Thursday April 9 Ag News

Farm Bureau Asks Ag Secretary to Address Key Issues to Aid Farms, Ranches Feeling COVID-19 Pressures

Nebraska Farm Bureau is asking U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to address four key areas to help deliver relief to Nebraska farms and ranches feeling pressure from the COVID-19 outbreak, which has shaken commodity markets and compounded preexisting financial challenges faced by farm and ranch families due to a multi-year decline in farm income. In a letter to Secretary Perdue dated April 9, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson made four specific asks of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) targeted to help farm and ranch families deal with the COVID-19 fallout. 

“We continue to hear concerns about potential market manipulation particularly amongst our cow-calf producing members. As such we asked the secretary to work with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure all laws are being rigorously followed,” said Nelson. “As we noted to the secretary following the fire at the beef plant in Kansas last year, any instance of market manipulation should be prosecuted swiftly and to the fullest extent of the law.”

Expedited rollout of financial support authorized by the federal CARES Act, including assurance that financial support be provided for pork and beef producers that do not typically fall under USDA programs, was also requested in the letter to Perdue.

“From pork producers who have seen the lowest prices in 17 years, to dairy producers who are dealing with upheaval in supply chains requiring them to dump milk, to corn producers watching with concern as ethanol plants idle or cut production, it’s important USDA moves quickly to roll out the financial support measures included in the CARES Act,” said Nelson. 

Monitoring the needs of those in the food processing industry and providing flexibility to make any needed regulatory adjustments was also identified in the Farm Bureau letter.

“It’s critical food production facilities stay open and operational, for both consumers and agricultural producers. While stores around the country may see temporarily empty shelves, retailers remain confident the vast majority of food items will be available. While temporary supply shortages are problematic, long-term shortages would be of considerable concern,” said Nelson. “To that point, we asked USDA to explore haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres as a way to help mitigate possible hay shortages if it becomes necessary for producers to hold cattle longer due to packing plant operation disruptions.”

Nebraska Farm Bureau also asked Secretary Perdue to explore additional flexibilities, including authorization of loan restructuring and loan balance write-downs, for those who utilize USDA loan programs, as many who utilize USDA loans tend to be younger and potentially less likely to have equity or cash to draw from during these unprecedented times.   

“Just as the CARES Act included additional lending opportunities through the Small Business Administration for businesses of all sizes, including agriculture, we asked USDA to explore ways to assist farmers and ranchers who are struggling or may be unable to make payments to their loans with USDA,” said Nelson. 

“We appreciate all of USDAs efforts to work with farmers, ranchers, and rural communities as we all adjust to the unique situation and challenges presented by COVID-19,” said Nelson. 



Recipients of the 2020 FLAGship Program Announced

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Future Leaders in Agriculture Scholarship Program (FLAGship Program). After reviewing the applications and much deliberation, the NeCGA Grower Services Committee chose five applicants to each receive a $2,000 scholarship. The awardees are listed below, along with their intended secondary school and degree program:
  - Payton Schiller, Scribner (Animal Science & Plant Science, UNL)
  - Kara Kudera, Clarkson (Nursing, Wayne State College)
  - Josie Vyhnalek, Friend (Elementary Education & Special Education, UNL)
  - Mitchell Manning, Fairmont (Agricultural Economics, UNL)
  - Ryan Brown, Gothenburg (Agronomy & Precision Agriculture, Southeast Community College)

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be a member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association or the son/daughter of an NeCGA member. They must be a senior in high school or college freshman who is continuing their education in Nebraska. This year two scholarships were opened for students not pursuing a degree in agriculture, as the committee realized the need for advocates in every field.

“I want to congratulate each student who was chosen to receive a scholarship. The applications this year were impressive and choosing only five was difficult. We hope that this scholarship is a bright spot in what is a difficult year for the students of our state. We are excited to see how these young people advocate for agriculture in the future,” said Carl Sousek, Chairman of the Grower Services Committee.



Farm Management Resources Available during COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact agricultural markets and supply chains, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has resources that can help.

“We are seeing the financial crunch hit across all of agriculture,” said Chad Hart, associate professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist with Iowa State University.
Resources

Hart said one of the resources Iowans are turning to are the farm financial associates, who volunteer with the Farm Financial Planning Program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

There are six financial associates who cover the state, with backgrounds in banking and lending. The associates work with farmers on individual financial plans and advising.

Another resource is the ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management team. A combination of eight field specialists and 10 state specialists are available to help farmers with financial and risk management options, understanding government programs, business planning, marketing and environmental management policies.

Hart said the pandemic is causing significant market declines in both crop and livestock sectors. The crop markets have seen as much as a 10% price decline, and 20% in livestock.

Hart reminds Iowans to follow the updates and budgeting tools found in the monthly editions of Ag Decision Maker, and to take advantage of the Livestock Enterprise Budgets for Iowa, as producers track the rapidly changing markets.

Agronomic information is available on the ISU Extension and Outreach Integrated Crop Management website.

Hart said it’s also critically important for farmers and farm laborers to remain healthy during this time. That includes following the guidance of state and federal health officials, and seeking additional support if feeling stressed. ISU Extension and Outreach operates a 24/7 hotline called Iowa Concern, which is available at 1-800-447-1985.

With the passage of multiple federal stimulus packages, farmers and ranchers can review their options on the COVID-19 web page provided by the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State.

Looking ahead
As difficult as the last few weeks have been, Hart said he’s optimistic that markets will improve when we get beyond the pandemic.

“When you think about the underlying demand for our product, it’s still very good,” he said. “What the markets are signaling is once we get past this market disruption, there is reason for optimism again.”

The optimism lies not only with a healthy country, but also the implementation of the recently approved Phase I trade deal with China, which includes the purchase of $12.5 billion in additional agricultural products in 2020, and $19.5 billion in 2021.



Green Plains Inc. Delivers 5,000 Gallons of Ethanol to State of Iowa for Hand Sanitizer Production

Today Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) member Green Plains Inc. donated 5,000 gallons of ethanol to the state of Iowa for its hand sanitizer production project with Iowa Prison Industries (IPI).

This week’s donation follows donations of ethanol from Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy and Absolute Energy and a donation of glycerin by Western Iowa Energy. IPI has already produced over 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer and is producing approximately 4,500 gallons a week.

“It’s incredible to watch this project grow as Iowa ethanol producers continue to step up to fight the spread of COVID-19,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Given the hurdles that initially stood in the way of the success of this project, we are proud to see Iowans coming together to help however they can. We applaud Governor Reynolds and Iowa Prison Industries for working to make this production of hand sanitizer possible.”

Governor Kim Reynolds launched the program last month to leverage Iowa’s ample production of ethanol and glycerin, a coproduct of biodiesel, in the effort to relieve the national hand sanitizer shortage. Her office and IPI worked through regulatory and supply challenges to secure other necessary ingredients for FDA’s approved hand sanitizer formula and launch the production. The hand sanitizer IPI produces is being distributed for free by the state for priority use in locations such as the Iowa Veterans Home and DHS childcare facilities. 



Iowa Fuel Retailer Report Shows Large Growth of E15 Sales in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Revenue 2019 Retailers Fuel Gallons Annual Report released earlier this month showed a 38 percent increase of E15 sales across Iowa in 2019, totaling a record high at 47.4 million gallons purchased by Iowa motorists. Also, the reported number of fuel retail locations offering higher blends of ethanol increased in Iowa. E15 is now offered at 10 percent of all reported locations, now totaling well over 200 locations, with E85 at 350 stations, both record highs.  With 44 percent of corn produced in Iowa, or roughly 1.1 billion bushels, going towards the production of ethanol, this is welcome news for Iowa’s corn farmers. 

“Consumers will choose homegrown, cleaner-burning ethanol blends when they are available, so it is vital we continue to work on infrastructure,” said Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a farmer from Primghar that serves on the state’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board (RFIB). “While the 2019 numbers are an impressive glimpse at noticeable growth in E15 demand, and we understand fuel usage is much different right now, Iowa Corn will continue to work on infrastructure today that can set the ethanol industry and corn farmers up for longer-term success in the future.”

To continue the momentum of increased sales of ethanol blends, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) has worked diligently on the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (H-BIIP) to increase the availability of blends like E15 and E85. Iowa Corn successfully lobbied for a continuation of funding for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) in 2019 ICGA continues to lobby on this effort in 2020 pushing for an increase in funding levels on this vital program. The program is a top priority for Iowa Corn and provides cost-share grants to Iowa retailers to upgrade fueling infrastructure to offer E15, E85 and/or biodiesel blends . Additionally, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced earlier this year that the USDA will provide $100 million for the investment in the expansion of biofuels infrastructure to make higher ethanol blends like E15 more available nationwide.  



Smithfield Foods Takes Action to Protect Employees Amid COVID-19; Closes Sioux Falls Plant for Three Days

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced that it will close its Sioux Falls, SD facility for three days. The company will suspend operations in a large section of the plant on April 11 and completely shutter on April 12 and April 13. Smithfield is taking this action out of an abundance of caution for its 3,700 employees in Sioux Falls, a portion of whom have tested positive for COVID-19. During this time, essential personnel will repeat the rigorous deep cleaning and sanitization that have been ongoing at the facility and install additional physical barriers to further enhance social distancing. Employees will be paid for any previously scheduled hours during the temporary closure.

“Smithfield Foods is taking the utmost precautions and actions to ensure the health and wellbeing of our employees – with an even increased emphasis on our critical role in the ongoing supply of food to American families. Our Sioux Falls plant supplies nearly 130 million servings of food per week, or about 18 million servings per day, to our country. Our more than 40,000 U.S. team members, thousands of American family farmers and our many other supply chain partners are a crucial part of our nation’s response to COVID-19,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer, for Smithfield.

He continued, “As an industry and as a nation, it is imperative that we continue to operate our feed mills, farms, plants and distribution centers. Together with our peers and supply chain partners, which include millions of American crop and livestock farmers, we feed America. Not operating is not an option. People need to eat.”

“Our government has identified agriculture and food production as critical to the response to COVID-19. They have emphasized over and over again our special responsibility to maintain operations and normal work schedules. They have been explicit: shelter-in-place orders do not apply to us. The reason is obvious. Food is essential for survival and civil society. So, we must produce food for our communities and our countries. It’s our obligation and duty to our fellow citizens,” Mr. Sullivan added.

Smithfield has instituted a series of stringent and detailed processes and protocols that follow the strict guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to effectively manage COVID-19 cases in its operations. These include mandatory 14-day COVID-19 related quarantines with pay as an uncompromising effort to protect its dedicated employees. The company has also relaxed attendance policies to eliminate any punitive effect for missing work due to COVID-19 diagnosis or quarantine. In addition, Smithfield is taking many measures to minimize its team members’ risks of contracting COVID-19. These include adding extra hand sanitizing stations, boosting personal protective equipment, continuing to stress the importance of personal hygiene, enhancing cleaning and disinfection, expanding employee health benefits, implementing thermal scanning, increasing social distancing, installing plexiglass and other physical barriers and restricting all nonessential visitors.

“All these actions complement the extensive safety measures in place at all our locations and are on top of the extremely hygienic and sanitary environments maintained at all times in our industry for food safety and quality purposes. We’re also ensuring employees know how to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 and making certain that they know how COVID-19 spreads. We continue to actively monitor CDC guidance, as well as that of state and local health authorities, and are immediately taking all necessary actions to protect our employees,” concluded Mr. Sullivan.

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19.



Webinars Provide Application Training for the Enlist Weed Control System

Growers and applicators who will be planting and spraying Enlist E3™ soybeans in 2020 can join an informational webinar from Corteva Agriscience.

These one-hour sessions cover how to achieve effective weed control on acres of Enlist E3 soybeans, tank-mixing with Enlist™ herbicides, field scenarios and spray requirements. Whether you’re new to the system or would like a refresher on how to help maximize the technology, you’re sure to pick up helpful information for weed management and effective applications.

Steve Snyder, Enlist field specialist with Corteva Agriscience, will lead the webinars.

Available webinar options (the same content is repeated in each webinar):
Friday, April 17 - 8 to 9 a.m. CDT - Register here https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3881414990381906955?source=Media+Alerts
Monday, May 4 - 8 to 9 a.m. CDT - Register here https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2469304510247867915?source=Media+Alerts

Registration is limited to the first 1,000 participants. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing instructions for joining the webinar.



Railways Keep U.S. Grains Chugging Down The Track To Export Markets

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a U.S. Grains Council (USGC) series exploring modes of transportation within the U.S. grain supply chain that provide a reliable supply of U.S. coarse grains, co-products and ethanol to the world’s market.

The U.S. freight railway system continues to stay on track despite challenges posed by COVID-19 - meaning U.S. corn and sorghum will keep moving south to one of the most important U.S. export markets, Mexico.

“Rail is the primary mode of transportation for many Mexican buyers to receive corn,” said Reece Cannady, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) manager of global trade. “Logistics are moving smoothly. There are no problems currently with the rail system as it is part of essential enterprise.”

The corn and sorghum destined for Mexico travel via the southern rail system, which pulls from grain originating in southern Illinois, southern and central Iowa, southern Nebraska, central and eastern Kansas and parts of Missouri. This area is defined as the Southern Rail catchment area in the Council’s corn quality reports.

Farmers in these areas may have multiple delivery options, including choices between a convenient country elevator that may be located closer to their fields during harvest or a nearby shuttle-loading facility. These shuttle trains are a dedicated set of 75 to 110 covered hopper cars that move as a single unit from origin in the United States to Mexico - a highly efficient part of the U.S. grain supply chain.

Because shuttle-loading facilities fill full trains directly, they maximize the use of the rail system by minimizing the stops a train would need to make to add individual railcars to make a full load. Another huge advantage to this system is the ability to inspect grain at the point of origin and seal cars until they cross the border. Having these sealed cars also means that grain is only handled once or twice in transport, helping preserve quality.

“At this point, we have traded so much with Mexico that exporting grain via rail is like tying your shoes,” Cannady said. “Mexico is an essential trading partner and they have rail transport down pat.”

Three main railways transport these trains to Mexico - BNSF Railway, Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railway. Once a train arrives at the border, each railcar is fumigated and all seals are double-checked. After clearing customs, the train is forwarded onto Mexican rail lines and delivered to a diverse and widely dispersed set of end-users. This process is more consistent than other modes of transportation, meaning end-users know grain will travel from a corn state to the border in just four to five days - depending on the state in which the grain originated.

“They know the exact timings grain will hit the border and arrive at their operation," Cannady said. "Unless there is some sort of unanticipated interruption, they can get grain in a reasonable amount of time.”

The U.S.-Mexico rail network developed to fill the needs of the market. Duty-free access for U.S. coarse grains and co-products was outlined in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and preserved in the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). Zero tariffs opened the door to trade and robust market development work by groups like the Council and its members helped develop these highly efficient supply chains that maximize natural geographic proximity.

Trade has flourished based on these positive logistical factors and increased ties between customers and suppliers on both sides of each border. Mexico now dominates nearly every category of U.S. grains in all forms – setting a record high in the 2018/2019 marketing year at 25.6 million metric tons, equivalent to one billion bushels. By category, Mexico was the top buyer of U.S. corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and barley/barley products in addition to ranking as the third largest market for U.S. sorghum and the 10th largest market for U.S. ethanol.

The rail system is a vital part of transporting those goods into Mexico. And with trains continuing to chug down the track, trade continues, as does the market support for U.S. farmers and agribusiness and their Mexican customers.



Brazil Cuts 2019-20 Soybean Forecast to 122.1 MT

Brazilian crop agency Conab cut its estimate for soybean production for the 2019-2020 growing season as dry weather in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul reduced productivity there.

Brazilian farmers will grow 122.1 million metric tons of soybeans for this season, still a record for the country, as harvesting work is almost finished. In March the agency forecast a crop of 124.2 million tons. Brazil produced 115 million tons of soybeans in 2018-2019, after setting the previous record of 119.3 million tons in 2017-2018.

Rio Grande do Sul is typically Brazil's third-biggest soybean-producing state, after Mato Grosso and Parana, and a year ago was the second-biggest after hot, dry weather in Parana hit productivity there. This season it was Rio Grande do Sul's turn for bad weather, with an estimated 1.8% drop in productivity from a year earlier.

Brazil's corn production is forecast to rise from a year ago, to 101.9 million tons from the record of 100.04 million tons in 2018-2019. In March Conab had forecast a crop of 101.1 million tons. Brazil's corn crop has been growing as cattle ranchers increasingly use feedlots to feed their animals instead of pastures, and as production of ethanol made with corn grows.



USDA Announces Loan Maturity for Marketing Assistance Loans Now Extended to 12 Months

Agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The loans now mature at 12 months rather than nine, and this flexibility is available for most commodities.

“Spring is the season when most producers have the biggest need for capital, and many may have or are considering putting commodities under loan. Extending the commodity loan maturity affords farmers more time to market their commodity and repay their loan at a later time,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We are extremely pleased that USDA can offer these marketing flexibilities at this critical time for the agriculture industry and the nation.”

Effective immediately, producers of eligible commodities now have up to 12 months to repay their commodity loans. The maturity extension applies to nonrecourse loans for crop years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Eligible open loans must in good standing with a maturity date of March 31, 2020, or later or new crop year (2019 or 2020) loans requested by September 30, 2020. All new loans requested by September 30, 2020, will have a maturity date 12 months following the date of approval.

The maturity extension for current, active loans will be automatically extended an additional 3 months. Loans that matured March 31 have already been automatically extended by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Producers who prefer a nine-month loan will need to contact their local FSA county office. Loans requested after September 30, 2020, will have a term of nine months.

Eligible commodities include barley, chickpeas (small and large), corn, cotton (upland and extra-long staple), dry peas, grain sorghum, honey, lentils, mohair, oats, peanuts, rice (long and medium grain), soybeans, unshorn pelts, wheat, wool (graded and nongraded); and other oilseeds, including canola, crambe, flaxseed, mustard seed, rapeseed, safflower, sunflower seed, and sesame seed. Seed cotton and sugar are not eligible.

About MALs
Placing commodities under loan provides producers interim financing to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low and allows producers to store production for more orderly marketing of commodities throughout the year.

These loans are considered nonrecourse because the commodity is pledged as loan collateral, and producers have the option of delivering the pledged collateral to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for repayment of the outstanding loan at maturity.

MAL Repayment
Under the new maturity provisions, producers can still repay the loan as they would have before the extension:
-    repay the MAL on or before the maturity date;
-    upon maturity by delivering or forfeiting the commodity to CCC as loan repayment; or
-    after maturity and before CCC acquires the farm-stored commodity by repaying the outstanding MAL principle and interest.

Marketing Loan Gains
A Marketing Loan Gain occurs when a MAL is repaid at less than the loan principal. If market gain is applicable during the now-extended loan period, producers can receive a gain on the repayment made before the loan matures.

For more information on MALs, contact the nearest FSA county office. USDA Service Centers, including FSA county offices, are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.



Clarification Needed for Farmers and Ranchers on SBA Loans

House Agriculture Committee Republicans, led by Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway (R-TX), sent a letter today to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza to urge her to take key steps to ensure SBA programs work on the ground for farmers, ranchers and rural America.

"America's farmers and ranchers have been rightly declared a vital part of our country's essential infrastructure workforce as we confront COVID-19," said Conaway. "Farmers and ranchers are doing their part to keep food on our table and clothes on our back, and Washington needs to do all that it can to help our producers carry on this important work. Unfortunately, lenders mistakenly believe that farmers and ranchers are not eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). It is vital that SBA publicly correct this misperception immediately.

"I thank Administrator Carranza and her team at SBA for their work to swiftly implement these programs and for our system of lenders who are delivering the loans to adapt to the changes mandated by Congress. I urge SBA to continue their efforts to ensure that our farmers, ranchers, and rural America have the resources they need to get through these extremely challenging times. Addressing the issues in our letter would go a long way."



NMPF Launches Social Media #dairyneverstops Campaign

Following the release of its joint Milk Crisis Plan with the International Dairy Foods Association earlier this week, the National Milk Producers Federation today began a social-media campaign geared toward dairy farmers and their allies, #dairyneverstops, to underscore the urgency in dairy country for a federal plan that can mitigate catastrophic economic damage that is expected to worsen for producers over the next several months, as the coronavirus-created recession bites more deeply.

“#dairyneverstops is both a nod to the unique difficulties dairy farmers face as producers of a perishable product that’s created 24/7, 365 days a year and to the resilience of those farmers in the face of overwhelming economic difficulties,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “The support of retail consumers who have turned to milk in grocery aisles in recent weeks has been incredible. But even this sales surge is not enough to offset the near-evaporation of dairy demand from the foodservice sector. As milk continues to be produced with fewer buyers to purchase it, dairy farmers face significant revenue losses, which come on top of a half-decade of low prices that only recently had seen recovery.”

Farmers, other segments of the dairy sector, and their allies in broader communities are all encouraged to use the hashtag to share their stories, engage in discussion and create a greater awareness of dairy’s circumstances for policymakers in Washington and across the United States.



Detlefsen Predicts Protective Equipment Shortages in Food Chain to Linger into Summer

Clay Detlefsen, senior vice president of regulatory and environmental affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation and the private-sector chair of the Food and Agricultural Sector Coordinating Council – says that while shortages of grocery staples have eased in the U.S., shortages of personal protective equipment may linger into June – and that even after the coronavirus threat has ebbed, the era of masks and gloves for food-sector workers may be here to stay.

“I have to wonder if we just haven’t changed the game,” said Detlefsen in an NMPF podcast. “Are workers down the road, in the future, going to want wear those masks and gloves at all times? It’s quite possible. But if that doesn’t happen, I still think we have several more months of this.”

The Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council was set up after the Sept. 2001 terror attacks to share information between government agencies and private businesses during crises that affect the U.S. food-supply chain.



USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H7N3 Avian Influenza in a Commercial Flock in Chesterfield County, South Carolina

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United States since 2017. It appears this HPAI strain mutated from a low pathogenic strain that has been found in poultry in that area recently.

No human cases of this H7N3 avian influenza virus have been detected and there is no immediate public health concern. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

Samples from the affected flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center, part of the National Animal Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.  Virus isolation is ongoing.

APHIS is working closely with the South Carolina State Veterinarian’s Office, part of Clemson University, on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the property were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area. The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

USDA will report this finding to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as well as international trading partners. USDA also continues to communicate with trading partners to encourage adherence to OIE standards and minimize trade impacts. OIE trade guidelines call on countries to base trade restrictions on sound science and, whenever possible, limit restrictions to those animals and animal products within a defined region that pose a risk of spreading disease of concern. 



Ranch Group Urges Secretary to Target Hardest Hit Producers

In a letter sent today to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, R-CALF USA urged that Congress' $9.5 billion COVID-19-related appropriations be used to directly assist actual cattle and sheep producers "whose already broken marketplace" has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter specifically states that assistance should target seed-stock producers, cow/calf producers, sheep producers, cattle and sheep backgrounders, stockers and feeders who are most at risk of not being able to fulfill their financial obligations.

The group said the assistance should go to producers of U.S. born and raised cattle and sheep and not to those who sell livestock of foreign origin.

"In relation to feeders, only those exposed to moves in cash cattle prices should receive assistance. Those shielded by such market moves through preferential payments (such as any payment not reported by packers under Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting at the time the cattle were sold) should be excluded," the letter states.

The letter also cautioned that U.S. cattle and sheep producers do not want to fall into a non-competitive cycle where both buyers and sellers rely on taxpayer dollars to subsidize their incomes.

Offering a unique recommendation, the group urges the Secretary to focus assistance on the ability of cattle and sheep producers to maintain both preexisting financial obligations and their current financial needs for maintaining financially viable operations. Included in this suggestion were proposals for loan payment waivers and even loan forgiveness in some instances.

Also included is a request to grant federal gains tax relief for producers that sell assets to remedy their financial plights.

"This needed assistance must be accompanied by meaningful market reforms so America's cattle and sheep producers can begin earning a competitive income from a competitive market," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.



Willie Nelson to Host ‘At Home With Farm Aid’ With Neil Young, Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp

Willie Nelson has announced plans to host the digital event At Home with Farm Aid on Saturday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m. CT. The streaming concert — which will available on AXS TV and the Farm Aid website — will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Nelson himself, along with his sons Lukas and Micah. They will all be performing from their homes.

“On the Farm Aid stage last September, my friend and fellow board member John Mellencamp said, ‘Be hopeful about, have faith in and be grateful for right now; the miracle of life is in the dirt under our farmers’ fingernails,'” Nelson said in a statement. “He was right and I’m so grateful for the farmers, ranchers and farmworkers who are on the frontlines sustaining all our communities. Now, more than ever, stay strong and positive.”

This will be the second digital concert that Nelson has staged since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. On March 19th, he hosted Luck Presents: ‘Til Further Notice, which featured performances by Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, Margo Price, Randy Houser and many others. It was one of the first digital concert events of the coronavirus era and it provided a model that many others have followed.

Farm Aid was originally held in 1985 and they haven’t taken a single year off since 1991. It’s traditionally held in September at an outdoor amphitheater, but it’s quite possible that mass gatherings won’t be permitted by then. If that’s the case, At Home With Farm Aid may be their best possible alternative.

 “Farm Aid is working hard to support farmers and ranchers in this difficult time,” Nelson wrote in his statement. “We’re making emergency grants to help with household and medical expenses. We’re answering calls on our hotline. We’re creating lists of resources and working with our partners to advocate for policies that build a more resilient food system for the future.”