Friday July 12 Ag News

Aksarben Announces the 2019 Aksarben Farm Family Award Recipients for 100 or 150 Years of Consecutive Farm Ownership Within One Family

In a fast-paced world with up to the minute news and technological advances making your cell phone obsolete upon purchase, it’s hard to imagine owning anything longer than nine-months to a year. Each year, Aksarben pays homage to the dedicated and hard-working Nebraskan families who have done just that. These families have each met the incredible milestone of owning at least forty-acres of farmland within one family for one-hundred or one-hundred and fifty years, respectively. To put that into perspective, Nebraska has only existed as a state for one-hundred and fifty-two years.

The Aksarben Foundation, along with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers, announces this year’s 142 honorees for the Aksarben Pioneer Farm (100 years) and Aksarben Heritage Farm Awards (150 years).

Aksarben began awarding the Pioneer Award in 1956, and since that time, nearly 10,000 farm families have received the award statewide. The Heritage Award was established in 2014, has been awarded to nearly 75 farm families.

“Aksarben is proud to recognize these Nebraska farm families each year. The dedication and perseverance demonstrated by these families is a testament to the strong Nebraska values that set our state apart and have been making Aksarben proud, for over 120 years,” said Sandra Reding, Aksarben Foundation President.

Partnering with Aksarben in sponsoring these awards each year, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson has said, “Nebraska Farm Bureau is proud to help sponsor these farm family awards. Nebraska Farm Bureau’s heritage and continuous mission is to serve Nebraska farm and ranch families, and these awards recognize the commitment to preserve and build Nebraska agriculture for future generations.”

To commemorate this milestone, each of these families will receive an engraved plaque and gatepost marker at the county fair in the county where their farm is located.

Honoring 150 years – the 2019 Aksarben Heritage Farm Families are:
    Boone County
        2R Farms/Amsel Maricle Rosenbaum (original owner: Harvey Maricle) Farm Est. 1868
    Burt County
        Janet Malone Trust (original owner: Robert Tranmer) Farm Est. 1868
    Cass County
        Duane and Eileen Murdoch (original owner: John and Sarah Murdoch) Farm Est. 1859
        Phyllis Buell and Mark and Sondra Buell (original owner: George Elijah Buell) Farm Est. 1869
        Phyllis Buell, Mark and Sondra Buell, Carolyn and Brian Geschke (original owner: Sylvanus Woodard) Farm Est. 1869
    Cedar County
        Gary and Susan Wieseler (original owner: Franz and Wilheimina Wieseler) Farm Est. 1861
    Dixon County
        Kent E. Paul and Kathy J. Brooks (original owner: James and Margaret Paul) Farm Est. 1867
    Dodge County
        Curtis and Laurie Helgenberger (original owner: Ferdinand Helgenberger) Farm Est. 1868
        Don and Becky Von Seggern (original owner: Arend H. Von Seggern) Farm Est. 1869
        Mary Becker (original owner: Frederick George Becker) Farm Est. 1868
    Hall County
        Bryce E. and Carolyn K. Ewoldt (original owner: Cay Ewoldt) Farm Est. 1868
    Lancaster County
        Peggy Brown (original owner: Charles Wesley Gillham) Farm Est. 1869
        Don and Margaret Mitchell (original owner H.F. Mitchell) Farm Est. 1869
        Wayne S. Nelson (original owner: William Nelson) Farm Est. 1869
        Lynda L. Parde and Rick D. Rohrs (original owner: Johann Henrich Dietz/Fredricha Dietz) Farm Est. 1868
        Suzanna K. Prophet and Robert Te Selle (original owner: Johann Henrich Dietz/Fredricha Dietz) Farm Est. 1868
    Nemaha County
        Charles Cleveland, Jr. and Beverly Ann Coatney (original owner: John H. Coatney) Farm Est. 1867
        Keith Volker (original owner: Christian Volker) Farm Est. 1864
    Otoe County
        Dennis Wendeln (original owner: Matthias Wendeln) Farm Est. 1869
    Pawnee County
        GWB LLC/Glenn R. Bolling (original owner: Henry and Louise Beethe) Farm Est. 1868
        Lucille I. Schaardt and the late Elmo W. Schaardt (original owner: Henry and Louise Beethe) Farm Est. 1868
        Rinne Farm LLC/Vernon and Ann Rinne (original owner: Henry and Engel Rinne) Farm Est. 1868
    Richardson County
        Richard Von Bergen (original owner: Michael and Katie Von Bergen) Farm Est. 1869
        Paul Jerry and DeLauris Fankhauser (original owner: Merritt Wells) Farm Est. 1860
        James M. and Jeanne M. Standerford (original owner: J.J. Purcell) Farm Est. 1861
        R. Jeffrey Von Bergen (original owner: Melchior Von Bergen) Farm Est. 1869
        Jerry P. and DeLauris Fankhauser (original owner: Frederick Fankhauser) Farm Est. 1862
    Saline County
        Mark D. and Susan R. Kemper (original owner: Henry and Ida Kemper) Farm Est. 1869

Pioneer Awards honoring 100 years
    Adams County
        Sheila Ann Zalman (original owner: Reiner F. Reiners) Farm Est. 1918
    Antelope County
        Douglas and Elaine Reynolds (original owner: James F. Swan) Farm Est. 1919
        Randy and Juel Hughes (original owner: Frank G. and Jennie C. Woodard) Farm Est. 1904
        Korene A. Erickson Fehringer, Bernadine L. Erickson Trust (original owner: John Erickson) Farm Est. 1899
        Mark and Brenda Schrage (original owner: Steven and Philomena Schrage) Farm Est. 1919
    Banner County
        Terry P. Brown (original owner: David Victor Brown) Farm Est. 1917
        Harry Safford, Jr. and Marie Safford (original owner: Harry H. Safford, Sr.) Farm Est. 1919
    Boyd County
        Patrick Holmberg, Darlene Krafka, Patricia Durre, Michele Tunender, and Cathy Holmberg (original owner: Jacob Wittry) Farm Est. 1918
        Bud and Vera Johnson Trust (original owner: Albert B. Johnson) Farm Est. 1919
        Edward John Connot (original owner: John Connot) Farm Est. 1919
    Brown County
        Brett and Blair Fernau (original owner: John Hollopeter) Farm Est. 1899
    Buffalo County
        Mickelsen Family Farms LLC (original owner: James Mickelsen) Farm Est. 1902
        Jerome Eckhout (original owner: George Nickman) Farm Est. 1906
        Jerome Eckhout (original owner: Joseph Nickman) Farm Est. 1891
        Bissell Farms LLC/Roger Bissel (original owner: Glenn C. and Bertha Stafford) Farm Est. 1919
        Wedemeyer Farms Inc./Dennis L. Wedemeyer (original owner: Diedrich Wedemeyer) Farm Est. 1898
        Ronald D. Bauer (original owner: Andrew E. Lee) Farm Est. 1919
    Burt County
        Jerry and Elaine (Geisler) Holmberg (original owner: George and Ida (Langewisch) Geisler) Farm Est. 1908
    Butler County
        Robert, David and Aaron Steager (original owner: John Matejcek) Farm Est. 1919
    Cedar County
        Joe and Linda Hochstein (original owner: Bernard and Anna Wubben) Farm Est. 1898
    Cheyenne County
        Ronald Waite (original owner: Neal Tank) Farm Est. 1915
    Clay County
        Josh and Teryl Andersen (original owner: Robert and Anna Walker) Farm Est. 1919
        Robert D. Keasling Revocable Trust (original owner: Albert Rath) Farm Est. 1919
        Joyce Schlick, Mike and Ann Schlick, Paul and Patty Britton (original owner: Michael A. and Mary Schlick) Farm Est. 1919
    Colfax County
        Charlotte Teply (original owner: Joseph Teply) Farm Est. 1889
        Ernest B. and Linda Cech (original owner: VacLav Cech and Bohumil J. Cech) Farm Est. 1919
        Linda Cech Jensen (original owner: Vaclav J. Cech) Farm Est. 1914
    Custer County
        Gregory and Carol Fenske (original owner: Nathan Eli and Nora Armstrong) Farm Est. 1910
        Conrad G. Pelster, Aleta M. Ambler, Mary Frances Perry, Paula Dorris and Herman Wehling (original owner: John Anton Wehling) Farm Est. 1885
    Dakota County
        Roger and Nancy Bartels (original owner: Frederick Bartels) Farm Est. 1919
    Dawes County
        Robert and Judy, William and Ava Hawthorne (original owner: Charles and Ellen White) Farm Est. 1918
    Dawson County
        Ron Stear LTD (original owner: Wilmer and Mary Stear) Farm Est. 1918
        Brooks Valley Farms Inc. (original owner: Henry H. Franzen) Farm Est. 1919
    Deuel County
        Michael Wiest (original owner: Peter Thomsen) Farm Est. 1917
    Dixon County
        Robert and Gloria Oberg (original owner: Pete and Hilma Oberg) Farm Est. 1919
        Regina and Bruce Luhr (original owner: Oscar Bjorklund) Farm Est. 1919
        Marlene Klemish, Paul G. Kneifl, Mrs. Francis Kneifl, Linda Syndow, Bethene Knudsen and Clifford Kneifl (original owner: Philip Kneifl) Farm Est. 1883
    Dodge County
        Evelyn Jorgensen Trust (original owner: James Robert Jorgensen) Farm Est. 1917
    Dundy County
        Keiser Land & Cattle Co. (original owner: John Keiser) Farm Est. 1917
    Fillmore County
        Mark and Teina Kimbrough, Rick and Cindy Krushenisky, Joseph and Sarah Caldwell and Stuart and Carrie Remmers (original owner: Harm Everts) Farm Est. 1905
        Richard Walters and Michael Walters (original owner: John and Mary Marson) Farm Est. 1919
        Gene E. and Dixie Ruthann Placek (original owner: John and Katerina Placek) Farm Est. 1877
        Kenneth and Delores Bolte (original owner: Fred Bolte) Farm Est. 1918
    Frontier County
        Leroy and Erika Flock (original owner: Merton E. and Clara J. Flock) Farm Est. 1917
        Jerry D. and Teresa M. Johnson (original owner: Emil F.H. Johnson) Farm Est. 1919
        Stuart and Jill Bartruff (original owner: Gottlob W. and Engel C. Bartruff) Farm Est. 1919
    Furnas County
        Martha Anderson (original owner: Gertrude M. Mayer/Katherine Lauby) Farm Est. 1919
    Gage County
        DeVern Hagemeier (original owner: Fred and Anna Hagemeier) Farm Est. 1917
        Billy and Janet Harms (original owner: White Harms) Farm Est. 1881
        Steve and Angela Janssen (original owner: Gerhard Wilhem Janssen) Farm Est. 1919
        Phyllis (Ehmen) Deunk, Rosalyn (Ehmen), Robert Ehmen, and Randy Deunk (original owner: Henry William Ehmen) Farm Est. 1895
    Garfield County
        Dennis and Patricia Urbanovsky (original owner: John Urbanovsky) Farm Est. 1919
    Gosper County
        William J. and Martha L. Anderson (original owner: William L. Anderson) Farm Est. 1918
        Alfred and Detta Holscher (original owner: August F. Schwarz) Farm Est. 1918
    Greeley County
        Francis H. and Theresa Berger (original owner: Vincent Berger) Farm Est. 1918
        Richard J. Maginn Trust (original owner: Nicholas C. Maginn) Farm Est. 1919
        James E. Murphy Trust (original owner: James Russell) Farm Est. 1919
    Hall County
        Kirk J. Thompson and Susan Thompson (original owner: Frederick Harker) Farm Est. 1885
    Harlan County
        Suzan Hisel and Barbara Lilyhorn (original owner: Antoine Delimont) Farm Est. 1896
        Brent and Ramona Coffey (original owner: Samuel Jay Coffey) Farm Est. 1918
    Holt County
        A. Patrick and Nadine Dougherty (original owner: John Dougherty) Farm Est. 1898
    Howard County
        Lyle and Loraine Thomsen (original owner: Andrew Anderson) Farm Est. 1904
        Edwin L. Kolar, Jr. (original owner: Fabian Kolar) Farm Est. 1906
    Jefferson County
        Henry L. and Janice K. Gunther (original owner: Dittmar and Marie Hohbein) Farm Est. 1917
        Roselyn A. Shaffer (original owner: Omer Burd) Farm Est. 1918
        Marvin and Ardys Schultis (original owner: Mary Dever) Farm Est. 1904
    Kearney County
        Harry and Sherry Reichstein (original owner: John F. Kuehn) Farm Est. 1919
    Kimball County
        Howard Lukassen Children (original owner: Theodore Lukassen) Farm Est. 1919
    Knox County
        Barbara Johnson Strom (original owner: Lars and Signe Johnson) Farm Est. 1919
        Zelma L. and Clayton Anderson (original owner: Oscar W. Anderson) Farm Est. 1919
        Ron and Penny Walton, and Jan and Don Vrbicky (original owner: John Jerman) Farm Est. 1918
    Lancaster County
        Dann and Kathy Reiss (original owner: Reinold Reiss) Farm Est. 1885
    Lincoln County
        Leona Martens (original owner: Henry G. Martens) Farm Est. 1919
        Feeney Farms Inc. (original owner: James T. Feeney) Farm Est. 1906
        Dale Wahlgren and Jeff Huffman (original owner: Adolf and Victoria Lindberg) Farm Est. 1916
    Madison County
        Melvin and Dorothy Unkel (original owner: John and Pauline Unkel) Farm Est. 1919
    Merrick County
        D. Warren and Marjorie Lambert (original owner: Mark V. Lambert) Farm Est. 1907
        LeRoy Edward Zehr (original owner: Benjamin Edward Snodgrass) Farm Est. 1919
    Morrill County
        Hansen Brothers (original owners: Peter J. Hansen) Farm Est. 1919
    Nemaha County
        Dan and Judy Lundy (original owner: Cathern and Warren Whitten) Farm Est. 1909
        Daniel and Ardis Gauchat (original owner: Chas. Leonard Gauchat) Farm Est. 1892
        Harold O. Fass, Harley F. Fass, Rosalie S. Hitzeman, Arlen R. Fass, and Maryls J. Fass (original owner: Herman Rademacher) Farm Est. 1908
        G.G.G. Farms, Inc./Glade Goings (original owner: LeRoy Erisman) Farm Est. 1919
    Otoe County
        William L. Bottcher (original owner: George K. Bottcher) Farm Est. 1918
    Pawnee County
        William Petrashek (original owner: John and Mary Petrashek) Farm Est. 1911
        Jim Chittick (original owner: James Chittick) Farm Est. 1919
        Douglas E. and Kellie A. Workman (original owner: David E. Workman) Farm Est. 1913
    Platte County
        Rick and Lorie Larson (original owner: John W. Larson) Farm Est. 1919
    Red Willow County
        Robert and Janet Phillips (original owner: Clara Phillips) Farm Est. 1913
    Richardson County
        Ruth Vollmer Schwasinger and Kathryn Vollmer (original owner: Herman and Christina Vollmer) Farm Est. 1919
    Saline County
        Kenneth Moneypenny (original owner: Thomas A. Moneypenny) Farm Est. 1907
        Larry and Diane Jansky (original owner: Vaclav Simacek) Farm Est. 1915
    Sarpy County
        Craig and Shari Parys (original owner: Halvar and Hilda Westre) Farm Est. 1911
    Saunders County
        Deborah L. Princ Machovec (original owner: Anton J. Princ) Farm Est. 1919
        Bernard and Emily Sladky (original owner: Jakub and Karolina Sladky) Farm Est. 1916
        Marvin Brainard (original owner: Frederick Baltz) Farm Est. 1881
    Scottsbluff County
        Robert E. and Nancy Plummer (original owner: Denver Newton Plummer) Farm Est. 1916
    Seward County
        James and Linda Trouba (original owner: Frank and Mary Trouba) Farm Est. 1919
        Gerald Fickel Family (original owner: Otto Tonniges) Farm Est. 1917
        Marvin and Marilyn Schulz (original owner: Ferdinand Schulz) Farm Est. 1917
        Larry and Sue Dedic (original owner: Vaclav and Mary Dedic) Farm Est. 1903
        Donald L. and Patricia Jirsa (original owner: Frank Jirsa) Farm Est. 1919
    Sheridan County
        Shelly Piper, Mardell Piper and Shirley Douthit (original owner: William A. Krueger) Farm Est. 1919
        Larry and Deborah Galyen (original owner: Fred Kutschara) Farm Est. 1919
    Sherman County
        Michael and Susan Jarzynka (original owner: John Jarzynka) Farm Est. 1919
    Thayer County
        Juliana Bruning Johnson (original owner: Herb and Lila Bruning) Farm Est. 1882
        Doug and Janice Fintel (original owner: Anton H. Edzards) Farm Est. 1918
    Washington County
        Donald C. Andersen and Mardell M. Andersen Trust (original owner: Christoffer/Sine Andersen, Henry/Henriette Linden) Farm Est. 1870
    Wayne County
        Brian Kai (original owner: Detlef Kai) Farm Est. 1911
    Webster County
        Dennis and Kelly Erickson (original owner: Otto Skjelver) Farm Est. 1892
        Darlene Pavelka (original owner: Amanda Kershner) Farm Est. 1919
        Donna R. Rose (original owner: John C. Rose) Farm Est. 1919
    York County
        Vera Underwood Rauscher (original owner: Elijah J. Underwood) Farm Est. 1916
        Alden and LaVerna Qwiring (original owner: Dietrich G. and Maria Janzen) Farm Est. 1919



CLAAS of America Breaks Ground on New On-Site Training Facility

CLAAS of America held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, July 10, for its all-new CLAAS Academy. Located at the CLAAS of America headquarters in Omaha, the state-of-the-art facility will enhance the training experience for dealer technicians and bring additional training and certification programs to their product specialists, sales and parts staff.

The 20,000-square-foot training academy will offer CLAAS dealers a premium training experience in a highly professional learning environment that features innovative technology. Dealers can be confident that when their staff attends CLAAS Academy, their teams will be better prepared to serve their customers who operate CLAAS machinery.

“CLAAS of America is proud to offer some of the finest training programs when it comes to preparing technicians for resolving customer issues in the field,” says Adam Haworth, Director of Services, CLAAS of America. “And because we recognize the importance of continuing this high level of service and support, we realize we must train our dealer technicians in the best way possible.”

The company also plans to incorporate outreach programs, such as apprenticeships, into CLAAS Academy in an effort to cultivate knowledge and engage the local community and technical schools through certification programs. For example, earlier this year, CLAAS of America announced its partnership in Nebraska’s first German-American Apprenticeship Program. With the new facility, CLAAS is better equipped to continue to foster these programs.

“With the training programs and certifications that we provide, there is now a true pathway for those performing service on CLAAS machinery to get up to speed on how the technology works and continue giving our customers the support they deserve,” said Haworth.

CLAAS Academy of North America will play an integral role in developing the industry standard training pathway for dealers and technicians to follow. The new facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2020. In the meantime, technicians can continue to schedule training sessions through the CLAAS dealer portal.



Iowa Cattlemen pass policy urging USMCA ratification

Ratification of the United States - Mexico - Canada Agreement is a top priority for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. This was made evident at the June 10 ICA board meeting where an interim directive was passed unanimously.

Partisan politics are delaying ratification of a trade agreement with two of the United States’ top trading partners. Trade with Canada and Mexico adds $70 to the value of each head of cattle in Iowa and is crucial to Iowa’s beef business. The expedited trade promotion authority timeline now allows the President to submit the final implementing legislation to Congress.

Once the legislation is submitted to Congress, the US House of Representatives has 60 session days to vote on the legislation. With less than 60 session days in the calendar year, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association recognizes the importance of bipartisan support of USMCA in both Chambers of Congress.

“As a young farmer and cattlemen, USMCA is vital to the success of my business,” says Will Longinaker, vice-chair of the ICA Beef Products committee. “I urge the Iowa Congressional delegation, especially my representative, Congresswoman Axne, to publicly support the trade agreement.”

The interim directive reads as follows:

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

WHEREAS international trade currently adds more than $300 to the value of each head of cattle in Iowa, and

WHEREAS ongoing trade negotiations have created economic uncertainty for Iowa’s 27,000 beef producers, and

WHEREAS the North American Free Trade Agreement led to increased markets for beef in Canada and Mexico and trade with those two countries adds $70 to the value of each head of cattle in Iowa, and

WHEREAS the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement would preserve the benefits of NAFTA for Iowa’s cattle producers, and

WHEREAS the expedited trade promotion authority process timeline now allows the President to submit the final implementing legislation to Congress, and

WHEREAS upon submission of the implementing legislation, the US House of Representatives has 60 session days to vote on the legislation, and

WHEREAS there are less than 60 session days left in this calendar year, and

WHEREAS partisan political issues are currently delaying ratification.

THEREFORE, BE IT DIRECTED, the Iowa Cattlemen urges bipartisan support of the US-Mexico-Canada agreement from both Chambers of Congress

BE IT FURTHER DIRECTED, the Iowa Cattlemen urge the Iowa Congressional delegation, including Representatives Axne, Loebsack, Finkenauer and King, to express support publicly for the US-Mexico-Canada agreement

BE IT FURTHER DIRECTED, Iowa Cattlemen urge Congress to vote to ratify the US-Mexico-Canada agreement within the next 25 session days.

The ICA board included the interim directive in a letter sent to Iowa’s congressional delegation the same day. The board consists of 44 Iowa cattle producers who represent 9,000 members of Iowa’s beef industry.



Farmers Encouraged to Vote in Corn Checkoff Director Elections on July 16

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) will hold elections July 16th in Crop Reporting Districts 2, 3, 5 and 7. Iowa corn farmers elect their peers to serve on the Board of Directors of ICPB to oversee the investment of funds generated by the Iowa corn checkoff program. The board’s primary priorities and responsibilities include domestic and foreign market development, research of new and value-added corn uses and education on corn and the farmers who grow it.

Crop Reporting Districts 2, 3, 5 and 7 can vote during business hours at their local county ISU extension office for representation on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board for a 3-year term. Anyone who has produced and marketed 250 bushels of corn or more in Iowa in the previous marketing year is eligible to vote in the election.

Current candidates are as follows:

USDA Crop Reporting District 2 (Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth and Wright Counties)
    Monica Lursen, Butler County
    Jerry Maier, Wright County
    Kevin Pope, Cerro Gordo County

USDA Crop Reporting District 3 (Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties)
    Jim Fitkin, Black Hawk County
    Derek Taylor, Winneshiek County

USDA Crop Reporting District 5 (Boone, Dallas, Grundy Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Marshall, Marion, Polk, Poweshiek, Story, Tama, Warren and Webster Counties)
    Mark Kenney, Polk County
    Rod Pierce, Dallas County

USDA Crop Reporting District 7 (Adair, Adams, Cass, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Taylor Counties)
    Ralph Lents, Adair County
    Jeff Thomsen, Cass County

Results of the election are announced publicly July 19.



Fox's MasterChef to Feature Beef. It's What's For Dinner.

Thanks to an investment from the Federation of State Beef Councils, an upcoming episode of a popular Fox network food show will feature Beef Checkoff-funded Beef. It's What's For Dinner.

As part of its biggest and toughest season yet, MasterChef Season 10 has partnered with the Beef Checkoff to bring viewers the beefiest Backyard BBQ challenge. Tune in to Fox on Thursday, July 18 at 8/7c to see how chefs use various popular beef cuts in the challenge.

Featuring Beef. It's What's For Dinner. on MasterChef, one of television’s most popular cooking shows, is a sure way to put beef on the forefront to millions of consumers throughout the country. When consumers are able to see easy, fun and enticing ways to incorporate beef into their next meal, they are more likely to purchase beef on their next trip to the grocery store. Being a part of this show is just one way the Beef Checkoff is dedicated to promoting beef to consumers through innovative and creative avenues.

On Friday, July 19, visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com to see the winning recipe, learn more about the cuts featured on the show and see other MasterChef-inspired recipes being promoted to consumers for them to share with their family and friends at their own backyard BBQs.



SENATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO ADD AGRICULTURAL INSPECTORS

On Thursday, Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) introduced legislation, Protecting America's Food & Agriculture Act of 2019, which would ensure the safe and secure trade of agricultural goods across our nation's borders by authorizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire additional agricultural inspectors to fully staff America's airports, seaports and land ports of entry.

The National Pork Producers Council has been advocating for an increase in ag inspectors since its spring Legislative Action Conference in early April. In a press release announcing the bill, NPPC President David Herring said, "Preventing the spread of African swine fever and other foreign animal diseases to the United States is our top priority. We appreciate all that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection are doing to strengthen biosecurity at our borders."

"To further safeguard American agriculture, we need additional agriculture inspectors at our sea and airports. This essential legislation will help address the current inspection shortfall, reduce the risk of ASF and other foreign animal diseases, and protect the food supply for U.S. consumers," he added.



NASDA Calls on FDA for Consistency to on Hemp Regulations

As federal agencies work on filling out a new regulatory process for producing hemp products, state agricultural officials, the industry's long-time leaders and co-regulatory partners on industrial hemp, called upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today to expeditiously create a clear regulatory framework for hemp products. The comments outlined how federal agencies must be proactive in writing the rules to help foster success for the budding industry.

In comments sent to FDA, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) emphasized the immediate need for a system that all states can follow. "Hemp will only become economically viable to American farmers and ranchers in the United States if a well-defined regulatory framework for its products is developed. Consistency will be a key factor for the development of a market for this emerging industry."

NASDA also reminded FDA of the new industry's grand potential and the costs of missing the mark on a consistent regulatory system. "If no federal action is taken, states will be forced to develop regulatory structures for the products, and the result will be a patchwork and an inability to potentially sell across state lines."

On the front for consumers, NASDA also voiced that there is increasing confusion in the retail aisles about hemp products and the terms that describe them. "Another confusion in the marketplace is amongst the understanding of 'hemp oil,' 'CBD extract,' 'hemp extract,' and others," the comments read. "NASDA encourages the development of standards and definitions for these products, so consumers can better understand what they are purchasing."

NASDA encourages the agencies to work with NASDA members when writing the new framework. At NASDA's 2019 annual meeting in September, members will continue discussions on just how to bring consistency to nationwide hemp regulations. Learn more about NASDA's engagement on hemp at www.nasda.org/hemp.



EPA Registers Long-Term Uses of Sulfoxaflor While Ensuring Strong Pollinator Protection

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a long-term approval for the insecticide sulfoxaflor— an effective tool to control challenging pests with fewer environmental impacts. After conducting an extensive risk analysis, including the review of one of the agency’s largest datasets on the effects of a pesticide on bees, EPA is approving the use of sulfoxaflor on alfalfa, corn, cacao, grains (millet, oats), pineapple, sorghum, teff, teosinte, tree plantations, citrus, cotton, cucurbits (squash, cucumbers, watermelons, some gourds), soybeans, and strawberries.

“EPA is providing long-term certainty for U.S. growers to use an important tool to protect crops and avoid potentially significant economic losses, while maintaining strong protection for pollinators,” said Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Today’s decision shows the agency’s commitment to making decisions that are based on sound science.”

“Today’s action ensures reduced risk to pollinators and the environment through crop-specific label restrictions and provides farmers with a critical pest-management tool needed to protect crops from invasive sugarcane aphids, plant bugs and other pests,” said Jim Gulliford, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 7. “Here in Region 7, the registration of sulfoxaflor will help prevent significant hardship for producers of sorghum, corn, cotton and other commodities attacked by devastating insects.”

Sulfoxaflor is an important and highly effective tool for growers that targets difficult pests such as sugarcane aphids and tarnished plant bugs, also known as lygus. These pests can damage crops and cause significant economic loss. Additionally, there are few viable alternatives for sulfoxaflor for these pests. In many cases, alternative insecticides may be effective only if applied repeatedly or in a tank mix, whereas sulfoxaflor often requires fewer applications, resulting in less risk to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.

EPA’s registration also includes updated requirements for product labels, which will include crop-specific restrictions and pollinator protection language.

Background
Sulfoxaflor is an important and highly effective tool for growers that targets difficult pests such as aphids and tarnished plant bugs (lygus). These pests can cause significant economic loss leading several states to request emergency exemptions in recent years. There are few viable alternatives for sulfoxaflor. In many cases, alternative insecticides may be effective only if applied repeatedly, whereas sulfoxaflor typically requires fewer applications resulting in less risk to non-target pests and plants.

In 2016, following a 2015 decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacating the registration of sulfoxaflor citing inadequate data on the effects on bees, EPA reevaluated the data and approved registrations that did not include crops that attract bees. The 2016 registration allowed fewer uses than the initial registration and included additional interim restrictions on application while new data on bees were being obtained. Today’s action, adding new uses, restoring previous uses, and removing certain application restrictions is backed by substantial data supporting the use of sulfoxaflor.



NSP Statement on EPA Sulfoxaflor Registration Approval

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today it has granted a Section 3 registration approval for use of sulfoxaflor on cotton and sorghum under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). National Sorghum Producers Chairman Dan Atkisson, a sorghum producer from Stockton, Kansas, released the following statement in response:

“Sulfoxaflor receiving a full registration approval by the EPA is welcomed news by the sorghum industry. We are happy to see this crop protection tool move from an annual Section 18 process to a Section 3 registration, which will provide sorghum farmers certainty year-to-year they will have this vital tool necessary to combat invasive sugarcane aphids and be able to avoid their devastating impacts.

“The EPA has repeatedly said Sulfoxaflor is proven to have minimal impacts on beneficial insects and is a safe option for integrated pest management systems, and EPA’s own assessments published in the agency’s October 2016 response to comments found that, ‘sulfoxaflor clearly is a better compound for non-target organisms than nearly all of its alternatives.’ We thank the EPA for following the science and completing the full registration of Sulfoxaflor, and we look forward to working with the agency as they evaluate future products.”



House Committee Passes Farmer Bankruptcy Bill

The House Judiciary Committee on July 11 passed a bill that will help more family farmers avoid liquidation or foreclosure, allowing them to stay in operation. The Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2336) would raise the Chapter 12 operating debt cap from $4.1 million to $10 million.

“Our farmer members have experienced several consecutive years of weak commodity prices and the low profitability and poor farm income that follow. As a result, farmers and ranchers are watching their equity erode as their debt-to-asset ratios climb and debt financing reaches a 30-year high,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall and NFU President Roger Johnson wrote in a joint letter to Congress in May.

The tremendous challenge of record nominal farm debt and poor economic conditions has led many farmers to seek Chapter 12 bankruptcy as a debt relief and restructuring option. Though Chapter 12 has been a help to many family farmers, its $4.1 million debt limit kept many more from using it.

The Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019 alters the definition of “family farmer” under Chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code as it pertains to the total liabilities threshold to qualify as a “family farmer.” By raising the level of total liabilities to $10 million, the bill would address several problems plaguing small and midsize farms across the country.

“Lifting the liability cap will expand access to the restructuring and seasonal repayment flexibility that many farmers need in today’s lagging farm economy, which is being further affected by trade disputes, projections for below average farm income over the next decade and rising interest rates,” Duvall and Johnson said, encouraging lawmakers to cosponsor the legislation and pledging to work with them for quick passage.



Cargill reports fiscal 2019 fourth-quarter and full-year results

Cargill today reported results for the fiscal 2019 fourth quarter and full year ended May 31, 2019. Key measures include:
-    Adjusted operating earnings were $476 million, down 41% from the $809 million earned in last year’s record fourth quarter. This brought earnings for the full fiscal year to $2.82 billion, 12% below last year’s top performance.
-    Net earnings on a U.S. GAAP basis were $235 million, down 67% from $711 million in the strong comparative period. For the 12 months, net earnings decreased 17% to $2.56 billion.
-    Fourth-quarter and full-year revenues each dipped 1% to $29.9 billion and $113.5 billion, respectively. Cash flow from operations equaled $5.19 billion, also a 1% decline.

“Throughout the year, we faced a very challenging global business environment that slowed earnings. Still, we improved performance in several food and financial businesses and significantly reduced costs companywide,” said Dave MacLennan, Cargill’s chairman and chief executive officer. In particular, he pointed to the North American protein business, which led earnings by combining strong demand for beef and eggs with consumer insights that helped customers win in local markets.

MacLennan said the company is focused on what it can best control: moving faster, raising efficiency, and creating innovative solutions for customers. “We want to accelerate growth in market segments where our expertise will help us create more value with our customers. Serving them inspires us to reach higher every day.”

Segment results
Adjusted operating earnings in Industrial & Financial Services were up significantly in the fourth quarter; results in the remaining three business segments were below the year-ago level.

Animal Nutrition & Protein was the biggest contributor to Cargill’s earnings for the quarter. Within the segment, North American protein results were slightly below last year’s level, as spring flooding in the U.S. Midwest delayed cattle shipments and cool weather dampened the start of the outdoor grilling season. Still, domestic and export demand for beef remained strong, as did domestic demand for value-added egg products. Global poultry results trailed the year-ago level, hampered by a mix of market and operating challenges across regions. Animal nutrition earnings also were negatively affected by market disruptions, including the reduction in feed demand resulting from the culling of pigs in China and nearby countries to control the incidence of African swine fever, a virus fatal to pigs.

During the quarter, Cargill invested to serve growing demand for protein, particularly across Asia. In June, Cargill opened a $50 million addition to its poultry facilities in China’s Anhui province that increases capacity for cooked chicken products. To the south, a flagship facility for producing premixes and specialty feeds for young animals is under construction in Jiangxi province. It is expected to come on line at the end of 2020. The company also opened a state-of-the-art premix plant in Jordan to meet the specialized animal nutrition needs of customers in the Middle East and North Africa.

Building on earlier moves to diversify its protein business, Cargill invested in Aleph Farms, a cultured meat company focused on growing complex meat varieties such as steak. The new capital will help Aleph Farms move closer to commercialization, with a limited consumer product launch anticipated in three-to-five years. Cargill is committed both to growing its traditional animal protein business and to exploring new opportunities to meet higher future demand for all forms of protein.

Food Ingredients & Applications delivered mixed results across the segment. Starches and sweeteners trailed the year-ago quarter as improved sales volume in North America was offset by higher energy and raw material costs in Europe. Though ahead for the year, edible oils had a softer fourth quarter. Cocoa and chocolate edged out last year’s fourth quarter as strong performance in Europe was partially trimmed by lower sales volume and higher operating costs in North America. Sales of salts for food and water quality applications contributed to higher salt earnings in the fourth period. And the segment’s businesses in Asia saw improvement across several product lines.

As part of a strategy to grow in specialty ingredients, Cargill completed the acquisition of Belgian chocolate company Smet. In Brazil, Cargill is constructing a $150 million pectin plant in São Paulo state. Pectin is a versatile, citrus-based texturizer that has label-friendly applications in bakery, confectionery, dairy, and fruit juices and jams. The new facility, which complements Cargill’s pectin production capacity in France, Germany and Italy, is slated to start up in late 2021.

In Asia, Cargill opened a food and nutrition innovation center in Singapore, where customers can collaborate with Cargill food scientists and culinary specialists to create or reformulate foods and beverages to meet consumers’ changing preferences. The company also announced a $110 million expansion to its corn processing facility in China’s Jilin province, including an adjacent food safety and technology center being built in collaboration with the local government.

Origination & Processing was negatively impacted by the deep uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-China trading relationship, which has overridden global supply-and-demand fundamentals and disrupted trade flows, especially in corn and oilseeds. Adverse wet weather in the U.S. interior also slowed grain marketing and transportation activities. Softening profitability in biodiesel contributed to lower results in Europe. And earnings in South America were held back by a crop shortfall in Paraguay and a difficult crush environment in Argentina.

Earnings in Industrial & Financial Services rose considerably in the fourth quarter, lifted by improved results across metals, risk management and trade finance.

Contributing to sustainable global development
Cargill continues to direct its insights, capabilities and resources toward transforming what is possible in food, agriculture and nutrition. As the new fiscal year began, Cargill published four reports addressing its goals, partnerships and progress to advance sustainability across key businesses: aqua nutrition, premix and nutrition, cocoa and chocolate, and ocean transportation. Additionally, the Soft Commodities Forum, of which Cargill is a founding member, issued its first progress report on soy sourced from Brazil’s Cerrado region, having previously developed a common framework for monitoring progress on supply chain transparency and traceability. The forum, which includes the world’s leading handlers of soy, canola and other soft commodities, was convened by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to advance collective action. Members’ progress will be reported biannually.

Recognizing the need for bold ideas, Cargill committed $30 million to bring together business, governments and civil society in a concerted effort to end deforestation in Brazil. The intent is to find and accelerate solutions at scale to protect forests and native vegetation while allowing farmers and communities to prosper.

Cargill’s 2019 annual report, Reach Higher, will debut Tuesday, July 30, on www.cargill.com. By integrating financial and corporate responsibility performance, the report will show how Cargill aims to achieve its purpose to nourish the world safely, responsibly and sustainably. In addition to progress measures, the report will highlight how Cargill works relentlessly to deliver for its customers and all who depend on the company.

“We are proud of how far we’ve come in our 154-year-old history, and we know together we can achieve more,” MacLennan said. “With our partners, we are striving to push forward and redefine food systems for everyone’s benefit.”