Tuesday June 16 Ag News

Application Process Temporarily Paused for Livestock Producer Small Business Stabilization Grants, Application Deadline Extended to July 1

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has announced a brief pause on the application process for Small Business Stabilization Grants for Livestock Producers. Applications will not be accepted during this pause, which will provide DED necessary time to validate all applicants in a timely manner and avoid potential delays to serving grantees.

Applications will be accepted once again starting Monday, June 22, at 8:00 a.m. CST. To account for the scheduled delay, the application deadline has been extended from June 26 to July 1, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Visit www.getnebraskagrowing.nebraska.gov in advance of Monday’s application re-opening for instructions on how to apply for a Small Business Stabilization Livestock Producer Grant. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the application guidelines and eligibility requirements, which are also available online, prior to applying.



SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advance Program Reopened to All Eligible Small Businesses and Non-Profits Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and non-profits, the U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19 today.

“The SBA is strongly committed to working around the clock, providing dedicated emergency assistance to the small businesses and non-profits that are facing economic disruption due to the COVID-19 impact.  With the reopening of the EIDL assistance and EIDL Advance application portal to all new applicants, additional small businesses and non-profits will be able to receive these long-term, low interest loans and emergency grants – reducing the economic impacts for their businesses, employees and communities they support,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.  “Since EIDL assistance due to the pandemic first became available to small businesses located in every state and territory, SBA has worked to provide the greatest amount of emergency economic relief possible.  To meet the unprecedented need, the SBA has made numerous improvements to the application and loan closing process, including deploying new technology and automated tools.”

SBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit.  These loans can provide vital economic support to help alleviate temporary loss of revenue.  EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses.  Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties, and these emergency grants do not have to be repaid.

SBA’s COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance
·         The SBA is offering low interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and non-profit organizations that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19 in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories.
·         These loans may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan.  The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses.  The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
·         To keep payments affordable for small businesses, SBA offers loans with long repayment terms, up to a maximum of 30 years.  Plus, the first payment is deferred for one year.
·         In addition, small businesses and non-profits may request, as part of their loan application, an EIDL Advance of up to $10,000.  The EIDL Advance is designed to provide emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue.  This advance will not have to be repaid, and small businesses may receive an advance even if they are not approved for a loan.
·         SBA’s EIDL and EIDL Advance are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response.
·         The SBA is also assisting small businesses and non-profits with access to the federal forgivable loan program, the Paycheck Protection Program, which is currently accepting applications until June 30, 2020.

For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/Disaster.



Imminent Legal Action Could End Use of Dicamba Stocks for 2020
NE Farm Bureau

On June 11, the Center for Food Safety and Center for Biological Diversity filed an emergency motion in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals requesting the court enforce its June 3 decision to vacate the registration for three dicamba herbicides — Bayer’s Xtendimax, BASF’s Engenia, and Corteva’s FeXapan.

If granted, the action could effectively reverse an order issued June 8, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which outlined limited and specific circumstances under which existing stocks of the three affected dicamba products could continue to be used through July 31, 2020. A court ruling on the emergency motion is expected as early as the end of this week.

Nebraska Farm Bureau has been extremely active in working to ensure continued access to this product for farmers. Today, the American Farm Bureau filed an amicus brief, arguing farmers should continue to have the ability to utilize existing stocks of these products for the growing season.

In service to our members, we felt it was important to make you aware of these developments so you can act accordingly given the time sensitive nature and limited window for application of these dicamba products.



Farm equipment striking power lines prompts reminder to look up and look around for safety

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has seen a rise this spring in the number of power line contacts by farm equipment causing a power outage and raising the potential for electrocution to the operator or damage to the equipment.

NPPD is reminding operators and farmers to look up and around for power lines when operating equipment in the fields. An accident of this nature can result in serious or even fatal injuries.
“It’s fortunate that no one has been injured in any of the incidents our crews have responded to this year,” says NPPD Vice-President of Energy Delivery Art Wiese. “We want everyone to be able to go home safe at the end of the workday, and making sure operators know where powerlines are located along their work area, can make that happen.”

If an operator does hit a power line with their equipment, they should contact their local emergency organization at 911 or NPPD at 1-877-ASK-NPPD. When an energized power line lands on a vehicle it can electrify the surrounding area and should be deenergized by a professional, so that the operator can exit the vehicle safely.

• Each day review all farm activities and work practices that will take place around power lines and remind all workers to take precautions. Start each morning by planning the day’s work during a tailgate safety meeting.
• Know what jobs will happen near power lines and have a plan to keep the assigned workers safe.
• Know the location of power lines, and when setting up the farm equipment, be at least 20 feet away from them.
• Contact your local public power provider if you feel this distance cannot be achieved.
• Be aware of increased height when loading and transporting larger modern tractors with higher antennas.
• Never attempt to raise or move a power line to clear a path. If power lines near your property have sagged over time, call your local public power utility to repair them.

For more information see the safety tips below or check out the spring harvest safety video on NPPD’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pqwRQwb-LU. 



Haskell Ag Lab Science & Ag Family Field Day goes VIRTUAL for 2020

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Haskell Agricultural Laboratory Family Field Day will be VIRTUAL this year.  Due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and many unknowns in the next months, the committee feels this is the safest approach for this year.  The health and safety of our employees, attendees, and anyone involved in this event is our highest priority. 

Even though we are not having an on-site field day, we are going to be offering several virtual presentations and demonstrations.  The presentations &/or demonstrations will range from cover crops, soybean insects, soil health, ag economics topics, canning and food safety, food labeling, cow milk production versus calf size, manure spreader calibrations, food and nutrition demonstrations, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and nature for kids, unique trees in the Northeast Arboretum, bee research as well as many others yet to be determined.

Some of these presentations will be available earlier in the summer.  All presentations will be available by August 5, 2020 and will remain available for viewing at any time.

There will be virtual presentations for all ages. For more information, call the Haskell Ag Lab at 402-584-2261 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HALenrec/.



Lincoln Premium Poultry Reports Team Member Loses Battle with Virus

Lincoln Premium Poultry shared that they learned today of the passing of a team member who had contracted COVID-19 and has been battling the virus for several weeks. “We are incredibly saddened to learn that we have lost a valued team member to this virus. We are in communication with the family and will work to support them as they grieve the loss of their loved one,” said Jessica Kolterman, Director of Administration. She continued, “We thank the local health care team who cared for our team member as they were fighting the illness, and we extend our gratitude to them for everything they did.”

Lincoln Premium Poultry continues to have cases each week, but has had over 90 individuals return to work since the beginning of the pandemic.  Their first case was reported on April 13, 2020 and the company continues to execute many interventions to prevent the spread of the virus within their facility.  When they last reported to the media they had documented 88 known cases amongst team members.  Today that number stands at 110, although the company intends to only report numbers once a month going forward.

“Each day we are striving to do everything we can to keep our team members safe,” said Kolterman, “and we have kept the curve flat within our facilities to this point. Although we are trying to ease back into standard operations, we continue to have temp checks, to enforce mask use, social distancing, and continue regular communication on how our team members can work to keep themselves and each other safe. These new policies and procedures will stay in place for the foreseeable future.”

Lincoln Premium Poultry has worked hard on mitigation efforts since the end of February.  They continue to collaborate with Three Rivers Health Department and the University of Nebraska Medical Center Global Center for Health Security. “We are proud of the work we have done to mitigate spread, but we also recognize this is an ongoing effort and we will keep working with our team on improving” said Kolterman. She continued,  “Our new normal means continued use of masks, temp checks, social distancing, and other interventions.”



American Association of Meat Processors Cancels Convention

The American Association of Meat Processor's Board of Directors announced today that they are canceling the 2020 American Convention of Meat Processors and Suppliers' Exhibition scheduled for July 30-August 1 in Des Moines, Iowa. The convention has been canceled due to public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, it's become clear that in the face of an unprecedented situation, we had a tough decision to make," said Rick Reams, AAMP president. "We understand how important the AAMP Convention is to the industry and we know that this will come as a disappointment to those who had planned for months to attend. While it is not the outcome we wanted, the safety of our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, vendor partners, and our AAMP staff is the most important."

This will mark the first time in 75 years that AAMP has not held an annual convention. The last cancellation took place in 1945 as World War II neared its end. Around 1,200 attendees were anticipated to join the annual convention in Des Moines.

"We recognize the magnitude of this decision for the association and our membership," said Chris Young, AAMP executive director. "The annual convention brings together hundreds of passionate processors and exhibitors every year to celebrate the efforts of our industry. This year, we were especially looking forward to the convention taking place in AAMP's birthplace hometown of Des Moines; however, the well-being of our members, staff, and Iowa hosts has to be the number one concern, and that drove our decision-making."

Young added, "Furthermore, there is fear among public health officials that there will be more waves of the virus in the coming months. Although agency guidance has varied, social distancing efforts will likely remain in effect, making gatherings such as our convention challenging."

The association will be working with convention registrants and exhibitors directly over the coming weeks to discuss refunds and how to proceed going forward.

The 2021 AAMP Convention is scheduled to take place July 15-17, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.



Farmer Partners Share Cover Crop Experiences during Iowa Learning Farms Field Day

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Practical Farmers of Iowa and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free virtual cover crop field day on Thursday, June 25 at 1 p.m. with video footage from the field and live interaction with farmers and researchers during the event.

Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa recently concluded a ten-year field-scale study of the effects of winter rye cover crops on corn and soybean yields. With consistent results across the full decade of recording and measurements, the final report notes no significant improvement or decline in cash crop yields attributable to the use of cover crops.

Farmer partners Rick Juchems, Rob Stout and George Schaefer; Stefan Gailans, Practical Farmers of Iowa; and Mark Licht, assistant professor and extension cropping systems specialist at Iowa State University, will share their experiences, tips for success and results from one of the longest on-farm cover crop demonstration projects to date.

“Even though we had been no-tilling for 35 years, the previous year crop residue wasn’t holding the ground in place,” said Stout. “We decided we needed to take the next step and add the cover crops. We found that they do a super job for erosion control. We have also found a lot of soil health benefits from cover crops including better infiltration, soil tilth, more earthworms and increased microbial activity.”

Shortly before 1 p.m. on June 25, click this URL to participate in the live event: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpduihpj8iE9ZHcjpsenc2DWQILG41wg0D or visit www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events and click “Join Live Virtual Field Day”.

Or, join from a dial-in phone line by dialing +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923. The Meeting ID is 914 1198 4892

The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website so that it can be watched at any time. The archive is available at www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events.



Iowa Leaders Call for Support for State’s Turkey Producers

U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, along with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide assistance, through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), to turkey producers across the state.

In a letter to USDA Secretary Perdue, the Iowa leaders wrote, “Plant closures and reduced flocks remain a growing threat to our turkey growers and food supply chain. Our independent turkey growers stand to lose disproportionately compared to other corporate-owned growers due to increased exposure…There are numerous farmer-owned cooperatives and independent growers who are being left out of assistance in CFAP and we ask that USDA recognize the unique business structure of many turkey operations and help find a solution in order for these producers to receive federal assistance.”

Ernst, Grassley, Reynolds and Naig also said, “We would ask economists at USDA to work to devise a methodology and formula that allows this niche sector of the nation’s poultry industry to have the same opportunities provided to others in the pork, cattle and sheep industry. We are convinced a verifiable formula structure can be developed. USDA already has demonstrated an ability to calculate the value of turkeys when indemnifying for animal disease losses and making Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) payments. Those formulas almost certainly could serve as a basis for calculating lost value.”



USDA Trade Mitigation Purchases to Feed People in Need and Aid American Farmers Surpass $2B

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it has purchased more than $2.2 billion of meat, fruits, vegetables, specialty crops and dairy products in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 in its ongoing efforts to feed people in need and assist American farmers and ranchers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. USDA is on target to reach its fiscal year goal of about $1.4 billion of trade mitigation purchases in the next phase of fiscal year purchasing, which ends Sept. 30. The purchases were made through the Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP), one of USDA’s three programs in its Support Packages for Farmers. Most of the food purchased is provided to states for distribution to nutrition assistance programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and child nutrition programs.

“Over the past two years, USDA has issued more than $2 billion in payments to American farmers, ranchers, and producers for U.S.-grown food that is used to help Americans in need,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Early on, President Trump instructed USDA to make sure our farmers did not bear the brunt of unfair retaliatory tariffs. Our farmers work hard, and are the most productive in the world, and we crafted the FPDP to help protect them. The FPDP represents just one of the many ways USDA is working hard to fulfill its mission to do right and feed everyone.”

More information about the Food Purchase and Distribution Program is available at https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/trade-mitigation-programs.
The Food Purchase and Distribution Program was established in fiscal year 2019 to assist U.S. producers by purchasing commodities that have been unfairly targeted. Under the program, USDA buys food products produced on American farms through approved vendors who have proven they can supply U.S.-produced products.
Farmers and vendors can learn about Selling Food to USDA at https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food.



Beef Farmers and Ranchers Ensure Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Considers the Science Supporting Beef’s Role in a Healthy Diet

Over the last 13 months, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, has submitted 21 sets of public comments and more than 100 research studies in support of beef’s role in a healthy diet to the 2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee (DGAC).

“Beef is part of a healthy diet for most Americans, and a large body of research supports the flexibility to choose lean beef more often as an important source of high-quality protein and nutrients during all life stages, from birth to older adults,” said Shalene McNeill, Ph.D., R.D., executive director of nutrition research for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. “We believe it’s imperative that this research is reviewed and considered as part of the DGA process.”

The DGAC is comprised of 20 health and nutrition experts and is responsible for developing recommendations to inform the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as they develop the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), which are updated every five years. The DGAs are designed to provide Americans with a roadmap for healthy eating. They are the foundation for federal nutrition programs, along with school, military, hospital and nursing home menus, and the basis for many expert nutrition recommendations. The government has encouraged public participation throughout the DGAs process.

Beef supports health at every life stage, and the 21 sets of comments submitted to the DGAC by NCBA on behalf of the Beef Checkoff reviewed the scientific evidence on the following topics, among others:
-    Beef’s critical role in growth and development, especially as a high-quality source of iron for older infants, women and girls.
-    The large body of high-quality evidence consistently showing that lean beef supports heart health as part of a healthy diet.
-    The important role beef plays as a source of high-quality protein and essential nutrition for the aging population.
-    Dispelling the myth that Americans are overconsuming red meat, when in fact, Americans, on average, eat less than two ounces of beef each day[i], which is in line with current DGA recommendations.
-    Best scientific practices for evaluating beef-related research, including accurate meat definitions.
-    Research reinforcing the importance of flexibility in choosing beef in a variety of healthy dietary patterns, including those low in carbohydrates and high in protein.

Recognizing that the forthcoming 2020 – 2025 DGAs will be the first set of guidelines to include recommendations for infants and young children from birth to 24-months of age, NCBA also submitted comments about the critical role of beef in growth and development. Beef is especially important as a high-quality source or iron for pregnant woman, infants, adolescent girls and women of childbearing age.

Included in the 21 sets of comments are numerous gold-standard Randomized Control Trial research studies reinforcing beef as an important source of high-quality protein for Americans of all ages. This includes Beef Checkoff funded research demonstrating how lean beef can be the protein of choice in many healthy dietary patterns, including the popular Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and Mediterranean Diet. Research was also submitted showing the benefits of low-carbohydrate and higher protein diets, like the BeefWise study that found lean beef, as part of a healthy and higher-protein diet, can help people lose weight while maintaining muscle mass and heart health.

One of the most recent studies contributing to the body of evidence supporting beef’s role in a healthy diet was published in the Journal of Nutrition in May. This research was conducted at Indiana University and found that people can have flexibility to include about six ounces of lean, fresh beef to daily healthy diets - replacing these calories with those from carbs - without increasing heart disease or diabetes risks

Beef farmers and ranchers have a long history of supporting nutrition research with leading scientists at universities and research institutions across the country to better understand beef’s role in health. As traditional sources of research funding, such as government and academic grants, are becoming increasingly limited, farmer- and rancher-supported research helps fill gaps and ensures the body of nutrition knowledge continues to grow. 

The DGAC will share its draft conclusions during a Draft Advisory Report Meeting on June 17. The final DGAC report will be released in mid-July. On August 11, the USDA and HHS will hear oral comments from the public on the DGAC advisory report, with the final DGAs expected at the end of the year.

To view a list of the comments submitted to the DGAC by NCBA, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, visit https://www.beefresearch.org/humannutrition.aspx, and to learn more about beef nutrition, visit https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/nutrition. 



USSEC CEO EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABILITY DURING KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE INTERNATIONAL GRAINS CONFERENCE

U.S. soybean customers around the world are demanding sustainably produced soybeans, and to uphold that banner, U.S. farmers are constantly adopting innovations to ensure their supply meets and exceeds those expectations, according to Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council.

Sutter delivered that message to more than 370 international attendees during the annual “International Grains Conference 2020,” a virtual event that assembled experts to discuss the latest market developments in the grains, oilseeds and rice sectors.

During the conference, Sutter gave a keynote address to kick off the “Climate Change and Integration in the Grains Value Chain” panel. The address focused on how sustainable farming practices are foundational to the growth and production of U.S. Soy, and how farmers are doing more with less to help meet the growing food needs for a burgeoning population.

“U.S. soybean farmers are constantly innovating to ensure their supply meets and exceeds the demand by mitigating climate change through safe, sustainable farming practices, and by providing essential protein and nutrition to help feed a growing population,” Sutter said. “Efficiency and conservation practices used by our farmers are not only helping preserve the planet’s resources for future generations but are also helping to make U.S. Soy the preferred choice for food, feed and fuel in a world where consumers across the value chain demand no less.”

U.S. soybean farmers have a long history of creating and participating in programs to help preserve wildlife habitats and improve biodiversity. Always looking to the future, they regularly employ strategies like conservation tillage, crop rotation and cover crops to maintain soil health and maximize the consistent quality of their harvests. Modern tools like moisture sensors, smart irrigation, autonomous and GPS-enabled tractors, drones and satellite imagery help U.S. Soy farmers produce a valuable and reliable harvest while reducing their use of natural resources.

These achievements, according to Sutter, have a clear and quantifiable impact on environmental sustainability. Statistics show that since 1980, U.S. farmers reduced energy use by 42%, and reduced emissions by 41%. The United States has also gained 1.45 million hectares of forest land in the past 100 years, while significantly reducing farmland by 23.9 million hectares over the past 50 years.

The U.S. Soy industry also worked together with a multi-stakeholder group made up of consumers from around the world, non-governmental organizations (NGOS) and famers to jointly develop the independently audited U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP). SSAP is a certified aggregate approach audited by third parties that verifies sustainable soybean production at a national scale. Customers can refer to the SSAP to help meet their own corporate social responsibility needs and consumer expectations. Because U.S. Soy is verified sustainable under the SSAP, purchasers have a competitive advantage when buying U.S. Soy. For example, it has been positively benchmarked against the European Feed Manufacturers Associations (FEFAC) soy sourcing standards, and it was approved by the Tokyo Olympic Procurement Committee for soy sourcing at the upcoming Olympic games, now planned for 2021.

SSAP guidelines cover today’s regulatory obligations regarding sustainable practices, but they also call for continuous improvement. Every day, U.S. Soy farmers find new ways to be more efficient and environmentally sound. Along those lines, Sutter explained that U.S. Soy has established yield and sustainability goals for the next five years.

Based on benchmarks starting in 2000, by 2025, U.S. soybean producers aim to:
-    Reduce land use impact by 10% (acres per bushel)
-    Reduce soil erosion an additional 25% (acres per bushel)
-    Increase energy use efficiency by 10% (BTUs per year)
-    Reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 10% (measured by pounds CO2 - equivalent gasses emitted per year)

“The U.S. Soy industry is focused on constantly growing and improving to develop solutions to today’s biggest problems,” Sutter said. “Ultimately, U.S. Soy farmers are focused on helping both people and the planet to prosper – delivering sustainably produced, high-quality protein to fuel nourishment and to help preserve the earth for generations.”

Brent Babb, USSEC’s Regional Director, for Greater Europe and Middle East/North Africa also participated on a panel on Soyabean Market Development. The panel discussed the impact the coronavirus pandemic, African Swine Fever, and other factors are having on soybean supply and demand in 2020/21.



Spring Organic market data provides a glimpse of the year to come

Spring 2020 market data indicates a strong planting season along with the emergence of sharply different import trends, according to the Mercaris Monthly Market Update.

As of May 30, 90% of organic corn and 74% of organic soybeans had been planted in the U.S., far ahead of last year’s pace, when organic corn planting was at 66% and soybeans at 36%.   

“Thus far, the 2020 spring planting season has been much kinder to U.S. farmers particularly compared to the relentlessly cold and wet conditions of 2019. Although this early on there are no sure bets when it comes to yields, a good planting season is the first step towards a much improved 2020 crop,” said Ryan Koory, Director of Economics at Mercaris.

On the imports front, organics are seeing varying effects due to COVID-19. Organic corn has been largely unaffected, and in fact jumped 434% year-over-year during the March-May period. However, organic cracked corn and organic soybean imports were down over the same period 35% and 12%, respectively, consistent with pre-pandemic trends. Organic soybean meal seems to be the exception, with imports showing signs of strain due to COVID-19 and declining 16% over the same period.

“Organic soybean meal has proven to be the most vulnerable link in the U.S. organic import chain. Through May of the 19/20 marketing year, nearly 90% of U.S. organic soybean meal imports were sourced from India. It’s the combination of this heavy dependence on India, and persistent shipping container and labor shortages within the country that leave organic soybean meal imports so exposed to COVID-19,” Koory said.

In livestock production, April’s massive decline in broiler slaughter, which fell 24% year-over-year, returned to pre-pandemic levels by the end of May. However, the decline that occured over April and into May was large enough to reduce the broiler slaughter by 1.3 million head for the three-month period.

“The drop in organic broiler slaughter remains an event we don't fully understand. The reduction suggested by the data is more than significant, but it appears to have been limited to only organic broilers and hasn't been substantiated by other market information sources. Given how important broiler production is to the U.S. organic industry this will be a topic Mercaris will continue monitoring closely, ” Koory said.



Crappie Masters National Tournament Trail in Full Swing

The 2020 Crappie Masters National Tournament Trail is back up and running, after delays from COVID-19. This year, Crappie Masters has grown and expanded their reach by adding state chapters.

Brian Sowers, the voice of Crappie Masters, says that a lot of new anglers have been involved this year, because of the expansion which has allowed them to spread the message of using E10 fuel in marine engines.

“Having chapters in the south is a very vital part of sharing our message,” Sowers said in an interview with the National Corn Growers Association. “The southern part of the U.S. has been an area that hasn’t been as receptive to the message of using E10 fuel in their boats. Having the teams down there, who can have a one-on-one conversation about E10, is important.”

Sowers went on to say the primary message they share with anglers is that E10 fuel is the better choice, it’s cleaner for the environment and water and gives boaters better performance and supports America’s corn farmers.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), is a co-title sponsor of the Crappie Masters National Tournament Trail to engage with anglers on the benefits of using E10 in their boats. Each winning team of the national tournament trail has used ethanol in their boat engines, citing maximum engine performance. Throughout the season, it is estimated that more than 200 million people are reached and educated on ethanol and boating through the tournaments, Crappie Masters TV, social media, additional media interviews, and more.

To see the full Crappie Masters schedule and tournament information, go to crappiemasters.net.



Syngenta site trials showcase new crop management tools to keep growers on the cutting edge

To help growers face another challenging year, Syngenta will share the latest crop management technologies and best practices at Grow More™ Experience and Golden Harvest® Agronomy in Action sites across the United States.

Trials will demonstrate the continued Syngenta commitment to accelerating innovation and finding sustainable solutions for a changing world. New protocols will be implemented at sites to ensure the safety of visitors at in-person sessions.

“As we navigate current societal challenges, we want to assure Grow More Experience and Agronomy in Action event attendees of our commitment to providing personalized, local experiences that boost their knowledge of products and agronomic practices that can help maximize yield and revenue,” says Grant Ozipko, head of technical services at Syngenta. “Our local teams continue to focus on helping area growers produce a better crop while being sensitive to the difficulties they’re experiencing.”

Visitors at Grow More Experience and Agronomy in Action sites can safely see a variety of field trials and other demonstrations of top-tier Syngenta products, such as:
    Saltro® fungicide seed treatment for soybeans, which provides upgraded protection against Sudden Death Syndrome and robust nematode activity without causing early-season stress
    Tavium® Plus VaporGrip® Technology herbicide, the market’s first premix residual dicamba herbicide, with two effective sites of action for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton
    The full lineup of Miravis® brand fungicides, including Miravis, Miravis Ace, Miravis Neo, Miravis Prime and Miravis Top, all of which use the power of Adepidyn® technology for broad and powerful control of diseases in corn, soybeans, wheat, grapes, potatoes, peanuts and other crops
    Acuron® corn herbicide, which controls tough weeds other products miss and out-yields other herbicides by 5-15 more bushels an acre* when applied preemergence at full label rates

New Golden Harvest and NK® corn hybrids and soybean varieties will be tested alongside weed, insect and disease management products at many sites. Customers can see the impact of industry-leading seed innovations, including Agrisure® traits, Enogen® corn hybrids and Enlist E3® soybeans and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans which help minimize risk and maximize growers’ return on investment potential regardless of field, soil and weather conditions.

Updates from sites across the country will be posted on KnowMoreGrowMore.com in the Field Trials section.



ASA is Now Accepting Applications for the Conservation Legacy Awards

Share the story of how conservation is part of your farm operation and you could be recognized with a Conservation Legacy Award. The awards recognize farm management practices of U.S. soybean farmers that are both environmentally friendly and profitable.

Are you using a reduced tillage practice on your farm? Do you grow cover crops? Have you taken steps to improve energy efficiency or water quality? These are just a few conservation practices used on some farms today that can help produce sustainable U.S. soybeans. Different regions of the country have their own unique challenges and ways to approach conservation and sustainability. We want to hear your farm’s conservation story!

All U.S. soybean farmers are eligible to enter to win a Conservation Legacy Award. Entries are judged on soil management, water management, input management, conservation, environmental management and sustainability.

The selection process for these awards is divided into four regions – the Midwest, Upper Midwest, the Northeast and the South. One farmer from each of these regions will be recognized at the 2021 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, and one of these farmers will be named the National Conservation Legacy Award recipient.

Award Winners Receive:
-    An expense paid trip for two to Commodity Classic, March 4-6, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas.
-    A feature story and video on each award winner’s farm and conservation practices.
-    Potential opportunity to apply for a conservation grant to make further improvements to their operation.

The Conservation Legacy Awards are sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA), BASF, Bayer, the United Soybean Board/soybean checkoff and Valent U.S.A.

More information on past winners of the award and how to submit your application is available in the “About” section under “Awards” on the ASA website. All applications must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2020.