Monday January 27 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the month of January 2020, topsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 11 short, 68 adequate, and 18 surplus, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short,  12 short, 71 adequate, and 14 surplus.
 
Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 7 poor, 31 fair, 54 good, and 5 excellent. 

The next monthly report (for February) will be issued February 24, 2020. Weekly reports will begin April 6th for the 2020 season.



Four Midwest Governors Sign New Agreement to Combat Flooding

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas, Governor Mike Parson of Missouri, and Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa announced that they had signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in response to historic flooding along the Missouri River.

“Ten months after flooding began, our states are still working to recover and rebuild because of the historic scale of the natural disaster,” said Governor Ricketts.  “Moving forward, we want to see people and communities put first when managing the Missouri River.  Thank you to Governor Kelly, Governor Parson, and Governor Reynolds for your collaboration, and I look forward to working together to implement solutions that keep our communities safe.”

“The year 2019 proved to be historic when it came to flooding and the Missouri River,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.  “Unfortunately, we have seen an increasing frequency of damage over the last 10 to 15 years.  The local land and business owners in the lower four states of the Missouri Basin have experienced the bulk of the damage.  The states must take a more active role in working toward solutions that limit future damages.  I’m happy to join Governor Ricketts, Governor Parson, and Governor Reynolds in this important effort and partnership.”

“All of our states have been heavily impacted by flooding this year, and we must work together to be more prepared for the future,” said Missouri Governor Mike Parson.  “Our citizens cannot continue to risk their lives, homes, livestock, and futures on a flood-control system that is insufficient to protect them.  I look forward to continue working with Governor Kelly, Governor Reynolds, and Governor Ricketts to share ideas and identify regional flood control solutions.”

“The Missouri River is a vital resource that affects the well-being of the entire region and we must be prepared for the upcoming snow melt,” said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.  “By working together as a regional group of governors we can put forth comprehensive solutions that improve current recovery while also preparing for the future.  I want to thank Governor Ricketts, Governor Parson, and Governor Kelly for partnering with Iowa to find comprehensive solutions that work for the entire region.”

Read the new agreement by clicking here... https://www.dropbox.com/s/5vj3jth81hbat0k/MOA%20-%20Four%20State%20Flood%20Cooperation%20-%20FINAL.pdf?dl=0.



Ricketts Congratulates Natural Resources Director on Retirement 

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts congratulated Jeff Fassett, the Director of Natural Resources (DNR), on his pending retirement.  Fassett has served as DNR director since August 2015.

“I want to express my deep gratitude to Jeff for leading the department over the past four and a half years,” said Gov. Ricketts.  “Jeff was the right leader at the right time.  From agriculture to recreation, he helped build trust and solve problems collaboratively by developing solid lines of communication among interested stakeholders.”

During Fassett’s tenure, Nebraska secured a settlement of claims regarding Colorado’s past use of water under the Republican River Compact with the help of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.  Additionally, DNR completed major basin plans for the Republican River and the Upper Platte River.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve Governor Ricketts and the people of Nebraska,” said Director Fassett.  “Nebraska has an outstanding team at DNR, who are working every day to keep our state growing.  With their help, Nebraska will continue to be a leader in water management for years to come.”

Fassett’s last day will be February 28th.  Gov. Ricketts has commenced his search for the next director.  Jesse Bradley will serve as the interim director.



Is your grain in the bin going out of condition?
Amy Timmerman – NE Extension Educator

Many producers put grain into their storage bins last fall at higher moisture contents than normal, due to late crop maturity and less in-field drying in 2019. For grain stored wetter than recommended for storage through the winter months (above 15% for corn and 13% for soybeans), it is especially vital to monitor grain this winter to get ahead of situations that could cause a loss in condition.

Maintaining grain temperatures below 35-40 degrees is the best defense against spoilage for grain that is wetter than ideal. To do so, it is necessary to aerate to cool grain in the fall after filling the bin, plus aerate as often as needed throughout the winter to keep grain cool.

Even after cooling, grain can warm in storage bins in the winter by solar heating on the bin roof and south-facing walls.

It is important to remember that the time required to fully aerate a bin (to cool grain and even out grain temperatures) depends on the fan size, or airflow. A small aeration fan (0.1 cfm/bushel) can take nearly a week to fully cool a bin of corn. Err on the side of running the fan too long to prevent uneven grain temperatures. Run aeration cycles when the averages between the daily high and low temperatures are near 30-35 degrees.

This winter, as you are monitoring grain condition weekly and aerating as needed, be sure to inspect and probe the grain for crusting, damp spots, and warm spots. Smell the first flush of exhaust air after turning on the fan to notice any off-smelling odors that indicate molding (musty or sour). The first flush of air exits the grain within seconds for a large drying fan and within minutes for an aeration fan. Have a plan of action and move grain at the first sign of it going out of condition. Remember that grain above safe storage moisture content will have to be dried or marketed prior to warm temperatures returning in spring.

Producers should also be aware that low test weight corn and or low-quality grain will have a shorter allowable storage time than good quality grain. Corn with a test weight below 53 lbs/bushel may only have about half the effective storage life of 56 lbs/bushel corn. It is not advised to store grain longer than half of its allowable storage time to reduce the risk of quality loss before marketing.



Trade Agreements for the Heartland
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

After World War II, our nation forged new trade deals and opened markets to create unprecedented economic growth. However, in the decades that followed, some interests and priorities have shifted. America needed to refocus and update our trade deals to level the playing field and restore fairness and reciprocity for the hardworking men and women of the heartland.

When one in four of our state’s jobs are directly related to production agriculture, Nebraskans need certainty that our trading markets are secure.

For years now, that’s exactly where my focus has been, and I have worked closely with President Trump to build on the tremendous momentum our economy has created to deliver trade deals with Canada, Mexico, China, and Japan. These historic agreements restore principles of fairness, reciprocity, and prioritize Nebraska’s families and workers.

I was proud to join some of my Midwest Senate colleagues as we took part in a signing ceremony for the USMCA and sent the agreement to the president’s desk for his signature.

Passage of the USMCA meant securing our state’s two largest markets. Currently, Canada and Mexico receive 44 percent of Nebraska’s total exports. In 2018, Nebraska sent nearly $1.5 billion of ag products to our neighbors to the north and south. According to USDA, Canada and Mexico purchase more than 82 percent of distillers grains exports and nearly 80 percent of our dairy exports. There is no doubt that this broad bipartisan agreement will benefit Nebraska’s farmers and ag producers both now and in the future as they continue to feed the world.

The new decade also ushered in encouraging progress in strengthening our trade relationship with China.

On January 15th, President Trump and Chinese representatives signed a “Phase One” agreement, which is a significant win for Nebraska and represents China’s return to the table as a major customer of our agricultural products. China has agreed to purchase, on average, $40 billion of U.S. agricultural goods per year for the next two years.

Nebraska Farm Bureau predicts that, “At the very least, agricultural exports to China this year should be $32 billion and should equal $39 billion in 2021. For context, peak U.S. agricultural exports to China were nearly $26 billion in 2012.” The agreement also includes provisions that address a multitude of non-tariff barriers for commodities like beef, dairy, animal feed, and biotech products.

In addition to agriculture, the agreement makes important strides concerning intellectual property services, currency manipulation monitoring, and a process for dispute resolution. This Phase One deal will help expand market access for Nebraska and bring much needed economic certainty to Nebraska’s manufacturing, agriculture, and energy sectors.

All of these trade deals follow the progress made with Japan last year. The first stage of the U.S.-Japan deal took effect January 1, 2020, reducing tariffs and raising quotas on many U.S. agriculture exports. Japan is our largest customer for all ag exports, beef, pork, eggs, and wheat. In 2018 alone, Nebraska’s exports to Japan totaled nearly $1.2 billion.

Our state’s manufacturers, small businesses, families, and communities are going to benefit from all of these trade agreements. We’ve made great progress in securing more customers for the world-class products that Nebraskans produce. Now, we are setting our sights on the United Kingdom to secure more valuable trading markets in the future.

I want to thank President Trump for keeping his word and following through for our state and America’s heartland. I am proud of the work we have been able to accomplish by working together with this administration and with my colleagues in the United States Senate.



NEBRASKA REFRIGERATED WAREHOUSES CAPACITY

Gross refrigerated storage capacity in Nebraska totaled 47.9 million cubic feet on October 1, 2019, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Usable refrigerated storage capacity was 38.0 million cubic feet, or 79 percent of the gross space. Usable freezer space was 93 percent of the usable refrigerated space with the remaining 7 percent used as cooler space. Refrigerated warehouse numbers totaled 15 in 2019.

U.S. Refrigerated Warehouses Capacity 3.65 Billion Cubic Feet
Gross refrigerated storage capacity in the United States totaled 3.65 billion cubic feet on October 1, 2019. This was the 51st biennial survey of refrigerated warehouses. The five States with the largest gross warehouse capacity (million cubic feet) were: California 389, Washington 282, Florida 252, Wisconsin 247 and Texas 242.

Usable refrigerated storage capacity was 2.97 billion cubic feet, or 81 percent of the gross space. Usable freezer space was 80 percent of the usable refrigerated space with the remaining 20 percent used as cooler space.

Public warehouse refrigerated storage capacity totaled 2.68 billion gross cubic feet in 2019, accounting for 74 percent of the total storage.  Private and semiprivate warehouse refrigerated capacity totaled 962 million gross cubic feet, or 26 percent of the gross refrigerated space.

Refrigerated warehouse numbers totaled 912 in 2019. The number of public warehouses is 551. Private and semiprivate warehouses totaled 361.



Tenth Circuit Court Strikes Down EPA Small Refinery Exemptions

In a decision that is expected to broadly impact the Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to granting small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit late on Friday struck down three exemptions that were improperly issued by EPA.

The court ruling stems from a May 2018 challenge brought against EPA by the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union.

“We are extremely pleased with the Tenth Circuit’s decision to vacate the waivers granted by EPA to three refineries owned by CVR Energy and HollyFrontier,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “The Court has affirmed our long-held position that EPA’s recent practices and policies regarding small refinery exemption extensions were completely unlawful. And while the decision addresses three specific exemptions, the statutory interpretation issues resolved by the court apply much more broadly.”

Among other findings, the Court held that EPA cannot “extend” exemptions to any small refineries whose earlier, temporary exemptions had lapsed. According to the Court opinion, “the statute limits exemptions to situations involving ‘extensions,’ with the goal of forcing the market to accept escalating amounts of renewable fuels over time. None of the three small refineries here consistently received an exemption in the years preceding its petition. The EPA exceeded its statutory authority in granting those petitions because there was nothing for the agency to ‘extend.’” EPA’s own data show that a maximum of only seven small refineries could have received continuous extensions of their previously existing exemptions. Yet, recently EPA has granted as many as 35 exemptions in a single year.

“The Court’s decision is welcome news for corn growers,” said National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross. “Ethanol is an incredibly important value-added market for corn farmers, and EPA’s waivers have reduced RFS volume requirements by more than 4 billion gallons over the past three years, impacting corn demand. We are optimistic this decision will finally put an end to the demand destruction caused by waivers and keep the RFS back on track.”

The Court also found that EPA abused its discretion in failing to explain how the Agency could conclude that a small refinery might suffer a disproportionate economic hardship when the Agency has simultaneously consistently maintained that costs for RFS compliance credits, or RINs, are passed through and recovered by those same refineries.

“ACE members are elated the Tenth Circuit court agreed with us that EPA overstepped its authority in granting three specific small refinery exemptions to CVR Refining and HollyFrontier,” said American Coalition for Ethanol President CEO Brian Jennings. “The court’s ruling highlights how EPA abused the SRE provision of the Renewable Fuel Standard in broader terms to unfairly enrich the oil industry which could have far-reaching implications on the legitimacy of other refinery waivers and limit how they can be used moving forward.”

According to the renewable fuels coalition, the Court’s decision sends a resoundingly positive signal to the marketplace at a time when it is desperately needed.

“This ruling comes at a critical time for America’s farmers and the biofuels industry,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. “Due in large part to EPA’s rampant and ongoing abuse of the SRE program, 2019 was one of the most challenging years in history for the agriculture and biofuel sectors. We believe this ruling will help restore the ability of the RFS to drive demand and expand markets for renewable fuels, as Congress intended, providing a badly needed shot in the arm for rural America.”



NeFU Hails Court Decision as a Big Win for Family Farmers

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU), Nebraska’s longest and most ardent ethanol advocate hailed the Tenth Circuit Court decision striking down EPA’s use of small refinery exemptions as a big win for corn producers and family farm agriculture.

The court ruling in in response to a May 2018 lawsuit brought against EPA by National Farmers Union.  Renewable Fuels Association 9RFA, National Corn Growers Association, and the American Coalition for Ethanol.

NeFU President John Hansen who also serves on the National Farmers Union board of Directors said, “Anytime you go to court over an issue it is going to cost both time and money. You also know if you lose you set a negative legal precedent. In this instance, we thought we had a very strong legal case against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we knew how much EPA’s illegal use of small refinery exemptions was hurting corn utilization and depressing corn prices, and the fact we had three good partners to help share the legal costs made the decision to pursue legal remedy a risk we had to take. It is always heartwarming when the little guys who grow corn can take on both big corporate oil and the federal government, and win. Teamwork paid big dividends for our nation’s farmers,” Hansen said.

The Tenth Circuit found that EPA’s granting of small refinery exemptions to three companies owned by CVR Energy and HollyFrontier were unlawful and exempted them from meeting required levels of biofuel production under the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“I hope EPA takes the court’s decision to heart and ends its systematic abuse of the small refinery waiver process,” said Hansen. “The misuse and overuse of these waivers reduced ethanol production by over 4 billion gallons in three years, or over 1.4 billion bushels of corn.  By comparison of use, in 2018 the U.S. ethanol utilized 34.5% of the corn crop, feed and residual, 33.2%, and exports 15.4%.  In an already struggling corn marketplace already hurt by trade conflicts, losing domestic utilization thanks to EPA makes a bad situation worse,” Hansen concluded.

Among their findings, the court held that EPA cannot “extend” exemptions to any small refinery that had a temporary exemption lapse. EPA’s own data showed that a maximum of seven small refineries qualified for continuous extensions. Yet, EPA has granted as many as 35 waivers in a single year.



IPPA Announces 2019 Master Pork Producers, Pork Partners

At the 2020 Iowa Pork Congress, the Iowa Pork Producers Association introduced the 2019 class of Master Pork Producers and Master Pork Partners.

A Master Pork Producer award denotes an individual's or family's excellence in pork production, as measured by their pork production statistics, their commitment to We Care® principles, and their contribution to their community. There are six We Care principles that outline a pig farmer's responsibilities to uphold high standards for animal well-being, food safety, the environment, as well as support of their local community.

IPPA's 78th class of Master Pork Producers includes eight pig farmers. They are:
    Ben Reck, Winthrop, Buchanan County
    Bruce Edwards and Kerry Edwards, Storm Lake, Buena Vista County
    Andrew Perry, Aurelia, Cherokee County
    Javan and Danielle Kruse, Hartley, Clay and O'Brien Counties
    Ryan Tripp and Brent Tripp, Dows, Franklin County
    Allan Schmidt, Holstein, Ida County
    Nolan Kooiker, Doon, Lyon County
    Bill and Joan Tentinger, Le Mars, Plymouth County

 IPPA started the Master Pork Producer Award program in 1942 and has now named 1,492 Iowa pig farmers as Master Pork Producers.

IPPA created the Master Pork Partner Award in 2014 to recognize pork production company employees who have made positive impacts on pork production systems, even though they don't have active daily roles at a specific production site. There were two categories added to the Partner Awards in 2019 to recognize other important partners in pig production. One of these awards is for veterinary care, the other for transportation.

The 2019 Master Pork Partners are:
    Matt Zitelman, a Pipestone Systems manager near Winthrop, Buchanan County
    Dr. Shamus Brown, DVM at Iowa Select Farms, Indianola, Warrant County
    Ty Rosburg, an independent trucker at Rosburg Livestock, Charter Oak, Crawford County

All award winners are nominated by their peers and neighbors, and represent the diversity of Iowa's pig farms. This production diversity helps maintain the strength of the industry and enables Iowa producers to compete successfully in the domestic and international commodity and niche markets.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa State University Extension co-sponsor the Master Pork Producer program to demonstrate the character and breadth of Iowa pork production. Nominations for the 2020 Master Pork Program awards will open in May.



Pork Producers Name Youth Leadership Team at Iowa Pork Congress

Abby Bean, Marathon; Alexis Berte, Algona; and Caleb Hogan, Monticello, are the 2020 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team. They were selected from a field of 13 contestants during the Iowa Pork Congress last week.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) sponsors the contest, which includes interviews, demonstrations of their outreach skills, and testing on their knowledge of pork and pig production. They also were judged on their community involvement and experience. The top female contestant is crowned pork queen, and the top remaining contestants, male or female, are named youth ambassadors.

Bean, a senior at Sioux Central High School in Sioux Rapids, will reign as the 2020 Iowa Pork Queen. Berte and Hogan are Pork Ambassadors. Each receives a $4,000 scholarship and plaque noting their award. But according to their predecessors, the most valuable things they will gain are the many growth and leadership opportunities provided by these positions. Over the next year, they will participate in public activities promoting pork and pig production, from county activities around Iowa to the Iowa State Fair, World Pork Expo, and events in Washington, D.C.

Bean, who also served as the Buena Vista County Pork Queen in 2018 and 2019, is the daughter of CJ and Chris Bean of Marathon. After graduating from high school this spring, she plans to pursue a degree in feed science and agricultural marketing. She is a member of the 2019-2020 Iowa State 4-H Council.

Berte, the daughter of Patrick and Nancy Berte of Algona, is a junior studying animal science at Iowa State University, with plans to go on to veterinary school. In summer 2019, she was a production intern with Midwest-based Christensen Farms, one of the largest, family-owned pork producers in the country. She served as the 2018-2019 North Central Vice President of the Iowa FFA Association. 

Hogan is a freshman studying agriculture business at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, and he plans to continue his studies at Iowa State University. The son of Dominic and Karen Hogan of Monticello, he grew up helping his dad with pig chores and eventually began managing a 2,400-head hog barn. He currently works as a research assistant at Diamond V's Research and Innovation Center on Kirkwood's agriculture campus.



Western Iowa Family Receives Pork All-American Award

Fifth generation farmers, Aaron and Alyce Nieland of Breda, have been named by the Iowa Pork Producers Association as the 2019 recipients of the Pork All-American Award. They were presented their award at the 2020 Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines.

The IPPA Pork All-American award was established in 1970 to honor producers younger than 40 years of age who have established themselves as community leaders and successful and dedicated business people. They have also previously been presented with the Master Pork Producer designation; the Nielands won that award in 2017.

The Nielands finish pigs and farm row crops. The pig barns allowed them to diversify their farm operation. Together, they handle the day-to-day animal care, where Alyce specializes in getting weaned pigs off to a good start. Alyce also oversees the pig barns, which is a good fit with her animal science degree from Iowa State University.

They are contract growers for Audubon-Manning Veterinary Clinic (AMVC), and the Nielands often host veterinary students in their buildings when AMVC is providing on-farm practice for those students.

Aaron runs their expanding crop operation, which uses all the manure from their pig barns. They do soil sampling and follow a manure management plan developed with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He also runs seed-related trials in their fields.

Aaron and Alyce have three children under the age of 10: Aisha, Will and Ellie. They are involved in their church, the Sac County Pork Producers and help coach Little League teams. Alyce also runs a Facebook page called Pigs and Kids, where she shares news about the farm and promotes the swine industry.



United Nations Declares 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health

Plants make the oxygen we breathe and give us 80 percent of the food we eat. But plants are under attack by invasive pests. These pests destroy up to 40 percent of the world’s food crops and cause $220 billion in trade losses each year according to the United Nations (U.N.). That leaves millions of people worldwide without enough food to eat and seriously damages agriculture—the primary source of income for rural communities.

To bring worldwide attention to this challenge, the U.N. has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health. They are calling on people, organizations, industries, scientists, and governments to work together to protect plants against the introduction and spread of invasive pests. The U.S. National Plant Protection Organization—the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine—is leading the effort in the United States.

“At USDA, we do all we can for our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers so that they can continue to feed and clothe this nation and the world,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Greg Ibach. “That’s why we’re urging everyone to take this issue seriously and to do their part. Protecting plants from pests and diseases is far more cost effective than the alternative.”

According to USDA, everyone can help avoid the devastating impact of pests and diseases on agriculture, livelihoods, and food security. You can get started today by taking a few important actions, including:
    Look for and report unusual signs of pests or disease in trees and plants to your local Extension, State department of agriculture, or local State Office.
    Don’t move firewood. Instead, buy heat-treated firewood or responsibly gather wood near the place it will be burned to ensure tree-killing beetles hiding inside can’t spread to new areas.
    Always declare food, plants, or other agricultural items to U.S. Customs and Border Protection when returning from international travel so they can make sure these items are free of pests.
    Contacting your local State Office before you buy seeds or plants online from other countries to find out if they need to be inspected and certified as pest free or meet other conditions to legally bring them into the United States.

To learn more about the International Year of Plant Health and how you can help stop destructive invasive plant pests, visit USDA’s website at www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/2020.



Group Intends to Sue EPA

(AP) -- A conservation group announced Monday that it's preparing to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act relating to pollution limits for the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced it is preparing a notice of intent to sue the EPA, saying the agency has failed to take action for what the foundation is describing as an inadequate pollution reduction plan from Pennsylvania.

"That EPA is abdicating its responsibility under the Clean Water Act is a tragedy," said Will Baker, the president of the foundation. "Failing to hold Pennsylvania accountable undermines the success we have seen in recent years. It is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory."

The foundation says Pennsylvania's proposal to reduce nitrogen pollution between now and a 2025 deadline has a funding shortfall of more than $300 million annually and the plan still falls 25% short of the nitrogen goal.

The EPA and Pennsylvania did not immediately comment on the announcement.

The foundation is highlighting comments made by Dana Aunkst, the director of the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program, for saying recently that the goals were aspirational and not legally enforceable.

"We are currently in discussion with a range of potential partners concerning the legal strategies we can use to force EPA to comply with the law," said Jon Mueller, CBF's vice president for litigation.

CBF points out that the group sued the EPA in 2009 for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act in the Chesapeake Bay region, prompting a yearlong negotiation between the group and the EPA.

That resulted in the EPA developing a limit on the amount of pollution the bay can withstand and remain healthy, and CBF agreed to drop the lawsuit.

The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint was created with the goal of having programs in place by 2025 to restore the bay. States in the bay's watershed, the District of Columbia and the EPA endorsed the pollution reductions, and each jurisdiction pledged to reduce its share of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution, the foundation noted in its announcement Monday.