Tuesday August 4 Ag News

America’s Farmers Grow Communities Honors the Cuming County 4-H Foundation
Melissa Nordboe, Extension Assistant, Cuming County

A huge thank you to local farmer Brian & Brenda Doernemann for nominating the Cuming County 4-H Foundation to receive a $2,500 donation as part of the @AmericasFarmers Grow Communities program, sponsored by Bayer Fund. This donation will help our organization in updating the 4-H Building on the Cuming County Fairgrounds. 



Fortenberry Joined President Trump Today at the White House for Signing of Groundbreaking Conservation Bill: The Great American Outdoors Act

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) joined President Donald Trump today at the White House for the signing of the historic, groundbreaking conservation bill, the Great American Outdoors Act.

“The Great American Outdoors Act represents one of the most significant advancements in community conservation in decades. The major two components of the bill will enhance our National Park System and the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” Fortenberry said.

“Our national parks represent the majestic serenity, vastness, and openness of America. In many ways, these precious ecosystems, public lands, and national monuments reflect who we are as a people and our longing to protect what is beautiful and memorable. The bill will also further community recreation and protect our land and water,” Fortenberry added.

"I am pleased that the Great American Outdoors Act passed with strong bipartisan support. It represents the best of America,” Fortenberry said.



Mitigating heat stress in cattle via the Nebraska Mesonet

Extreme summer heat can be a cause for concern for feedlot operators and cattle producers in Nebraska. Heat causes stress and other negative impacts in cattle production. Cattle at a comfortable temperature are more productive, gain weight more efficiently and maintain a higher level of health. 

“I think our producers, for cattle welfare interests and good business sense, are very interested in managing that stress to maintain performance and prevent losses,” said Galen Erickson, Nebraska cattle industry professor in the Animal Science Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  “There are tools that many feed yards have implemented that really are to aid in cattle welfare in these heat stress events.” 

One helpful tool that producers can use to monitor weather and best manage agricultural resources with is the Nebraska State Climate Office’s Nebraska Mesonet calculator. 

Data pulled from the Nebraska Mesonet can be used to determine the cattle comfort index, a formula that accounts for temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation and sunlight and how those factors affect cattle health. The Nebraska Mesonet is a statewide weather observation network of nearly 70 stations, which records weather conditions every five minutes, 365 days a year. 

“It’s the comprehensive look at how stressed the cattle were leading up to now and how stressed will they be going forward,” Erickson said.

The Mesonet Cattle Comfort Index, which is used worldwide, was developed and introduced as the Comprehensive Climate Index by Terry L. Mader and Leslie J. Johnson at the University of Nebraska, along with and John B. Gaughan at the University of Queensland in Gatton, Australia.

“We can run the same equation year-round and give a value of what it feels like if you’re a cow out there, in real-time,” said Martha Shulski, Director of the High Plains Regional Climate Center. 

The Mesonet also runs an experimental forecast tool that can help producers make prepare for conditions ahead. 

“The current weather, and how long cattle have been in certain conditions is important, but also looking at what conditions will be over the next two weeks may be more important,” Shulski said. 

In Nebraska, cattle can experience both heat and cold stress, but we have many tools to mitigate heat stress and heat stress tends to be a bigger issue for cattle producers than cold-related stress, Erickson said. To help cattle stay comfortable in hot weather, Erickson recommends producers focus on three main heat-mitigation strategies: sprinkling the ground with water to cool it down, providing cattle access to shade and creating additional water tank space. Air flow challenges may or may not be something that can be modified, but in some cases cannot be addressed. 

Cattle producers can also keep up with weekly and monthly weather updates from the Nebraska State Climate office to monitor current and upcoming heat index forecasts.

“Farmers and ranchers do a good job of watching the weather and we want them to watch these indices, as well, to help them prepare. Not just ‘is it going to rain,’ but how comfortable are the cattle going to be tomorrow or this week.”

For more resources information, see the Heath Stress Mitigation in Feedlot Cattle webinar, the Feedlot Heat Stress Information and Management guide or Preparing for summer heat article, courtesy of UNL Beef Extension and the beef quality assurance program. 



Naig responds to NOAA’s annual Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zone survey

Today, Mike Naig, Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture and co-chair of the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force, issued a statement in response to NOAA’s annual Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zone survey. This year, NOAA-supported scientists measured the hypoxia zone to be 2,116 square miles. This is the third-smallest measurement since NOAA began surveying the region in 1985.

Secretary Naig’s prepared remarks follow:
“NOAA’s annual hypoxia zone measurement is just one indicator used to gauge our efforts to improve water quality throughout the Mississippi River basin. As co-chair of the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force, I know that leaders from 12 states bordering the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers are working alongside five federal agencies, including the EPA and USDA, and the National Tribal Water Council to help improve water quality locally and downstream. Hypoxia zones are not unique to the Mississippi River — a 2008 study showed this is one of 400 hypoxia zones in coastal areas all over the world.

One thing this annual measurement shows is that there is significant variability in the size each year. For example, the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zone was the largest in 2017, measuring 8,776 square miles. Just one year later, it was 2,720 square miles — the fourth-smallest since 1985.

There are a number of things that influence the size of the hypoxia zone and weather is the most influential. For example, not enough water, too much water and the weather affecting the Gulf, including hurricanes, can affect the size of the hypoxia zone.

While the size of the zone fluctuates each year, it remains one important way to measure success in the region. The Task Force is committed to showing continuous improvement. We must find the right balance between improving water quality while maintaining productive food and transportation systems, and empowering people to enjoy economic prosperity up and downstream.

Each state in the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force has committed funding, research and resources to implement nutrient-reduction strategies that fit their local landscapes and address their local needs. And of course we can all recognize that effectively managing storm and waste water and adding conservation practices upstream will have positive impacts on our local streams and the size, severity and duration of the hypoxia Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

This process takes time as we’re talking about making changes on a subcontinental level, but I am confident that we are on the right track. In Iowa, we’ve decreased total point and non-point source phosphorus by 18.5 percent, after decades of work, thanks to the widespread adoption of soil management practices like no-till farming, and better storm and waste water management practices. Now we’re accelerating the adoption of cover crops and edge-of-field practices to further reduce nutrient losses, particularly on the nitrogen side. We know there’s still work to do but we are deploying proven, science-based strategies, and have more funding, private partners, and farmers engaged in our conservation efforts than ever before.

Each state has similar success stories to share and I can’t possibly do them justice. If you’d like to learn more about the conservation work happening all over the Mississippi River basin, I encourage you to reach out to my peers on the Hypoxia Task Force. We’re all working hard, and working together, to install more conservation practices on our local landscapes to improve and protect our natural resources — and yours.”

To learn more about the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force’s conservation efforts, visit epa.gov/ms-htf.



COVID Ag Updates Will Focus on Resilience

The farming community is used to the stress that comes from the unpredictable and uncontrollable challenges that jeopardize their production and livelihood. Agricultural resilience is about equipping farmers with strategies and information that will enable them to absorb and recover from these stresses. Resilience is the ability to bounce back when things do not go as planned.

COVID Recovery Iowa, in collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is hosting COVID Ag Updates: Focus on Resilience. These 60-minute weekly updates from agriculture specialists will be held Mondays from 7:30–8:30 p.m. The first 15–20 minutes will be informational, with the remaining time spent on answering questions.

To register, go to the upcoming events section at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/farm-ranch-wellbeing. A Zoom program link will be e-mailed to registered participants prior to the program. 

The schedule of speakers includes:
    Aug. 10, Pat McGonegle, CEO, Iowa Pork Producers.
    Aug. 17, Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach dairy specialist.
    Aug. 24, Norlan Hinke, ISU Extension and Outreach farm finance specialist.
    Aug. 31, Kristine Tidgren, ISU Extension and Outreach Center for Ag Law and Taxation.
    Sept. 7, Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist.
    Sept. 14, Steve Johnson, ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist.
    Sept. 21, David Baker, Beginning Farmer Center director.
    Sept. 28, Madelyn Schultz, ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Program manager.

Other resources
COVID Recovery Iowa offers a variety of services to anyone affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Virtual counselors provide counseling, activities, and referral information and help find resources for any Iowan seeking personal support. Iowans of all ages may join groups online for activities and learn creative strategies for coping with the effects of the pandemic. COVID Recovery Iowa will announce upcoming programs on the website and via all social media to help Iowans build coping skills, resilience and emotional support. To request support, go to https://www.COVIDrecoveryiowa.org or contact the Iowa Concern Hotline at 515-447-1985 or the Iowa Warm Line at 1-855-775-9276. 

Iowa Concern, offered by ISU Extension and Outreach, provides confidential access to stress counselors and an attorney for legal education, as well as information and referral services for a wide variety of topics. With a toll-free phone number, live chat capabilities and a website, Iowa Concern services are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week at no charge. To reach Iowa Concern, call 800-447-1985; language interpretation services are available. Or, visit the website, https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/, to live chat with a stress counselor one-on-one in a secure environment. Or, email an expert regarding legal, finance, stress, or crisis and disaster issues.



Ag Economy Barometer stable, but farmers less optimistic about future

Farmer sentiment was virtually unchanged in July in comparison to a month earlier, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The index rose just one point from June to a reading of 118, still 30% lower than in February before the pandemic began. The Ag Economy Barometer is based on responses from 400 U.S. agricultural producers. This month’s survey was conducted July 20-24.

Although there was little change in the July barometer, producers’ perspective on current versus future conditions shifted. The Index of Current Conditions rose 12 points from June to a reading of 111, and the Index of Future Expectations fell five points to a reading of 121. Unchanged from June but nine points lower than in May, 56% of producers reported they plan to reduce their farm machinery purchases compared with a year ago. Thirty-eight percent of producers reported they plan to keep machinery purchases about the same as last year, which also was unchanged from June but seven points higher than in May. The Farm Capital Investment Index also was unchanged from June, standing at a reading of 60, but noticeably stronger than May’s index reading of 50.

“Although overall farmer sentiment in July did not change much compared to June, sentiment was still much weaker than in February before the impact of coronavirus hit,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “In July, farmers indicated they were a bit less concerned about the current economic situation on their farms than earlier this spring, but they are less optimistic about the future, perhaps as a result of the recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases. Still, two-thirds of  producers responding to this month’s survey said they believe Congress should provide additional economic assistance to farmers in 2020 to help offset the pandemic’s impact on agriculture.”

Over half of the farmers responding to the July survey said they were less likely to attend in-person educational events in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 concerns. When asked what their top information source would be in lieu of attending in-person events, 36% chose farm magazines, 19% chose online webinars, 17% chose farm radio and 17% chose websites. Direct emails and podcasts were far less popular as a top information source with just 8% and 3% of producers choosing these options, respectively. 

When asked about their short-term outlook for land values, farmers’ perspective improved, with 16% saying they expect farmland values to rise over the next 12 months compared with 10% back in June. However, when asked about farmland values in five years, farmers were somewhat less optimistic than they were in June, with 48% saying they expect values to rise over the next five years compared with 55% in the previous survey.

Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer. This month’s report includes insight into how farmers are conducting business as a result of COVID-19 and producers’ use of marketing advisors to manage risk. The site also offers additional resources – such as past reports, charts and survey methodology – and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results, available at https://purdue.ag/barometervideo, and for even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that impacts farmers. It is available now at https://purdue.ag/agcast.



Mixed News on Farm Bankruptcies Amid Pandemic

Farm bankruptcies increased 8% over a 12-month period, with 580 filings from June 2019 to June 2020. A six-month comparison, however, shows the number of new Chapter 12 filings slowing. Several contributing factors are likely at play as farmers struggle to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Midwest, Northwest and Southeast were hardest hit, representing 80% of the filings across the U.S. Wisconsin led the nation with 69 filings, followed by 38 in Nebraska. Georgia and Minnesota each had 36 filings.

A closer examination of the numbers shows that while year-over-year filings increased for the month of June, filings slowed during the first six months of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019. The latest AFBF Market Intel, written jointly with the Association of Chapter 12 Trustees, shows from January to June 2020, there were 284 new Chapter 12 bankruptcy cases, 10 fewer than the same time in 2019. The reduction in filings coincides with aid distributed in the CARES Act that compensates farmers and ranchers for losses incurred from January through mid-April of this year. According to the Association of Chapter 12 Trustees, approximately 60% of farm bankruptcies are successfully completed – the highest successful percentage of all the reorganization chapters.

“Every farm bankruptcy potentially represents the end of a family’s dream,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “The fact that we saw bankruptcy filings slow in the first six months of 2020 shows how important the economic stimulus alongside the food and agricultural aid from the CARES Act have been in keeping farms above water, but the economic impact of the pandemic is far from over. It’s imperative that Congress addresses the challenges facing farmers and ranchers in current coronavirus relief legislation.”

As of August 3, $6.8 billion in CFAP payments have been delivered to farmers and ranchers. Many farmers, particularly those who are not regularly eligible for aid, have not applied for assistance or may not know the assistance is available. Farmers can learn more about coronavirus assistance at www.farmers.gov/cfap.

AFBF Chief Economist John Newton said, “The bankruptcy numbers don’t tell the whole story. The fact that the bankruptcy process is now virtual probably contributed to a decline in numbers. CARES Act assistance was also a bandage that slowed the bleeding on many farms, but those protections will soon expire. Without more help we could expect to see filings begin to rise again.”



Barchart Releases August U.S. Yield Forecasts for Corn and Soybeans

Barchart, a leading provider of data and technology services to the financial, media, and commodity industries, announces their August cmdty Yield Forecast for end of season yield at 174.8 bu/ac for corn and 49.2 bu/ac for soybeans in the U.S. This represents an increase in forecasted yield relative to the July 7th report, which forecasted end of season yield for corn 173.8 bu/ac and end of season yield for soybeans 48.8 bu/ac.

Released for free to the public on the first Tuesday of each month during the growing season, and available to clients through daily updates, the Yield Forecasts from cmdty allow users to get insights to guide their business decisions ahead of the USDA’s WASDE report.

“Growing conditions throughout the country remain strong, and this year’s forecasted crop has been more heavily impacted by changing expectations around acres planted than by weather up until this point,” says Barchart’s Head of Strategy, Keith Petersen. “That said, while the national forecasts have been fairly steady, there has been yield variance at the state level which can impact local basis conditions as we head into the fall.”

cmdty Yield Forecast Indexes provide users with daily insights on over 3,000 individual growing areas in the United States. Subscribers to cmdtyView Pro will have access to these changing expectations and will be well positioned to anticipate possible changes in localized basis conditions. With better information on supply and demand, grain professionals can market their grain smarter and more confidently.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for August 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for August 2020, which are effective August 1-August 31, 2020.

The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for August is 0.125%, same as in July.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during August is 1.125%, same as in July. 

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for August are as follows:
    0.250% with three-year loan terms, same as in July;
    0.250% with five-year loan terms, down from 0.375 in July;
    0.500% with seven-year loan terms, same as in July;
    0.625% with 10-year loan terms, down from 0.750% in July; and
    0.750% with 12-year loan terms, down from 0.875 as in July.



USDA Identifies Mystery Seeds

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined the contents of some unknown seed packages Americans have been receiving.

"We have identified 14 different species of seeds including mustard, cabbage, morning glory, and some herbs like mint, sage, rosemary, (and) lavender," Osama El-Lissy, a member of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) plant protection program, said in a July 29 update.

Hibiscus and rose seeds were also discovered, he said.

Americans in all 50 states have reported getting packages of seeds from Asia. The envelopes were usually labeled as jewelry or other goods.

Some officials believe the seeds are part of what's known as a "brushing" scam.

The scam involves sellers using an address "to make it appear as though (the recipient) wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise, and that (the recipient is) a verified buyer of that merchandise," the Better Business Bureau said. "They then post a fake review to improve their products' ratings, which means more sales for them."

The reports prompted the USDA to issue warnings about opening or planting the seeds.

"Seeds for planting pose a significant risk for U.S. agriculture and natural resources because they can carry seed-born viruses or other diseases," the USDA said in a Q& A document. "Imported vegetable or agricultural seed must meet labeling and phytosanitary requirements and be inspected by APHIS and (Customs and Border Protection) at the port of entry."

One man, however, did plant the seeds before reporting them to the USDA.  Doyle Crenshaw from Booneville, Ark., nurtured the seeds in his garden for two months.

"We brought them down here and planted the seeds just to see what would happen. Every two weeks I'd come by and put Miracle-Gro on it and they just started growing like crazy," he told KFSM-TV.  The plant has a large white fruit and orange flowers like a squash plant.

State ag officials have since removed the plant for further study.



Udall, Neguse Introduce Landmark Pesticide Reform to Protect Children, Farmworkers and Consumers from Toxic Pesticides
Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced landmark pesticide reform legislation to prevent the use of toxic pesticides that harm children, farmworkers and consumers in the United States. The Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act of 2020 (PACTPA) represents the first comprehensive update since 1996 to the law governing pesticide use in the United States, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). 

Each year, the United States uses over a billion pounds of pesticides — nearly a fifth of worldwide use. In 2017 and 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approvedmore than 100 pesticides containing ingredients widely considered to be dangerous. Once approved, pesticides often remain on the market for decades, even when scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows a pesticide is causing harm to people or the environment. Udall and Neguse’s legislation would institute urgently-needed reforms to update protections for children, farmworkers, consumers, and the environment and close dangerous loopholes that prevent adequate pesticide review.

The Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act of 2020 would:

Ban some of the most damaging pesticides:
- Organophosphate insecticides, which are designed to target the neurological system and have been linked to neurodevelopmental damage in children;
- Neonicotinoid insecticides, which have contributed to pollinator collapse around the world (the European Union and Canada have significantly restricted or banned their use to protect pollinators and other wildlife) and have recently been shown to cause developmental defects, heart deformations, and muscle tremors in unborn children;
- Paraquat, which is one of the most acutely toxic herbicides in the world, according to the EPA, just "one sip can kill." Science has shown that chronic exposure to paraquat increases risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 200% to 600%. It is already banned in 32 countries, including the European Union

Restore balance to protect ordinary citizens by:
- Creating a petition process to enable individual citizens to petition the EPA to identify dangerous pesticides so that the EPA would no longer be able to indefinitely allow dangerous pesticides to remain on the market;
- Closing dangerous loopholes that have allowed the EPA to issue emergency exemptions and conditional registrations to use pesticides before they have gone through full health and safety review by the agency;
- Enabling local communities to enact protective legislation and other policies without being vetoed or preempted by state law;
- Suspending the use of pesticides deemed unsafe by the E.U. or Canada until they are thoroughly reviewed by the EPA.

Provide protections for frontline communities that bear the burden of pesticide exposure by:
- Requiring employers of farmworkers to report all pesticide-caused injuries to the EPA, with strong penalties for failure to report injuries or retaliating against workers;
- Directing the EPA to review pesticide injury reports and work with the pesticide manufacturers to develop better labeling to prevent future injury;
- Requiring that all pesticide label instructions be written in Spanish and in any language spoken by more than 500 pesticide applicators.

This bill is also sponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.). In the House, the bill is sponsored by U.S. Representatives Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.).



NMPF Works with Congress to Urge Swift Phase Two Agreement with Japan

A bipartisan coalition of 51 members of Congress representing dairy districts from across the country sent a letter July 8 to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue asking them to build upon successes secured in a Phase One agreement with Japan with a Phase Two comprehensive agreement. The National Milk Producers Federation worked with Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Josh Harder (D-CA), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) to ensure the letter fully explained the remaining trade barriers leaving American dairy farmers at a disadvantage in this key market.

The letter acknowledged the important progress made by the U.S.-Japan Phase One agreement for dairy while urging the U.S. government to move quickly to address any remaining gaps and inequalities in market access, writing that a Phase Two agreement is a “valuable opportunity that cannot be left to linger on the negotiating table.”

“America’s dairy industry is ready to meet Japan’s growing demand for wholesome dairy products. However, in order to fully secure necessary market access, the U.S. must act swiftly to break down the remaining trade barriers that have left our producers at a disadvantage in this important dairy market,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF.

NMPF continues to share this message with trade negotiators and will keep working to secure additional tariff concessions, science-based sanitary and phytosanitary measures and enforceable commitments to protect common cheese names in Japan. The U.S. Phase One agreement with Japan provides vital access improvements to help the U.S. remain competitive in this key market – but more work remains to finalize an optimal final and comprehensive agreement with Japan.



USDA Dairy Products June 2020 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.10 billion pounds, 3.5 percent above June 2019 and 0.3 percent above May 2020.  Italian type cheese production totaled 475 million pounds, 3.0 percent above June 2019 but 1.1 percent below May 2020.  American type cheese production totaled 438 million pounds, 2.5 percent above June 2019 but 0.9 percent below May 2020.  Butter production was 150 million pounds, 3.1 percent below June 2019 and 15.7 percent below May 2020.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with June 2019)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 147 million pounds, down 7.1 percent.
Skim milk powder - 61.3 million pounds, up 17.7 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with June 2019)
Dry whey, total - 85.4 million pounds, up 2.9 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 101 million pounds, down 6.9 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 39.5 million pounds, down 0.1 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with June 2019)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 71.2 million gallons, up 9.7 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 44.7 million gallons, up 0.8 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 3.50 million gallons, up 10.6 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 5.41 million gallons, down 4.2 percent.



CWT-assisted sales contracts top 16 million pounds of dairy product exports in July
NMPF

CWT assisted member cooperatives in securing 48 contracts to sell 1.7 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 41,888 pounds of butter, 13.1 million pounds of whole milk powder, 1.157 million pounds of anhydrous milkfat (AMF), and 776,027 pounds of cream cheese to customers in Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Oceania. The product will be shipped to customers in 11 countries in those six regions of the world during the months of July 2020 through January 2021.

These contracts bring the 2020 total of CWT-assisted product sales contracts to 22.2 million pounds of cheese, 6.3 million pounds of butter, 31.3 million pounds of whole milk powder, 3.1 million pounds of AMF and 4.4 million pounds of cream cheese. These transactions will move the equivalent of 694.2 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis overseas.

Exporting dairy products is critical during these challenging times to the viability of dairy farmers and their cooperatives across the country.  Whether or not a cooperative is actively engaged in exporting cheese, butter, anhydrous milkfat, cream cheese, pasteurized process cheese, or whole milk powder, the moving products into world markets is essential. CWT provides a means to move domestic dairy products to overseas markets by helping to overcome U.S. dairy’s trade disadvantages.



Growth Energy Urges EPA to Accurately Tally Benefits of U.S. Ethanol

Growth Energy has submitted comments on a proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would change how the agency conducts the benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of new rules under the Clean Air Act, including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter to the EPA, Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley urged the agency to ensure agency calculations continue to recognize the full benefits of the RFS, including “reduced cost at the pump, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, reductions in harmful air toxics like carbon monoxide, and significant value added to farmers and rural communities.”

“Following development of the RFS over the past 15 years, the industry has grown from 81 plants producing nearly 4 billion gallons of ethanol to 200 plants now producing roughly 16 billion gallons of ethanol annually,” wrote Bliley. “Today, this industry supports more than 350,000 jobs including thousands of farmers accounting for roughly 40 percent of the corn demand in the United States. The use of biofuels has also helped to reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil imports replacing 10 percent of our nation’s fuel and reduced consumer costs at the pump.”

Growth Energy also cautioned the agency against changes that could undercut the ability of regulators to consider the full benefits of the RFS, including those to the environment.

“Relatedly, we have seen numerous studies, including those done by Argonne National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that confirm that ethanol significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline,” wrote Bliley. “However, under this proposal, limited results from a BCA could distort EPA’s examination of the social cost of carbon which could then, in turn, be used to unjustly distort the greenhouse gas reductions called for in the RFS and described in the original RFS regulatory impact analysis.”

In addition, Growth Energy expressed concerns about changes that could require the agency to annually recalculate previously established benefits of the RFS or be used to justify retroactive changes that could create needless volatility in the markets for biofuels and related farm crops.

“In short, we believe that the agency needs to better articulate how it intends to use these benefit-cost analyses,” concluded Bliley. “Specifically, the agency needs to assure biofuel producers, farmers, and the public that any adjustment in benefit-cost analysis will not undermine the policy goals of the Energy Policy Act, Energy Independence and Security Act, and the RFS. In addition, EPA should not reverse years of considerable investment and development in the renewable fuels industry by applying a narrow benefit-cost analysis that does not take into consideration the full range of benefits Congress intended to be served by the RFS.”



Soybean Industry Birthplace Alive with Excitement as ASA Marks 100 Years

The American Soybean Association (ASA) has returned to its roots to celebrate a century of coordinated efforts and ensuing successes on behalf of U.S. soybean growers. With support from the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the family who helped launch one of the nation’s strongest agricultural advocacy offices, ASA celebrated its 100th anniversary on the Indiana farm where it all started with a small but significant historical marker dedication and tours of heirloom soybean plots.

ASA was formed when brothers Taylor, Noah and Finis Fouts hosted the first Corn Belt Soybean Field Day at their “Soyland Farms” operation in Camden, Indiana, Sept. 3, 1920. Unlike today’s more quaint and socially distanced ceremony, that event drew nearly 1,000 farmers and their families from six states, all of whom were interested in discovering more about an emerging new commodity called soybeans. The National Soybean Growers’ Association—later renamed the American Soybean Association—was formed that very day.

The outdoor ceremony was streamed live for soy supporters to celebrate safely across the country. Originally planned was a group picture emulating a historic black and white photo of the original attendees, but instead, farm families from throughout the soybean states submitted dozens of photos for a special video montage leading up to the live event. Among those helping the organization celebrate in Indiana were USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky, who served the soy industry as ASA CEO for two decades, and Indiana governor Eric Holcomb, along with other notable guests from Purdue University, Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Fouts family and ASA’s past and present leadership.

Kendell Culp, ASA director from Indiana and event host, provided opening remarks. ASA President Bill Gordon, Minnesota, and past President Alan Kemper, Indiana, were also among those who delivered remarks before Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb unveiled the historical marker.

Speaking with respect and appreciation of the hardworking and pioneering soy industry, Governor Holcomb commented, “What hasn’t changed in 100 years is the resilience and eternal optimism – timeless traits.” He also shared the entertaining tale of Taylor Fouts delaying his wedding hour to finish his daily work in the soybean fields.

Deputy Sec. Censky spoke of the long, successful collaboration between USDA and the soy family, which he shared dates back to that first Fouts Farm event in Indiana 100 years ago. After providing comments on USDA agriculture priorities including COVID-19 relief, Censky referenced a quote in American Soybean magazine from former ASA president Tony Anderson of Ohio, who profoundly said, “ASA isn’t relevant because it’s 100 years old. It’s 100 years old because it’s relevant.”

ASA debuted a special video history of the Fouts Family and Soyland Farm, and—something you could only be lucky enough to see once in a hundred years!—a live musical performance by past and current ASA board members of Growing Soybeans to Get Along, a song written by Taylor Fouts and sung at the first soybean event back in 1920.

The anniversary program was hosted by Master of Ceremonies Max Armstrong and featured a lineup of notable speakers including:
• Keynote Speaker: Steve Censky, Deputy Secretary, USDA
• Gov. Eric Holcomb, Indiana
• U.S. Representative Jim Baird, Indiana
• Elisha Modisett Kemp, Mara Hendress and Claire Crum - Fouts family members
• Ray Gaesser, ASA Past President and 100th Anniversary Host, Indiana
• David Rodibaugh, Chair, Indiana Soybean Alliance
• Karen Plaut, Dean, College of Agriculture, Purdue University
• Casey Pfeiffer, Indiana Historical Marker Program Director
• Mark Smith, Carroll County Historical Society

Other speakers included platinum event sponsors, which are Bayer, Corteva Agriscience, FMC, Syngenta, John Deere, United Soybean Board, Illinois Soybean Association, Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board, and last but not least, Indiana Soybean Alliance. ASA is thankful to all level sponsors and other special guests. For more information on the 100th anniversary of the American Soybean Association, visit ASA100Years.com.