ORGANIC GRAIN PRODUCTION IS TOPIC OF JAN. 30 WORKSHOP
An organic farming workshop will assist growers seeking information on what is required to grow organic corn, soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum and forage crops.
“Starting an Organic Grain Farming Operation — What You Need to Know” is 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Keith Glewen, Nebraska Extension educator, said the program is geared toward those who wish to learn more about the components of successful organic grain production.
“Extension professionals across Nebraska have experienced an uptick in the number of questions pertaining to organic grain production,” Glewen said. “We are providing this educational program as an attempt to answer questions and provide additional information as it relates to getting started in this growing industry.”
The workshop features speakers experienced in various facets of organic crop production and marketing.
“The presenters have a wealth of experience with organic farming,” said Gary Lesoing, extension educator. “They will provide important information about the transition to organic farming and tools for success for farming organically.”
Topics and presenters include:
> “The Mental Transitioning from Conventional to Organic Farming,” Dave Welsch, certified organic farmer since 1993, Milford;
> “Organic Certification — From Application to Certification Decisions,” Clayton Blagburn, certification specialist, OneCert Organization Inc., Lincoln;
> “Organic Grain Marketing,” Alex Wolf, Scoular organic grain manager, Omaha;
> “The Importance of Cover Crops in an Organic Rotation,” Jim Starr, Joel and Jim Starr Partnership, Hastings;
> “Farming System Strategies for Success in Organics” and “Weed Management in Organic Row Crops,” Joel Gruver, associate professor of soil science and sustainability agriculture, Western Illinois University.
The program will conclude with a speakers panel during which attendees can interact with those directly involved in organic grain farming.
There is no fee to attend, but pre-registration is required by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 28 to ensure resource materials are available and for meal-planning purposes. Seating is limited. Registration and more information is available at https://enrec.unl.edu/neborganicgrainprogram.
The workshop is sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.
Legislature fails to address ‘imitation meat’ labeling
The Nebraska Legislature has failed to penalize companies for deceptive beef labeling on packages and fast-food menus, even though deceptive labels lead consumers to believe that plant-based products are meat.
A bill in the Legislature aimed to stop that deceptive advertising was put on hold Thursday, Jan. 15, after a year of development.
During floor debate, it became apparent that the votes weren’t there, so the bill was placed on hold, sponsoring Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said.
ICON President Jim Dinklage said it was a blow to see the bill go back off the legislative floor after the bill finally reached that level.
The bill, LB 594, would allow individuals to sue a company for each mislabeled item, putting enforcement in the hands of consumers, instead of the Attorney General’s office, which typically prosecutes deceptive trade practices -- but is not yet prosecuting deceptive food labels.
Blood said opposition came from vegetarian groups and manufactures of imitation meats. She said she overcame the bulk of objections and was disappointed she couldn’t bring it to a vote.
On the floor, Sen. Tom Brewer, who represents most of the Nebraska Sandhills, immediately moved to send the bill back to committee.
Brewer said a similar bill has been introduced in Congress by Sen. Deb Fischer, and federal regulations will take precedence, so the Legislature should wait for federal guidance.
However, Dinklage said the state legislature should do something about fake meat.
“It should have passed,” he said of LB 594. “It will be a fight to get it passed in Congress. Beef is a term used to describe the meat from cattle for centuries, and burgers are made from beef. That’s the way it’s been for decades. When the terms ‘beef’ or ‘burger’ are used to describe something that comes from plants -- that is as deceptive as can be.”
Nebraska Dairy Industry to Convene in Columbus for Annual Convention
On February 25, 2020, hundreds of representatives across the dairy industry will gather at the Ramada by Wyndham Columbus Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Nebraska, to participate in the 2020 Nebraska Dairy Convention.
The convention will open with a trade show starting at 9:30 am and run through 6:15 pm. Convention attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts on various topics including; Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Version (FARM) 4.0, Midwest Dairy’s new CEO, Molly Pelzer will outline checkoff’s key strategies to drive sales and trust and the afternoon session will feature a panel outlining checkoff’s roll in navigating animal activism.
The afternoon will include the Nebraska State Dairy Association (NSDA) annual meeting, an educational session presented by a key 5-star allied member and a Dairy Girl network event focused on cyber security. Convention attendees will also enjoy an ice cream bar, wine and cheese reception, banquet and awards ceremony. To conclude the day, attendees will hear from Trent Loose, a former radio host, actor and stockman whose life mission is to support, defend and educate consumers about modern day agriculture.
The full convention agenda is outlined below:
8:00 Nebraska Dairy Industry Review Board Meeting
9:00–10:30 NE Holstein Association Annual Meeting
9:30-6:15 Trade Show
10:30-11:15 Session 1: Kim Clark FARM 4.0 Update
11:45–12:15 Lunch, Dairy Checkoff Update
12:15–1:00 Checkoff’s Role in Navigating Animal Activism
1:15-2:45 NSDA Annual Meeting
2:45–3:45 Ice Cream Bar on Tradeshow Floor
3:45-4:45 Session 2: Presented by 5-star sponsor (announced February 2)
4:30-5:30 Dairy Girl Network Event: Cyber Security
4:45 Wine & Cheese Reception
6:15 Tradeshow Vendor booths close
6:30 Banquet Meal, Awards, and Princess Coronation, Keynote Speaker: Trent Loose
For more information on how to be an exhibitor at the convention, please contact Kris Bousquet at (531) 207-4291 or krisbousquet@nebraskamilk.org, or go to NebraskaMilk.org and complete a membership application.
USDA Encourages Producers to Enroll Now in Key Safety Net Programs
Don’t Delay – Make An Appointment with FSA
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Nebraska State Executive Director Nancy Johner reminds agricultural producers to sign up now for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. The deadline to choose between ARC or PLC and complete enrollment for the 2019 crop year is March 16, 2020.
“By making an appointment now, producers can beat the rush and get the process completed before focusing on spring planting,” Johner said. “Producers who complete the ARC and PLC election and enrollment process now, ahead of the deadline, will still have until March 16 to come back and make changes, if necessary.”
ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms.
“Contacting FSA as soon as possible to make an appointment and preparing ahead of time to make a definitive ARC or PLC election will help expedite the enrollment process and ensure FSA meets your customer service expectations,” said Johner.
To assist with the decision-making process, informational resources are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc. Producers also can access www.fsa.usda.gov/ne where information under the “Spotlights” section includes a webinar that provides ARC and PLC information shared at recent public meetings held across Nebraska.
Fischer Participates in Senate Signing of USMCA
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today joined Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), as well as Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and several other of her Senate colleagues, for the Senate signing of the bipartisan United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act.
Senator Fischer’s full remarks:
I just want to thank Chairman Grassley. He has been very tenacious on getting this agreement done.
And the other guy who has been tenacious for a number of years is Chairman Roberts.
To have them both chair these important committees and be able to continue to advocate for trade agreements, which are so important for our states, has been tremendous.
Thanks to the president for sticking with this, for keeping his words.
And thank you to Ambassador Lighthizer, because he really pushed on this as well and was able to get it across the finish line.
This is a remarkable achievement—to be able to have a bipartisan trade agreement that passed overwhelmingly in the United States Senate.
Agriculture is the economic engine of my state, of Nebraska.
One in four jobs are directly related to production agriculture.
54,000 jobs are related in Nebraska to exports.
$13.8 billion in economic activity from my state is related to agriculture.
To be able to have these kind of agreements, whether it is USMCA or a trade agreement with China or a great agreement now with Japan that we have and now we are looking over into the UK and the EU, and really all across the globe, in order to find more customers for the great products that we produce.
Whether it’s in ag, manufacturing, or small businesses, families and communities across Nebraska are going to benefit from all of these trade agreements.
I’m just really proud of the work we have been able to do in working together with the administration and with my great colleagues here in the United States Senate in order to get these agreements done, and especially the USMCA, with our top two trading partners, Mexico and Canada.
Don Bacon Files for Re-election
Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) filed for re-election with Nebraska's Secretary of State on Wednesday.
"Today I made my re-election campaign official," said Bacon. "We've put together a great team that includes hundreds of volunteers, and I look forward to continuing to serve Nebraskans as a pragmatic conservative."
In 2016, less than two years after retiring from the United States Air Force as a brigadier general, Bacon became the only Republican in America to defeat a Democrat Congressional incumbent. In the 2018 "blue wave" he outperformed Republicans nationally by more than 9%.
"The 2020 election will have lasting repercussions for our district, state, and nation," said Bacon. "I believe we can work together to find solutions to the issues we all care about, like lowering healthcare costs, strengthening our national security against growing threats, and reforming immigration. We share the same priorities, and our team has a great track record of success. I'm grateful for the chance to represent this district again."
Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Short Course Planned for February
Crop advisers and producers who want to take a deeper look at the principles of soil, soil fertility and nutrient management should consider registering for the two-day Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Short Course Feb. 25-26.
Sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, this popular event will include topics related to Iowa soils, soil sampling and testing, plant nutrients, liming, site-specific nutrient management, and manure management.
“This is a chance for people who want to learn more about the details of soil fertility and management, and get more in-depth into the science,” said John Sawyer, professor and extension specialist in soil fertility and nutrient management at Iowa State.
Sawyer will give talks on essential plant nutrients and nutrient plans, cation exchange, soil pH and liming, nitrogen dynamics and management, secondary and micronutrients, and he will take part in a round-table discussion at the close of the event, Feb. 26.
Other presenters include Antonio Mallarino, professor and extension specialist in agronomy at Iowa State; Lee Burras, professor of agronomy at Iowa State; and Joel DeJong, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, covering topics such as soil testing, phosphorus and potassium management, environmental phosphorus management, soil formation and soil survey, and manure nutrient management.
The short course will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1325 Dickinson Ave., Ames.
Nutrient management and soil and water management credits will be available, subject to approval by the Certified Crop Advisers Board. There will be 11.5 nutrient management credits, and one soil and water management continuing education credit.
Class size is limited to 40 participants and pre-registration is required to attend. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-paid basis.
Lunch is included both days with registration. The registration is $275 before midnight, Feb. 17. Pre-registration is required.
Lodging is not included with course registration and is the responsibility of the attendee. A block of rooms is available at the Hilton Garden Inn for this course at $129 per night plus tax. Contact the hotel at 515-233-8000 to make reservations and mention the ISU soils course to be included in the room block.
Additional course information and online registration with credit card is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/soil. For more information, contact ANR Program Services at (515) 294-6429 or email anr@iastate.edu.
Cattle Organizations from Major Beef Producing Regions Launch U.S. CattleTrace
Multiple state cattlemen’s organizations from major beef producing regions have partnered together to form U.S. CattleTrace, a disease traceability initiative. The goal is to develop a national infrastructure for disease traceability and encourage private industry’s use of the infrastructure for individualized management practices.
The new U.S. CattleTrace initiative combines the efforts of CattleTrace, which includes multiple partners, including the Kansas Livestock Association and others in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Oregon and Washington, as well as traceability pilot projects underway in Florida and Texas. Those projects are facilitated by Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.
“With producers and industry stakeholders working together from across the country, the U.S. CattleTrace partnership will be a catalyst to build upon the CattleTrace foundation we established the past few years,” said Brandon Depenbusch, CattleTrace board of directors chairman. “We encourage other state organizations and individual producers to join our efforts in building a nationally significant animal disease traceability system for the United States. By working together, we will build something that works for the industry.”
Volunteer leaders from each of the partner organizations have agreed to a set of guiding principles for U.S. CattleTrace, including the following statements:
In order to protect the producers’ share of the protein market from the potential impact of a disease event, cattle identification and traceability needs to be enacted, enhanced and further developed using electronic I.D. and electronic transfer of data.
U.S. CattleTrace is focused on developing a voluntary national traceability system to include all cattle and complement the current USDA regulations.
The goal is to build a system that is recognized as nationally significant to all domestic and foreign markets.
The U.S. CattleTrace disease traceability system strives to be equitable to all industry segments, and must be industry-driven and managed by a producer board of directors to ensure data privacy and protection.
U.S. CattleTrace supports the use of one technology for a United States cattle industry disease traceability system to maximize the value of technology investment. Since multiple RFID technologies are in use today, U.S. CattleTrace will accept data in a standardized electronic format from available technologies but supports a transition to ultra-high frequency technology by Dec. 31, 2023.
“Cattle disease traceability is a top priority in the beef cattle industry, and this partnership will continue to help guide the development of an enhanced traceability system in the United States,” said Jim Lovell, past TCFA chairman. “Our different state projects have always had a similar goal in mind – to develop a disease traceability system that works across the country. Combining our efforts makes this initiative stronger on a national level.”
For more information about U.S. CattleTrace, including details on how to get involved, visit https://www.UScattletrace.org.
Secretary of Agriculture Perdue to Share Insights at 2020 Cattle Industry Convention
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will share insight on issues of concern to cattlemen and women at the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 5, 2020. Perdue will participate in the Opening General Session of the event, being held Feb. 5-7, 2020 at the San Antonio Convention Center. Among topics he is expected to address will be recent trade developments, markets, farm bill implementation and other issues affecting the state of American agriculture.
The convention is the largest gathering of cattle industry professionals in the country. The NCBA Trade Show will feature about 350 exhibitors on more than 7 acres. Annual meetings of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, American National CattleWomen, CattleFax and National Cattlemen’s Foundation will also be held at this event.
NCBA President Jennifer Houston of Tennessee says the industry is honored to host Secretary Perdue at the Convention. “Those of us in the cattle industry are affected every day by what goes on in Washington, D.C., so It’s great that Secretary Perdue will visit with us about the administration’s work on our behalf,” Houston said. “In addition to hearing his information, we look forward to further sharing with the Secretary our priorities for the coming months.”
Registration for the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show is still open. For information go to www.ncba.org.
USDA Cold Storage December 2019 Highlights
Total red meat supplies in freezers on December 31, 2019 were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 3 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 15 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 25 percent from last month and up 61 percent from last year.
Total frozen poultry supplies on December 31, 2019 were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 1 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 2 percent from the previous month but up 9 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 5 percent from last month but down 23 percent from December 31, 2018.
Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on December 31, 2019 were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 2 percent from December 31, 2018. Butter stocks were up 5 percent from last month and up 6 percent from a year ago.
Total frozen fruit stocks on December 31, 2019 were down 9 percent from last month and down 9 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 8 percent from last month and down 1 percent from a year ago.
Urea Leads Fertilizers Lower
Retail fertilizer prices continue to move lower, according to prices tracked by DTN for the second week of January 2020.
For the third-straight week, seven of the eight major fertilizers had lower prices compared to a month earlier. Only urea was down a notable amount, down 5% compared to last month and had an average price of $357/ton. Six other fertilizers once again had a slight price decline from the previous month. DAP had an average price of $433/ton, MAP $444/ton, potash $375/ton, anhydrous $487/ton, UAN28 $237/ton and UAN32 $275/ton.
The remaining fertilizer, 10-34-0, had a slight price increase, looking back to last month. The starter fertilizer had an average price of $470/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.
Retail fertilizers are mixed in price from a year ago. MAP is 17% lower, both DAP and anhydrous are 16% less expensive, both urea and UAN28 are 12% lower, UAN32 is 10% less expensive and potash is 2% less expensive from last year at this time. In addition, 10-34-0 is 2% higher compared to last year.
China’s ASF Problem Remains Bleak for 2020; Vietnam Shows Glimmer of Hope
Despite 2019 having been China’s official “Year of the Pig,” things could not have been much worse for the nation’s swine herd, its farmers or the country’s 1.4 billion consumers who have a strong preference for pork as a protein.
On a positive note, official reports of African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in China were more of a trickle in the second half of last year compared with the prior nine or so months. However, many industry experts believe that the country has little hope to rebound its ability to produce more pork in 2020. The main reason? The breeding herd. Last year, every province officially became ASF-positive. This resulted in the country losing about half of its swine herd, which equates to roughly one-quarter of the world’s swine herd.
According to Dave Pyburn, the Pork Checkoff’s chief veterinarian, China’s ASF woes are many.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely here and hope that China will see some relief,” Pyburn said. “But it’s not looking very promising with reports of ongoing ASF outbreaks and no real sense that an overall control strategy is being adhered to in the country. Without a stringent control methodology that’s fully implemented, ASF will continue to plague China for years.”
In the run-up to the Chinese New Year, which starts on Jan. 25, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has organized nationwide ASF control measures focused on pork slaughter facilities. This entails implementing self-ASF detection and an official veterinarian station in slaughterhouses, conducting responsible meat quality inspection, not keeping “unqualified” products in inventory and stock management, and maintaining a safe meat production system to ensure safety and quality of meat.
In yet another blow to China’s pork situation, in December the nation’s official media outlets reported intentional ASF infection of healthy swine herds by criminal elements. The gambit is based partly on the buildup to China’s official Lunar New Year celebrations, which start Jan. 25. The criminals know that consumers stock up on pork, which increases demand and causes prices to soar. By successfully infecting healthy pig farms using technology such as drones laden with ASF-positive material, the outlaws then offer the farmers deeply discounted prices for their pigs and sell the pork on the black market for huge profits.
Vietnam Shows Some Promise
While it’s not time for celebration in Vietnam regarding ASF, there is a glimmer of hope. Along with the government’s collaboration on much-needed assistance from the outside to control the deadly disease, recent statistics show some promise, with only 152,000 pigs culled in November compared with last May when 1.2 million pigs were either culled or died.
First detected in February last year, ASF has spread to all 63 provinces of Vietnam. According to a report by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, ASF in Vietnam led to the death and culling of about 5.9 million pigs, or about 22% of the total swine population, pushing prices to record highs. Although the end of the ASF outbreak can’t be known, the rate of reported ASF cases appears to be slowing.
With its ongoing work in Vietnam, the Swine Health information Center (SHIC) has continued to make headway on its USDA-funded research grant on several fronts. According to SHIC’s executive director, Paul Sundberg, the main benefit for U.S. producers is to learn how ASF acts on farms today and responds to various control measures so that they can be prepared to respond to it here if needed.
“This research is allowing us to see firsthand how ASF responds in pig populations of 500 or 1,000 at a time and not just 10 or 12 in a pen like we can do in our highly controlled research facilities in North America,” Sundberg said.
Last month, Vietnam’s ministry of agriculture released more rules concerning restocking of pig farms and selling of live pigs and pork. All pork producers received a letter advising them to minimize the risk of disease recurrence in accordance with current regulations on restocking. They also were advised to adhere to strict application of biosecurity, avoid hoarding to ensure price stability and to not be involved in illegal trading of pigs or slaughtered pigs across the Vietnam border.
Biodiesel Industry Welcomes New Fuel Quality Reports
Biodiesel fuel quality information is more accessible than ever thanks to new reports being published from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Through funding and support from the National Biodiesel Board, NREL's statistical analysis is based on thousands of data points that were previously unavailable.
"Never before has NREL been able to provide this level of fuel quality information," said Theresa Alleman, senior fuel chemist for NREL. "By partnering with NBB's National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission, BQ-9000, we now have a simpler, more efficient way to collect, analyze, and determine the quality of biodiesel. These reports will act as a reoccurring insight into biodiesel fuel quality each year."
The reports are comprised of data gathered from U.S. and Canadian BQ-9000 producer members. The analysis from both the 2017 and 2018 reports show that the vast majority of biodiesel readily exceeded the specification limits in ASTM D6751, the standard for biodiesel.
"These reports show what we've been saying for years," said NBB Technical Director Scott Fenwick. "Biodiesel fuel is of the absolute highest quality, and these reports prove it. Having this data every year will go a long way in demonstrating to OEMs and regulatory agencies that biodiesel should be the fuel of choice for any diesel engine."
As part of the data gathering process, biodiesel producers test their own B100 fuel at the point of production monthly, then provide the NBAC with the resulting data. NBAC randomizes and anonymizes the results and provide the final version to NREL for statistical analysis.
The data was presented during a breakout session at the 2020 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo.
ASA Celebrates Its ‘First Soy Century’
What began on an Indiana soybean farm 100 years ago developed into an organization that quickly grew to be the leading advocate for soybean farmers and foster the building of the U.S. soybean industry— the American Soybean Association (ASA). ASA is celebrating its “First Soy Century” as it recognizes its 100th anniversary throughout 2020.
The roots of ASA were formed when brothers Taylor, Noah and Finis Fouts hosted the first Corn Belt Soybean Field Day at their Soyland Farms operation in Camden, Indiana on Sept. 3, 1920. The event drew nearly 1,000 farmers from six states, who were interested in discovering more about this emerging new commodity called soybeans.
The National Soybean Growers’ Association—later renamed the American Soybean Association—was formed that very day. Taylor Fouts was elected as the first president of the association.
In the century since those humble beginnings on an Indiana soybean farm, ASA has continually been on the leading edge—focused on sustaining and improving the prospects and opportunities for profitability for U.S. soybean farmers.
Throughout the years, ASA has been at the forefront—engaged, committed and working diligently on behalf of U.S. soybean farmers on a variety of issues including:
Helping remove interstate commerce restrictions and protect domestic markets for U.S. soybeans and soy food products.
Leading the charge to improve soybean grading standards in order to meet the quality demands of domestic processors and international soybean buyers.
Working with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service decades ago to initiate market development projects for U.S. soy and soy products in what was just a few countries starting in the mid-1950s, growing to more than 40 countries in the 1960s, and reaching today’s globally strong position of exporting U.S. soy to more than 100 countries.
Funding initial research that led to dozens of new uses for soy-based products—from paint to printer’s ink, from plastics to building materials.
Working with the soybean processing industry to improve the quality, characteristics and value of U.S.-grown soybeans.
Fostering the development, growth and engagement of state soybean associations—creating a powerful nationwide network of soybean advocates and farmer-leaders.
Creating a “voluntary” soybean farmer-investment program in 1948 that eventually led to the establishment of state soybean checkoff programs.
Advocating and achieving passage of legislation creating a national soybean checkoff—managed by the farmer-led, USDA-appointed United Soybean Board.
Ensuring that soybean farmers are heard—loud and clear—when key legislation is being developed and debated—from Farm Bills to renewable fuels, from regulatory issues to international trade.
And most importantly, representing the best interests of soybean farmers at every opportunity.
A Year-Long Celebration of ASA’s ‘First Soy Century’
ASA plans a robust year of activities to celebrate the association’s centennial including:
High-profile activities at the 2020 Commodity Classic in San Antonio Feb. 27-29, including a gathering of more than 20 former ASA presidents, an impressive exhibit booth featuring historical photos, artifacts and soy treats, and a fun-filled annual banquet focused on the 100th anniversary.
A policy-focused event on July 8, 2020 at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
A dedication ceremony on Aug. 4, 2020 for an historical marker to be located on the Fouts family farm in Camden, Indiana, the site of ASA’s birth in 1920.
A forward-looking symposium entitled “The Next Soy Century” to be held on the campus of Purdue University on Aug. 5, 2020, featuring an impressive line-up of thought leaders and industry experts.
A website dedicated to the 100th anniversary at ASA100Years.com.
A Land’s End web portal through which ASA-branded merchandise can be ordered. A link to this portal is available on the ASA 100th Anniversary website.
A commemorative book outlining the history and achievements of ASA over the past century.
Dozens of web videos featuring anecdotes and congratulatory messages from former ASA presidents, policy makers and soybean advocates.
A wrap-up celebration at the ASA board meeting in December 2020.
For more information on the 100th anniversary of the American Soybean Association, visit ASA's 100th Anniversary website.... http://asa100years.com/.
Apply Now for ASA, Valent Ag Voices of the Future Program for Students
The American Soybean Association (ASA) and Valent are now accepting applications for Ag Voices of the Future, a program for students, held in conjunction with the summer ASA Board meeting and Soy Issues Forum from July 6-9, 2020, in Washington, D.C.
Ag Voices of the Future gives college students an inside look at how agricultural policies are made in Washington, along with education on effective advocacy and the significant legislative, trade and regulatory issues that impact farmers. The program also provides the chance to visit with professionals who work in Washington and learn more about careers related to agriculture policy. Class size is limited and students must be at least 18 years old to apply.
Application Process
To apply for the ASA and Valent Ag Voices of the Future program, and be considered for a scholarship to the AFA Leaders Conference, students should visit the scholarships page on the AFA website, click on the green “Apply Now” button, and submit their online application by March 11.
To make sure students are considered for the Ag Voices of the Future program, they should check the box that reads, “I have an interest in agriculture policy and would like to be considered for the ASA and Valent Ag Voices of the Future Program (July 6-9, 2020, in Washington, D.C.), as well as receiving an AFA Leader and Academic Scholarship.” If a student has already applied for the AFA Leaders Conference, they can still modify their application to include checking the box for the Ag Voices of the Future program.
Bonus Opportunity through Agriculture Future of America
Through a partnership ASA and Valent have with collegiate organization Agriculture Future of America (AFA), two students from the 2020 Ag Voices of the Future program will also have the opportunity to win the following:
$1,600 academic scholarship
Complimentary registration (includes hotel stay) for the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference – Nov. 12-15, 2020, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Up to $500 for reimbursement of travel expenses to the AFA Leaders Conference
For more information on the Ag Voices of the Future program, visit soygrowers.com or contact Michelle Hummel at mhummel@soy.org.
Commodity Classic Discounted Registration Fees End January 29
Only a few days remain to take advantage of registration discounts for the 2020 Commodity Classic to be held Feb. 27-29 in San Antonio, Tex.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020, is the last day the discounts will be in effect.
Registration fees vary depending on the number of days attended. Full registration covers all three days of the event, and one-day registrations are also available. Members of the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Sorghum Producers and National Association of Wheat Growers receive additional discounts on registration.
All registration and housing reservations should be made online at www.commodityclassic.com. Experient is the official registration and housing provider for Commodity Classic. In order to stay at an official Commodity Classic hotel, reservations must be made only through Experient to ensure favorable rates, reasonable terms and confirmed hotel rooms.
The 2020 Commodity Classic will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The convention center will house all Commodity Classic events, including the Welcome Reception, General Session, Evening of Entertainment, Trade Show, Learning Center Sessions and What’s New Sessions.
A detailed schedule of events is also available on the website.
Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America's largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, and Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
FMC Launches New Authority® Edge Herbicide in the U.S.
FMC launches Authority® Edge herbicide, a new preplant and preemergence herbicide for the 2020 growing season. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration has been granted for use in soybeans, sunflowers and dry shelled peas, including chickpeas.
Authority Edge herbicide provides two effective sites of action to combat resistant weeds and help preserve the effectiveness of postemergence herbicide technologies. Its optimized low-use-rate liquid formulation of a best-in-class Group 14 herbicide with the newest Group 15 herbicide delivers long-lasting residual control of small-seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses.
Authority Edge herbicide controls a wide spectrum of weeds including waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, pigweed, black nightshade, common lambsquarters, kochia, Russian thistle, morningglories, smartweed, foxtail, barnyardgrass and fall panicum. The new herbicide is effective against ALS, triazine, HPPD, ESPS (glyphosate) and PPO herbicide resistant weed biotypes.
“In trials, Authority Edge herbicide has demonstrated better in-season control of driver weeds than competitive products. It is an excellent foundational herbicide,” says Godfrey Lue, FMC herbicide product manager. “The optimized ratio of sulfentrazone to pyroxasulfone in this proprietary herbicide premix offers very strong weed control performance with use rate flexibility to fit with other in-season residual programs growers are using today. In soybeans, Authority Edge herbicide may be followed by Anthem® MAXX herbicide, early post, as part of a sequential residual strategy.”
Unmatched residual control
The long residual control of Authority Edge herbicide creates a wider window for timely postemergence control. “Once pigweeds emerge, they can grow 1 to 3 inches in a day. Since all post herbicide programs recommend treatment before pigweeds reach 4 inches tall, a strong soil residual herbicide is essential to maintain maximum control as long as possible. Authority Edge herbicide provides unmatched residual weed control, which importantly helps reduce the selection pressure on post herbicide technologies,” explains Nick Hustedde, FMC technical service manager.
In a 2019 Southern Illinois University soybean trial, Authority Edge herbicide provided 98% control of waterhemp, 42 days after a preemergence treatment, exceeding the length of other treatments. In a 2019 University of Tennessee trial in Jackson, Authority Edge herbicide provided 98% control of Palmer amaranth and 83% control of pitted morningglory 28 days after application, compared to just 71% and 72% control with a competitive standard herbicide.
Available in a convenient low-use-rate and easy-to-use liquid formulation, Authority Edge herbicide is labeled for fall and spring preplant and preemergence applications, up to three days after planting. FMC has applied for and anticipates having Authority Edge herbicide available for tank mixing with different products including XtendiMax® with VaporGrip® Technology, Engenia® herbicide, Enlist One® herbicide and Enlist Duo® herbicides.
Authority Edge herbicide is part of the FMC Freedom Pass Program, which includes Application Innovations, Agronomic Rewards, Product Financing and Product Assurances.
Trump Administration Recruits Six New Members as U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions
On Tuesday, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the addition of six new U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. These champions are U.S. businesses and organizations pledging to reduce food loss and waste in their own operations by 50 percent by the year 2030. New champions in 2019 and announced today include: Browns Superstores, Compass Group, Giant Eagle, Hello Fresh, Las Vegas Sands, and The Wendy’s Company.
“Food products make up 22 percent of municipal solid waste sent to our nation’s landfills annually and working with my partners at USDA, we are challenging American businesses and consumers to reduce food waste,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “The commitments made by these organizations in joining the Champions program will help propel the U.S. one step closer towards meeting the national goal of reducing food waste and loss 50 percent by 2030.”
“Businesses across the country are stepping up to reduce food loss and waste,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We applaud the manufacturers, grocers, restaurants, and other businesses that have made a commitment to reduce food loss and waste in their operations, and we call on more businesses to become U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions.”
“The elimination of food waste has been a critical component of our Sands ECO360 sustainability plan,” said Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Global Sustainability Katarina Tesarova. “While this is definitely an environmental issue, it is also a social and economic issue. Not only does wasted food end up in the landfill, but there are other implications as well. For instance, we continue to focus on new ways to get excess unserved food to those in the community who are food insecure.”
The six new Champions join the list of existing 2030 Champions, which include: Ahold Delhaize, Aramark, Blue Apron, Bon Appetit, Campbells, ConAgra, Farmstead, General Mills, Hilton, Kellogg’s, Kroger, Marley Spoon, MGM Resorts, Mom’s Organic Market, Pepsico, Sodexo, Sprouts, Unilever, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis, Whitsons and Yum! Brands.
Cutting food waste in half by 2030 will take a sustained commitment from everyone. Success requires action from the entire food system including the food industry, and the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Champions group can help lead the way. Details on becoming a U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion can be found at www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste and www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food.
Businesses not in a position to make the 50 percent reduction commitment may be interested in participating in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-frc. State, local, tribal and territorial governments interested in making a commitment to food waste reduction can sign the Winning on Reducing Food Waste pledge.
BACKGROUND
Facts about food waste:
EPA estimates that more food (over 75 billion pounds) reaches landfills and combustion facilities than any other material in everyday trash, constituting 22% of discarded municipal solid waste.
Landfills are the third largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States.
Food waste not only impacts landfill space and emissions, it hurts the economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates the value of food loss and waste for retailers and consumers each year to be over $161 billion.
Food waste consumes 21% of all fresh water globally.
Wasted food also results in unnecessary, excess expenditures of U.S. domestic energy resources.
Ongoing Federal Efforts:
EPA has taken significant measures to highlight the need to reduce food waste nationally. In October 2018, EPA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and USDA signed a formal agreement to align efforts across the federal government to educate consumers, engage stakeholders, and develop and evaluate solutions to food loss and waste.
The agencies launched “Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month” in April 2019 with a Presidential Message from President Trump encouraging public action and participation from all sectors.
During the month of April 2019, Administrator Wheeler and leadership from USDA and FDA convened a summit at EPA bringing state and local stakeholders together to form partnerships with leading food waste reduction non-governmental organizations. At this event, over 30 governmental organizations signed onto a new pledge in which state, local, tribal and territorial government organizations solidified interest in working with the federal government to continue to build upon existing efforts back home to reduce food loss and waste. Also at the summit, EPA announced $110,000 in funding for food waste management and infrastructure projects (to expand anaerobic digestion capacity) in Wisconsin, Vermont, and Washington. EPA also opened a Small Business Innovation Research Grants program solicitation in 2019, which included “preventing food waste” as a topic.
For more information on the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food
https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste
www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm628706.htm
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
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