Wednesday August 19 Ag News

Hybrid groundbreaking ceremonies planned for Northeast’s Nexus ag facilities project

Both live and virtual groundbreaking ceremonies are being planned for the new agriculture facilities currently under construction at Northeast Community College.

Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 10, near the Chuck M. Pohlman Ag Complex on E. Benjamin Ave. in Norfolk.

“We want everyone to be able to celebrate with us,” said Dr. Tracy Kruse, associate vice president of development and external affairs and executive director of the Northeast Foundation. “It will be held outside near the construction site unless inclement weather forces us inside the current Pohlman Ag Complex. Social distancing will be in place,” she explained, “and we encourage those attending to wear masks.”

Kruse said groundbreaking may not be the correct term for this particular ceremony.

“Construction on the $22.3 million project actually began the first week of April, and work is well underway on some of the buildings.”

The initial phase of construction on the Nexus project includes a new veterinary technology clinic and classrooms, a new farm site with a large animal handling facility and other farm structures for livestock operations, a farm office and storage. Construction should be completed by Fall 2021.

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. The College has raised enough funds to begin construction; however, fundraising for the Nexus campaign will continue, as more is needed for equipment, technology and furnishings.

In August 2019, the Acklie Charitable Foundation (ACF) announced a $5 million lead gift to the Nexus project. ACF was founded by the late Duane Acklie and Phyllis Acklie, both Madison County natives and graduates of Norfolk Junior College, a predecessor institution of Northeast Community College.

For more information on the Nexus Campaign, contact Kruse, at tracyk@northeast.edu, or call (402) 844-7056. Online donations may be made through agwaternexus.com or by texting “AG” to (402) 383-FARM (3276). Checks may also be mailed to Nexus Campaign, Northeast Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 469, Norfolk, NE 68702-0469.




NCGA and Leaders of American Agriculture

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Tuesday evening joined Leaders of American Agriculture (LAA) for a virtual symposium in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention (DNC). NCGA sponsored a pre-event welcome room, “Climate, Conservation, and Community.”

NCGA CEO Jon Doggett, NCGA Board Members Brandon Hunnicutt and Deb Gangwish (both from Nebraska), Ethanol Action Team Chair Mark Recker, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and former USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie participated in the NCGA welcome room to discuss agriculture’s role in climate change policy, the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) and the environmental benefits of renewable fuels.

“The virtual symposium gave participants the opportunity to hear directly from corn farmers on the sustainable practices they’re using on their farms to leave it better for the next generation,” Doggett said. “We had great participation from the audience and especially appreciated the remarks from Rep. Spanberger on her bipartisan work on behalf of agriculture.

For thirty-two years, the Leaders of American Agriculture has organized a reception on the margins of the Democratic convention to hear from those who help make our nation a global leader in food and agriculture. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was adjusted to a virtual format. The event agenda featured several welcome rooms, giving participants the opportunity to discuss agricultural-related issues important to Rural American voters, including civil rights, public health, climate change, and global leadership.

“Rural America has a critical role to play in the 2020 election, and this was an excellent opportunity for corn farmers to share our positive story,” Doggett said.

NCGA’s participation in the event is part of the organization’s continued engagement in the 2020 election. A similar event, which NCGA is also sponsoring, originally scheduled to take place in conjunction with the Republican National Convention (RNC), has been postponed until October.



ACE 2020 Conference Attendees to Hear from USDA Official, Fuel Retailers, Market Analyst September 16

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 33rd annual conference agenda condenses the usual slate of industry updates into a selection of online sessions that hone in on the most pressing issues facing the ethanol industry. The event agenda complements the broader content attendees will receive having dual access to the Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) sessions through ACE’s partnership with BBI International this year. ACE’s virtual conference has been rescheduled from its original in-person event which was set to take place August 25 in Omaha, Nebraska.

“Although we always look forward to catching up with ACE members and industry colleagues face to face at our annual conference and the FEW, this year’s online format will allow us to connect safely in order to provide timely updates and insight on a host of topics intended to restore and build ethanol demand,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO.

For over three decades, the ACE conference has focused on the people of the ethanol industry and their priorities, and this year is no different. The abbreviated 2020 live virtual event will consist of several general sessions, including updates from ACE leadership, a keynote address from USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky, a flex fuel retailer roundtable featuring Casey’s General Stores and Pump & Pantry, a panel discussion with leadership from ethanol companies, as well as a market outlook from Tom Kloza, OPIS Head of Energy Analysis. The general sessions will be aired live on the afternoon of September 16 and registrants can access a recording of the presentations for a limited time following the event.

All ACE conference attendees will also be able to virtually attend the sessions at the FEW, including pre-conference events, a live virtual expo hall, and the Biodiesel Production Technology Summit. More details regarding the virtual platform, registration, exhibits and sponsorships are available at fuelethanolworkshop.com. For questions regarding the ACE event, please contact Shannon Gustafson at sgustafson@ethanol.org or visit ethanol.org/events/conference.



Webinars for Pork Producers Working Toward Economic Recovery

Iowa’s pig farmers continue to battle against economic situations that are causing an expected average loss in 2020 of $37 per pig. When added up, that’s a $2.1 billion dollar loss to the 5,400 pig farmers around the state.

That’s why the Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa Pork Producers Association have developed a Producer Recovery Webinar Series focusing on information that producers can use to find opportunities for making key decisions in this difficult time.

The one-hour webinars will be offered on four consecutive Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from Aug. 19 through Sept. 9. During each webinar, participants will have the opportunity to interact, ask questions, and learn from the presenters featured each week. Here is the schedule of topics and speakers:
    Aug. 19 – Evaluating Hog Supply Agreements: A Peek Inside the USDA’s Swine Contract Library with Tim Hughes, a client service manager at Commodity and Ingredient Hedging
    Aug. 26 – What Do I Do Now? with Joe Kerns, managing director of Kerns and Associates
    Sept. 2 – A Market Outlook During Turbulent Times with Lee Schulz, associate livestock economics professor at Iowa State University
    Sept. 9 – Different Tools in the Tool Box with Pat VonTersch, owner of Professional Ag Marketing

There is no charge to participate, but registration is required to receive connection information for participation. You can register here. Login information will then be emailed to you for the Webex-delivered series. Access can be via any computer or mobile device with internet connection.

The webinars will be recorded and available to view approximately one week after each webinar. If you have any questions, please reach out to Stacie Matchan at sgould@iastate.edu.



Farmland Owners and Tenants to Get Important Updates

With a host of difficult issues facing Iowa farmers, economists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are planning a webinar Aug. 25 to offer timely insight.

Three economists will join Kristine Tidgren, director of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University, for a discussion on current legal issues impacting farm owners and tenants, the national and state economic outlook, state agricultural costs of production, and questions and answers with all panelists.

“These are unprecedented times,” said Alejandro Plastina, associate professor and extension economist at Iowa State. “Pandemic, drought, derecho, trade uncertainties, low corn prices and a slow recovery of the real economy weigh on the financial health of Iowa farms.”

Plastina will be joined by extension economists Wendong Zhang and Chad Hart, who will speak about the situation and the various tools available to help farmers manage amid tough times.

“Crop insurance, farm bill programs and federal disaster assistance are becoming the bloodline of a growing number of operations,” Plastina said. “Presenters will provide updated information on the ag trends shaping the 2021 season and discuss practical economic and legal aspects of farmland leases.”

Tidgren will give a legal perspective of what landlords and tenants need to think about, as they wrap up the 2020 growing season, and begin making plans for 2021 leases. Sept. 1 is a key deadline for Iowans who may wish to terminate existing leases, or amend their leases for the new year.

“The webinar will provide a great source of information for landlords and tenants and anyone who owns farmland or rents farmland in Iowa,” said Tidgren, who is also holder of the Leonard Dolezal Professorship in Agricultural Law at Iowa State.

Registration should be completed online and includes a $10 fee, which includes electronic access to the leasing booklet. The webinar will run from 9-11 a.m.

Additional information on farmland leasing in Iowa is available through the Ag Decision Maker at ISU Extension and Outreach. For more information about the webinar, Tidgren can be reached at 515-294-6365 or ktidgren@iastate.edu.



July Milk Production in the United States up 1.5 Percent

Milk production in the United States during July totaled 18.6 billion pounds,
up 1.5 percent from July 2019.  Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,994 pounds for July, 21 pounds above July 2019.  The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.35 million head, 37,000 head more than July 2019, and 2,000 head more than June 2020.

IOWA:  Milk production in Iowa during July 2020 totaled 442 million pounds, up 2% from the previous July according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during July, at 217,000 head, was equal to both last month and last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,035 pounds, up 45 pounds from last July.



Stress Management Program Available Virtually to Ag Community

Farming can be stressful in the best of times. Financial worries, unpredictable weather, unpredictable commodity prices, plant pests, livestock diseases and isolation all contribute to farmers’ anxiety. And now Iowa’s rural communities and families are coping with the unpredictability and imposed isolation produced by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the destruction from the derecho that swept through Iowa.

In response to this additional stress, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with COVID Recovery Iowa, will offer 10 online “Stress on the Farm: Strategies That Help” programs beginning Friday, Aug. 28, said David Brown, behavioral health specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“While our agricultural community has been impacted by COVID-19, many have now experienced extreme losses of their crops, buildings, storage and other hardships that came with the storm. This is all additional stress that is impacting our agricultural community and it’s important we’re all aware of the signs of stress for ourselves and so that we can be of help to our neighbors,” Brown said.

ISU Extension and Outreach will offer Stress on the Farm: Strategies That Help at various dates and times to meet the busy schedules of those in the agricultural community. Each program will last for one-half hour on the following dates and times:
    Friday, Aug. 28, 1:30 p.m.
    Monday, Aug. 31, 10:30 a.m.
    Thursday, Sept. 3, 8:30 a.m.
    Tuesday, Sept. 8, 3:30 p.m.
    Friday, Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m.
    Monday, Sept. 14, 12:30 p.m.
    Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.
    Friday, Sept. 25, 12:30 p.m.
    Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m.
    Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2:30 p.m.

Agribusiness professionals, agriculture lenders and bankers, veterinarians, vet techs, commodity group members, producers and other concerned individuals can register at no cost for any of these programs. To register, go to https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/stress-farm. Participants will receive a unique URL prior to the program to access the Zoom hosted program.

For more information, contact David Brown at dnbrown@iastate.edu.

Other resources
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.

COVID Recovery Iowa offers a variety of services to anyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual counselors provide counseling, activities, referral information and help finding 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.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 8/14/2020

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending August 14, ethanol production stepped up 0.9%, or 8,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 926,000 b/d—equivalent to 38.89 million gallons daily. Production remained 9.5% below the same week in 2019 as a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 0.4% to 933,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.30 billion gallons.

Ethanol stocks grew 2.6% to 20.3 million barrels, which was 13.3% below year-ago volumes. Inventories drew down in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) and West Coast (PADD 5) but increased across the other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, slipped 2.8% to 8.63 million b/d (132.30 annualized). Gasoline demand remained 10.3% lower than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol ticked down 0.1% to 860,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.18 bg annualized, which was 10.5% below the year-earlier level.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded after three consecutive weeks of shipments on the books. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of June 2020.)



DAP Price Increases Sharply While Most Other Prices Continue Slow Decline

Retail fertilizer prices continued to be mostly lower the second week of August 2020, although the price of DAP jumped significantly from last month, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

The average retail price of DAP increased 5% from last month, which DTN considers the threshold for significant change. It had an average price of $426 per ton, up $20/ton from last month. MAP prices also increased by $6 to an average of $434/ton.

The remaining six fertilizers were lower in price compared to last month, although none fell enough to be considered significant. Potash had an average price of $353/ton, down $8; urea $355/ton, down $4; 10-34-0 $465/ton, down $3; anhydrous $447/ton, down $14; UAN28 $221/ton, down $4; and UAN32 $259/ton, down $4.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.27/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.40/lb.N.

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be considerably lower from a year ago. Anhydrous is 18% lower; UAN28 is 15% less expensive; DAP, MAP and urea are all 14% lower; UAN32 is 12% less expensive; potash is 9% lower and 10-34-0 is 2% less expensive from last year at this time.



National FFA Hits Record Membership for 2020 of More than 760,000

Agriculture plays a key role in society, and nowhere is that more evident than in the continuing growth of FFA and agricultural education. Today, the National FFA Organization announced a record-high student membership of 760,113, an increase from last year’s 700,170 members.

The top five student membership states are Texas, California, Georgia, Florida and Oklahoma. Interest in FFA and agricultural education continues to grow as membership continues to increase as well as the number of chapters. This year, the organization has more than 115,831 Latino members, more than 40,000 Black members and more than 12,000 members who are American Indian and Alaska Native. Forty-four percent of the membership is female, with 51 percent of the membership being male. FFA chapters can be found in 24 of the 25 largest U.S. cities.

“The relevance of agriculture and the security of our country’s food, fiber and natural resources systems has never been more important,” said National FFA CEO Mark Poeschl. “Our FFA members are the future generation of leaders who will be making an impact in the industry. As we continue to bring agricultural education and FFA to more students, we see the enthusiasm of this generation reflected in the growth of our organization.”



New Holland Member Benefit Program

The National Hemp Association is proud to announce that our Partners at New Holland Agriculture launched a new Member Benefit Program for members of the National Hemp Association (NHA).   

New Holland has recognized the importance of the emerging hemp industry. Our relationship continues to provide a new customer base that will allow growth and profitability for both organizations   

We firmly believe that American industry is trending towards bio-sustainability and hemp plays a critical role in the establishment of a new economic paradigm. The National Hemp Association and New Holland are dedicated to shifting the perception of hemp as being an alternative crop to a mainstream commodity.   

The National Hemp Association member benefit program provides special incentives on eligible units from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.   

"We believe that hemp represents a significant agricultural and industrial opportunity," said Brett Davis, Vice President for New Holland North America. "Hemp is important for increasing agricultural sustainability and crop diversity, and New Holland is pleased to support hemp growers through the program."   

You can learn more about how New Holland supports the growing hemp industry by visiting www.betterhempharvest.com.    

Who qualifies for the NHA member benefit program?  
Any members of the National Hemp Association who have been a member for at least 60 days qualify for savings on New Holland equipment.  

How does someone join the NHA?  
Individuals or Businesses can join the National Hemp Association by visiting our website https://nationalhempassociation.org/membership-has-its-advantages/.    

How do Members get the Discount?  
NHA Members of 60 days or longer can visit us online at https://nationalhempassociation.org/nhmemberbenefits/ to see the discounts available through your authorized New Holland Dealer.   



FarmSense Revolutionizes Pest Control With Next-Generation Insect Monitoring for Farmers

Today, FarmSense announced the debut of its award-winning smart pest monitoring system, helping farmers adopt the latest in artificial intelligence and analytics to improve insect monitoring and crop management.

FarmSense's FlightSensor uses novel optical sensor technology to automate the process of real-time insect classification and counting, providing immediate access for farmers to make mission-critical decisions on crop and pest control.

"FarmSense's technology is a real game-changer," said Dr. Mark Hoddle, a field entomologist and an early customer at the University of California Riverside. "The insect analytics they provide allows me to really understand what is happening in specific areas of the orchard in near real-time. Better yet, the data are accessible via my phone and downloadable for analysis making quick decisions easy."

The smart system started as an academic collaboration, but co-founders Eamonn Keogh and Shailendra Singh quickly identified the benefits of real-world application. "The machine learning community examines data in so many other areas, like healthcare and credit scoring, but surprisingly, no one was tackling entomology," says Keogh. "This technology virtually eliminates the need for sticky traps and manual insect counts."

The FarmSense monitoring system can help farmers lower pesticide and insecticide use by optimizing their application in both space and time. Data is sent to the FarmSense cloud via wireless. The sensor comes in a variety of sizes, and the algorithm can be adjusted depending on what insects a farmer needs to monitor.

To develop the technology the team obtained $7.5 million in academic funding including multiple Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Awards, the Vodafone Wireless Innovation Award, and multiple National Science Foundation Awards. Most recently the company was awarded three SBIR awards to commercialize their technology.

The FarmSense Smart Pest Monitoring System is currently offered only to selected partners, but it will be available all in January 2021. To learn more, go to farmsense.io. FarmSense is actively seeking investors for its current funding round to focus on expansion.

About FarmSense: Founded in 2016, FarmSense helps farmers simplify pest management and take the guesswork out of insect monitoring. The company's patented technology provides real-time insect counts and classifications through a smart field sensor that connects wirelessly to the cloud.



National Farmer Survey Documents a Wide Range of Cover Crop Benefits as Acreage Continues to Expand

Despite the crippling rainfall that significantly delayed planting across much of the country in 2019, more than 90% of farmers participating in a national cover crop survey reported that cover crops allowed them to plant earlier or at the same time as non-cover-cropped fields. Among those who had "planted green," seeding cash crops into growing cover crops, 54% said the practice helped them plant earlier than on other fields.
 
Those findings were among several new insights from the 2019-2020 National Cover Crop Survey, conducted by the non-profit Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), with financial support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). These organizations have worked together on several past national cover crop surveys, with the first survey dating back to the 2012 crop year.

The 2019-2020 survey, which included perspectives from 1,172 farmers representing every state, was the first by SARE, CTIC and ASTA to include detailed exploration of planting green—a tactic employed by 52% of the respondents—as well as crop insurance use among cover croppers and the impact of cover crops on the profitability of horticultural operations.

"Many U.S. farmers have turned to cover crops as part of their strategy to improve soil health while reducing input costs and maintaining yields," stated Mike Smith, who managed the national survey for CTIC. Survey participants averaged 465 acres in cover crops in 2019, an increase of 38% in four years. The USDA Census of Agriculture found a 50% increase in cover crop acreage over the five-year period between 2012 and 2017.

“Farmers are using cover crops for a variety of reasons and many have tried new approaches to cover cropping,” Smith said. "This year's survey also indicated that some of the concerns that many growers have had about the effects of cover crops on planting dates in a wet year turned out not to be true—in fact, in many cases, cover crops helped farmers plant earlier in the very wet spring of 2019."

According to Rob Myers, Regional Director of Extension Programs for North Central SARE, “many farmers are finding that cover crops improve the resiliency of their soil, and the longer they use cover crops, the greater the yield increases and cost savings that are reported by producers.”

“We are pleased to see farmers appreciate the expertise of cover crop seed companies with 46% saying they buy from them and another 42% buying from retailers,” said Jane DeMarchi, VP Government & Regulatory Affairs, ASTA. “Professionally produced cover crop seed is grown for seed from the start and has been selected, harvested, cleaned and tested for performance."

The study shows farmers are using a range of cover crop seed and mixes to address their
individual needs with 46% paying $15 or under per acre.” Among the 1,172 farmers who provided responses in the 2019-2020 National Cover Crop Survey, 81% were commodity producers (corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, etc.) and 19% categorized themselves as horticultural producers.

Here are some highlights from the survey. A full report is available free online at
www.sare.org/news/2020-cover-crop-survey-report/. Survey reports from past years are at www.sare.org/covercropsurvey.

Yields
The previous five national cover crop surveys sponsored by SARE, CTIC and ASTA have all reported yield boosts from cover crops, most notably in the drought year of 2012 when
soybean yields were 11.6% improved following cover crops and corn yields were 9.6% better. In 2019, when wet early conditions prevailed across much of the corn and soybean regions, yield gains were more modest but still statistically significant. Following the use of cover crops, soybean yields improved 5% and corn yields increased 2% on average, while spring wheat yields improved 2.6%.

Saving on farming costs
Many farmers reported economic benefits from cover crop beyond just yield improvements. Of farmers growing corn, soybeans, spring wheat, or cotton, the following percent had savings on production costs with fertilizers and/or herbicides:
    Soybeans – 41% saved on herbicide costs and 41% on fertilizer costs
    Corn – 39% saved on herbicide costs and 49% on fertilizer costs
    Spring wheat – 32% saved on herbicide costs and 43% on fertilizer costs
    Cotton – 71% saved on herbicide costs and 53% on fertilizer costs

While cover crop seed purchase and planting do represent an extra cost for farmers, it was notable that most producers are finding ways to economize on cover crop seed costs. Whereas earlier surveys from 2012 and 2013 reported on a median cover crop seed cost of $25 per acre, most farmers reported paying less in 2019. Of the responding farmers, 16% were paying only $6-10 per acre for cover crop seed, 27% were paying $11-15 per acre, 20% were paying $16-20 per acre, and 14% were paying $21-25 per acre. Only about one-fourth were paying $26 or more per acre.

Planting green
Planting green refers to planting a cash crop like corn, soybeans or cotton into a still-living cover crop, then terminating it soon after with herbicides, a roller-crimper, or other methods. In this year’s survey, 52% of farmers planted green into cover crops on at least some of their fields. (In the 2016-2017 report, the most recent prior survey by SARE, CTIC and ASTA, 39% of the respondents had planted green.)
    Of the farmers planting green, 71% reported better weed control
    68% reported better soil moisture management, particularly valuable in a wet spring

Horticulture producers also benefit
For the first time, the survey queried horticulture producers about how cover crops have impacted their profit. Of the 184 horticulture producers responding to that question, 35% reported a moderate increase in net profit (defined as an increase of 5% or more), and another 23% reported a minor increase in net profit (2-4% increase). Even after factoring in the purchase and planting cost of cover crops seed, only 4% observed a minor (2-4%) reduction in net profit, and none reported a moderate loss in net profit.

Available online
"The 2019-2020 National Cover Crop Survey shows that an ever-growing number of farmers of all types and in all regions of the U.S. continue to find advantages to using cover crops," says Myers at SARE. "While the first survey in 2012 showed the benefits of cover crops in a drought year, this year’s survey showed that cover crops helped farmers in wet weather as well, with many of them being able to plant in wet spring weather when conventional neighbors couldn’t. The survey showed farmers are figuring out how to make cover crops work for them economically, while using them as a tool to address challenging issues such as herbicide- resistant weeds."