Friday February 28 Ag News

 NE Senators Concerned About Lifting of Brazilian Beef Ban

U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in signing a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing concerns over the agency’s recent decision to lift the U.S. ban on Brazilian raw beef imports.

“Given that the United States halted Brazilian raw beef imports less than one year after Brazil was granted access in 2016, we have serious concerns about Brazil’s ability to maintain adequate food safety standards over the long run,” the letter reads.

The U.S. cited concerns over public health, poor sanitary conditions, and animal health when it last halted Brazilian raw beef imports in 2017.

The letter was led by Senator Thune (R-S.D.), and also signed by Senators Tester (D-Mont.), Daines (R-Mont.), Moran (R-Kan.), Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Rounds (R-S.D.), Cramer (R-N.D.), Hoeven (R-N.D.), Enzi (R-Wyo.), Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Booker (D-N.J.), Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Peters (D-Mich).



 9th Annual NE Innovative Youth Corn Challenge

Do you enjoy being outside and earning new things about crops? Are you considering a career involving crops, insects, diseases, soils, water or more? Do you want to help figure out how to feed our world's growing population in a sustainable way?

Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board are offering the Ninth Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest, open to 4-H members (age 10 & older as of Jan. 1st) or FFA members (in-school members), guides participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural careers related to corn production.

As a team (2 or more participants), youth will be challenged to implement a production practice different than normal to determine if they increased their yield. Economics and sustainability of the practice will also be considered. Yields, cropping history, and production information will be collected in the Corn Yield Challenge management summary.

Cash prizes and plaques are given. First place receives $1,000, second place receives $500, and third place receives $250. Sustainability, crop scouting and "extra mile" awards are also given as cash awards.   

To participate in 2020, youth must register by March 15th to the Fillmore County Extension Office in Geneva, NE. Details can be found at the CropWatch youth activities page. For more information, contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.



New NebGuide - Crop Management to Reduce Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Nebraska

A new NebGuide, G2322, authored by Bijesh Maharjan, Virginia Jin, Laila Puntel, Javed Iqbal, Tyler Williams, Humberto Blanco and Charles Wortmann, is available in both html and PDF formats.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the greenhouse gas most associated with crop production. This NebGuide covers basic information about nitrous oxide. It addresses the following practices for effects on soil N2O emission with considerations of cost-effectiveness.

1.    Avoid excessive irrigation for no-cost reduction of N2O emission.

2.    Reduce fertilizer-N applied and the amount of residual soil nitrate-N
        Reduce fertilizer-N rates to the most profitable rates for no-cost reduction of N2O emission
        Apply N at 25 lb/ac below the most profitable rate for very low-cost reduction of N2O emission
        In-season N application for sandy loam or sandier soil, often for no-cost or low-cost reduction of N2O emission
        Better crediting of manure-N for no-cost reduction of N2O emission
        Less corn-corn, often for no-cost reduction of N2O emission, and
        Alfalfa in rotation, especially in community wellhead protection areas, often for no-cost reduction of N2O emission.

3.    Well-targeted double cropping and cover crops with some costs for reduction of N2O emission

4.    Timely and well-targeted nitrification inhibitor use with some costs for reduction of N2O emission

5.    Corn stover harvest, often for no-cost reduction of N2O emission.

6.    Tillage effects on N2O emission have been inconsistent with inconclusive results.

Most of the practices for reducing soil emission of N2O will also result in reductions of other losses of N to the environment, including reduced leaching of nitrate beyond the depth of crop rooting zones. Much reduction can be achieved with a gain in profit or at no cost while other practices do have some cost.



Funding Available from USDA to Protect Groundwater

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has funding available through its Source Water Protection Initiative to help landowners install conservation practices. Interested landowners have until March 13, 2020, to apply.

Craig Derickson, state conservationist for NRCS in Nebraska said, “Since nearly all Nebraskans get their drinking water from groundwater, it’s important we work together to help protect this resource from contamination. This designated funding provides an opportunity for landowners to receive financial assistance to install conservation practices that help protect and improve water quality.”

The Source Water Protection priority area consists of 522 wellhead protection areas across the state that are located around the public well sites supplying water for communities in Nebraska. In addition, the Phase 2-4 high nitrate areas and water quantity management areas that are managed by the NRDs have been included in this initiative.

“The Source Water Protection Initiative is an exciting opportunity to improve and protect groundwater resources in Nebraska,” said Marty Link, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. “We look forward promoting this program with NRCS to help communities protect their drinking water supplies.”

Agricultural land located in the source water protection priority areas (see map) may be eligible to receive financial assistance. Nebraska NRCS is now accepting applications for source water protection funding. Approved applicants can receive funding to install conservation practices used to address water quality, that include:
    Nutrient management
    Irrigation water management
    Cover crops
    Conversion of flood to pivot or subsurface drip irrigation systems.

NRCS field office staff can determine if applicants are eligible for SWP priority area financial assistance. Applications are accepted anytime, but to receive funding this year, applications must be received by March 13, 2020. Visit your local NRCS field office to learn more.



Nebraska Extension Survey for Beginning Female Farmers & Ranchers

Nebraska Extension is committed to providing quality services for Nebraska agricultural producers. We are asking for your help to let us know how we can better serve the needs of beginning female farmers and ranchers in Nebraska. If you will spend just 15 minutes of your time to complete the survey, we will have information that can be used to deliver high-quality programs.

The USDA defines beginning farmers or ranchers as someone with 10 years or less of active farming/ranching as the principal operator.

In order to gather all of the information needed, we welcome and encourage service providers, established farmers, and industry providers to complete the survey. Your individual responses are confidential. To thank you for completing the survey and as a thank you for your time we are giving away Women in Agriculture tote bags. A total of 30 bags will be awarded, selected at random from the completed surveys.

Take the survey here... https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6D67QEpyBsaWIM5. 

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey and assist Nebraska Extension in our programming efforts to help beginning farmers and ranchers in Nebraska.



Supporting teachers, supporting youth

One of the Nebraska Corn Board’s (NCB) four main pillars is education, and the board works to develop and implement educational programs with an impact. Over its 42-year history, NCB has helped people of all ages and backgrounds better understand the state’s corn industry. As fewer people are growing up and residing in rural areas, a larger gap exists between consumer and producer, which is why NCB identified youth as an important audience to reach through its education efforts.

Earlier this year, NCB approved three new education initiatives to support teachers and students across Nebraska. Through each initiative, NCB will partner with other groups to expand reach, avoid duplication and promote implementation into actual classroom settings.

The “Nebraska Soil Summer Institute” is a partnership between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Lincoln Public Schools and NCB. Through this pilot program, high school science teachers will take part in a two-week summer workshop. Throughout the two weeks, the teachers will get an in-depth training in soil science concepts, hands-on experiments and learning activities. Teacher participants will then develop curriculum for their science classrooms that meet state science standards and can be utilized by other teachers.

“Soil science integrates multiple disciplines such as biology, chemistry and physics,” said Dr. Martha Mamo, head of UNL’s Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. “By training science teachers in soil science, we support science education and strengthen agricultural education across the state.”

“Learn, Then Do” is a collaborative effort between the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation (NFBF), LPS and NCB. This program began as part of a grant from the national Ag in the Classroom program. Through this program, 20 high school science teachers will take part in a three-day workshop. As part of the program, the teachers will take part in various lessons and field trips to better understand how agriculture can be incorporated into their science courses. Teachers will then work with a national curriculum expert to develop lessons that meet Nebraska’s state science standards.

“Recently, Nebraska modified its state science standards, which are now modeled after and closely align with the Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of NFBF. “This puts us in a unique position because there isn’t that much curriculum available at this time that meets NGSS standards. By being on the forefront and developing this content now, we can reach teachers who are looking for these materials, and they’re all based on agricultural concepts. We’re thankful for the support from the Nebraska Corn Board who recognize the importance of exposing teachers and students to agriculture.”

The final project, “Making the Connection: An Agricultural Literacy Conference,” is a partnership between NFBF and NCB. This conference will bring together a variety of Nebraska educators who are wanting to incorporate agriculture into their programs. Participants could include teachers, Nebraska Extension educators and youth leaders. One key goal of the program is to demonstrate the partnerships between Nebraska commodity organizations, UNL, Nebraska Extension and NFBF, and show how high-quality resources and activities from multiple sources can be used to build a meaningful agricultural literacy program.

“We know we are stronger together,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, vice chair of NCB and farmer from Giltner. “By partnering with groups like the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, Lincoln Public Schools and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, our goal is to reach teachers and students across the state with meaningful agricultural curriculum. We know this is the start of something great. Something we can continue to build upon and make stronger.”



NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS

All layers in Nebraska during January 2020 totaled 9.17 million, up from 8.45 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Nebraska egg production during January totaled 228 million eggs, up from 223 million in 2019. January egg production per 100 layers was 2,486 eggs, compared to 2,634 eggs in 2019.

Iowa Chicken and Eggs
Iowa egg production during January 2020 was 1.49 billion eggs, up slightly from last month and up 1 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of all layers on hand during January 2020 was 58.7 million, down slightly from last month but up 1 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for January were 2,535, up 1 percent from both last month and last year.

January Egg Production Up 1 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.73 billion during January 2020, up 1 percent from last year. Production included 8.51 billion table eggs, and 1.22 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.14 billion were broiler-type and 86.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during January 2020 averaged 403 million, up slightly from last year. January egg production per 100 layers was 2,415 eggs, up 1 percent from January 2019.

All layers in the United States on February 1, 2020 totaled 401 million, down slightly from last year. The 401 million layers consisted of 336 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 61.1 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.28 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on February 1, 2020, averaged 77.9 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from February 1, 2019.



NEBRASKA BRAND COMMITTEE SELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Nebraska Brand Committee has selected John Widdowson of Kearney, Nebraska as its new Executive Director.

Widdowson is a fifth-generation family farmer and rancher who has been actively involved in ranching most of his life. Widdowson holds a degree in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska­ Lincoln and has first -hand knowledge of the needs of Nebraska's cattle producers. Widdowson has served on the Governor's Ag Committee and has served on the five-member Nebraska Brand Committee since 2015, most recently serving as the Committee' s Chair before his resignation from that position to become the Committee's full-time Executive Director. While on the Committee, Widdowson spearheaded efforts to modernize the Committee, including the Committee's move to electronic brand recording and recordkeeping.

The vacancy was created by the resignation of former Executive Director Bill Bunce in August of 2017. Since then longtime Committee employee Dave Horton has been serving as the interim Executive Director. Horton will remain employed by the Committee as its Chief Investigator.

The Committee spent significant time over the past year identifying and selecting its next leader and developing a new Strategic Plan to guide the Committee and its staff in the years to come. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture assisted with the selection process, and interviews of finalists by Committee members occurred in early February.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts praised the decision: "Congratulations to the Brand Committee on the hiring of John Widdowson as their next executive director. The brand plays an important role in Nebraska's ranching community, and John will do a great job leading the committee into the future."

Current members of the Nebraska Brand Committee are: Vice Chair Adam Sawyer, Bassett; Terry Cone, Burwell; Jay Martindale, Brewster; and Chris Gentry, Hyannis. Governor Ricketts will appoint Widdowson's successor as a voting member of the Committee, and the Committee will hold an election of a new Chair at its next regular meeting scheduled for March 17, 2020 in Broken Bow, Nebraska.



Read, Watch or Listen to Important Options on Risk Management

Managing risk will continue to be a key part of farm profitability in 2020 and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is providing farmers with a wide range of risk management tools to help make the process more understandable.

The February edition of Ag Decision Maker contains four risk management articles, along with accompanying videos that allow producers to watch and listen to each specialist describe each tool.

Topics include the “Basics of Crop Insurance,” featuring Gary Wright, farm management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach; and “Small- to Medium-Sized Cattle Feeders,” featuring Tim Christensen, ISU Extension and Outreach field specialist.

“Comparing Farmland Returns to Stock Market Investments” is presented by Kelvin Leibold, farm management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach; and “Farm Financial Performance Analysis” is led by Charles Brown, also a farm management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The risk management articles and videos were made available through a grant and partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency.

A webinar series on risk management topics will be held on Tuesdays in March, according to Madeline Schultz, program manager for ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag.

The goal of the videos and the webinar, Schultz said, is to provide another way of reaching producers and explaining these complex and important topics.

“It’s another opportunity to share more about the different kinds of risk management available and the different risk management topics,” Schultz said.

Topics for the March webinar series will include trade with China (March 3), substitute decision making (March 10), comparing farmland returns to the stock market (March 17), and late and prevented planting lessons learned in 2019 (March 24).

The webinars will be held at noon, and participants should pre-register.

Schultz said the specialists helping to produce the videos and webinar have been supportive of the additional outreach opportunity.

“They’ve been excited about meeting an audience need and getting this information out in different ways,” she said.



Vet Medicine Study Develops New Cattle Vaccine Method
Researchers at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, in collaboration with Iowa State University, have developed a new vaccine delivery platform to produce long-lasting protection against anaplasmosis infections.

Bovine anaplasmosis, caused by the blood-borne parasite Anaplasma marginale, is the most prevalent tick-transmitted disease of cattle worldwide and causes significant disease loss to beef producers in the United States.

"Currently, a common strategy to control anaplasmosis is to provide mineral or feed containing the antibiotic chlortetracycline to cattle on pasture," said Andrew Curtis, doctoral research assistant in the laboratory of Hans Coetzee, professor and head of the anatomy and physiology department.

"This practice has raised concerns about the potential emergence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that may pose a risk to human and animal health," Curtis said. "Although there is an experimental vaccine available to control anaplasmosis, it requires multiple injections and it has not been evaluated in published research studies."

The objective of the College of Veterinary Medicine study was to develop a single-dose implant vaccine platform that provides long-term immunity against anaplasmosis infections by releasing vaccine contents over an extended period.

This new single-dose vaccine, which is administered in the back of the ear, has been shown to protect against clinical anaplasmosis for up to two years and could potentially help make anaplasmosis control more accessible and convenient to livestock producers, Curtis said.

"The concept of providing cattle with a single vaccine implant that could potentially provide lifelong protection against an economically devastating disease, such as bovine anaplasmosis, could revolutionize livestock production," Coetzee said.

Iowa State University currently holds a patent for the implant platform and the K-State/Manhattan Innovation Center is exploring a partnership with Iowa State to further develop this technology.

The first step to a commercially available product would include finding a commercial partner to seek approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In addition to Curtis and Coetzee, K-State researchers involved with the project include Miriam Martin, Brandt Skinner, Shawnee Montgomery, Tippawan Anantatat, Kathryn E. Reif, Majid Jaberi-Douraki, Emily J. Reppert and Michael Kleinhenz. Researchers from Iowa State include Sean Kelly, Balaji Narasimhan and Douglas Jones.

This project was supported in part by the Iowa Livestock Health Advisory Council and the faculty start-up funding provided by Kansas State University.

The study, "Rapid Communication: Development of a subcutaneous ear implant to deliver an anaplasmosis vaccine to dairy steers," was published in the Journal of Animal Science.



Perdue Directs USDA Fleet to Increase Biofuels Usage, Announces Notice of Funding for Biofuels Infrastructure Program
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a memo today directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to acquire alternative fueled vehicles (AFV) when replacing conventionally fueled vehicles. USDA owns and operates one of the largest civilian fleets in the Federal Government and this move to a fleet that can use E85 or biodiesel will increase efficiencies and performance. Additionally, as part of the President Donald J. Trump’s October agreement to seek opportunities to facilitate the availability of higher biofuel blends across the country, USDA will make $100 million in grants available this year for the newly created Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). Through this program, transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities will be able to apply for grants to help install, retrofit, and/or upgrade fuel storage, dispenser pumps, related equipment and infrastructure to be able to sell ethanol and biodiesel. The Department plans to publish application deadlines and other program information in the Federal Register this spring.

“Both of these actions underscore USDA is putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to increased biofuels usage. Expanding nationwide infrastructure that offers biofuels and increasing the number of biofuel capable vehicles in our fleet will increase the use of environmentally friendly fuel with decreased emissions, driving demand for our farmers and improving the air we breathe,” Secretary Perdue said. “President Trump is fighting for our corn and soybean growers and biofuel producers by finalizing year-round E15, ensuring that more than 15 billion gallons of ethanol and 2.43 billion gallons of biodiesel enters the market in 2020, and opening up new markets abroad. USDA will continue to do its part to encourage the use of homegrown energy.”
 
Background on Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP):
HBIIP will consist of up to $100 million in funding for competitive grants or sales incentives to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel fuels. Funds will be made directly available to assist transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities with converting to higher ethanol and biodiesel blends by sharing the costs related to and/or offering sales incentives for the installation of fuel pumps, related equipment, and infrastructure. Cost-share grants and/or incentives will be made available for higher fuel ethanol/biodiesel blends such as “E15” and “B20” (or higher), at vehicle fueling locations, including, but not limited to, local fueling stations, convenience stores (CS), hypermarket fueling stations (HFS), and/or fleet facilities, as well as fuel terminals for biodiesel. Prospective participants and stakeholders should expect additional specific program information and requirements to be published by mid-spring which will clarify the application process, eligibility, and how applications for grant funding will be scored.
 
Background on USDA Fleet:
USDA owns and operates one of the largest civilian fleets in the Federal Government. USDA is moving to acquire E85- or biodiesel-capable vehicles that meet USDA mission requirements instead of those that take conventional gasoline. This will occur over time during the normal fleet renewal process. USDA currently has 37,000 vehicles and replaces approximately 3,000 every year. Secretary Perdue directed USDA to:
    Acquire E85 or biodiesel-capable vehicles that meet USDA mission requirements;
    Use station locator websites and applications to fuel with E15, E85, and biodiesel where available;
    Prioritize the purchase of E15 for gasoline vehicles without E85 capability and the purchase of renewable diesel blends for diesel vehicles without B20 capability; and
    For USDA locations that have in-house refueling pumps, coordinate with fuel vendors to acquire and provide biofuel blends, including E15, E85, B20 and higher biodiesel blends, and renewable diesel blends.

These actions have the potential to increase USDA’s annual consumption of E15 by up to 9 million gallons, E85 by 10 million gallons, and biodiesel and renewable diesel blends by up to 3 million gallons. As availability of E15, E85, and biodiesel expands through the nation, USDA has the opportunity to reach these goals and have a significant impact. Where biofuels are available, the USDA fleet is directed to use biofuels.
 
Background on USDA’s Agricultural Innovation Agenda:
Earlier this month, Secretary Perdue unveiled the Agricultural Innovation Agenda, a department-wide initiative to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands. Investing in the availability of innovative fuels for American consumers supports this vision while we fulfill our motto to “Do Right and Feed Everyone.” 



USDA Secretary Rolls Out Robust Higher Blends Biofuels Infrastructure Program at Commodity Classic

Today while speaking at the 2020 Commodity Classic, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the USDA will provide $100 million in competitive, cost-share grants for the new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to help increase the number of fuel stations and terminals across the country offering higher blends of biofuels.

USDA is expected to publish application deadlines and program details this spring.

“We are excited to see Secretary Perdue and USDA move expeditiously to implement a key part of President Trump’s plan to repair the damage caused by RFS refinery exemptions that was announced last October,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw. “This program is going to assist substantially in helping fuel stations and terminals across the country add the necessary infrastructure of offer higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. We look forward to working alongside the administration to ensure the successful implementation of the program.”

The drastic increase in the number of refinery exemptions from the renewable fuels standard (RFS) granted by EPA over the last three years destroyed roughly four billion gallons of biofuels demand and caused a major uproar in farm country. On October 4, 2019, EPA announced a number of steps the Trump Administration would take to repair the damage, including an infrastructure program by USDA. The EPA announcement can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/president-trump-delivers-key-promise-american-farmers-epa-usda-announce-agreement.

“As we work with the USDA on infrastructure, we stand ready to work with EPA to begin building on the President’s earlier decision to allow year-round sales of E15 by initiating a rulemaking process to streamline labeling and remove other barriers to the sale of E15,” stated Shaw. “This action should move in concert with the infrastructure program to maximize the positive impact of President Trump’s commitments.”



USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program Good for Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Industry

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement in response to the USDA’s proposed Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) announced earlier today.

“The proposed Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program from USDA would give consumers more choices at the pump, create more jobs in rural communities and benefit our farmers,” said Secretary Naig. “This USDA program would build upon Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, which has been tremendously successful. For every dollar the state has invested in renewable fuel infrastructure, it has spurred nearly $6 in private investments. Now consumers have access to E15 at 1,800 fuel retailers in Iowa.”

On Jan. 31, 2020, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary Naig sent a joint letter to USDA voicing support for the HBIIP.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program offers cost-share grants to help fuel retailers install E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers and biodiesel storage facilities. To date, the program has distributed or obligated over $33 million with $200 million added in private economic activity. The grant program is managed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Learn more about the state’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure program at iowaagriculture.gov.



USDA Announces $100 Million in Funding for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the department is providing $100 million in competitive grants for infrastructure projects to facilitate increased sales of higher biofuel blends through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued a statement of support following USDA’s announcement:

“We are grateful for USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue for this commitment to expanding infrastructure and access to higher blends of biofuels. Through the original Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership grants and private fundraising, Growth Energy and Prime the Pump have worked with 14 of the largest retailers to install more than 2,000 retail locations across the nation, expanding consumer access to Unleaded 88, fuel blended with fifteen percent ethanol. Secretary Perdue’s announcement today helps propel higher biofuel blends into the next decade, and Prime the Pump’s retail partners are ready to embrace this new wave of growth.”

USDA is exploring options to expand domestic ethanol and biodiesel availability and announced a request for information on opportunities to consider infrastructure projects to facilitate increased sales of higher biofuel blends (E15/B20 or higher).

This effort will build on biofuels infrastructure investments and experience gained through the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). USDA administered BIP from 2016-2019 through state and private partners to expand the availability of E15 and E85 infrastructure to make available higher ethanol blends at retail gas stations around the country.



RFA Thanks USDA for Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Grant Program, Fleet Directive

While speaking to participants at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue today unveiled the details of a new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. Under the program, USDA will make available up to $100 million in competitive, cost share grants for activities designed to expand the sale and use of renewable fuels. The program will help significantly increase the sale and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products.

In addition to the announcement on HBIIP, Secretary Perdue directed USDA to increase the use of renewable fuels in the departments 37,000 vehicle fleet. Perdue directed his department to acquire alternative fueled vehicles when replacing conventionally fueled vehicles. USDA owns and operates one of the largest civilian fleets in the federal government and this move to a fleet that can use E85 or biodiesel will increase efficiencies and performance. These actions, he noted, have the potential to increase USDA's annual consumption of E15 by 9 million gallons, E85 by 10 million gallons, and biodiesel and renewable diesel blends by 3 million gallons.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper made the following statement:

“Leadership manifests itself in actions, not words. And today’s announcement by Secretary Perdue is all about taking definitive action to expand the market for biofuels, grow demand for farm commodities, and offer lower-cost, cleaner fuel options to consumers. On behalf of the U.S. ethanol industry, I thank Secretary Perdue and President Trump for their continued commitment to America’s farmers and renewable fuels industry.”



NBB Applauds Agriculture Secretary Perdue's Leadership on Higher Biodiesel Blends

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) today welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's announcement of $100 million funding for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants, approximately $14 million of which will go to support biodiesel blending. NBB also applauded Perdue's announcement of USDA's commitment to fuel its fleet vehicles with higher blends of biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Kurt Kovarik, NBB's VP of Federal Affairs, said, "NBB's members appreciate Secretary Perdue's strong support for soybean growers and biodiesel producers and USDA's leadership in driving demand for higher blends of biodiesel and renewable diesel. The grant program that USDA is announcing will expand consumers' access to cleaner, better transportation and heating fuels, such as biodiesel and renewable diesel. USDA's fleet program can add significant market pull for those biofuels simply by utilizing available data on where to fill up."

USDA owns 3,700 diesel fuel vehicles; but currently, its biofuel purchases are less than 4% of its annual fuel use. The agency anticipates increasing its purchase of biodiesel and renewable diesel blends by up to 3 million gallons.



AMVAC® Announces 10 New Products in 2020

AMVAC, an American Vanguard® company, announces 10 new products in 2020. The announcement is a result of the corporation's successful legacy of acquisitions and its "Innovation with Speed and Discipline" product development process, concentrating on specific, customer-focused solutions.

"AMVAC's recent product innovations have strengthened our crop protection portfolio allowing us to offer growers more trusted solutions. Our '10 in 2020' demonstrates the aggressive pace of AMVAC's continued success in offering growers products that solve their challenges," saidSenior Vice President of U.S. Crop Sales, Canada and Application Technology Scott Hendrix.

New products to AMVAC include a recent acquisition of four herbicide brands from Corteva Agriscience™. These products are complementary tank-mix partners for a variety of primary herbicides used in the U.S agricultural market. They are particularly valuable for enhancing weed control performance against increasing numbers of troublesome weed species. The products include:
-    Classic® Herbicide: Expands the postemergence weed control spectrum in soybeans.
-    FirstRate® Herbicide: Provides preemergence and postemergence control of key broadleaf weeds in soybeans.
-    Hornet® Herbicide: Delivers postemergence broadleaf weed control of glyphosate resistant weeds in field corn.
-    Python® Herbicide: Allows flexible broadleaf weed control in soybeans and field corn.

AMVAC also announces the developmental product Impact CORE™ Herbicide, a postemergence corn herbicide combining effective modes of action from a Group 15 residual herbicide with the power of Impact® Herbicide. Field studies have shown extended residual weed control in addition to control of more than 40 emerged annual grass and broadleaf weeds, including several glyphosate-resistant weeds. EPA registration of the product is expected in the first quarter of 2020.

In addition, AMVAC will soon launch a new glufosinate premix. This developmental product uses a proprietary formulation technology to combine the active ingredient found in Impact Herbicide to provide postemergence weed control in LibertyLink® corn. Registration of the herbicide is also expected in the first quarter of 2020.

AMVAC has selected COUNTER® Insecticide/Nematicide, broad spectrum AZTEC® HC Insecticide and zinc, a key micronutrient in corn, as the first products to be packaged in SmartCartridge™ containers and offered as part of SIMPAS™ Applied Solutions, pending EPA registration. SIMPAS (Smart Integrated Multi-Product Application System) is being introduced in a few select markets in 2020. A full launch is planned in 2021.

In addition, AMVAC recently announced its new herbicide - Surepyc IQ™ - a combination of two powerful chemistries for control of tough broadleaves and sedges in warm season turf. It's the first line-extension for the Surepyc brand.