rural area and were actively involved in 4-H and FFA. Beattie was involved in livestock judging in high school and was recognized at state, district and national competitions.

While serving as a member of the University of Florida Livestock Judging Team, she met her future husband, Bart Beattie, who was attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at the time while she was working during a summer internship in North Carolina.

“I still bleed orange and blue which has been interesting living in Nebraska for twenty-two years. I’m true to my roots, but I have raised a bunch of little ‘Cornhuskers,’ so I’ve done my part. However, I still root for orange and blue on Saturdays.”

Bart and Shana Beattie operate Beattie Family Farms, along with his parents Jeff and Nanette Beattie. It is a diversified operation that includes a crop rotation of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. They also partner in a 10,000 head sow farm for a large wean to finish swine operation. Additionally, they own a commercial cow/calf ranching operation near Sumner in central Nebraska. The Beattie’s employ 15 people.

“I’m the fifth generation to be on this family farm and I’m very proud of that. I have a lot of pride in the heritage that my grandfathers started years ago,” Bart Beattie said. “We’ve had the opportunity to be here for over twenty years and it’s just been a great opportunity to get to grow our operation with Shana, who has been very involved from the beginning.”

Shana Beattie’s primary role in the operation presently involves inventory management. Previously, she has worked with cattle and assisted during harvest driving grain cars, in addition to other jobs. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.

She is also actively involved in the couple’s children’s agriculture activities.

“Shana has done a really good job with our kids in fostering a passion for agriculture, a passion for the farming operation, and getting the kids involved through FFA and 4-H,” Bart Beattie said. “Having them out on the farm gives them a good foundation.”

Bart Beattie, Jr. said of his mother, “She’s an awesome lady and I’m so blessed to have her. She helps with everything, and she knows a lot about the farm. She’s extremely passionate about agriculture and I’m very blessed to have her.”

Nanette Beattie, Shana’s mother-in-law, is pleased to see her receive the AG-ceptional Woman recognition.

“Shana is a ‘get-ur’ done gal. She goes forth with all that she has in any task that comes before her. She has a passion for agriculture and for her family. She has her priorities right and she is very knowledgeable and is informed in everything she does. She is most deserving of this award.”

Shana Beattie said she is fortunate to have the life she leads.

“I love to serve my family, I love to serve the farm, I love to serve my community … and that is a way for me to put my investment in agriculture. I enjoy learning. I also enjoy helping build the (Pork Producers Association) as we face new challenges in pork production.

Beattie said she is passionate about her life in agriculture.

“Everyone has their passion and everyone has their gift (to promote agriculture). Every situation for each individual is different, but I think as you find your true gift, you can use that as your way to promote and get involved with agriculture.”

The Beatties have four children, McKenzie, a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who is majoring in agriculture, Mattison, a freshman at SEM Schools in Sumner, Bart Jr., a seventh grader, and Preston, a fifth grader at SEM.



Online Course Assists in Developing Weed Management Plan

Designing an effective weed management plan to combat troublesome weeds and delay the development of herbicide resistance requires careful planning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the cost of dealing with herbicide resistance once it occurs to be $20-60 per acre. Developing long-term weed management plans that reduce the chances of resistance developing will minimize the cost of resistance.

An online course offered through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, titled "Herbicide Resistance and Weed Management," provides farmers and agribusinesses the tools and resources needed to help design an effective long-term weed management plan to help delay the development of herbicide resistance.

The interactive and self-paced course contains presentations narrated by ISU Extension and Outreach faculty and specialists, along with lesson activities that can be completed according to the user's timetable.

The cost of the course is $50 and can be purchased through the ISU Extension Store.

Those who complete the course are eligible for 3.0 integrated pest management Certified Crop Advisor continuing education units. In order to receive CCA credits, the entire course must be completed.

Additional course information can be found at www.aep.iastate.edu/weeds.



Farm Service Agency Names William “Bill” Beam as Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce announced today that William “Bill” Beam has been appointed by the Trump Administration to serve as Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs (DAFP). Beam was sworn in on Oct. 22, 2018.

As Deputy Administrator, Beam will be responsible for overseeing and implementing policies and procedures that regulate the delivery of federal farm programs. He along with DAFP staff oversee major portions of the farm bill including programs that help America’s farmers, ranchers and forest stewards manage market risks, recover from disasters and conserve and protect natural resources through FSA’s network of over 2,100 state and county offices.

Prior to his appointment, Beam was the president, owner/operator of Beam Farms, Inc., a fourth-generation row crop, specialty crop and hay operation in Elverson, Pennsylvania. In addition to his farming operation, Beam owns and manages a sawdust trucking business.

He was an appointed member of the United Soybean Board for nine years. In this role, Beam traveled internationally promoting U.S. soybeans and export markets. He also served two years on the United States Soybean Export Council and held leadership positions with the Pennsylvania Soybean Board.



Americans Give Thanks for Lower Fuel and Food Prices this Thanksgiving

Nearly 50 million travelers will take to America’s roads this Thanksgiving holiday, and ethanol is helping to lower the price they pay for gasoline. At the same time, a new survey shows the cost of Thanksgiving dinner is expected to hit an eight-year low.

According to AAA, 48.5 million travelers will drive for Thanksgiving, nearly 5 percent more than last year. Based on Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) analysis using the most recent monthly data, 10% ethanol blends (E10) are helping U.S. consumers save 22 cents per gallon at the pump. In fact, ethanol is on pace to reduce household spending on gasoline by $34 billion this year, or $270 per household.

The discount is even greater for 15% ethanol blends (E15), a fuel that is legally approved for more than 90% of the cars and trucks on the road today. Based on RFA analysis, E15 could help U.S. consumers save 27 cents per gallon at the pump. If E15 were adopted nationwide, the fuel would be expected to reduce household spending on gasoline by $42 billion this year, or $335 per household.

Consumers are not only saving money at the pump, but they’re also saving money on Thanksgiving dinner. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey, the classic Thanksgiving meal for a family of 10 will average $48.90 this year, less than $5 per person and down about 1 percent from prior-year levels. Since 2015, the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner has declined steadily and is now at the lowest level since 2010.

“As a record number of travelers are expected to hit the road this holiday week, they can be thankful that homegrown, renewable ethanol is helping to save them money at the pump,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Meanwhile, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner continues to fall, thoroughly debunking the ridiculous old argument that increased use of field corn for ethanol production would lead to higher prices for meat, milk, eggs, and other staple foods. In fact, annual food price inflation has averaged just 2.2% since the RFS was expanded in 2007, compared to an average of 3.0% in the preceding 25-year period.” 



Mexico City marks sixth visit to Mexico for ACE in 2018 to address ethanol questions from service station owners

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty traveled to Mexico City last week for the final ethanol technical workshop held this year for Mexican petroleum equipment installers and retailers. The workshops were a joint effort of the U.S. Grains Council and the Mexican Association of Service Station Suppliers (AMPES), to inform local station owners about opportunities in sourcing, marketing, and retailing ethanol-blended gasoline, as Mexico’s transportation fuel sector continues to evolve.

“These workshops have helped Mexican fuel marketers, equipment suppliers, and even some government officials understand offering gasoline with 10 percent ethanol is a safe and economically sensible way to have cleaner air and provide less expensive options at the pump for drivers in Mexico,” Lamberty said. “‘The math’ of ethanol blends is undeniably attractive for station owners and consumers right now, and our next challenge will be helping businesses do what they need to do to distribute our product to places where it can be blended and delivered to stations. Fuel equipment companies say the workshops have inspired interest from retailers and prospective wholesale distributors of ethanol.”

Those points were echoed at a press conference during last week’s workshop by AMPES President Isaias Romero Escalona, who said, “The interests of some politicians are the main obstacle to the incorporation of ethanol into the gasoline market,” while the President of the Mexican Energy Commission (COMENER) Juan Acra López said the introduction of ethanol would be “music for the ears of the next government, since it would reduce the cost of fuel.”

“Current U.S. ethanol exports to Mexico are primarily for industrial uses like perfumes, solvents, and beverages, but we’re starting to see retailers in border cities buying pre-blended E10 at U.S. terminals for resale in their convenience stores or service stations,” Lamberty added. “While these volumes are tiny right now, just as we saw ethanol spread across the U.S., when retailers see other retailers successfully selling E10, they become more confident they could offer it too, and volumes will increase.”

Lamberty’s 2018 travels to Mexico included visits to Xalapa in August, Chihuahua in July, and  León in June. Earlier this spring, Lamberty spoke at two other workshops in Monterrey and Tijuana. USGC and AMPES also held a workshop in Oaxaca earlier in November. Mexico City is the final workshop the USGC is hosting in 2018, but interest and attendance increase at each event, and ACE will continue to work with the USGC to provide information to retailers and others who want to sell more ethanol.



NCGA Calls for More Equitable Trade Relief

National Corn Growers Association President Lynn Chrisp today urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to consider changes to the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) ahead of the second round of payments.

In a letter to Perdue, Chrisp said that he continues to hear from farmers who are disappointed in USDA’s approach to calculating the first round of MFP payments because it was too narrow in scope and did not capture the real-time impacts of trade disruptions on our markets.

Chrisp asked Perdue to add ethanol and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to the calculation of damages for corn. Using USDA’s methodology, gross trade damages for ethanol and DDGS amounts to $254 million, which was not accounted for in the first MFP payments. Chrisp also asked the Secretary to allow farmers who suffer production losses from disasters to use an alternative to 2018 production for their MFP calculation. This would ensure farmers suffering from drought, hurricane-related losses or other natural disasters would not be penalized twice.

Text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretary Perdue,

On behalf of the more than 40,000 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) members and the more than 300,000 corn farmers across the nation, I am writing to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to consider changes to its Market Facilitation Program (MFP) for the second tranche of payments, planned for December 2018.

During the development of the Department’s trade mitigation plan, NCGA provided USDA and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with analysis of losses to corn farmers resulting from trade disputes with China and the European Union. This information was based on a study, conducted by Integrated Financial Analytics and Research (IFAR), that found an average decline in the price of corn of $0.44/bu as a result of trade tariffs, amounting to a $6.3 billion loss to corn farmers.

NCGA requested that USDA’s trade mitigation efforts compensate commodities proportionate to their lost revenue and that farmers suffering production losses due to natural disasters be able to use an alternative method of calculating their payments.

At the same time, NCGA called on the Trump Administration to take immediate actions to strengthen market demand for farmers. These included, resolving ongoing trade disputes, securing existing and new trade agreements, and providing parity for ethanol blends above 10 percent.

NCGA is pleased that the Trump Administration has made progress on several of these priorities, including reaching a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, moving forward with trade negotiations with Japan, and directing EPA to provide RVP parity. We appreciate the strong role you have played in working with the President to deliver on these priorities.

These are critical developments, but the economic benefits will take some time to materialize, and corn farmers are struggling now. I continue to hear from farmers who are disappointed in USDA’s approach to calculating the first round of MFP payments because it was too narrow in scope and did not capture the real-time impacts of trade disruptions on our markets.

Given that there is still significant uncertainty in the farm economy and that corn prices are still being impacted by ongoing disputes with China and the EU, NCGA is asking USDA for the following modifications in its calculation of the second tranche of MFP payments:

    Add ethanol and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to the calculation of damages for corn. U.S. corn farmers have seen value-added corn products grow as an important share of our global exports (see attached graphic). In 2017, according to FAS data, the United States exported $185 million worth of ethanol and $223 million worth of DDGS (for a combined value of $408 million in exports) to China and the European Union. Based on the Office of the Chief Economist’s MFP methodology, gross trade damages for ethanol and DDGS amounts to $254 million that was not accounted for in the first tranche of MFP payments.
    
    Allow farmers who suffer production losses from disasters to use an alternative to 2018 production for their MFP calculations. This programmatic modification would ensure that farmers in Kansas, Missouri and Texas, who are suffering from drought, and farmers in the Southeast, who are suffering losses from Hurricane Michael, would not be penalized twice. It is also important that farmers be allowed to use RMA production records in MFP.

 Thank you, Mr. Secretary, and your staff, for continuing this dialogue with NCGA. I know that we share the goal of ensuring that MFP provides farmers with much-needed relief in a way that is equitable and effective. I believe that the modifications I have outlined in this letter will get us closer to that goal and urge you to give this request serious consideration.

Sincerely,
Lynn Chrisp, President
National Corn Growers Association


 ACE CEO statement on Chevron receiving RFS waiver at Utah refinery

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings released the following statement, following reporting that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Chevron Corp a 2017 hardship waiver from complying with its Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending obligation at its Utah refinery earlier this year:

“While Chevron and other refiners enjoy their record profits and “economic hardship” waivers from EPA on Thanksgiving, many farmers and ethanol producers in rural America are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. Chevron posted net profits of nearly $10 billion in 2017. On what planet does that constitute the “disproportionate economic hardship” threshold needed to help justify a Small Refinery Exemption?  Meanwhile, it is insulting to rural America that EPA has found the time to grant nearly 50 Small Refinery Exemptions for 2016 and 2017 but insists on waiting until February of 2019 to propose a rule allowing retailers to offer E15 to their customers year-round.”



CattleTrace Participants Meet with USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach was welcomed to Great Bend, Kansas, on Monday, November 19, by beef industry leaders participating in the CattleTrace pilot project for disease traceability. USDA is a partner in the pilot project that will develop and test an end-to-end disease traceability system.

Approximately 40 producer participants, including ranchers, livestock markets, cattle feeders and packers, as well as other CattleTrace partners, participated in the meeting that provided an update on the pilot project as well as allowed for discussion about disease traceability priorities at USDA. CattleTrace is being implemented by a cooperative public-private partnership including the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas State University, Kansas Department of Agriculture, USDA and private producers.

“Without the partnership from beef producers across the state, CattleTrace wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. It is exciting to see enthusiasm from producers who are willing to step up and help lead the development of a disease traceability system that can work in and for our industry,” said Brandon Depenbusch, CattleTrace, Inc., Board of Directors chairman. “USDA is an important partner in CattleTrace and plays an integral role in disease traceability across the country. We are grateful that Under Secretary Ibach traveled to Kansas to meet with CattleTrace participants and share his vision for disease traceability.”

CattleTrace was launched in late June 2018 and will conclude in spring 2020. During the pilot, 55,000 Kansas-based calves will be tagged with an ultra-high frequency ear tag. As the calves move through the supply chain, minimal data, including an individual animal identification number, GPS location, and the date and time, will be captured and maintained in a secure, third-party database. The CattleTrace team will use the database to conduct mock traces to test the infrastructure in order to determine its effectiveness in tracing animal movements in the event of a disease outbreak.

Depenbusch noted that more than 31,500 tags have been distributed and the rest will be distributed in the coming months. He also highlighted tag readers are installed at all partner feedyards and livestock markets.

In September 2018, USDA outlined four overarching goals for advancing animal disease traceability. USDA will begin implementing the traceability goals starting in fiscal year 2019. CattleTrace will be playing an important role in USDA’s traceability initiatives. Each of the USDA goals aligns with the basic infrastructure and implementation protocol of the CattleTrace Pilot Project.

“The landscape surrounding animal disease traceability has changed dramatically in the past decade, and producers across the nation recognize that a comprehensive system is the best protection against a devastating disease outbreak like foot-and-mouth disease,” Under Secretary Ibach said in September.  “We have a responsibility to these producers and American agriculture as a whole to make animal disease traceability what it should be—a modern system that tracks animals from birth to slaughter using affordable technology that allows USDA to quickly trace sick and exposed animals to stop disease spread.”

To learn more about CattleTrace, visit www.CattleTrace.org. 



NEBRASKA CHICKEN AND EGGS

All layers in Nebraska during October 2018 totaled 8.39 million, up from 7.71 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Nebraska egg production during October totaled 214 million eggs, up from 194 million in 2017. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,553 eggs, compared to 2,514 eggs in 2017.

IOWA CHICKEN AND EGGS
Iowa egg production during October 2018 was 1.40 billion eggs, up 3 percent from last month and up 5 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  The average number of all layers on hand during October 2018 was 57.8 million, virtually unchanged from last month but up 4 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for October were 2,422, up 3 percent from last month and up 1 percent from last year.

October U.S. Egg Production Up 3 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.22 billion during October 2018, up 3 percent from last year. Production included 8.04 billion table eggs, and 1.18 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.10 billion were broiler-type and 86.3 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during October 2018 totaled 386 million, up 2 percent from last year. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,388 eggs, up 1 percent from October 2017.
                                   
All layers in the United States on November 1, 2018 totaled 386 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 386 million layers consisted of 326 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.31 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on November 1, 2018, averaged 77.1 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from November 1, 2017.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 7 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during October 2018 totaled 55.0 million, up 7 percent from October 2017. Eggs in incubators totaled 45.2 million on November 1, 2018, down slightly from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 225 thousand during October 2018, up 14 percent from October 2017.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Down Slightly
Broiler-type chicks hatched during October 2018 totaled 790 million, down slightly from October 2017. Eggs in incubators totaled 649 million on November 1, 2018, down slightly from a year ago.

Leading breeders placed 7.28 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during October 2018, down 4 percent from October 2017.