Tuesday March 10 Ag News

2020 NeFU Spring District Meetings Schedule

District 7 Spring Meeting: Perkins, 1229 West Omaha Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701
Monday, March 16, 2020. 11:30 am Dinner on your own with meeting to follow.
·         District 7 Director Report: Paul Theobald
·         NFU Convention report:  Paul Theobald & John Hansen
·         Federal & State issues updates: John Hansen
·         GO Membership Program
Bring a friend, neighbor or family member.
For more information: Paul Theobald (402) 369-3817 Cell or Art Tanderup (402-) 278-4627 Cell

District 6 Spring Meeting: Jukes Ale Works, 20560 Elkhorn Drive, Elkhorn,Upstairs Room
Monday, April 1, 2020 6:30 pm supper on your own with meeting to follow.
·         District 6 Director’s Report:  Graham Christensen
·         NFU Convention report: Bill Armbrust & John Hansen
·         Federal & State issues updates:  John Hansen
·         GO Membership Program
Bring a friend, neighbor or family member.
For more information: Paul Poppe (402) 380-4508 or Graham Christensen (402) 217-5217



Learning Farms Evaluation Shows Uptick in Conservation Practice Adoption

Iowa Learning Farms recently released its 2019 Evaluation Report detailing the impact of multiple education and outreach initiatives throughout the year.

ILF is a conservation-focused education and outreach program for Iowa farmers and landowners based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Dedicated to building a culture of conservation, ILF conducted 24 field days, 23 formal presentations, 66 community event appearances and three conferences, reaching 7,800 Iowans.

The evaluation report includes data gathered through on-site comment cards, post-event surveys and an annual survey mailed to all field day participants. The report details the changing demographics of working farmers and landowners in Iowa, increases in conservation practices, and general understanding of different practices among working farmers.

Key statistics from the report include an up year in cover crop plantings – estimated to eclipse 1 million acres in Iowa. Also, 23% of field day attendees were under age 35, 23% were female and 76% of farmers responding to surveys are using between one and five conservation practices (no-till/strip-till, cover crops, extended crop rotation, rotational grazing).

Another notable insight from the evaluation is the reasons farmers gave for implementing these practices. Fifty-one percent listed soil erosion and 36% considered soil heath as top reasons for adoption.

These topics bring farmers and landowners to field days, enabling reinforcement of practice value and introduction of additional approaches that can address their needs and help achieve Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.

“With this report, we are very confident that we are able to portray a fair picture of what field day attendees are doing on their farms as well as what cover crop farmers are doing in general, based on the 62% response rate to our year-end survey and 40% response rate to our post field day surveys,” said Jackie Comito, director of Iowa Learning Farms. “We are thrilled with one bright spot in education where we’ve thoroughly socialized the concept of prairie strips in the farming lexicon, moving the percentage of respondents unfamiliar with the term from 84% in 2017 to just 18% in 2019.”

Many positive trends were seen in 2019, but the data collected was not all good news.

Even with an increase in cover crop acres of 16% over 2018, the growth rate is well below the needed trend to accomplish the Nutrient Reduction Strategy goal of 12 to 14 million acres. The report also reflects that only 10% of the planted acres are from new planters, continuing a five-year trend of declines in new plantings by new farmers.

“It’s encouraging to see the rate of increase in cover crop acres is holding steady, however, the majority of that growth is coming from current cover crop farmers adding more acres,” said Jamie Benning, water quality program manager for ISU Extension and Outreach. “We need to work harder to attract farmers and landowners that have never used cover crops to field days and other conservation events to help them understand the benefits these practices can deliver.”

To view or download the ILF 2019 Evaluation Report, visit https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/content/ilf-reports.



USDA Announces Continued Progress on Implementation of China Phase One Agreement

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that China has continued its progress in implementing the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement and has taken several additional actions to realize its agriculture-related commitments. The agreement entered into force on February 14, 2020, and the actions announced today build upon the measures announced on February 25. The most recent actions include:
-    Signing a protocol that allows the importation of fresh California nectarines (USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will share details once they are finalized);
-    Conditionally lifting a ban on imports of beef and beef products from animals over 30 months of age (Lifting Restriction on U.S. Beef 30 Months and Over Announcement), subject to other relevant import requirements;
-    Updating lists of facilities approved for exporting dairy, infant formula, seafood, and fish oil and fish meal.

In addition, China’s new tariff exclusion process went into effect on March 2 and importers can now apply for exclusions from retaliatory tariffs (Tariff Exclusion Process Announcement). USDA has published a translation and analysis of China’s guidance for participating in this latest round of exclusions (USDA Report on China’s New Round of Tariff Exclusions). On February 28, China announced new exclusions of U.S. hardwood products; these exclusions were issued under the previous exclusion process (USDA Report on Tariff Exclusions for U.S. Hardwood Products). USDA will continue to closely monitor China’s implementation of the agreement.

“These implementation measures are promising steps showing that China is taking steps to fulfill their purchase commitments,” Secretary Perdue said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, this agreement will produce positive gains for the entire economy, especially our agriculture sector. We look forward to China continuing to achieve their commitments in future months.”



NPPC Seeks Labor Solutions for Potential COVID-19 Impact on Pork Supply Chain

The fallout from an ongoing labor shortage facing the U.S. pork industry and other agriculture sectors could significantly worsen due to the impact of COVID-19, the National Pork Producers Council said in a letter to U.S. government officials today. NPPC's concerns regarding COVID-19 are labor specific. There is no evidence that pigs can contract the virus.

In a letter to the president and other administration officials, members of Congress, and state governors, NPPC called for expedited solutions addressing the need for more workers on hog farms and in pork plants. It also called on federal, state and local governments to work together to develop a response to COVID-19 that protects public health and, whenever possible, supports animal care and minimizes disruptions to the U.S. pork production supply chain and consumers. NPPC also called on the administration to develop support plans for hog farmers if labor-related bottlenecks in the supply chain prevent hogs from being marketed.

"School closures preventing parents from going to work and caring for their animals are already a concern in farm and plant communities," said NPPC President Howard "A.V." Roth, a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin. "The specter of market-ready hogs with nowhere to go is a nightmare for every pork producer in the nation. It would result in severe economic fallout in rural communities and a major animal welfare challenge."

The U.S. pork industry relies on foreign labor and needs a stable workforce. Even without the additional challenge presented by COVID-19, the labor shortage threatens to increase production costs and food prices for consumers. Existing visa programs are designed for seasonal agriculture, and reform is needed to address the animal care and other requirements of year-round livestock agriculture.



TRADE MISSION CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19

The US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service said Monday that it is postponing its scheduled March 16-19 trade mission to Morocco following the detection of coronavirus in that country.

"The World Health Organization is advising the public to avoid traveling to affected countries, and the Moroccan government has suspended all events involving international participants," FAS said in an announcement.

The mission was supposed to focus on boosting U.S. agricultural exports to all of North Africa and will include interested buyers not just from Morocco, but from Algeria, Libya and Tunisia as well.



Ethanol, Farm Groups Respond as Administration Mulls Appeal of Tenth Circuit SRE Ruling

On March 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit approved requests by the U.S. Department of Justice, HollyFrontier, and CVR Energy for an extension of the deadline to file motions asking for a rehearing en banc of Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. EPA, in which the Court found EPA vastly exceeded its authority in granting compliance exemptions to three refineries from 2016 and 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard obligations. The new deadline for requesting a rehearing in the Tenth Circuit is March 24.

The petitioners in the case—the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, and National Farmers Union—offered the following statement:

“We are very disappointed that the Administration has opted to kick the can on deciding whether to appeal the court decision, as all initial indications suggested EPA would not appeal the ruling and would correctly apply the decision nationally. This delay just prolongs uncertainty in the marketplace and stokes more angst and frustration in farm country. Still, we are hopeful the Administration will take this additional time to thoroughly review the court’s well-reasoned, unambiguous decision and carefully consider the adverse consequences of appealing. It is our hope that cooler heads prevail and that the White House reaches the logical conclusion that an appeal is both imprudent and unnecessary. Joining three refineries—who represent less than 1 percent of the nation’s oil refining capacity—in their appeal would be a rash and risky decision for the Administration. In fact, many oil refiners and the American Petroleum Institute have joined farmers and the ethanol industry in opposing an appeal and advocating for nationwide application of the court decision. An appeal by the Administration would be viewed by rural America as a senseless poke in the eye and a breach of the President’s commitments on ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

As EPA continues to mull an appeal, it may come under pressure from small refineries to act on pending retroactive small refinery exemption requests for 2019. EPA may immediately deny pending 2019 exemption petitions that don’t comport with the court’s ruling, but it certainly cannot approve any of the pending petitions within the Tenth Circuit unless they meet the unambiguous requirements for approval laid out by the court. Nationwide application of the Tenth Circuit’s opinion by EPA would in this instance provide a level playing field and help restore stability and certainty to the RIN markets.

In its motion, the Department of Justice stated, “The extension of time is necessary to allow the United States an opportunity to determine whether, and to what extent, the government will file a petition for rehearing en banc in this case.” The motion also acknowledges that the Court decision “…alters EPA’s interpretation and practice, which has been employed in the adjudication of past exemption petitions from many small refineries. The Court’s interpretation…could also have significant practical impacts on the RFS program going forward.” Of course, that the Tenth Circuit’s decision may alter EPA’s practices or have significant practical impacts does not mean the opinion is any less well-reasoned or persuasive—it merely indicates the extent to which EPA had been exceeding its statutory authority.

The petitioners also noted that the Court’s ruling comes less than a month after HollyFrontier announced it had returned $758 million to shareholders in 2019, with $533 million in stock buybacks. CVR Energy told investors it “delivered solid 2019 full-year and fourth quarter results…Our petroleum business again posted increased earnings year-over-year, driven by higher throughput rates, increased capture rates and higher refining margins despite lower crack spreads.” Yet, these are the same companies claiming they have disproportionate economic hardship compared to other refineries. As documented in a recent study by a Colorado State University economist, granting unwarranted exemptions to certain small refineries results in a windfall for their owners and an unlevel playing field in the refining sector.



Fermented Soy Associated with Lower Mortality Risk, According to Study
Will McNair, US Soybean Export Council

Fermented soy products may reduce the risk of premature death, says a recent British Medical Journal (BMJ) observational study. Men and women who ate fermented soy products such as natto, miso, and tempeh had lower rates of cardiovascular disease and early death.

The study followed the diets and health of 92,915 Japanese men and women aged 45 to 74 for an average of 15 years. After controlling for other diet components, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol intake, and other factors, the researchers found that participants in the highest one-fifth of fermented soy consumption had a 10 percent lower risk of death from any cause compared with those in the lowest one-fifth of fermented soy intake.



Brazil Raises 2019-20 Soybean Forecast to 124.2 MT

Brazilian crop agency Conab raised its forecasts for soybean production for the 2019-20 growing season as good weather in most of the country outweighed a lack of rain in the far south.

Brazilian farmers will grow a record 124.2 million metric tons of soybeans this season, for which harvesting has passed the halfway mark, an increase from the 123.2 million forecast in February. The country grew 115 million tons of soybeans in the 2018-2019 season.

A lack of rain in the southern state of Rio Grando do Sul has led some analysts to cut their forecast of output from the state. Improving weather conditions in Mato Grosso state, Brazil's biggest soybean producer, have boosted output there and helped farmers accelerate their harvesting work.

Improved productivity, and an increase in the area planted will result in Brazil's seventh record crop in 10 years, pushing the South American country past the US in terms of output for the only the second time in history. Brazil's farmers have increased the area planted with soybeans in 13 consecutive seasons.

Brazil's corn production is forecast to rise slightly from last year, even after Conab cut its forecast from February. The country's farmers will grow 100.1 million metric tons of corn in the 2019-2020 season, compared with 100 million tons a year earlier, according to Conab. In February the agency forecast a total corn crop of 100.5 million tons.



U.S. CattleTrace seeks an Executive Director and Program Manager

As U.S. CattleTrace (USCT) transitions from a pilot project to a fully operational business, the organization is expanding. Specifically, USCT is seeking two industry professionals who are passionate about the cattle industry and disease traceability to serve as the executive director and the program manager.

USCT is a private, not-for-profit corporation that was established in 2018 as CattleTrace, Inc. to develop and implement a viable end-to-end cattle disease traceability system, which began as a Kansas-based disease traceability pilot project. In January 2020, state cattlemen’s organizations from major beef producing regions announced a partnership to form U.S. CattleTrace. USCT is led by a 9-member board of directors representing multiple industry sectors and partner states.

The USCT mission is to develop and manage a nationally significant, robust and globally accepted voluntary animal disease traceability system for all cattle entering commerce. This will be accomplished with an industry-led, sustainable, non-profit private enterprise in order to protect the nation’s cattle herd and the U.S. share of the protein market with as little disruption to day-to-day operations as possible.

The USCT Board of Directors seeks an experienced professional with livestock industry expertise and strategic program management to serve as Executive Director and lead USCT in coordination with the U.S. CattleTrace Board and the Industry Advisory Council. An entrepreneurial mindset, proven ability to manage complex projects, outstanding communication skills and partnership development experience are required. A background in fundraising, budgeting, and board management is preferred. An ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in a related area of study.

In addition, the USCT Board of Directors seeks an early career professional with livestock industry experience and exceptional communication skills to serve as a Program Manager. An outgoing personality, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills are required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required and proficiency in InDesign or other design software is preferred. A bachelor’s degree in a related area of study is also preferred.

The USCT staff will be responsible for all aspects of program implementation, including organizational management, administration, fundraising, financial management, communications, database management, and industry partnership development. Specific responsibilities will be assigned by the Board chairman and the newly hired executive director based on individual strengths and experience.

Both positions are full-time and based at the USCT office in Manhattan, Kansas. Both positions will require travel and engagement in producer activities on weekends and evenings as needed.

To be considered, a resume, cover letter and list of references should be sent to U.S. CattleTrace at careers@uscattletrace.org by the priority deadline of April 1 or until the positions are filled. Full job descriptions can be found on the website under the News section at https://www.uscattletrace.org/blog.



Dairy Farmer Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Importance of Expanding Exports Opportunities and Fair Rules

Connecticut dairy farmer, James “Cricket” Jacquier, testified today before the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture in order to provide a dairy stakeholder perspective on agricultural trade. Jacquier is Chairman of the Board for Agri-Mark, a dairy cooperative comprised of 850 farm families across New England and New York. Agri-Mark is a member of the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, which work together to advance dairy trade policy for the industry.

In his testimony, Jacquier urged Congress to work with the Administration to use negotiating resources wisely to target important agricultural markets and create greater access for U.S. dairy products with key trading partners. He noted that careful and proactive attention to the implementation and enforcement of negotiated trade agreements, such as USMCA, will be critical in the coming year, emphasizing in particular the importance of ironing out details pertaining to new export access and Class 7 related dairy policy reforms with Canada, and common cheese name safeguards with Mexico as USMCA progresses.

Regarding GIs, Jacquier also raised concerns with the European Union’s (EU) efforts to misuse geographical indication to instead confiscate common food names, such as parmesan, feta and asiago, as well as wine and meat terms.

“America’s dairy farmers applaud the certainty that lowered tariffs and fairly negotiated trade agreements bring to our industry. However, if we cannot combat outrageous nontariff barriers, such as those the EU is manufacturing to block the export of American-made cheeses, these trade wins can ring hollow. The EU’s stance on common food names is a protectionist and anti-trade policy and it must be firmly rejected by Congress and by U.S. trade officials at every turn,” Jacquier said.

Dairy farmers, manufacturers and rural communities rely on the economic benefits provided by dairy exports. In 2019, America’s dairy industry exported more than $6 billion in dairy products ranging from cheese to ice cream to milk powders. Trade disputes and a lack of market access comparable to our competitors has significantly harmed the dairy industry, contributing to a 15% decline in dairy farms over the past two years, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.



Irrigation professionals promote efficient irrigation in Washington, D.C.

On March 3-4, approximately 30 irrigation professionals representing all facets of the irrigation industry descended on Washington, D.C., to advocate on behalf of the irrigation industry during the Irrigation Association’s 2020 Washington, DC Fly-In.

Again this year, the IA partnered with the National Ground Water Association and the Water Quality Association to host the Water Resources Congressional Summit in conjunction with the IA’s fly-in. This is the fourth year that the IA has co-hosted the summit along with the NGWA and WQA. The summit brought in more than 100 water professionals from across the United States to highlight policies that affect the accessibility of clean water for all uses. During the summit, attendees heard from the Environmental Protection Agency’s assistant administrator for water, David Ross, as well as congressional staff members and other water policy experts.

“This year marked the highest attendance we’ve ever had for a Washington, D.C., fly-in,” said IA Government and Public Affairs Director John Farner. “I’m thrilled to see our membership so excited and dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation through sound policies and legislation.”

IA members met with more than 50 congressional offices, advocating for legislation affecting labor, agricultural water use, WaterSense and other issues.

“Our job now is to build on the great work done by the IA membership in telling their personal stories to their elected officials,” continued Farner. “Through continued support of grassroots advocacy, I’m excited about what the future holds for our industry.”

In addition to the summit and congressional meetings, the IA co-hosted a water resources briefing with the NGWA for congressional staff on March 4. Focusing on agricultural water use and the effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on groundwater, more than 30 congressional staff members attended the briefing.