NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 1%
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.22 million cattle on feed on August 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 1% from last year. Placements during July totaled 470,000 head, up 18% from 2019. Fed cattle marketings for the month of July totaled 500,000 head, up 2% from last year. Other disappearance during July totaled 10,000 head, down 10,000head from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 2%
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 620,000 head on August 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 2% from July 1, 2020, and August 1, 2019. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 500,000 head on feed, down 5% from last month and down 2% from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,120,000 head, down 3% from last month and down 2% from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during July totaled 63,000 head, up 9% from June and up 3% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 35,000 head, down 30% from June and down 17% from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 98,000 head, down 9% from June and down 5% from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during July totaled 70,000 head, up 6% from June but down 9% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 58,000 head, down 40% from June and down 38% from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 128,000 head, down 21% from June and down 25% from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 5,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million head on August 1, 2020. The inventory was 2 percent above August 1, 2019. This is the highest August 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.
On Feed - By State
1,000 head - % Aug 1 '19
Colorado ......: 1,020 105
Iowa .............: 620 98
Kansas ..........: 2,410 103
Nebraska ......: 2,220 101
Texas ............: 2,850 103
Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.89 million head, 11 percent above 2019. Net placements were 1.84 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 420,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 435,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 458,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 195,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.
Placements by State
1,000 head - % July '19)
Colorado ......: 165 127
Iowa .............: 63 103
Kansas ..........: 520 116
Nebraska ......: 470 118
Texas ............: 415 109
Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.99 million head, 1 percent below 2019. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during July, 20 percent below 2019.
Marketings by State
1,000 head - % July '19)
Colorado ......: 160 86
Iowa .............: 70 91
Kansas ..........: 490 108
Nebraska ......: 500 102
Texas ............: 470 106
Pro Farmer: Corn and Soybean Yields Lower than USDA Estimates
While it’s difficult to predict the future, Pro Farmer uses information gathered in its annual Crop Tour as well as other data the team collects to estimate total production each year. This year has presented farmers across the Midwest with a myriad of challenges, which are accounted for in the group’s national corn and soybean yield estimates.
Corn: 177.5 bu. per acre, 14.820 billion bu. production. Pro Farmer says production and yield could go plus or minus 1%, which equals 14.968 billion bu. to 14.672 billion bu. and 179.3 bu. to 175.7 bu. per acre yield.
Soybeans: 52.5 bu. per acre, 4.362 billion bu. production. Soybean margin of error is plus or minus 2%, which equals 4.449 billion bu. to 4.275 billion bu. of production and 53.6 to 51.5 bu. per acre yield.
USDA’s August 12 report pegged corn production at a record 15.3 billion bu. and yield at 181.8 bu. per acre. Soybeans were estimated to hit 4.42 billion bu. with a record high yield at 53.3 bu. per acre. Pro Farmer’s estimate for corn yield is 2.37% lower than USDA, and production is 3.14% lower than USDA production. The Pro Farmer soybean yield is 1.5% lower than USDA, with 1.31% lower total production estimates.
Breakdown by state
Pro Farmer uses data gathered in the Crop Tour, crop maturity, acreage adjustments they’ve made, historical differences in the tour’s findings versus USDA final yields and areas outside of the sampled areas on the tour to gather their estimates. State number estimates below differ from Crop Tour numbers.
The estimates for national corn and soybean yields would be records still—just not as big as USDA estimated. In addition, the group cut 525,000 acres from harvested corn acres (300,000 from Iowa alone), putting total harvested acres at 83.498 million.
Nebraska: 188 bu. per acre corn, 59 bu. per acre soybeans. Irrigated yields were decent but not shockingly high numbers. Dryland likely won’t drag down the average and another rain would be beneficial for corn. Soybean fields are clean, but need a rain to get across the finish line without aborting pods—risk is to the downside.
Iowa: corn 180 bu. per acre, soybeans 55 bu. per acre. Western Iowa yields are diminishing because of drought. In addition, wind did destroy some of the crops across a wide swath of the state. While some will be harvested, further yield loss is likely. Soybeans are in desperate need of a rain; current soil moisture is down 46%.
South Dakota: 164 bu. per acre corn, 51 bu. per acre soybean. This year marks the best corn crop Pro Farmer has seen in the state. Another rain would clinch the deal. Soybeans are uniform, and if the state gets another rain the crop could be a monster.
Minnesota: 199 bu. per acre corn, 51 bu. per acre soybeans. Corn showed big, heavy ears with higher ear counts, grain length and kernel rows around than average. Soybean pod count was there for a record soybean yield. Soybeans need another rain to finish.
Illinois: corn 205 bu. per acre, soybeans 62 bu. per acre. Pods are consistent on soybeans, but the state needs rain to finish strong. Corn isn’t the bin-buster some expected. Ear counts were below average, but grain length could be a savior if weather helps. Corn has more to lose than to gain at this point.
Indiana: corn 186 bu. per acre, soybeans 61 bu. per acre. Corn was variable, but August rains could help along with mild weather. About one-third of the corn crop still needs time to develop. Soybeans are consistent, well podded but dry. Another rain will help fill flat pods.
Ohio: corn 176 bu. per acre, soybeans 57 bu. per acre. Corn is too variable, because of dry areas, to beat the state’s 1028 record of 187 bu. per acre. Late-season rain could be the deciding factor on which way corn yields go. Soybeans also need a rain to ensure the crop beats its 2018 record of 56 bu. per acre.
Department of Agricultural Economics announces annual alumni, service awards
The Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has recognized Jamie B. Kruse and Gregory B. Ibach as recipients of its 2020 Outstanding Alumni Awards, and Ag Processing Inc., as the recipient of its 2020 Outstanding Service Award.
The three honors are awarded annually to individuals and organizations in recognition of their significant contributions to agriculture, which align with the department’s research, teaching and outreach in agricultural production and profitability, natural resources, rural development and industrial organization.
Kruse is a THCAS distinguished professor of economics and director of the Center for Natural Hazards Research at East Carolina University. Her research focuses on experimental economics, industrial organization, natural hazards economics and risk and decision-making. Kruse has published 65 articles and has been awarded $50 million in grant funding over the course of her career. After graduating from the university with a bachelor’s degree with distinction in Ag Honors in 1979, she went on to earn a master’s from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. Kruse has also been a faculty member at Texas Tech University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. She served as chief economist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2010 and has been a member of numerous panels and committees with the National Science Foundation, Department of Homeland Security and the White House, among many others.
Ibach is the undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the United States Department of Agriculture. He earned bachelor’s degrees in agricultural economics and animal science in 1984. At USDA, he has led reform efforts in biotechnology regulation, promoted traceability, expanded animal disease prevention and implemented hemp production regulations. He previously served as director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, where he led efforts to establish the state as a national leader in the export of agricultural products, established plans to grow the livestock industry and created opportunities for youth and young and beginning farmers. A farmer and rancher from Sumner, Neb., Ibach is co-owner of GTI, Inc., a sixth-generation family farm.
Ag Processing Inc., in Hastings, Neb., was organized in 1983 as a leading agribusiness cooperative engaged in procuring, processing, marketing and transporting oilseeds, grains and related products. Its owners include 145 local and regional cooperatives, representing more than 250,000 farmers throughout the U.S. and Canada. AGP employs approximately 1,100 people and markets domestic agricultural products around the world. The cooperative is a generous contributor to the Department of Agricultural Economics’ Commodity Trading Room and agribusiness club, provides scholarships for department students and employs several alumni.
For more information about the Department of Agricultural Economics, visit agecon.unl.edu.
Nebraska Soybean Management Field Days research ongoing – Information to be shared virtually
For over 20 years, Soybean Management Field Days have helped soybean growers maximize productivity and profitability through smart decisions and efficient use of resources. The field days have helped growers stay competitive in the global marketplace and increase profits with a focus on meeting the world’s growing food and energy needs right here in Nebraska.
The field days are moving online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the in-person field days will not be offered in 2020, research is active at the Soybean Management Field Days locations. Information and updates from the sites will be shared with growers through virtual field day presentations.
The field days are sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Board in partnership with Nebraska Extension in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and are funded through soybean checkoff dollars. The efforts of the checkoff are directed by the United Soybean Board promoting progress powered by U.S. farmers.
“We are committed to sharing research-based information to improve soybean profitability while protecting soybean growers’ health and safety,” said Scott Ritzman, executive director of the Nebraska Soybean Board. “Learning to adapt has been a theme this year and we want to continue finding new ways to build value for farmers.”
Ongoing research is currently underway at the following farms:
Jerome Fritz Farm at Hildreth, NE
Kevin Dinslage Farm at Elgin, NE
Bart Ruth Farm at Shelby, NE
Mike Fuchs Farm at Arlington, NE
“Growers can obtain ideas and insight about the challenges they face in producing a quality crop at a profitable price in today’s global economy,” said Keith Glewen, Nebraska Extension educator. “Nebraska Extension specialists and educators will provide presentations and growers can view them via short modules online at a time that is convenient to them.”
Topics and presenters include:
Precision Ag Technology and Online Budgeting: What are the Economics?
Glennis McClure, Nebraska Extension Farm and Ranch Management Analyst
Taro Mieno, UNL Department of Ag Economics Assistant Professor
Strategies for Soybean Gall Midge and Insect Management in Cover Crops – Disease Management in Soybeans
Justin McMechan, University of Nebraska Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist
Tom Hunt, Nebraska Extension Entomologist
Robert Wright, Nebraska Extension Entomologist
Tamra Jackson- Ziems, Nebraska Extension Plant Pathologist
Drill-Interseeding Cover Crops in Soybean
Chris Proctor, Nebraska Weed Management Extension Educator
Katja Koehler-Cole, UNL Research Assistant Professor
Soybean Production & Cover Crops – Planting Rates, Row Spacing, Planting Dates, Maturity Groups – Seed, Planting and Irrigation Management
Steve Melvin, Nebraska Extension Educator, Cropping Systems
Aaron Nygren, Nebraska Extension Educator, Cropping Systems
Jim Specht, UNL Emeritus Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture
Watch for updates at: http://enrec.unl.edu/soydays and on Twitter and Facebook. Presentations will be online late summer or early fall. Contact the Nebraska Soybean Board at (402) 441-3240 or Nebraska Extension at 1-800-529-8030 for more information.
Meyer named to Center for Rural Affairs Board
Nancy Meyer, of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, has been appointed to the Center for Rural Affairs Board of Directors.
The Center for Rural Affairs is a private, nonprofit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action-oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.
“Nancy is engaged in her community and passionate about the issues that matter to the future of small towns and rural places,” said Brian Depew, executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs. “We are excited to welcome her to the Board of Directors.”
“I hope to help conserve the rural American landscape and lifestyle for the present and future,” Meyer said. “I'm most interested in supporting natural resource preservation as the underpinning of healthy rural economies. For example, I want to promote traditional small businesses that practice water and soil conservation, and provide locally-sourced products using sustainable practices.”
A resident of Nebraska since 2000, Meyer was previously an analyst for a technology company in California. Since, she worked part-time as a tax preparer. For 10 years, she has volunteered educational resource consulting in her county as The Recycling Lady.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board of a nonprofit that truly cares for the future of rural America,” Meyer said.
Meyer is serving a three-year term on the Center for Rural Affairs Board of Directors. She also serves on the board of Nebraska Land Trust and was elected to the board of directors for the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District in 2018.
Elkhorn Valley Cattlemen Affiliate meeting
September 10 @ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
McLeb Meeting Room, Madison Co Fairgrounds, Madison
NC issues update and Market Outlook
WEBINAR TO COVER FARM SUCCESSION COMMUNICATION, NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES
An upcoming Nebraska Extension webinar will cover communication and negotiation strategies in farm and ranch succession planning. Successful Ag Succession: Communications and Negotiations will be held on Thursday at noon.
When those who are closest to us are also our business partners, things can get complicated. But planning and decision-making can go more smoothly with improved communications. Successful farm and ranch transitions depend on meaningful family discussions and even negotiations. This webinar will highlight specific skills and ideas that will help with these conversations.
It will be presented by Allan Vyhnalek, an extension educator for farm and ranch succession.
The webinar is part of an ongoing weekly series produced by the extension Farm and Ranch Management Team in the Department of Agricultural Economics. It will be held live on Zoom for approximately one hour, including time for questions from participants.
Registration is free and can be completed at farm.unl.edu/webinars.
Nebraska Corn Board elects leadership during August board meeting
The Nebraska Corn Board elected its leadership team during its August board meeting in Scottsbluff. From left to right: Dave Merrell (past chairman), Jay Reiners (secretary/treasurer), Brandon Hunnicutt (vice chairman) and David Bruntz (chairman).
The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) elected four farmers to serve leadership roles at its August board meeting. The leadership roles are effective immediately and are yearlong in duration, with the possibility to be reelected.
David Bruntz, District 1 director, was reelected as chairman of the board. Bruntz has been farming for more than 40 years near Friend. He grows corn and soybeans, and he also feeds cattle. Bruntz received a degree in production agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. He has been with the board since 2013.
Brandon Hunnicutt, District 3 director, was reelected as vice chair of NCB. Hunnicutt farms near Giltner with his father and brother. On his farm, Hunnicutt grows corn, popcorn, seed corn and soybeans. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from UNL and has served on the board since 2014.
Jay Reiners, at large director, was reelected secretary/treasurer of the board. Reiners farms near Juniata, where he grows field corn, seed corn and soybeans. He has been farming for over 30 years and is the fourth generation managing the family farm. He graduated with an associate’s degree in general agriculture from UNL.
Dave Merrell, District 7 director, will continue his role as past chairman of the board. Merrell has been farming for over 30 years near St. Edward. His family farm produces corn and soybeans. He earned his undergraduate degree in mechanized agriculture from UNL. He has served on the Board since 2006.
“We are very fortunate to have a dynamic group of leaders serving our state’s corn industry,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of NCB. “Through the guidance of this leadership team, in addition to the expertise and diversity of our full board, we’re well positioned to aggressively tackle our mission of promoting the value of corn by creating opportunities.”
The full board is comprised of nine corn farmers from across the state. Eight members represent specific Nebraska districts and are appointed by the Governor of Nebraska. The Board elects a ninth at large member. Board members serve three-year terms with the possibility to be reappointed.
Tractors to be displayed at Nexus groundbreaking at Northeast Community College
Both the history and tradition of agriculture and the future of the industry will be on display at groundbreaking ceremonies being planned for new agriculture facilities currently under construction at Northeast Community College. Among equipment on display will be tractors from the 1950s and 1980s, as well as several 2020 models and some combines.
Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, near the Chuck M. Pohlman Ag Complex on E. Benjamin Ave. in Norfolk. A live event is planned, along with virtual ceremonies and livestreaming. Area farmers, implement dealers and tractor enthusiasts are invited to bring their tractors to the event.
“Space will be provided for the tractors to be viewed safely,” said Dr. Tracy Kruse, associate vice president of development and external affairs and executive director of the Northeast Foundation. “We are planning to have antique tractors, working tractors, and tractors of the future on display.”
Several area implement dealers have committed to bringing tractors and other equipment to the groundbreaking ceremonies. Platte Valley Equipment will have a John Deere 8RZ 410, a 1983 4650, and a 1951 Model MT. Dinkel Implement plans to exhibit a 2020 New Holland CR Combine with automation – auto crop setting. Mitchell Equipment of Atkinson and Humphrey will be displaying an AFS Connect Steiger tractor with cutting edge technology to view current field operations, fleet information, and agronomic data. Other dealerships planning to bring tractors and equipment to the groundbreaking are AKRS Equipment Solutions, Titan Machinery and Grossenburg Implement.
“We especially invite area producers and those with antique tractors to join us to celebrate the new ag facilities at Northeast,” Kruse said. “We want to highlight the progression of agriculture in this area, and what better way to do that than to show how equipment has changed in the last 75 years.”
The site will open for tractor parking on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 8 a.m. For those who would like to bring their tractors the day before the event, staff will be on hand to help set up the display on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 2-5 p.m. For more information on the tractor display, call (402) 640-1769.
The initial phase of construction on the Nexus project includes a new veterinary technology clinic and classrooms, a new farm site with a large animal handling facility and other farm structures for livestock operations, a farm office and storage. The new facilities will be located near the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex in Norfolk. Construction should be completed by Fall 2021.
The funding for the $22.3 million improvement to the agriculture facilities will come from Northeast’s commitment of $10 million, as well as external fundraising to fill the gap. The College has raised enough funds to begin construction; however, fundraising for the Nexus campaign will continue, as more is needed for equipment, technology and furnishings.
In August 2019, the Acklie Charitable Foundation (ACF) announced a $5 million lead gift to the Nexus project. ACF was founded by the late Duane Acklie and Phyllis Acklie, both Madison County natives and graduates of Norfolk Junior College, a predecessor institution of Northeast Community College.
Smith Urges Level Playing Field for U.S. Ethanol
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) led nearly 20 of their colleagues in writing to United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, requesting he work to terminate Brazil’s use of a trade rate quota (TRQ) on U.S ethanol. Currently, Brazil has a 20 percent tariff on out-of-quota imports of U.S. ethanol while Brazil enjoys nearly tariff-free access to the U.S. market. In the letter, Smith requested Brazil implement its previous zero-duty exemption for U.S. ethanol. Smith, a long-time champion of ethanol use, is a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade and is a member on the Biofuels Caucus.
“Demand for ethanol was at record highs before the pandemic and Nebraska greatly benefitted from this boom, and ensuring our products have a level playing field internationally will help us bounce back. I appreciate my colleagues joining in this fight for fairness for the ethanol industry, and look forward to hearing from Ambassador Lighthizer on the path forward.”
Full text of the letter:
Dear Ambassador Lighthizer,
As representatives of significant corn- and ethanol-producing districts that would greatly benefit from an equitable trade relationship with Brazil, we ask that creating a level playing field for U.S. ethanol be a high priority during bilateral trade negotiations. Specifically, we request that you urge your Brazilian counterparts to terminate the ethanol tariff rate quota (TRQ) and prohibitive 20% tariff on out-of-quota imports, and instead reinstate the zero-duty exemption for U.S. ethanol from Brazil’s Common External Tariff that was in effect from 2012 to 2017.
Although our countries maintained a reciprocal policy of applying low or zero duties on ethanol imports for nearly a decade, in recent years, Brazil has increasingly implemented protectionist trade policies towards the U.S. ethanol industry. In September 2017, Brazil unilaterally decided to increase tariffs on ethanol imports through its restrictive TRQ system. Last year, for example, Brazil set an import quota of 198 million imported ethanol gallons and implemented a 20% tariff on each gallon above that. Despite initial claims that the TRQ would be in place only for two years, the Brazilian government extended the policy by another year, and we have reason to suspect that this will once again be extended at the end of this month.
Ethanol is foundational to the trade relationship with Brazil and accounts for nearly half of all U.S. agricultural exports to the country. Brazil was the largest U.S. ethanol export market last year, purchasing 332 million gallons of U.S.-produced ethanol worth $493 million. This economic activity is injected directly back into the communities we serve in the form of employee wages, feedstock payments to farmers, and continued investments in our ethanol facilities. Unfortunately, Brazilian purchases are down 32% from their peak in 2018 and appear likely to decline again in 2020 as the prohibitive 20% duty continues to hinder U.S. ethanol’s economic value in the country. For this strong partnership to continue, it is critical that U.S.-produced ethanol receive fair tariff treatment.
Brazil’s inequitable treatment of U.S. ethanol creates economic strain throughout the U.S. ethanol industry, especially during a year in which COVID-19 is devastating fuel demand in our country. The United States, however, continues to provide ethanol imports from Brazil virtually tariff-free access to the U.S. market. Last year, the U.S. imported 250 million gallons worth $596 million. Brazil must end this unfairness by eliminating its TRQ.
We appreciate your efforts to seize this opportunity to strengthen and improve the U.S.-Brazil trade relationship and look forward to an ongoing dialogue with your office and the Administration as trade discussions between the United States and Brazil continue.
First Meal Vital for Calf and Piglet Survival
The first meal of their lives may well determine the fate of calves and piglets; if they don't get what they need quickly, the newborns may not survive to weaning age, said two scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Colostrum is a vital nutrient that mothers provide in the first feedings that newborn farm animals must have within 24 hours of birth. Calves and piglets are born without much of an immune system, and colostrum provides them with a rich dose of antibodies, or immunoglobulins.
"It is very important for a calf to receive protective antibodies from its mother," said Mike Clawson, research molecular biologist at the ARS Genetics, Breeding, and Animal Health Research Unit in Clay Center, Neb. "Those antibodies can protect the calf from the same pathogens its mother was exposed to long enough for its own immunity to develop." Clawson's research includes the genomic aspects regarding the failure of passive transfer of colostrum antibodies in cattle.
Calves and piglets that do not receive antibodies from their mothers are at profound risk for disease and death. Before they are born, their mothers concentrate immunoglobulins in colostrum, which is essentially a first milk. Calves and piglets typically nurse shortly after birth, and the ingested antibodies are ultimately transported to their circulatory system.
Timing is everything in this process because shortly after delivery, the mother's production of immunoglobulin drops by 90 percent. In roughly that same time span, newborns lose the ability to take in the benefits of colostrum.
"The newborn gut is permeable to large molecules at birth, but within 24 to 48 hours it becomes impermeable to them," said Jeff Vallet, ARS national program leader for food animal production in Beltsville, MD. "Even if we were to provide colostrum to older newborns, absorption of the immunoglobulins is reduced or eliminated." Vallet's research involved developing the "immunocrit" testing system to determine if a piglet received enough colostrum from its sow.
According to Clawson, colostrum deprivation is the greatest risk factor for a calf to become sick or die before weaning. "Calves that do not receive colostrum are 50 times or more likely to die in the first 3 weeks of life," he said. Calves that do not receive adequate colostrum yet manage to survive past weaning are at elevated risk for developing disease later in their lives.
Colostrum is even more important for piglets, Vallet said. Small piglets are very sensitive to a lack of colostrum, and their mortality rate increases as high as 80 percent. Larger piglets have more energy reserves and may survive, but they are more susceptible to diseases. In addition, the lack of colostrum impairs gut and uterine development, which reduces feed and reproductive efficiency.
Farmers, ranchers and veterinarians can determine the colostrum status of their newborn livestock through the simple immunocrit blood test. If the newborns lack immunoglobulins, they may be hand-fed commercially available colostrum replacements or supplements.
A 2016 paper published in Europe studied the cost of colostrum antibody deficiency to calves. That study estimated a loss of about $68 and $91, respectively, for each dairy and beef calf. In the United States, over 20 percent of beef cattle calves and 19 percent of dairy calves suffer from colostrum deprivation. Preweaning mortality costs the U.S. swine industry an estimated $1.6 billion each year, and one of the contributing factors is deficient colostrum intake by piglets.
NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS
All layers in Nebraska during July 2020 totaled 8.53 million, down from 9.10 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Nebraska egg production during July totaled 199 million eggs, down from 233 million in 2019. July egg production per 100 layers was 2,327 eggs, compared to 2,562 eggs in 2019.
IOWA: Iowa egg production during July2020 was 1.22 billion eggs, up 5% from last month but down 14% from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of all layers on hand during July 2020 was 46.7 million, down 3% from last month and down 18% from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for July were 2,618, up 9% from last month and up 5% from last year.
July Egg Production Down 2 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.27 billion during July 2020, down 2 percent from last year. Production included 8.01 billion table eggs, and 1.25 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.17 billion were broiler-type and 83.2 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during July 2020 totaled 379 million, down 3 percent from last year. July egg production per 100 layers was 2,445 eggs, up 1 percent from July 2019.
Total layers in the United States on August 1, 2020 totaled 378 million, down 4 percent from last year. The 378 million layers consisted of 314 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 60.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.30 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on August 1, 2020, averaged 79.7 eggs per 100 layers, up 2 percent from August 1, 2019.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Down 9 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during July 2020 totaled 46.1 million, down 9 percent from July 2019. Eggs in incubators totaled 46.3 million on August 1, 2020, down 3 percent from a year ago. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 294,000 during July 2020, up 15 percent from July 2019.
Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up Slightly
Broiler-type chicks hatched during July 2020 totaled 851 million, up slightly from July 2019. Eggs in incubators totaled 688 million on August 1, 2020, down 2 percent from a year ago. Leading breeders placed 8.24 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during
July 2020, down 3 percent from July 2019.
Naig Honors Century Farm Families in Western Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Hill honored families from Crawford, Ida and Monona counties with Century Farm awards today. To achieve Century Farm status, each family must maintain ownership of the land for 100 years.
“The Century Farm Program recognizes the strength and resiliency of Iowa farm families, and the sacrifices each generation has made to retain the ownership of the land for 100 years,” said Secretary Naig. “These families all deserve to be recognized and celebrated for reaching this milestone and being a part of Iowa’s rich agricultural legacy.”
“Agriculture and our farm families have long been critical to the vitality of rural communities across the state and the backbone of Iowa’s economy,” said Craig Hill, Iowa Farm Bureau President. “It’s a tremendous honor to co-sponsor the Century and Heritage Farm programs recognizing the multi-generational farm families that have persevered countless challenges over 100 or 150 years and kept their farms in the family.”
The Century Farm families recognized today include:
Gary & Linda Reimer and Jerrod Reimer from Crawford County
Virdene L.W. Otto and Deanna J. Otto from Ida County
Schrader Farms from Monona County
There were 238 families who received the Century Farm award, recognizing 100 years of ownership, and 103 families who received the Heritage Farm award, recognizing 150 years of ownership, this year. Families who received the award in 2020 could choose to participate in a small regional event, like the ceremony held in Ida County, or the 2021 Iowa State Fair. The full list of Century and Heritage Farm awardees is available at iowaagriculture.gov/century-and-heritage-farm-program.
Virtual Field Days Provide Timely Updates from ISU Research Farms and Extension
The COVID 19 pandemic prevented Iowa State University from holding in-person field days at research and demonstration farms for the summer of 2020. However, the research continued, and a series of virtual tours beginning Aug. 31 will provide an update on this year’s results.
Five virtual field day tour stops are scheduled for Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, and each tour will last from 8-8:30 a.m. At least six different research farms across Iowa will be featured, with 20 minutes of in-field video, drone footage, and presentations by specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Following each presentation specialists will be available on the webinar to answer questions from attendees.
“Field days give farmers, ag businesses and the public a chance to see agricultural research projects in progress and talk with the researchers involved in the experiments,” said Mark Honeyman, associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and director of Iowa State University Research Farms. “Virtual field days are being held this year to keep all safe and still make the latest field research accessible to Iowa agriculture.”
Each year, about 15,000 people visit Iowa State’s research and demonstration farms, including 2,000 students who receive hands-on educational experiences.
"The research and demonstration farms represent the intersection of Iowa State’s primary missions of research, teaching and extension,” said Angie Rieck-Hinz, extension field agronomist for north central Iowa. “The virtual tours provide a unique opportunity to exhibit research across the farm system and take people into the plots with the researchers.”
This year’s field day activities were officially put on hold beginning April 1, due to safety concerns regarding COVID-19.
Speakers and topics
- Aug. 31, Daniel J. Robison, holder of the Endowed Dean’s Chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State, opens the program. Honeyman and Tim Good, research farms manager, will provide an overview of the research farm system at Iowa state.
- On Sept. 1, Matt Helmers, professor and extension agricultural engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State, will discuss water quality monitoring and research.
- On Sept. 2, Alison Robertson, professor and extension specialist in plant pathology and microbiology at Iowa State, will discuss corn fungicide trials.
- Sept. 3, Mahdi Al-Kaisi, professor and extension soil management specialist, and Angie Rieck-Hinz field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will give an overview of long-term tillage and crop rotation studies.
- Sept. 4, Antonio Mallarino, professor and extension specialist in agronomy at Iowa State, will give an update on phosphorus and potassium placement and tillage studies.
Here's the link to register and get more information: http://www.aep.iastate.edu/fielddays/.
Certified Crop Adviser credits are available during each virtual tour. There is no charge to attend, and a single online registration includes all five tour stops. Register in advance and be sure to test your technology prior to the start of the tour.
NPPC, NAMI FILE AMICUS BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF NEW SWINE INSPECTION SYSTEM
On Friday, the National Pork Producers Council and the North American Meat Institute filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, in support of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s New Swine Inspection System (NSIS), enacted into law in the fall of 2019. The voluntary program increases efficiency and effectiveness of the federal inspection process, allows for the rapid adoption of new food-safety technologies in pork slaughter, and has the potential to increase U.S. harvest capacity.
NSIS, which has been piloted at five pork processing plants, was developed over many years of research and evaluation and received the endorsement of the National Association of Federal Veterinarians, highlighting the strong science-based approach used in designing the program. Earlier this year, labor unions filed a lawsuit against NSIS.
NPPC strongly supports the NSIS and the program’s loss could result in an annual capacity reduction of nearly 2 million hogs, on top of unprecedented challenges already facing U.S. pork producers as a result of the COVID pandemic. “This environment is not one in which additional production slowdowns can be weathered in stride. The livelihoods of American hog farms are already in a precarious state,” the brief explained.
USDA Works with Stakeholders to Improve Prevented Planting Coverage
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced it will make several improvements to Federal crop insurance prevented planting coverage. RMA will implement these changes for most spring crops with prevented planting coverage, starting in the 2021 crop year, and for all crops with prevented planting coverage, starting in the 2022 crop year.
“After unprecedented prevented planting in 2019, I thought it was incredibly important to examine how prevented planting policy can be improved,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “Over the past few months, RMA has engaged producer groups, insurance agents, and Approved Insurance Providers in discussion through a prevented planting taskforce with the goal to improve prevented planting for producers when they really need it, but not to incentivize it.”
The changes include:
- Expansion of the “1 in 4” requirement nationwide. Currently, only producers in the Prairie Pothole National Priority Area are subject to the requirement, which requires producers to plant acreage in at least one of the four most recent crop years to be eligible for prevented planting coverage on those acres.
- Several modifications to existing policy and procedure to ensure that producers’ prevented planting payments adequately reflect the crops the producer intended to plant.
- Allow acreage planted with an uninsured second crop following the failure of a first crop within the same crop year to, nonetheless, be included as prevented planting eligible acreage.
- Provide an exception allowing prevented planting of a different crop than the producer attempted to plant when a producer does not have a history of producing two crops in the same field if the producer can prove intention.
- Allow the use of an intended acreage report for the first two years, instead of only the first year, for producers in a new county, where they have never produced the crop.
RMA is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through AIPs to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to continue supporting crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should continue to contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
NFU Urges Trump, EPA to Reject Gap Year Waiver Requests
Several months after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth determined that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had improperly issued small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the agency revealed that it has 98 pending requests for exemptions, including 67 “gap year” requests that would be retroactively applied to previous years’ RFS requirements.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew released the following statement in response to the news:
“Over the past four years, EPA’s mishandling of the RFS and preferential treatment of the oil industry has inflicted tremendous harm on the American biofuels industry and family farmers. We had hoped the blatant abuse of small refinery exemptions by oil corporations would end with the Tenth Circuit’s ruling in January, but it is clear that they will stop at nothing to avoid complying with the RFS. These so called “gap year” requests are just a thinly veiled ploy to sidestep the Court’s decision and make an extra buck.
“Under any circumstances, this behavior would be objectionable. But as farmers and rural communities suffer significant financial hardship due to the pandemic, it is absolutely unconscionable. Now more than ever, we need President Trump to keep his promise to uphold the RFS and support homegrown biofuels. He and his EPA must immediately reject these requests.”
CME Group to Launch New South American Soybean (Platts) Futures Contract on September 21
CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced it will launch South American Soybean (Platts) Futures on September 21, 2020, pending all relevant regulatory review periods. This contract will offer market participants a new tool to directly manage exposure to the Brazilian soybean market.
"As Brazil has emerged as a leading producer and exporter of soybeans, regional pricing alternatives have become increasingly important for risk management," said Tim Andriesen, CME Group Managing Director of Agricultural Products. "Customers have been using our benchmark grain and oilseed products to hedge their global soybean positions for over 80 years, and these new contracts will enhance those products with contracts that reflect Brazilian export prices."
The new South American Soybean (Platts) futures were jointly developed with B3, one of the world's largest financial market infrastructure companies. Brazilian Soybean (Platts) futures will be financially-settled based on the SOYBEX price assessment published daily since July 2018 by S&P Global Platts, reflecting the FOB value of Soybeans from the port of Santos in Brazil. The contract will simultaneously track the export price and the basis to U.S. soybeans, offering market participants the ability to trade the spread between these key commodity regions.
"To B3, the launch of this contract is a collective success and another major step in our strategic relationship with CME Group," points out Louis Gourbin, Head of Commodities at B3. "We are working to make the B3 contract available to the market as soon as possible," he adds.
Ian Dudden, Global Pricing Director, Metals & Agriculture at S&P Global Platts, said, "We are pleased that CME Group and their customers recognize the important role our independent Brazil FOB Santos Soybean price assessment plays in creating price transparency, which in turn provides opportunities for the provision of risk management tools that bring greater efficiency to the global agriculture markets."
South American Soybean futures will be quoted in U.S. dollars and cents per metric ton and have a contract size of 136 metric tons. The minimum price fluctuation will be $0.20 per metric ton, with the final settlement price rounded to the nearest $0.01. The new futures contract will be available for trading on CME Globex or through block trades via CME ClearPort, and will be listed by and subject to the rules and regulations of CBOT.
Peterson Questions Data and Methodology Used in Making USDA CFAP Payments
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota sent a letter Friday urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to clarify how USDA determined the eligibility of different crops and livestock and poultry species for payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP. In the letter, the lawmakers contend that the data used by the Department to calculate CFAP payments was limited to only the earliest parts of the pandemic, missing the full extent of damage to different commodities.
“Some would argue that the full agricultural market impact of the closure of schools, restaurants, catering, and agricultural processing facilities due to the COVID-19 public health crisis were not fully realized during the CFAP covered period, with losses for many commodities extending well into the second and third quarters of this year,” wrote Peterson.
Additionally, Peterson took issue with the reasons certain commodities were denied payments.
“Hundreds of commodities were denied CFAP eligibility for ‘insufficient data’ and ‘lack of information,’ though it would seem that the well documented shut-down of school meals, restaurants, and food service demand would have impacted those food crops, and the loss of export, landscape, and retail markets for the non-food crops (e.g., pima cotton) and livestock/poultry,” he wrote. “And, producers of processed food commodities (e.g., raisins) and aquaculture seem to have been completely excluded from the program.”
“Without consistent public clarity on what data USDA deems sufficient for use or how USDA is analyzing this data, the program is at risk of public distrust and other commodities seeking future program eligibility are placed at a disadvantage,” added Peterson. “Given this and the continued market uncertainty during the ongoing national emergency, I trust USDA is working to assist producers this summer who have suffered significant market disruptions and been denied access to CFAP to date.”
Bipartisan House Coalition Joins White House, RFA in Demanding Level Playing Field with Brazil
With just two weeks remaining before Brazil is likely to impose a tariff of at least 20 percent on all fuel ethanol imports from the United States, a bipartisan coalition of House members has joined the effort to restore fair and equitable ethanol trade with Brazil.
In a letter sent Thursday to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, 20 members of the House implored the Administration to ensure that “creating a level playing field for U.S. ethanol be a high priority during bilateral trade negotiations.” Their request follows President Trump’s recent call for “fairness in tariffs” on ethanol. On August 10, President Trump stated, “as far as Brazil is concerned, if they do tariffs, we have to have an equalization of tariffs. …it’s called ‘reciprocity.’” In a letter to Lighthizer on August 11, RFA supported the Administration’s position.
Thursday’s House letter, led by Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Adrian Smith (R-NE), asks Lighthizer to “…urge your Brazilian counterparts to terminate the ethanol tariff rate quota (TRQ) and prohibitive 20% tariff on out-of-quota imports, and instead reinstate the zero-duty exemption for U.S. ethanol from Brazil’s Common External Tariff that was in effect from 2012 to 2017.”
Commenting on the House letter, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said, “Clearly, there is consensus building that something must be done immediately to prevent Brazil from doubling down on its protectionist ethanol trade policies. Both the White House and Congress understand the need for free and open markets when it comes to ethanol. The chorus of voices is growing louder: it’s time for Brazil to remove its punitive trade barriers and honor its commitment to free and fair trade. Otherwise, the United States may have no choice but to respond in kind and take action to shut out imports of Brazilian ethanol.”
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