Tuesday April 28 Ag News

LPP Announces Additional Cases of COVID-19

Lincoln Premium Poultry announced 9 additional cases of COVID-19 over the past week.  They last reported a total of six cases cases one week ago and as of today have also registered 26 negative cases among employees.

“We have been working tirelessly to obtain testing for any of our team members who either had a known direct contact or who show any symptoms” said Jessica Kolterman, Director of Corporate and External Affairs. “We have very much appreciated our relationship with Three Rivers Health and local medical facilities who have helped to test every team member who has wanted or needed a test.”

This brings the total number of confirmed cases at the company to fifteen.  Lincoln Premium Poultry has provided the opportunity for at-risk individuals to self-isolate at home, with pay.  Individuals who test positive as well as individuals with known direct contact with a person who has tested positive are also self-isolating at home with pay.

Lincoln Premium Poultry has implemented additional protection measures recommended by UNMC, including additional screening, strict mandatory use of masks, and additional deep cleaning.  The company had previously limited visitors to the facility, stopped food service and installed dividers on tables, provided further space between workers, implemented nightly intense cleaning interventions, is taking the temperature of all entering their facilities and had provided masks to their workforce.  They have also provided a $2/hour increase to all hourly workers, which began in March, and are providing chicken for their team members.  This virus is not foodborne and cannot be transmitted through food or potable water.

“We recognize that these numbers can be considered significant by some, but we have been extremely aggressive in fighting for tests for our team members,” said Kolterman, “which is why we believe we have seen these positives.  During the last group of mass testing in Fremont, 90% of those testing positive showed that their cases were from ‘close contacts previously lab-confirmed’. Because we have removed anyone that is positive from our facilities prior to their lab-positives, the data indicates most cases are from spread outside of our facility.”

Kolterman stated “We continue to emphasize the importance of social distancing at home as well as at work, the importance of mask use, hand washing, and other interventions.  We will keep working hard to communicate with our team members on ways we can work together to protect each other and our communities.”

Lincoln Premium Poultry was founded in 2016 in Fremont, Nebraska and began operations on September 9, 2019.



Groundwater Levels Reach an All-time High Following Floods

Thanks to an unusually wet 2019, groundwater levels in the Lower Loup Natural Resources District have reached all-time highs.  Following the record floods of the previous year, groundwater levels rose, on average, 1.82 feet.   In Platte County, where record water levels were recorded last spring, the overall average actually decreased, on average, at -0.31 feet.

NRD General Manager Russ Callan said that the NRD data comes from annual spring monitoring of groundwater levels, a practice done by NRDs since their formation in 1972.   Callan stated that NRD personnel have recorded groundwater levels at 444 sites and are also collecting long-term pressure transducers that record a reading every 8 hours.

He said that the groundwater level rises in 2019 and 2020 are notable, but said the past decade also includes significant declines, including the drought of 2012.  The drop in groundwater levels during that drought took over 5 years to recover in some places.  Additionally, Callan said that groundwater levels in the eastern portion of the lower Loup River Basin declined slightly this year when compared to Spring, 2019.

NRD Assistant Manager Tylr Naprstek said that many of the groundwater levels in the spring of 2020 were the highest readings ever recorded by the LLNRD, which began measurements in 1975. Despite the recovery, Naprstek stated that southern and western areas of the District had been seeing a longtime downward trend and only within the last 3 spring readings has the trend been broken. In other areas of the District, Naprstek stated that the trend has continued upward.

Naprstek said that the largest decline from the previous year’s reading was 3.62 feet located in Platte County, while the largest increase was 12.95 feet higher in eastern Nance County.

Callan said that the data from the NRD’s groundwater level monitoring and transducer report was available on the NRD web site, www.llnrd.org.   



NCGA Welcomes Ethanol Infrastructure Legislation

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today welcomed the introduction of the Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020, legislation from Reps. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, Angie Craig, D-Minn., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., to incentivize the deployment of fueling infrastructure for ethanol blends greater than 10 percent and biodiesel blends greater than 20 percent.

“The National Corn Growers Association appreciates the leadership of Reps. Finkenauer, Craig, Marshall and Bacon to help grow the market for higher blends of ethanol,” said NCGA President Kevin Ross, an Iowa farmer. “Expanding infrastructure for higher blends will help to increase future demand for farmers and ensure biofuels will continue to be included in federal efforts to provide consumers with cleaner, affordable fuels.”

The bill authorizes $500 million over five years to help retailers offer higher ethanol blends, expand the geographic area selling ethanol blends, support biodiesel fuel markets, and accelerate the deployment of fueling infrastructure. The legislation will work alongside the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to accelerate growth and open new economic opportunities for American farmers and biofuel producers. A vital market for corn farmers, ethanol producers have idled nearly half of their production capacity due to the fallout from COVID-19. Spurring new demand for higher ethanol blends will be an important part of an economic recovery for the ethanol industry and farmers, and this infrastructure deployment will help support that growth.

“The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) thanks Representative Abby Finkenauer for her work on the Clean Fuels Deployment Act that will expand long-term economic opportunities for farmers and biofuels producers,” said Kelly Nieuwenhuis farmer from Primghar, Iowa and chair of Iowa Corn’s Industrial Usage committee. “Additionally, this bill will allow consumers to have greater access to homegrown, cleaner-burning fuels.”



Growth Energy Praises House Bill to Boost Biofuel Infrastructure

Today, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor announced the association’s support of the Clean Fuels Deployment Act, introduced by biofuels champions and U.S. Representatives Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Angie Craig (D-Ill.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.). The legislation authorized $500 million over five years for the Department of Transportation to provide grants that will incentivize the deployment of fueling infrastructure for ethanol and biodiesel, with a focus on ethanol blends greater than 10 percent and biodiesel blends greater than 20 percent.

“The strong support of rural champions like Reps. Finkenauer, Marshall, Craig, and Bacon has never been more important, and we are grateful for their continued leadership on behalf of American farmers and biofuel producers,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Through the original Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership grants and private fundraising, Growth Energy and Prime the Pump shattered the status quo and supported the installation of E15 at more than 2,000 retail locations. As we emerge from the COVID-19 downturn, this legislation offers a roadmap for the next wave of growth that will revitalize rural communities and expand cleaner, more affordable options at the pump for millions of American motorists. We urge House and Senate leaders to embrace this opportunity to support low-carbon biofuels and propel higher blends into the next decade.”



IDALS Assists Pork Producers Impacted by Meat Processing Plant Closures

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced several initiatives underway to assist Iowa pork producers impacted by meat processing plant closures related to COVID-19.

“The disruptions at the meat processing facilities have a ripple effect on the entire livestock industry and food supply chain,” said Secretary Naig. “We are working to get Iowa livestock producers the technical and financial resources they need as they look at all options to market and care for their animals.”

State-Level Resources Coordination Center
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has launched a Resources Coordination Center (RCC) to provide technical resources to pork producers impacted by meat processing plants that are running at limited capacity or have shut down.

The RCC brings public and private resources together to explore every option to help producers harvest livestock and meet the protein needs of Iowans. However, livestock farmers may need to explore euthanasia as a last resort to prevent animal welfare issues. Through the RCC, the Department is working with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to provide technical assistance to impacted pork producers. Additional details will be released in the coming days.

Coordination with USDA-APHIS
The Department last week requested technical and financial assistance from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The requested financial assistance would help livestock producers recover a portion of the euthanasia and disposal costs they may incur due to disruptions in the supply chain.

“We appreciate USDA’s announcement on Friday to launch a coordination center to help bring needed resources to the states,” said Secretary Naig. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to implement solutions that meet the needs of Iowa livestock producers.”



Webinar to Discuss Options for Carcass Disposal for Pork Producers

Over the last couple weeks, several pork processing plants have either been shut down or have reduced processing due to the COVID-19 outbreak. While the processing plants are focusing on getting themselves running again, pork producers are faced with near-term critical problems needing attention now.

In the current situation, pork slaughter capacity has become a limiting resource; and pork producers may be faced with an unfortunate situation of having to destroy what they have cared for and raised.

A webinar for the pork industry has been scheduled to understand potential options for emergency disposal of animal tissue for April 29 at 8 a.m. Six topics will be discussed:
    Environmentally sound disposal options.
    How compost works.
    Above-ground burial.
    Carbon feedstocks (types and amounts).
    Windrow construction (space requirements, design and layout).
    Windrow management and troubleshooting.

Presenting during the webinar will be Mark Hutchinson, extension educator with the University of Maine; Gary Flory, agricultural program manager with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; and Craig Williams, dairy team educator with Penn State Extension. There will also be opportunities to ask questions of presenters.

Interested participants must pre-register https://forms.gle/r7UJ2221B2urm9rb8. Viewing details will be sent to the registered participants prior to the webinar.

The webinar is being sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.



NCFC on Invocation of the Defense Production Act for Meat Processing
President Chuck Conner

“The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives would like to commend the Trump Administration for invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to keep meat processing facilities across the country open during this crisis. Protecting our country’s food supply is a key national security issue—making sure Americans have access to enough food has been a priority of our government since the founding. The situation faced by meat processors is unprecedented and without action today, there is a very real threat of severe disruptions to the food supply chain. In addition, inaction will have impacts far into the future, as the inability to sell the animals they have raised and fed threatens the financial viability of farmers and ranchers across the U.S.

“The Department of Homeland Security recognized the importance of the food supply chain in declaring its workers as essential employees in their recent guidance on responding to the pandemic. In addition, recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), if followed, will help to protect workers at meat processing plants and reduce the chance of transmission of the virus.

“Having lived through the BSE crisis while at USDA and having had to make some tough calls at that time, I know that today’s decision, while necessary, was not easy. In the days ahead, there will be more hard choices to be made. NCFC and our co-op members remain committed to doing everything within our abilities to protect our food supply and ensure the viability of our farmers and ranchers.”

NCBA Applauds Bipartisan Senate Effort to Provide Flexibility to Livestock Haulers

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director, Government Affairs, Allison Rivera, today released the following statement in response to a bipartisan letter from 24 U.S. Senators to U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) --

"Now more than ever, we can see how vitally important it is for haulers to have the flexibility they need to get live and perishable goods to market as quickly and as safely as possible. Hauling livestock is inherently different than hauling typical consumer goods, and we continue to look for flexibilities within Hours of Service to safely haul livestock around this country. As we look toward an infrastructure package we are grateful for the continued support on Hours of Service flexibilities."



Midwest Dairy Donates $500,000 to Food Banks

On behalf of 6,500 dairy farm families across the Midwest, Midwest Dairy announced they will donate $500,000 to food banks in the Midwest to purchase dairy products for people who are in need. The contributions will be spread across the 10 states Midwest Dairy represents, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, to help meet the increased demand for dairy products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food banks across the region have been seeing unprecedented need in recent weeks, setting records of daily and weekly food distribution and showcasing the urgency of finding resourceful ways to provide more food to those experiencing food insecurity. With unemployment numbers still climbing and schools – where many children receive the majority of their daily meals – continuing to be closed, the demand is expected to continue growing.

“Dairy farmers work tirelessly day in and day out to help feed the world, so this tremendous contribution puts our values in action to help our hungry neighbors,” said Allen Merrill, Midwest Dairy Corporate board chairman and a dairy farmer from Parker, South Dakota. “As a farmer and Midwest Dairy leader, I am proud of our work to make this donation possible to provide dairy products to people who otherwise may not have access to these nutrients during this challenging time.”

Though dairy checkoff funds cannot typically be used to purchase dairy products, the USDA has granted a one-time exception at the request of Midwest Dairy to help meet this need and get dairy into the hands of people who are food insecure. Midwest Dairy is partnering with dairy processors to determine what products they have available and then will provide a list of interested processors to food banks that have both a need and the capacity to increase their dairy inventory and distribution.

“During this extraordinarily challenging time, food banks throughout the Midwest, including the eight Feeding America food banks and their local networks of community agencies that serve Illinois, are working relentlessly to ensure that nobody in local communities goes hungry,” said Steve Ericson, executive director for Feeding Illinois. “The need for nutritious foods, such as dairy, is growing exponentially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects. Thank you to Midwest Dairy and dairy farmers for leading this effort to access additional dairy products to help residents in need across our state and region. This donation will make an immediate impact.”

This program also offers processors an opportunity to keep their supply chains active while navigating dairy demand shifts due to recent school, restaurant and other business closures. The following cooperatives and processors have been invited to participate in the program: Agropur, AMPI, Anderson Erickson Dairy, Bel Brands, Bongards, Cass Clay, Dairy Farmers of America, Dean Foods, First District Association, Hiland, KanPak, Kemps, Land O’Lakes, Midwest Dairymen, Plainview Milk Products/Hastings, Prairie Farms, Valley Queen and Wapsie Valley.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to partner with Midwest Dairy and interested regional food banks to bring dairy products to people in need throughout our communities,” said Steve Schlangen, chairman of the board of directors for dairy farmer-owned processing cooperative Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) of New Ulm, Minn., and a dairy farmer from Albany, Minn. “This effort helps ensure the milk dairy farmers work so hard to produce continues to move through the supply chain and into the hands of those who need it.”



USDA Dairy Product 2019 Production Report

Total cheese production, excluding cottage cheeses, was 13.1 billion pounds, 0.8 percent above 2018 production. Wisconsin was the leading State with 25.6 percent of the production.

Italian varieties, with 5.67 billion pounds was 1.8 percent above 2018 production and accounted for 43.2 percent of total cheese in 2019. Mozzarella accounted for 79.3 percent of the Italian production followed by Parmesan with 7.3 percent and Provolone with 6.8 percent. Wisconsin was the leading State in Italian cheese production with 30.0 percent of the production.

American type cheese production was 5.23 billion pounds, 0.4 percent below 2018 and accounted for 39.8 percent of total cheese in 2019. Wisconsin was the leading State in American type cheese production with 19.2 percent of the production.

Butter production in the United States during 2019 totaled 1.99 billion pounds, 1.3 percent above 2018. California was the leading state in Butter production with 29.8 percent of the production.

Dry milk powders (2019 United States production, comparisons in percentage with 2018)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 1.85 billion pounds, up 4.1 percent.
Skim milk powders - 573 million pounds, up 2.2 percent.

Whey products (2019 United States production, comparisons in percentage with 2018)
Dry whey, total - 978 million pounds, down 2.2 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 1.23 billion pounds, up 6.0 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 491 million pounds, down 4.5 percent.

Frozen products (2019 United States production, comparisons in percentage with 2018)
Ice cream, Regular (total) - 861 million gallons, up 1.1 percent.
Ice cream, Lowfat (total) - 465 million gallons, up 1.0 percent.
Sherbet (total) - 42.7 million gallons, up 11.6 percent.
Frozen Yogurt (total) - 62.1 million gallons, up 12.8 percent.



Organic Outlook: Corn, wheat face supply glut; soy market expected to remain strong

Larger-than-expected beginning stocks and more harvested acres have placed organic corn and wheat on a bearish trend over the 2019/20 market year, according to the new Mercaris Organic Commodity Outlook. Meanwhile, strong demand and lower imports have provided support to organic soybeans markets.

Mercaris, the nation’s leading market data service and online trading platform for organic, non-GMO and certified agricultural commodities, today released its spring outlook.

Despite poor planting and harvest conditions in 2019, additional certified corn and wheat farms helped push harvests above previous estimates. In addition, corn imports rose sharply at the end of the 2018/19 market year, 12% above projections.

“Feed-grade organic corn prices have experienced a lot of pressure since last August, as harvest exceeded the industry’s expectation,” said Ryan Koory, Director of Economics for Mercaris. “With buyers expecting tighter 2019/20 supplies, a lot of organic corn was imported and stored at the end of 2018/19 putting corn markets in a perpetually long supply position this year.”

For organic soybeans, a collapse in imports from China and a reduction from Canada and the Black Sea Region point to supply constraints and higher prices.

“With China and the Black Sea Region sending less organic soybean meal to the U.S., domestic organic soybean crush has picked up the slack, tightening the overall U.S. soybean supply situation,” Koory said. “We may see this pressure back off this fall if we experience a good organic soybean harvest. But, through the remainder of 2019/20 organic soybean prices look firmly supported.”

Additional findings from today’s report include:
-    U.S. organic corn production is estimated at 39.7 million bushels for 2019/20, up 9% from the previous outlook but still down 4% year-over-year.
-    Organic soybean production is estimated at 7.6 million bushels, also up 9% from the previous outlook, but down 4% year-over-year.
-    Organic feed demand is projected at 31 million bushels, with organic wheat and organic corn silage making up a growing percentage of overall feed.
-    Organic wheat production saw a 15% year-over-year increase in 2019 at 20 million bushels, driven mostly by an increase in acres in the High Plains.



Shifting Priorities: COVID-19 and the New Face of Sustainability

In the midst of COVID-19, new sustainability priorities are emerging. Focus on health and safety is first and foremost. Packaging and single-use plastics are less of a concern as convenience, necessity and safety drive a dramatic spike in take-out and home deliveries. Worker health and safety is front and center with a focus on essential workers – doctors, nurses, grocery store employees, food production line workers, and the like. How will shifting priorities continue to shape the sustainability landscape now and as the pandemic subsides?

“When it comes to environmentalism, in particular, I think a lot of people are putting it on the back burner,” said Kevin Ryan, founder of Malachite Strategy and Research and a founding member of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) Consumer Trust Insights Council. “We can only handle one big crisis at a time, but I think the issue might come back with a sharper edge.”  

Ryan is a featured panelist on a free webcast “Shifting Priorities: COVID-19 and the New Face of Sustainability,” Thursday, May 14, 11 a.m. CDT. Hosted by CFI CEO Charlie Arnot, the webcast also includes Ujwal Arkalgud, an award-winning cultural anthropologist, co-founder of MotivBase and a member of the CFI Consumer Trust Insights Council.

“For the first time now we're seeing a change,” said Arkalgud, who points to the entry of issues around the labor force and, in particular, being responsible toward wealth inequalities that exist. “We’ve seen specific discussions among consumers about everything from ensuring companies pay a living wage to providing full sick pay, generous health care benefits and job training programs to support workers who may face loss due to automation in the post-coronavirus world.”

The webcast will cover current shifts in sustainability, the potential increase in sustainability demands post-pandemic, the new non-negotiables for food companies and brands moving forward and an approach for navigating sustainability tradeoffs and making values-based decisions that are truly sustainable.  

“With so much at stake, the food system must cautiously consider tradeoffs before caving to demands that are deemed sustainable, but may fall short and stifle the technology and innovation that’s truly helping produce more food, more sustainably,” said Arnot. “Dedicate the resources necessary to make decisions that result in real sustainability and that you can confidently stand behind for the long-term.”

Register at www.foodintegrity.org. The webcast is funded by the United Soybean Board.



Radicle Growth and Syngenta Launch The Radicle Protein Challenge by Syngenta to Invest $1.25m in Technologies to Support the Future of Protein

Radicle Growth, an acceleration fund, and Syngenta, a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security, today announced the launch of The Radicle Protein Challenge by Syngenta. Together, Radicle and Syngenta will identify two companies with novel solutions to support the future of protein (which could include new or experimental protein sources, or protein conversion technologies) that are solving challenges spanning from plant-based ag to the regenerative side of agriculture.

Radicle and Syngenta are seeking entrepreneurs representing companies of all stages from around the world to apply for the $1.25 million in investment—$1 million for the Challenge winner and the $250k for the second-place winner—to accelerate the growth of their technologies. Applications are open through May 29, 2020. The winners will not only receive a significant investment and custom accelerator program from Radicle Growth but will have access to Radicle and Syngenta’s broad agriculture expertise and global agtech networks to advance and promote their technology.

“Innovative protein sources are increasingly important for a growing population. We are excited to be collaborating with Radicle and entrepreneurs from around the world to accelerate innovation and I am looking forward to seeing lots of creative ideas,” said Erik Fyrwald, CEO, Syngenta. “Our mission at Syngenta of helping farmers to make the best use of available resources and grow the crops we need in an environmentally friendly and healthy way, includes providing them with the best products, technologies and agronomic advice.”

After entries close, several months of due diligence work will begin and 4-6 finalists will be identified from the pool of applicants. The finalists will participate in a Pitch Day competition this Fall. Each company will have the opportunity to present in front of a leading panel of judges, including Erik Fyrwald, who will deliberate and select the two winners.

“Recent Gallup data confirms that nearly a quarter of Americans are eating less meat than ever before. This has increased the demand for plant-based and cellular agriculture alternatives to traditional protein sources,” said Kirk Haney, Managing Partner of Radicle Growth. “Many companies focused on this space have been hard at work with plans to launch in the near-term. Getting the product right to meet consumer demand is only half the battle, the pricing also needs to be right. We look forward to seeing the companies emerging in, and looking to grow, in this space and providing them the capital they need to overcome the challenges of growing this segment and staying ahead of consumer demands.”

For more information on The Radicle Protein Challenge by Syngenta, visit radicle.vc/the-radicle-challenge/.