Friday Feburay 21 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 4 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.48 million cattle on feed on February 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 4 percent from last year. Placements during January totaled 510,000 head, down 1 percent from 2019. Fed cattle marketings for the month of January totaled 480,000 head, unchanged from last year. Other disappearance during January totaled 10,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 670,000 head on February 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from January, but down 3 percent from February 1, 2019. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 640,000 head on feed, up 3 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,310,000 head, up 2 percent from last month but down 2 percent from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during January totaled 111,000 head, up 54 percent from December but unchanged from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 88,000 head, down 13 percent from December but up 47 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 199,000 head, up 15 percent from December and up 16 percent from last year.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during January totaled 108,000 head, up 20 percent from December but down 1 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 62,000 head, up 9 percent from December and up 35 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 170,000 head, up 16 percent from December and up 10 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 9,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent
   
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on February 1, 2020. The inventory was 2 percent above February 1, 2019 (ave pre-report estimate +2.3%).

On Feed, By State  (1,000 hd  -  % Feb 1 '19)
Colorado .......:            1,100          106                
Iowa .............:               670             97                
Kansas ..........:             2,400          107            
Nebraska ......:             2,480           96             
Texas ............:             2,940          107           

Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.96 million head, 1 percent below 2019 (ave pre-report estimate +1%). Net placements were 1.90 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 390,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 455,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 535,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 400,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 105,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.

Placements by State  (1,000 hd  -  % Jan '19)
Colorado .......:                     205           100               
Iowa .............:                     111           100                
Kansas ..........:                     445           116               
Nebraska ......:                     510            99              
Texas ............:                     370            88               

Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.93 million head, 1 percent above 2019 (ave pre-report estimate +1%).  Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during January, 11 percent below 2019.

Marketings by State  (1,000 hd  -  % Jan '19)
Colorado ......:                     190           112                
Iowa .............:                     108            99             
Kansas ..........:                     455           100              
Nebraska ......:                     480           100              
Texas ............:                     380            99             

Cattle on Feed and Annual Size Group Estimates
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 81.5 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States on January 1, 2020. This is comparable to the 81.3 percent on January 1, 2019.

Marketings of fed cattle for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during 2019 represented 87.0 percent of total cattle marketed from all feedlots in the United States, down slightly from 87.1 percent during 2018.



Lukas Fricke Receives Outstanding Pork Service Award

 The Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NePPA) annually bestows the Outstanding Pork Service Awards to recognize exceptional work by an individual, company, or organization that has advocated and supported the fundamental efforts of the Association. A service award winner serves as a positive voice and leader within the industry.

Fricke is a sixth-generation pork producer from Ulysses, Nebraska, an entrepreneur with a strong determination to achieve his goals and has a passion for guiding youth in agriculture. In 2014 Fricke became part of NPPA’s Mentorship program. His application pro-file stated that he “believes it is his responsibility as a young farmer to make a sustainable impact, and it is his passion to grow his American, agricultural dream through smart hard work”. At the same time Fricke was serving as the Communications Intern for the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, was involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, President for the UNL FFA Alumni, Vice President for the CASNR Advisory Board and Treasurer for Block and Bridle. In 2018 his startup company ChorChek won first place at the Nebraska’s Power Farming Show Quick Pitch Competition. Fricke’s familiarity with social media, frequently has him advising people through posts about pork products and practices. He has also assisted the National Pork Board and other state associations with some of its social media training.

Fricke was recognized for his continuing advocacy to the importance of involving youth in the pork industry. He has been a volunteer helper with the Nebraska Pork Producers Association and has helped with Nebraska Ag Youth Institute by donating meals for program participants. Lukas said, “one thing he would like to see happen in the pork industry is for the younger generations to step up to active leadership roles to help tell our story to keep this industry moving forward”.



SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA SOIL HEALTH CONFERENCE
Nathan Mueller, Cropping Systems Extension Educator

   On Tuesday, March 3, Nebraska Extension will be hosting the Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference in Hickman in southern Lancaster County. The conference theme is “Feeding Our Below and Above Ground Livestock”.  It is an opportunity for both crop and livestock producers to learn new ideas about cover crops and soil health that can have positive impacts on their farming operation.

   The conference will be at the new community center in Hickman on 115 Locust Street. Feel free to join us starting at 8:00 AM for registration, coffee, donuts, and an opportunity to view table displays from numerous exhibitors. Check out the new conference website at croptechcafe.org/southeastnesoilhealth to download and print the program.

   I am going to step you through the speakers and topics at the 2020 Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference. Randy Pryor will be host or moderator for the conference. The first speaker will be Paul Jasa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension Engineer, who will talk about a systems approach to soil health. Jasa has conducted long-term soil health research at the UNL Rogers Memorial Farm in Lancaster County. Gary Lesoing, Nebraska Extension Cropping Systems Educator for Richardson, Pawnee, Nemaha, and Johnson counties and the Nebraska Sustainable Ag Research and Education (SARE) program coordinator, will provide an update on cover crops and soil health research. Dr. Ray Ward, president and co-owner of Ward Laboratories, Inc. in Kearney since 1983, will explain the important role that organic matter plays for nutrient and water storage. Native soils had organic matter levels about twice as high as most of our soils are today. Some producers have made great strides in improving the soil organic matter but the majority of the soils need additional improvement. Ward will explain the importance of nutrient cycling to build soil organic matter.

   The keynote speaker is Dr. Dwayne Beck, manager of the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Dakota Lakes research farm since 1990.  His work on developing and promoting diverse no-till cropping systems has made a huge difference in South Dakota to dramatically improve farm profitability while also doing a better job of protecting soil and water resources; enhancing wildlife habitat; reducing net carbon dioxide emissions and other positive impacts. Beck will reflect on “Where We Are Heading” and “Not Forgetting the Basics”. As a professor and extension specialist at SDSU, I really enjoyed working with both Dwayne and his wife, Ruth Beck, as fellow agronomy colleagues in the Plant Science Department.

   Mary Drewnoski, UNL Beef Systems Specialist, will talk about cow-calf grazing of cover crops. After that, the Nebraska Corn Board and the Southeast Nebraska Corn Growers Association will provide a short update. The conference program will wrap up with a soil health panel discussion. The panelists include Tyler Burkey from Milford, Blake Huls from Cortland, Rodney Wiese from Wilber and Steve Mills from Greenwood. We encourage attendees to ask questions and listen as the panelists share tips about improving soil health in their operations.

   Over twenty agribusiness displays will be on-site along with representatives for nearly 35 different sponsoring organizations and companies. Nebraska Corn Board is a major sponsor of the program along with the Lancaster County Farm Bureau and SARE. I encourage you to register for the conference before February 28 so we can get an accurate meal count for catering purposes. You can register online at croptechcafe.org/southeastnesoilhealth/ or by calling the Lancaster County Extension office at 402-441-7180. For certified crop advisers, continuing education units will be available. I hope to see you there! Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line.



Former Chair of California's Water Board joins Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute's Board of Directors

The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska is pleased to welcome Felicia Marcus as a new member of its board of directors. Marcus is an attorney/consultant with 35 years of experience in organizational management, policy development, program implementation, and public engagement at the federal, state, and local levels.

She currently serves on the Water Policy Group, a facility for governments and international bodies to access water sector experts with direct experience in working with water policy issues within governments and international bodies.

Marcus most recently served as Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board for the State of California. The control board implements both federal and state laws regarding drinking water and water quality, as well as the state's water rights laws. It also sets statewide water quality, drinking water, and water rights policy, hears appeals of local regional board water quality decisions, decides water rights disputes, and provides financial assistance to communities to upgrade water infrastructure. During her term, the board dealt with the California's worst drought in modern history and focused on issues as diverse as integrating the drinking water program from the Department of Public Health into the Board to better serve disadvantaged communities; developing and implementing historic groundwater management legislation; upgrading the state's water rights system; setting flow and water quality objectives for the San Francisco Bay and Delta; accelerating the adoption of conservation, recycling, and storm water capture through permitting and financial assistance; and dealing with the myriad critical issues necessary to prepare the state for a more challenging water future under climate change.

Before her role with California's Water Resources Control Board, Marcus served in positions in government, the non-profit world, and the private sector. In government, she served as the Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA Region IX where she worked extensively on a range of environmental issues under EPA's jurisdiction, including Bay-Delta issues. Prior to that, Marcus headed the Los Angeles Department of Public Works at a time when the department transitioned from garnering lawsuits to gaining national and international awards for environmental initiatives and performance. In the non-profit world, she was the Western Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and was the Executive VP/COO of the Trust for Public Land, among other positions.

Marcus also has extensive background as a private sector and public interest lawyer, as well as a community organizer, and is perhaps best known for her work to clean up Santa Monica Bay - most notably as a founder and general counsel to Heal the Bay. She is known as a problem solver, with an ability to bring unlikely partners to agreement while also being willing to make tough calls when necessary. She is also regarded as an adept organizational manager, elevating the profile and effectiveness of organizations through the empowerment of staff. She has received numerous awards over the years for her reasonable and productive approach to making environmental progress. Marcus has an AB in East Asian Studies from Harvard College and a JD from New York University School of Law. She is admitted to the California bar.

"We are delighted to have the benefit of Felicia's leadership and experience on our board of directors," said Peter G. McCornick, Executive Director. "Her insights into the tough water management issues in California will be an asset to us as we tackle the complex challenges to improving water and food security for Nebraska, the U.S. and around the world."

"It's a privilege to join the Daugherty Institute board and I look forward to working with the other board directors, the DWFI leadership team, and University of Nebraska administration," said Felicia Marcus. "The goal of ensuring water and food availability for all people, while also conserving our shared environmental heritage, is a globally important mission. Water is precious and requires dedicated, knowledgeable, and thoughtful people to develop sustainable solutions that honor all those needs. I can't think of an organization better prepared to lead this space than the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute."



Pork Industry Confirms Confidence in U.S. Soy

U.S. soybean farmers appreciate the pork industry’s ongoing efforts to assure animal feed products brought in from outside the U.S. do not transfer foreign animal diseases to domestic animals or contaminate domestic meal supplies, which remain safe and reliable. Every day, soybean farmers take pride in providing a wholesome, high-quality feed ingredient and are actively working across U.S. agriculture to ensure the nation’s pork industry continues to thrive and serve as a global leader.

“The safety and quality of U.S. Soy products are our top priority, and we fully support bolstering biosecurity measures to prevent and mitigate the transmission of any foreign animal diseases into the U.S.,” said USB CEO Polly Ruhland.

With African swine fever (ASF) spreading to parts of Africa, Asia and Europe, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) sent a letter this week to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue asking to ban imports of organic soy products for use in animal feeds from ASF-impacted countries. The United Soybean Board (USB) commends NPPC for expressing in that request its “confidence in the safety of U.S. Soy” as a reliable feed ingredient. Though, USB still recognizes that trading partners are of critical importance to U.S. soybean farmers.

“Poultry and swine are major consumers of soybean meal, so protecting domestic farms and the U.S. animal agriculture industry is crucial,” said USB Chair Jim Carroll III, a soybean farmer from Brinkley, Arkansas. “We have closely collaborated with our pork partners to avoid and reduce threats including African swine fever.”

The U.S. Soy industry remains diligent about practices to protect the U.S. from ASF and to ensure that soybean meal is a dependable and safe source of nutrients for pigs, poultry, livestock and aquaculture. USB efforts related to pathogens include cross-industry discussions with USB’s feed technical team and collaborative investments with the private sector to develop an ASF surrogate virus with the University of Minnesota, which will enable development of an ASFV test and a formal feed-ingredient risk assessment. The U.S. Soy community also has robust standards and travel protocols in place to protect soy’s feed customers and their swine herds.

The ASF virus is commonly spread by direct or indirect contact between animals but can live on most surfaces for short periods of time, including feed that makes contact with infected animals. Yet, viral transmission of the infection is primarily spread by animal-to-animal contact or through airports or other ports of entry on contaminated meat, equipment or clothing.

Declan Schroeder, Ph.D., virologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota indicates, “Time and temperature conditions that exceed World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS temperature inactivation requirements, i.e., 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, will inactivate the ASF virus. This combined with biosecurity practices to prevent recontamination result in products that will not transmit the virus.” Tim Kemper, the global operations director for Desmet Ballestra, adds that there are multiple process steps in a typical soybean plant where these temperature and time parameters are exceeded.

While ASF has not been detected in the U.S., the soy industry recognizes the need for proactive efforts to minimize the risk of importing it. USB and the U.S. Soybean Export Council will continue to monitor ASF and offer educational outreach to the soy industry regarding safety best practices to prevent the spread of ASF and other animal pathogens.



Soy checkoff continues to provide return on farmer investments

According to a recent independent economic study, the United Soybean Board (USB) soy checkoff continues to translate farmer investments into significant benefits for American soybean farmers. The results of the 2019 return-on-investment (ROI) study found that U.S. soybean farmers received $12.34. in added value for every dollar they invested in the soy checkoff.

“These have been some of the toughest years to be a soybean farmer,” said USB Chairman Jim Carroll III, a soybean farmer from Brinkley, Arkansas. “We have to be wise and careful with our investments in this business, and I’m proud that our soy checkoff continuously adds value to our industry.”

Half of Nebraska’s Soybean Checkoff dollars go to the United Soybean Board’s national checkoff, and Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) Executive Director Victor Bohuslavsky said it’s been a more-than-worthwhile investment.

“We’re beyond pleased with the results of the 2019 ROI study,” Bohuslavsky said. “While we work with our own state checkoff dollars to maximize profit opportunities within our borders, we’re also contributors to the national checkoff and it’s reaped great rewards for our Nebraska growers.”

The ROI study analyzed the demand- and supply-enhancing activities funded by the soy checkoff between 2014–18 and was conducted by Dr. Harry Kaiser, a leading research expert at Cornell University in the field of agricultural economics and its application to commodity checkoff programs.

“The study finds that USB’s activities have had a positive and significant impact on soybean demand between 2014–18,” Dr. Kaiser said.

Key findings of the study, required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, included:
-    U.S. soybean farmers received $12.34 in added value for every dollar they invested in the soy checkoff over the last five years.
-    Every dollar U.S. soybean farmers invested in international promotion activities produced $17.95 in return value.
-    Soy checkoff investments made toward demand-enhancing research and promotion returned an average value of $18.18.
-    Collaborative soy checkoff investments in production research that leverage industry and academic partners continue to provide promising returns to U.S. soybean farmers, returning an average value of $9.42.

These estimates were reached using econometric models of domestic and international soybean markets that allowed the research team to net out the impacts of other important factors—such as other crops, substitute commodities, income, exchange rates and economic conditions in importing countries—to determine the estimated impact of the soy checkoff’s work and investments.



NCBA Statement on Beef From Brazil

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Director, International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture restoring access to the U.S. for Brazilian beef:

“NCBA strongly supports science-based trade and the Trump Administration’s efforts to enforce science-based trade with all trade partners. But to be clear, NCBA has serious concerns about the re-entry of Brazilian beef to the U.S. market.

“NCBA has frequently questioned the lack of scientific evidence that was used to justify Brazil’s initial access to the U.S. market in 2016, and unfortunately, we were not surprised when Brazil forfeited its beef access to the U.S. in 2017 due to numerous food safety violations. NCBA praised Secretary Perdue for standing up for science-based trade and holding Brazil accountable for their numerous violations by suspending Brazil’s access and subjecting Brazil to undergo a thorough science-based inspection and audit process. It is evident that USDA believes that Brazil has addressed the concerns raised in the audit process, and steps will soon be taken to restore Brazil’s access to the United States.

“Given Brazil’s history of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and its track record of repeated food safety violations at ports-of-entry, you can rest assured that NCBA will keep an eagle eye focus on all developments with Brazil and we expect nothing less than the highest level of scrutiny from USDA and customs officials. Should Brazil continue to have food safety or animal health issues, we expect the U.S. government, including Capitol Hill, to take all necessary and immediate action to protect U.S. consumers and U.S. beef producers.

“The re-entry of Brazilian beef to the U.S. market only further exacerbates concerns about the use of “Product of USA” labels on beef sold in the United States. As the trusted leader and definitive voice of the U.S. beef industry, NCBA will continue leading conversations with USDA and the entire supply chain to address any labels that may allow imported beef to carry a “Product of USA” label. NCBA believes voluntary origin labels with verified source claims will provide transparency in labeling without violating our international trade obligations.”



ASA Congratulates the 2020 Regional Winners of the Conservation Legacy Award

The American Soybean Association (ASA) congratulates the regional winners of the 2020 Conservation Legacy Award.
-    Susan and Mike Brocksmith, Vincennes, Ind. (Northeast Region)
-    Frank Howey, Monroe, N.C. (South Region)
-    Nancy Kavazanjian, Beaver Dam, Wis. (Upper Midwest Region)
-    Nicole and Randy Small, Neodesha, Kan. (Midwest Region)

Each winner will be recognized at the ASA Awards Banquet on Feb. 28, 2020, at Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. During the banquet, one of the farmers will be chosen as the national winner.

The Conservation Legacy Award is a national program designed to recognize the outstanding environmental and conservation achievement of soybean farmers, which helps produce more sustainable U.S. soybeans.

A national selection committee, composed of soybean farmers, conservationists, agronomists and natural resource professionals, evaluated nominations based on each farmer’s environmental and economic program. The achievements of these farmers serve as a positive example for other farmers and help produce a more sustainable U.S. soybean crop.

This program is sponsored by ASA, BASF, Bayer, the United Soybean Board/Our Soy Checkoff and Valent.

Susan and Mike Brocksmith of Vincennes, Ind., just want to be better. Better stewards. Better farmers. Better food suppliers. Their quest for being better has everything to do with tomorrow and what they can do on their farm to be more effective and efficient for future generations.

When Mike returned home from Purdue University in 1979, the family farm only had about 100 tillable acres. Since it was easier to grow the livestock portion than acquire more land, that’s what they did until more acres were acquired and they eased out of livestock.

Today, the Brocksmith’s raise soybeans that are 100% no-till and non-GMO corn, which is contracted to an end-user. Located in southwest Indiana, the farm is home to highly erodible soil, so in 1990, they began dabbling in cover crops and now, cover crops are on all their acres. Waterways, rock chutes, drop boxes, gradient terraces and more than 150 water and sediment control basins have also been added.

Their work in advocacy is a testament to the dedication they have to conservation and land stewardship. Educating farmers, high school and college students is a top priority.

Leaving things better than when they got them has always been the Brocksmith’s driving force.

Frank Howey is a pioneer. Farming in an area where dry weather is most often a limiting factor, the Monroe, N.C. farmer planted narrow-row corn. Growing both corn and soybeans in 15-inch rows, Howey counts on a quick canopy to both preserve spring moisture and control weeds.

A seventh-generation farmer, he and his wife, Allison, have created a diverse enterprise that includes corn, wheat, soybeans, timber and beef cattle. Howey has been no-till farming since 1984.

Being part of eco-friendly projects is also important to Howey. With several solar projects on their land, they focus on clean energy and believe that in a small way, they are helping their community, and the country, to become energy independent.

Farming in one of the fastest growing areas of the country, they are surrounded by housing developments. Howey gives wildlife some habitat and cover by leaving strips of land to let trees grow. In addition, each year the Howeys plant about 150,000 trees on land not suitable for growing other crops.

“We strive to be good stewards of the land for not only our own two young aspiring farmers — Trey, 17, and Ellie, 10 — but for generations to come,” Frank Howey says.

Nancy Kavazanjian grew up on a little postage-stamp side yard on Long Island, N.Y., with a few tomato plants. But that wasn’t enough for Kavazanjian. She wanted more.

“Why don’t we go live on a farm?” she remembers asking her parents.

Fast-forward more than 40 years, and today, she has her farm in Beaver Dam, Wis. and is married to a fourth-generation farmer, Charles Hammer. Kavazanjian and Hammer are firmly rooted in the motto, “Our soil, our strength.”

The row crop operation grows corn, soybeans and wheat, and for the past 40 years has worked to implement innovative technologies and farming methods that protect their farmland while growing the highest-quality food and feed possible.

They were among the first in their area to adopt no-till, strip-tillage practice and cover crops. Kavazanjian also established a pollinator habitat on the gravel-covered knolls to provide an atmosphere that supports native bees, butterflies, birds and wildlife.

Kavazanjian and Hammer are currently working with a university to pilot and proof a phosphorus-reduction system that could potentially have major benefits for lakes, farms and watersheds across the nation.

To stay abreast of emerging technologies, Kavazanjian attends industry meetings, reads industry information and networks with other farmers and researchers — connecting both in person and online.

“We’re all part of the problem, and we all need to be part of the solution,” Kavazanjian says.

Randy and Nicole Small are sixth-generation farmers and raise soybeans, corn, wheat, clover and run a 400-head cow-calf operation near Neodesha, Kan. Exclusively continuous no-till since 1999, the Smalls save on both fuel and labor through reduced tillage.

Cover crops also play a huge role in helping the Smalls protect the soil. Integrating the use of soybeans in a double-crop system behind wheat has helped the Smalls increase yield to levels they never thought were achievable. For 13 years, the Smalls have used relay cropping by planting soybeans into growing wheat.

Nicole shares many of their farm experiences through her blog, Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom. She also uses social media and writes a weekly newspaper column that has opened doors for her to speak to a variety of audiences

To educate students on where their food really comes from, Nicole’s paper doll project, Flat Aggie, has reached more than 2,000 students in over 5 years.

“Right now, economics are pretty important,” Randy says. “With a no-till system we’re saving soil, we’re rejuvenating soil, we’re building organic matter. In the end, that’s going to make a big difference in how productive our sons can be and how sustainable their operation can be.”

There are many more innovative and sustainable practices that the regional winners of the 2020 Conservation Legacy Awards are putting into action on their farms today.