NDA switches payment method for Livestock Producer Stabilization Grants
Steve Wellman, Director, Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture
There have been some challenges getting accurate email addresses, bank routing numbers and other data through the livestock stabilization grant process. These inaccuracies have delayed our communications with the approved recipients.
Due to an extremely high error rate with the banking information supplied by many grantees applying for the livestock producer stabilization grants, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) will be distributing the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) grants in a state warrant (check) to the mailing address provided on the application form.
We apologize for this alteration in the distribution method. Grantees should begin to see payments arriving in the next few weeks.
Thank you for your patience.
USDA Announces Changes to Emergency Haying, Grazing Provisions for Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced changes for emergency haying and grazing use of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This includes changes outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill that streamline the authorization process for farmers and ranchers.
“Drought conditions are tough for our livestock producers, but emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program acres may provide some temporary relief,” said Nancy Johner, State Executive Director in Nebraska. “Thanks to a streamlined authorization process, Nebraska producers will be able to more quickly obtain emergency use approval to begin emergency haying or grazing of CRP acres.”
Program Changes
Previously emergency haying and grazing requests originated with FSA at the county level and required state and national level approval. Now approval will be based on drought severity as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
To date, 18 counties in Nebraska have triggered eligibility for emergency haying and grazing on CRP acres. A list by state and map of eligible counties are updated weekly and available on FSA’s website.
Producers located in a county that is designated as severe drought (D2) or greater on or after the last day of the primary nesting season (July 15) are eligible for emergency haying and grazing on all eligible acres. Additionally, producers located in counties that were in a severe drought (D2) status any single week during the last eight weeks of the primary nesting season may also be eligible for emergency haying and grazing unless the FSA County Committee determines that forage conditions no longer warrant emergency haying and grazing.
Counties that trigger for Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) payments based on the U.S. Drought Monitor may hay only certain practices on less than 50% of eligible contract acres. Producers should contact their local FSA county office for eligible CRP practices.
Producers who don’t meet the drought monitor qualifications but have a 40 percent loss of forage production may also be eligible for emergency haying and grazing outside of the primary nesting season.
CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing Provisions
Before haying or grazing eligible acres, producers must submit a request for CRP emergency haying or grazing to FSA and obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Emergency grazing is authorized for up to 90 days and emergency haying is authorized for up to 60 days. Program participants must stop haying and grazing 30 days before the first freeze date in the fall based on the dates established for LFP.
Under the emergency grazing provisions, producers can use the CRP acreage for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage. The eligible CRP acreage is limited to acres located within the approved county.
For emergency haying, producers are limited to one cutting and are permitted to sell the hay. Participants must remove all hay from CRP acreage within 15 days after baling and remove all livestock from CRP acreage no later than 1 day after the end of the emergency grazing period. There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for emergency haying and grazing authorizations.
More Information
For more information on CRP emergency haying and grazing visit fsa.usda.gov/crp or contact your FSA county office. To locate your FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator. For more disaster recovery assistance programs, visit farmers.gov/recover.
USDA Announces Ag Producers Approved for CFAP Program Will Receive 100 Percent of Payments
Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that producers with approved applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will receive the remainder of their relief payments:
“Agriculture is the heartbeat of Nebraska, and a strong ag economy benefits all Nebraskans. CFAP has been a critical bridge for our ag producers during a particularly difficult time. It’s welcome news that USDA will deliver the remainder of outstanding CFAP payments and that going forward newly approved producers for the program will receive 100 percent of their payments,” said Senator Fischer.
More Information:
In May, the President and Agriculture Secretary Perdue outlined $16 billion in direct payments through CFAP. This program provides vital financial assistance to agriculture producers who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.
To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved.
Regenerative Organic Certified Standard Is Open For Business
The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a group of experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and fair trade, is proud to announce that the Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC™) certification standard for food, fiber, and personal care products has completed its pilot phase and is now open for general certification. Additionally, the ROA is thrilled to announce the availability of the first ROC products in the marketplace.
Before being eligible for ROC, farms must first hold USDA organic certification. ROC then adds further criteria to ensure soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness, making it the highest standard for organic agriculture in the world. By choosing an ROC product, consumers can know at a glance that their purchase supports farm workers, soil health and pasture-based animal welfare. The new certification also has three levels—bronze, silver, and gold. The levels require farms and businesses to phase in more rigorous regenerative organic practices over time.
The Regenerative Organic Alliance was formed in 2018 to promote regenerative organic farming as the highest standard for agriculture around the world. ROA exists to heal a broken system, repair a damaged planet, and empower farmers and consumers to forge a brighter future through better farming. And the time is now: COVID-19 has quickly revealed the underlying risks and inequalities in the global food system. Many farmers, doctors, and scientists agree that fixing our broken food system and adhering to regenerative organic practices is one of the tools we have to improve human health, as shown in a new white paper recently released by Rodale Institute and The Plantrician Project.
The ROA first established the Regenerative Organic Certified standard in 2018, then conducted a pilot program the following year to test the standard on real farming operations around the world. The intent of the pilot was to gather participants' feedback in order to improve the process and the standard's criteria. With the initial pilot program completed, the ROA will increase the number of approved certifiers and will begin certifying new brands, effective immediately in partnership with their program manager, NSF International.
"The journey to become Regenerative Organic Certified has been unique for each of our pilot program participants, with significant learnings along the way," said Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. "The success that these leading, regenerative organic businesses have achieved in only one year is proof that ROC is not only a viable and attainable certification, but that indeed we are shaping the future of agriculture supply chains and consumer demand for truly regenerative organic products. I look forward to growing the certification in the years ahead with many more brands."
Consumers can now find the first group of Regenerative Organic Certified products wherever organic products are sold. In addition, PatagoniaProvisions.com has shifted their website to now serve as the definitive e-commerce source for ROC products, ROC pilot products, and products "on the road" to becoming certified, from many different brands and product categories.
Several participants from the 2019 ROC Pilot Program have earned the first ROC designations, demonstrating their commitment to the environment, soil health, animal welfare and fair labor standards. The first brands and farms to display the Regenerative Organic Certified label include:
Apricot Lane Farms: Avocado Oil from Moorpark, CA
Dr. Bronner's: Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil from Serendipol Ltd. in Sri Lanka
Nature's Path: Oats from Legend Organic farm in Saskatchewan, Canada
Grain Place Foods: Popcorn and Cornmeal from Marquette, NE
Patagonia Provisions: Regenerative Organic Chile Mango from Sol Simple, Masaya, Nicaragua
Lotus Foods: Brown and White Basmati Rice from Rohini, India
Sol Simple: Banana from Masaya, Nicaragua
Other farms and businesses that received certification with products forthcoming:
Tablas Creek Vineyards: Paso Robles CA
Herb Pharm: Williams OR
Guayaki Yerba Mate: Misiones, Argentina
COVID-19 Impact Demonstrates Need to Enhance Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Program
The National Pork Producers Council and 26 state pork associations representing thousands of American hog farmers have asked the USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to implement enhancements to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance program. These changes would mitigate the impact of unexpected declines in hog values from unanticipated events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 crisis in our farm sector has demonstrated the enormous value of an enhanced LRP,” said NPPC President Howard A.V. Roth, a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin. “The LRP changes we support, if enacted, would undoubtedly draw more hog farmer participants to the program and help offset losses caused by catastrophic events like the one we are experiencing today.”
In an August 10, 2020, letter to the FCIC, NPPC and the 26 state pork associations called for these LRP modifications:
- An increased subsidy to make the program more affordable to livestock farmers, particularly when a risk management program is most needed but often cost prohibitive.
- Expansion of the coverage period to 52 weeks and an increase in the number of head eligible. Risk management decisions in pork production are often made at least 52 weeks in advance. The current maximum coverage period of 26 weeks, combined with limitations on the number of pigs that can be covered, have significantly limited program participation.
Last year, more than 120 million hogs were marketed in the United States. Over the last 15 years, only once have more than 100,000 hogs fallen under LRP coverage due to program limitations.
Benning Named Assistant Director of Ag and Natural Resources
Jamie Benning is no stranger to statewide issues that affect all Iowans.
For six years she led the water quality program at Iowa State University and for seven years before that, she worked in the agronomy and sociology departments, helping support research and leading watershed and climate extension programs.
On Aug. 10, she was named the new assistant director for Agriculture and Natural Resources with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and will help lead the direction of the largest arm of extension at Iowa State.
For Benning, the new role is simply another way to serve Iowans and deliver the information and answers they need. She was active in Iowa 4-H and received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Iowa State – and is ready to carry extension forward.
“I really look forward to spreading the word about our great work within Agriculture and Natural Resources,” she said. “There are so many humble people within extension who I look forward to representing, and I’m excited about exploring new audiences and making sure that we are truly serving all Iowans.”
Benning will replace Chris Mondak, who held the same position and retired in 2018. She will work alongside Jay Harmon, associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director for Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach at Iowa State, as they work to represent more than 150 extension employees across the state.
Harmon, who has served as director since 2017, said he looks forward to the teamwork he will have with Benning, and her passion to serve Iowans.
“We plan to divide and conquer and support each other,” he said. “We’re going to use both of our experiences and work together as a team, and look at what we need to do to support each other.”
Benning said she looks forward to the opportunity to work with all of the Agriculture and Natural Resources team, as she continues to advance important issues such as water quality, farm management and profitability, and the education and information that the farm community needs.
The past couple years have been especially trying for Iowa’s farmers, and Benning and Harmon said today’s challenge underscore the need for a strong extension and outreach.
“We’re in uncertain times,” Benning said. “Farmers and decision makers are looking for ways that they can improve their operations and make it through this time. It’s important that our clients and the people of Iowa know that we’re here for them.”
Harmon said the search for assistant director was internal, and he commended the strong pool of talent and passion of the other applicants.
“We had a really strong pool of people who stepped forward and said they would like to be involved and help lead,” Harmon said. “It was really rewarding to have that kind of commitment.”
ASA Confirms U.S. Soybean Growers to Lead WISHH in 2020-21
American Soybean Association (ASA) President Bill Gordon has confirmed the election of ASA's World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) officers and committee members for 2020-2021. Officers are Chairman Gerry Hayden (KY), Vice Chair Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare (IL), Treasurer Jim Wilson (MI), and Secretary Morey Hill (IA).
Gordon welcomed two new farmer-leaders to WISHH, a program of ASA: David Niekamp (IL) and Adam Redmann (ND). In addition to the four WISHH executive committee members, ASA reappointed: Tim Bardole (IA); Daryl Cates (IL), who was WISHH chair (2016-2020) and now serves on WISHH as a representative of the ASA Governing Committee; Craig Converse (SD); Scott Gaffner (IL); George Goblish (MN); Bob Haselwood (KS); David Lueck (MO); Bob Suver (OH); Dawn Scheier (SD); Craig Williams (IN); David Williams (MI) who is a USB ex-officio member on WISHH, along with USSEC representative Ed Beaman; and Bill Wykes (IL), who also serves as an ASA representative.
“ASA thanks these soybean growers who lead WISHH’s important work to connect trade and development,” said Gordon. “WISHH is U.S. soy’s catalyst for trade in emerging and developing markets in Africa, Asia and Central America.
“WISHH is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and today’s trade environment validates just how visionary U.S. soybean growers and their state soybean checkoff organizations were when they launched WISHH,” Gordon added. “All U.S. soybean growers benefit from WISHH serving as the long-term market development arm of the U.S. soy family.”
Protein demand continues to climb as the global population grows to an expected 9 billion people by 2050. U.S. farmers produce high-quality, nutrient-dense protein more efficiently and more sustainably than any other nation.
To fill protein gaps in Asia, Africa and Central America, WISHH works with driven leaders and supply chain partners within countries to build networks and connect value chains for new products or services for soyfoods as well as feeds for livestock, poultry and aquaculture. WISHH educates, mentors and networks as well as provides effective trade solutions for U.S. soy use.
Soybean checkoff dollars are the core funding that WISHH uses to go out and secure additional resources, such as those available through USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. WISHH has leveraged farmer checkoff dollars at a six-to-one ratio over the last seven consecutive years.
Rural Leaders Across Iowa Announce Committee to Oppose Trump Policies that Have Caused Rural Economic Crisis
A new effort to educate and activate rural Iowans on federal policies that are negatively impacting their farms, businesses and communities launched today across Iowa. The campaign is part of Rural America 2020, a bipartisan, non-profit dedicated to highlighting the negative impacts of President Trump’s policies across critical midwestern farm states.
The Iowa Rural America 2020 Steering Committee is comprised of farmers, agri-business professionals, former elected officials and community leaders. In the coming months and weeks, they will focus on shining a light on policies that have negatively impacted ethanol production, caused record farm bankruptcies, plummeting farm prices, lower demand for Iowa’s most important commodities and related fallout in Iowa’s rural areas.
“Our committee will put a spotlight on how many of the policies President Trump has championed have failed rural Iowans,” said Doug Thompson, a member of the Iowa Rural America 2020 Steering Committee. “Those policies include the trade war that hurt Iowa ag exports, broken promises on ethanol and the poor response to COVID-19. This is about rural Iowans talking to rural Iowans. We are going to help cut through the misinformation and make sure that Iowans are hearing every side of the story.”
This month, Rural America also released radio ads that will begin in Michigan that share the stories of farmers who have borne the burden of President Trump’s trade war.
Members of the Iowa steering committee come from across the state and represent a diverse cross-section of experience and expertise. Members include:
Doug Thompson – Doug grew up in Kanawha, Iowa. He went to Waldorf College in Forest City and the University of Northern Iowa, graduating with a BA in Political Science. Before returning to the farm in the middle 1970's, Doug served as a Field Representative for the Iowa Beef Producers Association, Assistant Director of the Agriculture Division of the Iowa Development Commission, and Marketing and Advertising Manager of Agripro Seeds. Doug has farmed the family's Century Farm located east of Kanawha for the past 40 years. During that time he served as a board member of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, the National Corn Development Foundation and the U.S. Feed Grains Council. Most recently, serving as chairman of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board.
Chris Henning – Since 1992, Chris Henning has been a landowner and crop-share farmer in Greene County near Jefferson, Iowa. Chris and her farmer/operator have transformed her farms into great examples of sustainability - incorporating prairie wetlands and stream buffers with crop rotations, cover crops and minimum tillage to protect the water and build soil. An active member of Women, Food and Ag Network, she participates in the “Women Caring for the Land” program, is a Cover Crop Champion for the National Wildlife Federation and president of Raccoon River Watershed Association. She is featured in the 2017 book, Women and the Land.
Aaron Lehman – Aaron is a fifth-generation family farmer from rural Polk County, IA where he and his family raise corn, soybeans, oats, and hay. Aaron was elected to serve as the IFU president in 2016. He is a graduate of North Polk High School in Alleman, Iowa and earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Aaron has previously served on the North Polk School District Board of Directors, the Iowa Citizen Action Network Board of Directors, and various school and church communities.
Marcella R. Frevert - Marcie is a retired teacher who served in the Iowa State Education Association. She served seven terms in Iowa House of Representatives. She is also a past president of Iowa Reading Assn, Emmetsburg Citizen of the Year, AAUW Award, served as chair of Administrative Rules Review Committee for a few years, served on Iowa FSA state committee. Marcie and her husband Bill live in Emmetsburg, IA.
William Frevert – Bill is a prominent Iowa farm veterinarian who maintains cow/calf operation on their farm. He is a member or former member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (life member); Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (Life Member); Iowa State University Alumni Assn; Farm House Fraternity; United Methodist Church; Palo Alto County Cattleman, Corn Growers, Soybean Assn, Hog Producers, Sheep Growers, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk. Bill and his wife Marcie live in Emmetsburg, IA.
John Judge – John grew up on a cow-calf farm in southern Iowa’s Monroe County. A graduate of Iowa State University, he served as a Marine Lieutenant in Vietnam and at Headquarters Marine Corps. Following military duty he operated the family farm and also worked for a banking company specializing in purchasing farm loans. He was appointed Chairman of the USDA Iowa Farm Service Agency.
Tom Furlong - Tom is a fourth-generation farmer in eastern Iowa raising corn and soybeans along with a cow calf herd. He is a Vietnam era veteran and graduate of Iowa State University. As an active community member, Tom served twelve years on the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors, three years on the Muscatine Community School Board and several years on the Iowa FSA State Committee. He and his wife Becky live near Letts, IA.
Tom Grau – Tom is currently the Pocahontas County, Iowa Economic Development Executive Director. Before becoming the Director Tom served in various positions and leadership roles. Most recently, Grau was the Director of the Business Development Division, for the Iowa Department of Economic Development. He also helped coordinate the United States Biotechnology Association, which included 28 Governors. In these roles, Tom coordinated Business Development Programs for the State of Iowa. During 1999-2000 Tom served as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign agricultural services in Washington D. C. focusing on loan and rural programs as well as crop insurance.
FFA Featured on Justin Allgaier’s No. 7 Camaro for NASCAR Dover Doubleheader
BRANDT Professional Agriculture, a cornerstone partner of NASCAR Xfinity Series team JR Motorsports, is continuing its long-time support of the National FFA Organization in a big way through its racing program. During the upcoming doubleheader weekend at Dover International Speedway (Aug. 22-23), Justin Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet will debut a special FFA paint scheme.
The blue and gold livery will feature the official emblem of the national youth agricultural and leadership organization on the hood of the No. 7 Chevrolet. Also highlighted will be the FFA’s Give the Gift of Blue program, which helps provide the official FFA jacket to members who would otherwise be unable to own their own.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the strength of FFA and the power of donating FFA jackets to deserving young people through Give the Gift of Blue,” said Mark Poeschl, CEO of the National FFA Organization. “When an FFA member receives their own jacket, they gain self-confidence and participate more frequently in FFA. We’re thrilled and thankful that BRANDT is highlighting FFA and Give the Gift of Blue at Dover.”
BRANDT, a primary sponsor of Allgaier since 2011, has included the FFA logo on the decklid of their cars for the past several years and featured FFA on their “Celebrating the Future of Agriculture” paint scheme that Allgaier drove to Victory Lane at Chicagoland Speedway in 2017. The company is a long-time supporter of FFA at the national, state and local levels.
“FFA is such a great organization and produces some very talented and professional youth that often become industry leaders as well,” said Rick Brandt, CEO and President of BRANDT. “I remember the pride I felt when receiving my blue jacket and hope that we can bring energy to the Give the Gift of Blue program so that more kids have that same feeling.”
Allgaier is a previous winner at Dover, leading 104 laps on his way to a victory in 2018. In his past five starts at the track, he’s finished third or better. The JR Motorsports driver will pilot the No. 7 FFA Camaro on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET and Sunday, Aug. 23 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Both races will be televised live on NBCSN.
For more information on the FFA Give the Gift of Blue program or to make a donation, visit FFA.org/GIVEblue/.
Producer Webinar on Communicating Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture
“I have so much time on my hands. What can I do to improve my social media posts?” said no producer ever, according to Andy King, moderator on a recent webinar now available for beef producers to view. “I recognize producers are not sitting around at night thinking that!” says King.
However, the webinar Improving Communication About Antibiotic Stewardship for Producers and Stakeholders, is presented by the National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, to help beef producers understand quick and easy communication techniques to reach consumers, media and policy makers, as well as other producers, about responsible antibiotic use on U.S. farms and ranches.
King is an assistant professor at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University, who worked with participants at an antibiotic symposium last fall to help identify their best audiences and now to use social media to tell their stories.
The webinar also features Andy Bishop of Fairfield Farms in Kentucky, and Niki Ellis, Director of Education for the Kentucky Beef Council.
Using input from symposium participants, researchers found that some of the largest concerns of beef producers around antibiotic stewardship is that consumers have misperceptions and lack of knowledge about animal agriculture.
Using communications as a tool to share personal anecdotes and experiences can be very useful, making the message easier to comprehend, processed more quickly and more trustworthy. Social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are good resources for producers to ‘show and tell’ their day to day life which helps communicate the values they share with their audience, and gives them a place to explain what they do.
“Not everybody farms,” reminds Kentucky Beef Council’s Niki Ellis. “People are four generations removed from the farm on average and are hungry for information, hungry to know where food comes from, so that offers a massive opportunity.”
“But people do have families. They do have kids,” Ellis continues. “Having images and videos of what you care about, when they see your everyday life, they can relate with you.”
“People are searching for positivity,” says Andy Bishop. “It (my post) may just be what I’ve enjoyed that day. The more positive my posts are, the more feedback I get.”
When Andy Bishop posts his positive thoughts for the day, his four children are some of his best storytellers. “Because who doesn’t like kids, right?” he says with a proud grin.
“You can’t reach everyone with every message,” King explains. Audience segments could include those with strong anti-farming beliefs and on the other end, those who don’t care. Those in between are the ones who might be interested and moved by your communication. The largest majority of consumers lie in that middle.
“A snapshot of your life, sharing your little moments, is the best thing you can do,” says Ellis.
Share content from trusted sources like the Beef Checkoff, your state Beef Council, your vet and other producers, too.
The 53-minute recorded webinar gives specifics on using images, videos, live streaming, what to avoid and why frequency of messaging is important.
View it https://vimeo.com/444064397 or go to NLPA.org.
Sixth-Generation Rancher Tells Dietary Guidelines Panel: “I’ve Lost Over 125 Pounds,” Thanks In Part to Healthy, Nutritious, Lean Beef
Sixth-generation California rancher Kiah Twisselman today told officials with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) about her first-hand experience with the benefits of beef in her diet and urged them to do more to encourage beef as part of a healthy diet as they finalize new federal dietary guidelines. Twisselman testified on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), the nation's oldest and largest national organization representing America's cattle producers.
“I know firsthand how important it is for dietary guidance to be practical, flexible, and clear,” Twisselman said in a public online hearing today. “Two years ago, I began my journey to better health. I’ve lost over 125 pounds through small life changes, regular exercise, and a healthy diet. I’ve also built a successful weight loss and life coaching business to empower others to do the same.”
Twisselman urged federal officials to build on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC's) recommendation to include lean meat in a healthy diet by clearly identifying beef as a lean meat option and highlighting ways to achieve that recommendation by naming specific lean meat cuts like sirloin or 95% lean ground beef. She also called on officials to highlight beef as a common, readily available source for essential nutrients like iron, zinc and B-vitamins.
“Lean beef is a versatile, affordable, nutrient-dense, and delicious protein source for a healthy and balanced diet. From my herd to yours, thank you for guiding Americans toward healthier diets with beef,” Twisselman concluded.
Over the past two years, NCBA has worked closely with the DGAC, USDA, and HHS to keep new dietary guidelines focused on sound science and nutrition, and as a result, the final draft guidelines recognize beef’s role in a healthy diet, including the essential role of beef’s nutrients at every life stage. NCBA has provided extensive written and oral commentary through both the Center for Public Policy and the Beef Checkoff. NCBA, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, submitted 21 sets of unique comments, providing over 100 research studies that comprehensively review the scientific evidence supporting the critical role beef plays in a healthy diet.
USDA Announces More Eligible Commodities for CFAP
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.
“President Trump is standing with America’s farmers and ranchers to ensure they get through this pandemic and continue to produce enough food and fiber to feed America and the world. That is why he authorized this $16 billion of direct support in the CFAP program and today we are pleased to add additional commodities eligible to receive much needed assistance,” said Secretary Perdue. “CFAP is just one of the many ways USDA is helping producers weather the impacts of the pandemic. From deferring payments on loans to adding flexibilities to crop insurance and reporting deadlines, USDA has been leveraging many tools to help producers.”
Background:
USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through June 22, 2020. The following additional commodities are now eligible for CFAP:
Specialty Crops - aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (french parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava.
Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock - liquid eggs, frozen eggs and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were previously eligible.
Aquaculture - catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as foodfish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, and recreational sportfish.
Nursery Crops and Flowers - nursery crops and cut flowers.
Other changes to CFAP include:
Seven commodities – onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments.
Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.
Additional details can be found in the Federal Register in the Notice of Funding Availability and Final Rule Correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap.
AFBF Appreciates Extension of CFAP Application Deadline
The USDA announced it will extend the application deadline for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to September 11, 2020. The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with 27 other agriculture organizations, sent a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue last week requesting the deadline be extended beyond August 28, 2020.
Dozens of commodities will also now be eligible for CFAP funding, including additional specialty crops, aquaculture, nursery crops and cut flowers.
The following statement may be attributed to AFBF President Zippy Duvall:
“We thank USDA for responding quickly to our letter and addressing the needs of America’s farmers and ranchers as they fight to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 has taken its toll on farmers across the country, regardless of what they grow or raise. No one can tell when this pandemic will end, and extending the deadline and expanding eligibility will provide a lifeline at a time it’s needed most.
“Many hard-working farm families have not gone through federal programs before and need help navigating their way through the process. We’re working to ensure farmers who now qualify for aid are made aware that it is available to them, and we encourage the USDA to expand its outreach efforts to do the same.”
Energy Inforamtion Administration Short-Term Energy Outlook
The August Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) remains subject to heightened levels of uncertainty because mitigation and reopening efforts related to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to evolve. Reduced economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in energy demand and supply patterns in 2020. Uncertainties persist across the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) outlook for all energy sources, including liquid fuels, natural gas, electricity, coal, and renewables. The STEO is based on U.S. macroeconomic forecasts by IHS Markit, which assume U.S. gross domestic product declined by 5.2% in the first half of 2020 from the same period a year ago and will rise from the third quarter of 2020 through 2021.
Daily Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $43 per barrel (b) in July, up $3/b from the average in June and up $25/b from the multiyear low monthly average price in April. EIA expects monthly Brent spot prices will average $43/b during the second half of 2020 and rise to an average of $50/b in 2021.
U.S. regular gasoline retail prices averaged $2.18 per gallon (gal) in July, an increase of 10 cents/gal from the average in June but 56 cents/gal lower than at the same time last year. EIA expects that gasoline prices will gradually decrease through the rest of the summer to reach an average of $2.04/gal in September before falling to an average of $1.99/gal in the fourth quarter. Forecast U.S. regular gasoline retail prices will average $2.23/gal in 2021, compared with an average of $2.12/gal in 2020.
EIA expects high inventory levels and surplus crude oil production capacity will limit upward price pressures in the coming months, but as inventories decline into 2021, those upward price pressures will increase. EIA estimates global liquid fuels inventories rose at a rate of 6.4 million barrels per day (b/d) in the first half of 2020 and expects they will decline at a rate of 4.2 million b/d in the second half of 2020 and then decline by 0.8 million b/d in 2021.
EIA estimates that demand for global petroleum and liquid fuels averaged 93.4 million b/d in July. Demand was down 9.1 million b/d from July 2019, but it was up from an average of 85.0 million b/d during the second quarter of 2020, which was down 15.8 million b/d from year-ago levels. EIA forecasts that consumption of petroleum and liquid fuels globally will average 93.1 million b/d for all of 2020, down 8.1 million b/d from 2019, before increasing by 7.0 million b/d in 2021. Reduced economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in energy supply and demand patterns in 2020.
EIA estimates that global liquid fuels production averaged 91.8 million b/d in the second quarter of 2020, down 8.6 million b/d year over year. The decline reflects voluntary production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and partner countries (OPEC+), and reductions in drilling activity and production curtailments in the United States because of low oil prices. In the forecast, the global supply of oil continues to decline to 90.4 million b/d in the third quarter of 2020 before rising to an annual average of 99.4 million b/d in 2021.
EIA estimates that U.S. liquid fuels consumption averaged 16.2 million b/d in the second quarter of 2020, down 4.1 million b/d (20%) from the same period in 2019. The decline reflects travel restrictions and reduced economic activity related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. EIA expects U.S. oil consumption will generally rise through the end of 2021. EIA forecasts U.S. liquid fuels consumption will average 18.9 million b/d in the third quarter of 2020 (down 1.8 million b/d year over year) before rising to an average of 20.0 million b/d in 2021. Although the 2021 forecast level is 1.6 million b/d more than EIA’s forecast 2020 consumption, it is 0.4 million b/d less than the 2019 average.
EIA has lowered U.S. crude oil production estimates for 2020 by 370,000 b/d from the previous STEO. EIA expects crude production to average 11.3 million b/d in 2020 and 11.1 million b/d in 2021, down from 12.2 million b/d in 2019. Recently released EIA data show that average monthly U.S. oil production for May was 1.2 million b/d lower than the July STEO forecast, indicating more extensive production curtailments than previously estimated. Also, EIA’s August STEO assumes that the Dakota Access Pipeline will remain operational. A U.S. District Court ordered on July 6 the temporary closure of the Dakota Access Pipeline beginning in early August. A U.S. appeals court has overturned the lower court decision, allowing the pipeline to remain running while further litigation proceedings continue.
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Applications for eligible certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, are due Oct. 31, 2020.
“For producers producing food with organic certification, this program helps cover a portion of those certification costs,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “Contact your local FSA county office to learn more about this program and other valuable USDA resources, like farm loans and conservation assistance, that can help you succeed.”
OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Eligible expenses for cost-share reimbursement include application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.
Changes in Reimbursement
Due to expected participation levels and the limited funds available, FSA revised the reimbursement amount available through fiscal year 2023. Certified producers and handlers are now eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 50 percent of the certified organic operation’s eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per scope.
This change will allow a larger number of certified organic operations to receive assistance. If Congress authorizes additional funding, FSA may provide additional assistance to certified operations that have applied for OCCSP, not to exceed 75 percent of their eligible costs, up to $750 per scope.
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