Tuesday December 17 Ag News

Dodge County FB Seeks Applicants for Student Project Grant

Dodge County Farm Bureau is seeking applicants for their 2020 Student Project Grants. Two grants of up to $500 will be offered to Dodge County FFA and 4-H students.  Students looking for additional funding for their 4-H or FFA project may apply. There is no limit on the kind of project that qualifies. Applicants will be evaluated by a panel of judges and grants will be awarded in the Spring. Application deadline is January 3, 2020.

For application and questions, please contact John Colgan, treasurer, Dodge County Farm Bureau, (402) 720-3829 (phone), jacolgan@gpcom.net (email) or Leann Robitaille, Southeast regional manager, Nebraska Farm Bureau, (402) 310-0263.



Coordinating commission approves new agriculture facilities at Northeast Community College

New facilities to replace nearly 100 year-old buildings will be constructed at Northeast Community College. During Tuesday’s meeting of the Northeast Board of Governors, it was reported that the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (CCPE) has approved programming statements for a new Veterinary Technology building and a Farm Operations and Large Animal building.

In its report, CCPE commissioners said, “This project would replace obsolete existing facilities to meet the needs of the students at (Northeast’s) Norfolk Campus.”

“While our faculty and staff have maintained these buildings to the best of their ability, our current agriculture facilities do not align well with providing a proper atmosphere for our agricultural students,” said Steve Schram, co interim president. “These new facilities that are Phase One of the new Agriculture and Water Center of Excellence will enhance opportunities for students in several of our ag programs. The coordinating commission’s action reaffirms the hard work of members on the project team and gets us to where we need to be today.”

The new 36,000 square foot Veterinary Technology facility and the 15,000 square foot Large Animal and Farm Operations building will be constructed near the College’s Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex, approximately one-mile east of the main campus in Norfolk.

The existing Veterinary Technology program is currently located in two facilities. Faculty offices, one classroom, and a pathology class laboratory are currently located in 2,600 square feet of space in the Agriculture and Allied Health building on the main campus. The program’s clinic is located on the College farm in a building originally constructed in 1920 as part of the working farm for the Norfolk Regional Center. The two facilities are nearly a mile apart.

In approving the program statement, CCPE commissioners said a new Veterinary Technology building will consolidate the entire program into a single facility and allow for the expansion of enrollment to meet industry demand.

The existing Large Animal and Farm Operations spaces are also located in the original 1920 farm building that comprise 13,000 square feet of space.

A new Large Animal and Farm Operations building will provide similar types of spaces to the existing structure in a facility with appropriate interior height that would better meet the needs of both the farm operations and agricultural programs that would demonstrate modern farming operations.

Commissioners also expressed support on how the ag facility project will allow other growing programs to benefit from additional and supporting areas. Vacated spaces in the Ag/Allied Health building will allow the College to address existing academic needs for Medical Lab Science, Physical Therapist Assistant, or other allied health programs that are in demand and in need of additional space.

College officials estimate a total project cost for construction and equipment of Phase One of the Ag & Water project at $23.3 million with proposed sources of funding coming from a capital improvement fund of up to $14 million and private donations of at least $9.4 million. The capital campaign kicked off earlier this year with a $5 million lead gift from the Acklie Charitable Foundation.

The CCPE said that Northeast’s five-year Capital Improvement Fund Budget projects having “sufficient funds” to finance existing capital construction project obligations along with Phase I of the Ag & Water project.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Northeast Board of Governors unanimously approved final plans of Phase One in order to submit them for construction bids. Ground is scheduled to be broken on the new facilities this spring.



Successful Farmer Series to Feature Timely Topics
Tyler Williams - Cropping Systems Extension Educator

The fifth annual “Successful Farmer Series” will tackle current topics in agricultural production on Friday mornings from Jan. 10 to Feb. 14. Enjoy a morning coffee and hear from a slate of speakers from Nebraska Extension and ag groups at the Lancaster Extension Education Center, 444 Cherry Creek Road in Lincoln. Multiple sessions allow you to pick the topics most relevant to you and your operation.  Each session will also be streamed live online. All sessions will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

These sessions are a great opportunity to learn and to visit with other producers in southeast Nebraska interested in these issues. Each topic will feature two to three speakers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or related agencies. Other experts often will be available to address more specific questions or interact with attendees during the breaks.

Topics & Speakers
Friday, Jan. 10 – Energy and Agriculture
Learning more about the opportunities, pitfalls, and future direction of the energy and agricultural industries can help you align your operation to be more successful.
Speakers: John Hay, Nebraska extension educator in Biological Systems Engineering, and Roger Berry, administrator, Nebraska Ethanol Board

Friday, Jan. 17 – Insects and Diseases
Focusing on pertinent insects and diseases dealt within 2019 and the ones to be looking for in 2020.
Speakers: Justin McMechan, UNL cropping systems specialist; Tamra Jackson-Ziems, UNL plant pathologist; and Amelia Breinig, assistant director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Friday, Jan. 24 – Ag Policy and Data
Agricultural policy is difficult to follow, given the amount of data available to producers, traders and public policymakers and how quickly it's updated. This session will focus on ag policy updates, farm bill considerations, and the USDA National Ag Statistics Service.
Speakers: Brad Lubben, UNL agricultural policy specialist, and Nick Streff, regional director, USDA-NASS

Friday, Jan. 31 – Soil Management
Managing the soil is a key factor in farm production, profitability, and sustainability. It requires strategy and commitment. This session focuses on the benefits, beyond yield, of developing a high-quality soil and looks at local cover crop programs and research.
Speakers: Aaron Hird, NRCS soil health specialist; Fernanda Souza Krupek, UNL graduate research assistant; and Cory Schmidt, NRCS district conservationist

Friday, Feb. 7 – Resiliency and Diversification
If 2019 taught us anything, it is to be ready for everything. Flooding, extreme cold, heavy snow, flash droughts — all impacted our ag system this past year. We can’t stop these events from happening, but we can manage to reduce the impact and risk of losses. This session will focus on ways to create a more resilient system and opportunities to diversify crop or livestock production and risk.
Speakers: Katie Kreuser, UNL extension educator; and Craig Allen, UNL resilience scientist in the School of Natural Resources

Friday, Feb. 14 – Weather and Markets
This session takes a look at the upcoming forecast, as well as information on the latest ag markets and potential marketing strategies.
Speakers: Al Dutcher – UNL extension ag climatologist, and Doug Simon, Commodity Consultant, Tredas

The cost is $5 per session or $15 for the entire series. Refreshments will be provided. Please register at least two days before the workshops by contacting Karen Wedding at kwedding2@unl.edu or 402-441-7180, or going to https://lancaster.unl.edu/farmerseries. Pay at the door with check or cash. Debit/credit card payment is available for an additional fee. The series will be live-streamed — ask for a link. CEU credits will be available for certified crop advisors attending in person.



Registrations Now Open for 2020 Private Pesticide Training
Clyde Ogg - Pesticide Safety Extension Educator

Nebraska Extension’s private pesticide applicator training season gets underway in January and continues through April for the approximately 10,000 private applicators who are recertifying their licenses to apply restricted use pesticides (RUPs).

The training sessions are one of three options available for private applicators to become initially (first-time) certified or to be recertified.

A second option is the private online self-study program, which includes assessment quizzes that participants must pass to become certified.

A third method is to attend one of six Extension Crop Production Clinics in January or the Nebraska Crop Management Conference Jan. 22-23 in Kearney.

Separate, additional training is required for anyone buying and applying restricted use dicamba and paraquat.

Every three years a licensed private applicator must attend a training session or complete the self-study course approved by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), or pass an NDA exam for license renewal. Once licensed, applicators may purchase, handle, or apply RUPs. Fees are separate for Extension training and for NDA licensing.

The user-friendly online private self-study training is an exclusive training option from the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

No matter the method, all training covers:
    the importance of reading and following the product label, as well as protecting nontargets such as people, sensitive plants, animals, wildlife and pollinators;
    strategies for preventing weed resistance; and
    proper pesticide application techniques.

In addition, on-site meeting topics this year may include potential federal regulation changes. For example, a comment period about part of the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is now underway. When any changes are known, PSEP will pass on the information to Extension Educators involved with pesticide training and through other venues.

The WPS aims to protect people involved in agricultural work from pesticide exposure. Even if there are changes, it is helpful to become familiar with WPS. An online tool, The Worker Protection Standard: Does it Apply to You?, can help workers, managers, employers, producers, and others understand the law as it is now. By answering a series of questions related to the duties of an agricultural establishment, the tool will relay if and how WPS applies to you, and what steps you or your employer need to take in order to comply. It was developed by the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC).

Private applicators needing recertification in 2020 should have been notified by NDA in mid-December or by their local Extension office. The NDA letter includes a bar code that eliminates the need to complete the standard NDA application form; bring the letter to the training session. Applicators also should check their licenses for the expiration date. If the license expires in 2020 but the applicator has not yet received a letter from NDA, they should contact the agency at 402-471-2351.

Participants will again use the updated EC130 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska to learn how to use label information such as chemical group numbers as well as nonchemical techniques, to reduce development of pesticide-resistant pests. The comprehensive guide, normally $15, is included with registration.

The cost of Extension’s private training session is $40; NDA licensing for private applicators is a separate $25.

Sites of Private Pesticide Applicator Training
Detailed information about training opportunities is available at https://pested.unl.edu or through the links listed below. Preregister by contacting host Extension offices; additional dates may be added later in December.
    For private initial, or first-time, certification training locations, dates, and contacts see: https://edmedia.wufoo.com/reports/2020-psep-private-training-dates/. Extension training is $40; NDA licensing is an additional $25.
    For private recertification training locations and dates see https://edmedia.wufoo.com/reports/2020-psep-private-training-dates/. Extension training is $40; NDA licensing is an additional $25.
    For private online self-study training, see https://psep.education/applicator/. Extension training is $75; NDA licensing is an additional $25.
    Applicators with both private and commercial/noncommercial licenses may find Extension’s Crop Production Clinics helpful. Cost is $80. NDA licensing for private applicators is an additional $25; for commercial, $90. There is no license fee for noncommercial applicators.
    Nebraska Crop Management Conference Jan. 22-23 at Kearney is yet another option. Registration is $80 per day or $150 for both days.

Separate, Required Trainings: Online Options
Annual RUP Dicamba Training
Extension training also will be held for the growing number of RUP dicamba products. It is a federal requirement to complete state-approved dicamba training each year prior to using any of these products due to the potential for drift and damage to non-target crops and vegetation. See https://pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training#dicamba for PSEP training information beginning Jan. 2. This training is free.

Paraquat Training
Beginning in fall 2019, paraquat labels began including a link to required training for anyone who mixes, loads, applies, or handles paraquat. Federal EPA online training, good for three years, provides information about paraquat’s toxicity, new label requirements and restrictions, and consequences of misuse.

Widely used in agriculture, paraquat is fatal when ingested in even a small amount; there is no antidote. Also in effect are new closed-container system standards for non-bulk end-use product containers. This means the containers must be completely sealed with no way to open and pour out the contents except into application equipment. This training is free.

For more information about pesticide safety, visit https://pested.unl.edu.



House Passes Smith Tax Relief Provisions

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), Ranking Republican on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue, released the following statement regarding House passage of year-end tax legislation:

“Nebraskans, and all Americans, deserve a tax code which provides long term certainty, common sense, and relief when they need it most. I am incredibly pleased this package meets those standards, ensuring electric cooperatives maintain their tax status when accessing disaster grants, providing general tax relief to areas of Nebraska hit by disaster, and ensuring several years of tax certainty to producers, refiners, retailers, and consumers who benefit from the biodiesel blender credit.”

Included in the tax package are several bipartisan provisions Smith has led on in the Ways and Means Committee. These include:
-    The RURAL Act which ensures tax-exempt rural electric cooperatives maintain their tax-exempt status when they use government grants, contributions, and assistance. Nebraska relies on public and cooperative power generation to affordably meet its needs. The RURAL Act (H.R. 2147), which Smith co-introduced with Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), has 304 cosponsors.
-    Extension of the Biodiesel Tax Credit, which expired at the end of 2017, through 2022. The Biodiesel Tax Credit has played a significant role in growing domestic biodiesel production and consumption.
-    Tax relief for Nebraskans and other Americans living and working in federally declared disaster areas. Smith led the entire Nebraska and Iowa delegations in introducing legislation providing tax relief for areas impacted by the March 2019 disaster impacting both states.

Legislation containing these Smith-led tax provisions passed the House of Representatives today on a 297-120 vote, and is expected to be passed by the Senate and signed by President Trump later this week.



NBB Thanks Congress for Multiyear Extension of the Biodiesel Tax Incentive

Today, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and its members thanked Congressional champions for introducing a multiyear extension of the biodiesel tax incentive. If passed, the credit would be available to biodiesel blenders through 2022. The credit will help to expand markets and support expansion of biodiesel and renewable diesel production.

Kurt Kovarik, NBB's Vice President of Federal Affairs, stated, "Today’s announced deal provides the policy certainty that the biodiesel industry has been seeking to support investments and continued growth of production. NBB and its members are grateful that Congressional leaders are providing a positive signal before the year’s end.

"On behalf of NBB members, I’d like to thank Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Abby Finkenauer as well as many other senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle for their strong and consistent championship of our industry. I’d also like to thank the producers, soybean farmers, heating oil distributors, blenders, and others who have worked tirelessly to advocate for extension of the biodiesel tax credit. We will continue to work with our champions to get this legislation across the finish line before the end of the year."



Federal Biodiesel Tax Extension is a Win for Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Industry
Iowa Secretary Mike Naig issued the following statement in response to the proposed five-year extension of the federal biodiesel tax incentive.

“The holiday season just got a little brighter for biodiesel producers and farmers alike thanks to the proposed extension of the federal biodiesel tax incentive,” said Secretary Naig. “As the country’s leading biodiesel producer, the industry supports thousands of Iowa jobs and adds value to our soybean, corn, cattle and hog products. If passed, the biodiesel tax incentive will bring much needed stability to the renewable fuels market and rural communities across the state.”

Biodiesel Facts
-    In 2018, Iowa produced an estimated 365 million gallons of biodiesel.
-    Biodiesel adds at least 63 cents per bushel to the value of Iowa soybeans, $16 per head of cattle and $1.24 per head of pork, according to Renewable Energy Group.
-    Biodiesel reduces GHG emissions by up to 86 percent compared to diesel fuel.



Soy Growers Thank Congress for Making Biodiesel Tax End of Year Priority

The American Soybean Association (ASA) today thanks Congress and our soybean industry champions for all of their efforts that have resulted in the introduction of a tax package that includes a multiyear biodiesel tax incentive extension that could help bring a measure of certainty soy growers have sought for over two years.

If passed, the credit would be extended at $1 per-gallon for five years covering 2018-22, retroactive to Dec. 31, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2022. The biodiesel tax incentive lapsed in December 2017, and the industry has faced nearly two years of uncertainty. ASA has worked closely with the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) to advocate for a multiyear extension of the biodiesel tax credit before the end of 2019.

“Soy growers have faced several obstacles over the past two years—a down farm economy, a trade war, lapsed tax credits and biodiesel plants closing across the country,” said Rob Shaffer, ASA director and chair of the organization’s Biodiesel and Infrastructure Committee, who also serves on NBB. “ASA is grateful to Congress for its support of the tax credit—which will help expand markets for soybean growers during an unsteady time. And I appreciate each of the soy growers and biodiesel industry partners who took time out of their fields to advocate passing this incentive before the end of the year.”



RFA Welcomes Deal to Extend Biofuel Tax Provisions

The Renewable Fuels Association thanks congressional leaders for renewing and extending important renewable fuel tax provisions in its tax extenders agreement reached early Tuesday morning. Specifically, the amendment would retroactively reinstate the second-generation biofuel producer credit, the special allowance for second-generation biofuel plant property and the alternative fuel refueling property credit for 2018 and 2019 and extend them through 2020. In addition, the biodiesel tax credit was reinstated for 2018 and 2019 and extended through 2022.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered the following statement:
“This is welcome news for the entire renewable fuels industry, and we thank Senator Grassley and the other leaders who made this important compromise possible. While we continue to advocate for prospective, longer-term certainty for the second-generation biofuel producer credit and other relevant tax provisions, we are grateful this deal was reached to retroactively reinstate the lapsed second-generation biofuel provisions and extend them through 2020. We also appreciate the renewal and extension of the biodiesel and renewable diesel credit, as more than 2 billion pounds of corn distillers oil from ethanol plants are converted annually into the lowest-carbon source of biodiesel and renewable diesel available on the market today.

“The ethanol industry continues to support smart tax policy that enables long-term growth and investment in low-carbon renewable fuels, and today’s deal helps level the playing field against a fossil fuels industry that has reaped billions upon billions in tax incentives, subsidies, and write-offs. We urge Congress and President Trump to move swiftly to pass and enact these important provisions that have languished for years.”



ICGA Farmers Fight for RFS at White House

Today farmer leaders of the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) met with the Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow at the White House to discuss the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This meeting focused on the importance of upholding the strength of the RFS and reaffirming the deal reached and agreed to by President Trump on October 4, 2019 regarding the small refinery exemption (SRE) issue. Specifically, ICGA asked the President and White House leaders to stand by the October 4 deal because it would base SRE gallon reallocation on a three-year rolling average of previous actual exemptions to achieve the 15-billion-gallon blending requirement of the RFS under the law.

“Our top priority of ICGA is long-term corn grower profitability and an important way to reach that priority is with the success of the RFS. We are not giving up on the fight to uphold the RFS and are tirelessly working to ensure the deal that was agreed to on October 4 is implemented to the benefit of American farmers and consumers,” said Greif. “The current EPA proposal could eliminate the use of more than 580 million gallons of ethanol each year, potentially impacting over 200 million bushels of corn demand. Bottom line, with many market troubles corn farmers faced this year, Iowa’s corn farmers just want the White House to honor the commitments they have made.”

The meeting was attended by ICGA President Jim Greif and Industrial Usage and U.S. Production Committee Chair Kelly Nieuwenhuis.

Additionally, during this meeting, a letter signed by 1,726 ethanol and biodiesel supporters across 41 states was hand delivered to the White House by Greif, Nieuwenhuis and other members of ICGA.



NPPC Applauds U.S. House Passage of Ag Inspectors Funding
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an additional $19.6 million in funding for more agricultural inspectors at land, air and sea ports to prevent African swine fever (ASF) and other foreign animal diseases (FAD) from entering the United States. This funding, included in the fiscal year 2020 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, is a top priority for the National Pork Producers Council.

"For more than a year, NPPC has advocated for an increase in the number of agricultural inspectors at our borders," said NPPC President David Herring, a pork producer from Lillington, N.C. "We applaud the House, especially Reps. Vela, Thompson, Peterson, Axne, Carbajal, Gonzalez, Costa, Rouzer and Fortenberry, for approving an essential provision to reduce the risk of ASF and other FADs and to protect the rural economy from a devastating outbreak. We also thank the USDA and Customs and Border Protection for all they have done to strengthen U.S. biosecurity."

The most likely path for a FAD to enter the country would be through the importation of infected animals or contaminated products. An outbreak of certain FADs would immediately close U.S. pork export markets, with significant harm to our farmers, consumers and overall economy. NPPC continues to advocate for other FAD preparedness measures, including establishing a U.S. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine bank as provided for in the 2018 Farm Bill. The United States does not currently have access to enough vaccine to quickly contain and eradicate an FMD outbreak.



Workshop to Focus on Industrial Hemp Production

Presentations on industrial hemp production will be part of this year’s Great Plains Grower Conference Jan. 9-11 in St. Joseph, Mo. The conference, which focuses on commercial fruit, vegetable, cut flower, and honey bee production in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and other Midwest states, is adding a day-long workshop on hemp production and marketing this year. The hemp workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9.

The conference and trade show will be held at the Fulkerson Center at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. Conference information and registration details are available at https://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org/. Keynote speaker is Charlotte Smith, recognized as one of the 25 "World's Most Influential Women in Food and Ag." Smith created a sustainable farm-to-consumer business selling premium meats, poultry, eggs and milk and then created a marketing firm, 3 Cow Marketing, to help other growers develop their marketing skills.

Other tracts at this year's conference include: Food Safety Grower Training, Honey Bees and Beekeeping, Drip Irrigation Systems from Design to Production, and Cultivating Your Legally Resilient Farm, as well as a number of presentations related to commercial horticulture topics. The conference is organized by Extension professionals at the University of Missouri, Kansas State University, Lincoln University, Iowa State University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Industrial Hemp 101
Following year one of pilot programs in Kansas and Nebraska, the recent Farm Bill has our entire Great Plains region preparing for commercial hemp production in 2020. Despite serious excitement for this new specialty crop and its potential profit per acre, growers face a steep learning. This comprehensive workshop will cover hemp biology, agronomy, integrated pest management, licensing requirements, processing, marketing, farmer crop reports, and early results from research activities at local colleges.
    Introduction ― Definition, Background and Status of Current Regulation
    Intro to Hemp: Agronomy and K-State 2019 Field Report ― Jason Griffin, Kansas State University extension specialist
    “How Can I Sell My Hemp Crop?” Processing and Marketing - TBA
    Regional Review of State Hemp Regulations ― Breakout sessions with representatives from state Departments of Agriculture
    Hemp IPM ― Nicole Gauthier, University of Kentucky plant pathologist
    UNL Greenhouse and Field Research Report ― Ismail Dweikat, UNL professor of agronomy
    THC, CBD, and Cannabinoid Testing for Hemp Growers ― Eleni Pliakoni, associate professor of horticulture, and Tricia Jenkins, KSU horticulture graduate student
    Grower Presentations and Panel Discussion

The deadline for early bird registration is Dec. 31. Early bird registration is $50 per person per day for Friday and Saturday; $30 per day for students with a valid student identification.

For more information visit, http://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org/ .



PUBLIC CORN BREEDING RESEARCH REMAINS CRITICAL

New seed corn technology and the robust traits they bring are crucial to the success of farmers today, said National Corn Growers Association Research and Productivity Director Robyn Allscheid. And a key component to this progress is the public corn breeders working within the University system who train people to carry on this legacy in the future.

Allscheid, fresh from attending the North Central Coordinating Committee for Regional Corn Breeding Research’s Annual Corn Breeding Research Meeting in Chicago, Illinois noted companies involved in corn plant breeding depend on public corn breeders for training new students in fundamental principles of plant breeding and genetics.

“Small seed companies and producers indicate a need for developing publicly available varieties, especially for small markets that are not currently served by the large corporations in the private sector,” she said. “Funding agencies expect public corn breeders to carry out translational research to apply genome sequence and functional genomics information, so this is an important function.”

The meeting also promotes interaction between the corn breeding research community and seed companies, commodity groups, Multistate Research Committees, the maize genetics community and other stakeholders, she said.

Other key objectives include:  Identifying new opportunities to carry out cooperative research with regional or national scope and coordinate existing cooperative corn breeding research projects; develop and make available corn breeding tools such as databases, software and methods and communicate research results to committee members and stakeholders.

SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS CONTINUES TO GROW AT NCGA
A new Corn Sustainability Advisory Group (CSAG) met recently to discuss how NCGA can focus on corn sustainability and advise the NCGA board on how to proactively tell corn’s positive story of change and constant improvement.

The group - made up of farmer representation of NCGA’s Ethanol, Market Development, Sustainable Ag Research and Stewardship Action Teams, NCGA staff and state corn staff – will also work toward building consumer trust and growing competitive market demand by offering a broad view of NCGA’s current initiatives as well as establishing goals for the future.

“We have a lot going on organizationally that links directly or indirectly to sustainability. CSAG will work to help to identify areas for strengthening, integration and expansion,” said Rachel Orf, NCGA director of sustainability. “We will also step up our engagement with corn sector partners and value chain members to identify mutual goals, opportunities for collaboration and bring more cohesion to our efforts.”

The group's first meeting was designed to be immersive, taking stock of what is being done by NCGA, state corn groups, other ag groups, industry and other players throughout the value chain. In its inaugural meeting, the group visited with the American Feed Industry Association, Cargill, Renewable Fuels Association and the National Cotton Council.



THE BEEF CHECKOFF: The Decision Makers – Part 2
Greg Hanes, CEO, Cattlemen’s Beef Board

The Beef Checkoff was designed by producers, for producers, to build value by focusing on key areas of research and promotion to drive demand for our beef around the world.  But who decides where checkoff dollars are best utilized?

The decision-making works with one simple purpose in mind – producers and importers making decisions to fund programs and activities that enhance their bottom lines. As it should be – it’s only right that those with skin in the game are the ones who make the funding decisions.

Simply Producer-Driven
As I described last month in “The Reality of the Beef Checkoff,” there are layers of processes and procedures in place to ensure that decisions are producer-driven at both a local and national level and that checkoff dollars are invested according to strict and specific parameters. This decision-making is mandated through the Beef Promotion and Research Act, and USDA has been delegated authority by Congress to ensure this happens.

Producer and importer representation and involvement are at the heart of the Beef Checkoff. It is through joint committee efforts between the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) and the Federation of State Beef Councils that producers can formally have their say in how Beef Checkoff dollars are invested each year.

Certified beef industry organizations nominate individual beef producers and importers to the Secretary of Agriculture for appointment to the CBB. The Secretary then selects individuals from those nominations, with the number of producers in each state determined by the cattle numbers in their state. In 2020, there will be 99 members of the CBB Board. Those members have the opportunity to serve on CBB checkoff committees, CBB administrative committees, the evaluation advisory committee, as well as the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC).

One of the most important roles for CBB Board members is to participate on CBB checkoff committees, which are comprised of 20 CBB members and 20 members of the Federation of State Beef Councils. These committees are created to match up with key goals that were determined by the industry Long Range Plan (LRP). These committees are Export Growth, Consumer Trust, Innovation, Safety and Nutrition and Health. Over several meetings throughout the year, qualified contractors present preliminary projects and ideas (Authorization Requests) to these checkoff committees, who then score each of the projects, provide comments and feedback, and request revisions to ensure the projects are as efficient and beneficial to the industry as possible. The updated projects and the committee feedback are then submitted, along with other evaluation results, to the BPOC.

BPOC members all go through an intense screening and interview process by fellow producers and importers before they are appointed. It is a very competitive process, which is conducted each year, with many more applicants than seats. Each September, the BPOC (comprised of 10 CBB members and 10 members of the Federation of State Beef Councils) reviews and hears presentations on all the Authorization Requests (ARs) by the qualified contractors.

Total amounts requested by the contractors are typically much higher than the available funds, so the BPOC must determine which projects to fund (or not to fund). This September, for example, the BPCO reviewed nearly $51 million in funding requests and allocated about $40.9 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications for fiscal year 2020.

A two-thirds majority is required to approve any project, so those projects which appear to provide the best return to the industry are approved for funding. This proposed budgeting plan is then submitted to the full board for approval. If approved by the full board, the budget, ARs and contracts are finally submitted to USDA for approval.

Collaboration
It’s a well-defined, layered and structured process, full of checks and balances, all of it geared toward ensuring that your voices are heard, and that cattlemen and women benefit from the work that is done with Beef Checkoff dollars.

This decision-making process fosters collaboration among stakeholders in the industry, ensuring that all decisions are made with strong rationale.

For many, the best place to get involved is by attending CBB and qualified state beef council meetings. Meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. To become a member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, a producer should work with a certified nominating organization in their specific state, region, or unit.

Producer-driven. As it should be. When it comes to the Beef Checkoff, those with skin in the game make the investment decisions and benefit from those investments. 



USDA to Gauge Economics of Nation's Farms

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service is surveying farm operators across the nation to update information on production practices, resource use, and economic well-being of U.S. farms and farm households. Selected operators have received forms in the mail this month for the survey, which is called Agricultural Resource Management Survey.

NASS conducts ARMS jointly with USDA's Economic Research Service. In an effort to obtain the most accurate data, these agencies will reach out to nearly 36,000 producers nationwide.

The agency says decision makers from all facets of U.S. agriculture will use the collective information from ARMS to answer questions and make important decisions concerning the economic viability of American agriculture, the rural economy and other emerging issues.

The information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS will publish the economic data gathered in the annual Farm Production Expenditures report next summer.



New Tool to Boost Pasture and Rangeland Productivity

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered DuraCor™ herbicide from Corteva Agriscience for the 2020 season.

DuraCor features Rinskor® active, the first new active ingredient for broadleaf weed control in pastures and rangeland in nearly 15 years.

“We are excited to bring this important new active ingredient to the range and pasture market,” said Jillian Schmiedt, Range & Pasture Category Lead at Corteva Agriscience. “Corteva Agriscience is focused on helping cattle producers improve productivity and increase profit potential.”

Powered by Rinskor, recipient of the American Chemical Society’s 2018 Green Chemistry Challenge Award, and teamed with long proven and trusted aminopyralid, DuraCor controls more than 140 broadleaf weed species and offers several features, including:
    Safe to desirable forage grassesDuraCor logo.jpg
    Extended broadleaf weed control
    Low use rate
    Compatibility with dry and liquid fertilizer
    Low-odor formulation
    Non-restricted use

“DuraCor brings together two actives that received reduced-risk status under the EPA’s Conventional Reduced Risk Pesticide Program,” said Schmiedt. “Both are highly effective in controlling weeds yet give producers a product with a very favorable environmental profile.”

In addition to common rangeland and pasture weeds, such as thistles, ragweed, horsenettle, pigweed and others, multiple years of testing show improved control of especially tough-to-control broadleaf species, including wild carrot, giant hogweed, wild parsnip, plantain, poison hemlock, the sunflower and aster families and common caraway. DuraCor also provides better control of mature marshelder, Canada thistle, tall ironweed and other species.

“In a year like we’ve just been through, when weather and other challenges prevent timely pasture spraying — or any spraying at all — producers will appreciate the wider application window with DuraCor,” Schmiedt said.

Keeping weeds out of the way of pasture productivity is key as beef operations strive to manage costs by maximizing their lowest-cost feed source — their grazing acres.

“The main problem with pasture weeds is loss of grazing,” said John Byrd, Extension Weed Specialist, Mississippi State University. “We see reduced productivity in areas with significant populations of horsenettle and higher plant densities of species like marshelder and Brazilian vervain. Anywhere you have complete ground cover with any of those, you’re losing the forage base because animals won’t graze those sites.”

A new tool for rangeland
In the Western states, DuraCor™ herbicide expands the toolbox for ranchers who manage with multiple land-use goals in mind.

“DuraCor is especially effective against the most troublesome noxious and invasive weeds,” said Scott Flynn, Corteva Agriscience Zonal Biology Leader. “Canada thistle, knapweeds, yellow starthistle and many invasive species not only reduce forage production, they also threaten the rangeland ecosystem and other fragile sites. DuraCor provides a new option for protecting, improving and preserving the land — whether for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat or mixed uses.”

DuraCor will be available for the 2020 application season and is the second of five solutions Corteva Agriscience anticipates bringing to livestock producers and land managers in just three years.

“Corteva Agriscience is committed to giving cattle producers the reliable partner they need for improving rangeland and pasture productivity,” Schmiedt said. “Our dedicated team of local Range & Pasture Specialists approaches each ranch individually, and they ask what that landowner’s objectives are for the land. Ultimately, they work together, developing a plan with those goals in mind.”