Tuesday November 6 Ag News

Central Valley Ag invests in Nebraska Cooperative Farmer Member Health Plan

As costs increase for health insurance, Central Valley Ag (CVA) has worked to find ways to help keep their producer member’s health care cost affordable. Through a partnership with Land O’ Lakes, Inc. CVA is proud to offer a new health plan option to their producer-members in Nebraska. This new health plan, named the Nebraska Cooperative Farmer Member Health Plan, is under new multi-state, group, Association Health Plan (AHP) Regulations.

In 2017, a Minnesota statute afforded Land O’ Lakes the opportunity to develop a group health plan for individual farmers. Land O’ Lakes then partnered with Gravie, a Minneapolis-based benefits marketplace, to pilot a group health plan and offer it to 12 Minnesota based Land O’ Lakes co-ops. Now in 2019, this plan is expanding to nearly 15,000 eligible farmers in Minnesota and 28,000 farmers in Nebraska who are members of cooperatives, like CVA, that opt-in to participating and offering coverage.

“CVA recognizes that access to quality, affordable health care is a major concern for our producers,” said Carl Dickinson, CVA CEO/President. “Connecting our member-owners to the Nebraska Cooperative Farmer Health Plan allows us to deliver value within the health care industry to our producers.”

Farmers who choose to participate in this program will have the opportunity to access multiple ACA compliant plans. This plan will cover each of the ten Essential Health Benefits, have broad network coverage and is more affordable than many of the plans offered in the current individual market.

Open enrollment and administration of this plan will be administered by Gravie and is open now through December 21, 2018 for coverage starting January 1, 2019. There are requirements for participation including residing in Nebraska. Producers can visit www.gravie.com/necoop or call 844.538.4690 to learn more.



AKSARBEN STOCK SHOW TRANSITIONS TO JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW FORMAT, ADDS FOUR STATES

The Aksarben Stock Show will transition to junior livestock show format in 2019. Under the junior show model, youth from nine to 19 years of age are eligible for the competition with no prerequisite of youth organization affiliation.

Greg Harder, stock show director, said the change will give the 92-year-old Aksarben Stock Show growth opportunities. “Today’s agricultural youth are involved in 4-H, FFA, breed associations or open class competitions, making them diverse in their affiliations,” he stated. “We want to make sure more junior exhibitors can show at Aksarben in 2019.”

Harder said part of the expansion strategy meant opening doors to additional states. “We added four more,” he said. “Arkansas, Montana, Indiana and Wisconsin will join the existing 10 state family of eligibility.” Rules for the 2019 event will be written by Aksarben Stock Show management, versus the previous system of rules within each state operating independently. “It’s very difficult to run a fair and unified show when everyone plays by different rules,” Harder said. “We’ve brought those rules in-house to a sole playbook that everyone abides by.”

Bernadette (Bernie) O'Rourke, extension youth livestock specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the animal science departments said, “Wisconsin appreciates the opportunity for our youth to take part in the long tradition of Aksarben. We anticipate our youth will benefit from connecting with others and continuing to expand on their knowledge of animals through knowledge and professional contests."

Officials from Nebraska State Fair, show producer, noted that the show expansion will be a benefit to Grand Island businesses, bringing more people to town. Livestock facilities built in 2010 for Nebraska State Fair will continue to house the show.

The Aksarben Stock Show will be held Sept 26-29, 2019 in Grand Island, NE.For more information visit AksarbenStockShow.com.



Federal Court Grants R-CALF USA’s Motion to Expand Its Beef Checkoff Case to at Least 13 More States
Yesterday, the federal district court in Montana granted R-CALF USA’s motion to expand its beef checkoff program lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to include at least 13 states in addition to Montana.

The district court in Montana previously granted, and the appellate court recently upheld, a preliminary injunction temporarily stopping the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from violating the U.S. Constitution by compelling cattle producers in Montana to pay for the private speech of the private Montana Beef Council without first obtaining consent from producers.

R-CALF USA requested the court to expand the case to include these additional states in which producers are similarly required to pay for the private speech of their respective private beef councils without their consent.

Today’s ruling on R-CALF USA’s motion does not apply the temporary injunction in effect in Montana to the additional states. Instead, it allows R-CALF USA to proceed with its original case in which it seeks a permanent injunction against the USDA for violating the Constitution. If successful, the permanent injunction would likely cover cattle producers in each of the new states.

The court granted the USDA 14 days to file an answer to R-CALF USA’s complaint and the case now proceeds with the additional states.

Under the preliminary injunction in effect in Montana, cattle producers can individually decide if they want half the mandatory assessments collected from them to be spent by the private Montana Beef Council or all of it sent to the beef checkoff program’s Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), where it is subject to governmental fiscal controls.

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said the state beef councils have been sending about $10 million in checkoff funds each year directly to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a political lobbying group, to fund that group’s Federation of State Beef Councils, and those monies are not subject to the same fiscal controls imposed on the CBB.

“By redirecting their money to the CBB rather than to their state beef councils, cattle producers can reduce the amount of money now flowing to the NCBA under the group’s pay-to-play scheme, which we believe is a form of money laundering,” said Bullard.

Bullard added that if R-CALF USA’s lawsuit is successful, cattle producers in Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin will all have their constitutional rights protected and will no longer be compelled to subsidize private or corporate speech.

Attorneys for R-CALF USA include lead counsel David Muraskin, a Food Project Attorney at Public Justice, J. Dudley Butler, of the Farm and Ranch Law Group, and Bill Rossbach of Rossbach Law, P.C. in Missoula, Montana.



Activists Allowed to Expand Attack on Beef Checkoff

The announcement that R-CALF will be allowed to expand its activist-funded crusade against state beef councils is a disappointment to countless beef producers and NCBA members across America. The phony allegations being perpetuated by R-CALF and its activist legal partners are without merit and only serve to divide beef producers and distract beef councils from the important work of building demand for our products.

 “The simple fact is that regular audits of the beef checkoff and NCBA have found both to be compliant with the laws governing the checkoff. Two audits conducted by USDA’s Office of the Inspector General have also come back clean. R-CALF’s accusations to the contrary are false,” said Kendal Frazier, NCBA Chief Executive Officer. “R-CALF has become nothing more than a front group for activists seeking to divide the industry, lessen beef demand and drive producers out of business.”

Accusations that dollars invested in the Federation of State Beef Councils are being misused are equally false. NCBA has a longstanding commitment to the beef checkoff and the state beef councils, whose collections and demand-building work pre-date the federal checkoff. NCBA is firm in its commitment to defend both the checkoff and state beef councils against outside attacks. The volunteer cattlemen and cattlewomen who serve on state beef council boards are committed to improving the beef business and demand for our products and they do not deserve the attacks being leveled by these activist groups.

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that these attacks by R-CALF are being aided by allies at the Humane Society of the United States, Food and Water Watch, Public Justice and other activist organizations that stand against cattlemen and women. These groups know that beef demand is increasing in the United States and abroad, in part due to work funded by the checkoff. These achievements make the beef checkoff and other agriculture industry self-help mechanisms a target for organizations and individuals driving a vegetarian agenda.

“It’s unfortunate that R-CALF has chosen to become a puppet in the war being waged by animal rights activists and the vegetarians seeking to drive beef producers out of business. Let’s be clear, though, the groups aligning with R-CALF are choosing a future with shrinking beef demand, less opportunity and more government involvement,” said Frazier. “That’s not the future NCBA members choose, so we will defend the beef checkoff and cattle producers against these attacks.”



Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit Registration Deadline Approaching

Early registration for the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit ends Nov. 12. The conference will be held Dec. 6-7, 2018 at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona. All cattle producers are invited to come for education, inspiration and the opportunity to talk to other members of the industry from around the state.

This year’s meeting will feature a large trade show, where seedstock, cow/calf and feedlot producers will be able to see new products, pick up educational materials, and find solutions to their everyday problems on the farm. The tradeshow will be open from 10 am to 5:30 pm on Thursday, December 6, and 8:30 am - noon on Friday, December 7.

“Our trade show this year showcases animal health products, resources, and equipment for cow/calf and feedlot operations,” says Merle Witt, ICA’s Western Iowa Membership Coordinator. “We have several new vendors taking part and there will be equipment on display.”

In addition to the trade show, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation will hold their annual banquet. The foundation provides scholarships and other opportunities for youth in the cattle industry. A fundraiser auction will raise money for Youth Beef Team, the Beef Scholarship Extravaganza and other foundation activities. Supporters can bid in person at the banquet or online.

Educational presentations include a keynote by Bruce Vincent, a Montana logger who was regulated out of business. Vincent will share how environmentalists forced his family’s business to shut its doors after three generations, and advice to keep cattle producers from suffering the same fate.

A panel discussion on individual animal ID and traceability will feature ag professionals from Michigan and Kansas, as well as an Iowa cattle feeder who uses electronic IDs on his cattle. The audience will then be asked to come to a consensus on ICA’s policy regarding the topic.

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will hold its policy committee meetings which are open to all members. The meetings are the final opportunity for cattlemen to discuss priorities for the association and set policy for 2019.

The next morning, an appreciation breakfast will be held for county leaders prior to the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council annual meetings.

Anyone interested in attending can find more information at www.iacattlemen.org.



Grains Leadership Visits Mexico To Meet Customers, New Administration Officials

Leaders from the U.S. feed grains value chain traveled together to Mexico last week to meet with longtime customers and incoming officials from the Mexican government on the heels of the recently-concluded U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations.

The annual officers mission brings together leaders from the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the national organizations representing the feed grains it promotes in international markets, including the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) and United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) and the National Barley Growers Association (NBGA).

Mexico is the top foreign buyer of U.S. corn, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and barley and a significant buyer of U.S. sorghum. The country also holds near-term potential for increased use of U.S. ethanol following energy policy changes in recent years.

"Mexico is the most critical market for our members and an amazing example of what the right combination of policy and robust market development can do to build overseas grain demand," said USGC Chairman Jim Stitzlein, an agribusiness member of the Council who participated in the recent mission. "Engaging with our customers in Mexico is always a priority, and we are excited to visit and show we are back to business as usual now that the USMCA agreement is ready to go."

In 2017/2018, shipments of feed grains in all forms - a holistic measure of the grain consumed by a market as a commodity or in value-added products - to Mexico hit a new record of 25.2 million metric tons - almost 1 billion bushels in corn equivalent. That sales figure was up 6.3 percent year-over-year based on competitive prices and strong logistics.

“Corn farmers value the strong relationships we have built with our trading partners. Being able to meet face-to-face with incoming Mexican administration officials shortly after the USMCA was announced helped to cement our commitment to maintaining and building upon these trading relationships,” said NCGA CEO Jon Doggett. “We look forward to Mexico continuing to be a strong market for U.S. corn.”

Relationships between the U.S. feed grains industry and these groups run deep, having been built over more than 35 years of the Council's presence in the market and reinforced through the process of negotiating a modernized North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) over the past 18 months.

As the new presidential administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO, prepares to take office on Dec. 1, deepening existing partnerships and building new ones is even more critical.

"In light of today's trade uncertainties around the world, it is always important to meet and maintain our relationships with our key customers. Mexico has a long history as a key customer for sorghum and other U.S. grain products. With the new administration soon to come to power, we must continue to work on maintaining a strong, positive relationship that helps our producers," said NSP and USCP Chief Executive Officer Tim Lust.

While in the country, the joint leadership team visited with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) post in Mexico City; met with key customer organizations including the Mexican feed manufacturers' council, known as CONAFAB; and made a stop at the Mexican grain trade association, known as APPAMEX. They also met with officials already appointed by the new president-elect, including Victor Villalobos, the incoming head of the agriculture department.

"Mexico is a primary market for North Dakota barley and U.S. barley and malt. The years we have spent relationship building coupled with dedicated supply chain management and strong trade policy have resulted in solid business opportunities for U.S. growers and the brewing industry. We were happy to meet with customers on this mission," said Greg Kessel, a leader at the North Dakota Barley Council who traveled with the team.

The Council works in more than 50 countries globally to promote the export of U.S. feed grains and related products, including corn, sorghum, barley, DDGS and ethanol. Its membership includes checkoff and policy organizations for all five commodities as well as more than 150 agribusinesses that contribute funds matched by dollars allocated from programs authorized in the U.S. farm bill.

Additional team members traveling on the mission included Tom Sleight, USGC president and CEO; Jim Raben, USGC secretary/treasurer; Kevin Skunes, NCGA chairman; and Lynn Chrisp, NCGA president.



Snap a Pic, Share a Story and Win!
   
With only weeks remaining, the National Corn Growers Association reminds photographers, both amateur and professional, they are invited to help share our story of farming field corn in America through the fifth annual Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest. Through this contest, NCGA captures high-resolution photos of corn growth from seed to harvest and the families that grow it. Interested participants will be able to submit multiple entries until November 30, 2018.

Open to all, the Fields-of-Corn photo contest offers a free opportunity for photographers to share their work while competing for 25 cash prizes.

Prizes include cash awards for the top three entries in eight categories:
·      Corn
·      Growing Field Corn
·      Farm Family Lifestyle
·      Scenery/Landscape
·      Farming Challenges
·      SHP Conservation
·      True Grit
·      Most popular as determined by Facebook “likes”

The new True Grit category was borne out of the Farm Family Lifestyle category. This new category focuses on the people getting work done with their bare hands. Photos submitted to the Little Farmers category in previous years will still be accepted in the Farm Family Lifestyle category.

It is important to note that the Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest is specifically geared toward photos of field corn and not sweet corn.  While entries will only be accepted until November 30, 2018, entries may accumulate “likes” until December 31, 2018. Winners will be announced in January of 2019.  So, get started today! Register, upload your best farm photos and come back often to submit new entries. The first step is to click here... https://fields-of-corn.com/home. 



Corteva Agriscience Submits New Pasture Herbicide to EPA
Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, submitted a new herbicide for broadleaf weed control on pastures and rangeland to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Pending EPA registration, this herbicide will provide cattle producers access to a broader spectrum weed control product, compared with current market standards. This will be first new active ingredient for pastures and rangeland in more than 10 years.

“Regardless of market conditions, it’s always a good idea in the cattle business to focus on the forage production and quality side of the equation,” explains Damon Palmer, Pasture and Land Management Leader at Corteva Agriscience. “Effective weed control can help producers get greater productivity from their lowest-cost feed source — grazing land — and maximize their return on their investment.”

Multiple years of testing show improved control of important broadleaf species, including wild carrot, giant hogweed, wild parsnip, poison hemlock and common caraway, plus better late-season control of marshelder and ironweed. It brings Rinskor® active, recipient of the 2018 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, to pasture management, along with a number of anticipated features, including:
    Safe to desirable forage grasses
    Season-long residual control
    Low use rate
    Compatibility with dry and liquid fertilizer
    A low-odor formulation

“Tall ironweed is the number one weed problem in beef cattle pastures in our area,” explains William W. Witt, emeritus professor, Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky. “It reduces forage production, and cattle avoid grazing around it. So, it reduces available grazing area.”

Witt conducted multiple trials over several years with this new pasture herbicide. Tall ironweed control exceeded 90 percent, one year after treatment. He says the potential for better late-season control would benefit producers.

“Tall ironweed is a deep-rooted perennial, so we need a highly effective herbicide,” Witt said. “When weather or the busyness of the spring prevent early pasture spraying, a wider treatment window would be helpful.”

Pending EPA registration, Corteva Agriscience expects this to be the second of three products brought to the pasture market over the next three years.

“Earlier this fall, we introduced MezaVue herbicide as the new standard in pricklypear control,” Palmer said. “Corteva Agriscience is focused on working with cattle producers to help them meet their individual goals for their land -- that is a significant objective for us. In addition to our legacy brands, including GrazonNext HL, Chaparral and PastureGard HL herbicides, we are committed to researching and developing new, simple solutions for ranchers across the country. We are excited about bringing these new products to market.”

Corteva Agriscience anticipates announcing the brand name for this new pasture herbicide in 2019.



The Andersons, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

The Andersons, Inc. announces financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

The Company reports a net loss of $2.1 million, or ($0.07) per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.5 million and $0.09 per share in third quarter 2017.
-    Grain Group records a pretax loss of $8.6 million significantly impacted by mark-to-market basis adjustments to grain inventories that are expected to rebound in the near term.
-    Ethanol Group earns $9.1 million of pretax income on strong capacity utilization and timely forward hedging in a worsening margin environment.
-    Plant Nutrient Group reports a pretax loss of $8.0 million as low margins persist in its specialty nutrients product lines.
-    Rail Group earns $5.7 million of pretax income in a gradually improving market.
-    Results include a benefit of $0.14 per share from its venture capital arm, primarily related to the sale of an investment, and expenses of $0.09 per share associated with the pending Lansing Trade Group acquisition.

The Company reported a third quarter 2018 net loss attributable to The Andersons of $2.1 million, or ($0.07) per diluted share, on revenues of $686 million. Those results compared to 2017 third quarter net income of $2.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, on revenues of $837 million. The Company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $24.0 million for the quarter, compared to $32.0 million of EBITDA recorded in the third quarter of 2017.

"The overriding driver of our third quarter results was the mark-to-market impact on our grain inventories that we believe will substantially rebound before year-end," said President and CEO Pat Bowe. "The Ethanol Group continued to perform well despite tough market conditions, and Plant Nutrient and Rail results were not much different than those of last year's third quarter."

"The current market represents an opportunity to purchase grain at historically low basis levels," Bowe said. "Against that backdrop, the group recorded better results from risk management services, its food business, and its affiliates, and especially Lansing Trade Group. As we announced earlier, we plan to complete the acquisition of Lansing in early 2019."

Bowe continued, "Ethanol margins were challenged year over year for the quarter despite continued strong U.S. exports, but the group benefitted from having hedged about half its production before the quarter began. Current margins remain weak, and the forward curve into the first quarter of 2019 is below last year's level as well."

"The Plant Nutrient Group's margins continued to be compressed, and year-over-year volumes were somewhat lower as some September shipments were delayed. The Rail Group's cars on lease and utilization continued their improvement from the second quarter, and the group also recorded better income from its repair business year over year," added Bowe.



CNH Industrial has entered into a strategic digital agriculture agreement with Farmers Edge

New Holland Agriculture customers will benefit from the announcement that parent company CNH Industrial and Farmers Edge, a Canadian-based agri-tech company focused on data-driven agricultural decision-support systems, have entered into a strategic digital agriculture agreement that will make available a portfolio of connectivity and agronomic solutions to New Holland customers. Through this agreement, New Holland will provide its customers with access to FarmCommand, a unique platform, that interfaces with the brand’s PLM™ Connect solution and further extends the range of planning, analysis, execution and agronomic decision making information available to them.

As the exclusive OEM partner of Farmers Edge, this service offers New Holland customers a tiered approach to agronomic services, with increasing levels of data and support available, enabling them to select the service – with a transparent per acre pricing structure – that best suits their needs. The entry level services focus on FarmCommand™, Farmers Edge cloud-based farm data management platform which analyzes data in real time and satellite imagery – in partnership with Planet Labs – providing daily satellite imagery for unsurpassed crop growth insights. This is progressively enriched with field-originated weather data – gathered from farm-based weather stations – vehicle data, and agronomic support, and tops out with variable rate prescriptions with either generic or zoned soil sampling services. This partnership not only foresees digital support, as customers selecting the premium packages will also have access to on-farm, in-person agronomist support, to develop and monitor tailored agronomic plans.

This agreement will allow New Holland customers to connect their current and legacy machinery fleets with CAN bus functionality to the Farmers Edge platform. This will deliver tangible gains in all three key stages of the crop data cycle: collection, planning and execution, and offers one of the most complete solutions on the market, going well beyond the standard API data sharing connection.

It can also be used with mixed-fleets, further enhancing customers’ choice. This is a fundamental element of the New Holland PLM™ approach to precision farming solutions, which empower customers to select the service or tool which is right for them and enable them to maintain control of their data with opt-in logic. As the system utilizes the 3G and 4G telecommunications network, connectivity is retained, even in the most remote areas.

New Holland dealers will offer the Farmers Edge suite of services, facilitating them in proactively supporting their customers, as this platform will enable sharing of real-time machine information with their local New Holland dealer, enabling them to receive enhanced product support services. This solution will undergo a phased roll-out, starting in the first quarter of 2019 in North America, and will subsequently become available in other regions and countries, including Latin America and Europe and certain markets in the Asia Pacific region.

CNH Industrial and Farmers Edge are also committed to developing unique solutions, which will be of benefit to New Holland customers, to further enhance their whole-farm productivity and profitability.