Thursday August 6 Ag News

Nebraska Grazing Conference Goes Virtual: August 11-12

Those concerned with the utilization and conservation of grazing lands are encouraged to register for the Nebraska Grazing Conference on Aug. 11 and 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Challenges brought about by COVID-19 have required changes be made to this year’s 20th Nebraska Grazing Conference, according to Daren Redfearn, chair of the NGC steering committee. The changes reflect guidelines of the University of Nebraska and the Center for Disease Control related to groups and social distancing in this uncertain environment. The health and safety of conference participants is of concern to conference organizers.

Organizers hope the online version of the conference will be a convenience to a broader audience who will be able to participate from their home or office. Opportunities for interaction among participants and to ask follow-up questions of speakers have been built into the online event. Additionally, several watch parties have been organized around the state for groups of 25 or less to gather at Extension offices or elsewhere and participate in this conference. This option may assist those who do not have stable Internet service in their area.

Keynote speakers include a Walt Schacht, Interim Director of the Center for Grassland Studies with a virtual lunch and updates followed by a opening remarks from Daren Redfearn. Of three sessions, the first session will center around Weather-Ready Ranches, featuring Martha Shulski, Director of the Nebraska State Climate Office; Justin Derner, Research Leader, USDA ARS Rangeland Rousces; Mitchell Stephenson, Range Management Specialist with Nebraska Extension, and a Nebraska and Wyoming producer panel.   

The 2019 Leopold Conservation Award Recipients,  Russ and Angela Sundstrom, are highlighted in this year’s conference.

Session two is on Ranch of the Future, where Travis Mullinkins, assistant professor with Nebraska Extension will discuss using new technology; Dannele Peck, Director of the Northern Plains Climate Hub will share about “GrassCast” and additional Extension speakers on utilizing grazing tools.

Invasive woody plant management will round out sessions three. Dirac Twidwell with University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Agronomy and Horticulture will cover the use of fire in Eastern Redcedar management; Chad Bladow, Prescribed Fire Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy, and precision conservation with Andrew Little, assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources.  

There are no registration costs to attend this year’s conference. However, all conference participants will be required to register online at grassland.unl.edu/ngc-virtual beginning Aug. 1.



 Vote for one of three finalists in the Syngenta #RootedinAg Contest

Three people are finalists in the annual #RootedinAg Contest, hosted by Syngenta. The competition invites members of the ag community to share the inspiring stories of their mentors. Each 2020 finalist embodies a different aspect of the industry:
-    Hannah Borg, a young farmer from Wayne, Nebraska, who pays tribute to the 86-year-old matriarch of her sixth-generation farming family;
-    Stephon Fitzpatrick, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and community leader whose high school FFA adviser set in motion an incredible ag journey; and
-    DeLeon Pope, an independent certified crop adviser in Clinton, North Carolina, who used the lessons his farmer father taught him to create a successful business built on respect, hard work and perseverance.

Each finalist receives a mini touch-screen tablet. The grand prizewinner receives $500, a $1,000 donation to a local charity or civic organization and a professional photo shoot. Additionally, Syngenta will feature the winning story in an upcoming issue of Thrive magazine. Visitors to the Thrive magazine website can vote for their favorite finalist through Sept. 15. Online voting, along with judges' scores, decides who wins the grand prize, which Syngenta will announce this fall.

"At the core of each individual's story is the larger, overarching narrative that encompasses the heart of agriculture – it's one of grit and determination and of generations that continue to move farming in America forward," said Pam Caraway, communications lead at Syngenta. "Thank you to everybody who shared their stories. When we amplify the voices and experiences through projects such as #RootedinAg, we elevate our industry. Telling ag's incredible story through #RootedinAg shines a light for those outside of our industry, so they can understand that agriculture, at its heart, moves to the beat of our families and friends."

For more information and to vote for your favorite finalist, go to the #RootedinAg Contest page at www.SyngentaThrive.com/Contest. Join the conversation online – connect with Syngenta at Syngenta-us.com/social.



 Security Bank makes pledge to new ag facilities at Northeast Community College

Security Bank of Laurel, Allen, Coleridge, Osmond and Hartington has thrown its support behind new agriculture facilities at Northeast Community College with a $25,000 pledge to the Nexus campaign.

“Agriculture is a rapidly changing industry,” said Security Bank President and CEO Keith Knudsen. “With constant advances in technology and genetics, there is a real need for continuing education to support the next generation of producers.”

“Agriculture is the lifeblood of our area,” added Security Bank Executive Vice President Susie Koranda. “It impacts our communities, our businesses and our customers.”

Security National Bank was founded in 1928 by J.J. Delay of Beresford, So. Dak. After changing hands several times, it was purchased in 1973 by a group of local investors led by Richard E. Adkins. That local ownership has continued with Rick and Joan Adkins.

“Being a locally owned and operated bank, we are able to quickly react to the needs of our customers,” Knudsen explained. “Many of our employees and managers have been with Security Bank for 10 years or more. This allows us to build long-term relationships with our customers.”

Between 1991 and 2005, the bank grew to include offices in Allen, Coleridge, Osmond and Hartington, in addition to the main bank in Laurel. In 2012, the bank’s name was changed to Security Bank.

 “We appreciate the ongoing support from Security Bank,” said Dr. Tracy Kruse, associate vice president of development and external affairs and executive director of the Northeast Foundation. “The bank created an endowed scholarship in 2006. This donation to the Nexus campaign will continue to provide educational opportunities for students.”

“Northeast students are important in meeting our staffing needs,” Koranda said, “and we also recognize that Northeast graduates tend to stay in the area, helping sustain our rural communities.”

The contribution from Security Bank will help build phase one of new agriculture facilities on Northeast’s Norfolk campus that will completely replace an old 1920s farm structure. The initial phase of construction 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 on E. Benjamin Ave. in Norfolk. Site work began in April and construction should be completed by the Fall of 2021. Groundbreaking ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 10.

The funding for the agriculture facilities will come from the College’s commitment of $10 million, as well as external fundraising to fill the gap. With a total project cost of $22.3 million, Northeast Community 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.



T-shirt Campaign Helps Nebraska Food Banks Put Beef on the Table

Nebraska food banks will soon be able to provide more beef to families in need thanks to the “Good Life. Great Steaks.” T-shirt campaign coordinated by the Nebraska Beef Council and the Rural Radio Network. During the four-week promotion, over 1,200 shirts imprinted with the campaign slogan were purchased raising $8,100 to supply beef that will be distributed through Food Bank for the Heartland and Food Bank of Lincoln.
 
The campaign was designed to highlight the importance of Nebraska’s beef industry to the global marketplace while supporting efforts to address food insecurity in the state. Nebraska’s eight billion pounds of beef produced in 2019 accounted for nearly one third of the total US beef production. Nebraska is home to 6.8 million head of cattle, more than 3 times the number of people.
 
Food Bank for the Heartland and Food Bank of Lincoln serve all 93 counties in Nebraska. From March 15 to June 30, 2020, Food Bank for the Heartland distributed 7,510,900 meals to children, families and seniors facing hunger in the Heartland. During the same period, Food Bank of Lincoln connected neighbors in Southeast Nebraska to 3,714,693 meals.
 
According to Feeding America, the estimated number of food insecure Nebraskans jumped from 237,000 to 334,000 due to COVID-19.
 
“COVID-19 forced thousands of Nebraska families into a situation they never imagined, seeking food assistance for the very first time,” said Brian Barks, President & CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland. “Nebraska’s two food banks, Food Bank for the Heartland and the Food Bank of Lincoln, have seen an estimated 40 percent increase in demand for food assistance. The dollars raised through the Nebraska Beef Council’s campaign will greatly assist us in providing nutritious food to struggling families. We are grateful for the support of the Beef Council and the Rural Radio Network.”
 
Along with the proceeds from the t-shirt sales, Tyson Foods and JBS USA have pledged to add to the donations to the food banks. As a result, thousands of beef meals will be served to families in need across the state.   
 
“It’s been great to see the outpouring of support during this campaign,” said Buck Wehrbein, board chairman for the Nebraska Beef Council. “Nebraskan’s love their beef and they are generous when it comes to helping their neighbors. What a great way to show our pride for the state’s beef industry while helping to put food on the tables of those in need. Nebraska really is home to the good life, great steaks and amazing people.”



Smith to Hold Virtual Agriculture Summit

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) will host a Virtual Agriculture Summit, with online sessions each morning from Tuesday, August 18, through Friday, August 21. Those interested in attending must pre-register for each session individually at http://adriansmith.house.gov/AgSummit2020.  

The Virtual Agriculture Summit provides Third District constituents an opportunity to hear from Smith and his special guests on the future of agriculture and rural development policy. In addition to Smith, officials such as Ambassador Gregg Doud, Chief Agriculture Negotiator, USTR, USDA Farm Service Agency Director Richard Fordyce, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach, and State Senator Curt Friesen will join the discussions on selected dates.

Rural Housing & Rural Development Session
Tuesday, August 18
7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. (CDT)/ 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. (MDT)
Special Guest:  Tim Kenny, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, and Krista Mettscher, USDA Rural Development

USDA Programs & Ag Producers Session
Wednesday, August 19
7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. (CDT)/ 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. (MDT)
Special Guest: Richard Fordyce, Director, USDA Farm Service Agency, and Greg Ibach, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs

Rural Broadband Session
Thursday, August 20
7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. (CDT)/ 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. (MDT)
Special Guests: State Senator Curt Friesen, and Zach Hunnicut, Nebraska Broadband Task Force Member

Trade Opportunities Session
Friday, August 21
8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. (CDT)/ 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. (MDT)
Special Guests: Ambassador Greg Doud, Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

To pre-register for each session, please visit http://adriansmith.house.gov/AgSummit2020. For more information about these events, please contact Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.



NEBRASKA 2020 FARM REAL ESTATE VALUE AND CASH RENT

Nebraska's farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, decreased from 2019, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farm real estate value for 2020 averaged $2,790 per acre, down $60 per acre (down 2%) from last year.

Cropland value decreased 1% from last year to $4,360 per acre. Dryland cropland value averaged $3,460 per acre, $30 lower than last year. Irrigated cropland value averaged $5,820 per acre, $30 below a year ago. Pastureland, at $1,040 per acre, was $10 lower than the previous year.

Cash rents paid to landlords in 2020 for cropland were mixed from last year. Irrigated cropland rent averaged $240 per acre, $3 above last year. Dryland cropland rent averaged $149 per acre, $5 higher than a year earlier. Pasture rented for cash averaged $24 per acre, $0.50 below the previous year.

IOWA 2020 FARM REAL ESTATE VALUE AND CASH RENT
Iowa’s farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $7,070 per acre in 2020, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Land Values 2020 Summary. This is down $120 per acre or 2% from last year’s level.

Cropland, at $7,170 per acre, was down $90 from last year. Pasture, at $2,690 per acre, was down $30 from last year.

Cropland cash rent paid to Iowa landlords in 2020 averaged $230.00 per acre according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Non-irrigated cropland rent averaged $230.00 per acre, unchanged from last year. Irrigated cropland rent averaged $238.00 per acre, up $3.00 from 2019. Pasture rented for cash averaged $54.00 per acre, down $5.00 from the previous year.

U.S. Agricultural Land Values Highlights
The United States farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $3,160 per acre for 2020, no change from 2019. The United States cropland value averaged $4,100 per acre, no change from the previous year. The United States pasture value averaged $1,400 per acre, no change from 2019.



Legislation would extend loan forgiveness to rural businesses previously left behind

Months after the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law, Congress is considering legislation that would include rural businesses and communities initially left out of the stimulus package.

The Rural Equal Aid (REA) Act, a bipartisan measure led by U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA), will provide needed relief to entities with loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program. Currently, only businesses with loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) are eligible to have the principal, interest, and any associated fees owed on the covered loans for a six-month period. This has left rural businesses behind.

Under the new proposal, payment relief would extend to businesses with loans through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) and the Intermediary Relending Program, as well as loans made to public and nonprofit organizations for community facilities, and to businesses, cooperatives, and nonprofits expanding in rural areas.

Johnathan Hladik, policy director for the Center for Rural Affairs, said passage of the REA Act is crucial not only for the business and community entities involved, but also rural America.

“Expanding support to rural businesses will provide parity for rural communities that have been hit hard by the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic,” Hladik said. “These are the loans that keep Main Street vibrant, making it possible for small community financial institutions to grow local economies with local dollars.”

Cosponsors of the House bill include Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jared Golden (D-ME), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Austin Scott (R-GA) and Scott Tipton (R-CO). Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), along with Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), and David Perdue (R-GA) are leading the companion bill in the Senate.

“Our rural businesses have been under the same burdens and weathering the same storm since the beginning of COVID-19. It is only fair that we extend them the same provisions to sustain them through challenging economic times,” Axne said. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan group to unveil this legislation in both chambers of Congress this week, and I urge congressional leadership to include this commonsense measure in the discussions of the next round of essential COVID-19 aid.”



Pork Exports Trend Lower in June but Remain on Record Pace; Another Tough Month for Beef Exports

June exports of U.S. pork fell below year-ago levels for the first time this year but exports remain on a record pace in 2020, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports were down sharply from a year ago in June, reflecting a lingering impact of a temporary slowdown in beef production combined with restrictions on foodservice and weakening economies in major import markets. June lamb exports trended higher, posting the second largest totals of 2020.

"We expected that the interruptions in red meat production would continue to weigh on June exports, but anticipated more of a rebound from the low May totals - particularly for beef," said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "But it takes time for the entire chain to adjust to supply shocks, and thus it was another difficult month for exports. However, weekly U.S. export data suggest an upward trend in demand in most markets, and with production recovering the U.S. has regained its supply advantage. So we expect beef and pork exports to regain momentum in the second half of the year."

June pork exports totaled 207,181 metric tons (mt), down 3% from a year ago, while export value fell 9% to $516.3 million. Exports continued to trend higher than a year ago to China/Hong Kong, but were the lowest since October. Exports also increased year-over-year to the ASEAN region, the Caribbean, Honduras and Taiwan and were sharply higher for Albania and Ukraine. But shipments trended lower to Mexico, Japan, South Korea and South America. Despite the June decline, first-half pork exports were still 24% ahead of last year's record pace in volume (1.55 million mt) and 29% higher in value ($4.05 billion).

Exports accounted for 24% of total pork production in June and 22.2% of muscle cut production, down substantially from a year ago (27.8% and 24%, respectively). For the first half of the year, exports accounted for 31.5% of total pork production and 28.6% for muscle cuts, up from 25.8% and 22.4%, respectively, last year. Export value per head slaughtered averaged $46.19 in June, down 19% from a year ago and down sharply from the high levels achieved in April and May. The January-June average was $63.61 per head, up 27% from a year ago.

June beef exports were close to the May lows, down 33% from a year ago to 79,013 mt, with value falling 32% to $492.3 million. Exports were below year-ago levels to most markets but trended higher to Canada, China and South Africa. For January through June, beef exports fell 9% below last year's pace in volume (591,609 mt) and 10% lower in value ($3.63 billion).

Exports accounted for 9.7% of total beef production in June and 8% for muscle cuts, down sharply from a year ago (15.4% and 12.7%, respectively) and the lowest in 10 years. First-half exports accounted for 13.3% of total beef production and 10.9% for muscle cuts, down from 14.2% and 11.6%, respectively, last year. Beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $219.53 in June, down 32% year-over-year. The first-half average was $300.43 per head, down 4%.

June exports of U.S. lamb were the second largest of 2020 at 2,289 mt, up 113% from a year ago, while value climbed 29% to $2.23 million. First-half export volume was nearly even with last year at 7,752 mt, though value was down 21% to $10.43 million.



This Week's Drought Summary

As Tropical Storm Isaias churned through the northern Caribbean and then northward along the east coast of the United States, an active pattern from the central Plains through the Midwest also brought precipitation with it. Temperatures were cooler through the center of the country, with departures of 6 to 8 degrees below normal in Kansas and Oklahoma while temperatures were well above normal in the Northwest, Southwest and from the Mid-Atlantic up into New England. Several areas broke or tied temperature records for the month: Phoenix had their all-time warmest month ever with an average temperature of 98.9 degrees and Tucson also had their warmest July ever at 91.5 degrees, breaking the previous warmest July by almost a full degree (90.6 degrees in 2005). Sitka, Alaska reached 88 degrees on July 31, tying an all-time record high originally set on July 30, 1976. Richland, Washington recorded 113 degrees on July 30, tying an all-time record high first achieved on August 5, 1961.

Midwest
Temperatures were cooler than normal over the northern and western portions of the region and near normal to slightly above in the eastern portions. Departure from normal temperatures were 2-4 degrees below normal in Missouri, Illinois, and portions of southern Iowa. Wet conditions dominated the region from Missouri to southern Ohio where 200+ percent of normal precipitation was recorded for the week. Improvements were made to the abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions in southern Missouri. Abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions were improved in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and into portions of Ohio in response to the greatest rains. Portions of the upper Midwest continue to remain dry, with new areas of abnormally dry conditions introduced into northern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. In western Iowa, the areas of moderate and severe drought were expanded with a new area of extreme drought introduced this week.

High Plains
Cooler than normal temperatures helped to slow down some of the drought development in the region this week. Temperatures were generally 2-4 degrees below normal, with pockets in Kansas that were 6-8 degrees below normal. Precipitation was mixed as areas of eastern Kansas, eastern Wyoming, central South Dakota, south central and southwest Nebraska and far southwest Kansas all had above-normal precipitation for the week with thunderstorm activity. Improvements to the moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions were made in southeast Kansas and central Nebraska. Moderate drought was expanded in the Nebraska panhandle and northeast Colorado while abnormally dry conditions were introduced here as well. A new area of severe drought was added in eastern Nebraska in response to dryness that has lingered in the region since last fall. Moderate drought was expanded in southeast Wyoming and abnormally dry conditions were expanded in northwest Wyoming.

Looking Ahead
Over the next 5-7 days, it is anticipated that the West remains dry with only light precipitation over portions of New Mexico and southeast Arizona and into the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. The greatest precipitation is anticipated over the Midwest and areas from Florida north along the East coast. Temperatures during this time will be warmest over the West with departures of 3-6 degrees above normal widespread over the Southwest and into the Rocky Mountains. Cooler than normal temperatures are projected over the lower Mississippi Valley with departures of up to 3 degrees below normal.

The 6-10 day outlooks show the greatest likelihood of above-normal temperatures over the areas east of the Rocky Mountains, with the greatest probabilities over southern New Mexico and the Great Lakes. There are also above-normal chances of below-normal temperatures over the west coast and into the Great Basin. The greatest chances of above-normal precipitation are over the eastern half of the country, centered on the Midwest, and also over the Pacific Northwest. The highest chances of below-normal precipitation are centered over Colorado and New Mexico and dominating the Rocky Mountain states and into the Plains.



Anniversary Report Details Success of the Renewable Fuel Standard
        
Commemorating the 15th anniversary of President George W. Bush’s signing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which created the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Renewable Fuels Association today released a report detailing how the industry has benefited the nation over the past decade and a half.

“As you’ll see in this report, the RFS has been a smashing success,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “In addition to decreasing reliance on imported petroleum, the RFS has reduced emissions of harmful tailpipe pollutants and greenhouse gases, lowered consumer fuel prices, supported hundreds of thousands of jobs in rural America, and boosted the agricultural economy by adding value to the crops produced by our nation’s farmers.”

The report details how, since 2005:
-    Ethanol and co-product output has quadrupled, and the number of jobs supported by the industry has more than doubled;
-    Ethanol has contributed substantially to the agriculture sector, supporting corn prices and farm incomes;
-    Ethanol consumption has more than tripled, enhancing U.S. energy security while saving consumers money at the pump;
-    The use of ethanol has reduced greenhouse gas emissions and cleaned up air pollution;
-    As ethanol production has increased, U.S. food price inflation has fallen and the number of people globally who are undernourished has declined.

The report also includes historical perspective from RFA Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen, who led RFA through this important policy change. “We’ve probably all seen the Schoolhouse Rock version of ‘How a Bill Becomes a Law’,” Dinneen writes. “It does a great job of explaining the legislative process. But it cannot capture the circuitous adventure and machinations that occur before an idea materializes into legislative language. That is particularly true when it comes to the 2005 Energy Bill and the Renewable Fuel Standard.”



ACE: Adopt GREET Act Another Pointed Reminder EPA Must Update its Antiquated Analysis of Ethanol’s GHG Benefits

Today, U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced the Adopt GREET Act, which would require EPA to update its decade-old greenhouse gas lifecycle modeling for ethanol and biodiesel. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings issued the following statement in support of the concept of the legislation:

“ACE has long called for adoption of the newest lifecycle science to quantify ethanol’s contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and we have worked collaboratively with Department of Energy scientists to improve the assumptions used in their GREET model, most notably through the white paper we published in 2018, “The Case for Properly Valuing the Low Carbon Benefits of Corn Ethanol.”

“Current data from the GREET model indicate that corn ethanol’s carbon intensity is approximately 50 percent less than petroleum gasoline providing significantly more greenhouse gas reduction benefits than when the RFS was enacted over a decade ago. Senator Thune’s legislation is another pointed reminder that EPA must do better in its treatment of ethanol’s greenhouse gas benefits compared to gasoline. Updating EPA’s antiquated modeling would be a step in the right direction to underpin the scientific and economic opportunity for ethanol use to increase via low carbon fuel markets.”

The Adopt GREET Act was cosponsored by Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).



Use of Corn as an Acceptable Feedstock Clarified by the Department of Energy

An important step forward to driving demand for corn was recently achieved, thanks to the work of state and national corn growers staff and members of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Market Development Action Team (MDAT).

In the most recent Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) clarified that corn grain is an acceptable feedstock. This means that starch derived sugars, specifically starches from field/feed corn, were clarified as acceptable.

“This is an important evolution in how DOE interprets legislative intent,” said NCGA Market Development Director Sarah McKay. “Given U.S. corn growers’ ability to efficiently produce, it is clear that corn can not only meet the needs of existing markets but can enable exciting new markets for renewable materials. We are excited to continue working with BETO and other government agencies to lay the groundwork and develop a solid foundation for future markets for corn.”

“We really appreciate the time that the senior leadership at DOE took to discuss policy with us, and we are looking forward to seeing new research focused on corn renewable chemicals,” said Dan Wesely, Chair of the Market Development Action Team.

The timing of this announcement is important because it means those looking for funding opportunities through BETO’s Plastics Innovations Challenge can use corn as a base for recycling technologies in the manufacture of new plastics. BETO works to develop industrially relevant technologies to enable domestically produced biofuels and bioproducts.

“One of the primary areas of potential is in bioplastics,” McKay added. “Now, BETO is able to use corn grain for agency funding and testing in national laboratories. Corn is an abundant, affordable, sustainably produced product, making it a competitive crop to use for bioplastics and other bioproducts.”

An example of a product that could now be developed to use corn grain as a feedstock is single-use plastics such as water bottles and plastic bags. Learn more about corn as an industrial feedstock and NCGA’s initiatives around new uses at ncga.com/newuses.



 Ag Groups Support Flexible Motor Carrier Policies in New Highway Bill

Today, the American Soybean Association joined major agricultural organizations in signing onto a letter to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, emphasizing the importance of passing a new Highway Bill before the current authorization expires on September 30. The groups are requesting the bill include significant policies specific to motor carriers, which will allow the food, agricultural and trucking industries to continue working together to adapt supply chains and ensure essential products are readily available across the U.S.

The letter highlights the following policies that are key to maintaining efficient agricultural supply chains.
-    Hours-of-service exemptions: The letter requests changes to the agricultural exemption to improve the effectiveness of the exemption and recommends that any agricultural commodity definition remains flexible for broad interpretation.
-    Load-Shifting: The letter requests the adoption of a 10% load-shift axle tolerance for trucks transporting trailers specifically designed to hold dry bulk goods.
-    Minimum Financial Responsibility: The letter asks for the Commerce Committee to support the status quo of $750,000 as the minimum financial responsibility requirement for motor carriers.



Mexican Seminars Cover Best Practices For Grain Handling, Processing

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is helping major customers in Mexico adapt to shifts in corn quality and determine how to deliver that technical information during the COVID-19 pandemic through a series of webinars focused on grain processing and handling.

“The U.S. grains transportation system is one of the most efficient in the world and able to meet contract specifications each and every year,” said Heidi Bringenberg, USGC assistant director in Mexico. “Each year, the Council works to encourage farmers to take proactive steps that will pay huge dividends when their grain reaches international destinations. At the same time, USGC staff provides the quality information vital to buyers and end-users as they make decisions about processing needs.”

In May 2020, the Council presented information from its corn export quality report to feed miller and livestock producer associations in central and southeast Mexico, including AMEPA, ANFACA and InterIndustrias. AMEPA members, for example, represent around 7.5 million metric tons (295 million bushels) of grain consumption annually.

During this virtual rollout, USGC's staff members in Mexico noted concerns among these key customers with elevated numbers for broken corn, foreign material (BCFM) in comparison to previous years. As a result, they put together follow-up meetings to provide information on how to sample, store, handle and manage grain and finished grain products keeping in mind elements of BCFM and mycotoxins.

“It’s a huge win that large customers in Mexico have come to value the corn quality reports as an important data set to study and join us every year to receive the results,” Bringenberg said. “Even though we have a challenging year in terms of quality, we are working together with these companies as a team to address the situation with mitigation measures so they can continue to rely on U.S. coarse grains and co-products.”

In July 2020, the Council organized a series of seminars featuring Dr. Carlos Campabadal with the IGP Institute at Kansas State University, who has expertise in grain management and could conduct the program in Spanish.

The conference presented relevant information on how to preserve the quality of grains and ingredients from origin to destination and before-and-after processing. The webinar also covered what measures are required during storage; best practices for sampling, cleaning, handling and preserving grains in tropical environments; storage infrastructure; and testing methodologies.

“Discussing BCFM corn was of great importance to attendees,” Bringenberg said. “Our customers were impressed with the unbiased information we presented and our offer to help them address any constraints or increase efficiencies.”

More participants signed up for the seminar than the webinar’s 100-person capacity, two-thirds of whom represented plants from a single company with 2.1 million tons (82.7 million bushels) of grain consumption annually. As a result, the Council arranged a second conference with identical material for those who were unable to attend.

The Council is also working with the companies with representatives at each of these conferences to track changes after hearing these practices. Because these highly technical programs are virtual, more staff who can implement these practices can participate, increasing the overall value of the outreach.

“During the pandemic, we are cognizant that agriculture is essential, and our customers are busy keeping feed mills operational and livestock fed,” Bringenberg said. “We want to offer programs of value and, so far, have been successful.”



USDA Offers Annual Installment Deferral Option for Farm Storage Facility Loan Borrowers

To assist Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) borrowers experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic and other challenges in production agriculture, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering a one-time annual installment payment deferral option. No fees or prepayment penalties apply for borrowers who choose this FSFL loan flexibility option.

“Farmers are facing challenging times because of the pandemic, and FSA is constantly looking for ways to offer flexibilities to our customers to help alleviate financial stressors,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “This storage facility loan servicing option affords eligible borrowers more time to make a payment and may stop loan acceleration, foreclosure or liquidation.”

Eligible borrowers can request a one-time only annual installment payment deferral for loans having terms of three, five, seven or ten years. The installment deferral option is not available for 12-year term loans.

The FSFL installment payments will remain the same, except for the last year. The original loan interest rate and annual payment due date will remain the same. However, because the installment payment deferral is a one-year loan term extension, the final payment will be higher due to additional accrued interest.

Borrowers interested in exercising the one-time annual installment deferral option should contact FSA to make the request and to obtain, complete and sign required forms.

FSFLs provide low-interest financing for producers to store, handle and transport eligible commodities.



Costa, Rouzer, Peterson, Conaway Lead Letter to USDA Requesting Aid for Sheep, Lamb Producers

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today, House Agriculture Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jim Costa of California and Ranking Member David Rouzer of North Carolina, joined by Full Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway of Texas, and 17 other Members, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist U.S. lamb and sheep producers impacted by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The letter follows closure of the nation’s second-largest processor representing an estimated 20 percent of the nation’s processing capacity; and pushes USDA to help lamb and sheep farmers and ranchers find alternate processing and marketing options immediately.

“This closure … comes at a time when the sheep industry was already forecast to lose more than $350 million due to COVID-19-related market declines, and feedlots are already at peak capacity in many places,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter. “We must do everything we can to support the families, who make up the sheep industry in our states, as they whether these significant and pressing challenges.”

“This pandemic continues to take a disproportionate toll on farmers and ranchers, and the impacts that even one processor closing has on the ability of lamb and sheep producers to get by in these tough times is something we can and should remedy,” said Costa. “USDA has the ability to aid these producers in finding other options for marketing and processing in a way that keeps these products flowing through the supply chain, and helps farm families get through this rough patch.”

“As we’ve seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, decreases in processing capacity have greatly impacted the entire livestock industry, and this closure will be no different. The economic impacts that America’s sheep raisers will feel as a result are yet another struggle they will have to overcome during an already trying time. It is imperative that we continue to explore all options to preserve and expand processing capacity for the lamb and sheep sector,” said Rouzer.

 “The loss of processing capacity has only magnified the struggles and challenges facing lamb and sheep producers across the U.S.,” said Peterson. “We hope that Secretary Perdue will move quickly to address this pressing need and aid these producers in identifying and establishing more alternative processing options for U.S. lamb producers in both the short and long terms.”

“The closure of the second largest lamb and sheep processing facility in the country will have a ripple effect felt throughout the entire market. As America’s farmers and ranchers continue to feel the strain caused by COVID-19, it’s critical that we provide support to help them through this difficult period,” said Conaway.



Surge in child ATV injuries likely linked to pandemic, experts say

The typical summer surge in all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injuries kicked off early this year, as children were out of school due to COVID-19 and parents struggled with child care and working from home.

“When school went out and kids were at home, we saw more injuries in general,” said Dr. Charles Jennissen, a pediatric emergency physician and clinical professor in the departments of pediatric and emergency medicine at University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. There were more bike injuries and ATV injuries, he said, noting the number and types of injuries were more like summertime.

Jennissen and colleagues in the Injury Free Coalition for Kids started a collaborative study to compare injuries during COVID-19 to a year ago. “Clearly, we are seeing more injuries, including of ATVs,” Jennissen said. Overall injuries are probably four to five times higher because many don’t go to the ER, he added. In the US, about 40,000 children under the age of 16 are treated in emergency departments for ATV-related injuries each year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Sometimes, those injuries are fatal. In late March, a 5-year-old Alabama boy was riding ATVs with his older brother on the family farm. The older brother noticed his little brother was no longer behind him. He went back and found the younger boy unconscious in a pond. He later died.

It was one of 10 incidents involving children and ATVs recorded in AgInjuryNews.org from March 1 through July 15. Five were fatal. AgInjuryNews.org, which began as a project within the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, is an open-access online database that catalogs adult- and child-related agricultural injury reports from media and other sources. The database was used in a recent review of ATV and other off-road vehicle incidents published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Public Health and Surveillance.

ATV dangers
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 16 not operate ATVs. All-terrain vehicles with a saddle-seat and handle bars are relatively unsteady. They have a high center of gravity and narrow track, a combination that makes them a very high risk for rolling over, Jennissen said. They often have low-pressure tires that have knobby treads designed to grab off-road terrain.

“More kids in the US under 16 die from ATVs than bicycle crashes,” Jennissen said. Not older teens, he emphasized, children younger than 16. “We talk a lot about bicycle safety for kids, but this is a bigger killer, and we need to protect our children.”

During the summer of 2018, Matthew Groppi investigated a high number of fatal ATV and UTV crashes as a recreational safety warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Out of all the incidents in summer of 2018, all that were fatal were the result of rollovers. Seatbelts and helmets -- or lack thereof -- were the contributing factor in all of those incidents.”

“The biggest things with ATVs or UTVs (utility task vehicles), I can’t stress enough, is the importance of wearing helmets and seatbelts,” Groppi said.

Between recent changes in state ATV/UTV laws and the COVID-19 situation, Groppi said DNR staff “have been doing a lot more to just try to put our message out there online or through the media and try to do more education in terms of these safety laws.”

On March 4, 2020, Wisconsin law changed to make it illegal for more than one person to ride on an ATV, unless it was manufactured for two riders. Groppi noted it’s “a big change. It’s fairly common … you’d see two people riding on one ATV.

“The machines are lot of fun, but they can also be very dangerous,” he added.

Jennissen and Groppi noted many children younger than 16 ride adult-sized vehicles. It can be a mismatch for physical and cognitive abilities, Jennissen said, because kids have to actively ride and shift to appropriately control a vehicle. Groppi said children who are 12 or 13 operating adult-size ATVs may not be able to tip them upright “if they would happen to roll it over or find themselves in some other difficult situation.”

Some states, including Wisconsin, have passed laws allowing municipalities to open their roads to ATVs. “It’s maybe taken a while to catch on, but in the past year, the number of municipalities and counties that have decided to open up their roads have increased significantly,” Groppi said.

“We also know that they are on the roads a lot” for occupational and recreational purposes, Jennissen said of young riders. “Being on the roadways is more dangerous,” he added. It increases the risk of being hit by another vehicle, “but our data shows that about two-thirds of fatalities on roadways and greater injuries do not involve another vehicle. They are single-vehicle events. ATVs are not designed for roadway use.”

Groppi said he anticipates more incidents because there will be more ATV riders on roads. In Wisconsin, UTV drivers must be at least 16 and ATV drivers at least 12 to operate on roads, and all youth drivers must complete a safety course in order to drive on public trails and roads.

Those restrictions fall away on private land, where a lot of crashes happen, Groppi. He recounted a 2019 rollover in a front yard in which an adult died and three out of four children involved were injured, two seriously. “These (incidents) can still happen on private land. There is just as much of a risk on private land as a public area.”

Safety initiatives
Jennissen has been working with an educational program called STARs, which provides safety tips for ATV riders. Organizers surveyed the first 5,000 students in the program and found 57 percent had been in a crash with an ATV. That included children who had ridden maybe one or two times. A crash was defined as hitting something, rolling over or being ejected from the vehicle.

“Most of the time they don’t get serious injuries, but on the flip side of that, a lot of times when in a crash, they think, ‘I was in a crash and nothing happened.’ Invincibility is reinforced. Next time maybe it won’t be something minor or no injuries,” Jennissen said.

The STARs rules include: Follow safety rules. Always wear a helmet. Never ride with passengers on the ATV. Never go on a road.

More than 70 organizations comprising the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN) have made ATV safety the centerpiece of their “I Didn’t KNOW” campaign. The network, facilitated by the National Children’s Center, will be updating resources and launching a new ATV safety campaign in the coming year.