Thursday June 25 Hogs & Pigs Report + Ag News

NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY UP 3%

Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2020, was 3.85 million head, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was up 3% from June 1, 2019, and up 1% from March 1, 2020.

Breeding hog inventory, at 440,000 head, was down 4% from June 1, 2019, but unchanged from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 3.41 million head, was up 4% from last year, and up 1% from last quarter.

The March - May 2020 Nebraska pig crop, at 2.22 million head, was down 3% from 2019. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 200,000 head, unchanged from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.10 for the March - May period, compared to 11.50 last year.

Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 185,000 sows during the June - August 2020 quarter, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for September - November 2020 are 185,000 sows, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.



IOWA HOGS & PIGS REPORT

On June 1, 2020, there were 25.2 million hogs and pigs on Iowa farms, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Hogs and Pigs report. Inventory is up 5% from the previous year and is an all-time record high inventory.

The March-May 2020 quarterly pig crop was 5.81 million head, down 1% from the previous quarter and 4% below last year. A total of 510,000 sows farrowed during this quarter. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.40 for the quarter.

As of June 1, producers planned to farrow 520,000 sows and gilts in the June-August 2020 quarter and 510,000 head during the September-November 2020 quarter.



United States Hog Inventory Up 5 Percent

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2020 was 79.6 million head. This was up 5 percent from June 1, 2019, and up 3 percent from March 1, 2020.  Breeding inventory, at 6.33 million head, was down 1 percent from last year, and down 1 percent from the previous quarter.  Market hog inventory, at 73.3 million head, was up 6 percent from last year, and up 3 percent from last quarter.

The March-May 2020 pig crop, at 34.9 million head, was up 1 percent from 2019. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.17 million head, up 1 percent from 2019. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high of 11.01 for the March-May period, compared to 11.00 last year.

United States hog producers intend to have 3.12 million sows farrow during the June-August 2020 quarter, down 5 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, and down 2 percent from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for September-November 2020, at 3.09 million sows, are down 5 percent from the same period one year earlier, and down 4 percent from the same period two years earlier.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 49 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up 2 percent from the previous year.




DED Issues Important Reminder about Applying for COVID-19 Grants for Small Businesses, Livestock Producers

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) wishes to issue an important reminder to those applying for grants under the following programs: Small Business Stabilization, Livestock Producer Stabilization.

Be reminded that there are two major steps to completing an application. After filling out an online eligibility form, those who are eligible will receive a confirmation email containing a confirmation number and a link to the full application. You are not finished applying at this point. You must use the link to then complete a full application. Those who do not complete a full application will not receive a grant.

Remember that there is still time to apply for each of the grant programs listed and described below, which are intended to provide support and assistance to Nebraskans negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit https://getnebraskagrowing.nebraska.gov for more information or to begin the eligibility confirmation and application process. Call the Get Nebraska Growing hotline at 855-264-6858 if you encounter technical difficulties.

-    The Small Business Stabilization Grant Program provides grants to small businesses of 5-49 employees that were impacted by the coronavirus and meet certain eligibility requirements. Applications are due on June 26 at 5:00 p.m. CDT.

-    The Livestock Producer Stabilization Grant Program provides grants to eligible livestock producers of 1-10 employees that have endured revenue or employment losses due to the pandemic. Grants for both programs can be used to cover business operating expenses. Applications are due on July 1 at 5:00 p.m. CDT. 

-    The Workforce Retraining Initiative will provide funds to all of the state’s community colleges for scholarships and workforce training enhancements. In turn, the community colleges will award scholarships to individuals who are unemployed or underemployed due to the coronavirus, in order to prepare them for employment in high-demand career fields. Prospective students will be able to apply for the scholarships online through Nebraska community college websites starting in July. More information is forthcoming.

-    The Rural Broadband Remote Access Grant Program will result in new internet connectivity in communities where work-from-home, tele-education and telehealth opportunities have been limited due to inadequate or non-existent high-speed internet service. Broadband providers, with the support of local community officials, can apply for the grants through July 2, 2020.

-    The Gallup Back to Business Learning Journey will fund admission to a Gallup-led leadership training course for a total of 75-100 leaders from eligible small businesses. The course promotes skills that will help businesses refocus and thrive following the pandemic. Businesses can apply through July 2, 2020.



UNL Ag Econ Webinar Series: COVID-19's Impact on Nebraska Ag

Insurance Tools for Managing Forage Production Risk
Thursday, July 2, noon.
Jay Parsons, professor and extension farm and ranch management specialist, UNL Agricultural Economics.

Forage production can vary greatly from one season to the next depending upon weather. In the last 15 years, several new insurance tools have become available to Nebraska producers to help manage this risk. This presentation will provide an overview of all that is available and provide examples of how they can be used to mitigate weather risk. With a signup deadline of July 15, information specific to the new Annual Forage Insurance Plan will be emphasized.

UPCOMING
-     Thursday, July 2, noon CDT: Insurance Tools for Managing Forage Production Risk

Register and get more information here:  https://farm.unl.edu/webinar-series-covid-19s-impact-nebraska-ag. 



Open House to be held July 9th for the Battle Creek Watershed Improvement Project

JEO Consulting Group Inc. will facilitate a public Open House regarding the Battle Creek Watershed Improvement Project Work Plan - Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA).  The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the work plan.  The Open House will be held virtually through Zoom on July 9, 2020, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.  All are welcome.  The meeting will be recorded and a link to the recording will be posted on the LENRD’s website the following day.

The Battle Creek Watershed Improvement Project, located in Madison County, is a potential project with purposes relating to flood prevention, watershed protection, agricultural water management, and public recreation.  The proposed purposes and associated alternatives will be determined as the development of the Plan-EA progresses.  During the July 9th meeting, attendees will be able to learn more about the Plan-EA from project personnel, as well as ask questions and provide feedback.  Written comment will be accepted for up to 14 days after the meeting.

The Plan-EA is being prepared to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibilities pertaining to federal financial assistance received through the NRCS’s Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program.  Part of this project includes an evaluation of environmental resources and impact considerations, and all information gathered during the public meeting will help guide the planning process.

The Battle Creek Watershed Improvement Project Plan-EA is scheduled to be finalized in 2021, and the LENRD has retained JEO Consulting Group to assist in developing the plan.

Any written comments or requests regarding the project should be submitted to Adam Rupe with JEO at arupe@jeo.com or 402-435-3080. Comments can also be submitted to the JEO Lincoln office at 2700 Fletcher Avenue, Lincoln, NE, 68504.

Refer to the LENRD’s website at www.lenrd.org for the Zoom link and additional information, or contact the office in Norfolk at 402-371-7313.



Liquidity Remains a Concern on Iowa Farms

Despite a higher average income in 2019, Iowa’s mid- to large-size farms actually saw a considerable decrease in farm liquidity and working capital over the past year.

Data from the Iowa Farm Business Association, collected from 401 farms, shows net farm income in 2019 at an average of $77,946 per farm. But that number only tells part of the story, according to Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State University.

“A higher average income in 2019 did not translate into an overall improvement in financial liquidity for Iowa farms,” Plastina said. “Not only was the share of farms with vulnerable liquidity larger in December 2019 compared to a year earlier, but their working capital needs were also higher.”

Plastina gives an overview of the Iowa farm liquidity situation in the June edition of Ag Decision Maker, in a featured article called “Mixed liquidity results for Iowa farms in 2019.”

The share of farms with negative working capital increased almost uninterruptedly from 10% in December 2014, to 17% in 2019, while the share of farms with working capital below $250 per acre increased from 23% to 34% over the same period.

Plastina said the liquidity for some farmers is actually improving, but many others are seeing a decline. According to the report, the bottom third of farms (ranked according to annual return to management) have consistently averaged negative accrued net farm income levels since 2015, while the top third has consistently averaged incomes more than twice the state average.

Plastina said farms may be able to sustain a loss in liquidity for a while, but when it occurs year after year, the challenges become more pressing.

“We are concerned with those who are struggling or short on liquidity,” he said. “That means that if anything goes wrong or they don’t get a loan or something to generate more cash, they might need to liquidate some assets or make adjustments to their long-term plan.”

The report explains how liquidity is calculated and offers useful insight and comparisons dating back to 2012.



Red Meat Production Down 18 Percent from Last May

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.76 billion pounds in May, down 18 percent from the 4.57 billion pounds produced in May 2019.

By State:                 (million lbs  -  % May '19)
Nebraska ........:            462.3             67      
Iowa ...............:            606.8             88      
Kansas ............:            421.9             81      

Beef production, at 1.87 billion pounds, was 20 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.28 million head, down 23 percent from May 2019. The average live weight was up 51 pounds from the previous year, at 1,367 pounds.

Veal production totaled 5.2 million pounds, 18 percent below May a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 32,400 head, down 30 percent from May 2019. The average live weight was up 39 pounds from last year, at 274 pounds.

Pork production totaled 1.88 billion pounds, down 15 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 8.59 million head, down 17 percent from May 2019. The average live weight was up 7 pounds from the previous year, at 294 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 12.6 million pounds, was down 7 percent from May 2019. Sheep slaughter totaled 195,300 head, 7 percent below last year. The average live weight was 129 pounds, up 1 pound from May a year ago.

January to May 2020 commercial red meat production was 22.0 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2019. Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 11 percent, pork was up slightly from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 11 percent.



Klobuchar, Ernst, Duckworth, Grassley Urge EPA to Reject Retroactive Biofuel Blending Waivers

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a bipartisan letter with Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for past compliance years. In the letter, the senators warn that granting these petitions would worsen the unprecedented economic challenges facing the biofuels industry and demand that the EPA apply the 10th Circuit decision nationally.

“We urge you to reject these petitions outright and respond in writing to our questions about recent use of SREs under the RFS. These petitions should not even be entertained because they are inconsistent with the Tenth Circuit decision, Congressional intent, the EPA’s own guidance, and – most importantly – the interests of farmers and rural communities who rely on the biofuel industry,” the senators wrote.

“The approval of SREs for past compliance years at this moment would only worsen the unprecedented economic challenges facing the biofuels industry and the rural communities that it supports. EPA must deny these petitions and apply the 10th Circuit decision nationally.”

Klobuchar, Ernst, Duckworth and Grassley were joined by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Thune (R-SD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

In January 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA that EPA had exceeded its authority in granting SREs under the Renewable Fuel Standard to three refineries in 2016 and 2017, and that moving forward, EPA may only issue SREs to refineries that have continuously received exemptions for every compliance year since 2011. Recently, the EPA confirmed that they have received 52 new petitions for retroactive SREs that, if granted, would bring oil refiners into compliance with the Court ruling by allowing them to establish a continuous string of exemptions.

For years, Klobuchar has been a leader in the fight to strengthen the RFS to support American jobs and decrease dependence on foreign oil. Klobuchar has led several letters urging the Administration to cease issuing small refinery waivers and reject changes to the RFS that would upend stability and predictability for small businesses and rural communities.

In December 2019, Klobuchar led a public comment letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler expressing concern over the proposed supplemental rule establishing the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations and 2021 Biomass-Based Diesel Volumes. The senators argued that the proposed rule—which determines how much biofuel is required to be blended into our transportation fuel supply on an annual basis—fails to adequately account for the waivers, including those given to big oil companies. In October 2019, Klobuchar sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking the agency to document the impact of small refinery waivers on farm income, commodity prices, and renewable fuel usage.

The full text of today’s letter to Andrew Wheeler, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, can be found  below:

Dear Administrator Wheeler:

We write with frustration and significant concern about recent reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering granting over 50 petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for past compliance years. We urge you to reject these petitions outright and respond in writing to our questions about recent use of SREs under the RFS. Granting these petitions would worsen the unprecedented economic challenges facing the biofuels industry and the rural communities that it supports while violating EPA’s own policy on this issue.

On January 24, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit made a ruling in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA that struck down three small refinery exemptions granted by your agency. In ruling that EPA exceeded its statutory authority, the court determined that the waivers for those refineries had lapsed and that there was no waiver available to extend.

It is for this reason that we are especially alarmed to hear that EPA is considering over 50 petitions for retroactive SREs that are intended to circumvent the Tenth Circuit decision by allowing refineries with lapsed SREs to establish a continuous chain of exemptions. These are refineries who either did not submit petitions or were not granted waivers in past years, meaning they were not experiencing “true economic hardship” to comply at the time. These petitions should not even be entertained because they are inconsistent with the Tenth Circuit decision, Congressional intent, the EPA’s own guidance, and – most importantly – the interests of farmers and rural communities who rely on the biofuel industry.

As you know, Congress passed SREs under the RFS program with the intention of mitigating and eliminating economic harm to small refinery operations. On the EPA’s website, in a document titled “Small Entity Compliance Guide for Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program,” an eligible small refinery shall have “no more than 1,500 employees corporate-wide” defined as “for all subsidiary companies, all parent companies.”[1] This guidance also states that companies should apply for small refinery status by July 1, 2010 to be eligible for SREs. That means that under EPA’s own guidance, the majority of SREs EPA has granted would be ineligible for the program.

You previously testified in January 2019 to the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) that the decision to grant Chevron and Exxon small refinery exemptions under the RFS was made at the refinery level and not at the corporate level. In light of EPA’s guidance and your contradictory statements we hope you will provide complete answers in writing to the following questions:

    Were you aware that your own Agency had determined that Chevron and Exxon were ineligible for SREs when you appeared before EPW in January 2019?

    Do you commit to applying the 10th Circuit decision nationwide now that it has unanimously rejected a petition for a rehearing and abandoning the agency’s misuse of the RFS waiver program once and for all?

    A number of organizations associated with the oil industry have asked you to change the 2020 RFS volumes or waive them for the rest of the year, using the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) as the pretext for doing so despite the fact that the drop in gasoline demand has devastated the biofuels industry. Are you aware that the structure of the RFS already ensures that RVOs are effectively automatically adjusted proportionally based on actual sales of gasoline?

Even before COVID-19, the misuse of small refinery waivers under the RFS had led many biofuel plants to shut down partially or altogether. The further loss of biofuel demand and sales during COVID-19 has resulted in further harm to the industry, with over 100 biofuel processing plants now idled or closed. This has resulted in reductions to the rural workforce, decreases in commodity purchases and prices, and shortages of co-products critical to the agricultural supply chain. Meanwhile, the Administration has taken steps to help the oil industry through purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The approval of SREs for past compliance years at this moment would only worsen the unprecedented economic challenges facing the biofuels industry and the rural communities that it supports. EPA must deny these petitions and apply the 10th Circuit decision nationally.

Thank you for your consideration of our requests.



Growth Energy Thanks Senate Leaders for Rejecting Retroactive Exemptions

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor thanked 16 senators, led by Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who drafted a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rejecting retroactive oil industry exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In their letter, the senators note, “These petitions should not even be entertained because they are inconsistent with the Tenth Circuit decision, Congressional intent, the EPA’s own guidance, and – most importantly – the interests of farmers and rural communities who rely on the biofuel industry.”

“The sole purpose of these retroactive exemptions is to circumvent the law at the expense of rural families struggling to get back on their feet,” said Skor. “There is no justification for allowing these petitions to hang over the market, injecting uncertainty into America’s agricultural recovery. EPA needs to dismiss the oil industry’s latest attempt to destroy demand for American biofuels and restore integrity to the RFS. We’re very grateful to Senate champions across the farm belt for standing up against this attempt to rewrite years of history, skirt the courts, and torpedo efforts to rebuild America’s agricultural supply chain.”

The letter was signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tammy Baldwin (D- Wis.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).



Senators Call on EPA to Reject Gap-Year Refinery Waivers ‘Outright’

Echoing the grave concern expressed by the Renewable Fuels Association and others, a bipartisan group of 16 Senators today called on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler to outright reject the 52 retroactive “gap-year” RFS waivers newly requested by oil refiners. Leading the effort were Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

“We applaud this bipartisan group of Senators for exposing the absurdity of the oil industry’s latest ploy to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We thank them for holding Administrator Wheeler accountable and demanding answers. EPA’s failure to comply with the recent Tenth Circuit Court decision is prolonging uncertainty and exacerbating economic harm in rural America, which was already reeling from the effects of COVID-19 on the agriculture and biofuels sector. RFA agrees with these Senate leaders that granting gap-year small refinery exemptions would not only be illegal, but it would also worsen the demand destruction that renewable fuel producers have already endured at the hands of EPA in recent years. We proudly join these Senators in calling on EPA to immediately deny the gap-year petitions and apply the Tenth Circuit decision nationally.”

The gap-year issue arose after a January decision by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Renewable Fuels Association et al. vs. EPA, rejecting a set of waivers granted that were not direct extensions of ones previously granted, as required by law. The case was brought against EPA by RFA, the National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union and American Coalition for Ethanol. In an attempt to circumvent the court decision, numerous refineries have now applied for retroactive waivers for years in which they did not originally ask for, or receive, a waiver. On June 18, EPA disclosed that 52 new petitions had been received, covering the compliance years 2011 through 2018. In late May, RFA was the first to urge Wheeler to deny any gap-year waivers that came forward.

“Even before COVID-19, the misuse of small refinery waivers under the RFS had led many biofuel plants to shut down partially or altogether,” the Senators write. “The further loss of biofuel demand and sales during COVID-19 has resulted in further harm to the industry, with over 100 biofuel processing plants now idled or closed. … The approval of SREs for past compliance years at this moment would only worsen the unprecedented economic challenges facing the biofuels industry and the rural communities that it supports.”

The Senators also posed specific questions to the EPA, related to granting of waivers to large companies like Chevron and Exxon, the nationwide application of the recent Tenth Circuit decision rejecting waivers that are not extensions of prior ones, and general waiver requests from the Renewable Fuel Standard due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



NBB Thanks Senators for Urging EPA to Reject "Gap" SRE Petitions

The National Biodiesel Board thanks the bipartisan group of 16 Senators who today urged EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to immediately reject the 52 recently filed exemption petitions for prior compliance years. The letter expresses the Senators' frustration and alarm that Administrator Wheeler is considering exemptions for refineries that either did not submit petitions or were not granted waivers in past years but are now seeking to circumvent a January 2020 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

Kurt Kovarik, NBB's VP of Federal Affairs, states, "Biodiesel producers and soybean farmers across the country are already facing unprecedented economic challenges. A brand-new flood of unlawful small refinery exemptions is guaranteed to compound the damage from the past several years. The Senators are exactly right that EPA should immediately reject these petitions as inconsistent with a federal court decision. We thank Senators Amy Klobuchar and Joni Ernst for their leadership."

The letter is signed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Thune (R-SD), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Deb Fischer (R-NE).



USDA Adds Digital Options for Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will now accept applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through an online portal, expanding the options available to producers to apply for this program, which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. FSA is also leveraging commercial document storage and e-signature solutions to enable producers to work with local service center staff to complete their applications from home.

“We are doing everything we can to serve our customers and make sure agricultural producers impacted by the pandemic can quickly and securely apply for this relief program,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “In addition to working with FSA staff through the phone, email and scheduled in-person appointments, we can now also take applications through the farmers.gov portal, which saves producers and our staff time.”

Through the portal, producers with secure USDA login credentials—known as eAuthentication—can certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center. Producers who do not have an eAuthentication account can learn more and begin the enrollment process at farmers.gov/sign-in. Currently, the digital application is only available to sole proprietors or single-member business entities.

USDA Service Centers can also work with producers to complete and securely transmit digitally signed applications through two commercially available tools: Box and OneSpan. Producers who are interested in digitally signing their applications should notify their local service centers when calling to discuss the CFAP application process. You can learn more about these solutions at farmers.gov/mydocs.

USDA has several other options for producers to complete and submit their CFAP applications. These include:

1. Downloading the AD-3114 application form from farmers.gov/cfap and manually completing the form to submit to the local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to an office drop box. In some limited cases, the office may be open for in-person business by appointment. Visit farmers.gov/coronavirus/service-center-status to check the status of your local office.

2. Completing the application form using our CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator found at farmers.gov/cfap. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, and then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.

Getting Help from FSA
New customers seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer general assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office at their local USDA Service Center.

All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.

Producers self-certify their records when applying for CFAP, and that documentation is not submitted with the application. However, producers may be asked for their documentation to support the certification of eligible commodities, so they should retain the information used to complete their application.

More Information
To find the latest information on CFAP, visit farmers.gov/cfap or call 877-508-8364.



NCGA Responds to Glyphosate Developments

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) responds today to two significant legal developments concerning glyphosate that have occurred this week. First, on Monday, a federal judge in California ruled that glyphosate cannot be labeled as “likely to cause cancer” under California’s Proposition 65, which requires businesses to provide warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer. NCGA was a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the state’s plans to require all glyphosate products to be labeled with this warning.

Yesterday, Bayer announced that it has decided to settle thousands of lawsuits that accuse a link between glyphosate use and cancer.

Iowa corn farmer and NCGA President Kevin Ross made the following statement in response to these developments:

“Corn farmers rely on glyphosate as an integral and essential part of their weed management, no-till and soil health plans. It has been on the market for more than 40 years and undergone extensive safety reviews in this time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and numerous other regulatory bodies around the world have not found glyphosate to be carcinogenic, as was pointed out by the federal judge ruling that the product cannot be labeled as such in California. We appreciate and respect the science-based decision making applied in this case.

“Unfortunately, the same science-based rationale has not been applied in the lawsuits and subsequent jury verdicts against Bayer alleging a link between glyphosate use and cancer. We respect Bayer’s decision to settle many of these cases in order to move forward as a company while keeping glyphosate available to the farmers who rely on it. NCGA acknowledges that Bayer has not admitted fault through this decision and continues to reiterate a commitment to the safety of the product.

“Corn farmers work hard every day to produce safe and affordable food, fuel and fiber for the country and the world. Responsible use of products like glyphosate is an important part of our ability to do just that in a long-term, sustainable fashion.”



Farmers Play Important Role In Keeping Treated Seeds Out Of Export Channels

As corn and sorghum pops up in rows across the country, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and other grain and seed industry partners remind farmers to check the best practices to keep treated seeds out of export channels. Treated seeds are not a widespread problem but do have the attention of agriculture control officials in export markets.

“U.S. farmers are key partners in helping prevent disruption of exports to overseas markets,” said Floyd Gaibler, USGC director of trade policy and biotechnology. “Guarding against the presence of treated seed in commodity shipments requires the due diligence of the entire U.S. grain supply chain.”

Seed treatments are part of the technological toolbox that helps U.S. farmers defend against crop diseases, insects, nematodes and other pests. Treated seeds can be easily detected due to their unnatural color. Blue, pink, red or green are common seed-treatment colors.

U.S. law prohibits the addition of treated seeds to commodities for food or feed channels. As a result, strict adherence to guidelines on how to use these effective tools helps ensure treated seed stays in the field and out of export channels.

The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship, produced by the American Seed Trade Association and CropLife America, promotes the safe handling and management of treated seed. The information for farmers and seed companies includes guidelines for managing treated seed effectively. Best practices include using separate and dedicated equipment to handle treated seed and following state and local regulations for disposing of excess treated seed.

“Being mindful of the management practices to prevent treated seed from inadvertently entering export channels maintains the positive U.S. reputation for transparency, reliability and quality,” Gaibler said. “Like farming itself, there is a science to using treated seeds successfully and appropriately.”