Thursday April 18 Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 4 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.58 million cattle on feed on April 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 4 percent from last year.  Placements during March totaled 425,000 head, down 11 percent from 2018. Fed cattle marketings for the month of March totaled 425,000 head, down 9 percent from last year. Other disappearance during March totaled 20,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED REPORT

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 710,000 head on April 1, 2019, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from March 1, 2019, but down 4 percent from April 1, 2018. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 635,000 head on feed, down 2 percent from last month but up 1 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,345,000 head, down 1 percent from last month and down 2 percent from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 104,000 head, down 22 percent from last month and down 3 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 55,000 head, up 15 percent from last month and up 20 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 159,000 head, down 12 percent from last month but up 4 percent from last year.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 100,000 head, down 8 percent from last month but up 8 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 62,000 head, up 59 percent from last month and up 15 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 162,000 head, up 9 percent from last month and up 10 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 7,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent
   
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on April 1, 2019. The inventory was 2 percent above April 1, 2018. This is the highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.45 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.51 million head, up 8 percent from 2018.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 2.01 million head, 5 percent above 2018. Net placements were 1.95 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 325,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 300,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 595,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 539,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.78 million head, 3 percent below 2018.



NEBRASKA FARM NUMBERS LOWER

Nebraska's number of farms and ranches declined during 2018, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number of farms and ranches in the State, at 45,900, was down 400 farms from 2017. Numbers of farms and ranches in Nebraska with less than $100,000 in agricultural sales decreased 200 farms from a year earlier while operations with more than $100,000 in agricultural sales decreased 200 farms.

Land in farms and ranches in Nebraska totaled 45.0 million acres, unchanged from 2017. The average size of operation, at 980 acres, was up 8 acres from a year earlier.



IOWA FARM NUMBERS DOWN SLIGHTLY

The total number of farms in Iowa in 2018 was 86,000, down 100 farms compared with a year ago, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Farms and Land in Farms 2018 Summary report. This decrease in number of farms came in the $10,000-$99,999 range with a decrease from 26,300 in 2017 to 26,200 in 2018.

Total land in farms in Iowa in 2018 was 30.6 million acres, unchanged since 2010. The average farm size in Iowa in 2018 was 356 acres, up 1 acre from last year.



2018 Farms and Land in Farms Highlights

The number of farms in the United States for 2018 is estimated at 2,029,200, down 12,800 farms from 2017. Total land in farms, at 899,500,000 acres, decreased 870,000 acres from 2017. The average farm size for 2018 is 443 acres, up 2 acres from the previous year.

Farm numbers and land in farms are differentiated by six economic sales classes. Farms and ranches are classified into these six sales classes by summing the sales of agricultural products and government program payments. Sales class breaks occur at $10,000, $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000. Producers were asked during the 2018 mid-year surveys to report the value of sales based on production during the 2017 calendar year.

Point Farms are farms that did not have the required minimum $1,000 in sales for the year to qualify as a farm, but had sufficient crops and livestock to normally have sales of $1,000 or more. Point Farms are assigned a sales class based on the sum of the agricultural point (dollar) values assigned to the quantity of commodities produced but not sold. The 2017 Census of Agriculture showed that 471,593 farms or 23.1 percent of the 2.04 million farms were Point Farms. These Point Farms operated 59.2 million acres or 6.6 percent of the 900.2 million acres of farmland.

Number of farms declined by 12,800 from 2017. The number of farms in Sales Class $500,000 - $999,999 increased while all other sales classes declined. Fifty-one percent of all farms had less than $10,000 in sales. Eighty-two percent of all farms had less than $100,000 in sales. Seven percent of all farms had sales of $500,000 or more. 



Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund
Application for Aid - Flood and Winter Storm Ulmer/Bomb Cyclone Event (March 2019)

The Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund is providing financial assistance on a statewide basis to needy or distressed cattle producers in Nebraska impacted by Winter Storm Ulmer/Bomb Cyclone.
Eligible applicants under the Fund include any cattle producer with an operation located in a county or tribal area falling under an emergency or disaster declaration made by the Nebraska Governor or Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Moreover, applicants must demonstrate genuine need or distress as a result of the disaster by providing relevant asset information and certifying their assets are not sufficient or adequate to rebuild from the damage suffered.

Membership in Nebraska Cattlemen is NOT required for an applicant to receive relief.

Submitted applications must be fully completed and have all required eligible expense documentation attached or enclosed to be considered. Applicants may submit documentation and requests for reimbursement for cattle production expenses not paid for by insurance or other governmental sources, including but not limited to costs for rebuilding and recovery for lost fencing and pens, feed, livestock/carcass removal or other necessary cattle production costs directly related to rebuilding from the winter storm.   Documentation can include copies of receipts for purchases of supplies, invoices for repairs, photos of damage, etc.

Applicant must demonstrate that expenses/losses incurred were related to cattle production and directly caused by recent storms and flooding as the result of Winter Storm Ulmer/Bomb Cyclone in the State of Nebraska.

Submitted applications will be reviewed individually by a committee selected by the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund Board of Directors. Eligibility for financial assistance will be determined on a case-by-case basis with the goal of distributing relief so as to maximize the Fund's charitable impact to support cattle producers in Nebraska. The total amount that each applicant will be eligible to receive will be determined after the application period ends in accordance with the above stated impact goal. The review committee has the right to reject any and all applications for any reason.

Applications must be completed and have all required documentation to be considered.
Applications for relief must be postmarked by May 31, 2019. No application will be considered if postmarked after that date.

Completed applications must be mailed to 4611 Cattle Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 or scanned and e-mailed to disasterrelief@necattlemen.org.



NE Extension Hoof Care workshop

Dr. Jan Shearer, DVM, MS - Dairy Extension Iowa State University will be providing information on lameness and foot problems.  Registration is only $30 per person and can be paid at the door the day of the workshop.

Date: April 24, 2019
Time: 10:00 am-2:30 pm
Location: Platte County Extension Office - 2715 13th St. Columbus, NE
Who should attend: Dairy farm owners, manager, herdsman, hoof trimmers, veterinarians,
Cost: $30 per person

Agenda:
10:00 am - Welcome
10:15 - 11:00 am - Lameness and Foot Problems
11:00 - 11:15 am - BREAK
11:15 - 12:15 pm - Discussion of Functional and Corrective Trimming Techniques
12:15 - 1:00 pm - LUNCH
1:00 - 2:30 - Functional and Corrective Trimming Demonstration

Hosted by the NE Extension Dairy team. Get more information here... https://dairy.unl.edu/. 



Rural Mainstreet Index Falls for April: More Than One-Fifth of Bankers Expect Flood Loan Defaults

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) for April stood at growth neutral for the month. According to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy, the RMI has now remained at, or above, growth neutral 50.0 for five straight months.     

Overall: The overall index slipped to 50.0 from 52.9 in March. Since falling below growth neutral in November of last year, the overall RMI has risen above the growth neutral value. The index ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral.

“Our surveys over the last several months indicate the Rural Mainstreet economy is expanding outside of agriculture. However, this month, 43.8 percent of bank CEOs indicated that the recent floods were having a negative impact on their local economy,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business. 

Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland-price index for April rose to 45.2, its highest level since February of last year, and up from March’s 36.4. This is the 65th straight month the index has remained below growth neutral 50.0. 

The April farm equipment-sales index sank to 27.4 from March’s 32.8. This marks the 68th straight month that the reading has fallen below growth neutral 50.0.

Below are the state reports:
Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for April fell to 47.9 from 50.8 in March. The state’s farmland-price index rose to 44.6 from last month’s 35.8. Nebraska’s new-hiring index declined to 51.8 from March’s 57.3.

Iowa: The April RMI for Iowa improved to 51.5 from March’s 50.2. Iowa’s farmland-price index climbed to 44.4 from March’s 35.7. Iowa’s new-hiring index for April slumped to 50.3 from 55.7 in March.  Regarding recent floods in the state, Larry Winum, CEO of Glenwood State Bank in Glenwood, reported, “Now is the time for our Federal legislators, USACE, FEMA, and all levee districts to come together and develop a comprehensive plan for our levee systems. We have been discussing this for years, now we have no excuse not to get something done permanently.”   

Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included.  

This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.



Sundstroms Receive Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award

Russ, Angela, and Cheyenne Sundstrom are the recipients of the 2019 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®.

The Sundstroms own and operate Broken Box Ranch in Moorefield, Nebraska.

The prestigious award, given in honor or renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation and management of natural resources by American ranchers, farmers and foresters in 13 states.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts presented the Sundstroms with a $10,000 award, and a ranch sign recognizing them as Leopold Conservation Award recipients, at a special ceremony in the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln on April 18.

In Nebraska. the award is presented by Sand County Foundation, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN), Cargill, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

The Sundstroms are land stewards committed to productive, restorative and sustainable conservation practices on one of Nebraska’s biologically unique landscapes. The native prairie rangelands, hardwood trees, flowering plants, and abundant wildlife found on their ranch in the Loess Canyons are testaments to their conservation ethic.

The soil beneath the scenic, hilly landscape is highly-erodible. However, Russ Sundstrom’s proactive use of prescribed burning and innovative grazing techniques have nursed back the once-tired pastures and cropland that he bought from others. Productive rangeland with diverse vegetation results in quality forage for his beef cattle, and provides an oasis for wildlife including more than 250 species of birds.

Not only has Russ removed hundreds of acres of invasive cedar trees from his Broken Box Ranch, but he and his brother, Neil, cooperate and educate neighbors on conservation land management issues. They volunteer with the Loess Canyons Prescribed Burn Association, a landowner-led effort to burn invasive species from the rugged canyon landscape.

Russ is a skillful grazing manager who uses an innovative style of rotational grazing of his beef cattle. He intensely mob grazes an area to rid it of invasive species. This welcomes native vegetation to return to the landscape during the year-long rest period that follows. Intensive mob grazing around an area designated for a burn also reduces the risk of fire escape.

When Broken Box Ranch was accepted recently as a Rangeland Health Demonstration Ranch, it was further evidence of Russ’ leadership and innovation. He will be responsible for collecting data and monitoring effects of various management strategies and their impacts on wildlife, beef production, and soil and plant health. This community-driven landowner will then share his findings through public access and tours of the property.

The Sundstroms share large swaths of their ranch with the public through its enrollment in the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission’s Open Fields and Waters Program. Public hunting access provides wildlife population management of turkey, deer, prairie chickens, quail and elk, while other areas are managed for endangered species. In addition, he has established 20 acres of flowering pollinator habitat for bees and butterflies. Sometimes conservation success comes from what you don’t do to the landscape. They do not aerially apply herbicides or insecticides out of concern that it will kill non-target species. Instead, they spot spray for noxious weeds only.

Russ has a sharp pencil when it comes to knowing the economic impacts of his decisions on his business. His tireless devotion to leaving the landscape better than he found it is making a positive impact on his ranch and far beyond the Loess Canyons.

Sand County Foundation, the nation’s leading voice for conservation on private land, created the Leopold Conservation Award to inspire American landowners by recognizing exceptional ranchers, farmers and foresters.

In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac; Aldo Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. He wrote it was “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

“The Sundstroms are an excellent example of the care Nebraska farmers and ranchers put into their land,” said Steve Martin, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) Executive Director. “What really impressed us is not only what they've implemented on their own ranch, but their willingness to share the lessons they've learned with others. That spirit of cooperation is fundamental to continuing to improve our stewardship of the natural resources that support our number one industry: agriculture.”

“Devotion to finding balance between production and conservation in agriculture is tireless, and often unappreciated work,” said Sammy Renteria, general manager of Cargill in Schuyler. “Cargill is proud to support the recognition of the Sundstroms through the Leopold Conservation Award. Their devotion to their land is evident by their efforts to reduce invasive cedar trees, and provide quality habitat for wildlife and livestock.”

“The Nebraska Environmental Trust is proud to be part of the annual Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska recognizing families that do so much for conservation like the Sundstroms,” said Mark Brohman, Nebraska Environmental Trust Executive Director. “The Sundstroms have removed hundreds of acres of eastern redcedars on their land and thousands of acres in the region with their local prescribed burn association. Their burning and grazing practices have had very beneficial impacts to wildlife and cattle.”

“Leopold Conservation Award recipients are at the forefront of a movement by America’s farmers and ranchers to simultaneously achieve economic and environmental success,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from Cargill, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, Farm Credit Services of America, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Audubon Nebraska, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Lyle Sittler Memorial Fund, McDonald’s, World Wildlife Fund – Northern Great Plains, and Green Cover Seed.

For more information about the Leopold Conservation Award and Sand County Foundation, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.



Field Scouting Basics Workshop Is One-day Crop Scouting Course
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a Field Scouting Basics Workshop on May 16 at the Field Extension Education Lab, near Boone, Iowa. Designed for beginning-level crop scouts, as well as those looking to receive a refresher course on crop scouting principles, the course provides hands-on, in-field experience to crop scouts for the 2019 growing season. Participants will also have the opportunity to consult with extension specialists from various disciplines about crop issues to look for in 2019.

“The goal of the workshop is to provide a learning opportunity in actual field conditions, and help participants feel confident when they’re scouting fields on their own,” said Warren Pierson, program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Scouts are often the first to find issues in fields and their reports help drive important pest management decisions.”

ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and field agronomists will provide instruction on weed, insect and crop disease identification in Iowa corn and soybean production. Participants will learn principles of integrated pest management and an overview of basic field scouting skills including sample collection, observation and documentation.

The Field Scouting Basics Workshop presentation topics and instructors include:
    Crop scouting tips and tricks – Angie Rieck-Hinz, extension field agronomist.
    Corn and soybean growth and development – Mark Licht, extension cropping systems specialist.
    Weed identification – Bob Hartzler, extension weed specialist.
    Crop plant disease identification – Alison Robertson, extension field crop plant pathologist.
    Insect pest identification – Erin Hodgson, extension entomologist.

Registration check-in opens at 9:30 a.m. The program starts at 9:50 a.m. and adjourns at 3:50 p.m. Registration is $100. Registration deadline is midnight, May 13 and pre-registration is required to attend. Additional workshop information and online registration is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/feel/scout.



Study Shows U.S. Pig Farmers Making Major Sustainability Progress

America’s pig farmers continue to practice many of the principles of Earth Day, which is April 22, every day on their farms, and in many cases, have done so for generations. This fact is underscored by the results of a recent study from the University of Arkansas, which confirmed that today’s pork is more earth-friendly than ever thanks to great progress in multiple key sustainability metrics over more than five decades.

According to the new study, A Retrospective Assessment of U.S. Pork Production: 1960 to 2015, the inputs needed to produce a pound of pork in the United States have become more environmentally friendly over time. Specifically, 75.9% less land is needed, 25.1% less water and 7% less energy. This also has resulted in a 7.7% smaller carbon footprint (see infographic.)

To save as much water as today’s pig farms do over their predecessors of 50-plus years ago, the average American would have to take 90 fewer showers per year. Likewise, to understand the energy savings accomplished by pig farmers during the study period, a typical household would need to eliminate the use of a refrigerator altogether.

“The study confirms that U.S. pig farmers like me have been making progress in our ongoing commitment to do what’s best for people, pigs and the planet, which is at the heart of the industry’s We Care initiative,” said Steve Rommereim, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer from Alcester, South Dakota. “It’s encouraging to see this level of progress in environmental stewardship over the years. It also is helpful to have a benchmark to measure additional improvements.”

Unlike some earlier studies, the new Pork Checkoff-funded study used a comprehensive life-cycle assessment approach and the best available methodology along with a field-to-farm gate approach. This meant including material and energy flows associated with the full supply chain, beginning with extraction of raw materials through production of live, market-weight pigs, including marketed sows.

“As it has for decades, the U.S. pork industry will continue to make strides in overall efficiency, which is the major driver behind improving sustainability across all metrics,” Rommereim said.

This may come in terms of nutrition, genetics, health management, crop management and overall technology adoption. The ongoing trend is clearly seen in the Arkansas study. Feed conversion (pounds of feed needed for pound of pork gained) started at 4.5 in 1960 and ended at 2.8 in 2015 – a 38% improvement even while market hog weights went from 200 pounds to 281 pounds.

“Celebrating Earth Month in April provides an opportunity to not only recognize the environmental sustainability advancements of pig farming in the last five decades, but also to explore new ways to build on this progress going forward,” Rommereim said. “We look forward to the challenge of improving our current metrics of sustainability because it’s right for consumers, farmers, animals and the planet.”



Agriculture Trucking Relief Act Introduced

Representative Austin Scott of Georgia introduced the Agricultural Trucking Relief Act of 2019 last week. The measure would provide clarity for the definition of "agricultural commodity" as it relates to transportation policy and compliance with new Electronic Logging Device (ELD) and the Hours of Service (HOS) rules and regulations. Scott, a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement upon reintroducing the bipartisan bill.

"Transportation carriers are vital to the movement of goods and services from coast to coast and everywhere in between, and our farmers depend on them to ensure that we are able to feed and clothe not only our country, but the world," Rep. Scott said. "H.R. 1673 would more clearly define 'agricultural commodities' as applied to transportation laws, extending regulatory relief for all farm commodities including aquaculture, floriculture, and horticulture."

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the main agency responsible for administering agricultural trucking laws, including new ELD and HOS rules and regulations. Currently, the "agriculture commodities" definition does not apply to all agricultural products, making it difficult for those that transport these commodities to comply with regulations.

H.R. 1673 would create a clearer "agricultural commodity" definition for FMCSA to use when implementing and enforcing ELD and HOS. Currently, horticultural products have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USAD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and numerous other federal and state agencies as an agricultural commodity.



February Exports Below Year-Ago Levels for U.S. Pork, Beef

February exports of U.S. pork and beef fell below last year’s levels while lamb exports trended higher, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Pork export volume was down 9% from a year ago in February to 186,745 metric tons (mt), while export value dropped 17% to $455.9 million — the lowest monthly value total since February 2016. For January through February, pork exports were 5% below last year’s pace in volume (388,580 mt) and 13% lower in value ($950 million).

Pork export value averaged $45.12 per head slaughtered in February, up slightly from January but 21% lower year-over-year. The January-February average was $44.93, down 16%. Exports accounted for 24% of total February pork production and 21% for muscle cuts only, down from 27.8% and 24%, respectively, a year ago. For January-February, the ratio of total production exported was 23.8% (down from 26.1% a year ago) and 20.6% for muscle cuts only (down from 22.7%).

February beef exports declined 6% year-over-year to 94,885 mt while value was down 3% to $581.6 million. January-February exports were 3% below last year’s record pace in volume (199,651 mt) but steady in value at $1.22 billion. The volume decline is mainly due to lower exports to Hong Kong and Canada, as shipments to most other major beef markets have trended higher in 2019.

Beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $309.39 in February, down 4% from a year ago, while the January-February average was down 3% to $296.19. February exports accounted for 12.8% of total beef production and 10.1% for muscle cuts only, down from 13.6% and 10.8%, respectively, in February 2018. For January-February these ratios were 12.5% and 9.9%, each down one-half percentage point from the first two months of 2018.

“The stiff headwinds trade disputes have created for U.S. pork exports have certainly not subsided,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “USMEF is encouraged by reports of progress toward resolution of these disputes, but in the meantime missed opportunities for export growth are mounting. On the beef side there is still much to be excited about, especially with the launch of U.S.-Japan trade agreement talks. A great deal is at stake for both U.S. beef and U.S. pork in those negotiations, as exports to Japan deliver remarkable returns for the entire U.S. supply chain and it is essential that we get back on a level playing field with our competitors.”

Pork export value to Mexico down nearly one-third; competition heightens in Japan
Retaliatory duties continue to pressure U.S. pork exports to Mexico, with volume through February down 13% from a year ago to 119,430 mt and export value dropping 32% to $171.3 million. The U.S. is still Mexico’s primary pork supplier but Canada, Chile and the European Union have all gained market share in 2019.

Demand for imported pork may now be on the upswing in China/Hong Kong due to African swine fever (ASF) as buyers prepare for a looming pork shortage, but China’s retaliatory duties make it difficult for the U.S. industry to capitalize. The duty rate on U.S. pork is 62%, compared to 12% for other suppliers. Through February, exports to China/Hong Kong were down 22% from a year ago to 54,383 mt, with value dropping 34% to $108.2 million.

In the leading value market for U.S. pork, exports are feeling the pinch from Japan’s lower duties on imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico. Through February, U.S. pork exports to Japan were down 9% from a year ago in volume (61,464 mt) and 12% lower in value ($248.7 million). Chilled pork exports to Japan were down 6% in both volume (34,685 mt) and value ($166 million).

January-February highlights for U.S. pork include:
-    Exports to South America continued to shine behind strong performances in Colombia and Peru and a surge in exports to Chile. Export volume to the region increased 44% from a year ago to 25,772 mt while value jumped 49% to $64.1 million.
-    Strong growth in both Australia and New Zealand pushed exports to Oceania 31% ahead of last year’s pace in volume (20,117 mt) and 18% higher in value ($53.7 million).
-    Despite lower exports to leading market Honduras, Central America continued to be a strong performer for U.S. pork as growth in Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala moved export volume to the region 16% higher year-over-year to 14,201 mt, while value climbed 12% to $32.4 million. A safeguard measure in the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement triggered April 1, raising tariff rates on U.S. pork through the end of this year, but USMEF still anticipates strong demand for U.S. pork in Panama.
-    Pork exports to the Dominican Republic remained on a record pace and variety meat exports to Trinidad and Tobago surged, pushing exports to the Caribbean significantly higher in both volume (9,331 mt, up 18%) and value ($22.1 million, up 16%).
-    Fueled by strong growth in the Philippines and Singapore, exports to the ASEAN region were up 29% year-over-year in volume (7,982 mt) and 21% higher in value ($20.4 million).
-    Taiwan has emerged as a strong growth market for U.S. pork, with exports climbing 85% in volume to 4,200 mt and value up 50% to $8.6 million. After slumping in 2016, pork exports to Taiwan have trended higher over the past two years.
-    High inventories and lower domestic prices caused pork demand in South Korea to pull back from last year’s record-breaking pace, but exports to Korea remained relatively strong in both volume (38,209 mt, down 6%) and value ($102.1 million, down 14%). Korea’s hog prices gained momentum in March and were at or above last year’s levels from mid-March to mid-April, suggesting Korea’s pork demand remains strong and the industry is preparing for ASF’s potential impact on global pork supplies.

Impressive growth for beef exports to Japan, Korea; Hong Kong trends lower
Beef exports to leading market Japan remained strong in February, pushing January-February exports 8% above last year’s pace in volume (47,695 mt) and 10% higher in value ($309.3 million). Frozen beef exports to Japan, primarily short plate and cuts in the clod/round category, rebounded from last year when frozen U.S. beef was still subject to Japan’s 50% snapback duty rate. Variety meat exports (mainly tongues and skirts) have also performed especially well in 2019, soaring 35% in volume (8,707 mt) and 29% in value ($58.9 million). But the competitive landscape continues to intensify in Japan, as major competitors enjoyed another decrease in import duties on April 1. The duty rate for beef cuts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico dropped from 27.5% to 26.6%, while the U.S. rate remains at 38.5%. The duty rate for beef tongues and skirt meat from these competitors is now 5.7%, while the U.S. rate remains at 12.8%.

Following a record-shattering 2018, beef exports to Korea continue to push higher, though at a more moderate pace. January-February exports to Korea increased 7% in volume to 35,529 mt while value was up 11% to $261.7 million. U.S. beef continues to make strides in the Korean supermarket and foodservice sectors, driven by red-hot demand for U.S. steaks. Prepared U.S. beef products are also increasingly popular in a wide range of home meal replacement items.

Other January-February highlights for U.S. beef include:
-    While beef exports to Mexico were steady with last year in volume (40,048 mt), value climbed 13% to $197.9 million. Beef muscle cuts achieved strong growth in both volume (24,434 mt, up 15%) and value ($155.5 million, up 19%).
-    Exports to Taiwan were 3% ahead of last year’s record volume pace at 8,342 mt, but value slipped 6% to $73.7 million.
-    Beef exports to Central America cooled in February but January-February exports to the region were still up 17% year-over-year in volume (2,357 mt) and increased 14% in value ($13.2 million), with growth driven mainly by Costa Rica and Honduras. Beef exports to the Dominican Republic have surged in 2019, climbing 87% in volume (1,470 mt) and 78% in value ($11.5 million).
-    Africa has been a promising source of beef variety meat growth this year, with variety meat exports to South Africa (mainly livers) increasing 80% in volume (1,179 mt) and more than doubling in value ($1.1 million, up 113%). Variety meat exports were also sharply higher to Gabon, increasing 311% in volume (739 mt) and 157% in value ($529,000).
-    As noted above, a slow start to 2019 in Hong Kong and Canada partially offset solid growth in other markets. Exports to Hong Kong fell 40% to 13,712 mt, valued at $110.4 million (down 35%). Exports to Canada were down 15% in volume (15,908 mt) and dropped 13% in value to just under $100 million.

Lamb exports continue to gain momentum
U.S. lamb exports continued to trend higher in February, driven by muscle cut growth to the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama and Saudi Arabia and strong variety meat demand in Mexico and Canada. February exports of U.S. lamb totaled 1,361 mt, up 51% from a year ago. Export value was $2.43 million, up 31%. For muscle cuts only, exports climbed 17% from a year ago in volume (244 mt) and 31% in value ($1.55 million).

Through February, lamb exports were 67% ahead of last year’s pace in volume (2,745 mt) and 37% higher in value ($4.57 million). Muscle cut exports were up 46% in volume (488 mt) and 38% in value ($2.72 million).



United States Wins Dispute Finding China’s Administration of Grain Tariff-Rate Quotas Breaches WTO Commitments

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel found that China has administered its tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for wheat, corn, and rice inconsistently with its WTO commitments.  Contrary to those commitments, China’s TRQ administration is not transparent, predictable, or fair, and it ultimately inhibits TRQs from filling, denying U.S. farmers access to China’s market for grain.

This panel report is the second significant victory for U.S. agriculture this year, and, together with the victory against China’s excessive domestic support for grains, will help American farmers compete on a more level playing field.

“This second important victory for the United States further demonstrates that President Trump will take all steps necessary to enforce trade rules and to ensure free and fair trade for U.S. farmers. The Administration will continue to press China to promptly come into compliance with its WTO obligations,” said Ambassador Lighthizer.

China’s grain TRQs have annually underfilled.  USDA estimates that if China’s TRQs had been fully used, it would have imported as much as $3.5 billion worth of corn, wheat and rice in 2015 alone.

“Making sure our trading partners play by the rules is vital to providing our farmers the opportunity to export high-quality, American-grown products to the world,” said Secretary Perdue. “Today’s announcement is another victory for American farmers and fairness in the global trade system. We will use every tool available to gain meaningful market access opportunities for U.S. grains and other agricultural products.”

Background:
Upon accession to the WTO, China made commitments specific to its administration of TRQs, including the commitment to administer its TRQs in a transparent, predictable, and fair basis, using clearly specified administrative procedures and requirements that do not inhibit the filling of each TRQ.  In August 2017, the United States requested that the WTO establish a dispute settlement panel to consider whether China administers its TRQs for long-grain rice, short- and medium-grain rice, wheat, and corn in a manner inconsistent with its WTO commitments.

Today’s panel report agrees with the United States that China administers its TRQs in a manner inconsistent with its Accession Protocol obligations, through its eligibility criteria, allocation and reallocation procedures, public comment process, and processing restrictions.  In addition, China allocates a significant portion of each TRQ to a designated state-trading enterprise (STE) and does not subject the STE to the same rules applied to non-state trading enterprises applying for and importing grains under the TRQs.   Each finding individually established that China’s TRQ measures are inconsistent with its obligations.

Compliance with WTO rules will lead to market-oriented TRQ administration and improved access for U.S. and other exporters, overall creating a more level playing field.



U.S. Grains Council Supports WTO Report Finding China Misused Corn TRQ

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) strongly supports a decision announced Thursday by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO's) Dispute Settlement Body determining China administered its tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for wheat, corn and rice inconsistently with its WTO requirements.

The report found that China’s TRQ administration is not transparent, predictable or fair and that it ultimately inhibits TRQs from filling, which is one factor denying U.S. farmers access to China’s market for corn and other grains.

This decision stems from consultations first requested by the U.S. government in 2016 based on findings and analysis done for the Council, U.S. Wheat Associates and the USA Rice Federation.

“The report is an important acknowledgement China has not fulfilled its obligations to allow for tariff-rate quotas for corn to be filled while maintaining high domestic corn prices consistently above international prices,” said Tom Sleight, Council president and CEO. "We believe this is an example of the WTO working to help move us all toward a more open and fair market for grains."

As part of its WTO accession commitments, China agreed to eliminate import prohibitions and move to a system establishing TRQs for several crops including corn, wheat, rice, sugar, cotton and wool. A share of China’s TRQ is allocated to private end-users while the rest is allocated to state-owned trading companies. For corn, the TRQ specified in the accession agreement is 7.2 MMT, with 40 percent allocated to private end users (2.88 MMT) and the remaining 60 percent to state-owned trading companies.

The TRQ levels have not been adjusted since China’s accession to the WTO in 2001 and do not reflect prevailing demand. The TRQs reserved for private sector (vs. state-owned enterprises) are in many cases too small to be commercially viable. A lack of transparency and unpredictability in timing of quota distributions inhibits efficient use of the quotas and increases the cost of agricultural trade as traders are unsure of available import opportunities.

"The Council believes a stable market in which prices are determined by supply and demand as part of global dynamics will benefit the long-term development of China’s feed, livestock and corn-processing industries, as well as its consumers of animal and processed corn products,” Sleight said. “A more open market is in both China’s best interest and that of our members, farmers and exporters.

On Dec. 15, 2016, the United States requested formal WTO consultations with China on the administration of its tariff-rate quotas for wheat, corn and rice. In its request, the United States alleged China had failed to administer its TRQs for the three products in a way that would allow them to be filled.

At the heart of the U.S. case was China’s lack of transparency on the operation of its TRQs, specifically its poorly-defined criteria for applicants; unclear procedures for distributing TRQ allocations; and failure to announce quota allocations and reallocation results as required under China’s WTO obligations. In the case of corn, a particular concern is the unused portion of the state-owned trading companies allocation is not reallocated on a consistent basis.

When the issues raised were not satisfactorily resolved through consultations that began in February 2017, the United States requested establishment of a WTO dispute panel in August 2017. Hearings before the panel took place in July and October 2018.

"We appreciate the U.S. government officials working diligently to continue pursuing this issue at the WTO,” Sleight said. “We would urge U.S. government officials to continue to examine China’s current TRQ administration process and discuss any issues they find with the Chinese government as part of the compliance requirements of the panel report."



NCGA Statement: International Trade Commission Report on USMCA

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Lynn Chrisp made the below statement today following the release of the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) economic analysis on the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“The release of the ITC report is an important step in moving USMCA toward Congressional action. ITC reports typically measure the economic impact of new trade agreements and focus on market access. USMCA is different – it’s an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – which already eliminated most tariffs on exports of U.S. food and agriculture products. So, the ITC report released today doesn’t fully capture the economic benefits of trade with Canada and Mexico, nor the improvements to trade rules in USMCA that benefit agriculture.

“NAFTA has been a resounding success for agriculture. In 2016 alone, American corn growers exported $3.2 billion in corn and corn co-products to Mexico and Canada. USMCA secures and builds upon this important partnership, which is why ratifying USMCA is so important for agriculture.”



U.S. Wheat Associates Urges China to Comply with WTO Agreements Following Second Favorable WTO Dispute Ruling

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) welcome the ruling today by a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel that China’s government does not fairly administer its annual tariff rate quotas (TRQ) for imports of corn, rice and 9.64 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat. This decision follows a seperate ruling in late February that determined China provides excessive domestic price supports in excess of its WTO commitments. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) brought these disputes to the WTO in 2016, armed with clear evidence that China’s policies distort world trade of those commodities and create an unfair advantage for domestic production.

“With these decisions, we call on the Chinese government to come into compliance with the rules it accepted when it joined the WTO,” said USW President Vince Peterson. “The world now sees that their policies stifle market-driven wheat trade, block export opportunities and force private sector buyers and consumers to pay more than they should for milling wheat and wheat-based foods. We appreciate that the Trump Administration continues to shine a light on these distorting policies by supporting the WTO dispute cases.”

"NAWG applauds the Administration for pressing the WTO to enforce trade rules that ensure fair trade for U.S. wheat growers," said NAWG CEO Chandler Goule. "Further, we appreciate the work done by those Members of Congress who continued to press on this issue ad move the process forward."

China’s wheat TRQ was established in its WTO membership agreement in 2001. Under that agreement, China may initially allocate 90 percent of the TRQ to government buyers, or state trading enterprises (STEs), with only 10 percent reserved for private sector importers. The private sector typically imports its full portion due to growing demand for flour from different wheat classes with better milling and baking characteristics than domestically produced wheat provides.

However, China's notifications to the WTO on TRQ usage show an average fill rate of just 25%. The WTO does not require that TRQs fill every year, but it has established rules regarding transparency and administration that are intended to facilitate the use of TRQs.

Considering that China’s domestic wheat prices are significantly more than the landed cost of U.S. wheat imported from the Pacific Northwest, Peterson said the TRQ should be fully used if the system were operating fairly, transparently and predictably as the rules intend.

The facts also argue against potential claims that enforcing the TRQ agreement would threaten China’s food security. China produces more wheat each year than any other single country and currently holds about 50 percent of the world’s abundant wheat supplies. If China met its 9.64 MMT wheat TRQ, its farmers would still produce 90 percent of domestically consumed wheat. Opening the wheat TRQ would also allow private sector millers and food producers to import more of the types of wheat they need, but cannot now obtain, and the benefits would be passed on to China’s consumers.

“Once China meets its obligations under the WTO and the temporary retaliatory tariffs are removed, wheat farmers from the United States and other countries can compete fairly for sales to this growing market,” Peterson said.



NPPC Comments on USMCA Report

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today issued its evaluation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement and its impact on the U.S. economy, a required step before Congress can consider ratification of the deal. USITC concluded that USMCA will have an overall favorable impact on the U.S. economy, increasing U.S. exports to Mexico and Canada by nearly seven and six percent, respectively.

"NPPC supports ratification of USMCA, an agreement that preserves zero-tariff access to markets that represent more than 30 percent of total U.S. pork exports," said Nick Giordano, NPPC vice president and counsel, global government affairs. "We are eager to see the removal of U.S. metal tariffs that prompted Mexico's 20 percent retaliatory tariffs nearly a year ago. Members of Congress have said that ratification of USMCA will be delayed and the benefits of the agreement diluted as long as this trade dispute goes unresolved."

Giordano added, "The value of U.S. pork exports to Mexico are down 32 percent this year due to punitive tariffs. Our farmers need zero-tariff trade restored to our largest export market."

NPPC has designated USMCA ratification as a "key vote" and will closely monitor support of the agreement among members of Congress. U.S. pork exports to Mexico and Canada support 16,000 U.S. jobs.   



USMCA Passage Critical to Preserve and Strengthen Dairy Export Markets

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) released an economic analysis of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) today and dairy industry officials eager to see USMCA’s passage welcomed this key step in the trade agreement approval process.

Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, said the ITC study is important because it moves the USMCA process closer to ratification, a step urgently needed to secure trading conditions with Mexico and usher in the improvements the agreement makes for U.S. exports.

“We shipped $1.4 billion in dairy products to Mexico last year, which accounts for more than one-fourth of U.S. dairy exports,” he said. “Without a trade treaty with Mexico in place, the dairy industry would be hard pressed to maintain and expand these sales, as our competitors in Europe are expected to implement a lucrative new trade arrangement with Mexico by next year. Moreover, without USMCA we lose out on the new rules this deal puts in place such as key reforms to Canada’s dairy system. Congress must pass USMCA to shore up our market in Mexico and harness the gains made in other areas through USMCA.”

In addition to increases in tariff-rate quota access for dairy products to the Canadian market, Canada will remove a controversial milk pricing scheme that disadvantaged American businesses, impose new disciplines on its dairy pricing programs and Mexico will update the way it treats imports of common-name food products like parmesan and swiss cheeses that could face trade roadblocks.

“When examining USMCA’s benefit to the economy, we believe it is important to keep the full picture in mind of what’s at stake here,” explained Jim Mulhern the president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “USDA recently reported that our country lost an average of seven dairy farms a day in 2018 due to the poor economic conditions in rural America. That’s a startling number, and reversing this alarming trend is what we should be discussing. USMCA helps put us on a path to doing that by safeguarding our largest export market and instituting valuable new improvements to dairy trade in North America.”

The benefits of USMCA expand far beyond just dairy; the Food & Agriculture Dialogue on Trade also summarized the value of the agreement and the proper lens through which to examine the ITC report’s results. That document lays out why American Agriculture needs passage of USMCA noting for instance that: “uncertainty about NAFTA’s future threatens the North American market integration that has created and supports jobs for many U.S. food and agriculture producers.”



ITC Report Underscores Importance of NAFTA and Passing USMCA for US Agriculture

Today, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) released its report on the economic benefits of the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA). NAWG President and Lavon, Texas farmer Ben Scholz issued the following statement in response:

“It is critical for Congress to understand how substantial USMCA is for agriculture, especially the undervalued wheat market. As the International Trade Commission (ITC) report just assesses the USMCA agreement as compared to the status quo (NAFTA), in which U.S. wheat farmers already have free market access, it doesn’t fully capture the importance of USMCA.

“Once NAFTA was implemented, U.S. wheat exports to Mexico shot up to an annual average of almost 3 million metric tons (more than 100 million bushels). This made Mexico the largest U.S. wheat importer in the world in the 2016/17 marketing year

“Additionally, USMCA captures the original intentions of NAFTA while improving some of the provisions for wheat growers. It retains tariff-free access to imported U.S. wheat for our long-time flour milling customers in Mexico. Furthermore, the USMCA makes important progress towards more open commerce for U.S. wheat farmers near the border with Canada by working to fix the broken grain grading system and making trade more reciprocal along the U.S.-Canadian border.

“The ITC report is not reflective of vast benefits USMCA will bring to agriculture. A vote for USMCA means more jobs for Americans, stronger export markets for farmers to sell their crop, and billions of dollars added to the economy.”



NFU Urges Implementation of E15 Waiver, Common-Sense Provisions for Higher Level Blends

As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works towards allowing year-round use of E15 gasoline, National Farmers Union (NFU) is concerned EPA’s proposed rule will make it harder for retailers to sell higher level blends of ethanol.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, NFU President Roger Johnson urged EPA to rewrite a provision contained within the rule that could amount to a cap on ethanol. It is viewed within the farm community as yet another barrier to family farmers and ranchers being able to sell farm products for biofuel production.

“Farmers Union is eager for EPA to follow through on its promises to get an E15 waiver out of the door by June 1,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “But we are concerned that certain provisions within EPA’s rulemaking unnecessarily work against expanded use of higher level blends of ethanol.”

NFU’s concerns stem from EPA’s interpretation of the “substantially similar” clause of the Clean Air Act, which prohibits the sale of any fuel or fuel additive that is “not substantially similar” to fuels or fuel additives used in the certification of new vehicles. In 2017, E10 gasoline—gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol—became the nation’s certification fuel, making higher level blends of ethanol, like E15 and E30, substantially similar. Yet in its proposal, EPA has limited its “substantially similar” interpretation to only an E15 blend, making the prospects of using higher level blends of ethanol harder to achieve.

“Unfortunately, EPA’s substantially similar determination is limited to E15,” said Johnson. “While we do not necessarily disagree with EPA’s interpretations that would allow for E15 year-round, we believe the statute clearly allows for higher ethanol blends as part of the substantially similar determination based on E10 certification fuel.”

“Indeed, higher ethanol blends would further reduce emissions and provide similar or better engine and vehicle performance,” he added.

Johnson noted EPA should continue to consider the needed changes to facilitate and promote use of mid-level ethanol blends. “These fuels provide enormous societal benefits and represent a win-win-win for automakers, consumers, the environment, and farmers,” he said.

“For that reason, we respectfully request that EPA clarify that the Clean Air Act’s “substantially similar” provisions for gasoline do not cap ethanol at 15 percent.”



Growth Energy, NAAE Release Curriculum to Promote Biofuels Education in the Classroom

Today, Growth Energy, in partnership with the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), announced the release of their new curriculum aimed at educating high school students to the world of biofuels. The curriculum is the first industry-supported biofuels curriculum that provides students a guided in-classroom experience and will offer ag educators the tools needed to provide students with an array of technical skills and historical knowledge in biofuels. 

“Our one-of-a-kind curriculum offers students a glimpse into the innovative world of biofuels,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Every day, the biofuels industry is working alongside the ag community to provide cleaner fuels and products for American drivers and consumers. We are excited for high school students to experience first-hand the role STEM education plays in our nation’s agriculture and energy and learn through our curriculum how the next generation of biofuels are moving rural America into the future. We are proud to offer this curriculum to our nation’s ag educators and help to foster a new generation of biofuels advocates among the leaders of tomorrow.”

Dr. Wm. Jay Jackman, NAAE executive director, said, “NAAE’s Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) team was pleased to partner with Growth Energy to develop these instructional resources to teach students, and teachers, the important role of biofuels in meeting energy demands for the twenty-first century.”

The curriculum offers agricultural educators a two-week long course with six activities. These activities not only allow students to produce their own biofuel and measure its energy content and emissions, but also give them the technological and historical background to ensure a full understanding of why science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities and biofuels are so important to agricultural innovation.



Culver's Brings Back 'Farming Fridays' Social Media Campaign

In an effort to help its loyal customers better understand the world of agriculture and farming, Culver's is once again planning its #FarmingFridays social media series. The Wisconsin-based restaurant chain is asking agricultural influencers to share photos and videos during the coming months on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts each Friday through October.

"We feel it's important to celebrate and support the hard work that goes into providing our country with food," said Jessie Kreke, senior marketing manager at Culver's. "By shining a light on the different roles that exist in agriculture, we're hoping to ignite a passion in our guests for supporting agricultural education, too."

This is the fourth year the company has organized the social media effort. The initiative is part of Culver's 'Thank You Farmers' program, which recognizes the hard work and commitment of the farmers who feed the nation.



NCBA OpEd: The Real Whopper
Jennifer Houston, Sweetwater, TN
National Cattlemen's Beef Association President

We’re not even a third of the way through 2019, but we already have a frontrunner for a political fact-checker’s annual “Lie of the Year” award: the trendy yet incorrect political/media narrative that if we all just cut back on eating delicious real beef hamburgers, we’re going to stop or significantly slow climate change.

You’ve heard the drumbeat all year. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled her so-called “Green New Deal” in January, lamenting that we probably can’t “get rid of all the farting cows” in just ten years. Vegan U.S. Sen. Cory Booker claimed that our planet “can’t sustain billions of people consuming industrially produced animal agriculture.”

And then (appropriately) on April Fools Day, Burger King announced that it would start selling  beefless “Impossible Whoppers” — and the big-city media fell right into line extolling the supposed Earth-saving opportunity represented by the heme and soy-based product.

On April 9, Wall Street Journal columnist Walter Russell Mead praised the alleged environmental benefits of fake meat, while complaining that “Nine percent of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions come from agriculture, and almost one-third of that comes from cattle-based methane.”

Not to be outdone, the Washington Post on April 16 ran not one - but two long, nearly identical articles about the Impossible Whopper - combining for a “whopping” 2,158 words in that day’s print edition. 

While one Post article lauded the product’s supposedly “environmentally friendly message” and “environmental appeal,” the second went a step further, claiming that eating less beef “could help reduce the many environmental impacts that raising cattle has on our vulnerable planet” and possibly even “save (planet) Earth.”

Predictably, none of these politicians or journalists included any sourced data to support their assumptions, so I’ll do that here.

Here are the facts. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, direct emissions from beef cattle in the United States account for only two percent of our nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, USDA recently reported that U.S. beef cattle production is “not a significant contributor to long-term global warming.”

Compare U.S. cattle’s two percent to the transportation and electricity sectors, which account for a combined 55% of our nation’s emissions, with another 41% coming from other sources.

The truth is beef production in the United States has become much more efficient and environmentally sustainable over the past few decades. Compared to 1977, today’s American beef farmers and ranchers produce the same amount of beef with 33 percent fewer cattle. Improved efficiency and animal well-being mean a 16 percent lower carbon footprint and fewer natural resources used for every pound of beef produced.

And contrary to Sen. Booker’s vegan utopia, research shows that if every American went vegan, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions would only drop 2.6%. At the same time, our national diet would provide insufficient nutrients to feed the U.S. population and result in increased use of synthetic fertilizer, as well as increased soil erosion.

If all these politicians and elite journalists want to replace delicious and nutritious American-produced beef in their diets with heme and soy, we wish them the best (along with our sympathies.) But to claim that doing so will have any significant impact on global climate is ultimately the real whopper in this debate.