Wednesday December 11 Ag News

NCBA Applauds U.S. Senate Introduction of Real MEAT Act

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today applauded the introduction of the Real MEAT (Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully) Act of 2019 by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska. The Senate bill is a companion to H.R. 4881, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Roger Marshall (R - 1st Dist., Kansas) and Anthony Brindisi (D - 22nd Dist., N.Y.) in October.

“It’s clear that fake-meat companies are continuing to mislead consumers about the nutritional merits and actual ingredient composition of their products,” said NCBA President Jennifer Houston. “We commend the efforts of Senator Fischer on introducing this legislation, which would end deceptive labeling of fake meat products and allow cattle producers to compete on a level playing field.”

“Beef is derived from cattle—period," Senator Fischer said. "Under USDA, beef undergoes a rigorous inspection and labeling process, but plant-based protein products that mimic beef and are sometimes labeled as beef are overseen by the FDA instead. These products are not held to the same food safety and labeling standards as beef. The NCBA has been a leader on this issue, and I am thankful for their strong support of the Real MEAT Act, which will protect consumers from deceptive marketing practices and bring transparency to the grocery store."

Specifically, The Real Meat Act will:

1. Codify the Definition of Beef for Labeling Purposes
• Establish a federal definition of beef that applies to food labels;
• Preserve the Congressional Intent of the Beef Promotion and Research Act;

2. Reinforce Existing Misbranding Provisions to Eliminate Consumer Confusion
• FDA has misbranding provisions for false or misleading labels;
• Prevent further consumer confusion with alternative protein products;
• Clarify the imitation nature of these alternative protein products;

3.Enhance the Federal Government’s Ability to Enforce the Law
• FDA will have to notify USDA if an imitation meat product is determined to be misbranded;
• If FDA fails to undertake enforcement within 30 days of notifying USDA, the Secretary of Agriculture is granted authority to seek enforcement action.



Syngenta donates $16,400 to local FFA chapters

Syngenta is donating $16,400 to local chapters of the National FFA® Organization to support ongoing training and programming for future agricultural leaders. This support comes at an important time for the ag industry, as the number of open agricultural jobs continues to outpace the number of educated professionals available to fill them.

“Syngenta takes pride in its support of local ag communities, especially as the need for educated agriculture professionals continues to grow,” says Ann Rengel, Syngenta customer event and trade show lead. “Donations like these directly support the students who represent the future of American agriculture, providing them with education and resources to further their involvement in the ag industry.”

The donation amount is based on the number of visitors who registered at Syngenta field events hosted at the company’s Grow More™ Experience and Golden Harvest® Agronomy in Action sites this year. Site hosts encouraged all event attendees to complete a digital registration form, and for every form completed with a valid, personal email address, Syngenta donated $5 to that site’s designated local FFA chapter(s).

The Grow More Experience and Agronomy in Action site events provided visitors with educational opportunities including hands-on agronomic trials and product demonstrations. Supported by teams of local agronomic experts, each site exhibited the latest agricultural technology – showcasing how Syngenta seeks to accelerate innovation by addressing the local environmental and economic needs of growers.



ICGA Asks President Trump to Correct Twisted RFS Proposal

In continued efforts to correct the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) twisted proposed rule that goes against President Trump’s agreement, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Jim Greif spoke at a news conference along with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).  The attack of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) has eliminated 4.04 billion gallons of biofuels from the RFS program over the last three years. This equates to nearly 1.5 billion bushels of corn. The EPA’s supplemental proposed rule would base any reallocation of waived gallons through the SRE program on the Department of Energy (DOE) recommendations which the EPA has historically not followed. The result of the EPA’s proposal will continue to undercut the RFS when waivers are granted removing market access for cleaner-burning renewable fuels. In efforts to not let this proposed rule get finalized, ICGA has launched a campaign sharing farmer’s stories to ask President Trump to follow through on his promise to support the RFS.

ICGA secured media space in the Washington D.C. market to air a commercial in hopes to grab the attention of President Trump and get him to stick to the deal that was agreed to on October 4, 2019. In this deal, the President agreed to base any reallocation of gallons on a three-year average of actual waived gallons. The commercial features ICGA President Jim Greif, Industrial Usage and U.S. Production Committee Chair Kelly Nieuwenhuis and Officer At-Large Mark Recker. The commercial expresses the deep concerns of Iowa’s corn farmers and ICGA members regarding the damage that this proposal could cause if it was adopted.

Additionally, ICGA President Jim Greif participated in a news conference today in St. Louis stating, “If the President was here today, I’d tell him, ‘Mr. President, you made promises on the RFS and announced a deal on October 4. Iowa farmers believed you and supported the October 4 deal. The EPA has twisted your agreement into something farmers don’t support. It feels like a knife is in the back of the American farmer. Please stand by your deal.”

ICGA will continue to keep the pressure on the White House until the final rule is decided upon.



 Land O'Lakes Continue Cooperative Health Insurance Program in Year Three

Eligible producers from participating Land O'Lakes co-ops and direct Land O'Lakes Dairy members in Minnesota and Kansas have less than two weeks to enroll in the Land O'Lakes Cooperative Farmer Member Health Plan. For coverage beginning January 1, 2020, the deadline to enroll in the plan is December 20 at 5p.m. CT.

For those unfamiliar with the Land O'Lakes Cooperative Farmer Member Health Plan, in 2017, Land O'Lakes partnered with Gravie, a Minneapolis-based benefits marketplace, to design a health plan exclusively for producers in Minnesota. Due to the program's success, Land O'Lakes and Gravie expanded the plan to Kansas for the 2020 benefits year.

The Land O'Lakes Cooperative Farmer Member Health Plan allows producers to choose from several ACA compliant plans — all of which cover each of the ten Essential Health Benefits (EHB's). It also gives them access to a broad, national provider network and year-round guidance from licensed advisors. "We're seeing first-hand the relief this plan is bringing to farming families who have had limited, costly options in the past," said Ari Beilin, Gravie's manager of the plan.

Beilin urges interested producers to take note of the fast approaching deadline. "Producers should be looking into their options now. There is affordable, quality coverage available, but December 20 is the last day to enroll," Beilin said.

To enroll in the Land O'Lakes Cooperative Farmer Member Health Plan, call Gravie at 844.538.4690 or visit gravie.com/coop.



USDA Extends Deadlines for Dairy Margin Coverage, Market Facilitation Programs

Due to the prolonged and extensive impacts of weather events this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today extended the deadline to December 20 for producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2020 calendar year. The deadline had been December 13.  USDA announced it is also continuing to accept applications for the Market Facilitation Program through December 20.

“2019 has challenged the country’s ag sector – prevented or late planting followed by a delayed harvest has been further complicated by wet and cold weather,” said Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “Because some of our producers are still in the field, time to conduct business at the local USDA office is at a premium. We hope this deadline extension will allow producers the opportunity to participate in these important programs.”

Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), the program offers reasonably priced protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

The Market Facilitation Program is part of a relief strategy to support American agricultural producers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets to help American farmers compete globally. MFP payments are aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. 



Iowa Farmland Value Grows 2.3% in 2019, but Barely Exceeds Inflation

It’s been a difficult year for farmers—the planting season saw an overabundance of rain and delayed planting, the United States’ trade war with China persisted, skewing both commodity prices and demand, and farm bankruptcies rose to the highest level since 2011. However, favorable interest rates, strong yields, and limited land supply combined to help drive Iowa’s farmland values up for only the second time in six years.

The statewide value of an acre of farmland is now estimated to be $7,432, which represents an increase of 2.3 percent, or $168, since 2018. The $7,432 per acre estimate, and 2.3 percent increase in value, represents a statewide average of low-, medium-, and high-quality farmland.

“The reprieve in the land market, unfortunately, is not driven by a much stronger farm economy,” said Wendong Zhang. Zhang is an assistant professor of economics at Iowa State University and is responsible for leading the annual Iowa Land Value Survey. “This recent modest increase in land values reflects a lower interest rate environment and slowly improving U.S. farm income. However, we are still faced with significant uncertainty, especially the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, which has significantly affected U.S. agricultural exports, especially soybean exports, and lead to lower commodity prices and weaker farm income,” Zhang said. Stronger than expected crop yields in Iowa, and continuing limited land supply helped contribute to the increase in land values, despite low commodity prices.

While the growth in land values is a positive, Zhang warned that it should not be labeled as a “solid rebound” of the land market. “The Market Facilitation Program payments helped soften the blow and stabilize farm income and the land market; however, a no-deal or further escalation of the U.S.-China trade war on Dec. 15 will further amplify trade uncertainties and put downward pressure on farm income and land values,” Zhang said. “The future of farmland market still hinges on the pace and speed of Federal Reserve moves on interest rates, progress in the trade talks, and the availability of land parcels.”

The United States also saw 580 farm bankruptcies in 2019, the highest number since 2011. However, Zhang said that the overall share of bankrupt farms is still low, “but there are more farms under financial stress due to continued low commodity prices.”

Zhang said the growth in Iowa’s land values was noticeably higher this year in the central crop reporting districts (district hereafter). “The Central districts saw larger increases than other districts due in part to stronger-than-expected crop yields over the past few years and strong urban demand.” He also noted that “strong recreational demand” has helped lift the value of low-quality land.

Land Values by County
Eighty-two of Iowa’s 99 counties reported higher land values, the remaining 17 all saw a decline. For the seventh consecutive year, Scott and Decatur counties reported the highest and lowest values, respectively. Decatur County reported a value of $3,586 per acre, a gain of $97, or 2.8 percent. Scott County reported a value of $10,837 per acre, a gain of $300, or 2.8 percent.

By County in Western Iowa ($$/acre)
Woodbury - $6873
Manona - $6640
Harrison - $7321
Pottawattamie - $7947
Crawford -$7979
Shelby - $7884

Both Boone and Story counties reported the largest percent increase at 5.4 percent. Story County also saw the largest dollar increase by county at $455 per acre. Clay and Allamakee Counties reported the largest percent decrease—both showed a 2.2 percent loss since 2018. Clay County reported the largest dollar decrease in values at $151 per acre.

Land Values by District
The Northwest district reported the highest overall land values at $9,352 per acre, and the South Central district reported the lowest overall land values at $4,487 per acre.

Land values across districts saw an increase in general, with only the Northeast district reporting a decline in land values (a loss of 2.9 percent). The losses in the Northeast district are due mainly to financial stress in the dairy sector.

The largest percentage increases were in the East Central and Central districts at 5.9 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. However, the South Central and Southeast districts also reported substantial increases at 3.6 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively.

Land Value by Quality
Low-quality land statewide now averages $4,759 per acre, a 3.3 percent, or $150 per acre, increase; medium-quality land now averages $6,938 per acre, an increase of 2.0 percent, or $133 per acre; and, high-quality land now averages $9,078 per acre, an increase of 2.4 percent or $215 per acre.

Low-quality land in the Central, East Central, and West Central districts all saw increases of 5.0 percent or more, but low-quality land in the Northeast district was a 5.0 percent decline.

All qualities of land in the Northeast district reported a loss, while low-quality land there saw a greater loss than did higher quality lands. High-quality land in the Northwest district is the only other high-quality land that saw a decline in value.

Factors Influencing Land Values
Favorable interest rates, strong yields, and limited land supply were the most frequently noted positive factors influencing land values. The most commonly cited negative factors influencing land values were lower commodity prices, the weather, and tariffs on agricultural commodities.

Land values were determined by the 2019 Iowa State University Land Value Survey, conducted in November by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Results from the survey are consistent with results by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Realtors Land Institute, and the US Department of Agriculture.

The ISU Land Value Survey was initiated in 1941, the first in the nation, and is sponsored annually by Iowa State University. The survey is typically conducted every November and the results are released mid-December. Only the state average and the district averages are based directly on the Iowa State survey data. The county estimates are derived using a procedure that combines the Iowa State survey results with data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture.

The ISU Land Value Survey is based on reports by agricultural professionals knowledgeable of land market conditions such as appraisers, farm managers, agricultural lenders and actual land sales. It is intended to provide information on general land value trends, geographical land price relationships and factors influencing the Iowa land market. The 2019 survey is based on 679 usable responses from 553 agricultural professionals. Fifty-nine percent of the 553 respondents answered the survey online.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 12/6/2019

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending Dec. 6, ethanol production increased 11,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 1.1%, to a 23-week high of 1.072 million b/d—equivalent to 45.02 million gallons daily. The four-week average ethanol production rate gained 1.0% to 1.056 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.19 billion gallons.

Ethanol stocks jumped 5.7% to 21.8 million barrels. However, inventories were 4.7% lower than the same week last year. Stocks increased across all PADDs.

Imports of ethanol arriving into the West Coast were 66,000 b/d, or 19.40 million gallons (mg) for the week. This was the first time since Sept. 2013 that the U.S. imported ethanol for four consecutive weeks. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of October 2019.)

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market moved 1.7% lower to 8.882 million b/d (373.04 million gallons per day, or 136.16 bg annualized) for a ten-month low. Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol scaled back by 4.9% to 858,000 b/d—equivalent to 13.15 bg annualized. This is the smallest volume blended in 48-weeks, with ethanol use falling 5.7% year-on-year.

Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production increased to 12.07%.



All Fertilizers' Prices Now Lower

Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of December 2019 continued to move lower. One change from recent weeks is all eight of the major fertilizer are now lower after several weeks of seven of the eight being lower.

While all eight of the major fertilizers were lower in price from the month earlier, only one was significantly lower, which DTN designates as 5% or more. UAN32 was 5% lower compared to last month and the nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $276.

The remaining seven fertilizers were lower in price, but none were considerably lower. DAP had an average price of $445/ton, MAP $463/ton, potash $379/ton, urea $381/ton, 10-34-0 $470/ton, anhydrous $490/ton and UAN28 $242/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.41/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are mixed in price from a year ago. MAP is now 13% less expensive, DAP is 11% lower, urea is 7% less expensive, both anhydrous and UAN32 are 6% lower and UAN28 is 1% less expensive from last year at this time. In addition, both potash and 10-34-0 are 3% more expensive compared to last year.



Captivating Speakers to Share Experiences, Knowledge at 2020 Cattle Industry Convention

A history-making astronaut and a savvy business executive are among speakers who will share experience and wisdom at the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas Feb. 5-7. The convention will feature business meetings of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the American National CattleWomen.

        Kicking off the event at the Opening General Session Feb. 5 will be retired U.S. Navy Captain Scott Kelly, an astronaut who spent a record-breaking year in space, laying the groundwork for the future of space travel and exploration. The Sky is Not the Limit: Lessons from a Year in Space will include life lessons and personal stories from 229 miles above Earth, a journey that exemplifies the power and resilience of the human spirit. The session is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.

        The Closing General Session Feb. 7 will be a completely different experience, including a celebration of the industry’s Beef Quality Assurance Program. Closing session speaker will be Kevin Brown, who for two decades was a successful executive helping grow a little-known family business into an industry giant with annual revenues reaching $2 billion. Brown will share with producers in the audience tools for winning in business and life using unconventional thinking.

        Sponsored by the Beef Quality Assurance Awards Program, the Closing General Session will be a fast-paced event that recognizes BQA award recipients, and highlights consumer-directed efforts promoting the BQA Program. New developments in BQA will also be introduced. A special reception for BQA award recipients will be held immediately following the closing session. BQA is funded in part by the Beef Checkoff and in partnership with Cargill and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

        As it has at previous conventions, CattleFax will present its CattleFax U.S. Global Protein & Grain Outlook Seminar to explore the factors driving the market, such as supplies and protein demand. Dr. Art Douglas will present his 2020 weather forecast for the United States and the world, and a grain outlook will also be shared. The presentation will take place Thursday, Feb. 6, at General Session II, and is sponsored by Zoetis and Purina.

        “We always strive to introduce the most interesting and relevant individuals as speakers at the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, and our attendees regularly tell us we always deliver,” says Kristin Torres, NCBA executive director of meetings and events. “We know the valuable information to be shared by speakers in San Antonio will provide guidance to last a lifetime.”



Farm Groups Partner to Help Farmers Manage Stress

Recognizing the high levels of stress affecting America’s farmers and ranchers, Farm Credit, American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union have partnered on a program to train individuals who interact with farmers and ranchers to recognize signs of stress and offer help.

Based on the farm stress program Michigan State University Extension developed for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, this combination of online and in-person trainings is designed specifically for individuals who interact with farmers and ranchers. It provides participants the skills to understand the sources of stress, learn the warning signs of stress and suicide, identify effective communication strategies, reduce stigma related to mental health concerns and connect farmers and ranchers with appropriate mental health and other resources.

“Farm Credit loan officers are on farms working with producers every day, and they see firsthand how this difficult farm economy is causing emotional stress for farmers and their families. We hope this training initiative will help our lenders recognize the signs of severe stress and get farm families the support they need,” said Farm Credit Council CEO Todd Van Hoose.  “We are very excited to partner with Farm Bureau and Farmers Union to make this training available throughout our rural communities.”

AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “Farm Bureau is a family, and when a member is hurting, we all feel it and are eager to help. But we may not always know how to spot the warning signs that someone is overwhelmed. This training program will help our members recognize the warning signs and empower them to get help for their friends, family, neighbors or even themselves. We’re honored to partner with Farm Credit and Farmers Union to strengthen rural resilience in farm communities.”

In a national Morning Consult poll commissioned by AFBF in April 2019, a strong majority of farmers and farmworkers said financial issues (91%), farm or business problems (88%) and fear of losing the farm (87%) impact the mental health of farmers and ranchers, and nearly half of rural adults (48%) said they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago.

“Many of us think of farms as idyllic,” said Jeff Dwyer, director of MSU Extension. “And what is portrayed is ideal, but what is not often shown is how hard farming is on both the body and the mind.”

Research also shows that while farmers experience higher levels of psychological distress and depression than the general population, they are less likely to seek help for mental health issues. Even for those who do seek help, resources may not be readily available, as 60% of rural Americans live in areas with mental health professional shortages.

Early feedback from the FSA trainings showed strong results. Ninety-one percent of participants indicated that the training improved their ability to serve customers experiencing stress, and 80% said it improved their ability to manage their own stress.

“Things have been really tough for farmers for several years now, and it’s taking a significant toll on their mental well-being,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “But between stigma, a lack of mental health care in rural communities and poor broadband access, there are so many barriers to getting help. By training trusted neighbors and friends to recognize and address stress, this program will bring help closer and make it more accessible when farmers really need it.”

In response to the many economic and environmental challenges confronting farmers, National Farmers Union compiled financial, legal and mental health resources at its online Farm Crisis Center. The organization’s partnership with Farm Bureau and Farm Credit will build on that project by further increasing farmers’ access to the information and services they need to get through financial and personal emergencies. Resources may also be accessed on MSU Extension’s “Managing Farm Stress” website.

The trainings, which will begin in the coming weeks, are funded by a grant from Farm Credit.



House Passes Milestone Bipartisan Agriculture Labor Bill; Bipartisan Support Builds Hope for Senate Plan

The National Milk Producers Federation today commended the House of Representatives for its bipartisan passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 5038). The bill, the first House-passed agricultural labor reform since a comprehensive immigration plan in 1986, includes critical provisions to address dairy’s unique workforce needs.

NMPF thanks Immigration Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA), the lead sponsors of H.R. 5038, as well as its more than four-dozen co-sponsors drawn from each party, for their work on this legislation, which has drawn wide support from prominent groups in the agriculture, business, worker, and humanitarian communities.

“The passage of legislation that helps address dairy’s unique workforce challenges is certainly a milestone and an opportunity we must pursue to the fullest,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “Agricultural labor reform is long overdue. With today’s action it is now imperative that the Senate act to fully address the needs of dairy farmers and all of agriculture, helping farmers do what they do best: feed our nation, and the world.”

“The urgency to reform the agricultural labor system cannot be overstated for dairy farmers,” said Mike McCloskey, dairy farmer and chair of NMPF’s Immigration Task Force. “Today, House members on a bipartisan basis showed us that they are taking our labor crisis seriously. We will use this momentum to work with the Senate to build consensus in drafting an improved bill that further addresses dairy’s workforce needs.”

More than 300 dairy, agriculture, business, and agriculture-allied organizations urged House leaders in mid-November to bring the bill to the floor for a full House vote, while more than 80 immigration and labor advocacy organizations called on their representatives to support the measure. The bill’s diverse backing ranged from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and the United Farm Workers to:

    The New York Farm Bureau, whose President, David Fisher said the bill “goes a long way towards addressing the workforce shortage that limits farmers’ ability to plant, harvest, and care for livestock.” The legislation “would take a significant step to ensure that New York agriculture is positioned to have a sustainable and reliable workforce that will support our rural economy.”

    The Cato Institute, whose analysis estimated the bill “would have saved H-2A farmers in 2019 about $324 million in labor expenses for H-2A workers alone.” The bill would “substantially reduce the illegal market for labor and increase agricultural production, without harming U.S. workers,” the organization said.

    And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which stated the bill “would take important steps to address the growing struggle of agricultural employers to meet their workforce needs.”



NFU Applauds Passage of Farm Workforce Modernization Act

The U.S. House of Representatives today voted in favor of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill to reform the agricultural labor system in the United States.

The product of negotiations between a diverse array of agricultural stakeholders and farmworker advocates, the legislation balances the interests of both agricultural employers and workers. For the former, it would expand access to the H-2A guest worker program by simplifying the application process, stabilizing wages with an annual cap, and establishing an option for year-round agricultural employment. For the latter, the bill would create a pathway to legal status through continued agricultural employment.

National Farmers Union (NFU), which has called for a “flexible, efficient, and compassionate agricultural worker visa program,” was among more than 300 agricultural organizations to offer formal support for the bill. In a statement, NFU President Roger Johnson applauded the bill’s passage and urged the U.S. Senate to continue working on solutions for agricultural labor issues:

“Our current farm labor system is badly broken. It’s a time-consuming, convoluted, and restrictive process for farmers and ranchers, who often don’t have the time to spare, and it’s a dead-end for farmworkers, who currently have no straightforward path for longer-term employment or legal status.

“Farmers and farmworkers alike deserve a better, fairer system – which is what the Farm Workforce Modernization Act aims to establish. Not only would it secure a legal and adequate supply of workers for family farmers and ranchers, but it would also provide stability for the farmworkers who put food on our tables. We appreciate the work of Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Dan Newhouse and the many other representatives involved in this process, and we urge the Senate to follow their lead by reaching across the aisle to address the labor challenges faced by American agriculture.”