Tuesday March 31 Ag News

NEBRASKA 2020 PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS

Nebraska corn growers intend to plant 10.5 million acres this year, up 4 percent from 2019, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Soybean planted acreage is expected to be 5.10 million acres, up 4 percent from last year.

All hay acreage to be harvested is expected to total 2.65 million acres, up 8 percent from 2019.

Winter wheat acres seeded in the fall of 2019 are estimated at a record low 920,000 acres, down 14 percent from last year.

Sorghum growers in Nebraska intend to plant 200,000 acres, unchanged from a year ago.

Oat intentions are estimated at 120,000 acres, unchanged from last year.

Dry edible bean acreage intentions are estimated at 145,000 acres, up 21 percent from 2019.

Sugarbeet growers expect to plant 44,000 acres, unchanged from last year.

Sunflower producers expect to plant 40,000 acres, up 8 percent from 2019. Oil varieties account for 30,000 acres, up 7 percent from a year ago. Non-oil varieties made up the balance of 10,000 acres, up 11 percent from the previous year.

Dry edible pea acreage intentions are estimated at 28,000 acres, down 10 percent from last year.
Estimates in this report are based on a survey conducted during the first two weeks of March.



IOWA PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS REPORT

Iowa farmers intend to plant 14.1 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2020 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Prospective Plantings report. This is up 600,000 acres from 2019. 

Producers intend to plant 9.30 million acres of soybeans in Iowa this year. This is a 100,000 acre increase from 2019.

Iowa farmers intend to plant 240,000 acres of oats for all purposes. This is a 25,000 acre increase from last year.

Farmers in Iowa expect to harvest 1.20 million acres of all dry hay for the 2020 crop year. This is 180,000 acres more than harvested in 2019.



US Corn Planted Acreage Up 8 Percent from 2019; Soybean Acreage Up 10 Percent

Corn planted area for all purposes in 2020 is estimated at 97.0 million acres, up 8 percent or 7.29 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be up or unchanged in 38 of the 48 estimating States.

Soybean planted area for 2020 is estimated at 83.5 million acres, up 10 percent from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be up or unchanged in 22 of the 29 estimating States.

All wheat planted area for 2020 is estimated at 44.7 million acres, down 1 percent from 2019. This represents the lowest all wheat planted area since records began in 1919. The 2020 winter wheat planted area, at 30.8 million acres, is down 1 percent from last year and down slightly from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 21.7 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 5.69 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.42 million acres are White Winter. Area expected to be planted to other spring wheat for 2020 is estimated at 12.6 million acres, down 1 percent from 2019. Of this total, about 11.9 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. Durum planted area for 2020 is expected to total 1.29 million acres, down 4 percent from the previous year.



NEBRASKA MARCH 1, 2020 GRAIN STOCKS

Nebraska corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2020 totaled 994 million bushels, down 1 percent from 2019, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the total, 570 million bushels are stored on farms, down 5 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 424 million bushels, are up 4 percent from last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 192 million bushels, down 11 percent from last year. On-farm stocks of 56.0 million bushels are down 30 percent from a year ago, and off-farm stocks, at 136 million bushels, are down slightly from 2019.

Wheat stored in all positions totaled 48.5 million bushels, down 1 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks of 4.70 million bushels are up 119 percent from 2019, but off-farm stocks of 43.8 million bushels are down 6 percent from last year.

Sorghum stored in all positions totaled 7.95 million bushels, up 6 percent from 2019. On-farm stocks of 520,000 bushels are down 42 percent from a year ago but off-farm holdings of 7.43 million bushels are up 12 percent from last year.

On-farm oat stocks totaled 370,000 bushels, up 3 percent from 2019.



IOWA GRAIN STOCKS REPORT

Corn stored in all positions in Iowa on March 1, 2020, totaled 1.52 billion bushels, down 3 percent from March 1, 2019, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Grain Stocks report. Of the total stocks, 59 percent were stored on-farm. The December-February 2020 indicated disappearance totaled 625 million bushels, 2 percent above the 613 million bushels from the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions in Iowa on March 1, 2020, totaled 403 million bushels 4 percent below the 420 million bushels on hand March 1, 2019. This is the second largest March stocks on record, trailing only soybean stocks on hand March 1, 2019. Of the total stocks, 46 percent were stored on-farm. Indicated disappearance for December-February 2020 is 110 million bushels, 3 percent above the 107 million bushels from the same quarter last year.

Oats stored on-farm in Iowa on March 1, 2020, totaled 900 thousand bushels, up 18 percent from March 1, 2019.



US Corn Stocks Down 8 Percent from March 2019; Soybean Stocks Down 17 Percent

Corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2020 totaled 7.95 billion bushels, down 8 percent from March 1, 2019. Of the total stocks, 4.45 billion bushels were stored on farms, down 13 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 3.50 billion bushels, are up slightly from a year ago. The December 2019 - February 2020 indicated disappearance is 3.45 billion bushels, compared with 3.32 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2020 totaled 2.25 billion bushels, down 17 percent from March 1, 2019. Soybean stocks stored on farms are estimated at 1.01 billion bushels, down 20 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 1.24 billion bushels, are down 15 percent from last March. Indicated disappearance for the December 2019 - February 2020 quarter totaled 1.00 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2020 totaled 1.41 billion bushels, down 11 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 339 million bushels, down 8 percent from last March. Off-farm stocks, at 1.07 billion bushels, are down 12 percent from a year ago. The December 2019 - February 2020 indicated disappearance is 428 million bushels, 3 percent above the same period a year earlier.



Commissioner Watermeier Appointed to FCC Sub-committee on Precision Ag

Nebraska Public Service Commissioner (PSC) Dan Watermeier, District 1, has been appointed to a sub-committee of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Precision Agriculture and Connectivity Task Force.

Formed in June of 2019, the 15 member FCC task force is charged with reviewing the connectivity and technology needs of precision agriculture. Four sub-committees have been formed to assist the task force. They include;
·       Mapping & Analyzing Connectivity on Agricultural Lands.
·       Examining Current & Future Connectivity Demand for Precision Agriculture
·       Encouraging Adoption of Precision Agriculture & Availability of High-Quality Jobs on Connected Farms
·       Accelerating Broadband Deployment on Unserved Agricultural Lands

Commissioner Watermeier will serve on the Accelerating Broadband Deployment on Unserved Agricultural Lands working group. Sub-committee appointments were made by FCC chair Ajit Pai.

“As a family farmer myself, I understand the needs and frustrations of our rural residents who are struggling with broadband internet issues,” said Commissioner Dan Watermeier, District 1. “I look forward to serving on the sub-committee as we work to help reach solutions for our agricultural community.”

Joining Commissioner Watermeier on the Accelerating Broadband Deployment on Unserved Agricultural Land working group is Nebraska farmer Zack Hunnicutt. A Nebraska Farm Bureau member, Hunnicutt also serves on the Governor’s Rural Broadband Task Force.  



Row Crop Management Webinar Series to be Provided by Iowa State, MN Extension Specialists

Extension specialists in Iowa and Minnesota are collaborating to provide a series of daily webinars for farmers, ag professionals, extension personnel and other interested parties during the week of April 6. The theme will be “Essential Row Crop Management for Spring 2020,” with a focus on topics to be addressed prior to planting season.

“Each webinar will be limited to 10-15 minutes, with time for questions and answers because we know fieldwork and planting season is upon us and peoples’ time is limited,” said Meaghan Anderson, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomist.

The webinars are free and open to all. Each starts at 1 p.m. daily, beginning Monday, April 6, and continuing through Friday, April 10. Topics and presenters are listed below.
    April 6 – Top three tips for cover crop termination with Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
    April 7 – Grain storage management for spring with Shawn Shouse, agricultural engineering specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
    April 8 – Management of fertilizer spread patterns with Ryan Bergman, program coordinator with Iowa State, and Matt Darr, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State.
    April 9 – Pre-emergence herbicide programs with Lisa Behnken, crops extension educator with the University of Minnesota.
    April 10 – Tillage options this spring with Jodi DeJong-Hughes, water resources extension educator at the University of Minnesota.

“Each webinar will be recorded for those that want to participate, but can’t join the live webinar,” said Behnken. She also added that resources will be provided via a publicly accessible file-sharing system.

Information about this webinar series can be found at https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/essential-row-crop-management-online. Recorded sessions and additional resources will also be available through this link.




Sustainability Focus Continues to Grow at NCGA

A new Corn Sustainability Advisory Group (CSAG) met recently to discuss how the National Corn Growers Association can focus on corn sustainability and advise the NCGA board on how to proactively tell corn’s positive story of change and constant improvement.

The group made up of farmer representation of NCGA’s Ethanol, Market Development, Sustainable Ag Research and Stewardship Action Teams, NCGA staff, and state corn staff – will also work toward building consumer trust and growing competitive market demand by offering a broad view of NCGA’s current initiatives as well as establishing goals for the future.

“We have a lot going on organizationally that links directly or indirectly to sustainability. CSAG will work to help to identify areas for strengthening, integration and expansion,” said Rachel Orf, NCGA director of Sustainability. “We will also step up our engagement with corn sector partners and value chain members to identify mutual goals, opportunities for collaboration and bring more cohesion to our efforts.”

The group's first meeting was designed to be immersive, taking stock of what is being done by NCGA, state corn groups, other ag groups, industry and other players throughout the value chain. In its inaugural meeting, the group visited with the American Feed Industry Association, Cargill, Renewable Fuels Association and the National Cotton Council.



DFA Wins Large Part of Dean Operations

Dean Foods Co., which filed for bankruptcy in November, said Dairy Farmers of America is the winning bidder for a substantial portion of Dean's operations.

DFA will buy assets, rights, interests and properties for 44 facilities for $433 million.

Dean Foods designated Prairie Farms Dairy as the winner of the assets, rights, interests and properties for eight additional facilities, two distribution branches and certain other assets for $75 million.

A court hearing on the asset sales is scheduled for April 3.



Pivot Bio Launches FFA Video Contest to Support At-Home Learning

Being home from school doesn’t mean the learning stops. That’s why Pivot Bio is inviting FFA students from across the country to share their continued ag education and projects from their homes and farms as part of the Pivot Bio FFA Video Challenge.

“Agriculture doesn’t stop. With events, meetings and shows canceled to help slow the spread of Coronavirus, Pivot Bio wants to encourage students continue their ag education with a fun videon challenge,” said Mark Reisinger, Pivot Bio VP-Commercial Operations.

To enter the Pivot Bio FFA Video Challenge, FFA students will self-produce and post their video on Facebook or Twitter highlighting the projects or work they are doing to continue their agricultural education. All videos must tag Pivot Bio (@pivotbio), the student’s FFA chapter and use the hashtag, #FFAVideoChallenge. The deadline to enter is April 13, 2020, 10:01 pm Central Time.

Winners will be selected randomly and will receive $250 for themselves and $250 for their FFA Chapter. A total of 25 winners will be selected from eligible entries submitted during the challenge.  For a complete list of rules, click here... https://info.pivotbio.com/hubfs/Rules/2020-3-24-Pivot-Bio-FFA-Challenge-Rule-Details.pdf. 

“Now, more than ever before, the world understands the invaluable efforts of the agriculture industry,” said Reisinger. “These students are so critical to the future of agriculture, and we’re thrilled to recognize them to help encourage continued ag education.”



Chairman Peterson, Secretary Perdue Speak on Pandemic Response; Committee Unveils Online Hub for Response Resources

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue spoke by phone today to discuss the status of the Federal response to the coronavirus pandemic, and in particular those elements of the Federal response that address the needs of farmers, ranchers, and consumers.

“I had the chance this afternoon to speak with Secretary Perdue about what farmers and food producers need nationally, as well as what I’m hearing from Minnesotans,” Peterson said.

“We talked about volatility in the commodity markets, particularly for our livestock and poultry industries, the bleak conditions for dairy farmers, and the status of our food supply chain. I want to thank Secretary Perdue and the team at USDA for their efforts to continue to monitor America’s food supply and provide needed assistance and flexibility in this emergency situation,” Peterson added.

Additionally, as part of the effort to clarify and explain the resources available as part of the pandemic response, Peterson also unveiled the Committee’s Covid19 Resource Page, a collection of updates, announcements and online resources detailing programs available to those affected by the pandemic, as well as adjustments made by USDA and other Federal agencies serving the food, agriculture and rural economic supply chain to respond to the emergency.

The page is available at agriculture.house.gov/covid19.



ACE: Final SAFE Vehicles Rule Missed Opportunity for High Octane, Low Carbon Ethanol

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks today. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings called the rule a missed opportunity to provide a pathway for high octane, low carbon fuel in his following reaction to the final rule:

“The final rule is a missed opportunity to provide a roadmap for high octane mid-level ethanol blends after EPA specifically requested comments on the role 100 Research Octane Number (RON) E30 could play to help automakers meet fuel economy and emissions standards. We are also disappointed the rule appears to give special treatment to natural gas vehicles but fails to extend much needed incentives for the continued production of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), just another example of EPA choosing fossil fuels over low carbon fuels and rural America.

“There are a number of regulatory barriers restricting market access to high octane mid-level ethanol blends that we set forth in our comments in the fall of 2018 and it’s unfortunate that after requesting information from the public on the ‘ideal octane level,’ the ‘benefits of increasing fuel octane,’ and specifically how higher octane fuel will play a role in ‘engine technologies and product offerings’ and ‘improvements to fuel economy and CO2 reductions,’ EPA failed to incorporate what the Agency previously conceded: ‘higher octane fuel can provide auto manufacturers more flexibility to meet more stringent standards by enabling opportunities for use of lower CO2 emitting technologies.’

“EPA’s failure to act underscores the importance of ACE’s work to advance new Low Carbon Octane Standard legislation to establish a minimum octane standard of 98 RON gasoline from clean sources of octane that reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions such as ethanol.”



RFA: Final Fuel Economy Rule a Missed Opportunity for High-Octane, Low-Carbon Fuels

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation issued final regulations for 2021-2026 vehicle fuel economy and emissions standards. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the final rule ignores the input of automakers, ethanol producers, farmers, environmental groups, retailers and others who called on the agencies to establish a pathway in the rule for transitioning to high-octane low carbon liquid fuels. In response to hundreds of comments calling for the inclusion of high octane fuels as a tool to help automakers meet more stringent fuel economy and emissions requirements, EPA said only that “establishing a higher minimum octane for gasoline is a complex undertaking” and “the present rulemaking is not the appropriate vehicle to set octane levels.”

In addition, EPA said in the final rule it “also is declining to adopt new incentives for flex-fueled vehicles (FFVs) (vehicles designed to operate on gasoline or E85 or a mixture), as some commenters suggested.” The agency said FFV incentives are “outside the scope” of the vehicle fuel economy rule, despite the fact that the rule includes incentives for natural gas vehicles, electric vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles. As an example, EPA’s rule assumes that electric vehicles have no “upstream” greenhouse gas emissions related to their use; in other words, the agency completely ignores emissions related to producing electricity from coal, natural gas, and other sources and distributing the electricity to the vehicle. This results in a significant fuel economy “credit” for electric vehicles that is not based on any real emissions reduction.

Commenting on the release of the final rule, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered the following statement:

“EPA’s final rule is yet another missed opportunity to bring higher-octane, lower-carbon fuels to the market and enable more efficient internal combustion engine technologies. Of all the stakeholders who provided input to EPA on the topic of octane, only the oil industry voiced opposition to EPA using its authority to set standards for higher-octane fuels. Once again, EPA has sided with the oil industry over automakers, biofuel producers, farmers, environmental advocates, and consumers. This rule should have established the roadmap toward cleaner, more efficient, more affordable liquid fuels for our nation’s consumers. Instead, it sends our nation’s vehicles and fuels down yet another pothole-filled road to ruin.”



Auction Market Owners Share Issues With Lawmakers

Livestock Marketing Association brings boots-on-the-ground effort to D.C. in the pre-dawn of the nation’s COVID crisis.

COVID-19 and its associated economic destruction sent livestock markets into a nosedive in recent days. As auction market owners and producers scramble to adjust, federal and state government officials craft support measures.

The Livestock Marketing Association says now, more than ever, it’s important for lawmakers to understand the issues faced at livestock auction markets.

In this report from LMA, we go to Washington, D.C., where — just before the arrival of COVID — a constituency of market owners arrived to share their story.

On March 8, Washington, D.C. — like the rest of the country — was a much different place.

Days before COVID-19 halted the nation, a group of nearly 30 auction market owners from places like Elk City, Oklahoma, gathered in the capital as part of the Livestock Marketing Association’s annual DC Fly-In.

Larry Schnell: “The Livestock Marketing Association started the DC Fly-In, and it’s just a time where we can gather individual members as well as some staff and the executive committee to come here and lobby. I think our senators and congressmen want to hear from the individuals that are involved in the industry. It’s one thing to hear from an organization, it’s another to hear from a constituent.”

The goal for participants is to represent the auction market system by sharing their stories — and important industry issues — with their respective congressional representatives and senators. No one would anticipate just how imperative that would become in the subsequent days.

Erin Hickey: “I just think it’s important to be a face for some of these representatives and Congressmen to put with an issue. They can also give us a chance in these meetings to ask questions, and we can present what issues are problematic for us at this time.

Erin and her husband, Brandon Hickey, own and operate Elk City Livestock Auction in western Oklahoma, a few miles from the state line.

Brandon Hickey: “This is always a little eye-opening to get out and understand that there really are a lot of people out there that don’t understand what you’re doing. We have to tell our story. We have to let people know that we are out here in the best interests of our livestock that we are handling, day in and day out, and we are really trying to do that in a safe and humane way. And by the same token try to achieve the highest market value for those people who have raised them.”

Schnell, along with the Hickeys and other market owners across the country are back home — doing what they can to ensure markets remain open and available to livestock buyers and sellers.

Meanwhile, they trust that some of the groundwork laid in Washington will have some impact in challenging times.

Schnell: “Not only do our congressmen and senators learn what we’re talking about or what we may be hoping for, but we can hear how they learn what they feel about what’s going on in the industry, whether it’s the packing industry or the prices for cattle and how the farmers and ranchers are doing.”

Schnell: “We’re always stronger when we’re working together. Livestock markets are a very important part of the cattle industry. In that, we deal with the greatest share of all the producers in the nation. So, if you really want to find out what they’re doing or how they’re thinking, an auction market operator is about as good a person to go to because we have many, many of those people that we deal with on a daily basis.”

Visit lmaweb.com for the latest from the Livestock Marketing Association.



Future of Global Protein Webinar Series

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) will be hosting a webinar series focused on the Future of Global Protein. The webinar series will begin on Thursday, April 9, and will be hosted weekly until Thursday, May 28, except for April 30 and May 7. Each webinar will begin at 2 p.m. CST.
By engaging in this webinar series, participants will gain an understanding of where the protein conversation is headed, how global population shifts affect protein requirements, what changes are occurring in protein production and will leave with the tools to more effectively engage, in protein conversations with influencers and fellow food and agriculture leaders.

Webinar attendees will be able to hear from and engage with experts who understand how people perceive protein and its production. The speakers for this six-episode webinar series are:
• Jack Britt, Jack Britt Consulting presenting:
How can we ensure a leading role for USA animal protein in the world of the future?
• Michael Uetz, Midan Marketing presenting:
Keeping it real for tomorrow’s consumers: How can the U.S. animal agriculture industry support retailers, restaurants and e-commerce companies to keep meat on the consumers’ plate?
• Kerryann Kocher, Rock Road Consulting presenting:
How to bring “Sexy” back to animal ag innovation; adoption matters
• Sasha Gennet, The Nature Conservancy
• Raja Ramachandran, RIPE.IO
• Don Close, Rabo AgriFinance

To register and learn more about the speakers visit- https://www.animalagriculture.org/2020-V. If you are unable to tune in live, webinars also will be recorded for later viewing.



EPA Announces New Tool for Soybean Growers to Combat Weeds

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the registration of the use of isoxaflutole on genetically engineered soybeans, providing soybean farmers with a new tool they can use to control weeds that have become resistant to many other herbicides.

“We’ve heard from farmers across the country about the importance of having new means available to combat economically-damaging weeds,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Alexandra Dapolito Dunn. “We listened and believe this action balances the need to provide growers with the products necessary to continue to provide Americans with a safe and abundant food supply while ensuring our country’s endangered species are protected.”

“Safe and effective weed management is a constant challenge that farmers face,” said American Soybean Association President and soybean grower from Worthington, Minnesota, Bill Gordon. “EPA’s registration of Isoxaflutole will provide soybean growers with an important new tool to combat damaging weeds and help better control emerging herbicide-resistance issues. The American Soybean Association appreciates the diligence by EPA to provide farmers access to this new tool with the necessary guidance for using it safely to protect people, our wildlife, and the environment.”

EPA reviewed relevant data and conducted detailed human health and ecological assessments in deciding to register the use of isoxaflutole on soybeans genetically engineered to resist the herbicidal effects of isoxaflutole. In addition to the risk assessments, EPA also requested public comment on the proposed registration decision. Based on this analysis and careful consideration of public input, EPA concluded that the application of isoxaflutole on genetically engineered soybeans with certain use conditions could be done in an environmentally-protective manner in certain parts of the country.

Isoxaflutole is already registered by EPA for use on corn in 33 states. Like this existing use, the new registered use of isoxaflutole on genetically engineered soybeans is classified as a restricted-use pesticide, meaning that applicators must receive special training in order to use it. The training will emphasize ways applicators will protect ground and surface water and non-target plants.

The new use on genetically engineered soybeans would be limited to specific counties in 25 states. EPA is limiting use to these specific counties to protect endangered or threatened species from exposure. EPA is also including additional use restrictions, such as not allowing aerial and irrigation system applications.

The registration is limited to five years during which EPA will evaluate any potential weed resistance issues that may result. As part of the terms and conditions of the registration, the registrant must provide an herbicide-resistance management plan and submit annual reports to EPA.



Trends in activism and farm security on the agenda for Virtual Summit

Current trends in animal rights activism and farm security will be addressed at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2020 Virtual Stakeholders Summit, themed “Primed & Prepared.” The Summit is set for May 7-8, 2020, and registered attendees will also receive exclusive access to a series of pre-conference webinars.

The Alliance’s annual Summit brings together thought leaders in the agriculture and food industries to discuss hot-button issues and out-of-the-box ideas to connect everyone along the food chain, engage influencers and protect the future of animal agriculture. Attendees will leave the 2020 Virtual Summit primed and prepared with the tools they need to take action and be part of any and all conversations that could impact the future of animal agriculture and their business.

Understanding and preparing for activist activity are important components of securing the future of animal agriculture. Virtual Summit attendees will hear the latest trends in how activist organizations are targeting farms, plants, events, and restaurant/retail/foodservice brands from Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO, in a keynote address. Kay Johnson Smith joined the Alliance as the executive director in 1994 and was named president and CEO in 2011. Smith is a leading advisor to the agriculture and food industry on farm animal welfare issues, serves as a national spokesperson and has provided hundreds of presentations and media interviews on animal rights activism, farm security and animal welfare throughout her career.

Following Smith’s presentation, attendees will hear from four seasoned farm security experts on how to protect their businesses. Each panelist will offer advice from their unique perspectives as legal, law enforcement and security experts. How to respond to current and emerging activist tactics including protests, trespassing on farms, and “undercover” activists will be covered in the conversation. Panelists include:

    Jim Naugle, assistant sheriff with the Sonoma County (Ca.) Sheriff’s Office. Naugle has worked in law enforcement for more than two decades. In his current position, Naugle oversees the Law Enforcement Division of the Sheriff’s Office. Naugle has played an integral role in managing several large-scale protests on Sonoma County farms held by animal rights activist organizations in recent years.
    Jim Rovers, senior vice president of operations for AFIMAC. Rovers is a security expert who has worked throughout the U.S. and Canada for more than 25 years. His specialties include intelligence and protection surrounding animal rights activists, protests and demonstrations, threat risk assessments, investigations, protection, secure transportation and cargo theft.
    John Sancenito, president of Information Network Associates (INA), an international investigative and corporate consulting firm. Sancenito’s professional experience includes more than 12 years as a sworn law enforcement officer and 18 years as a private investigator and security consultant. He is an internationally-recognized speaker on topics including domestic terrorism, animal rights extremism, insider threat prevention and workplace violence.
    Brianna Schroeder, attorney with Janzen Agricultural Law. Schroeder focuses her legal practice working for farmers and agribusinesses. Schroeder has litigated complex environmental and agricultural matters, including insurance coverage, regulatory compliance, tort claims, zoning appeals and employment claims. She is licensed in Indiana and Illinois and has represented a wide variety of clients from start-up companies and livestock farmers to large agricultural businesses, trade groups and municipalities.

“It’s an unfortunate reality that all businesses and organizations involved in food production need to prepare for activist threats,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, Alliance vice president of communications. “The Alliance’s 30-plus year history in monitoring these issues makes us uniquely well-positioned to bring together the right lineup of experts to give our Virtual Summit attendees the knowledge and tools they need to implement necessary security measures.”

Virtual Summit registration is now open at Summit.AnimalAgAlliance.Org. Registration will give attendees exclusive access to 13 hours of live, dynamic content spread out among a series of preconference webinars and the two-day virtual event. Recordings from each session will also be available only to confirmed virtual attendees through the end of 2020. The Alliance team is working to ensure attendees enjoy digital networking opportunities that are more valuable than ever in today’s challenging environment. 

Farmers and ranchers interested in attending the Virtual Summit are encouraged to enter the Alliance’s photo contest. To enter, competitors need to post their favorite farm photo on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the hashtags #PrimedAndPrepared and #AAA20 and tag the Alliance (Facebook: @animalagalliance, Instagram: @animalagalliance, Twitter: @animalag). Participants should be sure to include a caption about why they want to be primed and prepared to protect animal ag. Entries must be posted by April 10. Top entries will win a free registration to the Virtual Summit.

Be sure to check the Virtual Summit website for the most up-to-date Virtual Summit information and the full agenda. You can also follow the hashtags #AAA20 and #PrimedAndPrepared for periodic updates about the event. For general questions about the Summit please contact summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-5160

Thank you to our 2020 Summit sponsors: Watt Global Media, Farm Journal, Meatingplace, National Pork Producers Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Smithfield, National Pork Board, American Feed Industry Association, United Soybean Board, The National Provisioner, Elanco, Country Folks, Dairy MAX, Farm Credit, National Biodiesel Board, United Egg Producers, Cobb Vantress, Inc., Protect the Harvest, Progressive Dairyman, Agri Beef, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Veal Association, Empirical, Kemin, National Chicken Council, Trans Ova Genetics, Vivayic, Mountaire Farms, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Brakke Consulting, Food Industry Environmental Network and Eggland’s Best.

The Alliance also thanks the following members for their continued support of Summit and other Alliance programs: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Zoetis, Alltech, Inc., Cattle Empire, LLC, Charleston|Orwig, Diamond V, Genus PLC - PIC/ABS, Hy-Line North America LLC, Iowa Soybean Association, Merck Animal Health, National Turkey Federation, Nutrien, Aviagen Group, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cargill, Dairy Farmers of America, Hendrix Genetics, Provimi North America, Inc. and Seaboard Foods.